Wednesday, August 18, 2021

Obituaries - James Horton, Samuel Griffin, Angelus Clemons, Roberto Silva

Pastor James E Horton, age 74, of Lehigh Acres, passed away August 14, 2021 in Fort Myers.

He was born Jan. 11, 1947 in Terra Haute, IN, to the late Roy and Jane (Ridenour) Horton Jr.
He was Pastor at LaBelle Baptist Temple.

Survivors include his wife: Sharon (Montgomery) Horton
two sons: Steve Horton and Darren Horton
a daughter: Teresa Vessell
7 grandchildren & 10 great grandchildren

Graveside services will be held Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at 10:00 am at Fort Denaud Cemetery, LaBelle with Pastors Don Strange and Jonathon Horton officiating. Arrangements by Akin-Davis Funeral Home - LaBelle.

Samuel Asbury Griffin was born in 1937 on a houseboat on Lake Okeechobee. At the age of 12, he began guiding sport fishermen on Lake O. 

 His family developed and operated Uncle Joe’s Fish Camp in Moore Haven and Angler’s Marina in Clewiston until the mid 1970’s. In 1980, Sam began designing and manufacturing top water fishing lures. He and his wife Carol owned and operated Custom Lures by Sam until his death.

Sam was an outspoken advocate for Lake Okeechobee and Glades County, serving as County Commissioner and on the Lake Okeechobee Advisory Council, where he was instrumental in the establishment of a fisheries office in Okeechobee with Freshwater Fish and Game Commission. He truly shaped the way Lake Okeechobee looks today, cutting boat trails in the lake with the Corp of Engineers and marking channels.

In recognition for his contributions to the freshwater fishing industry, Sam was inducted into the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame in 2019. In June 2021, the Sam Griffin Scenic Tower in Lakeport was dedicated in his honor.

Sam served in the National Guard from 1959 – 1965 and was an active member of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Clewiston, where he served on the vestry board.

Sam is survived by his wife of 62 years, Carol; his son Samuel Joseph and wife Laurie; his daughter Crissy and husband Mike; his beloved grandchildren Danielle, Matthew, Katelyn, Connor and Emily; a large extended family and many, many loving friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Thelma Griffin; brothers Stanley and Tommy Wayman and Richard Griffin; and his nephew Dennis Griffin.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Martin’s Episcopal Church or a charity of your choice.

A private church service will be held for Samuel’s family. A Celebration of Life will follow at Lakeport Community Center 1239 Red Barn Road NW Moore Haven, Florida 33471 on Saturday, August 21, 2021 from 1-3 p.m. where all friends and family are welcome.

Angelus Marie Clemons, 75, who loved to be called Mimi, departed her loving family on August 11, 2021. She is now in the presence of the Lord.

Miss Angie, as she was known to friends, was a beloved member of the LaBelle community and faithfully attended church at the LaBelle Revival Center.

Angelus was born on December 12, 1945, in Mobile, Alabama. She is predeceased by her parents Wilson (Sandy) Miller and Bernice (Watson) Ross. Also, her late husband Charles (Charlie) Clemons.
Angelus leaves behind her children; Theresa Boring (Frank), of LaBelle, Ted Ross, Jr (Lynda) of Fort Myers, and Jason Long of Valdosta, GA. Nine grandchildren; Jared, Jacob, Jonathan, Kristen, Mercedes, Leah, Nathan, Natalie, and Landon, one great-grandchild, Andruw. Her brother Oliver (Evelyn) Miller of Leesburg and sister Tracie Hobby, of LaBelle.

Mimi is also survived by her furry companion Beauregard (Bo), her beloved pug.

Mimi loved Jesus, fishing, shooting, Horror movies, shopping (Walmart aka Wall Marks), costume jewelry, but most of all spending time with her family. She was the Matriarch of our family and a true Southern Bell who loved her hats.

The family will receive friends for visitation on Thursday, August 19, 2021, from 5 to 7 PM at the Akin-Davis Funeral Home 560 E. Hickpochee Ave. LaBelle.

Graveside Service will be held on Friday August 20, 2021, at 10 AM at Fort Denaud Cemetery with Pastor Lester Grant officiating.

Roberto A. Silva Jr. was born in Pinar Del Rio, Cuba on September 14, 1962. Roberto came to Clewiston when he was 4 years old, accompanied by his parents and his brother Rolando. His sister Carmen would be born 4 years later. 

Roberto was Cuban by birth and American by choice. Roberto was proud of his heritage but never had the desire to return to a communist country. The family had a good life in Clewiston until an accident at work would eventually paralyze his father leading Roberto to help take care of him from a young age. 

Roberto graduated from Clewiston High School in 1982 and was given a scholarship to Carnegie Mellon for art school however, due to family obligations he was not able to attend. His father passed away the year before and he was needed at home. Not attending art school was always one of his biggest regrets. 

Just a few short years later he went to work for Bell’s Radio Shack and working there became one of his greatest loves. He enjoyed managing Bell’s and came to an understanding of music like no other. Anyone looking for a certain song or album knew if they came to see Roberto, he had it or would get it for them. 

He eventually met the love of his life, Darenda, went he went to work for Royal’s Furniture store. They were married in Las Vegas in 1998. He worked in banking over 20 years, where he worked in the areas of management, loans, collections, and eventually as vice president of the loan dept. Roberto loved working with people, loved his job and worked until he became disabled. His coworkers loved him through this time, and he worked as a teller just a few hours a week to give him something to do. 

Roberto was an avid collector, artistic, loving, funny, a joker, and just a big kid at heart. If he was your friend, you were friends for life. He was an avid fan of the Miami Hurricanes and the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

Roberto attended Glades Bible Church and prospered greatly over the last year under the guidance of his Pastor David Royal. 

He is survived by his wife Darenda of nearly 23 years, his daughter Miranda, his son Kevin (Brandy), and one of his greatest joys in life, Conner, his grandson, Caleb Redish grandson, and Carlie Redish granddaughter. He is survived by his brother Rolando Silva (Lisa), his sister Carmen Whitehead (Tim), brothers and sisters-in-laws, Les McMillan (Rachel), and Mary Beth Rodriguez (Santiago) and his nieces and nephews whom he always loved as if they were his own; Michael Silva, Christina Torres (Timothy), Angelina Whitehead, Christian Whitehead, Adrianna Whitehead, Heidi Ward (Kendrick) and Kayla Rodriguez. He is also survived by his cousin Sergio Rubio (Suzi), his godson Carlos (Nani), Alex (Natasha), Alexis, and Natalie, and by his loving fur babies Kiki, and Mama. 

Roberto is preceded in death by his parents Roberto and Carmen Silva, his loving aunt Daisy (Yeye) and his little cousin Sergio.

Celebration of Roberto’s Life will be held at 10 am today, Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at Glades Bible Church located at 705 S Olympia Street, Clewiston, Florida. Visitation was Tuesday, August 17, 2021 from 6-8 p.m. at Akin-Davis Funeral Home in Clewiston. Burial will take place in Ridgelawn Cemetery.

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