BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor

Word spread rapidly throughout the neighborhood that a popular Tampa man was killed Tuesday evening after hitting a fence on his 4-wheeler. Mr. Freddie Jeffery, Jr., would have celebrated his 39th birthday the next day.

Instead, his mother, Ms. Armenta “Ms. Tee” Price, said the family had to host a birthday party in his remembrance combined with a candlelight vigil.

According to police, Mr. Jeffery was traveling south on Sanchez Street towards 21st Avenue in East Tampa, when he lost control of the vehicle and was thrown off the vehicle, striking his head on a fence pole. Mr. Jeffery died at a local hospital shortly after the accident.

His brother, Aubrey “Puff” Pierce said he witnessed the accident. There was a girl driving a blue Mustang, who allegedly made a wide turn, into his brother’s lane. Both of them went the same way trying to avoid each other. “He was trying to keep from hitting the blue Mustang, causing him to hit the fence,” he said.

The impact caused every bone in his body to be broken.

Pierce further stated that he and his brother were in the process of forming a company known as Sanchez Boys Entertainment.

“He loved that Street and that’s why we named it that. We had planned to have a towing service and a promotional show. We are going to keep his dream going,” Pierce stated.

Whether known in the community as “Superman,” “Fast Freddy,” “Nut Buddy,” or “Too Sweet,” Ms. Price said her son was very popular. “He was a very, very loving person and everyone got along with him. There were more than 300 people at the hospital that night,” she said.

Ms. Price further stated that her son was an experienced 4-wheel operator and fell in love with all terrain vehicles around the age of 16.

Born in Quincy, Florida, Mr. Jeffery was raised in Tampa. The son of Ms. Price and Freddie Jeffery, Sr., of Quincy, he attended the public schools of Hillsborough County and graduated from Gary Adult High School.

He was working at a car wash at the time of his death.

Ms. Price said she last spoke with her son the day of the accident. “He told me that he loved me and he would never put another woman before me. He said I was #1.

“He told me that my Mother’s Day gift was coming early this year. He was going to get me a house because he didn’t want me to live in apartments anymore. He was my baby; rest in peace, baby, we love you dearly, she said.

In addition to his parents and brother, Mr. Jeffery is survived by two sisters, 5 children, and two granddaughters, one being 12 days old.

Funeral services for Mr. Jeffery were incomplete at press time. Ray Williams Funeral Home is in charge of handling arrangements.