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.
Phillip J. Adams
ELKMONT - Phillip Jerome Adams, 18, of 28644 Old Scrouge Road died Tuesday at a Birmingham hospital. The funeral will be Friday at 2 p.m. at Limestone Chapel Funeral Home with Danny McMullins, Brent Hawkins and Morris Adams officiating.
Burial will be in Dement Cemetery.
Mr. Adams attended a Baptist church and had worked at Morris Garage in Elkmont.
Survivors include his wife, Angela Freeman Adams of Elkmont; one son, William Joseph Adams of Elkmont; his parents, Willis and Charlotte Smith, both of Elkmont; his grandmother, Frances Haggermaker of Elkmont; two sisters, Ginger Todd and Samantha Brewer, both of Elkmont; two brothers, Jonathan Smith and Willis Smith II, both of Elkmont; five stepbrothers, Dean Smith, Danny Smith, David Smith, Dale Smith and Dewayne Smith, all of Mackinaw, Ill.; and two nieces, two nephews and several aunts and uncles.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
oseph D. Alexander
DECATUR - Joseph Donald Alexander, 65, died Wednesday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Friday at 2 p.m. at Westmeade Baptist Church with the Revs. James Chitwood and Joe Joyner officiating.
Burial will be in Roselawn Cemetery with Shelton Funeral Home in charge.
Mr. Alexander was retired from Monsanto Co. where he was employed 42 years, was a deacon of Westmeade Baptist Church and was a former president of Austin High School Athletic Booster Club. He was preceded in death by his parents, William Clyde and Jessenier Kimbrell Alexander, and one brother, Buddy Alexander.
Survivors include his wife, Murleana R. Alexander; one daughter, Donna Alexander Gray of Meridian, Miss.; one son, Gary Stuart Alexander of Hoover; four sisters, Nelma Jones, Jane Bolton, Theresa Phelps and Anne Alexander, all of Trinity; one brother, Wayne Alexander of Somerville; and three grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to the Westmeade Baptist Church sign fund.
Mattie Allen
Mattie Allen, 71, of 302 Lowry St. died Sunday at a local hospital. the funeral will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at Union Hill C.P. Church with the Rev. McKinley Jones officiating.
Burial will be in Meadowlawn Garden of Peace with Royal Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include one son, James Hamlett of Huntsville, and one stepdaughter, Emily Alexander of Huntsville.
Gregory B. Foster
Gregory Bruce Foster, 42, of Huntsville died Tuesday at his home. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at Stateline Cemetery in Hazel Green with the Rev. James Gurley officiating.
Spry Funeral Home will be in charge of burial.
Mr. Foster was a native of Madison County and had worked for the City of Huntsville in its water treatment operations. He was also a U.S. Army veteran.
Survivors include his parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Foster Jr. of Huntsville; one sister, Carol Medlen of New Market; and two brothers, Jimmy Foster and Terry K. Foster, both of Huntsville.
Linda C. Friend
Linda Collier Friend, 50, of Huntsville died Sunday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at noon at Douglas Tabernacle P.B. Church with the Rev. Robert Rogers officiating.
Burial will be in Friend Cemetery with Nelms Memorial Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include three sons, Marcus Friend, Lateef Friend and Kenneth Friend, all of Huntsville; two brothers, Ralph Collier of Huntsville and Donzell Collier of Chicago; and three grandchildren.
Her body will be at the church one hour before the funeral.
Maude E. Gentle
Maude Elizabeth Gentle, 91, of Huntsville died Tuesday at her home. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at Huntsville Memory Gardens with Bro. Billy Loveday officiating.
Spry Funeral Home will be in charge of burial.
Mrs. Gentle was a native of Jackson County and had spent most her life in Madison County.
Survivors include one sister, Biddie Birchfield of Rainbow City; one brother, Thomas McCormack of Huntsville; and six grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Family and friends will meet at the cemetery.
Lottie L. George
HARTSELLE - Lottie Laverne George, 82, died Tuesday at her home. The funeral will be Friday at 11 a.m. at Peck Funeral Home with the Rev. Doc Jarrett officiating.
Burial will be in Johnson Chapel Cemetery.
Mrs. George was a native of Morgan County, attended Center Springs United Methodist Church, was retired from Bemis Bag Co. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lee Odis George; one son, Kenneth Leo George; and four brothers, Dewey Vest, Hollis Vest, Ferrell Vest and Davis Vest.
Survivors include one daughter, Carolyn Reinhold of Peoria, Ill.; two sons, Bobby George of White Bluff, Tenn. and Jimmy George of Atlanta; three sisters, Willie Mae Beggs of Somerville and Edna Vines and Lois Vest, both of Hartselle; and eight grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
George W. Graves
GUNTERSVILLE - George W. Graves, 79, of 386 Marina Road died Monday at a Birmingham hospital. The graveside service will be Monday at 10 a.m. at Arlington Memorial Garden in Cincinnati.
No local service or visitation will be held.
Guntersville Memorial Chapel Funeral Home is in charge of local arrangements.
Survivors include his wife, Hortense Graves; two daughters, Diane Williams and Jacqueline Bourlier, both of Los Angeles; one son, Gary W. Graves of Cincinnati; one sister, Mary Stroud of Cincinnati; and six grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Maggie T. Grubbs
SOMERVILLE - Maggie T. Grubbs, 86, of 4548 Alabama 36 East died Monday at an area nursing home. The funeral was Wednesday at Antioch United Methodist Church with the Revs. Kathryne Perkins and Vandon Windsor officiating.
Burial was in Antioch Cemetery with Peck Funeral Home of Hartselle in charge.
Mrs. Grubbs was a member of Antioch United Methodist Church.
Survivors include one daughter, Virginia White of Somerville; two sisters, Dove Anderson of Casper, Wyo., and Cois Clements of Decatur; one brother, George W. Turney of Huntsville; and one grandchild.
William E. Johnson
BELLE MINA - William E. Johnson, 75, died Tuesday at a Decatur hospital. The funeral will be Friday at 2:30 p.m. at Roselawn Funeral Home with the Rev. Vandon Windsor officiating.
Burial will be in Decatur City Cemetery.
Mr. Johnson was retired owner and operator of Custom Cabinet Shop, was a graduate of the University of Alabama and a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II.
Survivors include his wife, Emogene M. Johnson; one son, Stuart S. Johnson of Trussville; one sister, Elizabeth Patrick of Somerville; four brothers, Paul Johnson of Guntersville, Bruce Johnson of Memphis, Harold Loyd Johnson and Loyd Johnson, both of Somerville; and one grandchild.
Cecil G. Key
GERALDINE - Cecil Grady Key, 82, died Tuesday at his home. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at W.T. Wilson Funeral Chapel.
Burial was to be in Geraldine Cemetery.
Survivors include one daughter, Judy Weedmah of Louisville, Ky.; two sons, Gerald Key and Larry Key, both of Louisville; one sister, Bessie Gore of Geraldine; one half-sister, Ellen Caston of Geraldine; three half-brothers, Clarence Huckeba, Melvin Huckeba and Curtis Huckeba; and nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Charles G. Lemley
HANCEVILLE - Charles G. Lemley, 56, died Wednesday at a Cullman hospital. The funeral will be Friday at 2 p.m. at New Hope Funeral Home chapel with the Revs. Barry Gardner and J.W. Atchley officiating.
Mr. Lemley was formerly of New Hope.
Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth Lemley of Hanceville; one daughter, Debbie Sandlin of Hanceville; one son, Jeff Lemley of Cullman; one stepdaughter, Beverly Hutchens of New Hope; four sisters, Janie Atchley of Guntersville and Merline Dollar, Georgie Jones and Lillian Posey, all of New Hope; one brother, James Lemley of New Hope; and one granddaughter and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Edna E. Maze
ARAB - Edna Earle Maze, 68, of 1147 County Road 1866 died Tuesday at a Birmingham hospital. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at Arab Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.
Burial was to be in Arab Memorial Cemetery.
Survivors include her husband, James A. Maze; three daughters, Sheila Light, Marie Walls and Lynn Willis, all of Arab; three sons, James E. Maze of Albertville, Keith Maze of Arab and Barry Maze of Guntersville; her mother, Verna Hardin of Arab; three half-brothers, James Hardin, J.H. Hardin and Hershell Hardin, all of Arab; and eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Pauline McGuire
ARDMORE, Ala. - Pauline McGuire, 87, died Tuesday at a Decatur hospital. The funeral will be Friday at 1 p.m. at Taylor-Ardmore Funeral Home with Bros. Chester Jones and Joel Logan officiating.
Burial will be in Gatlin Cemetery.
Mrs. McGuire was preceded in death by her husband, R.B. McGuire; one son, Richard McGuire; and one daughter, Barbara Trimmel.
Survivors include four sons, J.C. McGuire of Jeffersonville, Ind., Jimmy McGuire and Carl McGuire, both of Ardmore, Ala., and Donnie McGuire of Elkmont; three daughters, Dorothy Hobbs, Sarah Morningstar and Helen McGuire, all of Ardmore, Ala.; and 26 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
James A. Morris
HENAGAR - James Ambus Morris, 91, died Wednesday at his home. The funeral will be Friday at 11 a.m. at Kerby Funeral Home with the Rev. Jeff Watkins officiating.
Burial will be in Henagar Cemetery.
Survivors include his wife, Edna Smith Morris; one daughter, Edith Morris Smith of Henagar; and three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Visitation was to be today until 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Pearl W. Oliver
DECATUR - Pearl Wardlow Oliver, 97, died Tuesday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral will be Friday at 2 p.m. at Roselawn Funeral Home with the Revs. Tim Barnes and Keith Dunivant officiating.
Burial will be in Roselawn Cemetery.
Mrs. Oliver was a member of Ninth Street United Methodist Church and was preceded in death by one daughter, Margaret Oliver Nichols, and her husband, B.L. ''Burl Oliver Sr.
Survivors include one daughter, Catherine Hill of Helena; one son, the Rev. Burl Oliver Jr. of Decatur; two sisters, Johnnie Hartselle of Limestone County and Claudia Fisch of Birmingham; and nine grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
Elliotte O. Payne
SECTION - Elliotte ONeal Payne, 84, died Monday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at Corinth Baptist Church with the Revs. Johnny Fincher and Shannon Williams officiating.
Burial was to be in Corinth Cemetery with Scottsboro Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Nell Hambrick Payne; two daughters, Pamela Payne of Nashville and Melanie Payne of Section; one son, Victor Payne of Section; three sisters, Ercell Whitaker of Section, Lucy Brown of Mount Vernon, Ind., and Winnie Hancock of Henagar; one brother, Stanley Payne of Arvada, Colo.; and two grandsons.
Ruth M. Pilling
HOOVER - Ruth M. Pilling, 81, died Tuesday. The funeral will be Friday at 9:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church with the Rev. Martin Mullen officiating.
Burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery with Valley Chapel funeral home in charge.
Mrs. Pilling had lived in Huntsville where she was a Realtor with Joe Steele Realty.
Survivors include three daughters, Jody Powell of Atlanta, Pam Griese of Vestavia and Robin Beidleman of Homewood; and six grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the funeral home. A rosary service will follow at 6:30 p.m.
Jonathan R. Sweeney
Pvt. Jonathan Ralph Sweeney, 25, of Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville died at a Birmingham hospital.
Funeral arrangements will be announced by Shelton Funeral Home of Decatur.
