Mae Belle Brock

Mae Belle Brock 85, passed on May 1, 2008 in Tallahassee.
The service was held Saturday, May 3 at the Prosperity Primitive Baptist Church, Decatur County, GA. Visitation was at Charles McClellan Funeral Home in Quincy. Memorial contributions may be made to Big Bend Hospice, 1723 Mahan Center Blvd., Tallahassee, Florida 32308.
She was born March 11, 1923 in Decatur County, GA and moved to Quincy many years ago with her late husband, William David Brock.
She is survived by four daughters, Gloria Brock (and husband Gerald) Tolar, of Quincy, Patricia M. (and husband Robert) Haire, of Powder Springs, GA, Judy Belle Ashmore, of Lawrenceville, GA, Sandra Faye (and husband Randy) Hill, of Quincy, and Norma Jane (and husband John J.) Bayides of Rincon, GA; four sons, David Larry Brock, of Quincy, William Sheldon (and wife Mary Louise) Brock, of Quincy, Dewey Franklin (and wife Lee Ann) Brock, of Quincy and Ricky Lamar (and wife Glenda) Brock, of Havana; a sister, Udell Shirah, of Pelham, GA; 12 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.

Edward Luke Blackburn

Edward Luke Blackburn 81, of Havana died Thursday, May 1, 2008 at his home.
The funeral service was held Sunday, May 4 at Luke Blackburn Farm, 619 Johnson Rd, Havana, FL, with a private family interment at Salem Cemetery in Havana. Memorial contributions may be made to Salem Cemetery Fund 6972 FL/GA Hwy, Havana, FL 32333 or to your favorite charity. Faith Funeral Home in Havana was in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Luke was born in Gadsden County on February 27, 1927. He enlisted in the US Navy at the age of sixteen. He served on the USS Burroughs and was a part of the 2nd invasion of the Philippines. Mr. Luke was a true Southern gentleman. He was a Master Craftsman/Builder and was well known for building tobacco barns and family homes in Havana. He was a true outdoorsman and nature lover and enjoyed hunting and fishing. His garden was a large part of his life, often he would plant vegetables just to share with his neighbors and friends. Mr. Luke’s barn parties were big events in Havana and were often the talk of the town. Just a few years ago “Elvis” attended and performed at one of his parties. Mr. Luke was also known for his stories and knowledge of past history in Havana and Gadsden County.
He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Eddie R. Blackburn, of Havana; two sons, Edward Luke Blackburn, Jr., of Troy, AL, and Charles Powell (and wife Lina), of Tallahassee; four daughters, Cheree B. Jeter, of Thomasville, GA, Rebecca L. Blackburn, of Tallahassee, Nancy P. Whiddon (and husband Pat), of Perry, GA, and Jenny Robertson (and husband Jeff), of Havana; his best buddy, Alvin; nine grandchildren, Thomas Jeter (and wife Grace Marie), Lee Ann Holloway (and husband Jeff), Heather Allen (and husband Lamar), Ashley Crosby (and husband Clay), Baily Powell, Heather Whiddon, Kyle Powell, John Luke Robertson and Garren Robertson; six great-grandchildren, Alexis Jeter, Emma Jeter, Erin Jeter, Vincent Holloway and Cannon Allen; and his brother-in-law, Tommy Rowell.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward Lafayette and Theo Harden Blackburn; his brother, Hugh Blackburn; and his sister, Martha Lee Phillips (and her husband Ralph).

Robert Lee Bell

Robert Lee Bell 79, a retired automobile salesman, died Friday, May 2, 2008 at his home.
The graveside service was held Tuesday, May 6 at Tallahassee Memory Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Big Bend Hospice, 1723 Mahan Center Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32308. Bevis Funeral Home in Tallahassee was in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Bell was a native and lifelong resident of Leon County. He was an associate with Alford Chevrolet for many years and later owned Lee Bell Auto Sales in Tallahassee. An Army Veteran of the Korean War, he was a member of the American Legion and charter member of VFW Post No. 3308. A past commander of Post 3308, he also served as Post Quartermaster and Judge Advocate.
Always an outdoorsman, he loved his garden, fishing and turkey hunting.
Survivors include his daughter, Beth Herold (Ed) of Tallahassee; two brothers, George Bell (Jewell) and Perry Bell (Iris), both of Tallahassee; and a granddaughter, Whitney Herold, of Tallahassee.
He was preceded in death in 1997 by his wife of 42 years, Betty Bell.

Lester Tramaine Porter

Lester Tramaine Porter 24 of Quincy, died Saturday, May 3rd at Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare.
The service will be held Saturday, May 10, 11 a.m. at Miracle Temple Church of God In Christ, Mt. Pleasant, Superintendent John L. Lee, Pastor, officiating, with burial in Sunnyvale Cemetery in Quincy. A wake will be held on Friday, May 9 at the church from 6 to 8. Madry Memorial Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
He was born November 26, 1984 in Winter Park, FL, son of Lester Bernard and Glenda Murphy Porter. He attended the public schools of Gadsden County, a graduate of James A. Shanks High School, Class of 2003, attended TCC and was employed as a Sales Associate with Walmart. He attended Agape Christian Fellowship Center of Quincy, where Bishop Reginald D. Washington, Sr. is Pastor, and loved fishing and playing basketball.
He is survived by his father, Lester Bernard Porter, of Tallahassee; his mother, Glenda Murphy Porter, of Quincy; two sisters, Antuane LaShay Porter, of Tallahassee, and Juwan Tekela William (Anthony), of Quincy; paternal grandmother, Shirley F. Barnes, of Orlando; maternal grandmother, Easter Mae Murphy, of Quincy; two nephews, Tyonne Porter, of Tallahassee, and Tyriek Murphy, of Quincy; one niece, Cordesha Williams, of Quincy; and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Bankey Mae Rawls Francis

Bankey Mae Rawls Francis, 69, of Quincy, died Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare.
The service will be held Thursday, May 8 at St. James M.B. Church in Quincy with burial in the Brooks Cemetery. The Rev. Charles Ash, Pastor, is officiating. Madry Memorial Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
She was born August 5, 1938 in Quincy, FL, daughter of the late Iassac and Ianna Gavin Rawls. She attended the public schools of Gadsden County and was employed as a custodian for the Gadsden County Schools. She grew up attending St. James Missionary Baptist Church. She enjoyed visiting other churches and loved to fish.
She is survived by a daughter, Anna E. Johnson, of Quincy; four sons, Perry Walker (Maria), of Blountstown, Isaac Francis (Guadalupe), US Air Force, England, Anthony Brown, Quincy, and Ja Juan Hardy, Quincy; several grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives and friends.
Lue Lawson Cooper

Mother Pleasant Lue Lawson Cooper

Mother Pleasant Lue Lawson Cooper, 79, of Quincy, died Friday, May 2, 2008 at Big Bend Hospice House in Tallahassee.
The service will be held Wednesday, May 14 at Antioch M.B. Church in Quincy with burial at Sunnyvale Cemetery. Madry Memorial Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
She was born June 3, 1928 in Hartford, Alabama, daughter of the late Dr. Will and Allene Richardson Blakley. She attended the public schools of Alabama and Gadsden County, where she was a resident for 59 years and a personal home care caregiver. She was a member of St. Stephen Primitive Baptist Church, Gretna, from 1950 to 1964. In September 1964 she joined Antioch Missionary Baptist Church of Quincy and was a very loyal and faithful member until her death, serving on the Mothers’ Board, as a member and treasurer of the Senior Choir, as a Sunday School teacher, as president, vice-president and secretary of Mission No. 1, as a member of Quincy Choir No. 1 and City Wide Mission of Gadsden County. She was a member of the Union Baptist Association, American Legions NAACP and Good Shepherd Lodge. She was the first news reporter at the local newspaper for Antioch M.B. Church. She was Queen of the south wing of River Chase Care Center of Quincy.
She is survived by three daughters, Everlena Lawson Andrews and Ida Lawson Thompson, both of Quincy, and Nancy Lawson Moffitt (Lewis), of Dothan, AL; one son, The Rev. Chad E. Cooper (Alicia), of Atlanta, GA; 14 grandchildren; 5 great grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Emma L. Marshall

Emma L. Marshall 65, of Havana, died Thursday, May 1, 2008 in Havana.
The service will be held Saturday, May 10 at New Jerusalem M.B. Church with burial at Piney Grove Cemetery with Rev. Julius Harris officiating. Betsey Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
A native of Sumpter County, she was a laborer and a member of New Jerusalem M.B. Church.
She is survived by three daughters, Theresa Brooks, of Tallahassee, and Sylvia Brooks and Margaret Lynn, both of Havana; five sisters, Mary Simmons, of Havana, Dorothy Williams, Daisy Williams, Shirley Donaldson and Jacquline Williams, all of Cairo, GA; one brother, Danay Williams, Sr., of Havana; 6 grandchildren; and 4 great-grandchildren.