U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014Gladys P. Young
Gladys Paul Young, Democrat Journalist For Four Decades, Dies
Gladys P. Young, whose part-time job as a "country correspondent" blossomed into a newspaper career that spanned four decades, died Sunday, May 30, 2004, at Lake Wales Medical Center at the age of 76.
For about two years in the early 1960s, Mrs. Young wrote "Alturas News," a personals column for The Polk County Democrat about people living in the Alturas community. In 1964, she joined the staff as a full-time reporter, covering the Polk County commission and the Polk County school board.
At the retirement of Betsy Ravenel in 1981, she became community life editor, a position she held until her retirement last year on her 75th birthday. In that capacity, she wrote numerous stories about engagements, weddings, births, club meetings, and other community activities, and a folksy column, "Across the Back Fence."
She also wrote most of the newspaper's obituaries, and took special pride in giving insight into the personalities and contributions made to the community when reporting the deaths of prominent Bartowans.
At the time of her retirement, S. L. Frisbie, IV, publisher of The Democrat, wrote:
"A few of her obits have been taped to the Pearly Gate to welcome new arrivals; they were that good. Don't ask me how I know; I'm just sure they're there.
"She has participated in our conversion from letterpress to offset, has been through three new typesetting systems, and was here when we started the Fort Meade edition (now The Fort Meade Leader), when we established Polk County Times, when we purchased The Lake Wales News, and when we created our three web sites.
"She covered Lions and Kiwanis meetings for years before either club admitted women to membership, and declined an invitation to become the first female member of at least one of those clubs.
"Known as 'Mother Gladys' to some of the staff (particularly the ones who needed a resident 'mother' to keep an eye on them), she has been a major presence in the community as well as on our staff.
"Our staff, our newspapers, and our communities are better for having had her on our staff for 38 years . . . or 40. And when the time comes some day, that sentiment can be taped to the Pearly Gate, too."
Mrs. Young was born in Hadoca, Ala., on April 5, 1928, and moved to Alturas from Alabama 66 years ago.
She was a lifetime member of the Bartow Kiwanis Club and a member of the Bartow Lions Club.
She served on the board of the Bartow Church Service Center.
Survivors include her husband, James L. Young of Alturas; a son, Daniel T. Young of Bartow; a daughter, Syble Y. Wiggins of Lakeland; a sister, Lacie L. Bisner of Lakeland; six grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Visitation: Tuesday, June 1, from 6 to 7 p.m. at Whidden-McLean Funeral Home.
Funeral: Wednesday, June 2, at 10 a.m. at the funeral home, with Rev. Preston Edwards officiating.
Interment in Wildwood Cemetery.
Memorial contributions: Church Service Center, 290 East Church St., Bartow.
Fayree Brown Kennedy
Fayree Brown Kennedy, 93, of Bartow, died Monday, May 24, 2004, at her daughter's residence.
Born April 21, 1911, in Lake Butler, Mrs. Kennedy moved to Bartow from Tampa 64 years ago.
She was a grade school teacher for 10 years, and was a social worker for the State of Florida. She attended the University of Florida and Florida Southern College, and was a member of the Bartow Crickette Club and of McLeod Memorial Presbyterian Church in Bartow.
Mrs. Kennedy was preceded in death by her husband, James Jetha Kennedy. Survivors include two daughters, Consuela K. (and B.J.) Collins of Inverness, and Sandra J. (and Bob) McKenna of Bartow; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
The funeral: Friday, May 28, at 10 a.m., at Whidden-McLean Funeral Home in Bartow, with Ted Mathis officiating.
Gertrude "Trudy" Kuhn
Gertrude "Trudy" Kuhn
Gertrude "Trudy" Kuhn, 90, of Bartow, died Friday, May 28, 2004, at Bartow Center.
Born May 27, 1914, in Chicago, Ill., Miss Kuhn moved to Bartow 85 years ago.
She was the owner/operator of Kuhn Plumbing Supply in Bartow for 50 years, and was a member of First Church of Christ Scientist in Lakeland.
She was a charter member and past president of the Bartow Crickette Club; was a past president of the Bartow Women's Club, the Driftwood Circle of the Bartow Garden Club, the Girls Villa Board of Association, and the Augusta Bevis Music Club; was a member of the Bartow Library Board for more than 40 years, and a member of the Bartow Art Guild, the Bartow Beautification Board, the Bartow July 4th Centennial Committee, and the Miss Bartow Scholarship Pageant Committee; and was the first female director and treasurer of the Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce.
Miss Kuhn is survived by her caregiver, Barbara Lawn of Winter Haven; and two cousins, Viola Kuhn of Aiken, S.C., and Dorthena Gamm of Kentucky.
No services are planned.
Arrangements: Whidden-McLean Funeral Home, Bartow.
Mildred Marie Stephens
Mildred Marie Stephens, 80, of Bartow, died Tuesday, April 13, 2004, at Rohr Nursing Home.
Born Sept. 11, 1923, in De Funiak Springs, Ms. Stephens was a longtime resident of Bartow.
She was a homemaker. She attended Main Street Baptist Church in Bartow.
Ms. Stephens is survived by two daughters, Bobbie "Pat" Lee and Janice Shipman, both of Bartow; one son, Lloyd Lenyel Stephens, also of Bartow; three brothers, Floyd Bishop of Wauchula, Chaimas Bishop of Lake Wales, and Ralph Bishop of Waverly; two sisters, Juanita Mullins of Lake Wales and Annabel Bishop of Waverly; 21 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Visitation: Friday, April 16, from noon to 1 p.m., at Whidden-McLean Funeral Home in Bartow.
The funeral will follow at 1 p.m. at Wildwood Cemetery in Bartow, with Rev. Mike Tedder officiating.
Pauline L. Hall
Pauline L. "Winnie" Hall, 91, of Tampa, formerly of Bartow, died Wednesday, March 31, 2004, at St. Anthony's Hospital in St. Petersburg.
Born Aug. 4, 1912, in Atlanta, Ga., Mrs. Hall moved from Bartow to University Village in Tampa 15 years ago.
She and her husband were active members of the Holy Trinity Church, and she was active with the Altar Guild for many years.
Mrs. Hall was preceded in death by her husband, Warren E. Hall, Jr., and her son, Warren E. Hall, III. Survivors include: one daughter, Martha Byrne of Clearwater; two brothers, William S. (and Mary) Lewis, and Harry Lewis, both of Denver, Col.; grandchildren, Julia and Norman Geib, and great-grandchildren, Thomas, Amanda, and Thomas Geib, all of Milford, Conn.
The funeral was held Monday, April 5, at 2 p.m., at University Village, Tampa.
Arrangements: Brewer & Sons Funeral Home.
