10/10/1998

Kalveshia G. Jones
Kalveshia Gayle Jones died at birth Sunday at a local hospital. Survivors include her mother, Melissa Fortner; her father, Kevin Jones; two sisters, Tyeshia Fortner and Kayla Fortner; a brother, Kendrick Fortner, and her maternal grandparents, Glover and Lottie Fortner, all of Mobile. Graveside services were held Friday at Oaklawn Cemetery. Memorial Funeral Home in Prichard handled arrangements.

William Elbert Beech
William Elbert Beech, a retiree from Brookley Field, died Thursday at his home. He was 72. Beech, a native of Leakesville, Miss., lived in Whistler. He was a U.S. Army veteran. His memberships included the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the National Rifle Association. Survivors include three sons, J.E. Beech and Josh Beech, both of Whistler, and Billy Beech of West Memphis, Ark.; one daughter, Regina Richardson of Nashville, Tenn.; two stepdaughters, Tammy Reed and Debbie McBride, both of Mobile; three brothers, Leroy Beech of Mobile, Leon Beech and Otis Beech, both of Lucedale, Miss.; 11 grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. Services are set for 10 a.m. today at Mount Pisgah United Methodist Church with burial in Mount Pisgah Cemetery in Lucedale. Freeman Funeral Home of Leakesville is handling arrangements.

Doris B. Urquhart
Doris Bradford Urquhart, a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, died Thursday at her Mobile home. Mrs. Urquhart, a native of Atmore, has resided in Mobile since 1943. Survivors include her husband, Donald A. Urquhart Sr. of Mobile; three daughters, Anne M. Urquhart of Mobile, Jane U. Orme of Winthrop, Wash., and Hillary U. Kent of Birmingham; a son, Donald A. Urquhart Jr. of Mobile; nine grandchildren, and a great-grandchild. Graveside services were held Friday at Pine Crest Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Wilmer Hall; 3811 Old Shell Road; Mobile, AL 36608. Radney Funeral Home on Dauphin Street is in charge of arrangements.

Russell E. Wiseman
Russell E. "Russ" Wiseman, a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard, died Monday at a local hospital after suffering a heart attack. He was 63. The Akron, Ohio, native had resided in Grand Bay since 1975. Wiseman attained the rank of chief petty officer in the Coast Guard and retired after 21 years of duty. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Grand Bay, where he served as a deacon and a trustee. He was active in the children's Sunday school program and on other church committees. He was director of the First Baptist Church of Grand Bay's Homebound Ministry. Wiseman also was a former member of Gideons International. Survivors include his wife of 41 years, Jo Wilder Wiseman of Grand Bay; a daughter, Patricia Wiseman Jackson of Ocean Springs, Miss.; a son, Joseph E. Wiseman of Grand Bay; his stepfather, Warren K. Faggard of Grand Bay; three sisters, Joan Williamson of Theodore, Doris Jean McKay of Pass Christian, Miss., and Irene Bittinger of Jemison, Ala.; five brothers, David Faggard and Carl Faggard, both of Mobile, Arnette Faggard of Pascagoula, Paul Faggard of Theodore and Steve Faggard of Grand Bay, and three grandchildren. Services were held Friday at Serenity Funeral Home, with burial at Serenity Memorial Gardens. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church; P.O. Box 326; Grand Bay, AL 36541.

Edward M. Jordan
Edward Murray "Eddie" Jordan, who retired from South Central Bell after 38 years, died Wednesday at the age of 66. Jordan, a lifelong Mobilian, was a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean War. He was a member of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, the Communication Workers of America Local No. 3907, and a life member of both the American Legion Post No. 3 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 49. Jordan graduated from Murphy High School in Mobile and DeVry Tech in Chicago. Survivors include his children, Shelly J. Shirazi of Mobile, Scott Edward Jordan, Shari Jeanne VanHoosen and Sharial J. Lewis, all of Saraland; and six grandchildren. Services are set for 10 a.m. today at Radney Funeral Home with burial in Mobile Memorial Gardens. Memorials may be made to the building fund of First Baptist Church of North Mobile, 1251 Industrial Parkway, Saraland, AL 36571.

Lula Godfrey Herring
Lula Godfrey "Miss Genelle" Herring, who had owned several restaurants in southern Alabama and Mississippi, died Wednesday in a local hospital. She was 74. Mrs. Herring was a native of Spindale, N.C., and a resident of Mobile since 1963. Survivors include four children, Cheryl Herring of Vancleave, Miss., Jerry Byrd of Gautier, Miss., Randy Scarborough of Mobile and Kerry L. Scarborough of Pascagoula; 16 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren. Services are set for 1 p.m. today at Radney Funeral Home on Dauphin Street with burial in Springhill Memorial Gardens.

Tommylene Monk
FOLEY - Tommylene Monk, a native of Whatley, Ala., and resident of Foley, died Thursday at the age of 57. Survivors include her husband, Jimmy Monk of Foley; her mother, Myrtleine R. Wiggins of Foley; two daughters, Darlene Kleinschmidt and Kimberly Monk, both of Foley; one son, Jimmy Monk Jr. of El Paso, Texas; and three grandchildren. Visitation will be from 6 To 8 p.m. today at Pine Rest Funeral Home in Foley. The funeral is set for 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Calvary Baptist Church in Foley with burial in Pine Rest Memorial Park in Foley. Memorials may be made to the Dystonia Foundation, 1 East Wacker Drive, Suite 2430, Chicago, Ill., 60601-0198.

Sam Houston Bush
BUTLER - Sam Houston Bush, who had worked as a farmer, died Wednesday at a hospital in Meridian, Miss. He was 94. The armed forces veteran, a native of Toxey, Ala., resided in Butler. Survivors include a number of nieces and nephews. Services were held Friday at Bumpers Funeral Home in Butler, with burial at Bush Cemetery in Toxey.

Robert W. Norwood
BUTLER - Robert Walter Norwood, who worked as an electrical and industrial technician with James River Corp., died Tuesday at a Pensacola hospital. He was 65. Norwood, a native of Alabama, resided in Butler.He was a member and past president of IBEW Local 2048. A U.S. Navy veteran of the Korean War, Norwood was a member of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Survivors include his wife, Joyce Norwood of Butler; two sons, Robert Dwaine Norwood and Daniel Green Norwood, both of Pensacola; a daughter, Judy C. Fryer of Pensacola; a brother, Charles G. Norwood of Butler, and six grandchildren. Services are set for 10 a.m. today at Bumpers Funeral Home, with burial at Resthaven Memorial Gardens in Butler.

George W. Suddath
LINDEN - George Webster Suddath, who had worked as a road foreman for Marengo County, died Wednesday in a Birmingham hospital. He was 89. The Marengo County native lived in Linden and was a member of Calvary Baptist Church of Linden. Survivors include two daughters, Gladys McKinney of Livingston, Ala., and Louise Lyles of Linden; five grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. Services are set for 11 a.m. today at Calvary Baptist Church with burial in New Octagon Cemetery in Linden. O'Bryant Chapel Funeral Home of Linden is handling arrangements.

Priscilla M. Lewis
McINTOSH - Priscilla Murphy Lewis, an elementary school teacher who retired from Washington County Public Schools, died Friday in a Greenville, Ala., hospital at the age of 63. Mrs. Lewis, a Mobile native, lived in McIntosh. Survivors include her husband, Charles E. Lewis of McIntosh; her parents, Leon and Ella Taylor of McIntosh; one son, Charles Edward Lewis of Semmes; five brothers, Leon Taylor Jr., Alfred Taylor, Gene Taylor and Wilford Taylor, all of McIntosh, and Raymond Taylor of Hendersonville, Tenn.; four sisters, Liz Taylor of Detroit, Janet Knapp of Houston, Dorothy Taylor of Mobile and Winnie Kim of Montgomery; and one grandchild. Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday at Freeman Funeral Home in Citronelle. Graveside services are set for 11 a.m. Monday in Reed's Chapel Cemetery in McIntosh.

Steven G. Wright
Steven G. Wright, the pastor of Shepherd Hill Baptist Church in Pine Bluff, Ark., died Friday in an auto accident in Pine Bluff. He was 28. Wright, a native of Euphora, Miss., and resident of Pine Bluff, was a 1988 graduate of Murphy High School. He is survived by his wife, Christine Howell Wright; two children, Christopher Wright and Hannah Wright all of Pine Bluff; his parents, Peggy and Ervin Wright of Mississippi; a brother, Michael Wright of Boonville, Miss.; and a sister, Laura Mize of Kentucky. Services will be 10 a.m. Monday at Ralph Robinson Funeral Home in Pine Bluff. Burial will be in Pittsborough, Miss. Arrangements made by Ralph Robinson Funeral Home.

Myron F. Habeck
PASCAGOULA - Myron F. Habeck, a former employee of Ibsen Seed Co. in Mobile after 26 years, died Thursday in Pascagoula. He was 52. A native of Green Bay, Wis., Habeck was a longtime Pascagoula resident. The U.S. Navy veteran was of the Lutheran faith. Survivors include his mother, Annie E. Habeck of Pascagoula; three brothers, Ernest J. Habeck Sr. of Mobile, Fred W. Habeck Jr. of Hurley, Miss., and David C. Habeck of Pascagoula; two sisters, Margie Habeck Brace of New Orleans and Marian Habeck Allen of Mobile. Visitation will be at O'Bryant-O'Keefe Funeral Home at Ladnier Road and Old Spanish Trail in Gautier, Miss., on Sunday at 1 p.m. The procession will leave the funeral home at 2 p.m. Sunday for graveside services at Jackson County Memorial Park in Pascagoula.

10/8/1998

WILLIAM EDGAR JOHNSON
BAY MINETTE - William Edgar Johnson, 49, died Wednesday, Oct. 7, 1998, at his Stapleton residence. He was a native of Bay Minette. He is survived by his wife, Linda Williams Johnson of Stapleton; two sons, William E. Johnson of Stapleton and Jason A. Johnson of Crossroads; his daughter, Crystal Lynn Johnson of Stapleton; four sisters, Jean Cooper of Rosinton, and Alice Philips, Ann Philyaw and Minnie D. Emmons, all of White House Fork; and four grandchildren. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at White House Fork Pentecostal Holiness Church. The Rev. George Underwood will officiate and burial follows at Johnson Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are by Norris Funeral Home in Bay Minette.

JAMES CHARLES CHASTANG
WHITE HOUSE FORK - James Charles Chastang, 77, of White House Fork died Wednesday, Oct. 7, 1998, at Thomas Hospital. Chastang was an electronic instructor at Pensacola Naval Air Station. He was also a member of the Bay Minette Masonic Lodge #498. He is survived by his wife Lucille Richerson Chastang of Stapleton; two sons, Jim Chastang of Crossroads and David Chastang of Stapleton; a daughter, Eugenia Nelson of Stapleton; a brother, McKenzie Chastang of Stapleton; 13 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. The funeral will be held today at 4 p.m. at the chapel of Norris Funeral Home in Bay Minette. The Rev. Ron Hill will officiate and burial follows at Chastang Cemetery. Masonic graveside services will be rendered by the Bay Minette Masonic Lodge. Funeral arrangements are by Norris Funeral Home.

MARY B. JACKSON
FAIRHOPE - Mary B. Jackson, 84, died Thursday, Oct. 1, 1998. She was a member of the Faith Temple Church of God in Christ in Fairhope. She is survived by her three daughters, Cora Campbell of Daphne, Elissie Bradley of Fairhope and Betty Cook of Bay Minette; one son, William Jackson of Daphne; a sister, Mattie Taylor of Bay Minette; and one brother, George Simon of Frisco City. Visitation will be Saturday from 10 to 11 a.m. at Faith Temple Church of God in Christ. The funeral begins at 11 a.m. and Dr. Wiley C. Neal will officiate. Burial follows at Twin Beech Cemetery. Arrangements are by Baldwin Community Chapel in Bay Minette.

R. STEPHEN WATERS
FAIRHOPE - R. Stephen Waters, a native of Fairhope and a resident of Daphne, died Monday, Oct. 5, 1998, at Mercy Medical Hospice in Daphne. He was 65 years old. Waters attended Davis & Elkins College in West Virginia and was a member of the Church of the Holy Spirit in Fairhope. In addition, he also did pen-and-ink sketches. He is survived by two brothers, Charles Waters and James Waters, both of Fairhope. Memorial services will be held Tuesday at 10 a.m. from the Church of the Holy Spirit at the Victorian Inn/Homestead Village in Fairhope, with the Rev. Charles Jones, Bishop of Alabama, officiating with Rev. Phil Chapman assisting. The family suggests contributions be made to any church, or to the Church of the Holy Spirit. Cremation arrangements are by Mack Funeral Home and Crematory in Robertsdale.

LAURA SUSAN KIRK
DAPHNE - Laura Susan Kirk, a native of Daphne and a resident of Baton Rouge, La., died Sunday, Oct. 4, 1998. Miss Kirk, 19, was an employee of McDonald's Restaurant and attended Belaire High School. Religious services will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday at Rabenhorst Funeral Home East Chapel in Baton Rouge, La. Burial and graveside services will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. at Daphne Baptist Church Cemetery. Rabenhorst Funeral Home East is in charge of arrangements.

ERNEST BRAXTON COSPER
FAIRHOPE - Ernest Braxton "E. Budd" Cosper, a native of Birmingham and a resident of Fairhope, died Friday at a local hospital. He was 69. Cosper was a retired lieutenant commander in the U.S. Naval Reserve. Until his retirement, he owned and operated a background music business in Mobile. He is survived by his daughter, Lise Cosper Segal of Upper Darby, Penn., and his step-mother, Margaret Heinberg of Pensacola. The family will receive visitors at the home of his aunt, Jean Zadnichek of Fairhope, Wednesday evening beginning at 5 p.m. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society. Wolfe Funeral Home in Fairhope is handling arrangements.

JERRY WAYNE LITTLE
BARNWELL - Jerry Wayne Little died Thursday, Oct. 8, 1998, at his Barnwell residence. Little, 44, was an active member of the Barnwell Baptist Church where he was involved in the bus ministry, children's ministry and building projects. He is survived by his wife, Laura Little of Barnwell; a son, Jeremy Little, and two daughters, Ashley Little and Catie Little, all of Barnwell; his parents, Pee Wee and Catherine Little of Barnwell; grandmother, Ellen Childress of Barnwell; two brothers, Boyd Little and Larry Little, both of Barnwell; two sisters, Glenda Bishop of Barnwell and Gloria Pierce of Mobile. The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at Barnwell Baptist Church. The Revs. Phillip Brown, J.B. Sims and Glenn Whitfield will officiate and burial follows at Brook Cedron Cemetery. Visitation will be today , from 6 to 9 p.m., at Wolfe Funeral Home in Fairhope, and again Monday, from 9 a.m. until the service time. The family suggests memorials be made to the Barnwell Baptist Church building fund, P.O. Box 918, Point Clear AL 36564. Wolfe Funeral Home in Fairhope is handling the arrangements

10/14/1998

Jewell D. Smith
Jewell D. Smith, a homemaker and member the Church of Christ, died Monday in Mobile at the age of 91. The Prichard native lived in Mobile and was a former resident of Theodore. Survivors include two daughters, Lou Ola Kelley of Bucks, Ala., and Evelyn Smith of Theodore; four sisters, Dona M. Sullivan of Madisonville, Texas, Alma L. Rouse of Gulfport, Dola G. Smith of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Alice M. Swann of Saraland; six grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and 17 great-great-grandchildren. Services are set for 3 p.m. today at Radney Funeral Home in Saraland with burial in Forest Lawn Cemetery.

Eva Holland Hagar
Eva Holland Hagar, a homemaker and resident of Mobile, died Monday in a local health care facility. Mrs. Hagar, 87, was a native of Millbranch, Ky. Survivors include four daughters, Martha Cassianelli and Mary Lou Brown, both of Mobile, Louise Hoskins of Palm Harbor, Fla., and Edi Hearn of Middletown, Ohio; three sons, Billy W. Hagar and Robert L. Hagar, both of Mobile, and David E. Hagar of London, Ky.; two sisters, Zola Moore of Hazard, Ky., and Mary Hayes of Blountsville, Ky.; 19 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Serenity Funeral Home. Graveside services are set for noon Thursday in Serenity Memorial Gardens.

Julian Ridgeway Sr.
Julian H. Ridgeway, who had owned Ridgeway Grocery and Barber Shop, died Monday in a local health care facility. He was 86. A native of Mount Sterling, Ala., Ridgeway lived in Mobile. He was a member of Pine Grove AME Church where he served as a steward. Survivors include eight children, Florenia Bassett, Geneva Hardy and Cleodis Barnes, all of Mobile, Alberta Ridgeway Brown of Queens, N.Y., Julian D. Ridgeway Jr., Kelly Ridgeway and Irmatine Marshall, all of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Leonard Ridgeway of Manhattan, N.Y.; two sisters, Naomie Hudson of Chicago and Ruth Booker of Birmingham; two brothers, Charlie Ridgeway of Chicago and the Rev. E.D. Ridgeway of Birmingham; 29 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. Viewing will be from noon to 5 p.m. Friday at Christian Benevolent Funeral Home. Viewing is also after 8 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home, with visitation from noon until 1:20 p.m., when the procession will leave for the 2 p.m. services at Pine Grove AME Church, 800 S. Dr. Thomas Drive. Burial will be in Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens.

Jeremy S. Williams
FULTON- Jeremy "Flakey" Stephen Williams, who worked as a body shop repairman at Dannie's Paint & Body Shop, died Sunday in Thomasville from injuries suffered in a traffic accident. He was 23. Williams was a resident of Fulton. He was a member of Liberty Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife, Jonnie Michelle Williams of Thomasville; his mother, Donna Williams of Fulton; one son, Taylor Williams of Thomasville; one daughter, Dusty Williams of Thomasville; one stepdaughter, Hunter Smith of Thomasville; one brother, Jason Williams of Fulton, Ala.; his half-sister, Lori Williams of Leroy, Ala.; one stepsister, Misty Reeves of Leroy; his grandparents, Mildred Criswell of Fulton, and W.B. and Mary Williams of Thomasville. Services were Tuesday at Liberty Baptist Church with burial in the church cemetery in Thomasville. O'Bryant Chapel Funeral Home of Thomasville handled arrangements.

Jesse Lee Etheredge
LINDEN - Jesse Lee Etheredge, who had worked as a pipeline foreman, died Monday in an area hospital. He was 71. Etheredge was a native of Marengo County living in Linden. He was a member of Providence Baptist Church in Gallion, Ala. He was also a veteran. Survivors include his wife, Myrtle Etheredge of Linden; two daughters, Patsy E. Cullum of Demopolis, Ala., and Peggy E. Averette of Linden; one son, Jesse Lee Etheredge Jr. of Linden; one stepson, Stephen Waddell of New Orleans; one stepdaughter, Deborah A. Burgess of Linden; four sisters, Anne Field of Huntsville, Catherine Rogers of Foley, Earline Thomas of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., and Oclla Flether of Crestview, Fla.; eight grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at O'Bryant Chapel Funeral Home in Linden. Services are set for 11 a.m. Thursday at Providence Baptist Church in Gallion with burial in the church cemetery.