Julie Ann Golden
Julie Ann Golden, 56, of Plant City, Fla., born in Lakeland on Oct. 20, 1964, entered into eternal rest on Oct. 2, 2021.
Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.
Nettie L. ‘Polly’ Rhoden
Nettie L. “Polly” Rhoden, 84, of Plant City, Fla., born in Dover on April 2, 1933, entered into eternal rest on Sept. 27, 2021.
Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.
Mary ‘Ann’ Garner Porter
Mary “Ann” Garner Porter, 84, of Plant City, Fla., born in Pleasant Grove on Oct. 23, 1936, entered into eternal rest on Oct. 2, 2021. She was a member of Pleasant Grove Assembly of God, and a former school bus driver for Hillsborough County Schools. She enjoyed praying, and caregiving. She was preceded in death by husband, Carl Wallace Porter, Sr.
She is survived by children, Wally Porter of Keysville, and Rhenda Porter Booth (Carmen) of Blue Ridge, Georgia; sister, Sue Brown (Eldon); and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, family and friends.
A funeral service will be held Thursday, Oct. 7 at 11 a.m. at Hopewell Funeral Home, 6005 South County Road 39, Plant City, where the family will receive friends beginning at 10 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Project Israel c/o Pleasant Grove Assembly of God at pleasantgrovechurch.com.
Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuenral.com.
William Earl Abercrombie
William Earl Abercrombie, 68, of Plant City, Fla., born on Dec. 6, 1952, entered into eternal rest on Oct. 1, 2021.
Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.
Robert ‘Steve’ Stephen Early
Robert “Steve” Stephen Early, 62, of Auburndale, Fla., born in Eolia, KY on July 7, 1959, entered into eternal rest on Sept. 29, 2021.
Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.
Robert ‘Steve’ Stephen Early
Robert “Steve” Stephen Early, 62, of Auburndale, Fla., born in Eolia, KY on July 7, 1959, entered into eternal rest on Sept. 29, 2021.
Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.
Mary ‘Jenny’ Green
Mary “Jenny” Green, 88, of Lithia, Fla., born in Springhead on Jan. 6, 1933, entered into eternal rest on Sept. 27, 2021.
Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.
Carol Louise Leneau
Carol Louise Leneau, 78, of Plant City, Fla., passed away on Sept. 30, 2021. Services will be held privately.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.haught.care.
Ken Eugene Sumner
Ken Eugene Sumner, age 58, of Dover, FL passed away on October 3, 2021.
A native of Plant City, Florida, he was the son of Dorothy E. Sumner Overstreet, and Gene (Betty), who all still survive.
Other survivors include his wife of three years Mary Sumner, children, Eric (Sinie) Sumner, stepchildren, Evan (Yelliam) Scudder, Noella Scudder, siblings, James Sumner, David Sumner, grandchildren, Leland W. Scudder, Liam E. Scudder, Dustin J. Sumner, Aaden Whittaker, Uncle Royce Phillips, Aunt Joyce (Captain Hooke), Mother- in- Law, LaDona Scudder, nephew Robie Sumner. Ken was preceded in death by his son, Dustin E. Sumner.
Ken enjoyed golfing, traveling, watching his home team The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and most of all he cherished his grandsons. He was of the Baptist Faith. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, son, and brother, and friend to all. The family will receive friends Thursday, October 7, 2021, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Haught Funeral Home Chapel, 708 W. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Plant City, FL 33563. In lieu of flowers the family has requested that donations be made to Lifepath Hospice, the family would also like to extend gratitude to the Sapphire team at Lifepath Hospice.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.haught.care.
Maria Josefa Junquera Browne
Maria Josefa Junquera Browne Dec. 31, 1949 – Oct. 2, 2021
Maria Josefa Junquera Browne passed away peacefully on Oct. 2, 2021, surrounded by her loving family.
The daughter of Jose Luis “Sobrin” Junquera and Maria Josefa “Josefita” Azorin, Maria and her extended family fled Camagüey, Cuba, in 1960. They eventually settled in Plant City, Fla., where they rebuilt their business brick-by-brick.
A once-in-a-lifetime beauty, Maria (“Popy” to her adoring cousins) was crowned Hillsborough County Fair and Strawberry Festival Queen in 1967. Despite her recent arrival, she graduated Plant City High School at the top of her class, with honors.
After enrolling at the University of Florida, Maria became the first Hispanic Miss Florida USA, proudly representing her home state in her newly adopted country. Maria also served as Vice President of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority and graduated with honors and a bachelor’s degree in political science.
Thereafter, Maria embarked on a banking career. She got her start in Atlanta, where she met the love of her life: Don Browne. They married in 1981 and moved to Miami Beach. She went to work for Southeast Bank; Don became a bureau chief for NBC News. They celebrated 40 years of joy and partnership this year.
Maria was perhaps best known as the CEO of the Browne family. She raised two sons, Chris and Ryan. She taught them to be, above all else, adventurous. Over the course of Don’s career as a newsman and, later, as a media executive, Maria traveled constantly with her family. But she never let her boys forget where she came from.
Maria also understood the importance of giving back. True to her belief in every child’s potential, she was a Philanthropic Founder of the Women of Tomorrow Mentor & Scholarship Program and a longtime member of the Board of Trustees of The Cushman School.
Most recently, Maria shone brightest as “Abie” to her cherished granddaughter, Adelia. She taught her to sing, make mischief, and dance, usually to Celia Cruz’s “La vida es un carnaval.”
Maria was preceded in death by her beloved younger brother, Jose “Pepe” Junquera, and is survived by her husband, children, and granddaughter.
Her extended family, from Florida to Northern Spain, will miss her madly.
A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, October 9, at Saint Clement Catholic Church, 1104 N. Alexander St., Plant City, Florida. For further information, please visit Haught Funeral Home at www.haught.care.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for contributions in Maria’s name to the Women of Tomorrow Mentorship & Scholarship Program, via womenoftomorrow.org.
Fred S. Ragan
Fred S. Ragan, 77, of Plant City, Fla., died on Sept. 28, 2021. He was the owner and operator of Ragan’s Ole Car and Truck Frames for several decades. He is survived by his wife of 19 years, Diana Ragan; and a loving family; 6 children and many grandchildren
and great-grandchildren. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.