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AMBER JONES, 18
College Student
LAKE WALES -- Miss Amber Jones of Lake Wales died of injuries sustained in an auto accident Saturday (April 9, 2005) in Madison. She was 18.
Born in Lake Wales on July 2, 1986, she was a lifelong resident of the area. She was a college student at Florida State University. She was a member of the Lake Wales Highlander Band and the Scottish Unit. She was a member of the FBLA, student government, Beacon and Drama Clubs at Lake Wales High School. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Lake Wales.
Miss Jones is survived by her father and stepmother, Sam and Gwenn Jones, Vero Beach; mother and stepfather, Kimberly and Rob Johnson, Lake Wales; brother, Joe Jones, Vero Beach; sister, Kara Jones, Vero Beach; maternal grandmother, Joan Jones, Lake Wales; paternal grandparents, Charles and Mary Jones, Lake Wales; fiance, Jacob Donaldson, Lake Wales.
Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at First Baptist Church. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the church. Burial will follow in Lake Wales Cemetery. Memorial services will be at 8:30 p.m. Thursday at Florida State University.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alena Violette and Amber Jones Scottish Unit Scholarship at any SunTrust Bank branch.
Marion Nelson Funeral Home of Lake Wales.
Charlotte Watkins, 55, Librarian
LAKELAND -- Miss Charlotte Frances Watkins was a devout Christian who faced numerous challenges after being diagnosed with juvenile diabetes in her teens.
Miss Watkins, a retired librarian for Dixieland Elementary School, died of complications of heart disease Monday (April 11, 2005) at home. She was 55.
"This woman was just very devout in her ability to accomplish things and help the church to accomplish things. She could have been bitter about her faith, but instead she went the other way, " said the Rev. David Drain, pastor at First Presbyterian Church.
Born in Henderson, N.C., on May 23, 1949, she came to Lakeland from Savannah, Ga., in 1970.
Miss Watkins, who was an avid reader, worked as a librarian for Dixieland Elementary School for a number of years before her health forced her to retire.
"She had one leg amputated, so she didn't get around a whole lot, but she made do. Intellectually, she was off the charts, " said her cousin, Tom Watkins of Raleigh, N.C. "She was computer savvy. That became her world in a lot of ways.
"She was big into research. She could tell you something about most anything and she had an incredible retention of memory."
Miss Watkins joined First Presbyterian Church in 1988 and became very active in the mission outreach. She received prayer requests and typed them for the church bulletin. Through the Internet, she communicated with missionaries in other countries to offer support and make sure they were OK.
"She was the central switchboard, " the Rev. Drain said. "She would be just a true example of significant ministry that will take five or six people to replace, now that she is gone."
Miss Watkins was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and a past member of the Mayflower Society.
In addition to her cousin, Tom Watkins, she is survived by her mother, Grace Watkins, Lakeland; cousin, Sally Davies, Dallas, Pa.; niece, Rebecca Carter, Ashland, Mass.; and nephew, Timothy Commo, Bel Air, Md.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at First Presbyterian Church.
Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church building fund, 175 Lake Hollingsworth Drive, Lakeland, FL 33801, or Heifer Project International.
COLLEEN ABRAHAM, 74
Secretary
WINTER HAVEN -- Ms. Colleen Y. Abraham of Winter Haven died of heart failure Tuesday (April 12, 2005) at Winter Haven Hospital. She was 74.
Born in Lansing, Mich., on July 20, 1930, she came to Winter Haven from there in 1979. She was a secretary for the Sheriff's Department in Mason, Mich.
Ms. Abraham is survived by her sons, Jim Curtis, Bartow, Troy Abraham, Aaron Abraham, both of Winter Haven; sister, Bertha Coats, Lansing, Mich.; companion, Gary Scott, Winter Haven; two grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday at Kersey Funeral Home, Auburndale. Services will be held in Lansing, Mich.
LETTA WOOLEY, 81
Homemaker
LAKELAND -- Mrs. Letta Wooley of Lakeland died of congestive heart failure Wednesday (March 16, 2005) at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. She was 81.
Born in Lakeland on Dec. 11, 1923, Mrs. Wooley was a lifelong resident. She was a homemaker. She was a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Lakeland.
Mrs. Wooley was preceded in death by her husband, Mannie A. Wooley. She is survived by her sons, Phillip G. Wooley, Palm Harbor, Bruce M. Wooley, Lakeland; daughter, Sonja Coonely, Horse Shoe, N.C.; brother, Johnny McLeod, Lakeland; sister, Reba Letchworth, Kathleen; seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 this evening at Gentry-Morrison Northside Chapel. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the fuenral home chapel.
GERALDINE ABEL, 79
Homemaker
WINTER HAVEN -- Mrs. Geraldine Louise "Gerry" Abel of Winter Haven died of a brain aneurysm Saturday (April 9, 2005) at Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center in Haines City. She was 79.
Born Dec. 11, 1925, in Canton, Ohio, she came here from the Canton area in 1986. She was a homemaker. She was a Protestant.
Mrs. Abel is survived by her husband, Jack O. Abel Sr.; sons, Jack O. Abel Jr., Greer, S.C., and Gregory N. Abel, Winter Haven; brothers, David M. Nesbitt, Murfreesboro, Tenn., Wilbur Nesbitt and Russell C. Nesbitt, both of Canton; sister, Kathryn M. Kinser, Canton; and one grandson.
Visitation will be held Tuesday beginning at 6 p.m. at Trinity Funeral and Cremation Center Chapel in Winter Haven with services at 7:30 p.m. Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Florida National Cemetery.
Harry Yon, 83, Pharmacist
LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Mr. Harry Italo Yon, a hard-working first-generation American and a 15-year resident of Winter Haven, died of natural causes Saturday (April 9, 2005) in Lexington. He was 83.
Born September 25, 1921, in Bramwell, W. Va., he was raised in the small village.
His parents had emigrated from Italy. His son, Dr. Jerry Yon, said his father helped his parents learn to speak English.
Mr. Yon graduated from Bramwell High School and joined the U.S. Navy in 1939. While training at Camp Lejuene he met his future wife, Wanda. He served in the military for six years (1939-1945) and the U.S. Naval Reserve for another six (1945-1951).
He was a chief pharmacist's mate on the USS Haven and was at the atomic bomb tests at Bikini Island, on the investigative team.
He was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
He was a manager and pharmacist for Walgreens for 37 years in Illinois, working in Decatur, Champaign, Mattoon and Mt. Zion. He was dedicated to his customers and employees and earned an award for the largest prescription volume in the Walgreens chain.
"He was a great manager. He retired after 30 years of service but returned part time, because he missed it so much, " Dr. Yon said.
Mr. Yon and his wife retired to Winter Haven for 15 years and were members of the Haines City Presbyterian Church. In 2002, they moved to Lexington, Ky.
Last July, the couple celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with friends and family from across the country.
Visitation will be this evening from 6 to 8 at Cravens-Shires Funeral Home in Bluewell, W. Va. Graveside services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at Woodlawn Cemetery in Bluewell.
Memorial gifts may be made to the Haines City Presbyterian Church or the Diabetes Foundation.
