Recent Obituaries and Guest Books

DAVID EDWARD ADELMEYER, 68

LAKELAND - David Edward Adelmeyer, age 68 passed away Friday, June 14, 2013 due to cancer. He is survived by loving family. Services are pending at this time.

MARJORIE ANNA
BARNES, 94

WINTER HAVEN - Marjorie Anna Meagher Barnes, 94, of Winter Haven passed away on Wednesday, June 12, 2013 at the Spring Lake Rehab Center in Winter Haven.
Born Feb. 24, 1919 in Ottumwa, IA she had recently moved to Winter Haven from Ottumwa, IA. She was a homemaker, loved to travel, play bridge and was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Ottumwa, IA.
She is preceded in death by her husbands, Samuel William Mercer and W.T. Barnes, and a son, Michael Mercer.
She is survived by: a daughter, Jan Hyman and her husband Kevin of Winter Haven, FL; a son, William Mercer and his wife, Mary Sue of Colorado Springs, CO; a sister, Lucille Meany of Georgetown, SC; 11 grandchildren; and 18 great grandchildren.
A private service for the family will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers please make memorial donations in her memory to the of Polk County, FL.

JOANN HOBSON
BRANAM, 73

WINTER HAVEN- JoAnn Hobson Branam, 73, of Winter Haven, FL, passed away on June 13, 2013 due to COPD. She was born on Nov. 29, 1939 in Bessemer, AL.
She is survived by, her husband, Eugene Branam, two children, Tammie St. John and Gary Branam, a brother, B.W. Hobson, six grandchildren: Robert St. John, Andrea St. John, Megan Branam, Lauren Branam, Tyler Branam, and Tanner Branam, and two great grandchildren, Tammie and Jonathan.
A visitation will be held
Monday, June 17th, from
10 to 11 with a service following at 11. Both will be held at First Baptist Church in Wahneta. Burial will follow at Glen Abbey in Auburndale at 12.

HELEN DAY
BURRUS, 85

ATLANTA, GA - Helen Day Burrus, 85, died on June 10, 2013, of pulmonary failure.
Born July 26, 1927, in Caledonia, MS, she grew up in Horn Lake, just south of Memphis. At Mississippi State College for Women she was president of the class of 1950 and earned a degree in Home Economics.
In 1952 she married William James "Jim" Burrus, and in 1957 they and their two toddlers moved from Shelby, MS, to Lakeland. She taught at Dixieland and Combee Elementary Schools and served on state curriculum committees. Among her many interests were reading, playing bridge, sewing, tennis, photography, and travel. Her high school English and drama teacher (who became a sister-in-law) said of Helen that she was "smart as a whip" and could do just about anything well.
Her husband, James, died in 2009. Last June she moved to Decatur, GA, where she enjoyed making new friends and serving on the library committee at Clairmont Place.
She is survived by daughter Patricia (m. Robert) Berrett of Atlanta, granddaughter Sara (m. Randle) Tolles and their children (Jacob and Kristin) of Lexington, NC; son Jim Jr. (m. Michele) of Parker, CO, and their son William James Burrus III; and two brothers, a sister, and many nieces and nephews.
Her memorial service is on June 30 at Central Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, and gifts may be directed to its Handicap Access Fund. At a later date her ashes will be interred at First United Methodist Church, Lakeland, where she was a member for 56 years.

ERIN COLLEEN
CASTRO, 59

VALRICO- Erin Colleen Catro, 59 of Valrico passed away June 7, 2013 due to heart failure. The Family has not planned any local services at this time.

WILLIAM I.
CHAMBLISS, 52

ST. PETERSBURG - Mr. William I. Chambliss passed away February 21, 2013 due to COPD in St. Petersburg, Fl. Survived by a loving family.

MARY
COLE, 78
TEACHER

LAKELAND - Mary Cole, 78, passed away 6/12 of Heart Failure. Viewing Tue. 5-7 Coney Chapel. Svc. Wed. 1 pm at Mt. Olive A.M.E. Church, Bushnell, FL. Coney FH.

ROSE
FORTIN, 89

LAKELAND - Rose Fortin, 89 of Lakeland was born March 10, 1924 in Brooklyn, N. Y. to Dominick and Isabella Agatiello. She passed away peacefully on June 10th, at her home here in Lakeland.
Rose was married January 6th, 1946 to Wilfred Fortin her loving husband of 67 years. They married in New York and moved to Rumford Maine. After her two children were born they moved back to N.Y. They then moved to Lakeland, Florida in September, 1961. She worked with her husband for eight years, owning a retail store in Auburndale. She then worked for 10 years as a tailor at Belk - Lindsey. She loved to sew and could tailor anything.
Rose is survived by her husband, Wilfred, son Judy Fortin (Sandy), daughter Deani Jordan grandchildren Michelle (Denny) Simmers, Hea- ther Fortin, Shannon (Mike) Johnson, Jamie (Riley) Jordan, great grandchildren Forrest, Ian and Catherine Simmers, Dylan and Stella Johnson.
Memorial service will be held at St Joseph's Catholic Church in Lakeland on June 20, at 5:00 P.M. afterward a celebration of her life will take place.
Memorials of remembrances may be made to Good Shepherd Hospice or .

WALLACE
"BEN" LEE
GAY, 89

LAKELAND - Wallace "Ben" Lee Gay, 89 died 6/14/2013 due to heart failure. A memorial service and reception will be held Tues, June 18 at 1pm at Heath Funeral Chapel.

BETTY JO
GRAY, 83

WINTER HAVEN - Betty Jo Gray, 83, died of heart failure 6/5/13. Memorial service 11am Tues. 6/18 at First Presbyterian Church of Winter Haven. Oak Ridge FC.