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.
Mary E. Christian
Mary Elizabeth Christian, 79, of Huntsville died Tuesday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Friday at 1 p.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Madison Ward with Bishop Shawn Sowards presiding and James E. Neumann officiating.
Burial will be in Huntsville Memory Gardens Cemetery.
Mrs. Christian was a native and lifelong resident of Madison County. She was also owner and operator of Gil-Chris Ceramics and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Madison Ward.
Survivors include five daughters, Phyliss Ann Kanash of Boston, Mass., Betty Doris Gilmore of Meridianville, Mary Lou Ratliff of Madison and Linda Sue Young and Cynthia Jane Christian, both of Huntsville; one son, James Baron Christian of Tucson, Ariz.; and 13 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the funeral home.
The body will be at the church 45 minutes before the funeral.
Verna Clark
DECATUR - Verna Clark, 85, of 2432 Bethel Road died Wednesday at a Huntsville rehabilitation center. The funeral will be Friday at 2 p.m. at Pine Ridge Baptist Church with the Rev. Eldridge Criscoe officiating.
Burial will be in Pine Ridge Cemetery.
Mrs. Clark was preceded in death by a son, Jerry Clark.
Survivors include her husband, Herbert Lacy Clark of Decatur; three sons, Billy Clark of Hartselle and Leslie Clark and Ken Clark, both of Decatur; one daughter, Monta Ellis of Huntsville; four sisters, Leona Strom and Grace Young, both of Pine Ridge, Lois Whisenant of Huntsville and Evelyn Campbell of North Carolina; and 15 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.
Nellie J. Dowell
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Nellie Johnson Dowell, 85, died Friday at her home. The memorial service will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Central Presbyterian Church in Huntsville.
Mrs. Johnson was born in Huntsville and taught for the Huntsville School System for 40 years. She was also a business partner with Jeff Smith in the Home Ice and Coal Co.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Tant Eddie Dowell.
Survivors include one daughter, Eddie Lynn Dowell Finch of Charlotte; son-in-law, David R. Finch of Charlotte; one brother, Billy Johnson of Toney; one sister, Ruth Johnson Hamilton of Sweet Water; and two grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Laughlin Service Funeral Home.
Memorial donations may be made to the Memorial Fund, Central Presbyterian Church, 406 Randolph Ave., Huntsville 35801.
Marlyn M.L. Durham
LANGSTON - Marlyn Marie Long Durham, 60, died Tuesday at a local hospital. The funeral was to be today at 11 a.m. at W.L. Wilson & Sons Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. C.E. Blevins and the Rev. Bill Delaney officiating.
Burial will be in Tennessee-Georgia Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mrs. Durham was preceded in death by her father, Deedie Long and a brother, James Long.
Survivors include her husband, Oran "O.H." Durham of Langston; one daughter, Danette M. Durham of Harrison, Tenn.; one son, Ronny O. Durham of Harrison; her mother, Lela Long of Chattanooga Valley, Ga.; two brothers, Roy "Curtis" Long Of Chattanooga Valley and Kenneth Long of Rossville, Ga.; and several nieces and nephews.
Gerda S. Geissler
Gerda S. Geissler, 77, of Huntsville died Thursday at her home. A graveside service will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Maple Hill Cemetery with Laughlin Service Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. Geissler was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Ernst Geissler.
Survivors include two daughters, Katharina Coupland of Huntsville and Barbara Stokes of Nashville; and two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to Hospice Family Care.
Ethel B. Hunt
Ethel Bowman Hunt, 91, of Huntsville died Saturday at her home. The funeral was to be today at 2:30 p.m. at Spry Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Doug Guthrie officiating.
Burial will be in Huntsville Memory Gardens Cemetery.
Mrs. Hunt was a native of Georgia and lifelong resident of Huntsville. She was also a member of Jackson Way Baptist Church and charter member of the Golden Circle.
Survivors include one son, Edward W. Hunt of Fresno, Calif.; one sister, Grace James of Gasden; and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial donations may be made to the Jackson Way Baptist Church Building Fund.
Eleanor D. Kirchner
Eleanor Demling Kirchner, 85, of Huntsville died Wednesday at a local hospital. Laughlin Service Funeral Home will announce funeral arrangements.
Survivors include one nephew, one great-niece and one great-nephew.
Visitation will be Friday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home with a prayer service at 7:30.
Mary E. Kitchens
Mary Edith Kitchens, 17, of Huntsville died Tuesday at a local hospital. Laughlin Service Funeral Home will announce funeral arrangements.
Miss Kitchens was a recent graduate at Faith Covenant Christian Academy and worked at the medical office of Dr. Lori Kaufman.
Survivors include her mother, Jeri Anne Clayton of Huntsville; her father, Richard W. Kitchens of Huntsville; one brother, Brandon W. Kitchens, U.S. Navy, Iceland; one half sister, Katherine Kitchens of Albertville; one stepbrother, Christopher Moore of Huntsville; her grandmother, Edith Kitchens of Crystal Springs, Miss.; and three uncles, three aunts and nine cousins.
Visitation will be Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Minnie B. Lindsay
BAILEYTON - Minnie Bell Lindsay, 94, of Baileyton died Tuesday in a local hospital. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at Gober Funeral Home in Arab.
Burial was to be in Baileyton Cemetery.
Survivors include four daughters, Lottie Wright, Ilavay Lindsay and Betty Ivey, all of Baileyton, and Bobbie Reliford of Guntersville; one son, Jimmy Lindsay of Baileyton; two sisters, Lois Harris of Guntersville and Velma Hudgins of Albertville; one brother, Verbon Webb of Guntersville; and 14 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren and 11 great-great-grandchildren.
A.G. Mitchell Jr.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A.G. Mitchell Jr., 63, of Jacksonville, Fla., formerly of Fyffe, Ala., died Wednesday at a Fort Payne, Ala., hospital. The funeral will be Friday at 1 p.m. at the Rainsville Funeral Home with the Rev. Phillip Webb officiating.
Burial will be in Nazareth Cemetery.
Survivors include two sisters, Bromia Lee Wood of Fyffe and Latricia Mitchell of Scottsboro; two nieces and a nephew.
Visitation was to be today at 1 p.m. at the funeral home.
Furman M. Porter
Furman M. Porter, 60, of Huntsville died Monday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at noon at First Missionary Baptist Church with the Rev. Herbert Cartwright, Jr. officiatng.
Burial will be in Valhalla Memory Gardens with Nelms Memorial Funeral Home in charge.
Mr. Porter was born in Pendleton, S.C., and was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He was an alumni of Athens State Colege and continued graduate studies at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. He also was employed at Xerox Corp. for almost 30 years.
Survivors include his wife, Bertha Yarbrough Porter; one daughter, Valeria Porter of Atlanta; one son, Marcus Porter of Auburn; six sisters, Honoree Smalls of Hollis, N.Y., Cladys P. Harrison of Pendleton, S.C., Montez Felder of Jamaica, N.Y., Inez Jones of St. Albans, N.Y., and Venzella Anderson and Furmella Porter, both of Pendleton; and two brothers, Gerald Porter and Edward Porter, both of Pendleton.
Visitation will be Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
The body will be at the church an hour before the funeral.
Josephine K. Rogers
Josephine Kilgore Rogers, 94, of Huntsville died Wednesday at her home. The funeral will be Friday at 11 a.m. at Laughlin Service Funeral Home chapel with Dr. Bill Cockrill officiating.
Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery.
Mrs. Rogers was a high school teacher and choral director for 25 years. She had a degree in music from the University of Montevalo and was also a member of First Presbyterian Church.
Survivors include one son, Dr. James H. Rogers of Huntsville; and two grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be Friday from 10 to 11 a.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to the First Presbyterian Church or Presbyterian Childrens Home in Talledega.
Ruby L. Sears
FYFFE - Ruby Lee Sears, 87, died Tuesday in a Jackson County hospital. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at W.T. Wilson Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Phillip Webb officiating.
Burial will be Mt. View Memory Gardens Cemetery.
Mrs. Sears was a member of New Sardis Baptist Church. Survivors include one daughter, Ann Mars of Rainsville; two sisters, Cleatie Roden of Section and Velma Bryant of Rossville; and three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Willie Rose Simmons
HARTSELLE - Mrs. Willie Rose Simmons, 68, of Tapscott Road died Tuesday at her residence. The funeral will be Thursday at 1 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home with the Rev. Bob Williams officiating.
Burial will be in Mount Tabor Cemetery.
Mrs. Simmons was a native of Morgan County, a homemaker and a cosmetologist.
Survivors include one daughter, Lynn McHan of Hartselle; two sisters, Jessie Lee and Esther Robertson, both of Hartselle; and one grandson.
Grace R. Stewart
MADISON - Grace R. Stewart died Tuesday at a local hospital. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at Laughlin Service Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Alan Weatherly and Larry Wright officiating Burial will be in Madison City Cemetery.
Survivors include three sons, Billy J. Stewart and Kenneth W. Stewart, both of Madison, and Wilbert Stewart of California; one daughter, Katie S. Tipton of Huntsville; one brother, James Ransom of Athens; two sisters, Naomi Fagan of Huntsville and Mary Elizabeth Bergstrom of Norfolk, Va.; and six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to Asbury United Methodist Church of Madison.
Marvin Stone Sr.
Marvin Stone, 47, of 4708 Broad Meadow Lane died Tuesday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Friday at noon at Syler Tabernacle P.B. Church with the Rev. John Clay officiating.
Burial will be in Pine Grove Cemetery with Royal Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include his wife, Lois Stone of Huntsville; four daughters, Ontina Michall Davila, Michell Stone, Brittany Stone and Latasha Stone, all of Huntsville; one son, Marvin Stone Jr. of Huntsville; his mother, Gladys Stone Smith of Huntsville; five brothers, John E. Stone, Walter Lee Stone, Vernon Stone and Vance Stone, all of Huntsville and Curtis James of Conyers, Ga.; five sisters, Audrey Stone and Pearline McCaulley, both of Huntsville, Leona Barnes of Miami, Fla., Mary Alexander of Gurley and Priscilla Pope of Toney; and three grandchildren.
The body will be at the church an hour before the funeral.
James L. Sweatt
James Lloyd Sweat, 81, of Huntsville died Monday at a local hospital. Spry Funeral Home will announce funeral arrangements.
Mr. Sweatt was a native of Florence and a resident of Rockport, Texas, for 21 years.
Survivors include his wife, Olga O. Sweatt of Huntsville; one daughter, Pat Cleveland of Huntsville; one son, Dennis James Sweatt of Bryan, Texas; and three grandchildren and one great-grandson.
Fred F. Thompson
MADISON - Fred F. Thompson, 71, of 347 Capshaw Road died Dec. 21 at his residence. The memorial service will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Madison Community Presbyterian Church.
Survivors include his wife, Pauline Thompson of Madison; one son, Dale Thompson of Huntsville; three stepdaughters, Ann Sanderson of Huntsville, Janice Morgan of Pinehill and Betty Helton of Grand Bay; one stepson, J.C. Hayes of Mississippi; one sister, Velma Morgan and Clara Lee Smith, both of Mobile; and one brother, Sam M. Thompson of Mobile.
George B. Wood
BLAIRSVILLE, Ga. - The Right Rev. George B. Wood died Tuesday. The funeral will be Friday at 1 p.m. at the Church of the Nativity with Dr. Roderic L. Murray officiating.
Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery with Laughlin Service Funeral Home in charge.
Rev. Wood was a graduate of Hoosac School in Hoosick, N.Y., and held a doctor of divinity degree from Nashotah House Seminary in Nashotah, Wis. He had been the rector of Trinity Episcopal Church in Fort Wayne, Ind., for 24 years, and had been associated with the Church of the Nativity in Huntsville for 28 years.
He also was past president and permanent chaplain for the 82nd Airborne Division Association. Rev. Wood was past national chaplain of AMVETS, an honorary citizen of Ste. Mere Eglise, Normandy, France, vice chairman of the Hall of Fame of Parachuting and a 35-year member of the Kiwanis Club.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Wilma E. Pratt Wood.
Survivors include one son, G. Michael Wood of Evansville, Ind.; one daughter, Kathryn H. Du Fresne of Blairsville, Ga.; one sister, Miriam Wood of Pulaski, N.Y.; and two grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Visitation will be today from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Church of Nativity.
Memorial donations may be made to the 82nd Airborne Division Association Education Fund, 3310 Boone Trail, Fayetteville, N.C., 28306-2136 or The Church of Nativity Memorial Fund in Huntsville.
