Madison County, Alabama Obituary Collection 1998-1999 (From Various Funeral Homes)
Covering the towns of Big Cove, Brownsboro, Gurley, Hampton Cove, Harvest, Hazel Green,
Huntsville, Madison, Meridianville, New Hope, New Market, Normal, Owens Cross Roads,
Ryland, Toney, and Triana. Also many obits from nearby Athens (Limestone County).
Some of the funeral homes represented: Royal Funeral Home, Spry Funeral Home,
Valhalla Funeral Home, Laughlin Service Funeral Home, and Twickenham Funeral Home.
Note: These obituaries are NOT primary source. They are intended only to provide clues in
researching your family tree. Use the date at the top of each group of obituaries to determine
the date of death since this collection does not include specific dates, only the day of the week
that the death occurred. Use the handy 1998 or 1999 calendars to determine dates.
Edwin Belcher
Edwin Belcher, 77, of Huntsville died Tuesday at a local hospital. Valhalla Funeral Home will announce funeral arrangements and will be in charge of burial.
Sherry L. Blankenship
Sherry L. Blankenship, 31, of Huntsville died Sunday in Macon County. The funeral will be Thursday at 1 p.m. at the First Seventh-day Adventist Church with Pastor Benjamin Jones officiating.
Burial will be in Valhalla Memory Gardens with Nelms Memorial Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include her mother, Pearline McReynolds of New Market; six sisters, Gearlean Outlin, Joyce Batts, Diane Battle, Janice Collins, Iris Butler and Pamela Hope, all of Huntsville; and eight brothers, George Thompson Jr. and Daryl Hambrick, both of Texas, Bobby Thompson, Harvey Thompson and Jerrod Thompson, all of Huntsville, Willie Blankenship of Wilke-Barre, Pa., Vandy Blankenship of Lancaster, Pa., and Terry Blankenship of Tacoma, Wash.
Helen Hall Buffaloe
Helen Hall Buffaloe, 84, of Huntsville died Thursday in Colorado Springs. The funeral will be Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. at Spry Funeral Home with Dr. Ed Culpepper officiating.
Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery with Spry Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. Buffaloe, a native of Madison County, was a retired teacher from the Madison County schools, a member of the Alabama Retired Teachers Association and a member of First Baptist Church of Huntsville. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Homer A. Hall and L.C. Buffaloe.
Survivors include two daughters, Lynda Romero and Emily Vandiver, both of Huntsville; a son, George Hall of Huntsville; and four grandchildren.
Visitation will be today at the funeral home from 5 to 9 p.m.
Ann A. Donovan
COCOA BEACH, Fla. - Ann A. Donovan, 83, formerly of Huntsville died Monday, May 11, at a Florida hospital. The funeral was Thursday at Wylie-Baxley Merritt Island Funeral Home in Merritt Island, Fla.
Survivors include a son, Francis Donovan of Cape Canaveral; three daughters, Judith Riehm of Orlando, Betsy Rhoades of Boaz and Joan Spry of Huntsville; two sisters, Marguerite Cappodanno of Wilmington, Del., and Irene Flynn of Orlando; and six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
John H. Franklin
ARDMORE, Tenn. - John Houston Franklin, 90, of 1952 Ardmore Highway died Monday at a Lincoln County hospital. The funeral will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Taylor Funeral Home with the Revs. Bill Suddarth and Larry Bottom officiating.
Burial will be in Gatlin Cemetery with Taylor Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include two sisters, Clara Coffman of Ardmore and Mary Franklin of Athens, and several nieces and nephews.
Virginia Ruth Gaskin
BOAZ - Virginia Ruth Gaskin, 62, of 295 Brow Road died Monday at a Gadsden hospital. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at Carr Funeral Home in Boaz.
Burial was to be in Whitesboro Baptist Church Cemetery.
Survivors include her husband, R.P. Gaskin; three daughters, Patricia Franklin of Horton, Teresa D. Gaskin of Boaz and Janice C. Geddes of Albertville; one son, Gary W. Gaskin of Arab; one sister, Doris Harrison of Florida; two brothers, Dale Naylor and Jerry Naylor, both of Boaz; and four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Eula Sublett Gifford
Eula Sublett Gifford, 92, of Huntsville died Sunday at a local nursing home. The funeral will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Spry Funeral Home with the Revs. Rolland Lee and James Harrell officiating.
Burial will be in Sublett Cemetery with Spry Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. Gifford, a native of Jackson County, lived most of her life in Madison County. She was a member of Wares Chapel Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Robert L. Sublett Jr. and Forrest Gifford, and a stepson, Felix Gifford.
Survivors include a daughter, Flo Rowcliffe of Columbus, Ohio; two sons, Cecil Sublett of Virginia Beach, Va., and Andrew Sublett of Brownsboro; three stepsons, Fred Gifford of Madison, Billy Gifford of Tennessee and Rayford Gifford of Illinois; three sisters, Mel Steger of Brownsboro, Pearlie ORear of Huntsville and Velma Osborn of Morton, Wash.; a brother, Andrew Nichols of Bellville, Mich.; and four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 5 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Marie Hearn Giles
PENSACOLA - A memorial service for Marie Hearn Giles of Pensacola, formerly of Huntsville, will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at Maple Hill Cemetery. She died Jan. 3 at Horizon Specialty Care Center in Pensacola.
Mrs. Giles, 81, was born in Sheffield, but spent most of her life in Huntsville.
Because of her efforts as an environmentalist, many roadside parks were established in Huntsville. She also hosted a television program on gardening and flower arrangement for Huntsvilles early education television.
She was a gardener and was active in the Butter Cup Club and the Versatile Club. She was the former president of the Federated Garden Clubs in Huntsville and Madison County, the Cosmopolitan Club of Huntsville and Council Seven of the Alabama Flower Show Judges. She was also a life member of Alabama Garden Clubs.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Sterlin Perry Giles.
Survivors include two sons, Skip Giles of Pensacola and Jerry Giles of Dallas; two sisters, Jenny Davis of Birmingham and Jane Williams of Georgia; a brother, Tom Hearn of Sheffield; and three grandchildren.
After the service, family and friends will gather at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Lucas, 1412 E. Oliver Drive in Huntsville, to celebrate her life.
Claudia L. Goodridge
HENAGAR - Claudia Lee Goodridge, 82, died Monday. The funeral will be Wednesday at 1 p.m. at the Kerby Funeral Home in Henagar with Brothers Ralph Heard and Melvin Slaton officiating.
Mrs. Goodridge was a member of the Chestnut Grove Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Coy Goodridge, and one son, Delano Goodridge.
Survivors include three daughters, Yvonne Barnett of Trion, Ga., Janette Crye of Fort Payne and Guanetta Paradise of Scottsboro; one son, Maurice Goodridge of Henagar; one sister, Juanita Ivey of Ider; one brother, Wendell Beaty of Henagar; and 13 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
Visitation was to be today from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Robert Lee Lightfoot
Robert Lee Lightfoot, 90, of Huntsville died Sunday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Thursday at 1 p.m. at Chapel of Love at Valhalla Memory Gardens with the Rev. Sammy Milton officiating.
Burial will be in Valhalla Memory Gardens with Nelms Memorial Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include his wife, Louise Daniel Lightfoot of Huntsville; three daughters, Beatrice Crutcher, Patsy White and Wanda Lightfoot, all of Huntsville; a brother, Willie Lightfoot of Chicago; and eight grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and one great-great-granchild.
Dorothy Mathis
Dorothy Mathis, 65, of Huntsville died Sunday in Hammond, Ind. The funeral will be Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. at Spry Funeral Home with the Rev. Wallace Green officiating.
Burial will be in Rice Cemetery in New Market with Spry Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. Mathis was a native of Danville, Ill.
Surivors include her husband, Overton Lee Norman; a daughter, Carol Friedman of Calumet City; and a sister, a grandchild and two great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 4 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Donald Ray Patrick
ATLANTA - Donald Ray Patrick, 64, of Atlanta, formerly of Huntsville, died Wednesday at his home. The funeral will be Thursday at 4 p.m. at Laughlin Service Funeral Home with Brother Robert Anderson officiating.
Laughlin Service Funeral Home will be in charge of burial.
Mr. Patrick was employed by NASA as a mechanical engineer and worked on the space program. He was a graduate of Auburn University and a native of Huntsville.
Survivors include two daughters, Laurie Patrick Dunn of Huntsville and Lisa Patrick Van Beber of Atlanta; one son, Jeremy Walker Patrick of Birmingham; one sister, Evelyn Daniel of Huntsville; and three grandchildren.
Visitation will be 30 minutes before the service.
Memorial donations may be made to the National Crohns and Colitis Foundation, AGAPE or the Twickenham Church of Christ library fund.
Ervin A. Pettie
ATHENS - Ervin A. ''Buddy Pettie, 68, of Nick Davis Road, died Sunday at a Decatur hospital. A graveside service was today at 10 a.m. at Athens City Cemetery with Tony Boyles officiating and Spry Funeral Home directing.
Mr. Pettie was a native of Limestone County, a heavy equipment mechanic at Solley Crane Service in Decatur and a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War.
Survivors include two daughters, Allyson Baker of Ardmore and Susan Mitchell of Athens; three sons, Phillip Pettie of Athens, Robert Pettie and John Pettie, both of Mobile; three brothers, Charles Pettie of Elkmont, Jesse Pettie and Bobby Pettie, both of Athens; and six grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Dianna Lynn Roberts
ARDMORE - Dianna Lynn Roberts, 44, of Resville Road died Sunday at a Birmingham hospital. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at Ardmore Funeral Home with Brother Sammy Brister officiating.
Burial will be in Gatlin Cemetery with Ardmore Funeral Home in charge.
Roberts was a member of Kappa Delta Phi at Athens State College and was on the deans list and the presidents list at Athens State and Calhoun Community colleges.
Survivors include a daughter, Emily Ann Roberts of Ardmore; a brother, Ronnie Smith of Shelbyville, Ky.; her parents, H.L. and Mavis Smith of Ardmore; and three nieces and nephews.
Virgil James Sanders
DECATUR - Virgil James Sanders, 76, of Park Place St. S.E. died Sunday at a local hospital. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at Spry Funeral Home in Athens with Gary Patton and Irvin Himmel officiating.
Mr. Sanders was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, a member of Disabled American Veterans, a former procurement specialist for NASA and a member of Somerville Church of Christ.
Survivors include his wife, Nellie Mae Sanders; two sons, Don Sanders of Madison and James A. Sanders of Tanner; and five brothers, four sisters, four grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be made to the Alzheimers Association.
Lenora Blanche Self
NEW HOPE - Lenora Blanche Self, 80, of 5390 Main Drive died Sunday at her home. The funeral will be Wednesday at 1 p.m. at New Hope Funeral Home with the Rev. Jerry Reeder officiating.
Burial will be in Bush Cemetery with New Hope Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include her husband, J.C. Self of New Hope; two daughters, Shirley Boyenton and Linda Ingram, both of Florida; a son, James W. Self of Georgia; two sisters, Mary Hughes of Owens Cross Roads and Louise Paseur of Georgia; five brothers, Roy Paseur, Conard Paseur and Lester Paseur, all of Huntsville, Thomas Paseur of Fyffe and Turner Paseur of Red Bay; and six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Visitation was to be today from 4 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Katie A. Somers
Katie A. Somers, 87, of Huntsville died Sunday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. at Holy Spirit Catholic Church with Father Louis Giardino officiating.
Burial will be in Twickenham Memory Gardens with Twickenham Funeral Home in charge.
She was retired from the Great Neck, N.Y., School system and was a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church.
Survivors include a son, Sheppard Somers of New York; a daughter, Catherine Knickrehm of Huntsville; a brother, John Beasley of New York; a sister, Mary Grogan of West Palm Beach, Fla.; and three sisters-in-law, eight grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and several nices and nephews.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 9 p.m. with a Rosary at 7 p.m.
Flowers may be delivered to Twickenham Funeral Home today between 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Annie Lee Williams
Annie Lee Williams, 80, of 3606 Glendale Lane in Huntsville died Saturday at 2150 Winchester Road. The funeral will be Wednesday at noon at First M.B. Church with Dr. Julius R. Scruggs officiating.
Burial will be in Valhalla Memory Gardens with Royal Funeral Home in charge.
Miss. Williams was a nurse for more than 35 years.
Survivors include three sisters, Florence Joiner and Flauzell Binford, both of Huntsville, and Birdie L. Smith of Monticello, Ga.; and several nieces and nephews.
Her body will be at the church one hour before the funeral.
Scotty Dean Young
BATON ROUGE, La. - Scotty Dean Young, 39, of 222 Gloria Drive died Friday at a local hospital. The funeral was Monday at McConnell Funeral Home in Athens with Pat Lawrence officiating.
Mr. Young was a native of Limestone County and a resident of Baton Rouge for 27 years. He was a combat engineer with the U.S. Army for almost three years.
Survivors include his father, Joe Young of Baton Rouge; his mother, Nell Young of Baton Rouge; one sister, Lisa Roberts of Denham Springs, La.; and one brother, Stanley Young of Baton Rouge.
