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.
Florene Barksdale
ATHENS - Florene Barksdale, 82, died Thursday at an Athens hospital. Limestone Chapel Funeral Home will announce funeral arrangements.
Lillie Barrentine
ALBERTVILLE - Lillie Mae Eason Barrentine, 97, of 120 Saratoga Drive died Wednesday at a local nursing home. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at Adams Funeral Home in Albertville.
Burial was to be in Eason-Johnson Cemetery.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Rubin Barrentine.
Survivors include two sons, Ed Evans and Glenn Evans, both of Albertville; one sister, Lula Campbell of Florida; one brother, Cecil Evans of Pell City; and four grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
Louise Bass
STEVENSON - Louise Bass, 69, died Thursday at her home. A graveside service will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Pinehaven Memorial Gardens in Hollywood with the Rev. Roger Nardis officiating.
Rudder Funeral Home of Stevenson will be in charge of burial.
Mrs. Bass was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include her husband, Homer Bass; one daughter, Gail Harding of Hollywood; four sons, Dennis Bass of Huntsville, Tim Bass of Owens Cross Roads, Roger Bass of Tuscaloosa and Adam Bass of Hollywood; two sisters, Thelma Mann of Huntsville and Mary Frances Wilborn of Stevenson; two brothers, Luther Blevins of San Francisco and Lewis Blevins of Hollywood; and seven grandchildren.
Visitation was to be today from 3 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Thomas E. Bell
FYFFE - Thomas Edward Bell, 51, died Wednesday at his home. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at Green s Chapel Church with the Revs. Charles Underwood, Dan Kilpatrick and Harold Mitchell officiating.
Burial was to be in the adjoining cemetery with Rainsville Funeral Home directing.
Mr. Bell was preceded in death by one daughter, Regina Bell.
Survivors include his wife, Kathy Bell; one son, Bradley Bell of Henagar; his mother, Verna Mae Bell of Scottsboro; one sister, Wanda Bell of Scottsboro; and two brothers, Jerry Bell of Mobile and Danny Bell of Skyline.
Juanita W. Brooks
Juanita W. Brooks, 83, of 1744 Brandontown Road died Sunday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at Blackburn Chapel C.P. Church with the Rev. McKinley Jones officiating.
Burial will be in Brandontown Cemetery with Royal Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include three daughters, Martha Taylor, Ophelia Fowls and Dora Sharp, all of Huntsville; two sons, Darnell Brooks Jr. and James E. Brooks, both of Huntsville; and 10 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
Her body will be at the church one hour before the funeral.
Bobby H. Counts
Bobby Horace Counts, 62, of Huntsville died Thursday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Sunday at noon at Twickenham Memory Gardens.
Twickenham Funeral Home South will be in charge of burial.
Mr. Counts had lived in Chicago 37 years before moving to Huntsville.
Survivors include three sons, Timothy Counts, Don Counts and Randy Counts, all of Huntsville; one daughter, Vicki Goril of Chicago; one brother, Billy M. Counts of Chicago; two sisters, Annie Aday and Ruby Hopkins, both of Huntsville; and 11 grandchildren.
Visitation will be Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Horace Davis
HYTOP - Horace Davis, 54, died Wednesday in a Tullahoma, Tenn., hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Scottsboro Funeral Home with the Rev. Willis Brown officiating.
Burial will be in Rice Cemetery.
Survivors include six sisters, Bonnie Arnold of Hytop, Joyce West of Woodville and Ruby Lewis, Shirley Scroggins, Kathy Grider and Carolyn Larson, all of Scottsboro; and four brothers, Vernon ''Bud Davis of Woodville, Glenn Davis of Skyline, Ray Davis of Nila and Sammy Davis of Scottsboro.
Visitation was to be today until 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Caroline Fields
Caroline Ann Freeze Fields, 76, of Huntsville died Wednesday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Valhalla Funeral Home chapel with Deacon Lee Roy Hoekenschnieder officiating.
Burial will be in Huntsville Memory Gardens.
Mrs Fields was a native of Plains, Pa., and was a homemaker. She attended Holy Spirit Catholic Church.
Survivors include two daughters, Jacqueline Schwander of New Castle, Del., and Karen Laudano of Madison; one son, William E. Freeze of Brier, Wash.; two stepdaughters, Barbara Neal and Reba Tidwell; one stepson, Brad Fields Jr.; two sisters, Jean Reiser of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., and Mary Wincek of Hutson, Pa.; and seven grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 7 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Willie E. Gardner
TONEY - Willie E. Gardner, 95, of 10486 Wall Triana Highway died Tuesday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 11 a.m. Mount Zion P.B. Church with the Rev. Richard Hamlett officiating.
Burial will be in Meadowlawn Garden of Peace with Royal Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include his wife, Leola Gardner of Toney; five daughters, Mary Ray of Nashville, Mattie Short of Chattanooga, Ruth Gardner of Atlanta, Diane Parker of Toney and Patricia Thomas of Orangeburg, S.C.; two sons, Cruther Gardner of Chattanooga and Marvin Gardner of Nashville; and 27 grandchildren, 38 great-grandchildren and 13 great-great grandchildren.
His body will be at the church one hour before the funeral.
Visitation will be today from 7 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
George W. Hale
HARVEST - George W. Hale, 86, of Yarbrough Road died Thursday. The funeral will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Gallant Funeral Home chapel with Tommy Rosenblum and Titus Ward officiating.
Mr. Hale was a native of Warren County, Tenn., and was a retired truck driver for the City of Huntsville.
Survivors include three daughters, Kathleen Pierce of Huntsville, Alma Sanders of Meridianville and Betty Thomas of Harvest; one son, Benny Hale of Huntsville; one sister, Ocie Sharp of Toney; and five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Charles R. Johnson
DECATUR - Charles Ray Johnson, 61, died Thursday. The funeral will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Roselawn Funeral Home.
Burial will be in Raper Cemetery.
Mr. Johnson was a member of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church and a contractor. He was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce Gillespie Johnson.
Survivors include two daughters, Rena Butts of Cullman and Lisa Johnson of Georgia; one son, Charles Edward Johnson of Decatur; four sisters, Jewell Puckett, Betty Seamons, Louise Higdon and Carolyn Hanners, all of Decatur; one brother, Johnny Johnson of Decatur; and four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
John H. Lary Sr.
John H. Lary Sr., 87, of Huntsville died Thursday at his home. Laughlin Service Funeral Home will announce funeral arrangements.
Survivors include his wife, Aline B. Lary of Huntsville; two sons, Dr. John H. Lary Jr. and James Blair Lary, both of Huntsville; and one granddaughter and one grandson.
Phillip W. Lewter
FAYETTEVILLE, Tenn. - Phillip Wayne Lewter, 65, of 467 Smith Mill Road died Thursday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Higgins Funeral Home with the Revs. Charles Jones and Gary Salsburg officiating.
Burial will be in Stateline Cemetery.
Mr. Lewter was a native of Giles County, Tenn., a U.S. Army veteran, a retired Amana employee and a member of Christian Fellowship Church.
Survivors include his wife, Peggy Quick Lewter of Fayetteville; one daughter, Betty Creson of Fayetteville; three sons, Mike Lewter, Jeff Lewter and Tim Lewter, all of Fayetteville; one brother, Jerry Lewter of Fayetteville; one sister, Marjorie Williams of Taft; and eight grandchildren.
John N. Looney
ATHENS - John Norman Looney, 60, of 15081 Mooresville Road died Thursday at a local hospital. A graveside service will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Madison City Cemetery with James Adams officiating.
McConnell Funeral Home will be in charge of burial.
Mr. Looney was a native of Belle Mina, a member of West Highland Baptist Church, and was a retired dispatcher for the Alabama state troopers in Decatur.
Survivors include his wife, Peggy Turner Looney; two daughters, Sara Marie Looney of Athens and Frances Anne Looney of Anniston; one sister, Jeanette Prince of Huntsville; and several nieces and nephews.
Joe Mansell
CROSSVILLE - Joe Mansell, 67, died Wednesday at his home. A memorial service will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at W.T. Wilson Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Alton Otinger officiating.
Survivors include one daughter, Lisa Ann Marks of Janesville, Wis., one son, Joe Nelson; three sisters, Betty Otinger of Albertville, Esther Mac Tudor of Arkansas and Gertrude King of Crossville; one brother, William "Bill" Mansell of Crossville; and three grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Christine A. Murdock
SCOTTSBORO - Christine Alice Ohlson Murdock, 65, died Oct. 14. A memorial service will be Saturday at 3 p.m. at Scottsboro Funeral Home with the Rev. Donna Airheart officiating.
Mrs. Murdock was a longtime member of Cradle Rock Chapter No. 125. She also served as a volunteer with the Jackson County Auxiliary, working in the nursing home.
Survivors include her husband, Eugene A. Murdock; two sons, Scott Murdock of Dallas, Texas, and Eric Murdock of Glenwood, Iowa; one brother, Carl Ohlson of Pittsburg, Pa.; and three grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to American Lung Association.
Edward A. Norton
Edward A. "Ed" Norton, 84, of Huntsville died Thursday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at Spry Funeral Home chapel with Dr. Gary Bradley officiating.
Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery.
Mr. Norton was a native of Limestone County, but spent most of his life in Madison County. He served in law enforcement for 40 years with the Huntsville Police Department, the Madison County Sheriffs Department and the Huntsville Airport Authority.
Survivors include his wife, Mildred Thomas Norton of Huntsville; one daughter, Nadene Hill Norton of Huntsville; three sons, William "Bill" Norton and Kenneth "Vern" Norton, both of Huntsville, and Bobby Norton of Huntsville; and seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to American Diabetes Association.
Melvin E. Owens
FYFFE - Melvin Eugene Owens, 59, died Thursday at a Fort Payne hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 3 p.m. at Rainsville Funeral Home with the Revs. Charles Jones and David Hairston officiating.
Burial will be in Kirk Memorial Gardens in Rainsville.
Survivors include his wife, Martha S. Owens of Fyffe; two daughters, Carol Owens of Bolivia, N.C., and Angela Treadway of Columbiana, Ala.; one son, Brian Owens of Moulton; his parents, Melvin and Christine Owens of Fyffe; one sister, Patsy Craig of Sylvania; two brothers, James Oliver Owens of Fyffe and Harold Owens of Rainsville; and three grandchildren.
Visitation was to be today from 2 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Earl Parham Sr.
MADISON - The Rev. Earl Parham Sr., 59, died Tuesday at his home. The funeral will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at Mount Zion C.P. Church with the Rev. James Robinson officiating.
Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery with Reynolds Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include his wife, Lela Pryor Parham of Madison; two sons, Earl Parham Jr. and Karl N. Parham, both of Madison; five daughters, Lizzie P. Bradford of Huntsville, Ozella Hines of Tanner, Julia Reynolds amd Meritta Parham, both of Madison, and Alberta McWiliams of Athens; eight sisters, Effie Russell and Martha McDonald, both of Athens, Lizzie Toney, Minnie Wilson, Annie Robinson and Ella Parham, all of Huntsville, Mary Harvell of Madison and Etlean Gordon of Decatur; three brothers, Moses Parham Jr. of Madison, Elder Larry Chisom of Huntsville and Shelley Ratliff of Selman; and five grandchildren.
His body will be at the church one hour before the funeral.
Mary K. Pendergrass
SHERWOOD, Tenn. - Mary Katherine Pendergrass, 58, died Wednesday at a Sewanee, Tenn., hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at the Apostolic Church in Sewanee with Betty Reed officiating.
Burial will be in Mountain View Cemetery in Sherwood with Rudder Funeral Home in Stevenson in charge.
Mrs. Pendergrass was a member of the Apostolic Church in Sherwood. She was preceded in death by one son, Ron Pendergrass.
Survivors include her husband, Charles Pendergrass; four daughters, Irene Batey of Scottsboro, Crystal Jackson of Sherwood and Marlene Roberts and Louise Overstreet, both of Williston, S.C.; her mother, Mary Pack of Sherwood; two sisters, Patsy Gray and Paulette Garner, both of Sherwood; five brothers, Roy Pack of Stevenson and Bill Pack, Jackie Pack, Arthur Pack and Tim Pack, all of Sherwood; and seven grandchildren.
Edward Petty
FAYETTEVILLE, Tenn. - Edward Petty, 80, died Thursday at a Fayetteville nursing home. The funeral was today at 10 a.m. at Campbell Cemetery with the Rev. Mike Johnson officiating.
Gallant Funeral Home of Hazel Green was in charge of burial.
Bobby R. Phillips
DECATUR - Bobby Ray Phillips, 60, of Fifth Avenue died Thursday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Spry Funeral Home in Athens with Ollie Adams and Junior Long officiating.
Burial will be in Limestone Memorial Gardens.
Mr. Phillips was a member of Holt Road Baptist Church and retired from the City of Athens Street Department.
Survivors include his wife, Mildred Lewis Phillips; three sons, Tony Beghtal, Marvin Beghtal and Randy Beghtal, all of Lancaster, Ky.; two stepdaughters, Shirley Forsythe of Elkmont and Debbie Evans of Athens; four stepsons, Roger Lewis of Rogersville, Gary Lewis of Anderson, Michael Lewis and Randall Lewis, both of Athens; three sisters, Rebecca Conner of Florence, Wanda Smith and Ilene Phillips, both of Lawrenceburg, Tenn.; one brother, Robert Phillips of Lawrenceburg; and nine grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
Tommy Ratley
ARDMORE, Tenn. - Tommy Ratley, 56, of Bolling Road died Thursday at his home. Gallant Funeral Home will announce funeral arrangements.
Ida B. Roland
Ida Bell Roland, 101, of Huntsville died Wednesday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at noon at Spry Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Kenneth Michael and William Michael officiating.
Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery.
Mrs. Roland was a native of Lincoln County, Tenn., but had spent most of her life in Madison County. She was a member of the Presbyterian church. She was preceded in death by her husband, John Henry Roland, and one son, A.C. Roland.
Survivors include two daughters, Viola M. Bell of Huntsville and Pauline Payton of Guntersville; two sons, Clarence Roland of Hazel Green and Wayne Roland of New Market; and 15 grandchildren, 40 great-grandchildren and 33 great-great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today at the funeral home.
Paul O. Spurlock
Paul Omed Spurlock, 73, of Huntsville died Thursday at a local hospital. Spry Funeral Home will announce funeral arrangements.
Mr. Spurlock was a native of Lincoln County, Tenn., and had lived in Huntsville since 1942.
Survivors include his wife, Betty L. Spurlock of Huntsville, and one daughter, Debbie L. Anderson of Huntsville.
James B. Stulting
James B. Stulting, 74, of Huntsville died Thursday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 3 p.m. at Laughlin Service Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Harold Dowler officiating.
Burial will be in Huntsville Memory Gardens.
Mr. Stulting was an electrical engineering graduate of the University of Virginia, served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and retired from NASA after 25 years there.
Survivors include his wife, Jean M. Stulting of Huntsville; one daughter, Susan Stulting of Huntsville; two sons, Curtis Stulting of Lakeland, Fla., and Michael Stulting of Huntsville; two sisters, Bernice Swain of Andover, Kansas and Ellen Wyant of Charlottesville, Va.; one brother, Robert Stulting of Knoxville, Tenn.; and one grandchild.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to First Christian Church at 3209 Whitesburg Drive, to Grace Bible Church at 2115 Oakwood Ave. or to a favorite charity.
Dossie G. Willingham
ARAB - Dossie G. Willingham, 85, of 239 County Road 1834 died Thursday at a Birmingham hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Arab Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.
Burial will be in Union Hill First Congregational Methodist Church Cemetery.
Survivors include two sons, Eddie Willingham and Stanley Willingham, both of Arab; one sister, Odell Bryant of Fairview; one brother, Dewey Willingham of Tarrant City; four stepsisters, Plula M. Smith, Nancy Pitts, Vera M.Haney and Lillian Johnson; two stepbrothers, Andrew Miller and Paul Miller; and two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Laura E. Zimmerman
Laura E. Zimmerman, 80, of Huntsville died Wednesday. Twickenham Funeral Home South will announce funeral arrangements.
Burial will be in Twickenham Memory Gardens.
Mrs. Zimmerman was a native of the Tulsa, Okla., area and had lived in Huntsville 40 years. She was a graduate of Oklahoma State University and had been a home economics teacher.
Survivors include her husband, Claude Ziummerman of Huntsville; two sons, John Zimmerman and James Zimmerman, both of Huntsville; and one sister and four grandchildren.
