Essie Ross

HomemakerLAKELAND -- Mrs. Essie Lee Ross of Lakeland died of a heart attack April 26, 2006, at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. She was 85.She was born in New Smyrna Beach on Sept. 19, 1920. She was a homemaker. She was a founding member of Greater Refuge Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ in Lakeland and a member of the Mother Board. She served as first lady of the state of Florida Refuge Church of Our Lord Auxiliaries on a local, regional and state level.Mrs. Ross was preceded in death by her husband, Henry Ross. She is survived by her son, Henry A. Ross Jr., Winter Haven; daughters, Hazel Ross Lyons, Bushnell, Ethelyn Ross Rozier, Rockledge, Cynthia Ross Waring, Janice Ross McLachlan, Kathy Ross Forehand, all of Lakeland; 26 grandchildren; 59 great-grandchildren; 12 great-greatgrandchildren.Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Refuge Temple Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ, 1258 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Lakeland. Services will be at at 11 a.m. Friday at the church. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery, Lakeland. H.W. Oldham Funeral Home, Lakeland.