I loved my son and was so proud of him. Mary Nell purposed to be the perfect 18-year-old mother and felt it best to breast feed her newborn. Within a couple of days, she took a fever and complications set in, so we quickly switched to bottle feeding. The weather turned cold, so I was glad that I had purchased a used oil space heater the week before for $10 and installed it ready to heat our house. I also borrowed from Tip Top TV & Appliances a portable electric heater for the area near our baby’s bed.

Eddie was a welcomed addition and everyone at the Eloise church gave him lots of attention. We visited both grandparents often and he was the center of attraction with all of them. His mother Mary Nell had grown up at the Eloise church and was very active in the singing and worship services therefore all the young people adored our newborn son. We felt he was the perfect child. As soon as he could stand alone, he began to make dancing moves to the music of Elvis Presley singing his new song “You ain’t nothing but a hound dog.”  Money was scarce, so Mary Nell returned to work part-time at the Winter Haven Herald office. We arranged for Eddie to spend that time with his grandmother Lois. Often, she would take him next-door to the ladies’ prayer meeting with Sister Hamm and others from the Eloise church. They were known to pray, shout, and scream until they prayed thru. Sometimes their hair pens would come out and their long hair would fall down. I think this may have frightened the baby some, but he received lots of love and attention from these ladies.

When Eddie was 16 he got a new car.

Mary Nell worked at the Winter Haven Herald for 50 cents to $1.00 per hour to help meet our living expenses. Her mother looked after Eddie. We opened a savings account at the Exchange Bank in Winter Haven in 1956. The balance was a low as $5 on two occasions and the high amount was $80 until it finally reached $100 on November 4, 1958. After 10 years on March 8, 1966, we finally went over the $1,000 mark when we received our income tax refund. We had withdrawn $800 on May 16, 1960 to begin our homebuilding company. We lived within our means without borrowing or charging.

Jack and Bonnie got married and moved into our 2-bedroom upstairs apartment in Lake Alfred. After Marsha was born, she and Eddie were playmates. There was a railroad track behind the house and beautiful Lake Echo beyond that. We fenced in a small play area about 12 feet by 12 in the back yard with a sand box. They could also play on the large screened in front porch. Eddie always referred to the upstairs as “Shyha’s house”. Life was very wonderful as our 2 young families shared living in the same house with babies.

Eddie was always involved in the church youth group.

(Add more information as to Teen ages and high school events)

When Eddie was born on October 11, 1955 I had been working working for Tip Top TV for only four months. The Halabrins second son Paul was born about the same age. A few years later we moved onto the property behind them where they became play mates and good neighbors during their childhood years.

Eddie enrolled in the public school on Havendale Boulevard and 26th Street a few weeks before his 6th birthday. His teacher said he was a good student, however he sometimes daydreamed.

As we moved, he changed Brigham Elementary on Avenue “C” N.E., onto Junior High and then to Winter Haven High. Eddie did good in school, and it was never reported that he disobeyed the rules. He got along with others and his teachers made good reports about him.

As soon as classes were over Eddie usually came to DWC offices at 222 2nd Street and work on the front desk allowing Aunt Evelyn to have a short workday. Ed would answer the phone and wait on customers paying their water bills and payments on their land. Everyone liked Eddie and he enjoyed the work and being with his parents and other family members.

June 8,1972 SGC purchased land on 15th St. SW from Mr. Emil L. Weis for $4500. $500 down with note and mortgage for $4,000. Later I built Ed & Deborah a home on one of these lots.

Ed Winters attended Polk Community College for one year after graduating from Winter Haven High School. He would often stay up late sitting in our family room discussing the events and life in general with me and Mary Nell. Ed and Steve Dial decided to go to Lee College in the fall of 1974. Ed drove his Oldsmobile and they shared rooming in room 208 of Ellis Hall. I was pleased with the situation.

While on spring break in Florida he apparently purchased phenobarbital or other street drugs for recreational use.

After returning to Lee, Ed and his friends were not abiding by the rules of the college, and he was facing disciplinary action by dorm supervisor Paul Duncan. Eddie could not deal with the thoughts of disappointing his parents and other family members, so he took an overdose. He became confused and could not find his chosen spot-on Lake Ocoee, so he drove in wrong direction. Perhaps God allowed his mind to become confused to keep him from dying in that remote unpopulated area. Sharon Cary discovered him about 5:30 a.m. as she was driving to her school. He was admitted to Bradley Memorial hospital and not expected to survive. Larry Danley, Mary Nell, and I flew to Chattanooga at once. Doctors could not provide treatment to Ed until they knew more about what he had taken. Danley talked rough to Ed’s friends and Sully’s brother revealed the phenol barbital; this may have saved Ed’s life. After one week at Bradley hospital in April of 1975 Ed was transferred to Palm Gardens in Lakeland for a few weeks.

In May 1975 Ed became Vice President of Century Manor Inc., a newly formed company that I owned that was operated in West Palm Beach to sell manufactured houses that I build in my factory on Rifle Range Road in Winter Haven.

Ed met Deborah Bell while at Lee and they married on October 18, 1975.

They rented a garage apartment from Zula Jones, Ginny Cary’s’ mother for several months and then built a new home at 807 15th St. SW.

Ed and Deborah purchased lot from E.L. Weis and built new home at 807 15th Street with funds from Ed’s trust plus a small mortgage at Haven Federal.

January 19, 1977, snow fell in Winter Haven about 1 inch on automobile which was enough to make snowballs. Mary Nell and I flew to Washington and attending the Jimmy Carter Inauguration Ceremony on January 20, 1977. Snow was several inches deep and very cold in Washington. We visited the Florida house near the capital.

Mary Nell was making payments on Deborah’s Lee College bill and in Feb ’77 Mary Nell paid off the balance of $715.82.

During 1977 I needed help dealing with Ed, so I phoned Benny Triplett the Florida state overseer. He put me in touch with Bob Crick, who came to visit the family in Winter Haven. Bob and I have remained friend since that time.

On June 20, 1978, Ed and Deborah announced that they were expecting my first grandchild.

Byron was born December 19, 1978. I was very excited and wrote a riddle and shared with the Southern employees.
(Add riddle here)
Ed and Deborah had an orange-colored Tornado they purchased from Bert Ford. Byron was three years of age and Deborah became pregnant with Brent.

Home movie of his 3rd, 4th and 5th birthday can be found about footage 120:52 on our home movies titled Byron’s Birthday 1981, 1982 and 1982. Playing with his Uncle Donnie in the yard sprinklers. Footage 2:40 he was attending preschool Christmas program, and at footage 17:30 begins his birthday party at the age of 3, followed by birthday party age 4, and at footage 2:22 begins his party at the age of five.

In May 1975 Ed became Vice President of Century Manor Inc., a newly formed company that I owned that was operated in West Palm Beach to sell manufactured houses that I build in my factory on Rifle Range Road in Winter Haven.

Ed operated Homes of Florida from 1975 to 1985 and the managed the construction of new homes. Carl Smith and Dan Winters provided oversight and assistance. 1980 Ed was signing check and acting as president. During the 10year period of operation the company’s profits were about $250,000. One-third went for taxes which left about $180,000. The three shareholders (Ed, Donnie, Teri) got about $60,000 each deposited into their respective trust accounts which was used for education and living expenses.

Winters Children Trust created June 27, 1979. This trust was created to provide a vehicle to share some of the money with our three children.

This was the beginning of Trusts providing income for Ed, Don, and Teri to live on. Within a few years Teri was withdrawing $5,000 monthly from interest income. Plus, she required some principal. Ed also withdrew $4,000 monthly plus reserve for emergencies and taxes

On May 13, 1981, Ed & Deborah purchased a lot from Everett Whitehead. They build a new home at 2122 Edgewater Circle SE. and sold the 807-15th home to Donnie and Emily.

House at Edgewater circle cost $90,000; $37K proceeds from 15th St. sale; $16.5K from liquidating bonds; 10K from Orange Home profits; and $26,500 mortgage loan from Southern Guaranty Corp.

Ed traveled with me to open our new office in Little Rock summer of 1982. We were both dress up for the occasion. He ask me why I wanted to keep growing the business so much larger. Perhaps Ed was right, we had enough.

January 26, 1982, Brent was born. Video of Brent when he was 11 months old can be found about 120:52 on our home movies “Byron’s Birthday 1981, 1982 and 1982.”

In March of 1982 Ed Winters was listed in the minutes of Southern Guaranty Corp. as AVP and Secretary.

SGC expanded so quickly that within a few short years he had eight offices in five states with over 300 employees servicing loans in 40 different states. Our company was now competing with large national companies such as General Electric Credit Corp., United States Steel, Barclay Financial, Greentree Acceptance and others.

SGC started with one mobile home loan in 1971 grew in 15 years to become the third largest in the nation in mobile home lending and was servicing over 30,000 loans.

I always required my employees to provide better service than the competition. The interest rate was almost always the same from the different lenders; however, the goal for my companies was always to be first place in providing good service to the customers.

Ed Winters was granted the job position of loan guaranty officer reporting to Jim Robinson the comptroller. This was to assure that all loan documents complied with governmental regulations.

Phil McCain as EVP oversaw the day-to-day operation. In February he selected Ed Winters to become the VP of Florida office. Ed was also approved to execute GNMA securities. These were both very responsible positions.

Disney World had grand opening of EPCOT Center on October 1, 1982.

Winters Children Trust had been created in 1979.

On Dec 29, 1982, Dan & Mary Nell had a meeting with the three children discussing shares of stock and the Winters Children trust.

During the meeting we admonished them as to the proper ways of life and our expectations for them to spend the trust as supplemental income they were to earn from regular jobs. Charles Chilton, Ron Mixon, attended the meeting.

We created a separate trust for each of our three children, Ed, Don, and Teri.

Considering Dan’s health and potential estate taxes on the value of the estate we were advised to divest the maximum amount allowed by IRS current estate rules to reduce the potential estate taxes.

December 9, 1982, Mary Nell made a $600,000 gift to the Mary Nell Winters Irrevocable Trust for Issue to be shared equally by her three children. These were municipal bond yielding from 7% to 10%. Annual income was $41,000.

A $500,000 Life Insurance policy on Dan Winters was taken out with Manhattan Life Insurance Company, Tony Boyd agent. Monthly premium of $1,328.75 or $15,945. was paid from the $41,000 leaving $25,055 net income divided by 3 children = $8,132 per child.

December 9, 1982, I made a $600,000 gift to the Daniel E. Winters Irrevocable Trust for Issue to be shared equally by my three children. After the purchase of new car for each child the Smith Barney statement on Dec 31, 1992, had account value of $518,969. Municipal bonds yielding from 7%% to 10.25 % tax free income. Estimated annual income was $34,272.

Another $500,000 Life Insurance policy on Dan Winters was taken out with Manhattan Life Insurance Company, Tony Boyd agent. Monthly premium of $1,328.75 or $15,945. was paid from the $34,272 leaving $19,327 net income divided by 3 children = $6442 per child.

In May 1983 Teri graduated from Lee and began working at Southern in September 1983

We had a grand opening on our new four-story office building on Lake Howard.

83 elected V.P. National Manufactured Housing Finance Assoc
News Release in November ‘83 – Dan Winters, President of the Corporation

Gary Klien resigned suddenly in December 1983. Phil McCain wanted to appoint Ed Winters to fill his position as VP in charge of the Florida office. Phil assured me he felt Ed could handle the responsibility despite his bipolar disorder. The board approved the appointment.

SGC Loan Volume 1978 to 1983:
year Additional Contracts – Loans # of Offices
1978 137 1
1979 1208 1
1980 1275 1
1981 1348 3
1982 4099 6
1983 7351 9
Total # of loans outstanding 11,450

In February 1984 Ed Winters became the VP of Florida office. Ed was also approved to execute GNMA securities. These were both very responsible positions.

In May 1984 Ed came to my office and admitted to me that he was using nonprescription drugs and alcohol. This was a terrible blow to me. I wanted to get Ed the best help available anywhere. I ask my attorney and good friend, Charles Chilton to research available treatment centers and he recommended Hazelden as the best in the country. Ed went to Hazelden in Minnesota for their 28 days in house drug & alcohol treatment program. Deborah flew up to join him in one of the sessions. He had a drink of alcohol on the plane on his way home. I was devastated and very disappointed over his actions. With these type actions how could he execute the responsibility as a father and as an employee/officer of the companies?

Ron Mixon came to work part-time as my personal assistant; primarily to help me with Ed’s situations. Ron was living in Ft. Myers and selling real estate on commission, so he was free to travel to Winter Haven a couple of day each week as needed.

Phil McCain as EVP oversaw the day-to-day operation. In February he selected Ed Winters to become the VP of Florida office. Ed was also approved to execute GNMA securities. These were both very responsible positions.

On June 6, 1984, Mary Nell and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary. I was very worried about loses in the market value of our mobile home loans in process as a result from changes in the bond market.

September 1985, Ed Winters had bad experience very late one night and Deborah phone me with her urgent message. Jack, Larry, Mary Nell, and I rushed to 2122 Edgewater. Ed fled! He drove over an electric transformer at home and then wrecked his car at McDonald Restaurant near Lake Howard. Teri said she removed drugs from his car before the police arrived. He was admitted to Winter Haven hospital for 90 days followed by six months disability. During a visit Ron & I had with Dr. Dean Schull he diagnosed Ed with a “borderline personality disorder” which would resurface as a serious problem from time to time. Ed’s condition was pitiful. Mary Nell was so disturbed that she could not bear to visit Ed. I tried to visit him most every day. Later, Ed worked part time for a few months and then full-time beginning June 86. He soon divorced and later moved to Tampa.

Dec 31, 1985, SGC was servicing 18,095 loans with Principal balances of $253,118,950.

Jan 6, 1986, we made a $100,000 gift to Ed, Don, and Teri each.

Deborah was working with Southern Insurance Services in September 1989 when I sold the company to Jim Green. Deborah went with the company, and I was no longer in the insurance business.

I moved SISI to his office on 6th Street on June 16, 1989, and we began to negotiate a sale of SISI to him. SISI only had four employees which included Deborah and Van Means. Byron was about 11 and Brent about 8 so it was important to me that their mother Deborah had a job and income to support my grandsons.

Mr. Thompson and my board were teaching me the necessities of delegate responsibilities and letting those officers report to the board. Learning to trust others to operate the day-to-day business activities was necessary to allow me time to properly direct the company at the fast pace it was growing.

That included leaving it up to VP Phil McCain and Ed Winters to take care of any FL office issues. Southern had a promotional booth at the Florida Mobile home show in Tampa that year. I did not attend. Ed and others from the Florida office did. Donnie’s wife Emily was said to have drunk and talked too much. Ed got upset over her conduct.

Donnie did not make me aware of any problems or difficulties. I knew Ed had attempted to reprimand him over Emily’s conduct at the state mobile home meeting in Tampa and Donnie was sometimes late for work. Don resigned from SCG without mentioning anything to me; it may be that Ed more or less fired him. It has always bothered me that Donnie did not talk to me before resigning.

October 5, 1984, was a dark Friday. BLOW # 3 — (1) IRS began an audit of which lasted 7 years. (2) Attorneys in Georgia filed a lawsuit against the VA and SGC. Our attorneys did not consider this as anything to be worried about since VA set the interest rates. Federal law rule supersedes Georgia state law. (3) Tommy Gause reported that Keith Bradley, an employee in the Houston office had misappropriated some company funds.

On October 22, 1984, Phil McCain briefed the board concerning recent developments in Houston. SGC auditors claimed one of the Houston employees had embezzled about $10,000 of company funds. His dad Bill Bradley was the Vice President and in charge of the SGC office in Houston. They had made excuses and apologies and made the missing funds good. Tommy also reported to Phil that he discovered some fraudulent credit reporting by the Houston credit bureau; it was all a big mess. Tommy said the FBI was already investigating because the VA and FHA were federal lending institutions. Tommy said the FBI agents informed him confidentially that it was an ongoing investigation involving the Mafia and was all headquartered in New Orleans. They warned him to be careful. Tommy said he went to his hotel room and the next morning his car had been ransacked and the tires blown out on his car. The SGC audit papers from the Houston office were missing and found scattered on the parking lot of the hotel. Tommy felt very bad and suspected he had somehow been drugged by one of the mafia agents. Later we found this all to be a BIG LIE.

Phil further reported that a big black automobile drove up to at his home in Winter Haven. Two men in black trench coats and hats rang the doorbell, and Mrs. McCain was afraid to go to the door. She phoned her husband Phil at the SGC office and by the time he arrived home the men could not be located. Phil suspected the men were somehow with the Mafia and related to what was happening to Tommy Gause and the Houston investigation. This whole situation was bazaar!

Tommy called Phil several times that day, afraid for his life and wanting permission to return to Winter Haven. A call the local FBI from Florida failed to provide any insight to the situation.

There were too many things on my plate. Who could I send to Houston to take care of the situation? I considered it too dangerous to send any of my family members there. Ed had enough problems of his own. It was too bazaar to believe. I had no answer or better solution, so I choose to close the Houston office rather than take risk of someone crossing up with the Mafia and perhaps getting killed.

I knew the closing of the Houston office was a serious move. The SGC personnel in Winter Haven and the SGC people in Houston expressed deep regrets over the unfortunate situations that had happened. We sent a large semi-trailer to Houston and returned all of the records, files and office equipment to Winter Haven.

This directly affected Phil McCain, Tommy Gause and the regional offices. The regional offices were operating primarily for the purpose of originating new loans. Phil passed on the bad news. Tommy was soon gone. It troubled me that with the Exec Vice President handling the Regional Vice Presidents the day-to-day operations were all outside of my control.

Offices were closed in:
Houston, Texas 10/15/84
Winston Salem 10/26/84
Thomasville 11/23/84
Arlington, TX 03/01/85
Atlanta, GA 03/08/85
Little Rock, Arkansas 03/13/85
Ocala and Jacksonville were also closed.

All the office equipment and loan documents to Winter Haven.

Only the Winter Haven office remained open. To reduce the overhead cost in Winter Haven we vacated the 4th floor and offered to lease the two top floors to others. These were tough times for all of us.

October 25, 1984 – I was elected to serve as President of the National Manufactured Housing Finance Association.

March 1985
 Phil McCain departed SGC as he was no longer needed.
 Shelba Godwin died.
 Closed the Atlanta office.
 Ed Kelly resigned from the board.
 Jack Winters stock was repurchased.
 Ed Winters resigned. Later his doctor told him it was very important for him to work and stay busy, so he returned to SGC on a part time basis until he found a job.

April 5, 1985, Mary Nell and I met Mike Torke from Kensington during the NMHFA meeting at White Sulphur Springs WV. Fleet Financial owned Kensington Mortgage and Finance in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They soon offered to sell me the company because they were becoming concerned of the increased risk of class action lawsuits involving the VA mobile home loans. Any action against Kensington could affect the parent company Fleet Financials’ reputation in the global marketplace. I began negotiations to acquire Kensington and moving it to Winter Haven.

April 1985 Ron Mixon began spending 2 or 3 days a week in Winter Haven assisting with Ed and helping me with the acquisition of Kensington Mortgage and Finance in Milwaukee, Wisc. All records and files were moved to the SGC building on Lake Howard.

September 1985, Ed Winters had bad experience very late one night and Deborah phone me with her urgent message. Jack, Larry, Mary Nell, and I rushed to 2122 Edgewater. Ed fled! He drove over an electric transformer at home and then wrecked his car at McDonald Restaurant near Lake Howard. Teri said she removed drugs from his car before the police arrived. He was admitted to Winter Haven hospital for 90 days followed by six months disability. During a visit Ron & I had with Dr. Dean Schull he diagnosed Ed with a “borderline personality disorder” which would resurface as a serious problem from time to time. Ed’s condition was pitiful. Mary Nell was so disturbed that she could not bear to visit Ed. I tried to visit him most every day. Later, Ed worked part time for a few months and then full-time beginning June 86. He soon divorced and later moved to Tampa.

1. Winters Holding Corporation formed October 31, 1985, with 81,450 shares of SGC Stock.; Filed Nov 7, 1985, H84477:
Employers ID number 59-2615026 was Issued January 14, 1986

2. November 6, 1985 – SGC Shareholders transferred 81,450 shares to a newly formed partnership named Winters Partners Ltd.

Roy E. surrendered 19,600 shares SGC stock for $59,066 value of Class B stock in WPL.

Roy Received: $100,000 debenture issued by WPL.
116 shares of class B non-voting preferred stock of WHC value of $116,013,
750 shares on non-voting preferred of WHC. $15,000 value

 Winter Children Trust and the SGC office building at 505 Lake Howard ended up in the WPL.

 Formed new company Kensington Mortgage and Finance of Florida. KMF purchased KMF of Wisconsin from Fleet Financial which was one of the 10 largest banks in America.
 This now provided us the opportunity to modify their high interest rate loans and make a large profit.

Charles Chilton announced the stock purchase to all news media. KMF had 18,000 loans in 40 states with outstanding balances of approximately $248 million. Their out standings were about the same as SGC for a combined portfolio of almost a ½ billion dollars.

Nov 1985 Tammy Ellis was offered a position with Paul Zink in Jacksonville, so she resigned from SGC and accepted his offer.

Dec 1985 SGC redeemed stock from WPL for $66,000 plus a note for $1.25 million. In January, the note was paid by transferring the SGC building to WPL. Note payments were $750,000 on January 2, 1986; $250,000 on January 23, and $250,000 on Feb 23, 1986. I think that WPL now owned all the stock of SGC.

 Credited to: DEW $500,000; MNW $500,000; Roy Trust $100,000: Don Trust $100,000: Teri Trust $100,000; Byron Trust $10,000; Brent Trust $6,000

December 31, 1985, Stock redemption:

Redeemed 1316 shares of Winters Holding Company stock – Byron 10; Brent 6; REW 100; TJW 100; DNW 100, MNW 500; DEW 500. Total of 1316 shares @ $1,000 per share. = $1,316,000:
$ 60,000 Dec 30th, 1985
$ 750.000 Jan 2, 1986
$ 250,000 Jan 23, 1986
$ 250,000 Feb 23, 1986

Non-Voting Preferred Remaining shares owned
Byron Winters 10 0
Brent Winters 6 0
Roy E. Winters 100 16
Teresa J. Winters 100 197
Donald N. Winters 100 197
Mary Nell Winters 500 593
Daniel E. Winters 500 959

Total
1316
1562

Dec 31, 1985, Winters Holding Co. issued Debenture #6 to CHC for as trustee for Roy E. Winters for $100.000 @ 12%.

WHC wrote check to Mary N. Winters for $284,954. Same amount to Dan Winters on Jan 10, 1986 – Stock distribution.

WHC wrote check to Roy E. $56,991; Teresa J.; Donald N. $56,991: Byron 5,599; Brent $3,420.

4 story building was transferred to Winters Partners, Ltd in discharge of the obligation to pay $1,145,460 stock redemption common stock.

January 2, 1986, Comments in letter from Simon dated January 2, 1986: Teri is working in Jacksonville Sat. Sun, Mon. and Tues. Working in Winter Haven on Wed Thurs and Fri. Ed divorced in Sept. living in Teri’s Casa Del Sol condo on 21st Street NW. Don & Emily living on 15th St. SW.

I felt that I needed my children and people I could rely upon to help handle these important business transactions.

Jan 6, 1986, we made a $100,000 gift to Ed, Don, and Teri each.

June 1986, I went to local doctor for a physical. Under a stress test the doctor observed symptoms of coronary heart disease. My mother had the disease and died suddenly at the age of 50. I was now 53 years of age and had the same disease. During any previous visits to the doctors, they gave me reports of good health and a life expectancy of age 100. Dr. Hammer sent me to Florida Hospital in Orlando Florida to see Dr. Charles Curry for the first angiogram on my heart on Friday the 27th. They recommended I stay in the hospital until they could do an Angioplasty on Monday the 30th. My world changed with these events. I am unable to describe my feelings and emotions. Against the doctor’s advice I did return home as I felt it very important to inform my three children plus Momma and Daddy King of the situation. On Monday I entered the Florida Hospital, and they did the Angioplasty as scheduled.

July 1986 – Kings moved to Carpenters Home Estates in Lakeland. I regretted that I was unable to assist them in the move due to my medical treatments.

July 7, 1986, Ed returned to full time work at Southern. Jan thru June his earnings were $7,384

August 1986 – I Sold 100% of the Kensington Mortgage stock to Fred Wiesenberger, Manon, Inc. in San Antonio Texas for Two Million Dollars

Winters Partners Limited agreed to lease to KMF 45% of the office space for $9,707 monthly.

With the uncertainty of my health, I focus a lot of attention to getting my estate in order. I did not want a lot of exposure and business risk for Mary Nell to have to deal with considering my impending death.

Mary Nell had so many things to deal with. Her dad was in poor health as result of a stroke. Her parents depended upon her to pay their bills and assist them in many ways. Ed was not working, was divorced and that caused her to be very concerned about Byron and Brent’s future as they were only 4 and 7 years of age at this time. She had taken care of all the accounting for all the trust accounts for several years, including the income tax returns. The children all leaned upon her for their monthly checks, paperwork, car tags etc. Donnie was not working and seldom came around. Teri wanted to sing, preach and travel being the beautiful, talented young lady she was. Mary Nell fully shared in any of my activities including all the business problems and management decisions. I kept nothing from her, we shared everything. Considering my short life expectancy, I was very determined to eliminate any business I could, so she would have less to worry about in the event my death.

Southern Guaranty had several loans covered with credit insurance by Foremost Insurance Company of Grand Rapids Michigan. Several of the loan customers were in default. Foremost discovered that Ed and other SGC employees had overlooked sending one notice of default to the borrower and thus demanded SGC repurchase the loans. On June 19th, 1986 – Foremost Credit Insurance Company demanded that SGC repurchase $166,000 of loans because SGC failed to file one particular notice with those customers. By August we negotiated a settlement where we gave FM the entire loan portfolio to service, and they rescinded their demand. SGC did not want to use our working capital to meet their demand and agreed to transfer the conventional loan portfolio to Foremost for servicing as a settlement.

Sept 24, 1986 – I returned to Orlando Heart Institute for Open heart surgery with a 5-artery open heart bypass. During the 10 hours of surgery the family had to evacuate the hospital for a fire drill a couple of time.

Carpenter’s Home held the first service in its 155,000-square-foot sanctuary Feb. 10, 1985.

Carpenter’s Home, founded by members of the Lakeland First Assembly of God, had a capacity of about 10,000 and was the nation’s largest sanctuary holding weekly services at the time, said Joe Perez, the church’s longtime executive director.

Mary Nell and I were very active in CHC and made substantial financial donations to the new church building, the prayer tower, the WCIE radio and the construction of the office for pastor Strader.

Considering the doctors reports of my health, I expected to die before Mary Nell, so we established “The Mary Nell Winters Fund” with Carpenter’s Home Church of Lakeland, FL administrating it.

November 1986 – Teri resigns from SGC, however continued to work part-time as she commuted from Jacksonville. She worked for Pastor Paul Zink.

December 1, 1986 – Southern Guaranty paid Winters Holding Co. $378,260 as 1% of amount financed (modifications) year of 1986.

SGC paid WHC $480,000 as management fees for July thru December 1986

SGC paid WHC $318.500 as dividends of one dollar per share. (Total $1,176,760)

December 8 – KMF paid Data Procession service for month of Nov ’86 in the amount of $9,033.

Dec 29 – Winters Holding Co paid Southern Guaranty $303,564.70 reimburse wages & benefits July Dec 1986.

Dec 29, 1986 – Winters Holding Company tax return by Peat Marwick receipts were $10,526,083 with taxable income of $1,254,236. First year of income for WHC.

Home Owners Funding took over the SGC servicing on Feb 19, 1987

In February 1987, the class action lawsuit with SGC that had begun in October 1984 was still in the courts. After 30 months I was getting weary.

March 10, 1987, Roy, Don, Teri, Byron, and Brent were receiving $1,000 each month as interest from Winters Holding.

March 1987 GNMA came to KMF and declared default and turned all servicing over to Home Owners Funding Corp of America (HOFCA). Do not know how they intend to work out the various items of concern.

March 1987 Teri was living in Jacksonville developing a traveling ministry of singing and preaching for the Lord. She and Joyce Miller took a missionary trip to the Philippines before June. They went to Escalante and visited with Pastor Pol Cobus. I was very proud of Teri as she traveled and ministered for the Lord; however, I had very mixed emotions as I suffered from the feeling that none of my children desired to help me preserve the business I had built for the family. (Blow #4 time for me to quit.) The mortgage business was earning such large cash profits; however, it was creating so much stress on me and I realized my doctors were warning me to avoid stress. Dr. Guisti said “Work won’t hurt you but stress will kill you.”

Ed Winters began working at Meritor Federal Savings and Loan in Winter Haven for a few weeks as a loan officer; however, his lifestyle prevented him from being able to perform and carry out his job responsibilities. He lost the job.
Donnie worked with Charlie Day, and they remodeled Pizza Hut restaurant and also did some painting at SGC building. Charlie was a good man, and he was a great influence on Donnie. He said Donnie was a good worker; however, Charli’s health failed him, and he died leaving Donnie unemployed.

On July 2nd, 1987, State Farm Insurance signed a three-year lease beginning in August.

August 1987 Winters Holding Company redeemed all outstanding debentures. DNW trust, REW tr, and TW tr each received $100,000 and paid IRS about $47,365 income tax on their long-term capital gain.

Sold Winters Holding Company, Southern Guaranty Corp and Gulfcoast Finance
September 1987 WHC had $700,000 cash in bank plus other assets for a total value of $1,300,000 less any contingent income tax liability. I was tired and wanted to cease business. No family members were available to continue the business. I sold some of the businesses for far less than their book value. I sold Winters Holding Company and Southern Guaranty Corporation stock to Joseph F. Holmes at Southwest Equities for $250,000 cash. $1,300,000 value for $$250,000. Gulfcoast Finance, Inc. was included in the sale. This concluded our ownership with the Mobile Home Mortgage Banking firms, removing me from any contingent liabilities from these businesses.

Sept 30, 1987, Winters Holding Company Stock sale to Southwest Equities. Roy E. Winters received $2,219.

June 16, 1989, I moved Southern Insurance Services Inc. to Jim Greens offices on 6th Street NW; and moved all DWC records from 5th Street to 1319 Mirror Terrace.

Southern Guaranty Corp was dissolved by the State of Florida as inactive on October 13, 1989.

In January 1990 Mary Nell returned to the Lakeland Regional Medical Center and had the second cancer operation.

Sept 30, 1990, Teri married Ken O’Neil

Mary Nell and I flew to Bermuda with Ed, Byron (age 14), Brent (age 11), in July 1992. Again, we had a nice trip, and it was good we spent the time together, especially considering Mary Nell’s future health.

My family took a ski trip to Winter Park, CO on December 27, 1992. Me, Mary Nell, Nancy, Ken, Teri, Marc, Byron, Brent, and Ed had a wonderful time playing in the snow until our return home on 3rd day of January. We kept Marc bundled up and warm as we took him on the ski lift and the snow tram.

Dec 9, 1992, I Funded Roy E Winters Trust with $201,481 Muni bond with average interest rates more than 7% tax free.

April 27, 1993, Danielle O’Neil was born. We were so proud to have a beautiful granddaughter. She was and is so precious.

June 29, 1993, MNWITFI purchased Roy E. Winters a new Acura Legend car for $30,869.

August 15, 1993, Roy A. King died after living in Carpenters Home Estates since July 1986.

Ed came from Tampa and stayed with us during the funeral. As Ed was trying to get into his car to come to the funeral home for visitation he got wet in the rain and was in bad humor when he arrived at the funeral home on West Central Avenue. Ed’s bipolar conduct was so bad the next few months that he required lots of attention from his mother and me. Mary Nell later expressed regrets that she failed to have time for herself to properly grieve over the loss of her father.

Ed, Don, Nancy, Mary Nell and Dan took a trip to the New England states in Chevy van to view the leaves changing their color (2nd time). On our return we stopped in Cleveland to attend Bill and Frieda’s 50th Anniversary. Donnie was a lot of help in doing the driving.

January 26, 1994, Mary Nell died. It was such a sad time for the family to give her up to cancer.

April 17, ’94 Ed Winters and Carl Richardson went with me to Carpenter’s Home Church in Lakeland FL on Sunday night. Where Rose Mary Bailey handed me a handwritten prophecy that my life was now beginning a sequel.

Nov 5, 1994, I married Mary Boldrey.

On February 7, 1997, Joe King died at age of 63.

January 1999 Roy E. Winters Irr Trust in Winters Partners Ltd. had a capital allocation in amount of $58,847 from sale of property at 4th St. and Ave D to Eckerd Drug.

On May 5, 2000, we purchased a Maxima for Brent using $27M from Brent’s trust. Two weeks later May 17th Brent graduated from Winter Haven High School with high honors. We attended his graduation and were very proud of him and attended his party at the home of Chuck and Nancy Young on Lake Howard.

In June 2000 Donald and Diana withdrew funds from his trust and were married at a wedding chapel in Lakeland. Most of the family attended except for Ed who was not able to make the trip from Tampa.

My son Ed had some problems and accumulated DUI charges by the police in the State of Florida. His attorney Fox recommended he enter an alcohol and drug treatment center to avoid being sentenced to jail. It was very sad; after more than 25 years of substance abuse, he could no longer function. After having enjoyed a new Corvette, a Saab and several other new cars he was now without transportation. After enjoying the ownership of two new custom build homes and being a tenant in several different luxury apartments he must now live in an institution. The new furniture and household items he had purchase with the proceeds of the sale of his home was now all being placed is a rental storage unit by someone. A friend, Brian Mitchell flew with him to Peniel in Johnstown, Pa. Peniel refused to admit Ed until after he spent a couple of days in the hospital where he was diagnosed with a by-polar disorder.

In December 2000, Art Karp died, and Ed did not get to attend the funeral in Sarasota.

Wednesday Dec 2000, Dan and Byron took gifts and flew to Pittsburg and rented a car to drive to Johnstown, Pa. to visit his dad at Peniel. The Peniel staff refused to allow Ed to leave the facility even for one hour to go with us to get a bite to eat. We drove back to Pittsburg that night because of the weather (snow).

March 2001 Ed was dismissed from Peniel as the staff said he was refusing to progress as their treatment plan provided. Ed rode the 24-hour bus ride from Johnstown Pa. to come to stay with us in Winter Haven for a couple of weeks.

I was concerned that although Ed had previously been admitted to several different treatment facilities, he still needed further treatment and was subject to a court order. On April 4, 2001, Ed was admitted to First Step in Sarasota; however, within four weeks he maneuvered for someone to come and take him back to Clearwater.

In 2001 – I returned to Orlando Hospital for more stents in my arteries.

Jan 2001, most of the family except Ed, attended Samantha and Jerome’s elaborate wedding celebration in Sarasota.

Nov 2001 At Emerge Ministries meeting in Akron, Ohio, Dr. Richard Dobbins helped me understand the mental health of my son Ed.

December 30, 2004, Marvell Winters died at the age of 91.

May 2005, Ed moved to Cleveland.

Mary and I started construction on new home 401 Concord Place NW in Anatole.

2005 This year Mary and I had Thanksgiving alone at Holiday Inn in Cleveland. Ed and Teri went to Florida. Byron, Kysha, and Brent to S.C.

July 30, 2006, Ed’s grandson Michael was born.

Dec 2006 Christmas Eve dinner at Anatole with Ed, Deborah, Clara, Byron, Kysha, Michael, Mike, Sharron, Mrs. Baker.

Jan 2007 Mary was in Hospital in Cleveland.

June 14th, 2007, Brent resigned WinWorld effective July 13th. Teri surrendered all, so Bill Winters negotiated the deal between the two of them.

July 2007, Winters Partners Limited assets were distributed by Smith Barney. (WPL was formed in November 1985 and Winter Children Trust and the SGC office building at 505 Lake Howard ended up in the WPL.)

July 28 Brent emailed me he was going to work for Nationwide.

Teri phoned Ed is in jail DUI.

Dec 2007 Christmas Eve dinner at Anatole with Ed, Byron, Kysha, Brent, Danielle. About 9:00 Teri, Ken, Marc, Danielle, and Trevor came by. Danielle and Brent spent the night. Mary was sick on Christmas Day and I had dinner at Summerfield. Michael??

Jan 15, 2008, Mary was better, so we went to Jacks for the Hale reunion and then to Sarasota until end of Feb 15th.

Spent Feb 16th, 2008, to Feb 27th at Jack’s in Winter Haven.

Ed moved from Marquis to Apartment near E. L. Ross School.

Ed Winters taken by Byron to hospital in Chattanooga. Later dismissed. Broke pipe in apartment and was evicted. Moved into one room at Executive Quarters motel.

Feb. 29th, 2008, Tom Winters died so we were in W.V first week of March. Ed was not allowed to attend funeral. Age 79. Born June 14, 1929.

Jerry Timmerman agreed to monitor Ed providing all family members agreed not to enable Ed.

March 23, 2008, Surprise “75thbirthday” party for Dan at Buca De’s in Tampa. Teri, Danielle, Trevor, Donnie, Dianne, etc. Mary Sue, Nancy (about 40) attended. (Ed was unable to attend).

April 14, 2008, Byron sent text messages to DEW.
Ed Winters fell and hit his head the evening of April 7, 2008. etc.

We began to pack up and drive from Winter Haven to Cleveland to assist as needed. Friday 18th

April 25th Ed dismissed on Friday. Byron & Jerry went on Saturday however no place for Ed to go. Ed stayed at Erlanger for weekend and on Monday Ed was admitted to Wellington Place in Cleveland. Dan worked on Insurance program for Ed.

May 3 – Saturday Mary took Danielle shopping. Teri brought Ed to Mexican Restaurant on Ocoee St.

Wednesday Jack and Bonnie parked motor home on driveway at 401 Concord. Visited Frieda and others on Thursday. Dinner with Michael, Byron, Kysha. Departed Friday.

May 10 – Saturday Ed was at Teri’s. Mary took Trevor shopping.

May 11, 2008, Ed, Teri, Danielle, Trevor, Dan & Mary attended North Cleveland and then Bistro for Mother’s Day brunch.

May 28, Wednesday Byron took Ed to Dr. and was sent to Erlanger Hosp very weak and losing weight now only 115 pounds.

Saturday June 14. Brent, Donnie, Dan went to see Ed. Uncovered, cold, diaper, starring, and not talking. Dan confronted nurse. Dr. Suferlia says blood and lung are better. Sometime would not talk, other times nearly manic. Sad sight. Lung Dr. says fluid is forming around lungs and Brent approved for them to wait until Monday to draw off the fluid. Jerry & Sandy visited Ed. Dinner at Jenkins.

Monday June 23rd Ed transferred to Life Care of East Ridge. Dan & Mary found him in floor.

July 24 Ed transferred to Wellington Place.

July 25th Michael 2nd Birthday Party attended by Ed & Deborah, Teri, Danielle, Trevor.

Saturday July 26th Ed, Teri, Kysha, Michael, Nancy, Sue etc. had dinner at Out Back. Visited Wellington

Ed has regained to 151 pounds – good reports from two doctors.

Thursday Aug 14, 2008, Abigale was born. Ed’s granddaughter. Mary and I were so happy to have a great granddaughter

Sept 11, 2002, Mary and I flew from Florida to Chattanooga. Saw Ed & Teri and Danielle at Trevor’s Football game. Brent arrived 2 a.m. at Anatole.

Friday Sept 12 Nationwide board meeting. Dinner at Gondolier with Ed, Teri,

Sun 14th. Hal Dixon honored at North Cleveland. Saw Ed, Brent, Byron at Marc’s Birthday. Lehman announced Bankruptcy. Merrill Lynch sold to Bank of America.

Wednesday Sept 17, 2008, Dan and Mary flew back to Florida. B-110

October 1-2 -3 Jerome’s Death. Dan, Mary, Jack & Bonnie drove to Atlanta.
Discussed possibilities with Richard Karp in Atlanta, Ga.

October 5-12, 2008, Mary to Winter Haven Hospital for 8 days with blood clot in lungs.

(See new file. Ed Winters year of 2008 for Insert to this page for year of 2008)

Nov 27th, 2008, Dan & Mary ate Thanksgiving dinner at Marsha & Tony’s.

Jan 8th, 2009, Visit to Giusti and he recommends another heart cath.

Jan 15th Dan to Winter Haven from Beach and signed Nationwide sale.

Jan 16th Dan entered Winter Haven Hospital and Dr. Tia placed stent #7 in his heart. Released from hospital on 17th. Total Charges $42,330.

April 15th Dr. Tia placed stent #8 in my arteries, at Winter Haven hospital

May 11, 2009, Kysha, Michael, and Sharron delivered picture to 401 as Mother’s Day present.

May 16 Took Ed to dinner at country café. All is well.

Sat May 30th – Surprise party for Mary’s 75th birthday. Vera and Saundra spent the night with us at 401.

July 31 Attended Michael’s 3rd Birthday with Bakers, Deborah, Teri, Trevor, Brent, Danielle, Mable Bakers.

Attended Abigail’s first birthday party at the Mattress Store.

August 5, 2009, Kysha had Byron served with restraining order and divorce petition. Byron told Teri. Teri told Bill and asked Bill to convey to Dan.

Fri Aug 7th Dan took Ed to Social Security Office to file, however SS requiring copy of trust, so we did not pursue.

October 12th – Dinner at Chinese restaurant with Ed, Jerry, Sandy celebrating Ed’s 54th birthday.

Jan 26, 2010, Dan had urinary tract infection, fainted and 911 delivered me to hospital in Sarasota where I stayed for 5 days.

March 26th, 2010, Sarasota Memorial Hospital overnight after Dr. Graper implanted a heart pacemaker.

Byron phoned that Ed wants to leave Wellington and return to Florida.
Bryan Mitchel and his grandmother Evelyn Holcomb invited Ed to move in with them in their double wide mobile home in Largo, Fla. So, his stuff was all loaded on a U-Haul truck, and he moved in with them.
In a few weeks the mobile home next door to them became available for rent so Ed moved next door.
The owner of this mobile home wanted to return so Ed rented a different mobile home a couple of blocks away in the same park.
Donnie would travel from Winter Haven to transport Ed to the Moffit cancer center for treatments.

I became concerned about Ed not having a financial transaction for a couple of days; I mentioned it to Teri, and she called people, and they confirmed Eddie’s death in his bed at his home.
Feb 1, 2013 – Death of Roy E. Winters. Donnie went to his place and notified the family.
Mary and I flew to Florida as Bobbie Tillman Flew to Chattanooga and drove our car with our stuff to Tony Boyd’s home
The family arranged a nice celebration of life church service the Village Church of God.
He was buried in the Lakeside Cemetery in Winter Haven where his grandparents and many friend have been buried.
Ed’s son’s, Byron and Brents arranged for a nice monument to be placed on his grave. (Picture)

Your content goes here. Edit or remove this text inline or in the module Content settings. You can also style every aspect of this content in the module Design settings and even apply custom CSS to this text in the module Advanced settings.