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 D. Adams
ATHENS - James Dewitt "J.D." Adams, 73, of Athens, died Thursday in Athens. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at Spry Funeral Home with Joey Curtis officiating.
Burial will be in Limestone Memorial Gardens.
Mr. Adams was a native of Limestone County and was employed at Collins Supply Co.
Survivors include his wife, Pauline Adams; three daughters, Carolyn Hill, Pat Couey and Sherl Putman, all of Athens; one son, James "Bubba Adams of Athens; two sisters, Madaline Dement and Marie Gooch, both of Athens; one brother, Charles Adams of Veto; eight grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
Ruby C. Brannon
MADISON - Ruby Crutcher Brannon, 82, died Saturday at a local nursing home. A graveside service will be held Monday at 10:30 a.m. at Huntsville Memory Gardens with Spry Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. Brannon was a native of Jackson County and was a resident of Madison County for 64 years. She was a member of the Church of Christ.
Survivors include three stepsons, R.O. Crutcher of Hazel Green, Tommy Crutcher of Huntsville and David Crutcher of Toney; one stepdaughter, Estelle Whittworth of Athens; and a number of step grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Freddy B. Chamblee
BOAZ - Freddy Birtron "Slim Chamblee, 74, of 75 Garden Lane died Friday in a local hospital. The funeral will be Monday at 2 p.m. at New Home Baptist Church.
Burial will be in the adjoining cemetery with Carr Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include his wife, Mauzell P. Chamblee; two daughters, Myra Green e and Marsha Champion, both of Boaz; one sister, Girtrude Coe of Texas; two brothers, J.T. Chamblee of Guntersville and Bernard Chamblee of Texas; and three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Joseph W. Coffman
Joseph Weldon Coffman, 80, of Huntsville died Thursday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Monday at 2:30 p.m. at Spry Chapel with Dr. Charles Baker officiating.
Burial will be in Valhalla Memory Gardens with Spry Funeral Home in charge.
Mr. Coffman was a native of Farmersville, Texas, and a resident of Madison County for the past 43 years. He was a World War II veteran of the Army Air Corps and retired from the U.S. Army Missile Command in 1981. He was also a member of Alabama and National Society of Professional Engineers and Institute of Industrial Engineers.
Survivors include his wife, Lilly Belle Coffman of Huntsville; and several cousins.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to American Heart Association or Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas.
Wilma R. Corris
FAIRFIELD, Conn. - Wilma Rita Dina Corris, 81, died Saturday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Tuesday at 10 a.m. St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Fairfield.
Internment will be at St. Thomas Mausoleum with Shaughnessey Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. Corris was born in Bridgeport, Conn., and was a lifelong resident of Fairfield. She was employed as a lab technician, a dental assistant and a receptionist.
Survivors include her son, Charles James Corris of Elkmont, Ala.; three sisters, Anna Santolini, Helen Dina and Mary Rockwell, all of Bridgeport, Conn.; two grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be Monday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Ronald D. Drake
Ronald Dean Drake, 38, of Huntsville died Saturday at his home. The funeral will be today at 4 p.m. at Spry Funeral Home with Rev. Paul Lawler officiating.
Mr. Drake was a native of Anniston and a resident of Madison County for the past 28 years.
Survivors include his wife, Jamie L. Stoner; one son, Mark Drake of Cullman; his mother, Jayne Chapman of Huntsville; his father, William V. Drake of Covington, Ga.; one brother, Donald Drake of Huntsville; one sister, Lori Potts of Covington, Ga.; maternal grandmother, Mrs. F.M. Jenkins of Oxford; paternal grandmother, Mrs. Viola Drake of Adrian, Ga.
Visitation will be today from 1 to 4 p.m. at the funeral home.
George N. Fears
George Newton Fears, 94, of Huntsville died Friday at his residence. A graveside service will be Monday at 10 a.m. at Cameron Cemetery with Rev. Dalton Styles officiating and Spry Funeral Home in charge.
Mr. Fears was a native of Lincoln County, Tenn., and lived most of his life in Huntsville. He worked for TVA for many years, was a retired carpenter and a member of the Holmes Street Methodist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Aneeda Fears; two sons, Doug Fears of New Market and Wayne Fears of Heflin; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 5 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Holmes Street United Methodist Church.
Charles Edward Haney
ATHENS - Charles Edward Haney, 62, of 700 Fifth Ave. died Friday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral will be Monday at 2 p.m. at Spry Funeral Home.
Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery.
Mr. Haney was a native of Limestone County and was a retired concrete finisher.
Survivors include his father, Ross Haney of Athens; two sisters, Carolyn Stewart of Athens and Nancy Clem of Somerville; one brother, Larry Haney of Athens; and several nieces and nephews.
Ruthetta R. Ingram
FLAT ROCK - Mrs. Ruthetta Rae Ingram, 36, of Flat Rock died Thursday in Trenton, Ga. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at the Rudder Funeral Home in Stevenson with the Rev. Clayton Bowen officiating.
Burial will be in Smith Cemetery in Flat Rock.
Mrs. Ingram was preceded in death by one son, J.J. Ingram.
Survivors include two sons, Elijah Shane Ingram and Richard John Newland, both of Flat Rock; her parents, John and Faye Ingram of Flat Rock; one sister, Teresa Matthews of Flat Rock; and one brother, Ricky Ingram of Flat Rock.
Dovie M. Jolley
HORTON - Dovie Mae Jolley, 86, of 494 Jolley Drive died Friday in a Boaz nursing home. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at Rock Springs Baptist Church.
Burial will be in the adjoining cemetery with Adams Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include four daughters, Pearlene Smith and Margaret Camp, both of Horton, Mervelene Templeton of Crossville and Lou Emma Lee of Albertville; two sons, James Jolley of Horton and Marvin Jolley of Albertville; one sister, Reba Jolley of Crossville; and 21 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.
Roger E. Knutson
Roger Edwin Knutson, 63, of Huntsville died Monday at his residence. A memorial service was held Saturday at Huntsville Christian Church with Spry Funeral Home in charge.
Mr. Knutson was a native of Michigan and lived in Huntsville for the past 19 years. He served in the U.S. Army and the U.S. Navy.
Survivors include his wife, Lorine Knutson; two stepsons, Jimmy Harris of Owens Cross Roads and Alan Harris of Toney; one sister, Judy Woodfill of Marinett, Wisc.
John M. Loveday
John Marvin Loveday, 88, of Huntsville died Saturday at his home. The funeral will be Monday at 11:30 a.m. at Spry Chapel with Rev. W.O. McCain and Rev. Charles Miller officiating.
Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery with Spry Funeral Home in charge.
Mr. Loveday was a native of Madison County and a retired farmer. He was the oldest deacon in Cedar Gap Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Mildred Louise Loveday; two daughters, Jo Ann Fisher and Faye Dye, both of Huntsville; two brothers, Neal Loveday and Kenneth Loveday, both of Huntsville; one sister, Evelyn Mitchell of Huntsville; four grandchildren, six great-grandsons and one great-great-grandson.
Visitation will be today from 4 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Catherine North
VILLA RICA, Ga. - Catherine North, 65, died Thursday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Monday at 1 p.m. at Union Chapel Missionary Baptist Church with Rev. Charles Rogers officiating.
Burial will be in Northside Cemetery with Nelms Memorial Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. North was a former resident of Huntsville.
Survivors include three daughters, Jacqueline Watkins of Huntsville, Kathy James of Carrollton, Ga., and Wanda Dominick of Douglasville, Ga.; two sons, Kenneth Boone of Huntsville and Joe A. North, Jr. of Villa Rica, Ga.; three sisters, Grace Gardner, Gertrude Gaines and Gwendolyn R. Turner, all of Huntsville; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
The body will be at the church one hour before the funeral.
Gwendolyn J. Pierce
DECATUR - Mrs. Gwendolyn Joyce Batye Pierce, 65, died Friday at a local hospital. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at Roselawn Funeral Home with the Rev. Charles Garland and the Rev. Herb Williamson officiating.
Burial will be in Burningtree Memorial Gardens.
Mrs. Pierce was a member of Decatur Presbyterian Church.
Survivors include her husband, Jim Pierce; three daughters, Lynn Commander of Alexander City, Anne Slaten of Northport and Carla Thompson of Raleigh, N.C.; and one son, Larry Pierce of Decatur;
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, Leukemia Society.
Donald M. Smith
MADISON - Donald Malcolm Nofs Smith, 56, died Wednesday at his home. A closed private funeral service will be held today.
Mr. Smith was the son of the late famous pulp-fiction artist of the 1940s, Malcolm Hadden Smith. He was native of Chicago and had lived in Huntsville since 1960. Mr. Smith served in the Navy and was a graduate of the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
Survivors include his wife, Linday Faye Ogle Smith; one son, Donald M.N. Smith II of Ryland; one daughter, Sonya Brasher of West Blockton; one brother, Gregory W. Smith of Madison; and one granddaughter.
Memorial donations may be sent to an educational fund set up in Mr. Smiths granddaughters name, Nicholette Shaye Brasher. Contributions may be sent to any Redstone Federal Credit Union.
Kenneth G. Spears
ALBERTVILLE - Kenneth Gerald Spears, 60, of 466 Johnson Drive died Saturday at his home. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at Pleasant Hill No. 2 Baptist Church.
Burial will be in the adjoining cemetery with Adams Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include his wife, Joyce D. Spears; one daughter, Tammy Spears of Albertville; a godson, Justin Johnson of Huntsville; six sisters, Shirley Lolley and Wynonna Pruett, both of Geraldine, Bonnie Day of Gadsden, Sylvia Summerville of Scottsboro, Skee Brown of Attalla and Jene Moses of Ider; and one brother, J.C. Smith of Geraldine.
Betty A. Spindle
Betty Ann Spindle, 73, of Huntsville died Thursday at a local hospital. No funeral service is planned.
Burial will be in Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City, Nev., with Twickhenham Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include two sons, Thomas Spindle of California and Rocky Spindle, Sr. of Huntsville; three daughters, Barbara Higgins of Huntsville, Patricia Bose of Michigan and Sheree Sutton of Oregon; one brother, Harry Grey of California; two sisters, Dolly Schrimp and Dorothy Cangelosi, both of Florida; and 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Monday from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Twickenham Funeral Home, 11611 S. Memorial Parkway.
Jeffery W. Stephens
NORCROSS, Ga. - Jeffery "Jeff" W. Stephens, 33, died Friday in Birmingham. The funeral will be Monday at 2 p.m. at Valhalla Funeral Home with the Rev. Edwin Talley and the Rev. Eddy Lones officiating.
Burial will be in Valhalla Memory Gardens Cemetery.
Survivors include his parents, Teddy and Elsie Stephens of Huntsville; two brothers, Jason Stephens of Huntsville and David Stephens of Fayetteville, Tenn.; his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Bunt of Ragland; and several aunts and uncles.
Visitation will be today from 3 to 6 p.m. at the funeral home.
Mala M. Ventress
FAYETTEVILLE, Tenn. - Mrs. Male Mae Ventress, 84, died Friday at a local nursing home. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at Gallant Funeral Home with Rev. Tommy Graham officiating.
Burial will be in Stewart Cemetery with Gallant Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. Ventress was a native of Lincoln County and a member of Hilldale Baptist Church.
Survivors include one daughter, Betty Jean Bland of Fayetteville; two sons, Charles Ventress and Bill Ventress, both of Fayetteville; and one foster son, Johnny Bragg of Fayetteville.
Bertha Westmoreland
SECTION - Mrs. Bertha Westmoreland, 63, of Section died Friday. The funeral will be today at 3 p.m. at the New Sardis Baptist Church with the Revs. Phillip Webb and Ken Johnson officiating.
Burial will be in Kirk Memorial Gardens in Rainsville with Rainsville Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include one daughter, Debra Westmoreland of Fort Payne; two sons, David Westmoreland of Powell and Kyle Westmoreland of Rainsville; one sister, Arizona Beam of Arab; three brothers, Alvin Barksdale of Attalla, Olney Barksdale of Chickamauga, Ga., and Floyd Barksdale of Chattanooga, Tenn.; three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Don W. Woodall
Don W. Woodall, 51, of Huntsville died Friday at a local hospital. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at Valhalla Funeral Home.
Burial will be in Valhalla Memory Gardens.
Mr. Woodall was formerly employed with the City Board of Education and also with the Tennessee Valley Authority in Chattanooga.
Survivors include his mother, Otha Mae Woodall of Huntsville; one sister, Linda Woodall of Huntsville; and one brother, Chris Woodall of Huntsville.
