Community Features
Resources and programs that bring our community together to honor, remember, and celebrate the lives of those we love.
Remembering Together
Community Legacies
Stories and memories that shaped Plant City. These are the people, places, and moments that define who we are as a community.
The Strawberry Festival — A Plant City Tradition
Since 1930, the Florida Strawberry Festival has brought our community together to celebrate the harvest that put Plant City on the map. Generations of families have worked the fields, served on festival committees, and created memories that last a lifetime.
Read moreHistoric Downtown Plant City
The brick streets and historic buildings of downtown tell the story of a community that grew from a railroad stop into the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World. Many of these buildings have been lovingly preserved by families who have called Plant City home for over a century.
Read moreThe Railroad Era Families
The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad brought prosperity to Plant City in the early 1900s. The families who worked the rails, ran the depot, and operated businesses near the tracks built the foundation of the community we know today.
Read moreHonoring Service
Military Obituaries & Services
Honoring the veterans and active-duty service members who have passed in Plant City and surrounding communities. Their service to our nation will never be forgotten.
Allen Buford Clark
Master Sergeant · Air Force
Retired Master Sergeant who served in the United States Air Force. Funeral service Saturday, August 8, 2026 at 11:00 A.M. at Hopewell Funeral Home with military honors. Committal to follow at Hopewell Memorial Gardens.
Tim Roberts
Sergeant · Army
Proudly served in the United States Army. Graveside service will be held August 3, 2026 at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida. A devoted member of the Lithia community who will be deeply missed.
To submit a military obituary for a loved one, please visit our Submit an Obituary page.
Honoring Service
Military Funeral Honors
The Department of Defense provides military funeral honors to eligible veterans. Here is what families can expect and how to request honors for your loved one.
Standard Honors
At a minimum, two uniformed military personnel will fold and present the American flag to the next of kin and play Taps. One of the two members will be from the veteran's branch of service.
Full Honors
For eligible higher-ranking officers, full honors include a rifle volley, a bugler, pallbearers, and a caisson. The number of service members varies by rank and availability.
National Cemetery Burial
Eligible veterans, their spouses, and dependents may be buried in a national cemetery at no cost. This includes the gravesite, opening and closing of the grave, a government headstone or marker, and perpetual care.
How to Request Honors
Contact the funeral home handling arrangements — they will coordinate with the Department of Defense. You will need the veteran's DD Form 214 (discharge papers) to verify eligibility.
Share a Community Legacy
Know a story that should be told? Help us preserve the history and heritage of Plant City by sharing a community legacy.