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.
Ollie B. Bradford
HOLLYWOOD - Mrs. Ollie B. Bradford, 78, died Thursday at a Scottsboro hospital. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at Rudder Funeral Home with the Revs. Fred Porter and David Smith officiating.
Burial will be in Pinehaven Memorial Gardens in Hollywood.
Mrs. Bradford was a retired sewing machine operator at Benham Mills in Scottsboro.
Survivors include one son, Eugene Bradford of Hollywood; one sister, Lula Tally of Scottsboro; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Margaret Burgess
ALBERTVILLE - Mrs. Margaret Burgess, 73, of 201 Cahill Road died Thursday at a Gadsden hospital. The funeral will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at Carr Funeral Home of Boaz.
Burial will be in the Fairview Baptist Church Cemetery.
Survivors include two daughters, Jennell Golden and Wanda Shirey, both of Albertville; a brother, Lionel C. Staton of Tennessee; three sisters, Imogene Smith and Roberta Blackmon, both of Albertville, and Odessa Heard of Henager; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Pauline Burton
FAYETTEVILLE, Tenn. - Miss Pauline Burton, 83, of 602 North Bellview died Friday at a Nashville nursing home. The funeral will be today at 1 p.m. at Higgins Funeral Home with Rev. Charles Edgar officiating.
Burial will be in Prosperity Cemetery.
Miss Burton taught several years in the Lincoln County school system. She was a member of the Prosperity A.R.P. Church.
Survivors include one sister, Mary B. Price of Nashville; and several nieces and nephews.
Wilma J. Cicolino
Wilma Jean Cicolino, 68, of Huntsville died Friday in Auburn. A graveside service will be Sunday at 2 p.m.
Burial will be in Roselawn Cemetery in Athens with Spry Funeral Home of Huntsville in charge.
Mrs. Cicolino was a native of Lawrence County and a member of the Twickenham Church of Christ. She had lived in Huntsville for the past 35 years.
Survivors include one daughter, Jan Hume of Auburn; and one grandson, Vince Hume of Auburn.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice House of East Alabama through East Alabama Medical Center Foundation, Teppereel Parkway, Opelika, AL 36801.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Velma H. Clift
Mrs. Velma H. Clift, 94, of Huntsville died Tuesday at a local nursing home. Laughlin Service Funeral Home will announce arrangements.
Mrs. Clift was preceded in death by her husband, Earl Clift.
She was the oldest member of Holmes Street United Methodist Church.
Survivors include one sister-in-law, Louise Clift of Huntsville.
Visitation will be Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m.
Itaskah V. Cockerham
MADISON - Mrs. Itaskah Vivian Cockerham, 83, died Wednesday at her residence. Spry Funeral Home will announce arrangements.
Mrs. Cockerham was a native of Lometa, Texas, and a resident of Huntsville for two years. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Howard Lee Cockerham, and a daughter, Mary Dobbs.
Survivors include two daughters, Melinda Toungette of Franklin, Tenn., and Cynthia Mount of Mount Juliet, Tenn.; two sons, Howard Lee Cockerham III of Bellingham, Wash., and Lynwood Cockerham of Madison; and 15 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Child Haven Childrens Home in Cullman.
Martha L. Dawson
Mrs. Martha Louise Anderson Dawson of Huntsville died Monday. A memorial service will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 301 Drake Ave.
Mrs. Dawson was a member of Covenant Presbyterian Church and a sister in PEO chapter J.
Survivors include her husband James Dawson; two sons Ben J. Dawson and Robert R. Dawson; one daughter, Linda D. Gonzales; 10 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
Harold M. Foshee
HORTON - Harold M. Foshee, 72, of 992 Hambrick Drive died Thursday at his residence. The funeral will be today at 11 a.m. at Adams Funeral Home of Albertville.
Burial will be in Douglas Cemetery.
Survivors include his wife, Annie Louise Foshee; six sons, Mike Foshee, Terry Foshee and Bill Foshee, all of Douglas, Steve Foshee of Cullman, Kenneth Foshee of Cullowhee, N.C., and Joe Foshee of Boaz; his mother, Angeline Foshee of Douglas; a brother, Truman Foshee of Douglas; a sister, Sue Ross of Douglas; 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Charles H. Gibson
SCOTTSBORO - Charles H. Gibson, 43, died Thursday at a Chattanooga hospital. The funeral will be today at 4 p.m. at Scottsboro Funeral Home with Dr. John David Hall officiating.
A graveside service will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at Sheperd Cemetery in theNewtonsville community near Fayette.
Survivors include two daughters, Erin Gibson and Tess Gibson, both of Scottsboro; one son, Adam Gibson of Scottsboro; and one sister, Pam Taylor of Raleigh, N.C.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga or Southern Tennessee Medical Center in Winchester.
Gilbert Green
ALBERTVILLE - Gilbert Green, 97, of 104 Georgia Ave., died Friday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at Adams Funeral Home of Albertville.
Burial will be in the Marshall Memorial Gardens Cemetery.
Survivors include one son, Glenn Green of Albertville; two daughters, Avis Couch of Arab and Lois Ledbetter of Birmingham; four sisters, Dessie Slaton of Gadsden, Edna Head of Anniston, Clarice Satterfield and Ila Plunkett, both of Arab; three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Joanne Jones
Ms. Joanne Jones, 48, of Huntsville died Wednesday at a local hospital. A memorial service will be held today at 1 p.m. at Laughlin Service Funeral Home with Rev. Robert Jones officiating.
Ms. Jones was an administrator at SCI.
Survivors include two daughters, Carol Lynn Colburn and Chris Heckler, both of Huntsville; one brother, Robert Jones of Huntsville; and one granddaughter.
Visitation will be today from 12:30 to 1 p.m.
Minnie T. Kennedy
Mrs. Minnie Thelma Lee Ward Kennedy, 96, of Huntsville died Thursday at a local nursing home. The funeral will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at Laughlin Service Funeral Home with Rev. Eddie Levick officiating.
Burial will be in Huntsville Memory Gardens at a later date.
Mrs. Kennedy was a retired nurse and a member of Twickenham Church of Christ.
Survivors include one daughter, Mrs. Maxine Tuggle of Huntsville; three granddaughters, Elizabeth Tuggle, Jane Tuggle Walker and Susan Tuggle Moquin, all of Huntsville; two grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be today from 2 to 4 p.m. at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Madison Academy or a favorite charity.
Billy Joe Kircus
GADSDEN - Mr. Billy Joe Kircus, 68, died Thursday at a Fort Payne nursing home. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at W.T. Wilson Funeral Home in Rainsville with Rev. Kenneth Johnson officiating.
Burial will be in Nazareth Cemetery.
Mr. Kircus was preceded in death by a son, Eddie Joe Kircus.
Survivors include one daughter, Theresea Johnson of Gadsden; three sons, Donnie Kircus of Rainbow City, Thomas Kircus of Ohatchee and Ronnie Kircus of Gadsden; his mother, Mertis Kircus of Birmingham; one sister, Pat Hunt of Gadsden; one brother, Walter Kircus of Gadsden; and eight grandchildren, one step-granddaughter and one great-grandchild.
Billie O. Meeks
Billie O. Meeks, 81, of Huntsville died Thursday at a local hospital. The funeral will be today at 2:30 p.m. at Spry Funeral Home with Ron Williams officiating.
Burial will be in Huntsville Memory Gardens.
Mrs. Meeks was a native of Smithville, Tenn., but lived in Huntsville and was a beautician for the past 50 years. She was a veteran of World War II and a member of the Lincoln Church of Christ.
Survivors include two daughters, Pam Brooks of Arab and Faye Karabinos of Huntsville; two sons, Butch Meeks and Louis DeRosa, both of Huntsville; four sisters, Rubye Wright of Smithville, Tenn., Pearline Caldwell of Chesterfield, Mich., Margarie Stephens of Paris, Texas, and June Keller of Hudson, Fla.; three brothers, Haskell Johnson of Mineola, Texas, Austin Johnson and Repsie Johnson, both of Smithville; and six grandchildren.
Ronnie Mitchell
ATHENS - Ronnie Mitchell, 60, of Grace Ave., died Thursday at a Birmingham hospital. Graveside services will be today at 11 a.m. at Athens City Cemetery with the Rev. Joe Curtis officiating and Spry Funeral Home directing.
Mr. Mitchell was a native of Limestone County. He was a former grocery store merchant, an Army veteran and a member of the Church of Christ.
Survivors include one son, Shane Mitchell of Athens; his mother, Ethel Mitchell of Athens; and one brother, Larry Mitchell of Athens.
Odell E. Neymark
INDIANAPOLIS - Mrs. Odell Elmore Neymark, 76, died Dec. 14 at anIndianapolis nursing home. A memorial service will be 1 p.m. Sunday at Monte Sano Baptist Church.
Mrs. Neymark was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Neymark.
Survivors include one daughter, Julie L. Bohannon; one sister, Emma Mefford; and three grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the American Lung Association, American Heart Association or the Jewish Foundation.
Wayne I. Pinion
COLUMBUS, Miss. - Wayne Iveston Pinion, 88, died Thursday at a local hospital. Madison Chapel Funeral Home will announce arrangements.
Mary Lou Reyer
ARDMORE - Mrs. Mary Lou Reyer, 77, of 28824 Lakeview Drive died Thursday at a Athens hospital. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at Limestone Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. David Kelley and Brother Toney Wales officiating.
Burial will be in Hastings Cemetery.
Mrs. Reyer was a member of the Community Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband, Henry A. Reyer; two sons, Robert James Reyer of Athens and Jerry Wayne Reyer of Ardmore; one daughter, Dorothy Faye Turner of Elkton, Tenn.; two sisters, Geneva Pylant and Jewel Mitchell, both of Elkmont; one brother, Leonard Hastings of Sheperdsville, Ky.; 11 grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, six-great-grandchildren, four step-great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Albert D. Smith Jr.
SAVANNAH, Ga. - Albert Dewitt Smith Jr., 69, died Wednesday at his residence. A graveside service will be today at 2 p.m. at Green wich Cemetery with Sipple Mortuary in charge.
Survivors include his wife, Marilyn Sickel Smith; one daughter, Michelle Smith Sullivan of Savannah; one sister, Maxine Hirshburg of Huntsville; two grandchildren, several nephews.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lutheran Church of Ascension, 120 Bull St., Savannah, GA 31401 or Hospice Savannah Inc., 1352 Eisenhower Drive, Savannah, GA 31406.
Haden Stewart
GUNTERSVILLE - Haden Stewart, 77, of Guntersville, died Thursday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at Sweet Home Baptist Church.
Burial will be in the adjoining cemetery with Gober Funeral Home of Arab directing.
Survivors include his wife, Earline Stewart; four sons, Lawayne Stewart of Guntersville, Jackie Stewart, Steve Stewart and Tim Stewart, all of Scant City; three sisters, Verdia Hawkins and Imogene Hinton, both of Douglas, and Wilda Headrick of Albertville; nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Johnny Moore
LONDON - Alabama native Johnny Moore, whose high tenor voice made "Under the Boardwalk" a 1964 hit for The Drifters, has died in London, news reports said Friday. He was 64.
Moore had moved to England after the rhythm and blues group had a string of hits in Britain in the mid-1970s. He died Wednesday en route to a hospital in London, The Guardian newspaper reported. No cause of death was given.
The Drifters were formed in 1953 and still tour, but have seen a number of personnel changes.
John Darrel Moore, born in Selma, Ala., in 1934, joined The Drifters in 1954, a year after the group was formed around the stirring tenor vocals of gospel singer Clyde McPhatter. "Steamboat" was one of their 1950s hits.
In 1958, after growing tension between manager George Treadwell and the band, Treadwell fired them all and hired other singers to be The Drifters.
In 1961, after a stint of military service, Moore was invited to rejoin The Drifters. At the time, Rudy Lewis was lead singer, and Moore sang with him on "Sweets for the Sweet," "Up on The Roof" and "On Broadway."
When Lewis died in 1964, Moore became lead singer, making "Under the Boardwalk" the groups last Top Ten hit.
When their American success declined in the 1970s, Moore took The Drifters to Britain, where they found new popularity. Among their hits from 1973 to 1976 were "Kissing in the Back Row of the Movies," "Down on the Beach Tonight" and "Youre More than a Number in My Little Red Book." Moore left the group in 1980.
Moore is survived by his wife, Jennifer, and three sons. Funeral plans were not announced.
