OBITUARIES

May 10, 2022

Alma Mesknes, 90, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loved ones on Tuesday, May 10, 2022. Alma was born and raised in Lakeland, Florida. She obtained both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from the University of South Florida. She was a devoted educator to her students throughout Polk County, teaching at Haines City High School, Lakeland Senior...

May 8, 2022

May 7, 2022

Lakeland – William Wallace Best was a loving husband, father, grandpa, son, brother, and friend. He left this world to be reunited with his wife in Heaven on May 7, 2022, at the age of 79. Wallace was born to Emma Jane Messer and James Roy Best on September 15, 1942, in Pansey, Alabama, the baby of their seven...

May 4, 2022

Lynn D. Harrison, 89 of Lakeland, died peacefully at home on May 4, 2022. He was a native of Lakeland and was born in Lakeland on February 12, 1933, to Green and Lillian Harrison. Lynn graduated from Summerlin Institute in 1950 and then served in the United States Navy. He then went to the University of Florida and became...

May 3, 2022

George Everett Brewster Sr. was born to Rachel Brewster in Englewood, N.J. September 12, 1927. Graduated Dwight Morrow High School Class of 1945. George joined the U.S. Marine Corps and continued to serve as Sergeant, during the Korean War. George was an Experimental Machinist before retiring to create crafts with his wife Marge. George was a member of the...

May 3, 2022

Apr 29, 2022

Jim Hunter went to be with his heavenly father on April 29th, 2022. He passed due to postoperative complications after a colon procedure. James Robert Hunter was born in Columbus, Ohio on August 6th,1950. He moved to Ft. Lauderdale in 1955 and remained there through his high school years. He graduated from Nova High in 1969 and attended college...

Apr 28, 2022

Apr 27, 2022

Stephen F. Buckley, 91, of Lakeland, died peacefully at the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital, in Tampa, FL. Born In Geneva, NY, he was the son of the late William F. Buckley and Josephine (Kosienski) Buckley. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his siblings Joan, Raymond, and William Buckley. Mr. Buckley proudly served in the US...

Apr 26, 2022

Mark R. Sutherland, 77, passed away April 26, 2022, from complications of Parkinson’s disease. He was born on December 17, 1944, to Mae (Maag) and Reed Sutherland in Santa Ana, California. He moved with his family to Florida in 1959. He graduated from Winter Haven High School in 1962 and went on to graduate from Florida State University. He...

Apr 26, 2022

On Tuesday, April 26, 2022, Charlene Peterson, loving wife, and mother, passed away at the age of 87. She was born in Toronto, Ohio to Joseph and Mae Criss. Charlene was preceded in death to her husband of 49 years, Howell Peterson. They are survived by their 3 children, Karen (Tony) Norris, Barbara (Howard) Stiener, Howell Peterson, Jr., their...

Apr 25, 2022

Elizabeth Jo Anna (Jo Ann) Rice November 20, 1935 – April 25, 2022 Loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend passed away on April 25, 2022. Jo Ann was born to Lawrence Henry and JoHanna Heggie Smith Siebers on November 20, 1935. JoAnn was raised in Tooele, UT and attended schools there through high school. She then attended Utah...

Apr 24, 2022

Apr 22, 2022

Apr 21, 2022

Pamela Elle born July 31, 1950 in Lakeland, FL died of natural causes on April 21, 2022 and is preceded in death by father Duvard Hornsby and mother Vivian Hornsby. She is survived by daughter Tiffany Duckworth (Carey) and 2 granddaughters Olivia and Ashley, brother Sam Bass , sisters Susie Bass and Debbie Irby (Mark), and many nephews, nieces,...

Apr 19, 2022

A beloved wife, mother, and Grammy was reunited with her Savior on April 19, 2022. Jan Diane Ward was born November 20, 1947, in Lakeland, Florida to Olen and Marie Downs. She was a lifelong Polk County resident, graduating from LHS in 1965. Her next life adventure began in Bartow, at the A&W Root Beer Stand where she met...

Apr 18, 2022

Dorathea Janssen Chisholm McCutcheon, age 96, of Lakeland, Florida passed away on Monday, April 18, 2022. Dorathea was with her son, daughter, and granddaughter at her daughter’s home at the time of her passing. Dorathea was born July 13, 1924, in Winter Haven, Florida to John William Janssen and Corrie Dodson, the third of five daughters. Dorathea graduated from...

Apr 17, 2022

Lakeland – Jamie Lynn Mitchell passed away Sunday, April 17, 2022. She was born on March 24, 1968, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina to James Parrish and Shirley Landreth. She had a heart of gold and always wanted to help people. Jamie was so loving and loved by everyone. She is preceded in death by her mother, Shirley Jackson. Jamie...

Apr 11, 2022

Billy Earl Holt passed away April 11, 2022, surrounded by his family. Billy was born February 26, 1939, in Lakeland, Florida to John Thomas and Mattie Lee Holt. Billy met the love of his life Bobbie Harris in 1961 with a little help from his older sister Hazel and Bobbie’s mother Alverna Harris who both worked together at a...

Apr 7, 2022

Norman L. Benn, retired coach at Florida Southern College, passed away on Apr 7, 2022, at the age of 88. He is survived by his wife of 42 yrs, Kathy, daughters Susan Benn & Cheryl (Mike) Cress, grandchildren Aimee, Ashley, and Josh (Kaitie) Dero, 2 great grandchildren, 4 nieces and 1 nephew. Preceding Norm in death were his two...