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.
SCOTTSBORO - Juanita Lawson Abercrombie, 81, died Thursday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church with Dr. Dennis Sansom officiating. Burial will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery. Survivors include her husband, John Abercrombie; one daughter, Anne Wilson of Kingsport, Tenn.; one son, Joe Abercrombie of Scottsboro; one brother, Bud Lawson of Birmingham; and four grandchildren. Visitation will be today from 5 until 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to First Baptist Church in Scottsboro.
Jean F. Arnold
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Jean Forrester Arnold, 63, of 2006 Jones Blvd. died Thursday at a Tennessee hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at Jennings & Ayers Funeral Home in Murfreesboro at 10 a.m. with the Rev. James E. Avaritt Sr. officiating. Burial will be in Rosselawn Memorial Gardens. Survivors include her husband, Grover Franklin Arnold; two sons, Huntsville City Councilman Ken Arnold and Bill Arnold of Hendersonville, Tenn.; one brother, Thomas Forrester of Orlando; one sister, Nancy Snarski of Wood Haven, Mich.; and four grandchildren. Visitation will be today from 4 to 8 p.m.
William Boydston
FLAT ROCK - William Martin ''Bill Boydston, 56, died Thursday. The funeral will be Saturday at Kerby Funeral Home in Henagar with the Rev. Dan Kirkpatrick and the Rev. Darrell Sears officiating. Burial will be in Fuller Cemetery in Ider. Survivors include his wife, Lola Boydston; one daughter, Lisa Michelle Roberson of Mooresboro, N.C.; two sons, Alex Kim Boydston and Ricky Anthony Boydston, both of Huntsville; three sisters, Irene Clemons of Ringgold, Ga., and Dorothy Walker and Gracie Louise Young, both of Ider; one brother, the Rev. Arthur Boydston of Ider; and three grandchildren. Visitation will be today until 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Angela Demorest
Angela L. Demorest, 35, of Huntsville died Wednesday at a Huntsville hospital. No funeral is planned. Spry Funeral Home is in charge.
Frankie W. Doolittle
Frankie W. Doolittle of Huntsville died Thursday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church. A private graveside service for the family is planned at Maple Hill Cemetery with Laughlin Service Funeral Home in charge. Mrs. Doolittle was a native of Wilkinson County, Ga., and had been a Huntsville resident since 1964. She was a member of First Baptist and former deputy corporate information officer at the Army Aviation and Missile Command. Survivors include her husband, Frank Doolittle; two daughters, Karen Doolittle of New York City and Tracy Doolittle of Nashville; and one sister, Deloris Redding of Bluffton, Ga. Visitation will be Saturday from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at Laughlin. Memorial donations may be made to the Huntsville Humane Society.
Dave Draper Sr.
Elder Dave J. Draper Sr., 74 of 4921 Lumary Dr. died Monday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral will be Sunday at 1 p.m. at Beirne Avenue Church of God in Christ with Bishop Oscar L. Meadows officiating. A memorial service will be Saturday at 6 p.m. at the Beirne Avenue church. Burial will be in Valhalla Memory Gardens with Royal Funeral Home in charge. Survivors include his wife, Willie Mae Draper; one daughter, Betty Damper of Erie, Pa.; two sons, Elder Dave Draper Jr. and Elder Jesse Draper, both of Huntsville; four sisters, Odie Watson of Tacoma, Wash., Nancy Phillips of Washington, D.C., and Elnora Griffin and Beulah Draper, both of Madison; six brothers, Elton Draper and Elder Oscar Draper, both of Huntsville, Albert Draper and Alton Draper, both of Madison, Elder John V. Draper and Minister Alfonso Draper, both of Chattanooga; 15 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Visitation will be Saturday from 4 to 6 p.m. at the church. The body will be at the church two hours before the funeral Sunday. Memorial donations may be made to the Dave Draper Sr. Memorial Foundation, P.O. Box 3922, Huntsville 35810.
Donald W. Fleming
ELKMONT - Donald Wayne Fleming, 39, of 23791 Norman Lane died Thursday at an Athens hospital. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Limestone Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. Marshall Norman and the Rev. J.D. Saint officiating. Burial will be in Limestone Memorial Gardens. Survivors include his wife, Jackie Fleming; two sons, Jason Wayne Fleming of Boaz and Phillip Steven Fleming of Elkmont; one daughter, Kristina Fleming of Athens; his mother, Jackie Rene Morrison of Elkmont; four brothers, James A. Griffin of Altoona, Danny Wayne Morrison of Airton, Ala., Donnie Wayne Morrison of Opp and Carl Jefferson Morrison of Decatur; two sisters, Diane Taylor of Elba and Shelia Griffin of Altoona; and one grandchild. Visitation will be today from 6 to 9 p.m.
Samuel K. Fowler
CROSSVILLE - Samuel Keith Fowler, 45, died Tuesday at his home. The funeral will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at W.T. Wilson Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Johnny Simmons, the Rev. Marvin Dover and the Rev. Russell Pinyon officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery. Survivors include two daughters, Melissa Bonds and Amy Bodine, both of Guntersville; one son, Dustin Fowler of Martling, Ala.; his parents, Ladue and Jean Fowler; three brothers, Ladon Fowler, Farris Fowler and Roger Fowler, all of Painter, Ala.; and five grandchildren.
John Earl Gordon
John Earl Gordon, 24, of Huntsville died Tuesday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Spry Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Billy Loveday officiating. Burial will be in Fowlkes Cemetery. Survivors include his mother, Joann Gordon of Scottsboro; five sisters, Diane Buchanan of Huntsville, Linda Garrison of Swearengin, Pamela Lemley of Ragland, Mickey Gordon of Riverdale, Ga., and Sandra Sanders of Fayetteville; six brothers, Ronnie Malone, Kenneth Malone and Michael Malone of Huntsville, Jeffrey Malone of Woodville, James Donald Gordon of Hotrock, Tenn., and J.R. Gordon of Fayetteville, and special friends, John and Bonnie Preston. Visitation will be today from 5 to 9 p.m.
Durrell Johnson
HARTSELLE - Durrell ''Dood Johnson, 81, of 410 Rock St. died Thursday at a Decatur hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home with the Rev. Donald C. Rice officiating. Burial will be in Bethel Cemetery near Eva. Mr. Johnson was a member of First Christian Church in Hartselle, a World War II Army veteran and a retiree from Arvins in Columbia, Ind. Survivors include his wife, Faye Oden Johnson; one daughter, Pamela Hensley of Park City, Utah; three sisters, Jimmie Diamond of Boaz, Ila Dean Urshan of Dunnellon, Fla., and Juanita Moore of Eva; and one grandson.
Luther Jordan
Luther Jordan, 84, of 261 Seminole Dr. died Thursday in Manchester, Tenn. The graveside service will be Saturday at 9:30 a.m. at No. 4 Hall Cemetery on Stringfield Road with the Rev. James Lane officiating. Royal Funeral Home will be in charge. Survivors include three daughters, Nannie Joiner of Detroit, Lula Murritt of Decatur and Gloria Jordan of Nashville; one son, Bobby Brown; one sister, Cora J. Tibbs, both of Huntsville; and 11 grandchildren.
Harrison McMains
Dr. Harrison McMains, 92, of 237 Inverness Dr. died Wednesday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at First Christian Church with Dr. Harold Dowler officiating. Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery with Laughlin Service Funeral Home in charge. McMains, pastor of First Christian Church from 1960 to 1970, was active in the Huntsville community and in Jasper and Atlanta where he did much volunteer work. He won many awards, including the Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Award for outstanding service in human relations and the brotherhood award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews. A graduate of Lynchburg College, he was inducted into the Lynchburg College Sports Hall of Fame. He was past president of the Boys Club, the American Red Cross and the Rotary Club. Before becoming a minister, he was in show business, singing in Ziegfields ''Rio Rita one season and Schwab & Mandels ''New Moon the next season. Survivors include a son, Harrison McMains III, and a daughter, Nancy McMains Stayman, both of Huntsville; four grandchildren, Virginia G. Kennedy of Atlanta, Carol G. Miner of Nashville, Anna Lacy McMains and Harrison Westmoreland McMains, both of Decatur; and one great-grandson, Gordon George Geddes Kennedy. Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at First Christian Church. Memorial donations may be sent to First Christian Church, the Huntsville chapter of the American Red Cross or the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Huntsville.
Dorothy Mellette
Dorothy Hodges Mellette, 89, of Huntsville died Thursday at a local nursing home. The funeral will be Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at Laughlin Service Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Robert Nance officiating. Burial will be in Shiloh Cemetery. Mrs. Mellette was retired from the Madison County Board of Education after 41 years. She was principal at Central School, a member of the Retired Teachers Association and a member of the Gurley Study Club and the Homemakers Club. Mrs. Doolittle was a member of Shiloh United Methodist Church and a lifelong resident of Madison County. Survivors include one son, Joe W. Mellette Sr. of Huntsville; two sisters, Betty Jo Johnson of Huntsville and Jean Baldwin of Knoxville; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Visitation will be Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Laughlin. Memorial donations may be sent to the Central School Library, 990 Ryland Pike, Huntsville 35811.
John A. Miller
TOWN CREEK - John A. Miller, 72, died Thursday at his home. The funeral will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Valhalla Funeral Home with the Rev. Phil Russell officiating. Burial will be in Valhalla Memory Gardens. Mr. Miller was a retired truck driver. Survivors include his wife, Louise Wright Miller of Town Creek, two daughters, Dorothy Johnson of Huntsville and Peggy Norwood of Town Creek; two sisters, Eva Kelly and Rachel Hightower, both of Huntsville; one brother, Franklin Miller of Huntsville; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Hospice of the Valley in Decatur. John R. Moore John Robert Moore, 29, of Huntsville died Saturday in Watseka, Ill. There will be no local funeral. Spry Funeral Home is in charge of local arrangements. Mr. Moore was a Huntsville native and a professional painter. Survivors include his wife, Antonette Moore; one stepdaughter, Alexandria Richards; one son, John Robert Moore Jr.; his father, Johnny Moore, all of Huntsville; his birth mother, Carol Maso of Watseka; the woman who raised him, Ann Moore; two sisters, Donna Tomasak and Joyce Talley; and five brothers, Ray Talley of Florida and Timothy Talley, Paul Talley and Michael Talley, all of Huntsville, and Leroy Lamb.
Joe Mosley Sr.
DECATUR - Joe R. Mosley Sr. of Decatur died Tuesday at a nursing home. The funeral will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Hillsboro with the Rev. B.L. Burgess officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery with Sharpley Funeral Home in charge. Mr. Mosley was born July 31, 1924, in Lawrence County. He was a member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church and a member of Master Masonic Lodge No. 774. Survivors include four daughters, Susie Boukin of Garland, Texas, Jessie Allen of Decatur and Betty Williams and Annie Vernon, both of Montgomery; four sons, Lovell Mosley and Michael Mosley, both of Decatur, and Joe Mosley Jr. and Richard Mosley, both of Hillsboro; five brothers, Willie Mosley and Matt Mosley, both of Hillsboro, Woodie Mosley of Courtland, and Tom Woods and Elmer Mosley, both of Chattanooga; four sisters, Stella Mae Smith of North Courtland, Annie Louise Bolden of Hillsboro, and Mattie Fuqua and Macy Garrett, both of Chattanooga; twenty grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. The body will be at the church an hour before the service.
Turner L. Pitman
ATHENS - Turner Laster Pitman, 74, of Aster Street died Wednesday at his home. The funeral will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Spry Funeral Home with Don Osborne officiating. Burial will be in Athens City Cemetery. Mr. Pitman was a native of Limestone County and a member of the Church of Christ. Survivors include his wife, Jessie Black Pitman; one son, James D. Black of Chattanooga; three sisters, Ellie Miller, Nettie Pitman and Elizabeth Hardy, all of Athens; and two brothers, Edward Pitman and Robert Pitman, both of Athens.
Loree Poulton
Loree Poulton, 78, of Huntsville died Wednesday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Valhalla Funeral Home with Dr. Walter Nunn officiating. Burial will be in Valhalla Memory Gardens. Mrs. Poulton was a member of University Baptist Church. Survivors include her husband, Charles A. Poulton; three sisters, Dorothy M. Flanders of Huntsville, Evon Rose of Palm Coast, Fla., and Wilma Vacek of Palacious, Texas; and several nieces and nephews. Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Claude H. Rudder
SCOTTSBORO - Claude H. Rudder, 77, died Wednesday at a Gadsden hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 10 a.m. at Rudder Funeral Home in Stevenson with the Rev. Johnny Johnson officiating. Burial will be in Rocky Springs Cemetery in Bridgeport. Mr. Rudder was a retired real estate broker, a former Shriner and a graduate of Florida Southern College. He was a World War II Army veteran and served in the Pacific theater. Mr. Rudder was preceded in death by one son, Capt. Rod L. Rudder. Survivors include two sons, Mark L. Rudder of Apache Junction, Ariz., and Randal S. Rudder of Phoenix; and four grandchildren. Visitation will be today from 5 until 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Clarence Shelton
Clarence Shelton, 91, of Huntsville died Wednesday at a local hospital. The funeral will be today at 1 p.m. at Spry Funeral Home with George Marshall officiating. Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery. Mr. Shelton was a Jackson County native, lived in Huntsville most of his life and was a retired textile worker. Survivors include his wife, Ethel Marie Shelton; two daughters, Joyce Sharp and Inez Reed, both of Huntsville; one son, O.J. Shelton of Oklahoma; two stepdaughters, Judy Jane Prince and Wanda Gail Orrick, both of Russellville; one sister, Pansey Busey of Huntsville; three brothers, Howard Shelton, Thomas Shelton and Floyd Shelton, all of Huntsville; 10 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
Mable Sisk
FAYETTEVILLE, Tenn. - Mable Swing Sisk, 74, of 115 Terry Ave. died Tuesday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at McCauley Funeral Home with the Rev. Charles Brown officiating. Mrs. Sisk was a retired seamstress with Jonathan Logan and Lee Manufacturing. Survivors include one brother, Larry Swing of Meriden, Conn.; and one aunt, Ruby Bowling of Petersburg, Tenn. Visitation will be today from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Carl E. Thompson
BATON ROUGE - Carl E. Thompson, 50, died Monday at his home. The funeral will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at Church Street Cumberland Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Henry Bradford Jr. officiating. Burial will be in Northside Cemetery with Royal Funeral Home in charge. Capt. Thompson was a 1963 graduate of Councill High School and later finished at Southern University in Baton Rouge. He joined the Baton Rouge Police Department in 1971 as an officer. He was commander of the communications division when he died. Survivors include Carl E. Thompson II of Baton Rouge; three sisters, Eliza Colley of Gadsden and Othorine Saunders and Dorothy Fuller, both of Huntsville; and one brother, James Thompson of Chicago.
Doris Wells
RAINSVILLE - Doris Wells, 78, died Thursday at a DeKalb County hospital. The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at W.T. Wilson Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Edwin Dean, the Rev. Harold Mitchell and the Rev. Randy Miller officiating. Burial will be in Town Creek Cemetery. Survivors include one daughter, Ludie Mae Cuzzort of Shiloh; five sons, Terry Wayne Wells of Oneonta, Wayne Wells of Anniston, and Ronald Wells, Rodney Wells and Joey Wooten, all of Rainsville; one sister, Bertha Keith of Florida; three brothers, Raymond White of Henagar, James White of Boaz and Carey White of Barnsville, Ga.; 16 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren.
