OBITUARIES

Sep 5, 2020

Lakeland - On September 5, 2020, William Alfred Sweat, Jr., (77), beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ following a valiant battle with cancer. Born in Lakeland on November 19, 1942, Bill was a Lakeland High School Dreadnaught and was in the first graduating class of USF. He then...

Sep 4, 2020

Walter L. Baker passed away 09/04/2020. Graveside services will be held on Tuesday 09/08/2020 at 11:00 am at Mt. Olive Cemetery.

Sep 2, 2020

Lakeland – Gladys Edna Smeltz died 09/02/2020. Graveside services will be Tuesday 09/08/2020 at 10 am at Roselawn Cemetery.

Sep 1, 2020

Pending

Aug 30, 2020

Lakeland - Robert Kent Beswick, 87, died on August 30, 2020 surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Tampa on November 23, 1932 to Percy “Red” and Hattie Beswick. He moved to Lakeland at age 2, graduated from Lakeland High School and Emory University’s business school. Following college graduation, he served in the US Navy and then...

Aug 29, 2020

Pending

Aug 28, 2020

David Lloyd McSween, 85, passed away peacefully at his home on Friday, August 28, 2020. Born on November 11, 1934 in Newport, Tennessee to Elizabeth Montgomery and James Carty McSween. A graduate of the University of Tennessee with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration and an avid Vol football fan. Employed by Florida Tile Industries for 30...

Aug 27, 2020

Lakeland – Gregory “Greg” Allen Cavender passed away Thursday, August 27, 2020. He was born on January 27, 1978 in Piqua, Ohio to Gary Lee Cavender and Tana Rozell Cottengain. Greg was a graduate of UCF and earned his bachelor’s degree in finance. He was of Catholic faith and attended St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. Greg was an avid football...

Aug 26, 2020

Lakeland – Leesa Lynn McKneely Arce, age 64, of Lakeland, FL, passed away on Wednesday, August 26, 2020, due to chronic illness. Born on May 5, 1956, in Macon, GA, she was preceded in death by her parents, Frederick Owen McKneely and Lonnie Lee McKneely. She is survived by her daughter, and only child, Isabella Guevara Arce. Leesa graduated...

Aug 25, 2020

Aug 25, 2020

Jon F. Larson Devoted father and community pillar, Jon Fred Larson passed away from complications of pancreatic cancer on August 25, 2020 in Lakeland, Florida. Jon is survived by his wife Beverly C. Renick Larson and five children: Jon R. Larson (Beijing, China), Benjamin Larson and his wife Lauren and son Ethan (Orlando, Florida), Caroline Larson and her wife...

Aug 24, 2020

Jane Shank Bryant passed away peacefully from cancer on August 24, 2020. She was born in Montgomery, AL, on July 25, 1934. Jane went to the University of Alabama, where she pledged Kappa Delta. It was at a fraternity party that she met her future husband, Alex Bryant. Upon graduating from college, she married and moved to Washington, DC,...

Aug 23, 2020

Lakeland, FL – Robert Powers died on August 23, 2020. He was born on November 27, 1928 in Kansas City, Missouri to Edgar and Clara Powers. He married his wife Priscilla on June 27, 1964 in Arlington, Virginia. He joined the Navy in December of 1945 and retired in April of 1966. He served on several different ships, living...

Aug 20, 2020

Edward Garfield Pennington, known as Garth his whole life, went to be with the Lord on August 20, 2020. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church. Garth is survived by his wife, Lydia Pennington and children Brady Pennington and Makenna Pennington of Lakeland, FL and parents Harold “Ed” and Betsy Pennington of Lake Placid, FL along with countless...

Aug 20, 2020

Lakeland: Frances “Fran” Guarna, 84, of Lakeland, died on August 20, 2020. She was born on March 27, 1936 in Christiansburg, VA to Fred and Lucille Akers. Fran was preceded in death by her husband Vincent; son Daniel Ehrens, and daughter Linda Pontolillo. She is survived by 2 sisters: Ann Akers and Brenda Basham, and granddaughter Christina Pontolillo. A...

Aug 19, 2020

Aug 17, 2020

Lakeland - Charles Eugene Black passed away Monday, August 17, 2020. He was born October 17, 1933 in Clearwater, Florida to John and Corinne Black. Chuck graduated from Clearwater High School in 1952 and served during the Korean War 1954 to 1956 in the United States Army. He received his BS, in Physical Education in 1960 from Florida Southern...

Aug 15, 2020

Michael Paul Maskolunas, 56, went to heaven on Saturday, August 15, 2020. Mike was born on April 21, 1964 in Bartow, Florida to the late Charles and Virginia Maskolunas. A 1982 graduate of Bartow High School, he later attended Nashville Auto Diesel College where he learned the auto body repair trade. Upon completion, he moved back home to work...

Aug 15, 2020

Aug 13, 2020

LAKELAND - Gordon "Gordie" Haywald, 63, of Lakeland Junction passed peacefully at Lakeland Regional Medical Center after battling an illness of congestive heart failure. His wife and sister were at his side. Gordon was born in Paris, France where his father was stationed in the Air Force. He led the life of a "military brat" moving from state to...