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 Bankhead Sr.
NEW MARKET - James Edward Bankhead Sr., 48, died Wednesday at his home. The funeral will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Fort McCoy Cemetery in Florida.
Spry Funeral Home is in charge of local arrangements.
Mr. Bankhead was a native of Morgantown, W.V., and had lived in Madison County six years. He was preceded in death by two sons, Delmas Bankhead and Doyal Bankhead.
Survivors include his wife, Wanda H. Bankhead of New Market; one daughter, Kim Bankhead of New Market; two sons, James E. Bankhead Jr. of New Market and Rick Winters; and several brothers and sisters.
Joe H. Bass
PULASKI, Tenn. - Joe H. Bass, 65, of Vales Mill Road died Thursday at his home. The funeral will be Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Bennett-May Funeral Home with the Rev. Doug Plummley officiating.
Burial will be in Giles Memory Garden.
Mr. Bass was a retired educator, real estate broker and auctioneer. He was also a deacon at First Baptist Church and a Korean War veteran.
Survivors include his wife, Peggy Cathcart Bass of Pulaski; two sons, Barry Joe Bass and Tommy Keith Bass, both of Pulaski; two sisters, Alice Gooch of Pulaski and Faye Tate of Madison; and three grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial donations may be made to the First Baptist Church building fund in Pulaski, American Lupus Society or Henry Bass Scholarship Fund at Martin College.
Visitation will be today from 1 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
John T. Caneer
TUSCALOOSA - John Thomas Caneer, 73, died Wednesday at a Tuscaloosa hospital. The graveside service will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Maple Hill Cemetery.
Laughlin Service Funeral Home is in charge of burial.
Survivors include three brothers, Cecil V. Caneer of Jacksonville, Fla., Bill Caneer of Huntsville and Charles Caneer of New Market; two sisters, Vivian Phillips and Dorothy Schnetzler, both of Huntsville; and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be today form 4 to 6 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to a favorite charity.
Greta L. Coleman
ATHENS - Greta Lucille Coleman, 84, died Thursday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at noon at Spry Funeral Home in Athens with Calvin Havens and Bennie Colvett officiating.
Burial will be in Sandlin Cemetery.
Miss Coleman was a native of Limestone County, a member of Cairo United Methodist Church, a retired teachers aide for the Limestone County Board of Education and was the first female graduate of West Limestone High School.
Survivors include three nieces, Mollie Hardaway Davis of Athens, Robbie Moore Calloway of Greenville, S.C. and Betty Moore Yeager of Clarksdale, Miss.; and one nephew, Mack Coleman of Atlanta.
Larry W. Congo
Larry Wayne Congo, 48, of Huntsville died Thursday at his home. The funeral will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at Northside Baptist Church with the Rev. David Carpenter and the Rev. Larry Johnson officiating.
Burial will be in Campground Cemetery with Spry Funeral Home in charge.
Mr. Congo was a lifelong resident of Madison County and a member of Northside Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Donna H. Congo of Huntsville; one daughter, Jennifer Congo of Huntsville; two sons, Jamie Congo and Cale Congo, both of Huntsville; four sisters, Mildred Casteel of Hazel Green, Betty Ginn of New Hope, Patsy LeCroy of Brownsboro and Mary Powers of Katy, Texas; four brothers, Buddy Congo and Vernon Congo, both of Owens Cross Roads, Pete Congo of Toney and Billy Congo of Gurley; and two grandchildren.
Visitation will be Saturday from 1:30 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
His body will be at the church one hour before the funeral.
Oscar C. Drake
Oscar C. Drake of Huntsville died Wednesday at a local nursing home. The funeral will be Saturday at noon at Meridianville Bottom Primitive Baptist Church with the Rev. John Baker officiating.
Burial will be in Blutchers-Ford Cemetery with Royal Funeral Home in charge.
Mr. Drake retired from the City of Huntsville after 22 years and was a deacon at Meridianville Bottom Primitive Baptist Church more than 50 years.
Survivors include his wife, Annie K. Drake of Huntsville; two daughters, Vera D. Curry and Eura D. Sales, both of Huntsville; five sons, Shelby Drake and Elbert L. Drake, both of Huntsville, Oscar Drake Jr. of Nashville, Clarence L. Drake of Toney and Melvin Drake of Goodlettsville, Tenn.; two sisters, Odell Shelkers and Hazell Bone, both of Huntsville; and 22 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
His body will be at the church one hour before the funeral.
Visitation will be today from 7 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Robert Eastep
ELKMONT - Robert ''Shackle Eastep, 64, of Harris Loop Road died Thursday at his home. The funeral will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Spry Funeral Home in Athens with Bobby Marks officiating.
Burial will be in Legg Cemetery.
Mr. Eastep was a retired heavy equipment operator and was preceded in death by one daughter, Sherry Eastep.
Survivors include one daughter, Angie Royster of Athens; one son, Neal Eastep of Elkmont; one sister, Syble Faye Miller of New Market; and two grandchildren and one niece.
Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Limestone County.
Margaret Farris
DECATUR - Margaret Adele Moore Farris, 85, died Thursday at an area nursing home. The funeral will be Saturday at 10 a.m. at Peck Funeral Home in Hartselle. The graveside service will be Saturday at 4 p.m. at Corinth City Cemetery in Corinth, Miss.
Mrs. Ferris was formerly of Corinth. She was preceded in death by her husband, Aubrey Martin Farris; and one son, Rodney Moore Farris.
Survivors include two daughters, Linda Farris Webster of Hartselle and Sandra Ferris Curtis of Memphis; and seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 7 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Leonard L. Holcomb
SECTION - Leonard Lee Holcomb, 81, died Wednesday at a local hospital. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at W.T. Wilson Funeral Chapel.
Burial will be in Macedonia Cemetery.
Mr. Holcomb was preceded in death by one daughter, Daphane Holcomb.
Survivors include his wife, Irene Holcomb of Section; three sons, Delbert Holcomb of Rainsville, Elbert Holcomb of Scottsboro and Steve Holcomb of Section; one sister, Pearl Wilborn of Rainsville; two brothers, Bill Holcomb of Grove Oak and Ben Holcomb of Crossville; and eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
John Johnson III
DETROIT - John "Lil Bro" Johnson III, 54, died Saturday in Detroit. The funeral will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at Nelms Memorial Funeral Home chapel with Elder Billy Jones officiating.
Burial will be in Meadowlawn Garden of Peace.
Mr. Johnson was formerly of Huntsville.
Survivors include four sisters, Bettye Martin Brown and Nelsia Johnson Jones, both of Huntsville, Gloria Gurley of Detroit and Joan F. Adams of Seaside, Calif.; two brothers, Sammie Johnson and Ronnie "Dink" Lanier, both of Huntsville; and one uncle.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Selma H. Lewis
GUNTERSVILLE - Selma Henderson Lewis, 86, died Wednesday at a Marshall County hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at Laughlin Service Funeral Home chapel with Pastors Merle Landis and Stanley Knight officiating.
Burial will be in Huntsville Memory Gardens.
Mrs. Lewis was a member of Central Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Survivors include seven grandchildren, Gene W. Lewis of Hampton, Ga., Wanda S. Munger of Duluth, Ga., Wayne Covington of Grant, Ray Covington of Huntsville, Renee Majors of New Market, Diane Mahan of McDonough, Ga., and Jamie DiNocola of Louisiana; and 13 great-grandchildren and one niece.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Carl E. Manderson
SCOTTSBORO - Carl E. Manderson, 47, died Thursday. The funeral will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Scottsboro Funeral Home with the Rev. R.L. Tyler officiating.
Burial will be in Pinehaven Memorial Gardens in Hollywood.
Mr. Manderson was employed by Mead Containerboard for 20 years. He was an avid golfer and a member of the Goosepond Plantation Golf Course.
Survivors include his wife, Debbie Mosley Manderson; two daughters, Amanda Manderson and Katie Manderson, both of Scottsboro; and his mother, Mary Tierce of Scottsboro.
Visitation was to be today from 5 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Dorothea Mills
KELSO, Tenn. - Dorothea Mills, 65, of Lincoln Lake Road died Wednesday at a local hospital. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at Gallant Funeral Home in Fayetteville, Tenn., with the Rev. Charles George officiating.
Burial will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery.
Mrs. Mills was a native of Lincoln County, Tenn., retired from Chrysler Corp. and a member of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by one son, Randy Mills.
Survivors include her husband, Lois Mills of Kelso; two sons, Larry Mills of Tupelo, Miss., and Terry Mills of Flintville; two daughters, Linda Harris of Fayetteville and Pam Steelman of Flintville; four brothers, Lawson Campbell of Fayetteville, Lane Campbell of New Market, Carold Campbell of Athens and Kenneth Campbell of Elora, Tenn.; two sisters, Ophelia Gaustad of Niceville, Fla., and Tela Stevenson of Fayetteville; and four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Mary J. Moore
ATHENS - Mary Jane Moore, 64, died Thursday at an Athens hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at Spry Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Charlie Warden officiating.
Burial will be in Bellview Cemetery.
Mrs. Moore was a native of Morgan County, but spent most her life in Madison County. She worked at David Gibson Bar-B-Q several years.
Survivors include one daughter, Mary Vinson of Elkmont; two sons, Frankie T. Moore of Hazel Green and Johnny F. Moore of Elkmont; one sister, Sarah Sylvester of Athens; one brother, William McCarley of California; and eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 3:30 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Michael D. Rolin
ARDMORE, Ala. - Michael Deverl Rolin, 42, of 2nd Street died Wednesday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Taylor-Ardmore Funeral Home chapel with Harold Whitt officiating.
Burial will be in Pettusville Cemetery in Elkmont.
Survivors include his mother, Margaret Rolin of Ardmore, Ala., his father, Howard Rolin of Athens; two brothers, Neal Rolin of Ardmore, Ala., and Marty Rolin of Prospect, Tenn.; one sister, Jan Miller of Ardmore, Tenn.; and three nieces and three nephews.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Roberta Wells
Roberta Valeria Walker Wells, 81, of Huntsville died Tuesday in New Hope. The funeral will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at Maple Hill Cemetery.
Spry Funeral Home is in charge of burial.
Mrs. Wells was a native of Atlanta and was known for helping children with the newspaper route in the Willowbrook area. She was preceded in death by her husband, Hubert B. "Hub" Wells.
Survivors include one daughter, Bonnie W. Coggin of Birmingham; two sons, William A. Wells of Alpharetta, Ga., and Edwin B. Wells of Dale City, Okla.; and three grandchildren.
