Homegoing Celebration for Deacon Nathaniel Bunts of Tampa who passed away, Monday, January 13, 2014, will be held Saturday, January 18th at 2:00 p.m. at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, 3005 E. Ellicott St., Rev. Dr. T.W. Jenkins, pastor officiating. Interment will be in Rest Haven Memorial Park Cemetery. Nathaniel was born to Arlie and Edmond Sanders-Bunts on June 10, 1929, in Albany, Georgia. He moved to Tampa, Florida in 1960. Nathaniel met the love of his life, Ruby J. Reese and they were married in holy matrimony on October 27, 1963. Deacon Nathaniel Bunts was a dedicated member of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church for 47 years. A servant of God and faithful to his church, he served as Chairman of the Trustee Board and was a Sunday School Superintendent. A leader and a teacher, who taught Sunday school for many, many years, Deacon Bunts received much recognition for his outstanding work and dedication of service. He truly loved his church and his family and you would often hear him quote his favorite scriptures, Psalm 37: 1-4 and Proverbs 15:3. Nathaniel worked as a bus driver for the City of Tampa Hartline Transportation. He was the fifth African American to be hired with the company and became the first African American driver to retire. After his retirement, he opened his own business (Home Based Lawn Mower Repair Services) and worked until his health began to fail. One of his hobbies was gardening and you could find him planting collard greens, tomatoes and peppers, which were among the vegetables his neighbors, family and friends would often stop by to get a bundle. It would be difficult to measure the impact he has had on the many people's lives he touched, personally and professionally. Over the last few years, we all saw how his health began to fail but, his spirit of fun, and zest for life was always present. He was always a spiritual person, and it was his faith in God that helped him through those last few months. He was preceded in death by his parents, Arlie and Edmond Sanders-Bunts; two sisters, Flora Burdine and Dollie Patterson and two brothers, Claude Sanders and David Bunts. He leaves to cherish his memories a loving and caring wife of 50 years, Ruby; Nathaniel will forever be remembered by his two brothers, Roosevelt (Angela) Sanders of Long Island, NY and Charlie (Yolanda) Sanders of Dawson, GA; one sister, China (L. C.) Dixon of Atlanta, GA; five half-sisters, Alberta Melvin, Johnnie M (Leroy) Lane, Susie Staten, Thelma Nelson and Bobbie Curry, all of Tampa, FL; sister-in-law, Fannie Sanders of Brooklyn, NY. seven caring sisters-in-law, whom were very dear and close, Yvonne Reese Wright, Janis Reese Harden, Shirley Reese, Carolyn Reese (Johnny) Banks, Vivian Reese, Norma Gail Reese, all of Tampa, FL and Maxine Reese (Doug) Jackson of Ozark, AL; two brothers-in-law, Johnny Banks and Richard Reese of Tampa, FL; one uncle, Reverend John H. Williams of Lakeland, FL; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends. The visitation will be held at Aikens Funeral Home on Friday, January 17th from 5 to 8 p.m. The friends are asked to meet at the church on Saturday for the service.