Person Page - 921

     Judson was born on 29 March 1871 at Pike Co., Alabama.¹ He was the son of James A. Tompkins and Sarah McLendon.

     Julie was born circa 1870 at Washington Co., Georgia.¹ She was the daughter of William A. Tompkins and Emma M. (--?--).

     K. was born circa 1860 at Florida.¹ She was the daughter of Benjamin Tompkins and Martha Hardie. She married (?) Boyt, , circa 1880 at Florida.²

     Katie was born on 9 November 1893 at Washington Co., Georgia.¹ She was the daughter of Cullen Jackson Tompkins and Mary Anne Elizabeth Lafayette Davis. Katie died in July 1916 at Washington Co., Georgia, at age 22. Her body was buried at Tabernacle Methodist Church Cemetery, Washington Co., Georgia.

     Kimberly was born on 20 May 1986 at Winter Haven, Polk Co., Florida. She was the daughter of Clifford Paul Tompkins and Sandra Kay Cannon. Kimberly Kay Tompkins died on 25 April 2009 at Little Gasparilla Island, Charlotte Co., Florida, at age 22; Barrier Island Fire Kills 4 Polk Residents
Relatives say the victims include 3 from a Fort Meade family and a man from Lakeland.

By Shoshana Walter
THE LEDGER

Published: Saturday, April 25, 2009 at 4:59 p.m.
Last Modified: Saturday, April 25, 2009 at 4:59 p.m.
FORT MEADE | During the early morning hours Saturday, officials say flames crept through a home on Little Gasparilla Island, killing four Polk County residents.

Provided to The Ledger
The deceased include three members of a prominent Fort Meade family, relatives say, although officials had not released the identities of the victims by Saturday night.
Burt Perry, a citrus grower and school bus driver, and his wife, Fort Meade teacher Sandra, died in the blaze, along with Sandra Perry’s daughter Kimberly Tompkins and her boyfriend Clint Jowers, relatives and neighbors said.
The island home, built in the 80s by the Perry family, was a favorite, peaceful spot. The Perrys spent many weekends on the island, which is only accessible by boat.
“They loved the beach. That was their retreat for peace, away from the hustle and bustle. That’s what’s so ironic about all this. It breaks my heart,” said Priscilla Perry, who is married to Burt Perry’s cousin.
Charlotte County sheriff’s deputies first learned people might be inside the home when they arrived at 9638 Pieces of Eight Trail about 3 a.m. to find firefighters battling the fire.
Flames had consumed the recently-renovated wooden home. The State Fire Marshal’s Office arrived and discovered the four bodies, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Priscilla Perry said officials have pointed to an electrical malfunction as the source of the fire. Since cars are not allowed on the island, the Perrys relied on a golf cart to get around. The cart was plugged into a charger on the bottom floor of the home near one of the three bedrooms, Perry said.
“I pray they were sleeping. I truly pray that’s what happened,” she said. “It’s hitting all of us real hard. It doesn’t even feel real.”
Burt Perry’s grandfather owned and developed about 100 acres of citrus groves on Old Bowling Green Road in Fort Meade, protecting the property from phosphate mine developers years ago. The land has been passed down through the family and is still occupied by the extended Perry family.
“Orange groves is the way of life around here. This is the original land that his granddaddy made into groves. There are four generations that have lived on this land,” Perry said.
A school bus driver, Burt Perry parked his bus every morning outside the Double RR Cafe on Charleston Avenue where he ate breakfast before starting his route. He and Sandra, known as Sandy, often met for lunch at the restaurant, where photographs of their faces decorated scrapbooks.
“They were very considerate of each other. Very protective and loving,” Priscilla Perry said. The couple married in 2001.
Sandra taught in the Fort Meade school system for more than 16 years. Last year, she began teaching advanced science to students at Lewis Anna Woodbury Elementary, Perry said.
“Sandy was a lifelong friend and teacher, also tutor for my kids,” mayor Bob Elliott said Saturday. “It’s a huge loss to the community and a big loss for the school system.”
Both Sandra and Burt have two children from previous marriages, including 22-year-old Tompkins. She was following in her mother’s footsteps and studying education at Warner Southern College.
Tompkins’ boyfriend, 24-year-old Clint Jowers, won national awards for his work in FFA, formerly Future Farmers of America, while a student at Kathleen High School. He graduated in 2004 and continued to live and work in Lakeland as a maintenance worker for Publix, said Logan Skinner, who called Jowers his best friend.
Jowers and Tompkins were good friends before they began dating in October.
“He’s been the happiest he’s ever been in his life. He was just a good ol’ country boy,” Skinner said.

[From The Ledger Website URL= http://www.theledger.com/article/20090425/news/904259931 a newspaper of Lakeland, Florida]

     L. was born circa 1875 at Suwannee Co., Florida.¹ She was the daughter of Francis M. Tompkins and Rebecca Baggett.

     Lalla was born circa 1877 at Washington Co., Georgia.¹ She was the daughter of John L. Tompkins and Louise (--?--).

     Leander was born circa 1838 at Stewart Co., Georgia.¹ He was the son of Burwell Tompkins and Agnes L. Moore.
     
Biography of Leander Tompkins:

Leander worked for the railroads in Dennison, Texas. [per Jancie Bays]

     Lena was born in 1894.¹ She was the daughter of M. G. Nettles and Amanda Tompkins. She married J. E. Rawls, .¹

     Lena Mae Tompkins was born on 10 December 1897 at Pike Co., Alabama.¹ She was the daughter of William Alexander Tompkins and Mattie Sue Coleman. Lena Mae Tompkins married Lawrence Leonard Saunders, son of Howell John Saunders and Willie Elizabeth Richburg, on 10 November 1914 at Crenshaw Co., Alabama.¹ Lena Mae Tompkins died on 26 February 1990 at Phenix City, Russell Co., Alabama, at age 92.¹