Whenever I walk through a cemetery and read the names of the deceased, I can’t help but wonder about the lives they once lived. Each name comes with a unique story behind it and with this series I wanted to bring those stories back to life. Even after death, the lives of these people are memorialized not only by the inscribed marker, but by the people they left behind. Included with each image is a short paragraph about the person the gravestone is for. As I researched each of these people, reading the obituaries they had written about them, I began to feel a connection to them. I spent quite a bit of time reading about them and after a while, it felt like I knew them all in my own way.
Phoebe Lucuille Walker was born on December 9th, 1919 in Bradenton, Florida where she resided her entire life. She was a homemaker and a regular member of the Christ Episcopal Church. She was survived by her brother, one grandchild and two great-grandchildren.
Andrea Sours was born in Muncie, Indiana. She moved to Manatee County in 1976 and made a living as a photographer. Andrea passed at the age of 35. Survivors include her mother, father, and her brother and sister.
Aubrey Suggs was born in Manhattan, Florida and was a lifetime resident of Manatee County. He was a retired automobile mechanic. Aubrey was survived by his wife Mary, a daughter, two sons, eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He passed at the age of 75 in Palmetto, Florida.
Daniel Lamar Barfield was born in Samoset, Florida. He passed away at the age of 62 on August 30th, 2014. He was survived by his sister, seven loving children, and twelve grandchildren.
Shirley Knope Baran was born on December 19th, 1935. She passed away at the age of 74 on May 21st, 2010 from an illness. Shirley and her husband moved to Bradenton with their children in 1968 from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Shirley was an active community member as well as a volunteer at South Florida Museum. She was a devoted member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and also volunteered there. Shirley was survived by her husband, Chet, two sons, and two daughters.
Gary Wayne Chambers passed away at age 53 in 2011. He was survived by his wife of 36 years, Juanita, his son Randy, and a handful of other loving close relatives including brothers and sisters.
Holmes Joseph Burton was born in Newark, New Jersey. He was a veteran of the United States Army Air Corps during World War II. He attended Brown University and worked for the stock transfer department for Texaco in New York City. Holmes passed in 2010 at the age of 90. He was survived by two sons and two grandchildren.
Janice A. Burton was born in Kearny, New Jersey. Janice and Holmes moved to Bradenton, Florida in 2002. During her lifetime, she was a homemaker. Janice passed in 2006 at the age of 83 and left behind her husband and two sons.
Ronald Lawrence Reagan was born in St. Petersburg, Florida and happily spent the majority of his life in Bradenton. He passed away at the age of 60 after a ght against cancer. He made a living as a hard-working farmer and cattle rancher. He dedicated his life to the family business. Ronald was survived by his parents, two sons, and three grandchildren.
Samuel Jeremiah Alsback was born in Middletown, New Jersey. He had the honor of being a Corporal in the United States Army during the Korean War. He passed at the age of 79, survived by his wife, two sons, and three daughters.
Jennifer Lynn Vanasse was born and raised in the city of Bradenton, Florida. She worked as a receptionist at the Grif th-Cline Funeral Home. During her life, Jennifer was a member of the Girl Scouts and the Junior R.O.T.C. She passed away at the age of 20 and was survived by her parents, her maternal grandparents, and her sister.
