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Joe Prine, 56, Mechanical Engineer
LAKELAND -- A passion for music and a desire to build up Lakeland's downtown inspired Mr. Joe Prine to organize and promote dozens of concert performances that were held at Renaissance Ironworks, Arts in the Park and other venues.
Mr. Prine, a mechanical engineer and owner of Prine Consulting, died of complications of multiple sclerosis Sunday (April 17, 2005) at home. He was 56.
"He was extremely colorful, " said his longtime friend, Butch Balingit of Lakeland. "He was always the champion of the underdog. If there was a person who needed help or someone needed a hand, Joe was always there to level the playing field.
"He was an extraordinary person who did quite a bit to promote music and cultural stuff in Lakeland."
Mr. Prine promoted concerts in the Lakeland downtown area until about four years ago, often seeking sponsors for the nonprofit concerts that he otherwise funded himself. He also organized the music at Mayfaire for a number of years.
"He always wanted to keep them in the downtown area, " said Jeanne Prine, his wife of 25 years.
Mr. Prine, a third-generation Polk Countian, was born in Lakeland on Feb. 28, 1949, and grew up in the Socrum area north of Kathleen.
His father was a self-taught pianist and principal of Polk City Elementary School where Mr. Prine attended school. He graduated from Kathleen High School and was on the track team.
Mr. Prine attended Georgia Tech in Atlanta from 1968 to 1970 and obtained his degree in mechanical engineering in 1985. He worked for other engineering firms before opening Prine Consulting in 1994.
He was a member of the Kathleen Historical Society and a ham radio operator. He was a member of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Lakeland.
In addition to his wife, Jeanne Prine, Mr. Prine is survived by his sons, Joe and Bobby Prine, both of Lakeland; daughter, Carla Prine, Lakeland; and brother, Larry Prine, Lakeland.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Heath Funeral Chapel. Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church.
Memorials may be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 9721 Executive Center Drive, Suite 122, St. Petersburg, 33702.
LEWIS DAVIS, 78
Roofer
FORT MEADE -- Mr. Lewis W. Davis of Fort Meade died of congestive heart failure Friday (April 15, 2005). He was 78.
He was born March 4, 1927, in Kissimmee. He was a self-employed roofer. He was a Baptist.
Mr. Davis is survived by his son, Lewis W. "Butch" Davis Jr., Cander, N.C.; daughters, Sherie Nemes, Wanda Faye Denson and Cindi Arnold, all of Lakeland, Donna Gail Hofbauer, Kissimmee; sister, Geneva Davis, Waynesville, N.C.; 10 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be this evening from 6 to 8 at Moody-Brant Funeral Chapel.
John Freer, 64, Phosphate Industry
LAKELAND -- Mr. John Donald Freer of Lakeland, a sales manager in the phosphate industry, died of heart failure Saturday (April 16, 2005) at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. He was 64.
"He would give you 110 percent when he did something for you, " said his wife of 42 years, Virginia Freer.
Born May 6, 1940, he was a lifelong resident of Lakeland. While working as a sales manager in the phosphate industry, Mr. Freer earned the reputation of an honest, good man.
"Everyone respected him, " his wife said.
Though his worked required him to travel, Mr. Freer always made time for his children.
"He never said, `I'm too tried, ' to his daughters, " his wife said.
With his 21/2-year-old granddaughter, Mr. Freer watched soccer games at Florida Southern College and visited Parksdale Farms in Plant City for strawberry shortcake.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church.
Mr. Freer is survived by his wife, Virginia Goodwin Freer; daughters, Nicole D. Freer and Donielle F. Lynch, both of Lakeland; brother, David Freer, Daytona Beach; sisters, Elizabeth Dobbings, Kay Doren and Joan Freer, all of Lakeland, Ann Underwood, Richmond, Va.; and one granddaughter.
Visitation will be from 9 to 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Lakeland. Services will follow at 10 a.m. at the church.
Memorials may be made to Good Shepherd Hospice, 105 Arneson Ave., Auburndale.
Heath Funeral Chapel, Lakeland.
RICHARD BALDWIN, 70
Lock Tender
INDIAN LAKE ESTATES -- Mr. Richard A. Baldwin of Indian Lake Estates died of cancer Tuesday (April 19, 2005). He was 70.
Born in Newcastle, Maine, he came to Indian Lake Estates from Freeport, Maine, in 1970. He was a lock tender on the Kissimmee River.
Mr. Baldwin is survived by his wife, Gale A. Baldwin; son, Bobby Baldwin; daughter, Sherry Baldwin; stepson, Anthony T. Weidler Sr.; stepdaughter, Patrice L. Weidler; four grandchildren.
Memorial services will be held later.
National Cremation Society, Winter Park.
Eddie Minnefield, 83, Citrus Foreman
HAINES CITY -- Baseball was a passion of Mr. Eddie "Mayfield" Minnefield's, who organized, managed and played for the Oakland Baseball League.
"A little before I met him, he formed his own basball team and we would go from town to town, " said his wife of 33 years, Johnnie Mae Minnefield.
The couple traveled in Florida and to Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina.
"Back then, people didn't have anywhere to go on the weekends and we always kept a team. We had fans that would follow us around. Sometimes my husband would hire people to take fans to the games."
Mr. Minnefield, a retired labor bus driver for Haines City Citrus Growers Association, died of heart disease Tuesday (April 5, 2005) at Haines City Health Care Center. He was 83.
Mr. Minnefield was born on Aug. 1, 1921, in Tallassee, Ala., where he first began playing baseball. He came to Haines City from there 53 years ago and continued playing the sport. He primarily played first base.
"There are a lot of young guys that he taught to play baseball from ages 5, 6 or 7 years old. My son was like 5 years old when he started teaching him, " Johnnie Mae Minnefield said. "He was in with the Lakeland Tigers because they supported our team a whole lot. I was just over there and they gave me a cap and a baseball to put in his casket."
Mr. Minnefield continued to be active with the sport until the last few years when he was no longer able to recruit enough players.
Mr. Minnefield worked at B.C. Cook and Sons and retired from Haines City Citrus Growers Association in the early 2000s when his health began to decline.
He was a member of the Crystal Lodge No. 414 in Haines City. He was a member of St. Mark AME Church.
In addition to his wife, Johnnie Mae Minnefield, Mr. Minnefield is survived by his sons, James Griffin, Atlanta, David Roney, Haines City, Dave Griffin, St. Petersburg, Billy Griffin, Arcadia, Tommy Williams, Tampa; daughters, Barbara Griffin, Winter Haven, Rhonda Russell and Pearl Corbit, both of Haines City, and Carolyn Jackson, Tampa; 18 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 3 this afternoon to 8 this evening at Holmes Funeral Home, 601 Claude Holmes Sr. Ave., Haines City. Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Greater St. Mark AME Church, 826 N. Eighth St., Haines City. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery.
