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.
Billie S. Alley
Billie Sue Alley, 67, of Huntsville died Saturday at her home. Spry Funeral Home will announce funeral arrangements.
Burial will be in Valley View Memorial Gardens.
Mrs. Alley was a native of Chattanooga, Tenn., and had lived in Madison County 30 years.
Survivors include her husband, Raymond Alley of Huntsville; one daughter, Rae Ann Hackett of Huntsville; three sisters, Norma Jean Hart of Cleveland, Tenn., and Bobbie Lovelace and Clio King, both of Chattanooga; two brothers, James A. Burkett of Gettysburg, Pa., and Thomas Ray Burkett of Cleveland, Tenn.; and two grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
Ralph O. Cabaniss
LAKE WORTH, Fla. - Ralph O. Cabaniss, 77, died Feb. 15 at West Palm Beach. A graveside service will be Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Maple Hill Cemetery with Donald Ramey officiating and Spry Funeral Home in charge.
Mr. Cabaniss was a native of Gurley and a resident of Huntsville before moving to the Palm Beach area in 1959. He was an engineer with Pratt & Whitney for 27 years before retiring in 1987. He served with the U.S. Navy in World War II and Korean War, and was a member of the Scottish Rites Bodies, Shrine Order of the Eastern Star, a Knight Mason of America and Philalathes Society and 33rd Degree Sovereign Inspector General Honorary.
Survivors include his wife, Joyce Irene Cabaniss; one daughter, Jean Cabaniss Kunz of Irvine, Calif.; three stepsons, Calvin N. Morrow of Delton, Mich., James C. Morrow of Harrison, Mich. and Timothy Lee Morrow of Tarzana, Calif.; one stepdaughter, Janis Marie Morrow of Delton; one sister, Neida Lamb of Huntsville; and one granddaughter, 11 step-grandchildren and two nieces and two nephews.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Meyer L. Distelheim
LA MESA, Calif. - Meyer Louis Distelheim, 88, died Sunday at his home. The funeral will be Tuesday at Green wood Memorial Park and Mortuary in San Diego.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Phyllis Distelheim.
Survivors include one son, Joe Distelheim, editor of The Huntsville Times, and one daughter, Donna Huchel of La Jolla, Calif. Memorial donations may be made to a favorite charity.
Creola M. Ferguson
Creola Marcelene Ferguson, 81, of Huntsville died Friday at a Lynchburg, Tenn., nursing home. Spry Funeral Home will announce funeral arrangements.
Mrs. Ferguson was a native of Panama, Ill., and had lived in Madison County several years.
Survivors include one daughter, Judy Cornelius of Winston-Salem, N.C.; two sons, James Edward Ferguson of Huntsville and Bill Ferguson of Los Angeles; and several grandchildren.
John Griffin Jr.
PROSPECT, Tenn. - John Griffin Jr., 66, of River Bend Road died Sunday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Tuesday at 1 p.m. at Taylor-Ardmore Funeral Home with the Rev. William Suddarth officiating.
Burial will be in Elkton Cemetery.
Survivors include his wife, Polly Mitchell Griffin of Prospect; two sons, Donnie Griffin of Elkton and Johnny Griffin of Pulaski; one brother, William "Bill" Griffin of Blanche; two sisters, Gladys Steadman of Blanche and Wanda Nix of Shelbyville; and five grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be today from 5 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Gracie Hancock
CHATTANOOGA - Gracie Hancock, 83, died Friday. The funeral was today at 10 a.m. at Section Funeral Home.
Burial was in Macedonia Cemetery.
Mrs. Hancock was preceded in death by her husband, Swan Hancock.
Survivors include five daughters, Shirley Conley of Chattanooga, Karen Cooper of Chickamauga, Ga., Louvina Treece of Section, Ala., and Lucy Little of Langston and Cleo Goins of Rossville, Ga.; four sons, Ray S. Hancock of Manchester, Ind., James A. Hancock of Flat Rock, Ala., Walter W. Hancock of Rensselear, Ind., and Marlon Hancock of Rossville, Ga.; four sisters, Emma Tankersley and Ruthie Lackey, both of Chattanooga, and Jessie Davis and Ruby Lackey, both of Fort Payne, Ala.; and 32 grandchildren and 50 great-grandchildren.
Robert R. Hartsell
Robert R. Hartsell, 83, of Huntsville died Sunday at his home. A graveside service will be Tuesday at 3 p.m. at Maple Hill Cemetery with the Rev. Bob Weston officiating.
Laughlin Service Funeral Home is in charge of burial.
Mr. Hartsell was an Auburn graduate, a retired Army lieutenant colonel and a veteran of World War II.
Survivors include his wife, Ollie H. Hartsell of Huntsville; one son, William A. Hartsell of Huntsville; one stepson, Harry Coates of Huntsville; one stepdaughter, Jackie Phillips of Huntsville; and eight grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association or to the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
Jesse R. Houston
FYFFE - Jesse Ray "Jake" Houston, 79, died Saturday at a DeKalb County hospital. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at W.T. Wilson Funeral Home chapel with the Revs. Ralph Johnson and Melvin Hilley officiating.
Survivors include his wife, Ileen Allen Houston of Fyffe; one stepson, Grady Hunt of Temple, Ga.; one sister, Inez Woodson of Rome, Ga.; one brother, Bill Houston of Cullman; and one step-granddaughter.
Tom W. Jordan
ALBERTVILLE - Tom Watson Jordan, 81, of 150 Rabbit Town Road died Saturday at a Gadsden hospital. The funeral will be Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Solitude Baptist Church.
Burial will be in Marshall Memorial Garden.
Survivors include his wife, Vela Jordan; one daughter, Patricia Boen of Albertville; two sisters, Edna Harring and Julia Stone, both of Georgia; one brother, Charles Jordan of Albertville; and one grandchild.
Ella M. Miller
BOAZ - Ella Mae Miller, 75, of 603 Royal Ave. died Saturday at a local hospital. The funeral was to be today at 1 p.m. at Carr Funeral Home in Boaz.
Burial was to be in Hillcrest Cemetery.
Survivors include her husband, Clifford Miller; two sons, Donnie Miller of Florida and Gene Miller of Whitesboro; one sister, Eva Belle Camp of Albertville; one brother, Doyle Beck of Albertville; and three grandchildren.
Mack T. Nix
KELSO, Tenn. - Mack Taylor Nix, 90, of 12 Franklin Road died Sunday in a Fayetteville nursing home. The funeral will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Higgins Funeral Home with the Revs. Billy Langford and Kirk Smith officiating.
Burial will be in Kelso Cemetery.
Mr. Nix was a native of Lincoln County, a school bus driver for 23 years, a farmer and a member of Kelso Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
Survivors include one son, Jack Nix of Kelso; and one niece, Jeanette Jakovinia Paulson of Minnesota.
Visitation will be Tuesday at 5 p.m. at the Funeral Home.
William H. Norris
NEW MARKET - William Howard Norris, 85, died Friday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral was Sunday at Spry Chapel with Rev. Benny Berry and Dr. Don Tarter officiating.
Burial was in Norris Cemetery with Spry Funeral Home in charge.
Mr. Norris was a lifelong resident of Madison County, a World War II veteran and a retired farmer and carpenter.
Survivors include his wife, Frances H. Norris; two daughters, Gayla N. Hale and Myra N. Tunstill, both of New Market; three sisters, Allie Kenney of Hazel Green, Margurite Moore of Meridianville and Virginia Adams of Florence; and three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Lenna R. Pearson
Lenna Rebeca Pearson, 88, of Huntsville died Sunday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Laughlin Service Funeral Home chapel with Jerry Strickland officiating.
Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery.
Survivors include her husband, Walter Eugene Pearson of Huntsville; two sons, Travis Pearson of Guntersville and Marti Pearson of Hartselle; four daughters, Mary Allen of Childersburg, Faye Linard and Dorothy Wandell, both of Birmingham, and Diane Selvage of Huntsville; 19 grandchildren, including Tammy Strickland of Huntsville; and several great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Albert E. Peterson
CULLMAN - Albert E. Peterson, 68, died Saturday at his home. The memorial service will be Tuesday at 4 p.m. at Moss-Terry Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Dan Kitchens officiating.
Mr. Peterson was a retired AmSouth banker. He was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia Carter Peterson.
Survivors include one daughter, Terri Burdette of Huntsville; one sister, Ada Bremer of Wheeling, W.Va.; and two grandchildren.
Visitation will be Tuesday from 3 to 4 p.m. at the funeral home.
George H. Pillow
ATHENS - George H. Pillow, 76, of 12591 Lentzville Road died Saturday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Limestone Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. David Williams officiating.
Burial will be in Huntsville Memory Gardens.
Mr. Pillow was a retired bakery manager and a member of the Lucas Ferry Pentecostal Church of God. He served in the Navy in World War II.
Survivors include his wife, Kathryn Pillow of Athens; two sons, George Howard Pillow of Chicago and James T. Pillow of Elkmont; three daughters, Joyce Lee Jackson and Carolyn D. Roberson, both of Athens, and Janet L. Richter of Masawa, Japan; two sisters, Maunola Watts and Mary Nola Bibus, both of Athens; and 20 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be today from 5 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Elsie J. Rector
ELKMONT - Elsie Johnson Rector, 85, died Saturday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Tuesday at 1 p.m. at Spry Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Larry Dyar officiating.
Burial will be in Huntsville Memory Gardens.
Mrs. Rector was a native of Grundy County, Tenn., but spent most her life in Madison County. She was a retired textile worker.
Survivors include one son, Lloyd Rector of Elkmont, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 5 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Dollie M. Robertson
ARAB - Dollie Mooney Robertson, 79, of 843 Saylor Circle died Saturday at a local hospital. The funeral was to be today at 1 p.m. at Hill Top Church of God.
Burial was to be in Lystra Cemetery with Arab Memorial Chapel Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include her husband, Edward Robertson; one daughter, Vickey Cox of Eva; three sons, Gary Mooney and Rickey Mooney, both of Eva, and Ronnie Mooney of Oklahoma; one brother, Charlie Mooney of Tennessee; and 10 grandchildren.
Forrest D. Stinnett
ELKMONT - Forrest Dwight Stinnett, 42, died Friday in Limestone County. The funeral will be Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Madison Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. Eddie Bond officiating.
Burial will be in Roselawn Cemetery in Athens.
Survivors include his wife, Deborah Stinnett of Elkmont; four sons, Ethan Stinnett of Athens, Michael Lonney and Matthew Looney, both of Cullman, and Stanley Looney of Hanceville; his mother, Mary Stinnett of Capshaw; two brothers, Paul Stinnett and Keith Stinnett, both of Capshaw; two sisters, Delilah Martin and Vickie Stinnett, both of Caphsaw; and four grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Sylvia Weaver
GARLAND, Texas - Sylvia Weaver, 60, died Saturday at her home. Spry Funeral Home will announce funeral arrangements.
She was formerly of Huntsville, Ala.
