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.
Joe W. Bearden
SCOTTSBORO - Joe Wheeler Bearden, 67, died Sunday. The funeral will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Rudder Funeral Home with the Rev. J.A. Linville officiating.
Burial will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery.
Mr. Bearden was a custodian for Champion Products and was a U.S. Army veteran.
Survivors include two daughters, Angela Hewitt of Cleveland, Tenn., and Donna Knopps of Scottsboro; two sons, Billy Bearden and David Bearden, both of Scottsboro; two sisters, Nell Matthews of Chattanooga and Sue Payton of Scottsboro; two brothers, Monroe Bearden and Ray Bearden, both of Scottsboro; and two grandchildren.
Paralee H. Blazer
JASPER - Paralee Hulsey Blazer, 81, died Monday. The funeral will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Rudder Funeral Home with Howard Blazer Jr., Billy D. Blazer and Franklin D. Blazer officiating.
Burial will be in Rocky Springs Cemetery.
Mrs. Blazer was preceded in death by her husband, Howard Blazer Sr.
Survivors include three sons, Howard Blazer Jr. of Elmore, Billy D. Blazer of Jasper and Franklin D. Blazer of Tuscaloosa; one brother, George Hulsey; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Visitation was to be today from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Russell J. Chance
ATHENS - Dr. Russell J. Chance, 76, of 701 Hereford Drive died Sunday at a Decatur hospital. The funeral will be Thursday at McConnell Funeral Home with Dr. Steven Screws officiating.
Burial will be in Roselawn Cemetery.
Mr. Chance was an area resident for 32 years, retired after 27 years as a history instructor at Calhoun Community College and taught in Iowa, Arizona and New Mexico for 15 years. He was a member of First United Methodist Church and a U.S. Army veteran of World War II.
Survivors include his wife, Phyllis Winkle Chance; one daughter, Margo Geer of St. Augustine, Fla.; one sister, Jean Shibley of Vancouver, Wash.; one brother, Howard Chance of Boardman, Ore.; and two nephews.
Memorial donations may be made to First United Methodist Church, Calhoun Community College Foundation or to a charity.
Visitation will be Wednesday from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Barney R. Covington
ARAB - Barney R. Covington, 65, of 627 4th St. Northwest died Sunday at his home. The funeral will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Arab.
Burial will be in Arab Memorial Cemetery with Gober Funeral Home of Arab in charge.
Survivors include his wife, Virginia Covington; three daughters, Debbie Wolff of Texas, Peggie Covington of Arizona and Bonnie McMahan; two sons, Ray Covington of Chatom and Richard Covington of Roanoke; and five sisters, three brothers and eight grandchildren.
Homer C. Daniel Sr.
Homer Clifton Daniel Sr., 79, of Huntsville died Sunday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Wednesday at 10 a.m. at the First Baptist Church.
Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery with Laughlin Service Funeral Home in charge.
Mr. Daniel was a deacon at the First Baptist Church, an advocate at the Lurleen B. Wallace Center and a member of the TROA. He had served on foreign mission trips.
Survivors include his wife, Milbra Grayce Daniel of Huntsville; one daughter, Ouida Dickinson of Huntsville; four sons, Homer C. "Danny" Daniel Jr. of San Anselmo, Calif., Scott Clay Daniel of Huntsville, Michael Lamb of Nashville and Patrick Lamb of Pacifica, Calif.; four sisters, Wilma Gattis, Betty Willis and Ola B. Stiles, all of Huntsville, and Margaret Reeser of Tampa, Fla.; and nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to the First Baptist Church building fund.
Johnson O. Dodd
ALBERTVILLE - Johnson O. Dodd, 59, of 75 Stanfield Road died Saturday at a Dothan hospital. The funeral was to be today at 1 p.m. at Adams Funeral Home in Albertville.
Burial was to be in Diamond Cemetery.
Survivors include one daughter, April Dodd of Albertville; two sons, Steven Dodd of Painter and Stacy Dodd of Albertville; one stepdaughter, Kristie Leslie of Albertville; three sisters, Jackie Motley of Boaz and Christine Sampson and Sarah Newman, both of Albertville; one brother, Jerry Dodd of Albertville; and five grandchildren.
Edmund E. Hunt
SCOTTSBORO - Edmond Edd Hunt, 90, died Monday at his home. Funeral arrangements will be announced later by Scottsboro Funeral Home.
Survivors include his wife, Nellie Hunt; two sons, Eddie Thomas Hunt of Scottsboro and the Rev. Billy Fred Hunt of Ashville, Ala.; five grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Northeast Alabama.
William J. Lee Sr.
William J. Lee Sr., 80, of Huntsville died Sunday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Wednesday at 2:30 at Laughlin Service Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Kevin Bozart officiating.
Burial will be in Huntsville Memory Gardens.
Survivors include his wife, Callie Lee of Huntsville; one son, William Jackson Lee Jr. of Madison; one sister, Bethel Miller of Huntsville; and one granddaughter and one great-granddaughter.
Visitation will be today from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
James W. McElyea
HAZEL GREEN - James W. McElyea, 57, of Laidback Lane died Monday at his home. Gallant Funeral Home of Hazel Green will announce funeral arrangements.
Raymond W. Murray
Raymond W. Murray, 70, of Huntsville died Monday at a local hospital. Valhalla Funeral Home will announce funeral arrangements.
Survivors include his wife, Marie S. Murray of Huntsville; two daughters, Kathryn Gladden and Patricia Traylor, both of Huntsville; one sister, Evelyn McClain of Chattanooga, Tenn.; and four grandchildren.
Ollie W. Reynolds
Ollie W. Reynolds, 82, of Huntsville died Monday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Laughlin Service Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Joel S. McGraw and Dr. William H. Bostick Jr. officiating.
Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery.
Mr. Reynolds operated a grocery store on Holmes Avenue and served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was also a farmer and had operated the family business, Reynolds Brothers General Merchandise, until his death.
Survivors include three daughters, Jane Reynolds of West Palm Beach, Fla., Sue L. Schmitz of Toney and Caroline Young of Ocala, Fla.; one son, Bill Lowe of Birmingham; two sisters, Ruby Latham of Huntsville and Doris Moore of Toney; and six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to the Ollie Reynolds Scholarship Fund in care of First American Bank, P.O. Box 850, Ardmore, Tenn., 38449.
Paul G. Smith
OWENS CROSS ROADS - Paul G. Smith, 71, of 3673 Old Highway 431 died Monday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at New Hope Funeral Home chapel with the Revs. Terry Gregory and Matthew Penfield officiating.
Burial will be in Twickenham Memory Gardens.
Mr. Smith was a member of First Baptist Church of New Hope and for 25 years owned and operated Western Auto in Owens Cross Roads. He was preceded in death by one son, Paul Wayne Smith.
Survivors include his wife, Christeen Smith of Owens Cross Roads; one daughter, Gail Baker of Owens Cross Roads; four sisters, Stella Ruth Baker, Birdie Pascal and Marie Adams, all of Chattanooga, Tenn., and Annie Jeffrey of Pisgah; and three grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 4 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Ralph B. Smith
Dr. Ralph Benton Smith of Huntsville died Monday at a local nursing home. The funeral will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Laughlin Service Funeral Home chapel with Dr. William H. Bostick Jr. and the Rev. Coy Hallmark officiating.
Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery.
Dr. Smith was a native of Dublin, Ga., and was a graduate of Boys High School in Atlanta and Emory University, where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He earned a medical degree from Medical College of Georgia. A veteran of the Korean War, Dr. Smith reached the rank of lieutenant colonel and was awarded the Bronze Star. He was formerly president of Madison County Medical Society and chairman of the Madison County Medical Board of Censors. He was formerly a member of the Rotary Club, a charter member of the SEBANA bridge club and a member of First United Methodist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Miriam R. Smith of Huntsville; two sons, Ralph B. Smith Jr. of Lexington, S.C., and Alan R. Smith of Signal Mountain, Tenn.; and two granddaughters.
Visitation will be Wednesday from 10 to 11 a.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to American Heart Association or American Lung Association.
Jessie L. Steward
FYFFE - Jessie Lamunyon Steward, 89, died Monday in Attalla. The funeral will be Thursday at 2 p.m. at Tenbroeck Baptist Church with the Revs. Raymond Cook and Craig White officiating.
Burial will be in Tenbroeck Cemetery with W.T. Wilson Funeral Chapel in charge.
Mrs. Stewart was a native of DeKalb County and a member of Tenbroeck Baptist Church.
Survivors include four sons, James Lamunyon of Rossville, Ga., T.H. Lamunyon of Boaz, William R. Lamunyon of Greta, La., and Calvin Ray Steward of North Carolina; two sisters, Mildred Phillips of Albertville and Rosie Forsyieth of Boaz; one brother, Lowell V. Bearden of Boaz; and 24 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.
Lillian B. Taylor
MERIDIANVILLE - Lillian B. Taylor, 86, of Meridianville died Saturday at a Guntersville nursing home. The funeral was Monday at Maple Hill Cemetery.
Laughlin Service Funeral Home was in charge of burial.
Survivors include two sons, B.B. Bright of Huntsville and Edward M. Bright of Marshall County; one daughter, Betty B. Ebert of Centreville, Va.; and eight grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Ruth J. Taylor
NEW MARKET - Ruth Jacks Taylor, 81, of Walker Lane died Sunday at a local hospital. The funeral was today at 1 p.m. at Union Grove Baptist Church with the Revs. Donnie Amason, Harold Fanning and Rodney Bowling officiating.
Burial will be in Taylor Cemetery with Gallant Funeral Home of Hazel Green in charge.
Mrs. Taylor was a Madison County native, a housewife and a member of Union Grove Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband, J.H. Taylor of New Market; one daughter, Laura Eickholt of Meridianville; three sons, Bob Taylor and Bill Taylor, both of New Market, and Tom Taylor of Montgomery; and nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Sue H. Upton
BOAZ - Sue Hill Upton, 79, of 618 East Mann Ave. died Sunday at her home. The funeral was today at 11 a.m. at Julia Street Memorial Methodist Church in Boaz.
Burial was in Hillcrest Cemetery with Carr Funeral Home of Boaz directing.
Survivors include her husband, J.H. Upton; two daughters, Margaret Bowen of Anniston and Linda Jordan of Cragford; two sisters, Ivo Frost of Gadsden and Mildred Holman of Boaz; and three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Charles Wallace
HAZEL GREEN - Charles Wallace, 70, of Dixon Road died Sunday at his home. The funeral will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Gallant Funeral Home chapel in Hazel Green with the Rev. Benny Berry officiating.
Burial will be in Huntsville Memory Gardens.
Mr. Wallace was a native of Walker County and a retired coal miner.
Survivors include his wife, Betty Haynes Wallace of Hazel Green ; one daughter, Teresa Dale Hagood of Huntsville; three sons, Jerry Wallace of Hazel Green, John Howard Wallace of Jasper and Brian David Wallace of Toney; one sister, Ruth Phillips of Adamsville; three brothers, H.O. Wallace and Leon Wallace, both of Sipsey, and Maxwell Wallace of Jasper; and seven grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Robert D. Walton
Robert David Walton, 72, of Huntsville died Monday at a local hospital. Twickenham Funeral Home South will announce funeral arrangements.
Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery.
