{"id":7619,"date":"2011-06-13T17:25:23","date_gmt":"2011-06-13T21:25:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/flsentinel.com\/?p=7619"},"modified":"2011-06-14T08:33:38","modified_gmt":"2011-06-14T12:33:38","slug":"girlfriends%e2%80%99-weekend-ends-with-tragic-death-of-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/flsentinel.com\/?p=7619","title":{"rendered":"Girlfriends\u2019 Weekend Ends With Tragic Death Of 2"},"content":{"rendered":"

BY IRIS B. HOLTON
\nSentinel City Editor<\/strong><\/p>\n

A weekend getaway for two Tampa mothers turned deadly Friday after they were involved in a five car accident on Interstate 4. The victims and two other women were looking forward to getting away for the weekend.<\/p>\n

Ms. Carla Williams<\/strong> knew that her mother, Mrs. Windelon Tolbert Seymore<\/strong>, was going away for a weekend with friends. However, while watching the evening news, she thought she recognized the vehicle involved in a major accident on I-4 as the one her mother was a passenger.<\/p>\n

Ms. Williams<\/strong> attempted to go to the scene, but was unable to obtain any information other than there being confirmed deaths. She eventually learned that\u00a0 Ms. Amanda Evans Coleman<\/strong>, 48, another passenger in the vehicle, was taken to Tampa General Hospital. In the interim, Ms. Williams\u2019<\/strong> cousin, Ms. Nita James<\/strong>, who is Mrs. Windelon Tolbert Seymore\u2019s <\/strong>niece, went to Tampa General. It was at that time the deaths of Mrs. Seymore<\/strong> and Mrs. Brenda Evans Richard<\/strong>, 56, were confirmed.<\/p>\n

Ms. James<\/strong> also learned that Ms. Shantel Lawton<\/strong>, the driver of the 2007 Camry in which they were traveling, was also seriously injured.<\/p>\n

The victims involved in the accident were confirmed by the Florida Highway Patrol. The accident took place on Interstate 4 near State Road 566, in Plant City.<\/p>\n

Police said Joshua Russo<\/strong>, 36, of Deltona, failed to observe traffic slowing down ahead of him. The 2006 Ford truck he was driving collided with the back of the Camry driven by Ms. Lawton<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Both Mrs. Seymore<\/strong> and Mrs. Richard <\/strong>died instantly. The investigation is continuing and charges are pending.[private]<\/strong><\/p>\n

A Community Mom<\/strong>
\nForty-seven years ago, Mrs. Seymore<\/strong> moved next door to her mother, the late Mrs. Pernetta Tolbert<\/strong>, at 3217 E. Louisiana Avenue.
\n <\/strong><\/p>\n

Mrs. Seymore<\/strong> raised her five children, Tyrone, Tommy, Carla, Michael, and the late Edward, at that address. An outgoing and very friendly person, Mrs. Seymore<\/strong> soon became a mom to the entire community.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe was the neighborhood mom to the kids, adults, she was everybody\u2019s friend. She was always feeding people and entertaining. She was a mother to so many, but the kids were her passion,\u201d Ms. Williams<\/strong> said of her mother.<\/p>\n

Ms. James<\/strong>, who lived in the same house with Mrs. Seymore <\/strong>said, \u201cShe had a good heart. She was a loving and caring person who really enjoyed life and had a close relationship with her sister, Mrs. Audrey Black<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n

The cousins said Saturdays was \u201cSister Day\u201d for Mrs. Seymore<\/strong> and Mrs. Black<\/strong>. They would spend the day shopping, going to garage sales, sitting on the porch drinking coffee, or just hanging out.<\/p>\n

Mrs. Seymore<\/strong> was married to Howard Seymore<\/strong> for 22 years, and accepted his 4 children as her own. She was the grandmother of 14, and is survived by several brothers, sisters, and other family members.<\/p>\n

She also loved traveling, going to Bingo, fishing, and just spending time with her family.<\/p>\n

After graduating from Middleton High School, Mrs. Seymore,<\/strong> a Tampa native, was hired by the Hillsborough County School District as a bus driver.<\/p>\n

She transported children for more than 25 years. The last ten years before retirement, Mrs. Seymore was a Child Care Specialist.<\/p>\n

Following retirement, Mrs. Seymore<\/strong> worked as a newspaper carrier, delivering the Florida Sentinel Bulletin<\/em>, to stores throughout the county.<\/p>\n

Mrs. Seymore<\/strong> began attending Bible-Based Fellowship of Temple Terrace. Her daughter said she had not joined, but attended serviced regularly.
\nFuneral services for Mrs. Seymore<\/strong> will take place 2 p.m., Saturday, June 18th, at St. John Cathedral. Ray Williams Funeral Home is in charge of handling arrangements.<\/p>\n

One Sister Survives, One Killed In I-4 Crash<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Mrs. Brenda Evans Richard, left, was killed in a traffic accident Friday. She is shown with her daughter, Talicia. <\/p><\/div>\n

A traffic accident on Friday afternoon left two families grieving for their loved ones. Mrs. Brenda Evans Richard<\/strong>, 56, along with Mrs. Windelon Tolbert Seymore<\/strong>, 66, died instantly in the five-car collision.<\/p>\n

The women were traveling to Orlando to spend the weekend when their vehicle was struck from behind. Mrs. Richard<\/strong> was traveling with her sister, Mrs. Amanda Evans Coleman<\/strong>, 48, and Ms. Shantel Lawton<\/strong>, 47, was the driver.<\/p>\n

A Tampa native, Mrs. Richard<\/strong> attended Middleton High School, but graduated from Plant High School in 1972. After graduating from high school, Mrs. Richard<\/strong> enrolled at Hillsborough Community College and graduated with a degree in Social Work.<\/p>\n

Following graduation from college, Mrs. Richard <\/strong>became an employee of the GTE Telephone Company and worked there for several years. She was an employee of Liberty Mutual Insurance Company at the time of her death.<\/p>\n

M<\/strong>rs. Richard <\/strong>was the daughter of Mrs. Ella C. Evans<\/strong>, and the sister of Mrs. Jacqueline Herring<\/strong>, of Bowie, Maryland, Mrs. Beverly Evans<\/strong>, of Jacksonville, Mrs. Amanda Evans Coleman<\/strong>, and Freddie Hayes<\/strong>, both of Tampa. She has one daughter, Ms. Talicia Nash<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy sister was a homebody, who loved her family. We all are and are always together. She was an avid reader, and she loved cooking, especially during the holidays. She also loved watching the television show, Nancy Grace<\/em>,\u201d Mrs. Beverly Evans<\/strong> said.<\/p>\n

Mrs. Richard<\/strong> was a saved person, a longtime member and very active in her church, Faith Alive at Mt. Silla. A former member of the Usher\u2019s Board, Mrs. Richard<\/strong> was active in the Women\u2019s Ministry and on the Finance Committee.<\/p>\n

She had been friends with Mrs. Seymore<\/strong> for more than 20 years. Mrs. Seymore<\/strong> was the grandmother of Amanda\u2019s<\/strong> daughter, Ms. Breeana Evans<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Sister Recovering<\/strong>
\n <\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/strong><\/strong>

Mrs. Amanda Evans Coleman, left, was seriously injured in the accident that claimed the lives of two of her sister and friend and left another injured.<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/strong>Mrs. Amanda Evans Coleman<\/strong> was admitted to Tampa General Hospital in critical, but stable condition. She remained hospitalized as of press time.<\/p>\n

Frank Guida<\/strong>, the Administration Manager at the Hillsborough County State Attorney\u2019s Office said the entire office is praying for Mrs. Coleman\u2019s <\/strong>speedy recovery.<\/p>\n

After hearing about the accident, Guida<\/strong> said he visited her at the hospital.<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone loves Amanda<\/strong>. She has been the Receptionist in the Victims Assistance Office since 2005.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is a very tough job, but she is very well liked by her peers and by people who come into the office. She does a great job,\u201d Guida <\/strong>said.<\/p>\n

Candlelight Vigil Planned<\/strong><\/p>\n

A Candle Light Vigil Services for Mrs. Richard<\/strong> will be held on Thursday June 16th, at 8 p.m., at 4311,\u00a0 E. Linebaugh Avenue.<\/p>\n

However, she, along with other classmates, wanted to graduate from their alma mater. When the group formed the Middleton All Class Reunion, she became a very active member. She participated when the group held a special graduation ceremony for those who would have graduated in 1972 and 1973.<\/p>\n

Classmates of Middleton High School, 1972 and 1973, and friends are encouraged to attend the service and bring a candle. Class members are asked to wear black, with men wearing white shirts and black ties.<\/p>\n

In recognition of the funeral services for Mrs. Richard<\/strong>, the class meeting planned for June 18th has been cancelled. For more information, call (813) 377-6600.<\/p>\n

Funeral services for Mrs. Richard<\/strong> will be held on Saturday, June 18th, at New Salem Primitive Baptist Church. Aikens Funeral Home is in charge of handling arrangements.[\/private]<\/strong><\/p>\n

Pictured: Ms. Carla Williams, left, stands behind her mother, Mrs. Windelon Tolbert Seymore, who died in a tragic accident Friday afternoon.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor A weekend getaway for two Tampa mothers turned deadly Friday after they were involved in a five car accident on Interstate 4. The victims and two other women were looking forward to getting away for the weekend. Ms. Carla Williams knew that her mother, Mrs. Windelon Tolbert Seymore, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":210,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pmpro_default_level":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7619","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-local-news","pmpro-has-access"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/flsentinel.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7619","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/flsentinel.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/flsentinel.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flsentinel.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/210"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flsentinel.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7619"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/flsentinel.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7619\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/flsentinel.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7619"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flsentinel.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7619"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flsentinel.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7619"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}