James Ghent, 86, died Tuesday, May 14 of respiratory failure in Lakeland, Fla. James was born Nov. 7, 1926, in Madison, Fla. Visitation is 5-7 p.m. Monday, May 20 at Burkett Chappell P.B. Church in Bartow. Funeral is 11 a.m. Tuesday, May … read more.

Lawrence Bernard Williams of Indian Head, Md., went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013. He was preceded in death by his father, Chester Lee Williams. He is survived by his mother, Mary Williams; … read more.

Mrs. Louise E. Ervin, 83, passed away from complications of Alzheimer’s Disease Friday, May 10, 2013, at home in Bartow, Fla. Born March 26, 1930, in Mayo, Fla., she was the daughter of the late Dan and Ruby (McRae ) … read more.

Mr. Aaron J. Cochran, 23, passed away May 9, 2013, in Fort Green, Fla. Aaron was born on April 26, 1990 in Arcadia, Fla., and was a lifelong resident of Fort Green. He was a cattleman, attended Hardee County schools, … read more.

Janice Williams Jared, 68, of Fort Meade entered into eternal rest and reward, peacefully on Saturday, May 11, 2013, from breast cancer. She was preceded in death by her husband of 39 years, Norman Jared and her parents Venious D. and … read more.

Mrs. Sarah Lanier Russell, 86, passed away on Sunday, May 5, 2013, in Tampa due to complications of a stroke. Born to a pioneer Polk County family in Fort Meade, Fla., on July 8, 1926, Sarah felt fortunate to live … read more.

Dorothy M. “Dot” Gramling Harrison, 80, passed away Thursday,  May 2, 2013, at Bartow Regional Medical Center of heart failure. Born Nov. 26, 1932, in Fort Meade, Fla., to O.C. and Mary Whidden Gramling. Mrs. Harrison was a lifelong resident … read more.

Phyllis A. Horn, 71, passed away on April 29, 2013, due to complications from a fall. Born in Sayre, Penn., on Feb. 23, 1942, Phyllis grew up in Skowhegan, Maine. Phyllis moved to Bartow from Miami in the early 1970s. … read more.

Judy West Rankin, 72, of Weirsdale, Fla., passed away peacefully and in the loving hands of her Heavenly Father at 12:15 a.m. on Thursday, April 25, 2013, at The Tuscany House hospice in The Villages surrounded by her family and the caring … read more.

Myrtle Frances Matthews, 92, of Fort Meade, Fla., passed away, April 25, 2013. She was born on Oct. 15, 1920, in Caruthersville, Mo. She was a member of the Fort Meade First Baptist Church. Frances was preceded in death by … read more.

Clyde G. Bembry, Jr., 67, passed away Tuesday, April 23, 2013, in Lakeland. Born April 25, 1945 in Hawkinsville, Ga., he was the son of the late Clyde G. Sr., and Theora Bembry. Mr. Bembry was a veteran of the … read more.

Mrs. Melba Gramling Reynolds, 81, passed away Friday, April 19, 2013, in Bartow of heart failure. Mrs. Reynolds was born on  May 7, 1931, and was a native and life-long resident of Fort Meade. She was a homemaker and loved … read more.

William B. Scarborough, 88, of Bartow passed away April 21, 2013. A visitation is from 6-8 p.m. Thursday at Whidden-McLean Funeral Home with services at 10 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. … read more.

Alverna M. Stenger, 93, went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, from natural causes Wednesday, April 17, 2013 in Altamonte Springs, Fla. Mrs. Stenger was born in Hartford, Conn., and raised in Windsor, Conn. Following her … read more.

James E. Moore 72, resident of Winter Haven, passed away Wednesday April 17, 2013, at his home. Mr. Moore was a longtime resident of the area. Family will receive friends 6-8 p.m. Friday, April 19, 2013, at Whidden-McLean Funeral Home, … read more.

Thomas K. Henry, 74, passed away from respiratory failure Tuesday, April 16, 2013. Memorial service will be Saturday, April 20 at 3 p.m. at Whidden-McLean Funeral Home in Bartow. Whidden-McLean Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. … read more.

Mary Ellen O’Neal died April 16, 2013, from complications of dementia. Mary was born in Cairo, Ga., on Aug. 21, 1945. She was a nursing assistant for Polk County Board of County Commissioners for 24 years. Most of her time … read more.

Pauline McCullough Bostian passed away on April 12, 2013, at 90 years young. A member of the Beach United Methodist Church, Jacksonville Beach.; a retired fourth grade teacher at  San Pablo Elementary, and good neighbor she now joins her husband … read more.

Robert F. “Bob” Modrall, 77, passed away Saturday, April 13, 2013, at Winter Haven Hospital of respiratory failure. Born Dec. 11, 1935, in Scottsville, Ky. Mr. Modrall was a resident of Polk County for more than 65 years, moving from … read more.

Mrs. Dathia Carrie Hensley, 72 passed away April 12, 2013, in Orange City, Fla. Mrs. Hensley was born Feb. 27, 1941, in Oneida, Ky., and recently moved to Deltona, Fla. in 2012. She was a former resident of Fort Meade … read more.

Katherene E. “Kathy” Hall, 50, from Riverview, Fla., passed away April 11, 2013, from multiple organ failure. She was born July 12, 1962 in New Kensington, Penn. Kathy earned her masters in accounting and practiced as a CPA in Pinellas … read more.

Helen L. Quinn, 94, of Lake Wales, died April 8, 2013 of natural causes. She is survived by daughter Sharon Eaton and husband, Eddie; sister, Ria Kriss; grandchildren, David, Danny, Kim and Joey. Services are Wednesday, April 10, 2013 at … read more.

Mrs. Pauline “Polly” V. Martin, 87, passed away Friday, April 5, 2013, in Bartow of heart failure. Mrs. Martin was born Sept. 4, 1925, and was a native and lifelong resident of Fort Meade, Fla. She was a retired sectionizer … read more.

Mrs. Edna “Boots” Bowers, 91, passed away Tuesday, March 26, 2013, in Sebring, of heart failure. Mrs. Bowers was born in Tampa June 30, 1921, and moved to Fort Meade from Avon Park in 1946. She was a graduate of … read more.

Gleda Burkett Sellers, 74 a native of Bartow, passed away Thursday, March 21, 2013, at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa. Gleda was born Sept. 20, 1938. She was a Homemaker and a member of Main Street Baptist Church of Bartow. … read more.

Johnny E. Mofield, 63, passed away Tuesday, March 19, 2013, at the Malcolm Randall Va. Medical Center in Gainesville, Fla. Born Oct. 18, 1949, in Columbus, KY, Mr. Mofield was a former resident of Bartow. He was a graduate of … read more.

Mr. Gail Darwin Bever, 73, died March 18, 2013, in Bartow. He is survived locally by mother, Geraldine Bever, Fort Meade, Fla. Services will be held in Michigan. Hancock Funeral Home, Fort Meade, is in charge of arrangements. … read more.

James E. Singletary, 85, passed away Monday, March 18, 2013, at Good Shepherd Hospice in Auburndale. Born Oct. 30, 1927, in Fort Meade, Singletary was a lifelong resident of the area. Funeral arrangements are incomplete. Whidden-McLean Funeral Home is in … read more.

Lamar Wilkes, 82, former resident of Bartow, passed away Sunday, March 17 due to respiratory failure. He was born in Columbus, Ga., in 1931. He attended Summerlin Institute and retired from the U.S. Army as a Staff Sergeant and Korean … read more.

Herb Crowell, 86, of Lake Panasoffkee, Fla., died Wednesday, March 13, 2013, in Bushnell, Fla. He was born July 20, 1926, in Union County, NC. Mr. Crowell was a telephone technician who started his career in North Carolina, and then … read more.

Mrs. Martha Annette Pierce, 78, passed away Friday, March 15, 2013, at Bartow Regional Medical Center of heart failure. Mrs. Pierce was born on Aug. 13, 1934, in Enterprise, Ala., and she was a lifelong resident of Fort Meade. Mrs. … read more.

William B. “Bill” Andrews, 75, passed away Saturday, March 16, 2013, at Good Shepherd Hospice in Auburndale. Born Dec. 5, 1937, in Umatilla, he was the son of the late Harry and Nora Andrews. Bill served in the U.S. Air … read more.

Timothy G. Hill, 42, passed away Monday, March 11, 2013, at his residence in Lakeland, Fla. He was born Tuesday, Sept. 15, 1970, in Winter Haven, Fla., a lifelong resident of the area. Family will receive friends today, from 12 … read more.

Mrs. Allene Forsythe Morgan, 82, passed away Saturday, March 9, 2013, at Good Shepherd Hospice in Auburndale, Fla., after complications from a stroke. Mrs. Morgan was born June 24, 1930, in Plant City, Fla., and after living in Fort Meade, Fla., for … read more.

Beryl Wood (Tucker) Little, 100, of Fort Meade, Fla., passed away Friday, March 8, 2013, at the Rohr Home in Bartow, Fla., due to complications of a stroke. Mrs. Little was born in Pierce, Ky., in a log cabin. She was … read more.

Karrie Jackson White, 83, passed away from respiratory failure, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013. She was born Aug. 17, 1929, in Orange Park, Fla. She was the daughter of Cebron Byrd Jackson and Bertha (Kent) Jackson. Karrie was a homemaker and … read more.

Irrie T. Smith, 86, passed away Friday, March 1, 2013, in Sebring, Fla. Mr. Smith was born on Dec. 9, 1926, and was a native and lifelong resident of Fort Meade. He retired from Estech Chemical Co. as an electrician … read more.

Grace Elliott Harrison, 84, passed away Friday, Feb. 22, 2013, at Savannah Cottage in Lakeland. Born Wednesday, April 25, 1928, in Lakeland, Fla., Mrs. Harrison was a life long resident of the area. Funeral services were Friday,  March 1, 2013, … read more.

Mrs. Edith Lorraine Barwick, 85, passed away Wednessday, Feb. 27, 2013, in Zephyrhills, Fla., of heart failure. Mrs. Barwick was born in Bartow, Fla., and moved to Fort Meade in 1956. She was a homemaker and member of the Cornerstone … read more.

Charles William Lee, 90, of Bartow passed away Feb. 25, 2013. Visitation is Friday, March 1, 2013, from 10-11 a.m. at Whidden-McLean Funeral Home. Service is Friday, March 1, 2013, 11 a.m. at Whidden-McLean Funeral Home. Whidden-McLean Funeral Home is … read more.