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.
Robert C. Baker Jr.
GRANT - Robert C. Baker Jr., 41, died Friday at his home. A graveside service will be today at 2 p.m. at Pine Island Cemetery with Bro. Loyle Holt officiating and Grant Memorial Chapel Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert and JoAnn Baker of Grant; one daughter, Brandy Laura Lee Baker of Grant; two sons, Robert C. Baker III and Joseph L. Baker, both of Grant; three sisters, Bobbie Jo Naler and Linda Gaye Baker Krzyzewski, both of Grant, and Margaret Annette Bloom of Virginia Beach, Va.
Mae Blakemore
BROWNSBORO - Mae Ola Russell Blakemore, 92, died Friday. Laughlin Service Funeral Home will announce funeral arrangements.
Mrs. Blakemore retired from Sears, Roebuck and Co. in 1971. She was a past member of the Fraternal Order of Police Ladies Auxiliary and a member of the Big Cove Presbyterian Church, U.S.A.
Mrs. Blakemore was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas L. Blakemore.
Survivors include one son, Thomas D. Blakemore of Big Cove; one daughter, Marion Jo Peets of Jackson, Miss.; two sisters, Claudie Mae Hicks and Geraldine Haywood, both of Sylacauga; and three grandchildren.
Donations may be made to the Big Cove Presbyterian Church, U.S.A., or to a church of your choice.
Bruce W. Boldin
ARDMORE, Tenn. - Bruce William Boldin, 64, died Saturday at his residence. The funeral will be Monday at 2 p.m. at Taylor-Ardmore Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Rusty Lincoln officiating.
Burial will be in Blanche Cemetery with Taylor-Ardmore Funeral Home in charge.
Mr. Boldin was a member of the Stateline Freewill Baptist Church.
Survivors include four brothers, James Boldin of Salem, Ala., Fred Boldin of Athens, Ala., Bud Boldin of Ardmore, Ala. and Junior Boldin of Fayetteville; five sisters, Ellen Smith of Chicago, Mildred Cowan of Fayetteville, Irene Warner of Nashville, Aline Cross of Ardmore, Ala. and Dorothy Burnette of Huntsville, Ala.; and four grandchildren, four great-great grandchildren and 13 step-great-great grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Marcus B. Byers
YAZOO CITY, Miss. - Marcus Brown Byers, 79, died Saturday at a Yazoo City hospital. A graveside service will be held Monday at 2 p.m. at Rose Hill Cemetery with Rev. Charles Edgar officiating and Higgins Funeral Home in charge.
Mr. Byers was a former resident of Lincoln County, Tenn.. He had retired from the U.S. Postal Service and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Elizabeth Dodson Byers, and one brother, R.W. Byers of Saraland, Ala.
Grady Congo Sr.
ATHENS - Grady Congo Sr., 80, died Saturday. The funeral will be Monday at 2 p.m. at McConnell Funeral Home with the Rev. Danny McMullins officiating.
Burial will be in Limestone Memorial Gardens.
Mr. Congo was a member of the First Baptist Church, and had retired from NASA. He was wounded serving his country in World War II.
Survivors include his wife, Lilian Rebecca Congo; four daughters, Barbara C. Totten and Peggy C. Ray, both of Athens, Helen C. Miller of Ardmore, Tenn.and Judy C. Cross of Huntsville; one son, Grady Congo Jr. of Athens; and seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Starling V. Ferguson
LACEYS SPRING - Starling Vernon Ferguson, 75, died Friday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral will be Monday at 1 p.m. at Twickenham Funeral Home on South Memorial Parkway with Bro. Tim Sutton officiating.
Burial will be in Valhalla Memory Gardens.
Mr. Ferguson was a member of the Laceys Spring Church of Christ and a retired industrial engineer. He was a graduate from the University of Alabama and had worked for Hayes International.
Survivors include his wife, Marie Ferguson; one son, Michael Ferguson of Huntsville; two daughters, Patricia Folgmann of Madison and Judy McMinn of Laceys Spring; three sisters, Nara Kottmeyer of Gardendale, Beth Tippins of Evergreen and Francis Ferguson of Pelham; and four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Visitation will be today from 2 to 4 p.m. at the funeral home.
Joeline Girty
MADISON - Joeline Girty, 63, died Thursday at a Huntsville hospital. A memorial service will be held Monday at 11 a.m. at Madison United Methodist Church with Rev. Bobby Ray Halbrooks officiating and Spry Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. Girty was a native of Reading, Pa., but had lived in Madison for the past three years. She was a member of the Madison United Methodist Church.
Survivors include two sons, William C. Girty III of Madison and Scott Davis Girty of Anaheim Hills, Calif.; one brother, Jay Willard of Schuylkill, Pa.; two half-brothers, Robin Heinly and Terry Heinly, both of Blanchard, Pa.; and two grandchildren.
Donations may be made to Hospice Family Cares or to the Madison United Methodist Church.
Willie B. Guiser
OSCODA, Mich. - Willie B. Guiser, 76, died Saturday in Harrisville, Mich. Spry Funeral Home will announce funeral arrangements.
Mrs. Guiser was a former resident of Huntsville, Ala.
Survivors include her husband, Dan O. Guiser; one daughter, Nancy Foldesi of Coralville, Iowa; one son, Dennis Guiser of Algonac, Mich.; one sister, Ruby Travis of Huntsville; two brothers, Wade Cowan of Huntsville and Roy Cowan of Hopkinsville, Ky.; and six grandchildren.
Willard Helms
SCOTTSBORO - Willard "Bill Helms, 73, of Scottsboro, died Saturday at a Scottsboro hospital. The funeral will be today at 2:30 p.m. at the Scottsboro Funeral Home with Charles Cobb and Charles Washburn officiating.
Burial will be in Gold Cemetery.
Survivors include two daughters, Margaret Crawford of Scottsboro and Joyce Hastings of Huntsville; one son, Jim Helms Sr. of Scottsboro; two brothers, James L. Helms and Marvin Helms, both of Woodville; and eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Ina L. Jones
SCOTTSBORO - Ina Lemon Jones, 73, of Scottsboro, died Saturday at a Scottsboro hospital. The funeral will be today at 1 p.m. at the Scottsboro Funeral Home.
Burial will be in New Prospect Cemetery.
Survivors include one sister, Emma Cobb of Woodville, and several nieces and nephews.
Retia G. Richardson
ALBERTVILLE - Retia Gail Richardson, 61, of 718 Rose Road, died Friday in a local hospital. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at Albertville Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.
Burial will be in Memory Hill Cemetery.
Survivors include her husband, Eugene Richardson; six daughters, Mary J. Young of Arizona, Debra Richardson of Decatur and Tammy Campbell, Sandy Havis, Pat Bright and Stephanie Richardson, all of Albertville; one son, Randy Luther of Albertville; four sisters, Ollie Morton of Gadsden, Sue Morrison of Attalla, Marilyn Clemons of Boaz and Brenda Burkelow of Crossville; one brother, Sidney Irvin of Georgia; and nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Gladys Ryan
BAILEYTON - Gladys Ryan, 86, died Friday in a Baileyton hospital. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at Ryan Baptist Church.
Burial will be in Pleasant Grove Cemetery with Gober Funeral Home of Arab directing.
Survivors include one daughter, Barbara Bennefield of Baileyton; one son, Wendell Ryan of Baileyton; two sisters, Gussie McCarn of Ryan and Nell Stone of Huntsville; and four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Robert A. Sammons
Dr. Robert Ardell Sammons Sr., 77, of Huntsville died Saturday at his residence. The funeral will be Monday at 1 p.m. at First United Methodist Church with Dr. William Bostick Jr. officiating.
Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery with Laughlin Service Funeral Home in charge.
Dr. Sammons was a graduate of the University of Tennessee Medical School. He was the first physician inducted into the Madison County Sports Hall of Fame. He did his undergraduate work at Vanderbilt University, was a general practioner and surgeon from 1951-1991, was team physician for Butler High School from 1952-1967, and was team physician for Huntsville High School from 1967-1995. He was the physician preceptor for University of Alabama in Huntsville, a member of the First United Methodist Church and a past member of the Kiwanis Club. He was honored by Mayor Loretta Spencer on Dec. 10, 1998, with Robert A. Sammons Day.
Survivors include his wife, Jane Scobey Sammons; two daughters, Susan Sammons Sullins and Eula Sammons Battle, both of Huntsville; three sons, Robert A. Sammons Jr. of Grand Junction, Colo. and F. Calame Sammons and William W. Sammons, both of Huntsville; and nine grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Wesley Center at First United Methodist Church.
Memorials may be made to the Robert A. Sammons Scholarship Fund, c/o Steve Wilson, attorney, or to Hospice Family Cares.
Ralph C. Stone
Ralph C. Stone, 65, of Huntsville died Friday at a local nursing home. Spry Funeral Home will announce funeral arrangements.
Mr. Stone was a native of Oklahoma but had lived in Huntsville since 1964. He was owner and operator of Temperature Control System Heating and Air Condition and was a U.S. Air Force veteran.
Survivors include his wife, Joanne Stone; one son, Daryl Stone of Arab; three daughters, Diane Radoci of San Diego, Calif., Karren Warren of Athens and Kathleen Comer of Shelbyville, Tenn.; his mother, Helen Stroupe of Pulaski, Tenn.; one brother, Ted Stone Jr. of Pulaski, Tenn.; two sisters, Vivian Seymour of Denver and Sandy Simons of Prospect, Tenn.; and seven grandchildren.
Donations may be made to the Humane Society.
Billy W. Vanhook
TULLAHOMA, Tenn. - Billy W. Vanhook, 71, died Friday at an area hospital. The funeral will be Mnday at 2 p.m. at Tullahoma Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Byron Lawrence officiating.
Burial will be in New Center Grove Cemetery with Tullahoma Funeral Home in charge.
Mr. Vanhook was a native of Wilson County, Tenn. He worked for several radio stations in the Tullahoma area, including, WJLG, WMSR and WZYQ. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean War, a member of the New Center Grove Church of Christ and was formerly active in the Jaycees and the Tullahoma National Little League.
Survivors include his wife, Nolene Williams Vanhook; his mother, Myrtle Vanhook of Lebanon; five sons, Michael Vanhook of Huntsville, Ala., and Mark Vanhook, Mitchell Vanhook, Myles Vanhook and Martin Vanhook, all of Tullahoma; one daughter, Marianne Pickett of Tullahoma; six brothers, Houston Vanhook, Robert Vanhook, Buddy Vanhook and Paul Vanhook, all of Lebanon, Kenneth Vanhook of California and Larry Vanhook of Texas; and eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Visitation will be today from 2 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
