The Ledger Obituaries Saturday, 22 Sept 2012

  I decided to post the obituaries page of our local newspaper, I figured it may assist someone in their genealogy research. I wont be posting the obituaries everyday since I don't buy the newspaper, I just barrow my mother-in-law's paper.

Danny Hamilton, 63
Northside Roofing Co.
Lakeland- Danny Lee Hamilton Sr., 63 of Lakeland, died September 18, 2012 at Good Shepherd Hospice at Palm Terrace, of cancer.
Danny was born September 19, 1948 in Grayson, KY to William and Mary Hamilton. Danny owned and operated Northside Roofing Company here in Polk County for many years.
Danny is survived by his wife, Gloria Hein of Lakeland; his sons, Danny (Angie) Hamilton Jr. and William Donald (Angel) Hamilton; his daughters Teresa (Rick) Story and Kristina Aslin; his brothers, Gary, Ronald, William, Gregory and Barry Hamilton; his sisters, Patrica Lewis and Mairanne King and twelve  grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Friends will be received from 9am to 11am Saturday at the Lakeland Funeral Home where funeral services will be held that morning at 11am. Interment will take place privately in Lakeland Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

Ruby Lencioni
Lakeland- Ruby Lencioni. a resident of Lakeland, FL, passed away on Thursday September 13. 2012 at the Hospice House at Pal Terrace in Lakeland, FL.
The former Ruby Bryan  was born in Chamois, MO, a daughter of Charles and Florence (Perrey)n Bryan.
She married Angelo Lencioni (formerly of Calumet). He proceeded her in death on September 9, 1996.  She was also proceeded in death by her brother Russel Bryan and his wife; a sister-in-law, Delphine Makolin; and a brother-in-law, Walter Kilberg.
Mrsw. Lencioni is survived by: 2 sisters-in-law, Genevieve (Joseph) Lanfranki of Calumet; and Tina Kilberg of Ishpeming; numerous nieces and nephews; A special angel for whom the family is extremely grateful, Mai Phuong Deganan.
At the request of the deceased, a private Funeral Mass will be celebrated. Burial will be in the Lake View Cemetery.
The Erickson Crowley Funeral Home  is assisting with local arrangements. Online condolences my be left at www.ericksoncrowley.com

Wayne William Thomann, 92
Winter Haven- Wayne William Thomann born Aug 30th, 1920, Milwaukee, WI, passed away at The
Meadows in Winter Haven, FL, peacefully of natural causes on September 11, 2012 to join his wife Marion in heaven.
He survived by his tow sons Wayne Robert and is wife Charlotte Thomann of Chapel Hill, NC and Gary Wyane and his wife Susan of Fort Pierce, FL, seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers donations in his memory can be made to Good Shepherd Hospice, 105 Arneson Ave., Aurburndale, FL 33823.

Mario Lucio Gomez Hoover, 94
Lakeland- Mario Hoover, 94  died 9-20-12of natural causes. Visit: 10-11am Tues. at Southside assembly of God. Svc. 11am Entombment Lakeland Mem. Gdns.

Bonnie Lou Erskine, 66
Lakeland-  Bonnie Lou  Erskine, 66 passed away 9-19-12 Memorial service 9-23-12 at 2 pm at Trinity United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, Lakeland.

Arthur E. Alper, 84
Athens, GA- A man devoted to the well-being of people of all  walks of life, Dr. Arthur E. Alper, 84, lost his courageous battle to Alzheimers's disease on Tuesday, September 19th. A resident of Athens, Georgia, Athur formerly resided in Augusta, Georgia; Gainsville, FL and Watkinsville, Georia.
Arthur was born on January 5, 1928 in Brooklyn, New York. He attended college  at the University of Florida, and would go on to receive he Master's and Doctorate degrees in Clinical Psychology. In between his undergraduate and graduate studies, he served as an officer in the United States Air Force during the time of the Korean War and attained the rank of captain prior to retirement. He also served for two years in the Air Medical Evacuation Squadron of the Georgia Air National Guard.
Dr. Alper began his post military career as a professor of special education, first at his alma mater, University of Florida, and than at the University of Georgia in Athens. For over twenty years, he taught graduate-level college courses about behavior disorders, and led the Behavior Disorders Division of the Program fro Exceptional Children, within the UGA College of Education. after retiring from the University of Georgia, he opened a private counseling practice for eight years, serving individuals and families in the Athens area. In addition, he was a long-time member of the American Psychological Association, the Council for Exceptional Children and MENSA. His career and life mission exemplified the rare qualities of comfort, insight, intelligence and reassurance.
Arthur is predeceased by his spouse of twenty-four years, Leola Wray Alper, and is survived by his sister, Mrs. Joan Rabin and her husband Gerald Rabin of Lakeland, Florida; and his children David Alper and Carl Alper and his wife, Vicky, and their two children Ethan and Zoe.
A memorial service will be held at Bernstein Funeral Home in Athens, Georgia on Sunday, September 23, 2012 at 2:00pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation be made to the Congregation Children of Isreal, 115 Dudley Dr., Athens, GA 30606 or the Alzheimers's Foundation of America, 322 Eight Ave, 7th fl, New York, NY 10001.
Online condolences my be offered at www.bernsteinfuneralhome.com
Berstein Funeral Home and Cremation Service is in charge of arrangements.

Glenn Brandt, 76
Cabinet Maker
Lakeland - Glenn Brandt, 76, passed away from heart failure September 21, 2012.
Mr. Brant was born in Lakeland on December 29, 1935 and remained a lifelong resident of the are. He was a cabinet maker and member of the Lakeland Seventh Day Adventist Church.
Mr. Brandt was predeced in death by his wife, Gloria Brandt. He is survived by his son, Ed Brandt and his daughter, Susan Montgomery and her husband Kingsley.
A visitation will be held Sunday from 2-4 pm at Gentry-Morrison Southside Chapel, 1727 Bartow Road, Lakeland, FL. Funeral services will be conducted Monday at 1:30pm at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lakeland Seventh Day Adventist Church, 1435 Gilmore Ave., Lakeland, FL 33805.

Charles Wayne Brogdon, 64
Lakeland - Charles Wayne Brogdon, 64, died Sept. 19 2012 at his home due to COPD.
Mr. Brogdon was born in Mulga, Alabama and served in the U.S. Navy during Vietnam.
He is survived by his wife Judy Grogdon; son Charles Brogdon II; daughters Josephine (Mark Reed) Quackenbos, Charlene Spears, Sarah Brogdon, Crystal (Rick Goodale) Brogdon, Jessica (Matthew Moyer) Brogdon; brother James Cecil Brogdon; sisters Willdean Brogdon, Betty Melcher; 20 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild.
A funeral service will be held Monday, Sept 24 at 11am with a visitation from 10-11 at Gentry-Morrison Southside Chapel. Interment at Sarasota National Cemetery.

Danie Mae McGraw, 88
Lakeland- Danie Mae McGraw, 88 died 9-20-2012 due to natural causes. She is survived by her loving family. Lakeland Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Evelyne E. Campbell, 95
Otis Elevator
Lakeland- Evelyn E Campbell died 9-21-12 of natural causes. Survived by sisters, Joan Cirone, Ruth Davis, brother Raymond Eberhardt . Gentry Morrison Cremation.

Albert Hopper, 86
Bartow -  Albert Hopper, 86, passed away 9-21-12 from cancer. Visit: Mon. 9-24, 10-11 am at Whidden-McLean  F. H. Service to follow at 11 am at the funeral home.

Jesus Alvarez, 78
Dover - Jesus Alvarez, 78 died of heart failure 9-18-12. Visitation will be 5-8 pm Sat at Alexander Funeral Home, Winter Haven. Burial will be in Mexico.

Lisa Pate Gray, 44
Lakeland - Lisa Pate Gray, 44, died of cancer 9-19-12. Memorial services will be held at a later date. Steele's Family Funeral Services, Winter Haven.

Wendall Allen Cannon, 84
Cannon Automotive Group
Lakeland- On September 19, 2012, Wendall Allen Cannon ended his long battle with cancer, displaying the personal courage and devout faith which characterized his entire life. Wendell  faced his challenges quietly, without complaint and with a smile for everyone. The integrity with which he conducted his life and his manner in confronting challenges and hardships set a wonderful example for his family, a legacy for which we will always be grateful.
Born October 15, 1927 to Jesse A. cannon and the former Annie Lou Goleman of Lakeland,he was a lifetime resident of Lakeland. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Clara; three sons, Terry (Terry Asher), Rick (Denise), and Danny of Lakeland; a grandson, Kyle Cannon, also  of Lakeland; a grand daughter Kimberly Lehmann-Saba (Pete)  of Casselberry. He is also survived by two great-grandsons, Jonnah Lehmann-Saba  of Casselberry and Noah Davis of Bartow; and surviving cousins, Barbara Goleman of Lakeland, Mae Brown of Tampa, and Nancy McCandless of Ruskin. He was proceeded in death by his parents and his sister; Leora Stanfill, and her husband Danny Stanfill, both of Houston, Texas and Lakeland.
Wendell was a wonderful husband and faith who loved to spend time with his family, sharing his knowledge of business as will as his passion for fishing, hunting, and playing golf at Lone Palm Golf Club, where he was a member since 1965, He  was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and met his wife Clara while stationed in Pensacola shortly after World War II. He was a salesman all his professional life, beginning his career selling cars in Lakeland in 1948 at Lakeland Lincoln Mercury while attending Florida Southern College. He later joined Harold Streater at Streater Buick in 1949. His first job was selling service door-to-door. He eventually became general manager and purchased the dealership upon Streater's death in 1964, changing the name to cannon buick, Inc. In  1974, he moved the dealership form its downtown location on the corner of Ingraham Avenue and Main Street, to its current location on South Florida Avenue.
Wendell was a longtime member of First United Methodist Church and was involved in moving the church from its location on Kentucky Avenue to the current location on Lake Morton. He served  in the choir, on many boards, and together with his wife, was founding member of the BYKOTA Sunday School Class, where the made many life-long friends.
The family will greet friends during a visitation/ reception Monday at 2:00 pm in the Narthex of the First United Methodist Church, followed by a  Service of celebration and Remembrance at 3:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that contributions be made to the First United Methodist Church Building Fund, 72 Lake Morton Drive, Lakeland, FL 338001, or Good Shepherd Hospice, 105 Arneson Avenue, Auburndale, FL 33823
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.heathfuneralchapel.com

Justin Patrick Ferrio, 19
Student
Winter Haven- Justin Ferrio, 19, died 9-16-12 from an auto accident. Srv:parents Tom & Christine Albright; br. Zachary Bray; grandparents Pat & Ann Ferrio.

Charles O. Swearengin, 73
New Port Richey- Mr. Charles O. Swearengin, age 73, of the New Port Richey  passed away Thursday, September 20, 2012 in Hudson due to injuries sustained in an automobile accident.
Mr. Swearengin was born in Huntsville, Al. and had lived in the Auburndale area since 1955. He is a retired self employed auto mechanic. Mr. Swearengin was a member of The Deliverance Center in Auburndale and he enjoyed the outdoors including fishing, camping, Nascar and spending his time with his family.
He was proceeded in death by a sister, Ruby Swearengin. He is survived by his wife of  35 years, Gloria Swearengin of New Port Richey, 3 sons, Charles Jr. (Morgan) Swearengin of New Port Richey, Shane Swearengin of New Port Richey, and Terry (Wendy) Davis of Highland City ;  3 daughters, Tammy McDaniels of Hernando, MS., Regina Kay  Swearengin of Memphis TN., and Letha Davis of Clearwater, a brother, Danny Swearengin of Dothan, AL., 22 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will take a place for Mr. Swearengin on Monday at 5 PM at the Kersey Funeral Home, Auburndale.

Alta Helen SMITH's blood line

     Tonight is another one of my sleepless nights, as usual, but tonight I decide I was going to get up and do something instead of laying in bed. So I jumped on the computer and decided to do some genealogy work. I pulled up the MyHeritage program that I use, and froze, its been so long since I've dont any research that I didnt know where to start. I decied to start fresh I typed in the letter A in the search box and the first name to come up was:Alta Helen SMITH   So I a starting with Alta tonight.

 Alta Helen SMITH
sex: Female
born: 4 March 1918 in Slate Creek, VA
death: 11 Oct 1928 in Stacy, VA
Cause: ?
Father: William Harrison SMITH
Mother: Frankie VANCE

As you see poor Alta died at the age of ten, so I can not research her spouse(s) and children. So I will start with her maternal line and work on that.

Frankie VANCE
sex: Female

born: 6 Sept 1896 in Slate Creek, VA
death: 20 Aug 1960 in Grundy Hospital, Gruundy, VA
Father: Alexander VANCE
Mother Nancy Jane STACY
Married: William Harrison SMITH on 3 Jan 1912 in Slate Creek, VA

Frankie and William had 7 children that I have found thus far. Supposedly, there are 2 more, but I do not have any info on them. Not including Alta below are thier children.

Andrew Carl SMITH (male) 1913-1980
Edith Faye SMITH (female) 1914-1914
Kermit Bascom SMITH (male) 1915-?
Curtis SMITH (male) 1920-?
Dewey Harold SMITH (male) 1926-?
Kennith Edward SMITH (male) 1932-183

Nancy Jane STACY
born: 13 Oct 1860 in Grundy, VA
death: 14 May 1934
Father: Clinton STACY
Mother: Sarah (sally) YATES
Spouse: Giles William YATES, Alexander VANCE

Alexander VANCE
born: 3 July 1842 in Tazewell, VA
death: 4 June 1916in Tazewell, VA
Father: Elijah VANCE
Mother: Jane VANCE

It is now past 3 AM and I am starting to get sleepy, so next time (prbably tomarrow night) I will pick up on Alta's paternal blood line. Below is what I already have:

William Harrison SMITH
born:25 Jun 1893 in Slate Creek, VA
death: 25 April 1980 in Grundy Hospital, Grundy, Buchanan Co., VA
Father: Richard SMITH
Mother: Sarah Margaret McCLANAHAN


IF YOU HAVE ANY INFO/PHOTOS/DOCUMENTS ON ANY PERSONS LISTED PLEASE EMAIL ME AT zanettedennis@aol.com THANKS A TON!!!

My Mother's Bloodline

Below is a copy of every thing I have on the ancestors of my mother, Karen Leigh Christian. I'd love any info you have regarding any persons pertaining to my mothers tree. I would be more than happy to provide any knowledge I have to any persons you are researching. I love to make connections with people or just share information. Thanks.

Need New Company Name...HELP

So I was trying to build a website, which I have no idea how to do, and I was registering my domain name, Legacypreservation.com, turns out there is already a company that has that name. They publish your family story (written by you) for you. This really sucks big time because Legacy Preservation fit so nicely with my company and what I do. Scrapbooking+Genealogy=Legacy Preservation, see what I'm saying. So perfect, yet so not happening. I am verry mad right now and would really love the current Legacy Preservation to go out of business like tomorrow. Yes, I am hate'n right now. But now I need a new company name. Which is NOT easy to come up with. I feel like screaming right now. you know what, AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!, there I feel slightly better after my virtual scream. Now I must set to work coming up with a new name for my company, than register it immediately. Going to bed mad is never good, but its late and I can't help that my blood is boiling with anger that I cant have what I want. If I was 2 I'd be on the floor kicking and screaming right now, but I'm not so off to bed I go.

The Chosen

"The Chosen"



We are the chosen. In each family there is one who seems called to find the ancestors. To put flesh on their bones and make them live again. To tell the family story and to feel that somehow they know and approve. Doing genealogy is not a cold gathering of facts but, instead, breathing life into all who have gone before. We are the story tellers of the tribe. All tribes have one. We have been called, as it were, by our genes. Those who have gone before cry out to us: Tell our story. So, we do. In finding them, we somehow find ourselves. How many graves have I stood before now and cried? I have lost count. How many times have I told the ancestors, "You have a wonderful family; you would be proud of us.". How many times have I walked up to a grave and felt somehow there was love there for me? I cannot say. It goes beyond just documenting facts. It goes to who I am, and why I do the things I do. It goes to seeing a cemetery about to be lost forever to weeds and indifference and saying - I can't let this happen. The bones here are bones of my bone and flesh of my flesh. It goes to doing something about it. It goes to pride in what our ancestors were able to accomplish. How they contributed to what we are today. It goes to respecting their hardships and losses, their never giving in or giving up, their resoluteness to go on and build a life for their family. It goes to deep pride that the fathers fought and some died to make and keep us a nation. It goes to a deep and immense understanding that they were doing it for us. It is of equal pride and love that our mothers struggled to give us birth, without them we could not exist, and so we love each one, as far back as we can reach. That we might be born who we are. That we might remember them. So we do. With love and caring and scribing each fact of their existence, because we are they and they are the sum of who we are. So, as a scribe called, I tell the story of my family. It is up to that one called in the next generation to answer the call and take my place in the long line of family storytellers. That is why I do my family genealogy, and that is what calls those young and old to step up and restore the memory or greet those who we had never known before."



by Della M. Cummings Wright; Rewritten by her granddaughter Dell Jo Ann McGinnis Johnson; Edited and Reworded by Tom Dunn, 1943."


I Love this!!!!!