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Proud Grandpa Won't Ever Forget New Granddaughter's Birthday

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By BETTY BRIGGS

Tribune correspondent

Published: May 21, 2008

PLANT CITY - Getting a year older didn't bother Leo Watson one bit. He celebrated his birthday March 31, the same day as the birth of his granddaughter Lily Ann Haynes.

Lily was born at South Florida Baptist Hospital to April and Walter Haynes of Plant City.

Grandmother Louann Watson and the new mom say Grandpa, the president of the East Hillsborough Art Guild, could not have asked for a better present and is thrilled to share his birthday with the beautiful little girl.

2 Grads Get College Help From Dealership

PLANT CITY - Two area 2008 graduates have been awarded $1,000 scholarships by Jarrett Scott Ford and Ford Motor Co.

Durant graduate Suzanne Rawlins, daughter of Kathy Rawlins and David Rawlins of Lithia, plans to study pre-vet/vet sciences at Hillsborough Community College.

Plant City High School graduate Khristina Knight, daughter of Mary Knight and Robert Knight of Dover, also plans to study pre-vet/vet sciences at HCC.

The award is one of 600 given nationally to the National FFA Organization, formerly known as the Future Farmers of America.
Lifetime Resident Gets Full-Time Archives Job

PLANT CITY - Lifelong Plant City resident Candace Owens has been appointed to the full-time position of administrative receptionist at downtown's Plant City Photo Archives, an exhibit gallery of local history.

A Plant City High School graduate and a certified travel consultant, she has been employed by the archives since February 2007. She is a member of the American Association for State and Local History and the Florida Association of Museums.

Former McCrory's Employees Reminisce

PLANT CITY - It was old home week for four former McCrory's employees when they recently met downtown at the former McCrory's building, 119 N. Collins St., now Plant City Photo Archives.

The workers included Mildred Griffin, who worked from 1962 to 1985 at the candy counter; Evelyn Lampkin, the first black cashier who worked from 1948 to 1985; Janet Vickers, who did window displays from 1956 to 1960; and Angie Harrod, who ran the lunch counter from 1957 to 1980.

McCrory's opened the store in the 1940s and closed it in 1985. Family Shoe Store occupied the building until it closed about seven years ago, then the archives moved in about three years ago.

The ceiling, light fixtures and wood floors in the archives date to the days when it was a dime store.

Local Resident Earns Southeastern Degree

PLANT CITY - Jonathan Pentecost of Plant City has graduated from Southeastern University in Lakeland. He earned his bachelor's degree in business and human services and cum laude honors.

He was one of 342 undergraduate students in the university's Class of 2008.

Established in 1935, Southeastern has more than 3,000 students and offers a Christ-centered education with 46 bachelor's degree programs and four master's programs.

Happy 1st Birthday To Plant City Tot

PLANT CITY - Ethan Daniel Masek has reached his first milestone, birthday No. 1. The tot was born on April 26, 2007, in Brandon.

The family, including parents Caroline Humphrey and Seth Daniel Masek of Mango and grandparents Donald and Mary Humphrey and Charles and Marge Masek Jr., all of Plant City, celebrated at the Masek home with lots of cousins.

Also attending were Ethan's great-grandmother Goma Stallard, of Avon Park and Plant City, and his great-uncle Ted Masek, of California.

A special dedication ceremony was performed for Ethan by the Rev. Tom Ryan of Clermont.

Families Celebrate Birth Of Granddaughter

PLANT CITY - The Johnsons and Walls are celebrating the birth of granddaughter Aubrey Elizabeth Johnson, born to Heidi and Owen Johnson on April 27 at 7:47 p.m. at a birth center in Lakeland.

Grandparents are Homer and Kathy Wall and Fred and Tammy Johnson.

Great-grandparents are Eleanor Simmons, Charles and Beverly Simmons, Homer and Louise Wall, Manuel and Velma Johnson and Elton and Evelyn Johnson.

Owen and Heidi Johnson returned from the birthing center around 11 p.m. the same day and shared their 9-pound, 11-ounce bundle of joy with Aubrey's brothers, Patrick and Cade.

USF Graduate Working In Plant City

PLANT CITY - Welcome to Plant City, Dana Alvarez-Ferry.

The graduate of the University of South Florida and a primary specialist in hearing aid technology recently married Matthew Ferry, son of local dentist David Ferry and his wife, Maria.

She began as a trainee at Audibel Hearing Aid Center in Tampa and has been placed as a specialist in the Plant City office.

Have an event you would like to see in this column? Send items to Betty Briggs by e-mail to

gabylee@tampabay.rr.com; mail to The Tampa Tribune, 101 N. Wheeler St., Plant City FL 33563; or fax to (813) 865-4441.

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