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.
Maude J. Allen
ARAB - Maude J. Allen, 89, of 832 Guntersville Road died Tuesday at her home. The funeral will be Friday at 3:30 p.m. at Arab Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.
Burial will be in Oleander Cemetery.
She was preceded in death by three sons, James Allen, Luther Allen and Andrew Allen.
Survivors include one son, Wayne C. Allen of Arab; and nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Charles Beadle
Charles Beadle, 77, of Huntsville died Saturday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Friday at 2 p.m. at Triana CPCA Church with the Rev. James Childress officiating.
Burial will be in Triana Cemetery with Nelms Memorial Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include two sisters, the Rev. Viola Smith of Madison and Ollie May Lacy of Chattanooga.
His body will be at the church one hour before the funeral.
Frank O. Beasley
Frank O. Beasley, 76, of Huntsville died Sunday at a local hospital. The funeral was today at 1 p.m. at Spry Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Milton Martin officiating.
Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery.
Mr. Beasley was a World War II Army veteran. He spent 30 years with the U.S. government as a firefighter and was a member of Jackson Way Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by one son, Frank J. Beasley.
Survivors include his wife, Carrie M. Beasley of Huntsville; two sons, Robert W. Beasley of Fayetteville, Tenn., and Ron Beasley of Huntsville; one brother, Fred Beasley of Dothan; and three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Ethel R. Benton
ORMOND BEACH, Fla. - Ethel Davis Russell Benton, 86, died Monday in Florida. The funeral will be Friday at 2 p.m. at Valhermoso First Christian Church with the Rev. Gene McDowell officiating.
Burial will be in Valhermoso First Christian Church Cemetery with Laughlin Service Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. Benton was retired from NASA where she was a financial manager for Wernher von Braun. She was an organist and had played in churches since she was 8 years old. She was also organist at Valhermoso First Christian Church. She was preceded in death by two husbands, Tom Russell and William Benton.
Survivors include one daughter, Mary Foster of Ormond Beach; two sons, Thomas J. Russell of Huntsville and William H. Russell of Laceys Spring; one brother, Edgar Gamble of Huntsville; and seven grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Ferman Chandler Sr.
Ferman Alester Chandler Sr., 69, of Huntsville died Wednesday at his home. There will be a private service.
Laughlin Service Funeral Home will be in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Chandler was a retired master sergeant after 26 years in the Army. He had lived in Huntsville since 1969. He was preceded in death by his wife, Eleanor Chandler.
Survivors include two sons, Sonny Chandler and Roger Chandler, both of Huntsville; one daughter, Cheryl Wilderspin of Milsap, Texas; his mother, Evelyn Telger of Spring, Texas; one sister, Carol McCutchon of Spring; and five grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
Donald E. Cooper Sr.
Donald E. Cooper Sr., 75, of Huntsville died Tuesday at a local nursing home. The funeral will be Friday at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church with the Rev. Roman Mueller officiating.
Burial will be in Faith Memorial Park with Spry Funeral Home in charge.
Mr. Cooper was a native of Indianapolis and had lived in Huntsville since 1961. He was an engineer retired from U.S. Army Missile Command. He also served on the board of the Multiple Sclerosis Society, was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and was a World War II veteran.
Survivors include his wife, Phyllis A. Cooper of Huntsville; two sons, Donald E. Cooper Jr. of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Michael D. Cooper of Nashua, N.H.; one daughter, Theresa "Terri" M. Cooper of Marietta, Ga.; and four grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to the St. Joseph Catholic Church building fund or to Parkinsons Association.
Edward A. Dutch
HARVEST - Edward Altain Dutch, 89, of 27250 Denbo Circle died Tuesday at an Athens hospital. The funeral will be in Rhode Island with McConnell Funeral Home in charge of local arrangements.
Mr. Dutch was a native of Connecticut, a resident of east Limestone County for 25 years, a member of Isoms Chapel United Methodist Church and a carpenter.
Survivors include his wife, Louise A. Dutch; one daughter, Norma L. Seaver of Tanner; one son, Edward A. Dutch Jr. of Carson, Calif.; one brother, Walter A. Dutch of Chepachet, R.I.; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m., at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to the Isoms Chapel United Methodist Church building fund.
Sam Gant II
SCOTTSBORO - Sam Gant II, 68, died Tuesday at his home. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at the Scottsboro Funeral Home with the Rev. J.A. Linville and the Rev. Roy Venable officiating.
Burial was to be in Gant Cemetery.
Mr. Gant was a member of the Bethany Baptist Church and a Baptist minister for 30 years. He served as chairman of the Jackson County Commission for two terms and as a district commissioner for one term.
Mr. Gant was a native of Jackson County and a longtime member of the Jackson County Democratic Club.
He was preceded in death by a son, Sammy Wayne Gant.
Survivors include his wife, Kathleen McKee Gant; three daughters, Rita Richey and Deborah Cronelison, both of Scottsboro, and Cheri Baker of Albertville; four brothers, Otis Gant of Fyffe, Jeff Gant of Scottsboro, Ray Gant of Florence and Eugene Gant of Phoenix, Ariz.; six grandchildren, two great-grandchildren; and dear friend, Bill Lawson of Scottsboro.
Opal J. Grubbs
ATHENS - Opal J. Grubbs, 83, of 2431 South Hine St. died Tuesday at an Athens hospital. The funeral was today at 11 a.m. at McConnell Funeral Home with the Rev. Eddie Gooch officiating.
Burial was in Limestone Memorial Gardens.
Mrs. Grubbs was a native of Limestone County, a member of Tanner United Methodist Church and was preceded in death by her husband, Marvin Grubbs, and one sister, Rossie Owens.
Billy E. Gurley
TONEY - Billy Earl Gurley, 59, of Morris Road died Tuesday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Friday at 2:30 p.m. at Gallant Funeral Home with the Rev. Austin Nichols officiating.
Burial will be in Beason Cemetery in Gurley.
Mr. Gurley was a native of Madison County and was a truck driver for Smith Construction Co.
Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth Gurley of Toney; two sons, James Gurley of Hazel Green and Jackie Riggs of Toney; two sisters, Linda Lyle and Shirley Durham, both of Owens Cross Roads; four brothers, Jack Gurley, Ray Gurley and Gordon Adair, all of Owens Cross Roads, and Ronald Adair of Toney; and five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Albert H. Johnston
WOODVILLE - Albert H. Johnston, 67, died Wednesday at his home. The funeral will be Friday at 2 p.m. at Rudder Funeral Home with the Rev. Wayne Little officiating.
Burial will be in Pinehaven Memorial Gardens in Hollywood.
Mr. Johnston, a native of Jackson County, was a Methodist and a member of the Palace Lodge No. 756 F&AM in Lansing, Ill.
Survivors include his wife, Nina Brown Johnston; his mother, Lela Wilbourn of Hammond, Ind.; two sisters, Elizabeth Pritchett of Lowell, Ind., and Mary Cluck of Oak Forest, Ill.; two granddaughters, Tracey Smith of San Antonio, Texas, and Robin Kuhel of Wichita, Kansas; and two great-granddaughters.
Visitation was to be today from 5 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Elizabeth Larose
Elizabeth "Beth" Larose, 44, of Huntsville died Tuesday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Friday at 9:30 a.m. at St. Mary Church of the Visitation with the Rev. Larry Ouimet and the Rev. William Kelly officiating.
Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery with Laughlin Service Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include her parents, Ernest and Barbara Larose of Huntsville; one sister, Nancy Barker of Boaz; and one niece and two nephews.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Mary A. Lemley
Mary Allen Lemley, 83, of Huntsville died Wednesday at her home. The funeral was today at 10 a.m. at Hayden Cemetery with Wallace Green officiating.
New Hope Funeral Home will be in charge of burial.
Survivors include one daughter, Linda Lemley of Huntsville; one son, Rex B. Lemley of Florence; two sisters, Mo Gene Kelly of Mobile and Polly Maples of New Hope; two brothers, Charles Maples of Red Bay and J.D. Maples of Huntsville; and six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Dora J. Little
SECTION - Dora Jane Little, 79, died Tuesday. The funeral was to be today at 4 p.m. at Section Funeral Home with the Rev. Bill Anderton officiating.
Burial was to be in Macedonia Cemetery.
Survivors include two daughters, Audrey Patterson of Langston and Clara Allen of Boaz; two brothers, Word Hancock and Lamaruel Hancock, both of Section; and six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Jessey McCullars
ALBERTVILLE - The Rev. Jessey McCullars, 61, of 165 Swords Drive died Wednesday at his home. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at Corinth Baptist Church.
Burial was to be in Corinth Cemetery with Adams Funeral Home of Albertville in charge.
Survivors include his wife, Louise McCullars; four sons, James McCullars, Mike McCullars, Buddy McCullars and Ronnie McCullars, all of Albertville; two sisters, Kathleen McCreless and Nila Chadwick, both of Albertville; two brothers, Grady McCullars and Bill McCullars, both of Albertville; and nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Martha J. Stephens
HARVEY, Ill. - Martha Jane Stephens, 86, formerly of the Rainsville area,died Sunday at her home. The funeral was today at 11 a.m. at W.T. Wilson Funeral Chapel in Rainsville.
Burial will be in High Top Cemetery in Jackson County.
Survivors include six daughters, Hazel Little of Indiana, Stella Watts of Illinois, Betty Watts of Kansas, Louise Brush of Florida, Geneva Treat of Michigan and Diane Burnett of Illinois; three sons, E.J. Stephens and Herbert Stephens, both of Illinois, and Jimmie Stephens of Florida; two sisters, Mary Ruth Faulkner of Alabama and Mary Newberry of Kansas; six brothers, Howard Sanders of South Carolina, Calvin Sanders, Floyd Sanders, Jesse Sanders and Tom Sanders, all of Alabama, and Lloyd Sanders of Kansas; and 32 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
Mary B. Svoboda
HAZEL GREEN - Mary Boyett Svoboda, 56, of Joe Quick Road died Wednesday at a local hospital. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at Gallant Funeral Home chapel with L.E. Wright officiating.
Burial will be in Plainview Cemetery.
Mrs. Svoboda was a native of Madison County and a member of the Church of Christ.
Survivors include two daughters, Donna Mooney of Bell Buckle, Tenn., and Terri Peebles of Canton, Ga.; five sisters, Edna Winsett, Mildred Tielking and Margaret Tielking, all of Hazel Green, Jean Daniels of Fayetteville, Tenn., and Eunice Hoult of Toney; two brothers, Harry Boyett of Kalamazoo, Mich., and Jimmy Boyett of New Market; and three grandchildren.
I. Blain Taylor
I. Blain Taylor, 70, of Huntsville died Monday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Friday at 1:30 p.m. at Spry Funeral Home chapel with the Revs. Jim Richards and Bruce Walker officiating.
Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery.
Mr. Taylor was a lifelong resident of Madison County. He was a public accountant in Huntsville for 40 years. He was also a Korean War Army veteran.
Survivors include his wife, Louise C. Taylor of Huntsville; one daughter, Donna Downing of Huntsville; one sister, Maudine Styles of Williamsburg, Va.; one brother, Malcom Taylor of Ryland; and two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to the Alabama chapter of the Leukemia Society of America.
Billy G. Toone
ARDMORE, Tenn. - Billy Gene Toone, 67, of Austin Whitt Road died Tuesday at a Pulaski, Tenn., hopital. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at Taylor-Ardmore Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. John Ives and the Rev. Carl Hubbard officiating.
Survivors include his wife, Judy Toone of Ardmore; his father, Marvin Toone of Ardmore; and several cousins.
Florence Varden
UNION GROVE - Florence Varden, 80, of 3792 Mobbs School House Road died Tuesday in a Scottsboro nursing home. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at Arab Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.
Burial was to be in New Brashiers Chapel Cemetery.
Survivors include one niece, Betty Morrison of Arab.
Bernard P. Wade
DECATUR, Ga. - Bernard P. Wade, 51, died Friday at a Decatur, Ga., hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Acklin Chapel CME Church with the Rev. James Coffey officiating.
Burial will be in Fleming Cemetery with Royal Funeral Home in charge.
Mr. Wade was a 1965 W.H. Councill Training School graduate. He also attended Georgia State Unverisity. He worked at Brandt Filtration Group Inc. in Norcross, Ga.
Survivors include his wife, Doris J. Wade of Decatur, Ga.; one son, Orlando D. Wade of Decatur, Ga.; his mother, Lorine F. Wade of Berkley, Ala.; two sisters, Penelope W. Kelly of Huntsville and Darlene W. Rice of Berkley; and one brother, Michael L. Wade of Berkley.
His body will be at the church one hour before the funeral.
Mary V. Wellington
SCOTTSBORO - Mary Virginia Wellington died Monday at her home. The funeral will be Friday at 2 p.m. at the St. Elizabeth Missionary Baptist Church in Scottsboro with the Rev. Gary Spears officiating.
Burial will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery with Rudder Funeral Home in charge.
Miss Wellington, a native of Jackson County, worked at Liberty Restaurant in Scottsboro and was a member of the St. Elizabeth Missionary Baptist Church.
Survivors include four sisters, Dorothy Jackson of Scottsboro, Vickie W. Fennell of Stevenson and Marjorie Wellington and Maggie Hicks, both of Chattanooga; four brothers, Lester L. Wellington of Chattanooga, Fred Wellington of Pasadena, Calif., and Ronnie Wellington and Terry Wellington, both of Scottsboro.
Visitation was to be today from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the funeral home.
Erwin C. Wilbourne
Erwin C. Wilbourne of Huntsville died Wednesday at a local hospital. Laughlin Service Funeral Home will announce funeral arrangements.
Mr. Wilbourne attended the University of Alabama and was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. He was also a member of Elks Lodge No. 1648 and Trinity United Methodist Church. He was a World War II veteran.
Survivors include his wife, Anne Wilbourne of Huntsville; two nephews, Dr. Fred Nabers and Jimmy E. Nabers, both of Louisville, Ky.; and two nieces, Nan Boydstun of West Monroe, La., and Susan Krawulski of Rowlett, Texas.
Memorial donations may be made to American Heart Association.
