Mr. Milton ‘Mic’ Felix Aviles
Mr. Milton “Mic” Felix Aviles, 63, of Plant City, Fla. born in Livingston, New Jersey on Apr. 30, 1962, entered into eternal rest on Aug. 26, 2025.
Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.
Betty T. Ketchersid
Betty T. Ketchersid, 91, of Lakeland, Fla., born in Frostproof, Fla., on Sept. 25, 1933, entered into eternal rest on Aug. 24, 2025.
Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.
Michael B. Brown
Michael B. Brown, 71, of Plant City, Fla., born in New Castle, Indiana on June 23, 1954, entered into eternal rest on Aug. 17, 2025.
Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.
Inez Palmer Simmons
Inez Palmer Simmons, 93, passed away peacefully on Aug. 25, 2025, in Gainesville, Fla. at the Village, surrounded by her loving family.
Mrs. Simmons is survived by her three children, Stephanie (Randy) West, Wayne (Cindy) Simmons, and Palmer (Lee) Simmons, and four grandchildren, Ashley West, Neal (Miranda) West, Amy (Maury) Mizell, and Jimbo (Sarabeth) Simmons, and many loving nieces, nephews, and cousins. Inez was predeceased by her first husband, Lt. Anthony Butler, and her beloved husband of 58 years, James Loris Simmons.
Inez was born in Culpeper, Virginia, in 1931, and was the second daughter of Dr. William Garland and Rosalie Palmer. Her sister, Kitty, favored Rose, and Inez was the spitting image of her father. In an article written about her parents, the author said, “If you stuck a cigar in Inez’s mouth, you would think Dr. Palmer was back in town!” Inez attended Mary Washington College at the University of Virginia, during which time she met her first husband, Lt. Anthony Butler. They married in June of 1951, but he was killed in a tragic plane crash 9 months after they married. Inez then returned to school, graduating from George Peabody College for Teachers. She taught fourth grade in Arlington, Virginia, for a year after. In June 1954, Inez was in Daytona, Florida, for vacation and was introduced to Mr. James Loris Simmons, a teacher from Plant City, who was at an FFA convention. They married in August. Jim and Inez settled in Plant City, where they owned orange groves, taught in Hillsborough public schools, and raised their three children on their farm. Inez taught at both Trapnell and Pinecrest schools, later substituting. Jim and Inez were faithful members of Hopewell Baptist Church, joining in 1956.
Inez was a devotee of orange juice, drinking it at every meal. Inez also loved sharing stories about her early life in Virginia and her beloved extended family there. She made her children and grandchildren feel like they grew up in Virginia and personally knew their ancestors. Inez was passionate about her beliefs and wrote articles to the newspaper when a phosphate plant was sited for her beloved Hopewell area of Plant City.
Inez loved antiques and filled her home with family treasures from Culpeper, like a stately grandfather clock, family silver, and velveteen settees. She had several nieces and nephews whom she doted on and loved speaking with on the phone. Her birthday cards and Christmas cards were bright and loving. She ended every conversation with a lilting “Bye-bye!”
A funeral service will be held Thursday, September 4, 2025, at 11:00 A.M. at Hopewell Baptist Church Historic Chapel, 6001 South County Road 39, Plant City, where the family will receive friends beginning at 10:00 A.M. Graveside committal to follow at Hopewell Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hopewell Baptist Church at https://hopewellbaptistfl.org/. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com. “Death leaves a heartache no one can heal; love leaves a memory no one can steal.”
Kathleen McNelis
Kathleen McNelis, 66, of Plant City, Fla., passed away on Aug. 13, 2025. A memorial celebration will be held at her home, 2881 Hammock Drive, in Plant City, on Sept. 6, 2025, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. A second service will take place in New York at a later date, with details to be announced.
Online condolences can be made at www.haught.care.
Patricia Ann Grimmer
Patricia Ann Grimmer, 87, of Plant City, Fla., passed away on Aug. 27, 2025.
Fond memories and expressions can be shared at www.Wellsmemorial.com for the Grimmer family.
Richard John Scott
Richard John Scott, age 90, of Plant City, Fla., passed away on Aug. 29, 2025.
Fond memories and expressions can be shared at www.Wellsmemorial.com for the Scott family.
Gwyneth Hetherington
Gwyneth Hetherington, age 94, of the United Kingdom, passed away on Aug. 31, 2025. Fond memories and expressions can be shared at www.Wellsmemorial.com for the Hetherington family.
Don Futch
Don Futch, age 88, of Plant City, Fla., passed away on Aug. 31, 2025.
Fond memories and expressions can be shared at www.Wellsmemorial.com for the Futch family.
Loretta Womble
Loretta Womble, age 77, passed away on Sept. 1, 2025.
Fond memories and expressions can be shared at www.Wellsmemorial.com for the Womble family.
