Janie Eason
Janie Eason, 86, of Plant City, Fla., born in Ft. Meade on Sept. 2, 1935, entered into eternal rest on Jan. 18, 2022.
Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.
Junior ‘Doad’ Lee Hughes
Junior “Doad” Lee Hughes, 87, of Lithia, Fla., born in Turtle Town, Tenn. on February 6, 1934, entered into eternal rest on Jan. 18, 2022.
Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.
Joyce Keene
Layton
Joyce Keene Layton, 91, of Plant City, Fla., born in Starke, Fla. on June 10, 1930, entered into eternal rest on Jan. 23, 2022.
Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.
Marsha ‘Cherry’ Haber
Marsha “Cherry” Haber, 56, of Mulberry, Fla., passed away on Jan. 19, 2022. Funeral services were held Jan. 25, 2022 at Haught Funeral Home Chapel, 708 W. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Plant City, FL 33563.
Online condolences may be left for the family at haught.care.
Gladys Audrey Hewitt Lefler
Gladys Audrey Hewitt Lefler, 100, of Plant City, Fla., passed away on Jan. 22, 2022 She was born in Mayo, Florida, grew up in Kathleen, and lived all of her adult life in Plant City. She was predeceased by her parents, Ben and Maggie (Kirby) Hewitt, husband, James Lefler; sons Lester and Maurice, grandson, Allan Lefler, 5 siblings, Broward Hewitt (Helen), Ed Hewitt, Florice Jackson (Ed), Edith Hewitt, and Bertha Bembry (Lewis). She is survived by daughters Carol Brooks (Tom) and Faye Cook; son, James Randy (Cathy), daughter-in-law, Betty Lefler, sister-in-law, Mable Hewitt, 9 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, 2 great-great grandchildren and over 40 nieces and nephews.
Gladys was a faithful Christian, being a member of the Church of Christ all of her adult life. She retired from Sears, then volunteered with the Auxiliary (Pink Ladies) at South Florida Baptist Hospital for about 20 years. She taught Sunday school and Ladies Bible Class at the Springhead Church of Christ for many years, prepared food for others, and hosted countless events at the family home. She was a member of the Plant City Church of Christ in her later years. She cared for her husband during his ill health. Then she cared for her own mother in her final years. She was a farmer’s wife who knew the value of hard work and taught it to her children. Our matriarch led by example and leaves a legacy of love and faithfulness to Jesus Christ.
Funeral Services will be at Haught Funeral Home on Saturday, Jan. 29. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. and services at 11:00. Flowers or donations to Mt. Dora Christian Academy & Children’s Home (www.MDCAAcademy.org) or Attn: Teal Team, Lifepath Hospice, 11150 No. 53 rd St., Temple Terrace, FL 33617 will be welcomed and appreciated. Online condolences may be left for the family at haught.care
Catherine Jones
Catherine Jones, 84, of Plant City, Fla., passed away on Jan. 21, 2022.
She was the daughter of the late Henry and Hazel Juanita Davis. Survived by her daughters, Donna (Kirk) Naylor, Tamara (Ray) Smith, sister, Diane Calhoun, grandchildren, Ryan (Jennifer) Townsend, Breanna (Nicki) Johns, Stephanie (Scott) Leach, April (James) Peterson, Shane (Jessica) Smith, Jessica (Carlos) Lassalle, Jeremy Naylor, fifteen grandchildren, two great- great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Catherine was preceded in death by her husband J.W. Jones, sisters, Fern Calhoun, Violet Roney, Rose Georges.
Catherine was a member of East Thonotosassa Baptist Church; she was the founder and owner of Weddings by Catherine. She loved spending time with her family and friends. If so, desired donations can be made to East Thonotosassa Baptist Church, 12735 Knights Griffin Road Thonotosassa, Florida 33592.
The family will receive friends Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. at East Thonotosassa Baptist Church. Funeral services will follow at 2:30 p.m.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.haught.care.
Frederick Martin Pozeznik
Frederick Martin Pozeznik, age 66, of Plant City, Florida, passed away after a three-year battle with frontal lobe dementia surrounded by the love of his family on Sunday evening, December 19th, 2021.
He is survived by his wife, Nikki Pozeznik, his children, Kate, Alli, Chris, his stepson, Adam, his grandchildren and step-grandchildren, Wren, Selena, and Sophia, his mother Mardelle, his siblings Diane and Roger, and family pets George, Cali Cat, and Jack. He was preceded in death by his father, Martin Pozeznik, and beloved pets Zoey and Casper. Fred was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and grew up on Nazarene Farm, a 400-acre dairy farm where he was responsible for chores like milking cows and bailing hay. He graduated from Comstock High school in 1973 where he enjoyed playing football and pole-vaulting on the track team.
Fred loved working with people and people loved working with him. His warm personality, laid- back nature, and entrepreneurial spirit brought him success throughout his career. Fred sold custom trucks at Cabriolet and Freightliner, worked at an ad agency, and most recently owned and operated Coventry Assisted Living.
Fred had 3 children with Deb Wezensky. They raised the family in Indiana and Fred enjoyed launching rockets, flying dual-line kites, photographing his kids’ sporting events, cheering for the Chicago Bulls and Notre Dame, making world-class Carbon waffles, camping, and taking trips to Lake Michigan with his family.
Fred spent time traveling for his truck sales roles during this time and made some of his best friends while on the road. Fred was always an adventurous soul. After high school, he took a solo motorcycle trip from Michigan to California, camping along the way. Around this time, he also picked up a decades-long hobby: skydiving. Fred kept a skydiving jump log and managed to accrue 395 jumps before he was 27 years old. Fred loved being a member of the Free Flyt Skydive Team, a group that regularly delighted attendees with stunts at hot air balloon festivals, air shows, and sporting events. Fred completed his final skydive alongside his good friend and brother, Roger, on Thanksgiving 2019.
In 2003, Fred married Nikki Campbell. Relocating to Florida was a great fit and Fred created his own Florida uniform: Hawaiian shirts, khaki cargo shorts, and Birkenstocks. He loved the sunny state of Florida and taking Nikki for weekend trips to St. Pete and Clearwater Beaches, where they’d enjoy his favorite classic rock cover band, Stormbringer, and dance to live music at Shepard’s. Fred and Nikki were owners and administrators Coventry Assisted
Living in Plant City for 17 years. The residents adored Fred. When musicians came to perform, Fred would make sure to dance with each female resident. He was always around to help out and proud of how well-cared-for the residents were at Coventry. Fred and his wife Nikki enjoyed rescuing cats and dogs and he became known as the resident pet whisperer. In their last demonstration of loyalty to Fred, the family pets, George and Cali Cat, were at his bedside during his final hours.
One of Fred’s passions in life was Notre Dame football and he held his patronage strong to the football legacy long after he left the Midwest. When his son Chris moved to Florida and Notre Dame football was playing, chances were that you’d find the two of them in Fred’s man cave watching the game together.
Fred held a myriad of hobbies and interests over the course of his life. He played racquetball, loved to fly drones (and once won the Plant City water tower award for his aerial photo), enjoyed listening to Classic Rock, relaxing poolside with his family, dancing to live music, watching all Sci-fi movies he could get his hands on, riding his Harley, and after his retirement, helping out his friends and neighbors as a public notary.
Fred had retirement dreams of traveling around the US in an RV,
owning a powered parachute, spending time with his family, and
many more beach days. We are saddened that we don’t get to have Fred with us on our adventures anymore but are so proud of everything he accomplished and experienced in his short 66 years. We will keep him in our hearts always. May Fred’s legacy inspire us all to be adventurous, brave enough to start new chapters in our life, and carefree enough to get out on the dance floor.
“The family is honoring Fred with a donation to Crossed Paws Pet Rescue in Winter Haven, FL.”
A Celebration of Life will be held privately.
Annette Bellamy Candis
Annette Bellamy Candis, born Sept. 2, 1960, passed away Jan. 18, 2022.
Wake: Jan. 28, 2022 from 5-7 p.m. at Winslow Honors Funeral Chapel, 809 E. Alsobrook St. Plant City, FL 33563.
Funeral: Jan. 29, 2022, 12 p.m. at Allen Chapel AME Church, 1109 E. Laura St. Plant City, FL 33563.
Burial will be Jan 31, 2022 in Bushnell.