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.
James R. Brown
DUTTON - James R. Brown, 76, died Wednesday at his home. The funeral will be Friday at 2 p.m. at Rainsville Funeral Home.
Burial will be in Pleasant View Cemetery.
Survivors include his wife, Mona Sue Brown; one daughter, Rita Sue Brown of Rainsville; five sons, Garry Brown and Harold Brown, both of Chattanooga, Rusty Brown of Gadsden, Chris Brown of Opelika and Tim Brown of Dutton; four sisters, Millie Dukes of Birmingham and Louise Bryant, Johnnie Jones and Nellie Harper, all of Section; two brothers, Eulice Brown of Rome, Ga., and Ray Brown of Dutton; and 12 grandchildren.
Visitation was to be today from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Evelyn Campbell
FACKLER - Mrs. Evelyn Campbell, 82, died Tuesday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Friday at 1 p.m. at Rudder Funeral Home with the Rev. Howard McCallie officiating.
Burial will be in Pinehaven Memorial Gardens in Hollywood.
Mrs. Campbell was a member of the Friendship Baptist Church in Fackler and the Eastern Star.
Survivors include one sister, Tulu Templeton of Nashville; and two brothers, Bob Lilley of Chattanooga and John Templeton of Nashville.
Memorial donations may be made to the Friendship Baptist Church or a favorite charity
Douglas Dewey
GUNTERSVILLE - Douglas Dewey, 45, of 6601 Cannon Ave. died Monday at a Chattanooga hospital. The funeral was today at 10 a.m. at Carr Funeral Home in Guntersville.
Burial was in Hillcrest Cemetery in Boaz.
Survivors include two daughters, Nataska Dewey and Allisa Dewey, both of Maine; three sons, Paul Dewey, Douglas Dewey Jr. and Josh Dewey, all of Maine; parents, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Dewey of Maine; one sister, Kathleen Derrick of Guntersville; and one brother, Arthur Dewey Jr. of Maine.
Namon R. Dunn
SCOTTSBORO - Namon Rayburn Dunn, 60, of 26 Lake Drive died Wednesday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Friday at 2 p.m. at Pine Island Baptist Church.
Burial will be in PrestonCemetery with Carr Funeral Home of Guntersville in charge.
Survivors include three sisters, Kathleen Dunn and Nellie Shepherd, both of Scottsboro, and Donie Silas of Asbury; and three brothers, Buddy Dunn of Scottsboro and Lee Hudson and J.B. Hudson, both of Illinois.
Sharon D. Garner
ARONEY - Sharon Denise Garner, 38, died Tuesday at a Birmingham hospital. The funeral will be Friday at 2 p.m. at Adams Funeral Home in Albertville.
Burial will be in Douglas Cemetery.
Survivors include her husband, Johnny Garner; one daughter, Wendy Phillips of Aroney; mother, Earlean Yates of Aroney; one sister, Debbie Hyde of Albertville; three brothers, Gary Yates and Jeff Yates, both of Aroney, and Larry Yates of Boaz; and one grandchild.
Clifford Griggs Sr.
ARAB - Dr. Clifford Griggs Sr., 84, died Monday in Scottsboro. A private funeral was held with Gober Funeral Home of Arab in charge.
Burial was in Rice Cemetery.
Dr. Griggs was a retired chiropractor.
Survivors include four daughters, Gail Anderson and Elizabeth Masood, both of Huntsville, Linda Tumlin of Birmingham and Carolyn Thomas of Scottsboro; one son, Cliff Griggs of Arab; and 17 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Eliza M. Hawkins
OWENS CROSS ROADS - Eliza Mae "Sis" Hawkins, 77, died Tuesday at her home. The funeral will be Friday at 11 a.m. at Acklin Chapel CME Church with Pastor Adolphus Elliot officiating.
Burial will be in Moon Cemetery with Nelms Memorial Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include one daughter, Ruby Glover of New Hope; one son, Wilson Mann of Owens Cross Roads; one sister, Mattie Ruth Alston of New Brunswick, N.J.; one brother, Dillard Hawkins of Chattanooga, Tenn.; and four grandchildren.
Her body will be at the church one hour before the funeral.
Darleane H. Hayden
MADISON - Darleane Holden Hayden, 40, of 16 Shorter St. died Monday. The funeral will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at Big Shiloh P.B. Church with the Rev. Woodrow Kirby officiating.
Burial will be in Royal Cemetery in Madison with Royal Funeral Home in charge.
Ms. Hayden was a native of Madison and longtime employee and manager at Hardees restaurant. She was also a member of the No. 1 and No. 3 choirs at Big Shiloh P.B. Church.
Survivors include one daughter, Avitra Hayden Bone of Madison; one son, Robert Hayden Jr. of Madison; 10 brothers, Milton Holden, Connie Holden, Eddie Holden, Curtis Holden, Thurman Holden and Nelson Holden, all of Huntsville, Thomas Holden Sr. of Madison, Clifton Holden of Illinois, Leon Holden of South Carolina and Douglas Holden of Arizona.
Her body will be at the church one hour before the funeral.
Visitation will be Friday from 6 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Ira L. Latham
SCOTTSBORO - Ira Lee Latham died Tuesday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral will be Friday at 1 p.m. at Scottsboro Funeral Home with the Rev. Don Cooper officiating.
Burial will be in Pinehaven Memorial Gardens in Hollywood.
Survivors include four daughters, Helen C. Zale, Paula Manley, Nita Lyon and Nice Loney, all of Dallas; two sons, Willard Latham of Oak Ridge, Tenn., and Carl Latham of Knoxville; one brother, Albert Hutcherson of Rosalie, Ala.; and 13 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m.
James E. Little
James Earl "Penny" Little, 54, of Huntsville died Sunday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Friday at 2 p.m. at Big Shiloh P.B. Church with the Rev. Woodrow Kirby officiating.
Burial will be in Royal Cemetery in Madison with Royal Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include his mother, Mattie Littles of Madison; one sister, Barbara Sykes of Huntsville; and three brothers, John Littles and I.W. Harris, both of Madison, and David Lee Harris of Pulaski, Tenn.
His body will be at the church one hour before the funeral.
Ruth McKey
KENT, Wash. - Ruth McKey, 68, formerly of Madison, died Saturday. The funeral will be Friday at 11 a.m. at Laughlin Service Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Sonny Kirk officiating.
Burial will be in Madison City Cemetery.
Survivors include one daughter, Sherry T. McCarley of Kent, formerly of Madison; three sisters, Sarah L. Hays of Port Naches, Texas, Mary L. Lloyd of Waterloo, Iowa, and June Hartness of Coral Gables, Fla.; two brothers, Cecil Bryan of Ferndale, N.Y., and Wendel Bryan of Brookshire, Texas; and two grandsons and three great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Ralph Norman
ELORA, Tenn. - Ralph Norman, 76, of Cranford Road died Wednesday at a Fayetteville nursing home. The funeral will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Gallant Funeral Home in Fayetteville with the Revs. Danny Bell and Charles Jones officiating.
Burial will be in Flintville Cemetery.
Mr. Norman was a native of Lincoln County, a member of Stewarts Chapel Baptist Church, a retired Amana Corp. employee and a U.S. Army veteran of World War II.
Survivors include his wife, Virginia McAnally Norman of Elora; one son, Randy Norman of Fayetteville; one daughter, Mary Gardner of Elora; and three grandchildren.
Visitation will be Friday from 4 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Roy L. Parker
Roy Lee "Bo Dickey" Parker, 18, of 2117 Sullivan Road in Huntsville died Friday at his home. The funeral will be Friday at noon at Union Chapel M.B. Church with the Rev. O. Wendell Davis officiating.
Burial will be in Meadowlawn Garden of Peace with Royal Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include his mother, Patricia Ann Parker of Huntsville; his stepfather, Earskine Parker of Huntsville; his father, Roy Sledge of Huntsville; his stepmother, Doris Sledge of Huntsville; grandmother, Mammie Matthews of Huntsville; great-grandmother, Maudie Drake of Huntsville; five sisters, Michelle Matthews, Junie Matthews, Deborah L. Readus, Victoria Burns and Sylvia Dent, all of Huntsville; five brothers, William Matthews, Marcus Matthews, Curtis Piggie, Damine Moore and Adrian McCaulley, all of Huntsville.
His body will be at the church one hour before the funeral.
Jimmy L. Ray
FORT PAYNE - Jimmy Leon Ray, 22, formerly of Dutton, died Monday at a Dakalb County hospital. The funeral will be today at 6 p.m. at W.T. Wilson Funeral Home.
Survivors include his mother, Rita Kay McDonald of Cartersville; his father, Jimmy Wayne Ray of Opelika; two sisters, April Leigh Jennings of Cartersville, Ga., and Tammie Ray of Texas; seven brothers, Jimmy Wayne Ray Jr., Jamie Ray, Kenny Ray and John Wayne Ray, all of Opelika, Bo Ray of Arkansas, Wade Webb of Dutton, and James Thomas McDonald of Cartersville; grandparents, Clara Mae Webb and Glenn Ray Webb, both of Dutton; and several aunts and uncles.
Edith G. Rousseau
Edith Gentle Rousseau, 70, of Huntsville died Thursday at her home. Spry Funeral Home will announce funeral arrangements.
Lucille B. Sheats
Lucille B. Sheats, 80, of Huntsville died Tuesday at her home. The graveside service will be Friday at 2 p.m. at Roselawn Cemetery in Decatur with the Rev. Michael Wilson officiating.
Roselawn Funeral Home of Decatur will be in charge of burial.
Mrs. Sheats was a program analyst at Redstone Arsenal for 29 years and was preceded in death by her husband, Hudson M. Sheats.
Survivors include one son, Michael V. Sheats of Huntsville; one stepdaughter, Lydia White of Madison; two sisters, Faye McCulloch of Decatur and Nolene Brown of Montgomery; and two brothers, Ford Brown of Florence and Sam Brown of Chattanooga.
Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of the Valley.
Gene Smith
HARVEST - Gene Smith, 54, of 107 Springside Path died Tuesday at his home. The funeral was today at 11 a.m. at Wall Highway Baptist Church with the Rev. Sonny Kirk officiating.
Burial was to be today at 2 p.m. in Richardson Chapel Cemetery in Lexington with Madison Chapel Funeral Home in charge.
Mr. Smith was a native of Lauderdale County and had lived in Huntsville 13 years. He worked at ALFA Insurance Co. and was a member of Wall Highway Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Faye Smith of Harvest; four sons, Doug Smith and Michael Smith, both of Florence, Dale Kilgore of Nashville and Tommy Bates of Huntsville; one daughter, Lorri Crumpton of Huntsville; his mother, Lorene Smith of Green hill; four sisters, Linda Green of Chattanooga, Della Hughes of Peoria, Ill., Dianne Fisher of Lawrenceburg, Tenn., and Lottie Williamson of Misawaka, Ind.; two brothers, Doyle Smith of Green hill and Gaylon Smith of Clarksville, Tenn.; and six grandchildren.
His body will be at the church one hour before the funeral.
Memorial donations may be made to American Cancer Society or to Wall Highway Baptist Church.
Sarah J. Steele
SCOTTSBORO - Mrs. Sarah Jane Bohannon Steele, 80, died Wednesday at a local hospital. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at Scottsboro Funeral Home.
Burial was to be in Long Acre Cemetery.
Mrs. Steele was preceded in death by her husband, Perry Steele.
Survivors include three sons, Warney Steele and Johnny Steele, both of Scottsboro, and Luther Steele of Hollywood; two sisters, Florence Clemens of Scottsboro and Bessie Durham of California; two brothers, Clyde Bohannon of Fackler and Billy Lee Bohannon of Cullman; and seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Lillie B. Sullivan
Lillie Burwell Sullivan, 72, of Huntsville died Tuesday at a Gadsden hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at St. Bartley P.B. Church with Elder Johnny Jones officiating.
Burial will be in Big Cove Cemetery with Nelms Memorial Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. Sullivan was retired as a nurse at Huntsville Hospital after working there 40 years. An award, called the Lillie B. Sullivan LPN of the Year award, was established in her honor. She was also a member of Liberty P.B. Church and the Indian Creek Primitive Baptist Association. She was preceded in death by her husband, Burgess Barrett Sullivan.
Survivors include five daughters, Cheryl Sullivan of Atlanta, Phyllis Sullivan of Raleigh, N.C., Cynthia Shanklin and Burgess Denise, both of Huntsville, and Marva Sullivan Lucas of Murfreesboro, Tenn.; four sons, Walter K. Sullivan of Huntsville, Wayne B. Sullivan of Muscle Shoals, James L. Sullivan of Memphis, Tenn., and Delano Fitzgerald Sullivan of Birmingham; her stepmother, Naomi Burwell of Huntsville; five sisters, Mary Craighead and Anne Moore, both of Huntsville, and Ruth Burwell, Betty Hyter and Cora Reed, all of Michigan; two brothers, James Burwell and Robert Burwell; two stepsisters, Elizabeth Smith and Carolyn Tolbert, both of Huntsville; and 35 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren and several great-great-grandchildren.
Her body will be at the church one hour before the funeral.
Visitation will be Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
James R. Taylor
ONEONTA - James Richard Taylor, 66, died Tuesday. The funeral will be Friday at 2 p.m. at Kerby Funeral Home in Henagar.
Burial will be in Green Haven Memorial Gardens.
Survivors include three sisters, Irene Cartin of Augusta, Ga., and Dorothy Johnson of Trenton, Ga., and Louise Schulz of Pisgah, Ala.; and two brothers, Jack D. Taylor and Virgil E. Taylor, both of Augusta.
Visitation was to be today from 12:30 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Junior C. Taylor
HENAGAR - Junior Clyde Taylor, 77, died Wednesday in Ashville. The funeral will be Friday at 11 a.m. at Kerby Funeral Home in Henagar with Doug Farmer officiating.
Survivors include his wife, Verna Hemphill Taylor; one daughter, Betty Tolbert of Henagar; one son, Berlin Taylor of Baton Rouge, La.; one sister, Lilly Martin of Athens, Ala.; three brothers, Floyd Taylor of Pisgah, A.V. Taylor of Breman, Ga., and Harvey Dean Taylor of Athens; and five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Visitation was to be today from 2:30 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
William J. Ziak
DECATUR - William J. ''Bill Ziak, 77, died Monday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Friday at 10 a.m. at St. Anns Catholic Church with the Rev. Joe Culotta officiating.
Burial will be in Roselawn Cemetery Mausoleum with Roselawn Funeral Home in charge.
Mr. Ziak was retired from NASA where he was a chief technical writer. He was a World War II pilot and flew materials behind enemy lines in India, Burma and China, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with two oak leaf clusters, the Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters and the Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon with two battle stars. He was a member of St. Anns Catholic Church.
Survivors include his wife, Margaret M. Ziak; two daughters, Mary Margaret Jackie of Muscle Shoals and Donna Bassindale of Severna Park, Md.; one son, Paul Ziak of Columbus, Miss.; one sister, Mary Stawovy of Belle Vernon, Pa.; one brother, John Ziak of Wick Haven, Pa.; and five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to St. Anns building fund or school.
John J. Hyland
HONOLULU - Retired Adm. John J. Hyland, who commanded the Pacific Fleet in Pearl Harbor and the 7th Fleet in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War, died Sunday. He was 86.
Hyland became a Navy flier in 1937. He helped defend the Philippines and Dutch East Indies in World War II and also took part in the 1942 Allied pullback to Australia. He commanded an air group flying off the carrier USS Intrepid and participated in several combat missions at the end of World War II.
His postwar career included commanding sea and air forces - including the Pacific Fleet air force beginning in 1954 - and serving as a test pilot.
In 1965, he commanded the 7th Fleet and two years later took command of the Pacific Fleet, marking his third tour of duty in Pearl Harbor.
Hyland retired on Jan. 1, 1971. He then was elected to the Naval Aviation Hall of Honor of Pensacola, Fla., and was awarded numerous medals, including the Distinguished Service Medal.
