Mrs. Hiawatha Freeman

FORT MEADE - Mrs. Hiawatha "Granny" Freeman, 91, passed away Sunday, February 26, 2017 in Sebring, FL. Mrs. Freeman was born September 25, 1925 in Dewey, OK and was a longtime resident of Morning Star, AR before moving to Fort Meade. She was a homemaker, member of Zolfo Springs First Baptist Church, and one of the last remaining WWI veteran widows receiving a pension from World War I. Mrs. Freeman loved children and was a nanny and mentored countless area kids along with raising her own eight children.

Mrs. Freeman was preceded in death by her parents, John and Rose Holiday Baumgardner; husband, John Wiley Freeman; sons-in-law, Ollie Hill, Everett Kellogg, Bennie Johnson; grand-daughter, Veronica Kellogg; great-grandson, Zachary Kellogg; two brothers and one sister.

She is survived by her sons, Sam Freeman, Jasper, AR, Jim Freeman and wife Mary, Sebring, FL, John Freeman and wife Rose, Wauchula, FL; daughters, Jonnie Kellogg, Jasper, AR, Rose Freeman and husband Doug, Zolfo Springs, FL, Jane Hill, Fort Meade, FL, Tami Decker and husband Bill, Alpena, AR, Mona Gross and husband Lamar, Wauchula, FL; sixteen grandchildren; twenty-two great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, March 1, 2017 at the First Baptist Church, 320 E. 4th St., Zolfo Springs, FL. Memorial services will follow at 11:00 a.m. in the church sanctuary with Rev. Trent Swanson officiating.

Hancock Funeral Home, Fort Meade, FL 863-285-8171