Thomas Andrews
Thomas Ramon Andrews, 78, died in Jacksonville on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. He was born May 16, 1945, to the late Guy and Elizabeth (Sanders) Andrews.
Graveside services were held Wednesday, Jan. 17, with Rev. Terry Blakeslee officiating. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to New River Baptist Church or to the Children’s Home Society.
Arrangements are under the care of Jones-Gallagher Funeral Home, 620 E. Nona St., Starke, 32091. 904-964-6200. www.jonesgallagherfh.com.
Sibyl Bell
Sibyl Maxine Bell, 75, died suddenly Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, at North Florida Regional Medical Center. She was preceded in death by her father, Randolph “Doc” Norris; her mother and stepfather, Ernest A. and Annie Lee Fuller; and her brothers, Randolph “Buddy” Norris Jr. and Dennis W. Norris Sr.
Survivors are her sons, Edward M. (Sarah) Bell Jr., Phillip E. (Shannon) Bell, and Thomas J. Bell; three grandchildren; and brother, James Phillip Norris.
Her final memorization will be by cremation under the care of Archer-Milton Funeral Home. 386-496-2008 www.archerfuneralhome.com
George Brannen
George “Robert” Brannen, affectionally known to family as “Gramps,” left this earthly world and entered the Kingdom of Heaven on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024. He was greeted by his father and mother, Joseph Carchner and Cora Spires Brannen; sisters, Katherine, Betty Lou and Patsy; and brother, Joseph C. He was born Jan. 25, 1937, in Winter Haven and spent his childhood in Lake Butler; graduating in 1955. He enjoyed football and was a quarterback. He recalled memories of his football days and said one team, if not the toughest team, he ever played was against the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind located in St. Augustine. He said that what they lacked in verbal communication was made up in grit and determination and “man, could they hit.” He was a bit more than just average at football. He was what you may consider “pretty good.” Good enough that he received an athletic scholarship to Tennessee Tech. He attended Tennessee Tech until he enrolled in the United States Army. He was a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division with 22 successful jumps. He said he volunteered to be a paratrooper because it paid a little bit more money each month and he could send more back home to his mother and family. After jumping out of planes many times, he decided to keep his feet on the ground and not fly again. But that didn’t mean he stayed still. Upon his honorable discharge from the Army, he worked for the United States Department of Agriculture as a produce inspector. He traveled and inspected fruits and veggies throughout the country. Only after Dixie decided that they would not be spending a winter in New Jersey, no matter how good the tomatoes were, they put down permanent roots in Wildwood. He began his employment as a trainman for the Seaboard Airline, now CSX. He worked alongside many men and women who grew to be lifelong friends. He enjoyed his job immensely and enjoyed the opportunity of travel that came with it. CSX would occupy his time until 1999, when he retired. Always one to help, he and Dixie volunteered at Habitat for Humanity for several years. There he would see lots of people he had worked with and made many new friends. He enjoyed all the work he did there, with the exception of the time that he had a near-death experience on a donated bike. He, in fact, learned that very day that there are some things you do forget and “as easy as riding a bike” really didn’t come that easy especially in your mid-60s after not riding one for a while. In 1962, with the help of his sister and brother-in-law, he met Miss Dixie Brigman. After a short, but passionate, courtship, they wed on Nov. 16, 1963. Celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary in 2023 was one of his greatest accomplishments. He was the most loving and dedicated husband right up until he drew his last breath. Dixie was the sun to his days and the stars to his night. Together they built a life that included the raising of a son. No father was prouder of their son than Robert. In addition to raising Gary, they raised numerous cats and dogs. One of his favorite pastimes was taking a nap in his recliner with a cat napping on his lap. His only steady “job” in his later years was driver to Mrs. Dixie and chief executor of the passing out of cat treats upon demand. He was a man of little words, but he had an innate ability to deliver a quick and very witty quip when least expected. He enjoyed travel with his family and discovering new places and food. Family gatherings were what he enjoyed the most, especially if it was a cookout. He loved a hamburger and was never known to pass up ice cream. In fact, on a cruise, whenever he was needed or couldn’t be found, he usually could be located at the ice cream station. Football was always a passion of his, and he loved his Florida Gators. He prided himself in being a man of great morals and faith.
He is survived by his wife, Dixie Brannen of Wildwood; son, Gary (Danielle) Brannen of The Villages; grandson, Justin (Tosha) Brannen of Atalla, Alabama; three great-grandchildren; a niece, Lizbeth (James) Croft; nephew, Gregg Gaubatz; and many great- nieces and nephews; family members; and cats, June, Jack and Miss Kitty. With love and great loss, his family will continue to live life as he would have wanted, and remember all the days shared with him, a quintessential great southern man.
As were his wishes, no services will be held and he will be interred at Greenwood Cemetery located in Wildwood. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Humane Society or the Florida Sheriff’s Youth Ranch in his name. Cremation has taken place with Banks/Page-Theus Funeral Home, 410 Webster St., Wildwood, 34785. For the most current online condolences to the family, full obituary and any updated information please visit www.bankspagetheus.com.
PAID OBITUARY
Sylvia Christmas
Sylvia Marlene Altman Christmas, 89, of Keystone Heights (affectionately known by her children, grandchildren, great- grandchildren, and many others as “Gmom”), passed away peacefully on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, at Phoebe Sumter Medical Center. She was born on Aug. 26, 1934, in Jacksonville to Henry Lancelot and Lula Bell Altman. She was their only child. Based on journal- like entries in a pocket calendar discovered by her family, she met the love of her life, J.B. Christmas, in the spring of 1948. The journal documented her and J.B.’s adventures fishing, hunting, going to Gold Head State Park and Kingsley Lake, playing piano, playing games like Monopoly, attending Lee High School football games, going to the pictures, and visiting with family and friends. On Friday, Dec. 9, 1948, he proposed, and they were married on Dec. 24, 1948. They continued to fill their days with many memories until J.B.’s death on Dec. 10, 2007, just short of their 59th wedding anniversary. J.B. and Sylvia were founding members of Hyde Park Baptist Church in 1951, where they served for over 30 years before transferring their membership to First Baptist Church of Keystone Heights. She had many talents, including playing the piano, which she began at an early age. She began playing piano for church services when she was just 15. She played piano and later the organ until lightning struck the organ at First Baptist Church of Keystone Heights, or as her family says, God retired her. She said that she preferred the organ as no one could tell if she made a mistake, unlike the piano. She was also a talented floral designer and seamstress. She was a certified Master Gardener and volunteered at the Jacksonville UF/IFAS extension office. She worked as a floral designer, traveling to retail stores throughout North Florida and South Georgia, and in later years as a department manager at Hitchcock’s in Keystone Heights. She was preceded in death by her husband, James Benjamin (J.B.) Christmas Jr.; and her parents.
She leaves behind her children, Janice (Dick) Crosby and Charles (Kim) Christmas; grandchildren, Bill (Heather) Crosby and Richard (Julie) Crosby; great- grandchildren, Shelby (Taylor) Mendoza, Madison Crosby, Delaney Crosby, and Ben Crosby; sisters-in-law, Jean Hough and Merry (David) Holton; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, Jan 16, at First Baptist Church of Keystone Heights with Pastor Daniel Findley officiating. Interment followed at Jacksonville Memory Gardens. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to First Baptist Church of Keystone Heights, 550 E. Walker Drive, Keystone Heights, 32656. Make check payable to FBC Keystone Heights, note “Youth Camp” in the memo section.
PAID OBITUARY
Robert Day Jr.
Robert “Bob” Day Jr, 87, of Keystone Heights died at his home Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024.
He leaves behind his wife of 55 years, Esther (Roundtree) Day; and additional family members and friends.
Visitation will be Saturday, Jan. 20, at Trinity Baptist Church beginning at 10 a.m. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. A private interment will be at St. Augustine.
Arrangements are by Jones-Gallagher Funeral Home, 340 E. Walker Drive, Keystone Heights, 32656. 352-473-3176. www.jonesgallagherfh.com
Bobby Haisten
Bobby Earl Haisten, 81, of Starke passed away Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, in Gainesville. He was born Feb. 21, 1942, in Baldwin to the late Rev. Robert and Gertrude (Wilkerson) Haisten and was a lifelong area resident. Prior to retirement, he worked for Owen Joist Steel Mill as a foreman. His favorite television show was Gunsmoke. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Haisten; and sisters, Bonnie Doughman and Cindy Allen.
Survivors are children, Bo Haisten, Julie Haisten, Elaine Manning, all of Starke, Angie (Vernon) Davis of Glenn St. Mary, and Shawnna (Ryon) Shaw of Lake Butler: grandchildren, Summer Shaw, Brandi Vartti, Josh Starling, and Dylan Davis; and four great-grandchildren.
Graveside funeral services were held at Crosby Lake Cemetery on Wednesday, Jan. 17.
Arrangements are by Jones-Gallagher Funeral Home of Starke, 904-964-6200 www.jonesgallagherfgh.com.
PAID OBITUARY
Cindy Howard
Cindy Louise Howard, 64, of Hawthorne died Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023, at UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville. She was preceded in death by her parents; and grandson, Bradley Howard.
Survivors are her children, Thomas Howard and Rebecca Roe; sisters, June (James) Griffis, Linda (Vernon) Cothran and Katherine (Jerry) Searfoss; two grandsons; and numerous and extended family and friends.
Arrangements are under the care and direction of V. Todd Ferreira Funeral Services and Archie Tanner Memorial Chapel, Starke. 904-964-5757.
Joan McDonald
Joan Mozell Waters Underhill McDonald, 80, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023, at Haven Hospice in Lake City. She was born on June 9, 1943, in her beloved hometown of Lake Butler, to the late Lonnie “L.V.” and Georgia Martin Waters. Mama lived most of her life in Bradford and Union Counties. She grew up in home filled with an abundance of love, 11 brothers and sisters and amazing parents that taught all the right values to their children. It was old school life and they lived the example for their children. It was hard work, sweat-from-the-brow kind of work, and teamwork as they did it together. It was a home built around love, even tough love, kindness, charity, humbleness, and more. Mama, and my daddy, Gene, raised all us children on a working farm with these same values, she was not afraid to work. Her experiences throughout her life were immeasurable; from tobacco fields, enormous vegetable gardens that fed us all year long, hog killings, corn doings, cane grindings, many family reunions, family history research, picture taking and labeling, chicken farming, riding horses, rodeo announcer, and she was good at it, too, attending rodeos, fishing and catching tubs full, raising calves by bottle, milking cows, camping in tents and cooking grits on a Coleman stove, early morning newspaper routes, nurturing critters of all sorts just to name a few. She enjoyed the country life and she always looked good doing it. Mama was the master of genealogy; she knew everyone’s name back to the 1500s or more and knew who they and all of us belonged to better than we did! She has all this saved in piles of notebooks and computer files, all to preserve our family history forever. She left no stone unturned. She was the glue that held us all together. Her knowledge was vast and immeasurable. Mama loved quilting. She made quilts from clippings of loved ones’ old clothes. They were the fabric of our family and what kept us warm at night. Mama also enjoyed her plants and flowers; she knew what they needed and they flourished with her loving hands, caring for them daily. Cooking was another talent; rice crispy treats, angel food cakes, biscuits, homemade jelly from fruit she picked or her family brought to her; she always made enough to share and delivered it straight to their home. Can I get an “Amen!” Mama had a message for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren… She said: “I’m sad to leave my grandchildren and great-grandchildren behind. I would tell them, Always be fine young men and women, happy and loving in life. Always pray, be full of love, kindness, character, forgiveness and unity… THIS is your Foundation.” We are all blessed, beyond blessed to have had this amazing woman in our lives. May each of us live our lives with the pure love, trust and faith that she so humbly and freely gave. She always put others’ wants and desires ahead of her own, always. Can I get an “Amen!” She devoted many years of service to a variety of work places; She was cashier for Bobby Johnson’s Feed Store, CSM/cashier for TG&Y and McCroy’s and dispatcher for the Bradford County Sheriff’s Department. Mama was preceded in death by her parents, her son, Kevin Dean Underhill; and siblings, Mary Jane Waters, Eloise Monds, Earl Waters, Alvin Waters, and Correne Stringer.
She is survived by her husband of 25 years, Peter McDonald; her children, Dale (Maria) Underhill of Starke, Beth (Bob) Boone of Lake Butler, and Kenneth Tetstone of Lake Butler; grandchildren, Jennifer (Justin) Fischer, Samantha (Billy) Brooks, Athens Underhill, Dale Joseph Underhill, and Andrea (Kyle) Brooks; her great-grandchildren, Gracelyn, Preston, Tyrus, Isaiah, Rosie, Wesley, Ryker, and Benjamin; siblings, Robert (Pat) Waters, Margaret Stansel, Ted (Jean) Waters, Jeanette (Jake) Bielling, and Madeline (Mark) Richardson; her first husband Gene Underhill (29 years); and a massive number of extended family and friends.
On Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, friends and family gathered to pay their respects and celebrate Joan’s remarkable life at Archer-Milton Funeral Home, followed by a funeral service. She was then immediately laid to rest at Oak Grove Cemetery.
PAID OBITUARY
Jennett Sparkman
Jennett Lowery Sparkman, 93, of Lake Butler died Friday, Jan. 12, 2024. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, James “J.W.” Sparkman; daughter, Patty Williams; two brothers; and two sisters.
Survivors are her children, Wesley (Avis) Sheffield, Caris Sheffield, Stephen Sheffield, Wanda (Doug) Cason, Bryan Sheffield; one son-in-law; three sisters; 16 grandchildren; and numerous extended family members.
Services were held Wednesday, Jan. 17, at Ferreira Funeral Services Lake City Chapel. A private interment will be held at Jacksonville National Cemetery.
Arrangements are under the care and direction of Ferreira Funeral Services, 458 S. Marion Ave., Lake City, 32025. 386-752-1234.
Catherine Taylor
Catherine Ann Taylor, 64, of Lake Butler, passed away Friday, Jan. 12, 2024, at the North Florida Regional Medical Center in Gainesville. She was born on Oct. 16, 1959, in Mobile, Alabama. After growing up and spending a large part of her life in Alabama, she moved to Florida to be close to family. She worked a few different jobs before retiring. She loved watching old western movies and being on the computer. She also loved her Elvis and the Alabama Crimson Tide. She was preceded in death by her mother, Susan Boyette.
She is survived by her husband, Howard “Hoss” Taylor of Lake Butler; her children, John Turner Hendry of Lake Butler and William Bryan Hendry of Mobile, Alabama; three grandchildren; adopted son, Raymond (Marissa) Wallace and their children, Lilly, R.J., and Aiden; her father, Derrill Boyette of Lake Butler; other parents, John and Ruby Strom of Mobile, Alabama; and her siblings, Dale (Mosley) Boyette of Middleburg, Felicia (Danny) Herring, Annette (Trey) Chauncey, and Dana (Tony) Abbott all of Live Oak, Constance Boyette, Preston (Lori) Boyette all of Lake Butler, Karen and Carol of Mobile, Alabama; numerous extended family also survive.
A funeral to honor her life will be held on Friday, Jan. 19, at 11 a.m. at Archer-Milton Funeral Home in Lake Butler. The family will receive friends for a visitation Thursday, Jan. 18, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the funeral home. She will be laid to rest at Elzey Chapel Cemetery.
Arrangements are under the care and direction of Archer-Milton Funeral Home, Lake Butler. 386-496-2008 www.ArcherFuneralHome.com
PAID OBITUARY
Ollie Williams
Mother Ollie Mae Williams, 90, of Lawtey died Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at Viera Rehabilitation Center in Cocoa.
Visitation will be Friday, Jan. 19, from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. at the Carl and Elaine D. Haile Memorial Chapel/Haile Funeral Home, Inc., 802 N. Oak St., Starke, 32091. Funeral services will be Saturday, Jan. 20, at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church, 163 West Jefferson St., Starke, 32091. The cortege will form at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Jan 20, at the residence of Edna Bell Allen, 22517 CR 200B Lawtey, 32058. Interment will be at Peetsville Cemetery in Lawtey under the direction of Haile Funeral Home Inc.
