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STEVEN EDWARDS, 27
Welder
WINTER HAVEN -- Mr. Steven Ray Edwards of Winter Haven died of a brain aneurysm Saturday (Aug. 13, 2005) at Winter Haven Hospital. He was 27.
Born Oct. 12, 1977, he was a lifelong resident of Winter Haven. He was a welder. He was a Baptist.
Mr. Edwards is survived by his father, Billy Ray Edwards; fiancee, Carrie Peterson, Winter Haven; sister, Lisa Diaz, Auburndale; brother, Joseph Edwards, Winter Haven; maternal grandmother, Emma Bearden, Auburndale.
Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. Thursday at Kersey Funeral Home, Auburndale. Services will follow at 2 p.m. at the funeral home.
Danny Freeman, 60 Air Force
AUBURNDALE -- Mr. Danny Lewis Freeman of Auburndale met his future wife, Betsy, in high school. They married 38 years later.
Mr. Freeman, who served for 21 years in the Air Force, died of cancer Friday (Aug. 12, 2005) at his home. He was 60.
He was born on Oct. 3, 1944, in Chillicothe, Ohio, and moved to Lakeland 19 years ago.
In the Air Force, he served as a master sergeant in Vietnam, Korea and Alaska.
When he settled in Lakeland to be close to his mother, he began appraising real estate for R.D. Little & Associates.
Betsy Ann Bergman Freeman, his wife, met Mr. Freeman in high school while growing up in Ohio. He had a reputation for his sense of humor. "He was a little on the outs with the teachers and had a convertible he tooled around in, " she remembered.
Shortly before they attended their 38th high school reunion in 2000, Mr. Freeman received an e-mail from her and learned she lived in Kissimmee.
"His looks had changed. He was more mature but still had a good sense of humor. He was someone I wanted to keep seeing, " she said.
The two grew closer after the reunion and married.
"It was a nice, quiet ceremony in front of a stone fireplace, " Mrs. Freeman said. It took place at a friend's home, a notary with which Mr. Freeman was close. "Afterward we had a reception at Riverrock's for anyone who wanted to come, and then we went to Disney World."
Mr. Freeman was a member of the Moose Lodge and AMVETS. He was a Protestant.
He is survived by his wife of four years, Betsy Ann Bergman Freeman; daughter, Katherine Fosberg, Washington; stepdaughter, Catherine Brandner, Loveland, Ohio; and three step grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesday at Kersey Funeral Home, Auburndale. Services will follow at 2 p.m. at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, Attn: Web, P.O. Box 102454, Atlanta, GA 30368-2454.
Kayla Lorentz, 13, Denison Middle
WINTER HAVEN -- Miss Kayla Jane Lorentz, an eighthgrade honor roll student at Denison Middle School, dreamed of becoming a veterinarian some day.
"She always talked about how much she loved animals, " said her maternal grandmother, Janie Burroughs of Winter Haven. "She was so full of love for people and animals. Her dreams were to hurry up and get back to school. She didn't want to mess up her grades. Her whole life was her school."
Miss Lorentz died of leukemia Tuesday (Aug. 30, 2005) at Arnold Palmer Hospital in Orlando. She was 13.
She was born in Eustis on Nov. 8, 1991. The family relocated to Winter Haven from there shortly after Miss Lorentz's grandparents came there in 1996.
She attended Jewitt Elementary and Snively Elementary schools. While in the fifth grade, she received the Richard Rowe Foundation Scholarship to Polk Community College.
"She has always been an honor student, " said her mother, Veleda Lorentz. "I could have never asked for a better kid. She just loved life, and she loved everything."
Miss Lorentz was looking forward to vying for the Bright Futures Scholarship this year and was planning to volunteer at the Polk County Humane Society.
She was always interested in sports and within the last couple of years started playing softball on the Little Miss Winter Haven Softball team, playing multiple positions.
In addition to her mother, Veleda Lorentz, and grandmother, Janie Burroughs, Miss Lorentz is survived by her father, Thornton Lorentz, Winter Haven; sister, Alleen McGowan, Winter Haven; maternal grandfathers, Joe Burroughs, Winter Haven, and Robert Marshall, Cincinnati; and paternal grandfather, Carlton Mancill, Bassville Park.
Visitation will be Saturday from 1 to 2 p.m. at OttLaughlin Funeral Home, Winter Haven. Services will follow at 2 p.m. at the funeral home chapel. Burial will be in Rolling Hills Cemetery, Winter Haven.
FRANKIE JOHNSON, 69
Homemaker
LAKELAND -- Mrs. Frankie Mae Johnson of Lakeland died of cardio-respiratory failure Thursday (Aug. 25, 2005) at Tandem Healthcare, Lakeland. She was 69.
Born July 27, 1936, in Albany, Ga., Mrs. Johnson moved to Lakeland from there six years ago. She was a homemaker. She attended St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church, Plant City.
Mrs. Johnson was preceded in death by her husband, Lloyd Johnson. She is survived by her daughter, Rosalyn Mendes, Camilla, Ga.; sister, Opal Pearson, Lakeland; one grandson.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. this evening at Charlow Funeral Home, Plant City. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church.
Barney Mullis, 82, Metal Spray
WILLOW OAK -- Mr. Barney Mullis of Willow Oak helped begin Polk County's metal coating industry, his son said.
Mr. Mullis died of heart failure Sunday (July 3, 2005) at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. He was 82.
Born Aug. 5, 1922, in McRae, Ga., he came here from Mulberry 46 years ago.
During the 1950s, Mr. Mullis began Metal Coat in Mulberry, the company that spurred Mr. Mullis' career as well as an industry in Polk County, said his son, Denny Mullis of Lakeland.
"He's probably a pioneer in the metalizing industry, " his son said.
Metalizing is a term for spraying molten metal on machinery, serving as a protective coating.
"Most of the people in Polk who have started their own businesses (in the industry) worked for him at one time, " he said.
One of his last companies was Metal Spray, specializing in coating machinery in paper mills all over the United States.
His sons say the business provided them all with a college education and their father had a respected reputation.
"He'd tell you to respect other people and they'll respect you, " Denny Mullis said. "He's probably more giving than you could have ever been to him."
Mr. Mullis was president of Dad's & Booster's Club of Mulberry High School and Kiwanis Club of Mulberry. He was a member of Corinthian Masonic Lodge 191, Mulberry, and Egypt Temple Shrine, Tampa. He was a veteran of World War II. He was commander of Mulberry Memorial American Legion Post 72. He was a member of Pine Grove Baptist Church.
Mr. Mullis is survived by his wife of 58 years, Evelyn Mullis; sons, Denny Mullis, Steve Mullis and Terry Mullis, all of Lakeland; eight grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 this evening at Seigler Funeral Home, Mulberry. Services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at Pine Grove Baptist Church, Mulberry.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Florida Baptist Children's Home, P.O. Box 8190, Lakeland, FL 33802.
