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.
Edna Barksdale
ATHENS - Edna Florene Burch Barksdale, 82, of 1215 West Market St. died Thursday at an Athens hospital. The funeral will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at Limestone Chapel Funeral Home with Roger Jackson, Burt Wilson and Matthew Barksdale officiating.
Burial will be in Athens City Cemetery.
Mrs. Barksdale was a member of North Side Church of Christ and was retired from Ben Jaffe department store.
Survivors include one son, Jerry Barksdale of Athens; two brothers, James W. Burch and Billy Holt, both of Athens; and three grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and one step-great-grandchild.
Robert E. Brutley
GUNTERSVILLE - Robert Earl Brutley, 47, died Wednesday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at Mount Zion Baptist Church.
Burial will be in Henryville Cemetery with Carr Funeral Home of Guntersville in charge.
Survivors include two sons, Grabiel S. Brutley and Robert M. Brutley, both of Guntersville; mother, Helen Brutley of Guntersville; two sisters, Mary Ellis and Rosalind L. Thrasher, both of Claysville; and two brothers, Joe Brutley and David C. Brutley, both of Guntersville.
Estell M. Burroughs
Estell Mount Burroughs, 74, of Huntsville died Friday at her home. A graveside service will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at Free Home Cemetery in Grant with Ron Williams and Byron Laird officiating.
Laughlin Service Funeral Home will direct.
Mrs. Burroughs was a native of Scottsboro and had lived in Marshall and Madison counties. She was a member of Church of Christ at Lincoln and was preceded in death by her husband, Jasper D. Burroughs.
Survivors include one daughter, Fay Burroughs of Huntsville; one son, J.H. Burroughs of Huntsville; and two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 5 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Lucy D. Campbell
Lucy DAmato Campbell, 76, of Huntsville died Friday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at Maple Hill Cemetery with the Rev. Robert Wagner and the Rev. Tom Perrin officiating.
Spry Funeral Home will be in charge of burial.
Mrs. Campbell was a native of Salem, Mass., and had lived in Huntsville 50 years. She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church.
Survivors include one daughter, Jerena Campbell of Huntsville; three sons, James Campbell of Huntsville, Steven Campbell of Toney and Billy Wayne Campbell of Madison; one brother, Robert DAmato of Seabrook, N.H.; and seven grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
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.
Edith Hubbard
RAINSVILLE - Edith Hubbard, 63, died Thursday at her home. The funeral will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at W.T. Wilson Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Jesse Guinn officiating.
Burial will be in New Bethel Cemetery.
Survivors include her husband, M.C. Hubbard of Rainsville; one daughter, Renae Wilks of Rainsville; two sons, Marvin Hubbard of Rainsville and Johnny Hubbard of Dutton; three sisters, Annie Hicks and Ada Adams, both of Section, and Brenda Reel of Dutton; two brothers, Kermit Venable of Rainsville and Howard Venable of Dutton; and seven grandchildren.
Phillip A. James
IDER - Phillip Alexander James, 20, died Wednesday. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at Kerby Funeral Home in Henagar with the Rev. Charles Jenkins officiating.
Burial will be in Liberty Cemetery in Henagar.
Survivors include his wife, Amanda James; his mother, Lacy James of Ider; his father and stepmother, Edward and Patsy James of Birchwood, Tenn.; two brothers, Brian James of Ider and Jesse F. James of Birchwood; and grandparents, Chester and Corine Lacy of Ider and J.B. and Dody James of Chattanooga.
John H. Lary Sr.
Dr. John H. Lary Sr., 87, of Huntsville died Thursday at his home. Laughlin Service Funeral Home will announce funeral arrangements.
Dr. Lary was a native of Milledgeville, Ga., and moved to Huntsville in 1917. He was an alumnus of Webb School and the University of Alabama and, after he received a medical degree from Tulane University, practiced medicine in Huntsville for 52 years, interrupted by five years of military service during World War II. He was former president of Madison County Medical Society, served three terms as chief of staff of Huntsville Hospital and was a member of Southern Medical Association, American Medical Association, International College of Surgeons and a charter member of American Academy of Family Physicians. He was preceded in death by one son, Frank Warrington Lary.
Survivors include his wife, Aline B. Lary of Huntsville; two sons, John H. Lary Jr. and James Blair Lary, both of Huntsville; and one granddaughter and one grandson.
Visitation will be Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to Huntsville Hospital Foundation.
Phillip W. Lewter
FAYETTEVILLE, Tenn. - Phillip Wayne Lewter, 65, of 467 Smith Mill Road died Thursday at a local hospital. The funeral will be today 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., an 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.
Carmen Maze
ARAB - Carmen Maze, 71, of 667 County Road 1802 died Friday at a Birmingham hospital. The funeral will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at New Canaan Baptist Church.
Burial will be in Arab Memorial Cemetery with Arab Memorial Chapel Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include his wife, Emma Jean Maze; three daughters, Patricia Harris and Paula Caswell, both of Arab, and Donna Mulkin of Birmingham; three sons, Lawayne Maze, Cranford Maze and Richard Maze, all of Arab; one sister, Viginus Key of Birmingham; one brother, Rick Maze of Birmingham; and seven grandchildren.
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 Norton Hill 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 today from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to American Diabetes Association.
Tommy Ratley
ARDMORE, Tenn. - Tommy Ratley, 56, of Bolling Road died Thursday at his home. The funeral will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at Gallant Funeral Home with the Rev. Kenneth Underwood officiating.
Burial will be in Gatlin Cemetery.
Mr. Ratley was a native of Madison County, was self-employed in construction and was an avid raccoon hunter.
Survivors include his wife, Linda Diane Ratley of Ardmore; three daughters, Pam Sparks of Taft, Tenn., Brenda Rolin of Ardmore, Ala., and Kim Ratley of Ardmore, Tenn.; six sons, Danny Ratley and Tim Ratley, both of Ardmore, Tenn., Rodney Phillips, Jerry Ratley and Bill Ratley, all of Taft, and Nick Butler of Hazel Green ; his mother, Thelma Ratley of Ardmore, Tenn.; and 13 grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Bernice M. Reid
Bernice M. Reid, 91, of 2713 Trail Ridge Road died Sunday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Monday at 11 a.m. at Oakwood College SDA Church with Elder E.C. Ward officiating.
Burial will be in Valhalla Memory Gardens with Royal Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. Reid was a member of Oakwood College SDA Church.
Survivors include one daughter, Jocelyn B. Thomas of Huntsville; one son, Bert B. Reid of Columbia, Md.; and seven grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Her body will be at the church one hour before the funeral.
Memorial donations may be made to David and Bernice Reid Worthy Student Memorial Scholarship, with checks payable to Oakwood College.
Paul O. Spurlock
Paul O. Spurlock, 73, of Huntsville died Thursday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Sunday at 1 p.m. at Spry Funeral Home with the Rev. Jim Metguzer officiating.
Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery.
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.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Jane R. Turner
ATHENS - Jane Rose Turner, 83, of 611 Market St. died Thursday at a local hospital. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at McConnell Funeral Home with Brother Billy McGregor officiating.
Burial will be in Dement Cemetery.
Mrs. Turner was a native of Limestone County, was a teacher in the Madison County and Limestone County school systems, a member of Corinth Church of Christ and was preceded in death by her husband, Walter J. Turner; and one son, Joseph Dean Turner.
Survivors include one daughter, Sylvia Lentz of Rogersville; three sisters, Ora Lee Turner, Mildred Parham and Alma Stovall, all of Athens; four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Memorial donations may be made to the Arthritis Foundation.
Lillian Watkins
ELKMONT - Lillian Watkins, 85, of 23980 Bethel Drive died Friday at an Athens hospital. Limestone Chapel Funeral Home will announce funeral arrangements.
Laura Zimmerman
Laura Zimmerman, 80, of Huntsville died Wednesday. The funeral will be Monday at 3 p.m. at First Christian Church with Dr. Harold Dowles officiating.
Burial will be in Twickenham Memory Gardens with Twickenham Funeral Home in charge.
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; one sister, Virginia Zimmerman of Corpus Christi, Texas; and four grandchildren.
