While no obituary for Grover could be located perhaps classmates can provide some memories of Grover’s life after he left LHS. Beyond having had two marriages, a daughter and being a lawyer no other details of Grover’s life were located.
Details of his untimely death were located…
On Monday, May 15, 2000, Tampa lawyer Grover Cleveland Freeman Jr., 54, died at the hands of his ex-wife during a domestic dispute in his home in Tampa's Carrollwood section. Grover called 911 but died at the scene.
The ex-wife also attacked Grover’s current wife, Constance, in the couple's home. Constance was able to escape and survived her injuries.
Grover’s ex-wife later jumped off the center span of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and, remarkably, survived. She was arrested, tried and sentenced to life in prison.
The motive for the murder of Grover and the attempted murder of Constance was money, according to prosecutors, and possibly a disagreement regarding education options for Grover’s and his ex-wife’s teenage daughter.
Grover lived not far from my house near South Side Baptist church. Spent a few Sunday afternoons over at Tampa Dragway with him and several other Lakeland HS class mates. He had a souped up little Chevy, probably a 62 or 63 vintage. Later he was driving a 55 Chevy with 2-4 barrel carbs (that was when gasoline was about $0.30/gal). Last time I saw him in Lakeland, he was driving a tricked out brand new Pontiac Grand Prix. We were always into cars. Only other time I ran into Grover, I was flying through Atlanta and ran into him in the Airport. As I recall he had just flown up from Tampa to pick up his new Ferrari. I guess divorce lawyers make pretty good money.
Grover and I grew up in the same neighborhood and spent most of our summers at the Florida Southern College swimming pool. Grover indeed loved fast cars. The last time I saw him was at a car show at Road Atlanta showing off his fine Ferrari. He loved that car. Life was good. We had a nice conversation catching up on our teenage days and life in general. It broke my heart when I heard of his death at such a early age. Grover is truly missed by all.
Grover always had a smile. Remember him from elementary and high school. Shirley Ware lived down the street from him and we would get together and visit
Thanks to everyone that are posting memories on this site. Seeing the comments remind of Grover and you from way back in the day. It is so interesting how times have changed and how we all adapted.
Much has been made in these memorials about Grover's family law practice. That was not his only pursuit. In the years that I was active in Tallahassee lobbying for my state association, I used to bump into Grover who was in Tally representing physicians in disciplinary actions. We had several nice reunions.
I also fondly remember the many days in the lunch line at school standing with Grover and Danny Bagley. We used to have contests amongst ourselves telling joke after joke.
I grew up a half a block from Grover. On a sleepover in the 6th grade we stayed up to secretly watch King Kong. His father was a promient physician and his mother was a beauty. We lost touch after LHS, but I was sorry to hear that he had died and would love to catch up with him.
Reece Caraker Jr.
Actually I believe it was his former wife and Grover had remarried. From what I understand he was a very successful attorney.
Chuck Bent
While no obituary for Grover could be located perhaps classmates can provide some memories of Grover’s life after he left LHS. Beyond having had two marriages, a daughter and being a lawyer no other details of Grover’s life were located.
Details of his untimely death were located…
On Monday, May 15, 2000, Tampa lawyer Grover Cleveland Freeman Jr., 54, died at the hands of his ex-wife during a domestic dispute in his home in Tampa's Carrollwood section. Grover called 911 but died at the scene.
The ex-wife also attacked Grover’s current wife, Constance, in the couple's home. Constance was able to escape and survived her injuries.
Grover’s ex-wife later jumped off the center span of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and, remarkably, survived. She was arrested, tried and sentenced to life in prison.
The motive for the murder of Grover and the attempted murder of Constance was money, according to prosecutors, and possibly a disagreement regarding education options for Grover’s and his ex-wife’s teenage daughter.
Terry Douglass
Grover lived not far from my house near South Side Baptist church. Spent a few Sunday afternoons over at Tampa Dragway with him and several other Lakeland HS class mates. He had a souped up little Chevy, probably a 62 or 63 vintage. Later he was driving a 55 Chevy with 2-4 barrel carbs (that was when gasoline was about $0.30/gal). Last time I saw him in Lakeland, he was driving a tricked out brand new Pontiac Grand Prix. We were always into cars. Only other time I ran into Grover, I was flying through Atlanta and ran into him in the Airport. As I recall he had just flown up from Tampa to pick up his new Ferrari. I guess divorce lawyers make pretty good money.
Michael Durhan
I always try to think of something positive to say about someone.......
Lester Carter sure was a nice guy.
Betsye Cabell (Greener)
Grover and I grew up in the same neighborhood and spent most of our summers at the Florida Southern College swimming pool. Grover indeed loved fast cars. The last time I saw him was at a car show at Road Atlanta showing off his fine Ferrari. He loved that car. Life was good. We had a nice conversation catching up on our teenage days and life in general. It broke my heart when I heard of his death at such a early age. Grover is truly missed by all.
Mary Ann Kalal (Brooks)
Grover always had a smile. Remember him from elementary and high school. Shirley Ware lived down the street from him and we would get together and visit
Bill Ross
Thanks to everyone that are posting memories on this site. Seeing the comments remind of Grover and you from way back in the day. It is so interesting how times have changed and how we all adapted.
Corky Dean Jr.
The last time I saw Grover was at Tampa dragway. He was always trying to get one more mph out of his red Chevy 2 !!! Corky Dean
Arnold Signer
Much has been made in these memorials about Grover's family law practice. That was not his only pursuit. In the years that I was active in Tallahassee lobbying for my state association, I used to bump into Grover who was in Tally representing physicians in disciplinary actions. We had several nice reunions.
I also fondly remember the many days in the lunch line at school standing with Grover and Danny Bagley. We used to have contests amongst ourselves telling joke after joke.
Arnold Signer
Stephen Sauls
I grew up a half a block from Grover. On a sleepover in the 6th grade we stayed up to secretly watch King Kong. His father was a promient physician and his mother was a beauty. We lost touch after LHS, but I was sorry to hear that he had died and would love to catch up with him.