Clara Weeks

She was the only daughter and second of five children born to William Franklin and Marie Richardson Bryant. She was born and raised in the Plant City area. The family moved around often as they worked for various farms and ranches during the lean years. They sometimes picked fruit in New York during Florida’s “off season”. Clara treasured growing up near her aunts, uncles and cousins and loved them all dearly. Over the years she attended many schools, most loved were Dover School and historic Turkey Creek High School. She attended Turkey Creek’s Strawberry School, of which she was a 1949 graduate.

Clara was a shy natural beauty whose smile lit up a room like a ray of sunshine when she entered. She had a kind and gentle spirit and a soft-spoken personality that won over everyone she met. She was fiercely loyal, courageous and generous with a dash of “determination” thrown in for good measure. Some of that was probably God given in order for her to survive life with her four brothers, husband and daughter.

While attending Turkey Creek High and First Baptist Dover, she met the love of her life, Robert Lee Weeks. They dated for a few years and were married on March 16, 1951. On November 15, 1953, their one and only child was born, daughter Sharon Ann. Robert was a farmer who grew strawberries, oranges and too many vegetables to mention. Clara was not only his beautiful wife but his best farmhand and greatest friend. Making a living as a small farmer was rough and Robert went on to work for Agrico as a dragline operator and Clara started work in the meat department at Publix Supermarket in Plant City when Sharon was 18 months old. On September 6, 1973, their first grandchild, Mylisa, was born. She was a beautiful baby, the apple of their eyes and the joy of their life! A few years later, on July 14, 1978, came a grandson, Sean. FINALLY, a boy in the family! To bookend their beautiful family came another gorgeous granddaughter, Amber, on March 4, 1980. Their joy was complete.

Both Robert and Clara were able to retire with around 30 years of service each. Their lifelong dream of fishing and traveling began. Over the years, this loving, happy couple was able to visit all 50 states, usually with one or more of their grandchildren in tow. Alaska and Hawaii were the “cherries on the potato salad”. Clara was a fantastic cook and loved to feed everyone . . . way too much! She liked to eat food the way she cooked it; well-done meat and soft-cooked vegetables. She made THE BEST potato salad, chicken and dumplings, hoe cake cornbread and pecan pie, bar none! They simply cannot be duplicated. We’ve all tried! Everything was made with extra dollops of love. Clara and Robert ALWAYS had a vegetable garden. ALWAYS! Along with vegetables, she had a passion for her flower garden, especially her Amaryllis, Hydrangeas and Pineapples and loved to share them with family and friends.

Bringing even more joy and love into their lives, was the addition of their great grandchildren, Mykaela, Britain, Dalton, Wyatt, Ireland and Noah.

Clara was a virtuous woman in the truest sense. She was a loving wife and mother and a doting “Nanny”. Her most cherished things in life were her faith, appreciation of God’s blessings and love for her family and friends. These never changed. She was a faithful member of her beloved New Home Baptist Church, where she was active in her Sunday School class, church library and Prayer Warriors.

Clara is survived by her daughter, Sharon Boltjes (Mike), grandchildren, Mylisa Epps Prieto (Jerry), Sean Benson (Katie) and Amber Benson Newberry (Joe), great grandchildren, Mykaela Shaffer, Britain Newberry, Dalton Newberry, Wyatt Newberry, Ireland Newberry and Noah Benson.

She was predeceased by her husband, Robert Lee Weeks, parents, William F. and Marie Bryant and brothers Johnny, Paul, Charles and Harold Bryant.

Memorial Services will be held Wednesday, February 21, 2024, at New Home Baptist Church, 901 N. Galloway Road, Lakeland, Florida 33810.

Family Visitation - 11:15 a.m., Public Visitation - 12:00 p.m.

Memorial Service at 1:00 p.m.

Funeral Care & Direction is provided by Wells Memorial Funeral Home in Plant City, Florida