Obituary of Nadine Whitfield

Nadine Elizabeth WHITFIELD Nadine Elizabeth Whitfield, 93, of Winter Haven, Florida, passed on Sunday, 3 May 2009 of heart failure. Nadine moved to Polk County in the 1950?s to work in the citrus industry and later worked for many years as a waitress at some of Winter Haven?s more popular restaurants. She never met a stranger she couldn?t talk too and will be remembered fondly by many friends. Her family will sadly miss their matriarchal head. Nadine was a member of Parkland Baptist Church in Winter Haven, Florida. She was an avid gardener, loved nature, fishing and enjoyed traveling but her greatest joy was her family. She strived to leave a legacy of strength in family, hope in humanity, charity toward your neighbors, clean living, honesty, thrift and most important - faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and gratitude for his gift of eternal life. Nadine was born 30 October 1915 in Bascom, Jackson County, Florida, the daughter of John Dennis Ditty and Martha Ella Wiley Ditty. She was married to Alto Cletis Stephens and later to Luther Carl Whitfield. She is predeceased in death by her parents; spouses; son, John Wesley Stephens; brother, Milton Ditty; two sisters, Clyrece Ditty Deese-Scherer and Mildred Ditty-Hammett, and son-in-law, Walter Francis Kingsbury. She is survived by her two daughters, Mary Kathryn Stephens-Kingsbury and Norma Dell Stephens-Kucera (Martin P.) all of Winter Haven, Florida; daughter-in-law Anne Stephens of Riverside, California; and sister, Ruby Ditty-Davis of Auburndale, Florida. Also surviving are 10 grandchildren ? Rhonda Kingsbury-Watson (Roy E.) of Martinez, Georgia; Robert Stephen Kingsbury (Carol) of Enterprise, Alabama; Elizabeth Kay Kingsbury-Earls of Winter Haven; Florida, Dennis Kucera of Ft. Myers, Florida; Ellen Kucera of Largo, Florida; Darren Kucera, of Brooklyn, New York; Derek Kucera (Rachel), of Bartow, Florida, Nora Stephens-Apodaca (Victor) of Hurst, Texas; Susan Stephens-Fuller (Craig) of San Diego, California, and Joan Stephens-Messrah (James) of Carlsbad, California; 16 great-grandchildren, 9 great-great-grandchildren and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. She dearly loved each and every one. Funeral Services will be conducted on Wednesday, May 6, 2009 at 2:00P.M., Kersey Funeral Home with the Rev. James McKinney of Parkland Baptist Church, Winter Haven, officiating. The family will receive friends from 1:00 P.M. until the time of services. Mrs. Whitfield will be laid to rest next to her husband, Luther Carl Whitfield, at Auburndale Memorial Park, Auburndale, Florida.