Timothy Curtis Ballard, Joy Ann Marley Baxter, Ruby M. Gray, Gregory Stephen Long, Eva C. Standard and Norma Kate Thrasher (Douglas) and Joel M. Zazulia
Timothy Curtis Ballard
Timothy Curtis Ballard, 57, of Dover, died Dec. 5, at his home.
Born Aug. 24, 1955, in Plant City, he was the son of the late Jesse Ballard and Georgia Butler Ballard. He was the husband of Cynthia Ballard.
Mr. Ballard was a member of Sydney Baptist Church and had worked for Mosaic for more than 20 years.
Survivors include a daughter, Tara Krasnichan; brothers, Alan and Charles Ballard; and one granchild, T.J. Krasnichan.
The family will be having a private service.
If you would care to make donations in lieu of flowers, please direct those to The Shriner’s Children’s Hospital, 1-800-241-GIFT, or Shriners International Headquarters, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607.
Online condolences may be made to the family at haughtfuneralhome.com.
Joy Ann Marley Baxter
Joy Ann Marley Baxter died Dec. 6, at home in Beach Park, with her children at her side.
She was preceded in death by her father, W. D. Marley, and mother, Mrs. Willie Marley Skeith.
Mr. Marley was a prominent businessman in Plant City and was one of the initiators of the Florida Strawberry Festival. Mrs. Marley’s early years were spent immersed in the “Strawberry culture” of pageants and parades.
She also was preceded in death by her husband, William “Billy” Melbourne Baxter.
A Celebration of Life ceremony was Dec. 10, at Blount & Curry Funeral Home, Tampa.
A guestbook for Mrs. Marley is available online at BlountCurryMacDill.com.
Ruby M. Gray
Ruby M. Gray, 79, of Plant City, died Dec. 6, 2012.
Survivors include her children, Annie McElyea (Tom) and Judy Rose (David); brother, Hurley Mayo (Dorothy); sisters, Ledell Jordan and Louise Barnett; grandchildren, Mary Lewis (Jr.) and Melinda Taylor (Johnny); and great-grandchildren Elizabeth Lewis, Annberlin Lewis, Justin Taylor and Shelby Taylor.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Alex and Eula Mayo; and brothers, Junior and Neal Mayo.
A Celebration of Life was Dec. 11, at Willow Oak Church of God, 4087 S.R. 60 W., Mulberry.
Interment followed at Hopewell Memorial Gardens, Plant City.
Online condolences may be made to the family at hopewellfuneral.com.
Gregory Stephen Long
Gregory Stephen Long, 52, of Tampa and Plant City, died Dec. 6.
Mr. Long was born March 12, 1960, in Plant City, to the late William Long and Murel Tindle Jones (Billie).
Survivors include siblings, Ray (Judy) Long, Billy (Jeanette) Long, Kenneth Long, Shawn Long, Patricia (Donald) Stancil, Kevin (Lisa) Jones and Virginia (David) Rodriquez.
A funeral service was Dec. 11, at Haught Funeral Home Chapel.
Online condolences may be made to the family at haughtfuneralhome.com.
Eva C. Standard
Eva C. Standard, 72, of Plant City, died Dec. 4, at Lakeland Regional Medical Center.
She was born Aug. 14, 1940, in Valrico, to George and Maude (Anderson) Rowell.
Mrs. Standard was a member of First Baptist Church of Dover for 48 years and held several positions, including working in the church library.
Survivors include her husband of 54 years, Albert Standard; one son, Harold Standard; two daughters, Nola Gay Nash (Peter) and Neina Sue Hurlburt (Mike); four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were Dec. 6, at First Baptist Church of Dover.
Memorials may be made in her memory to the Church Library.
Condolences may be offered at wellsmemorial.com.
Norma Kate Thrasher (Douglas)
Norma Kate Thrasher (Douglas), 91, died Dec. 5, at home.
She was born in Dixie County, Ala., in 1921 and was a resident of Florida since 1935, living in Plant City, Blountstown and for the past 15 years in Lake Wales.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Willie Harmon Thrasher; father, McCary McNeil Douglas; mother, Alma Lee (Shields) Douglas; brothers, Tommy Ray and Jerry Mack Douglas; and sister, Talatha (Kay) Griffin.
She is survived by her children, Sandra Parrish and Barbara Hill, of Lake Wales; Linda Dixon (Donald), of Plant City; Mack Neil Thrasher, of Banks, Ala.; and Bill Thrasher, of Winter Haven; 11 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were Dec. 8, at Wells Memorial and Event Center, Plant City. Interment followed at Mt. Enon Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to the Mt. Enon Cemetery Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 326, Plant City, FL 33564.
Condolences may be offered at wellsmemorial.com.
Joel M. Zazulia
Joel M. Zazulia, 38, of Plant City, died Dec. 5, 2012.
Survivors include his wife of 14 years, Danielle; children, Lucas, Julian and Raiannah, of Plant City; father and stepmother, Arnold and Amy Zazulia, of Plant City; brothers and sisters-in-law, Richard and Deborah of Skowhegan, Maine, and Alan and Debbie of New Orleans; sister and brother-in-law, Iylene and Jeffrey Miller, of Valrico; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.
Graveside services were held in Tampa. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Shriners Hospital for Children, 12502 USF Pine Drive, Tampa, FL 33612.
Condolences may be made online at segalfuneralhome.com.
