Alabama, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1805-1967 - 1814-1935
Mr. Thomas Clyde Simmons, 101 of Ozark, died Thursday Aug. 21, 2003, at his home.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, at Ridgecrest Baptist Church with the Rev. Jim Hill and the Rev. Clayton Nowell officiating. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Memory Gardens with full military honors. Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Holman Funeral Home. The body will be placed in the church one hour prior to service time Saturday Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions may be made to Ridgecrest Baptist Church Building Fund, 1971 Deese Road, Ozark, Ala. 36360 or Wiregrass Hospice, 1970 E. Andrews Ave:, Ozark, Ala. 36360.
Mr. Simmons was born July 23, 1902, in Blue Springs, Ala., to the late Charles Leamon and Mattie C. Harris Simmons. Mr. Simmons joined the United States Navy in 1923 and served his country for 23 years. He was assigned on both the U.S.S. Utah and the U.S.S. Lexington during World War II. Mr. Simmons retired as chief petty officer from the Navy in 1946 and moved back to Dale County near Skipperville where he farmed prior to moving to Ozark in 1959.
He worked at Fort Rucker for a number of years prior to his retirement in 1971. Mr. Simmons was a charter member of Ridgecrest Baptist Church where he served as a deacon and active member since 1959. He also was a member of Masonic Lodge #349, recently receiving his 70 year service pin.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Flora Hagler Simmons; three sisters, and three brothers.
Survivors include three sons and two daughters-in-law Cecil Simmons of Ozark, Thomas and Patricia Simmons of Tampa, Fla., and Jerry and Caroline Simmons of Lake Wylie, S.C.; three grandchildren, Petty Officer lst Class Steven Simmons, United States Navy and his wife, Johanna, Lisa Simmons Flowers and her husband, Jeff, KayLyn Simmons Kindle and her husband, Ryan; five great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Cinda "Cindy" Louise Hughes Crisman, 64 of Daleville, died Monday morning, August 18, 2003, at her residence following a long illness.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, August 21, 2003, at Daleville United Methodist Church with IZev. Jvhn E. McCullough officiating. Burial will be in Daleville Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be held Wednesday, from 6 until 8 p.m. in the chapel of Fuqua-Bankston Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers and food, contributions may be made to Daleville First United Methodist Church or Wiregrass Hospice, Enterprise Office.
Mrs. Crisman was born November 12,1938, in Indiana, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Indiana High School in 1956. She attained 2 years of college towards an associate degree in banking. Mrs. Crisman worked from October 1974 to May 1998 at Ft. Rucker National Bank/Community Bank & Trust.
She was preceded in death by her father and mother, Jack and Louise Hughes; and father-in-law, Sterle Crisman.
Survivors include: her husband of 44 years, Keith M. Crisman of Daleville; one daughter, Lori L. Strickland of Jacksonville, N.C.; two sons and daughters-in-law, Kevin K. and Tina L. Crisman of Oakdale, Conn. and William M. and Mary E. Crisman of London, England; one sister and brother-in-law, Beth and Clarence Soulliard of Mac Cungie, Penn.; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Jon and Dee Hughes and Rick and Karen Hughes, all of Indiana, Penn.; six granddaughters, Jami, Amie, Jessi, Lia, Ericka, and Claire; and one great-granddaughter, Arianna.
Pallbearers will be John Kiger, Phil Fuller, Glen Satterfield, Lynn Reeves and Ed Hines who are the male members of the First United Methodist Church Choir.
Mrs. Lela Pauline Fischer, 79 of Ozark, died Sunday afternoon, August 17, 2003 following a lengthy illness.
The funeral will be 10 a.m. today August 19, 2003, in the Holman Funeral Home Chapel with the Reverend Dr. Billy Gaither officiating. Interment will follow in Ariton City Cemetery Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Wiregrass Hospice, 1970 East Andrews Avenue, Ozark, Alabama 36360.
Mrs. Fischer's nurturing and caring nature was evident in her work as a nurse in Montgomery, Alabama. She was all that a grandmother should be. She loved to sew clothes for her four granddaughters and work with them in the vegetable garden. She taught them how to put up creamed corn, field peas, crabapple jelly and scuppernong jelly. She will be remembered lovingly by her grandchildren for these gifts of her time and her love.
Mrs. Fischer was preceded in death. by her husband, Arnold Fischer Jr. and daughter Marilyn Thompson.
Survivors include her son, Elmer. Lee Garner, Selma; son-in-law, Wilton Thompson, Ozark; four grandchildren, Paige Everett and her husband Steve Everett, Ozark, Dr. Allison Graves and her husband, Dr. George Graves, Point Clear, Heather Rish and her husband, Jay Rish, Port Saint Joe, Fla., and Ivy Centarini and her husband Steve Centanni Semmes; nine great-grandchildren, Rebekah Everett, Andrew Everett, Tullie Everett, Fern Graves, Audra Graves, Garner Graves, Joe Rish, Kathleen Rish, and Caroline Rish; two sisters, Iva Snell Preston, Dothan and Linda Scott, West Palm Beach, Fla.; three brothers, Edward Lee Richardson, Oliver Richardson, and Kermit Richardson all of Dothan; special friends, Bobbie McLauchlin, Russell and Niki Simmons, and Danielle Dunn.
Mrs. Ruby S. Rhodes, 82 of Ozark, died Saturday morning, Aug. 16, 2003, in Dothan after an extended illness.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 18, at Southside Baptist Church with the Rev. W.L. Sheffield and Chaplain Randall Johnson officiating. Burial will be at Woodlawn Memory Gardens. Visitation will be 6:30 p.m. Sunday until one hour prior to service time Monday in the funeral home parlors. The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contribution be made to Wiregrass Hospice, 1970 E. Andrews Ave., Ozark, Ala. 36360, Southside Baptist Church Library, Highway 123, Ozark, Ala. 36360, or The Gideons International, PO. Box 291, Ozark, Ala. 36360.
Mrs. Rhodes was a native of Dale County and a member of Southside Baptist Church. She was a devoted aunt.
Survivors include her sister, Lucille Tindol of Enterprise; nieces and nephews Bobbie Sue and Glenn Pate of Ozark, Lexine and Allen Smith of Enterprise; Margaret and Larry Middleton of Mobile, Debbie and Phillip King of Jamestown, N.C.; and Michael and Pam Tindol of Enterprise.
Mrs. Myrtle Lavender, 81 of Ozark, died early Friday morning Aug. 15, 2003, at Dale Medical Center after a brief illness.
Funeral services will be 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 17, at Ozark Baptist Church with the Rev. Greg Aman officiating. Interment will follow at Westview Memorial Cemetery. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Holman Funeral Home. The body will be placed in the church one hour prior to service time Sunday. Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions may be made to the Ozark Baptist Church Building Fund 282 S. Union Ave., Ozark, Ala. 36360.
Mrs. Lavender was a native and life-long resident of Ozark, where she was a member of the Ozark Baptist Church and the Lydia Sunday School Class.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Elena Free and Charles Thomas Morrow; an infant daughter; sister, Lillian Morrow Parker.
Survivors include her husband, Tom Lavender of Ozark; two daughters and sons-in-law, Helen and Harrison Thornhill of Winter Haven, Fla. Debbie and Tony Bludsworth of Ozark; two sons and daughters-in-law, Tommy and Gale Lavender, Ken and Sherri Lavender of Ozark; eight grandchildren, Cindy Palmisano and her husband, Billy, of Tampa, Fla., Tiffany Bolt of Tampa, Fla., Lisa Colvin and her husband, Mike, of Enterprise, Scott Woodham and his wife, Nancy of Troy Brittany Lavender, Savannah Lavender, Baker Lavender and Andrew Lavender, all of Ozark; six great-grandchildren, Phillip and Casey Palmisano, Brian and Chloe Colvin, Brady Woodham, and Justin Atwell.
Christopher Lee (Chris) Williams, 20 of Ariton, died late Thursday night, Aug. 14, 2003, at UAB Hospital in Birmingham after a courageous battle with Cystic Fibrosis.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 17, at Calvary Assembly of God Church in Clio with the Rev. Randy Adams and the Rev. Tony Astorga officiating. Burial will follow at Universal Cemetery in Ariton. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the church in Clio.
Chris was born June 30, 1983, in Montgomery and lived all of his life in Ariton. He attended Ariton High School. He enjoyed camping, Alabama football and Nascar, especially Jeff Gordon. Chris attended Bethel Assembly of God Church.
Survivors include his father and mother, Hank and Rita Nell (Polly) Williams of Ariton; two sisters, Rita Faye Williams of Ozark, Sheila Lynn Williams of Ariton; four brothers and three sisters-in-law, Benjamin Lee Williams, Bobby Wayne and Devona Williams, John Henry and Brandy Williams, IV, Adam Wayne and Amber Williams, all of Ariton; maternal grandparents, Oscar Grady and Bertha Mae Jones of Ariton; several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
Mr. Roy (Bogo) Messick, 69 of Ozark, died Thursday, Aug. 14, 2003.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 16, at Fuqua-Bankston Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. William Parr and Sarah Nell Tomlin officiating.
Mr. Messick was born in Ozark, Ala., and was a life-time resident of Dale County. He spent 17 years working as a logger for Billy and Myrlene Strickland. He was a loving husband and father and will be missed by all who knew him.
Mr. Messick was preceded in death by his parents; and a son, John Tillman Messick.
He is survived by his wife, Lena Jeanette Messick; seven daughters and their husbands, Vicki and Terry Senn of Skipperville, Janice and Terry McBee of Sherwood, Tenn., Martha and Tim Enfinger of Skipperville Mary Elizabeth and Victor Campbell of Talladega, Amy and Scotty Scott of Ozark, Kathy and Harold McGowan of Ewell, Belinda and Adam Adkinson of Ewell, Belinda and Adam Akinson of Ewell; three sons and their wives, Roy C. and Pamela Messick of Ozark, Todd and Joyce Messick of Ozark, Stevie and Stephanie Messick of Echo; one stepson, James Evans of Sherwood, Tenn.; one sister and her husband, Mary Jean and Angus Sherman of Skipperville; one brother and his wife, James Edward and Betty Jean Messick of Taylor; 23 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren.
Mr. Earl T. Brown, 77 of Ozark, died Wednesday evening, Aug. 13, 2003, after a courageous fight with bone cancer.
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday Aug. 16, at Ozark Baptist Church with the Rev. Greg Aman, Chaplain Randall Johnson officiating. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Memory Gardens. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Holman Funeral Home. The body will be placed in the church one hour prior to the service Saturday Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions may be made to Ozark Baptist Church Building Fund, 282 S. Union Ave., Ozark, Ala. 36360, or to Wiregrass Hospice, 1970 E. Andrews Ave., Ozark, Ala. 36060.
Mr. Brown was born in Dale County July 31, 1926, the son of Horace B. and Carne Ziglar Brown. He served in the United States Army during World War II in the South Pacific and Japan. After graduating from Howard College in December 1949, he taught school in Sylacauga and Birmingham and worked with Hayes Aircraft until he returned to Ozark with his family to accept a job at Fort Rucker in August 1955. He was an education specialist in the writing and development of training materials for the Department of the Army until his retirement in December 1983.
He has been active in the Ozark Baptist Church, where he taught Sunday School and served as a deacon and in many other places of service. Due to hits recent illness, the church made him a deacon emeritus. He has served on the board of directors for the Historic Chattahoochee Commission since 1990.
"Mister Earl"; as he was affectionately called was preceded in death by his parents; an infant granddaughter Pandora Nicole Motley; and a special brother-in-law E. J. Paulk.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Betty Shaffield Brown of Ozark; three sons, Kerry Wayne Brown and his wife, Faye, of Ozark, Earl Terry Brown and his wife, Jean, of Montgomery David Raymond Brown and his wife, Patti, of Snellville, Ga.; one daughter, Nanci B. Ludlam and her husband, Victor of Ozark; eight grandchildren, Matthew C. Brown and his wife, Cherlyn, of Iraq, Carianne B. Stinson and her husband, Troy of Montgomery, Meredith P. Brown of Montgomery Caroline T. Brown of Montgomery, Jennifer M. Miller and her husband, Corey, of Munford, Christopher B. Motley and his wife, Jeanette, of Germany Jonathan M. Brown of Ozark, Logan D. Brown of Snellville, Ga.; six great grandchildren; two brothers, J. Winfred Brown and his wife Maude, Selma, H. Ross Brown and his wife, Hildreth, of Ozark; one sister, Doris Brown Paulk of Birmingham; many nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives.
Pallbearers will be Robert DeLoney, Dan Shirah, Rufus Barnette, Lamar Powell, Weaver Cockrell, Jesse Sharpe, Harold Jacobs, G. Carroll Ziglar, B.M. Ezell and Garrett Snellgrove. Honorary pallbearers will be deacons of the Ozark Baptist Church, Prime of Life Sunday School Class, and board members of the Historic Chattahoochee Commission.
Mr. Robert Woodson (Toby) Leach, 73 of Ozark, died Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2003, at Flowers Hospital in Dothan.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 15, at Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church with the Rev. Joe Underwood and the Rev. Randy Pemberton officiating. Burial will be at the church cemetery. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Fuqua-Bankston Funeral Home. His body will be placed in the church one hour prior to service time. Flowers until be accepted or memorial contributions may be made to Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church, c/o Jody Richardson 2277 County Road 13, Ozark, Ala. 36360.
Mr. Leach was born Jan. 30, 1930, in Sherman, Miss., the son the late John Dickerson Leach and Fannie Humphreys Leach. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army having served during the Korean War. He was employed with Gordon Transports for 28 years until closing. He was a member of Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Carolyn Childree Leach, in 1998.
He is survived by one daughter; Tara Reed of the Arguta Community; one son, Mark Dixon Leach and his fiancée, Sunshine Thrush, of Memphis, Tenn; caring friend, Geraldine Heath of Headland; two grandchildren, Robert Justin Leach of Memphis, Tenn., and Charles Thomas Reed Jr. of the Arguta Community; several nieces and nephews.
Mr. Mike Harden, 49 of Doe Run Drive Newton, died Monday, Aug. 11, 2003, at Flowers Hospital in Dothan.
Graveside services will be 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 12, at Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery in Newton with Dr. Mark Turner officiating. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Fuqua-Bankston Funeral Home Chapel. At other times, the family will be at a daughter's home, 464 Doe Run Drive, Newton. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Wiregrass Humane Society in Dothan.
Mr. Harden was born July 4, 1954, in Dale County Ala., the son of Grady and Maude Harden. He was a graduate of Wicksburg High School and was employed with Donnell Trucking Company He was a member of Ozark Church of Christ. Mr. Harden and his wife, daughter and son-in-law were very involved in the rescue of homeless animals. After the family home was destroyed by a tornado Dec. 16, 2000, Mike enjoyed working alongside his wife rebuilding and landscaping their current home.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Maude Brannon Harden maternal grandparents, Redic and Pearl Brannon; paternal grandparents, Andrew and Ollie C. Harden.
He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Cathy King Harden of Newton; one daughter and son-in-law, Dana and Dan Gay of Newton; father Grady Harden of Newton; grandmother Lonnie Harden of Dothan; sister, Gayle Harden Hilson of Dothan; one brother Gerald Harden of Newton; special uncle and aunt, Freddie and Sonya Harden of Newton; aunt, Mrytis Matthews.
Miss Helen Thomas, 91 of Skipperville, died Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 6, 2003, at Ozark Nursing Facility.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 8 at Skipperville United Methodist Church with the Rev. John D. Reese, III officiating. Interment will follow at the church cemetery. The body will be placed in the church at 10:30 a.m. Friday morning. The family will receive friends at Skipperville United Methodist Church after the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Vivian B. Adams School, Stewart Tarter Road, Ozark, Ala. 36360 or to The Presbyterian Home for Children, PO. Drawer 577, Talladega, Ala. 35161-9975.
Miss Thomas was a native and life-long resident of Dale County where she was a devoted member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and a retiree of the Bank of Ozark. She was a member of Union Presbyterian Church, serving for many years as church treasurer and as an elder. She also attended and actively participated at Skipperville United Methodist Church.
She was preceded in death by her parents, David T. and Willie Ophelia Folkes Thomas; two sisters, Alice Richardson and Mary Martha McClendon; and one nephew, Tom McClendon Sr.
Survivors include one nephew, Jim Richardson and his wife, Holly, of Eugene, Ore.; two great nieces, Jeanie McClendon and Anna Richardson two great nephews, Tom McClendon Jr. and Kirk McClendon.
The Daughters of the American Revolution will serve as honorary pall bearers.
William Cecil Knowles Sr., 86 of Headland, died Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 5, 2003, in a Dothan hospital.
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 7, at Holman-Headland Mortuary Chapel with the Rev. Norman C. Simmons officiating. Burial will follow at Gardens of Memory. The family will receive friends from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the mortuary. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Resource Center, PO. Box 1170, Dothan, Ala. 36302 or Alabama Baptist Children's Homes and Family Ministries, P.O. Box 361767, Birmingham, Ala. 35236-1767.
Mr. Knowles was born and reared in Headland, son of the late Samuel Hurley Knowles and Mattie Smith Knowles. He was a graduate of Newville High School and attended Auburn University. Mr. Knowles served his country during World War II in the U.S. Army as an officer. Upon discharge from the military he moved to Ozark where he owned and operated Ozark Hog and Cattle Company. While a resident of Ozark, he served the Ozark Baptist Church as a deacon. He also
was instrumental. in the founding of the American Legion Post in Ozark where he served as commander. Mr. Knowles returned to Headland in 1974 to operate the Headland Stockyard until his retirement. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Headland.
Mr. Knowles was preceded in death, by a son-in-law, Frank C. Head Sr.; a granddaughter, Cecilia Head Jones; and a brother, Samuel Hugh Knowles.
Surviving relatives include his wife, Mary Alice Griffin Knowles, a resident of the Henry County Nursing Home in Abbeville; two daughters, Charlotte Head Wyatt and her husband, Gene Wyatt, of Mobile, Linda Shaver and her husband, Larry. G. Shaver Sr. of Troy; a son, William Cecil (Billy) Knowles Jr. and his wife, Alice Knowles, of Kinsey; a sister, Janice Weeks of Headland; two brothers, Joe H. Knowles and his wife, Ida Deal Knowles, of Headland, Robert W. Knowles of
Gainesville, . Ga.; a sister-in- law, Faye Brookins Knowles vf Birmingham; eight grandchildren, Iaeborah Head Parnell and her husband, Lindsey Parnell, Frank C. Head Jr. and his wife, Nancy Head, Kurt Knowles and his wife, Christy Knowles, Kelley Briceno and her husband, Miguel Briceno, Michael Knowles and his wife, Diana Knowles, Larry Shaver Jr. and his wife, Kim Shaver, Lorrie White and her husband, Trey White, and Christopher Shaver; 13 great-grandchildren, one great-
great-grandson.
Pallbearers will be the grandsons.
