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.
Clark Blizzard
HOLLYWOOD - Clark ''Sonny Blizzard, 101, died Friday. The funeral will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at Rudder Funeral Home in Stevenson with Rev. Ron Harvey officiating.
Burial will be in Pinehaven Memorial Gardens in Hollywood.
Mr. Blizzard was a retired farmer.
Survivors include one brother, Joe M. Blizzard of Chattanooga; and several nieces and nephews.
Doyal Coker
SCOTTSBORO - Doyal Coker, 73, died Thursday at his home. The funeral will be today at 1 p.m. at Scottsboro Funeral Home with the Rev. Clarence Coker officiating.
Burial will be in Mount Oak Cemetery in Arab.
Mr. Coker was a veteran of World War II.
Survivors include his wife, Genease Light Coker; one sister, Jewel Taylor of Atlanta; one son, Robert Holcomb of Scottsboro; three brothers, Clarence Coker of Arab and Ray Coker and Roy Coker, both of Birmingham; four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Donations may be made to Hospice of Northeast Alabama.
Walter Coleman Sr.
ATHENS - Walter William Coleman Sr., 76, of Athens, died Friday at a Huntsville hospital. Spry Funeral Home will announce arrangements.
Elmer Dalton
PEORIA, Ill. - Elmer Dalton, 65, died Monday. The funeral will be Monday at 2 p.m. at Rainsville Funeral Home with the Rev. Benji Young officiating.
Burial will be in New Canaan Cemetery.
Survivors include his wife, Elsie Farris; four daughters, Debra McClain of Hopedale, Ill., and Juanita Haefele, Tonya Allender and Rhonda Farris, all of Peoria; three sons, Terry Dalton of Chillicothe, Ill., and Rick Farris and Greg Farris, both of Peoria; two sisters, Faye Laney and Marie Yancey, both of Henagar; four brothers, Grover Dalton and Windell Dalton, both of Henagar, and O.L. Dalton and Durvon Dalton, both of Ider; 23 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Chester J. Durham
SKYLINE - Chester J. Durham, 81, died Wednesday at a veterans home in Huntsville. The funeral will be today at 11 a.m. at Skyline Memorial Chapel.
Burial will be in Skyline Cemetery with Skyline Funeral Home in charge.
Mr. Durham was an Army veteran of World War II and was formerly employed as a line worker at the Revere aluminum plant in Scottsboro.
Survivors include two daughters, Donna Brown of Skyline and Lynn McTyre of Birmingham; one son, Scott Durham of Skyline; two sisters, Winnie Campbell of Boaz and Lorene Pace of Decatur; and two grandchildren.
Marvin F. Evans
FAYETTEVILLE, Tenn. - Marvin F. Evans, 83, of East Gate Apartments died Friday at a local nursing home. The graveside service will be today at 1 p.m. at Campbell Cemetery with Brother Joe Wayne McGee officiating.
Higgins Funeral Home is in charge of burial.
Mr. Evans was a farmer and member of the Baptist Church.
Survivors include two sons, Larry Evans of Arab and George Marvin Evans of Scottsboro; two daughters, Anna Lou Erby and Betty Ann Stapler, both of Grant; five sisters, Edith Saint of Grant, Lois Parks of New Hope, Vessie May Jones of Fayetteville, Dovie Wyndellon of Dekalb County, Ariz., and Vernice Davis of Marshall County, Tenn.; one brother, Fred Evans of Marshall County; 17 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Elizabeth Gahr
Elizabeth Gahr, 92, of Presbyterian Apartments in Huntsville died Monday at a local hospital. A memorial service will be March 24 at 6 p.m. at Our Lady Queen of the Universe Church with the Rev. Tim Burns officiating.
Ms. Gahr was a longtime resident of Kentucky and a retired teacher. She moved to Huntsville in October 1996.
Survivors include one nephew, Fred Gahr of Huntsville, and two great-nephews and one great-niece.
James H. Guire
HARTSELLE - James Harvey Guire, 84, of 1676 Ausley Bend Road died Friday at a Decatur hospital. The funeral will be today at 1 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home with the Rev. Ron Wilson officiating.
Burial will be in Decatur City Cemetery.
Survivors include one daughter, Sara Pearl Martin of Terry, Miss.; two sons, Charles E. ''Paul Guire of Hartselle and Norman Harvey Guire of Beaumont, Texas; three sisters, Margie Moses of Moulton, Margarette Russell of Decatur and Mary Edna Gann of Hartselle; six grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Walter L. Johnson
MADISON - Walter Lee Johnson, 78, of 185 Crutcher Drive died Wednesday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at Royal Funeral Home with the Rev. Kenneth Langford Jr. officiating.
Burial will be in Valhalla Memory Gardens.
Survivors include her husband, Edward H. Johnson of Madison; five daughters, Nannie B. Oliver, Patricia Noble and Libby McCrary, all of Huntsville, and Hattie Holden and Margaret Johnson, both of Madison; three sons, Edward Johnson Jr. and W.O. Johnson, both of Huntsville, and Jack Johnson of Madison; and 22 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren.
Mary Jordan
Mary Kate Boswell Jordan, 78, of Huntsville died Thursday at a local hospital. The funeral will be today at 11 a.m. at Church of the Nativity with Dr. Roderic L. Murray officiating.
Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery with Laughlin Service Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. Jordan was a native of Huntsville and a graduate of Randolph Macon Womens College. She was a member of Church of the Nativity, a founding member of the Grace Club Auxiliary and former president of the Study Circle.
Survivors include her husband, Dr. James L. Jordan of Huntsville; four daughters, Berta Hargett, Katherine Brooks and Louise Reynolds, all of Huntsville, and Mary Lee Sullivan of Athens; and eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to Church of the Nativity or a favorite charity.
Russell J. McDaniel
BOAZ - Russell Junior McDaniel, 75, of 2295 New Home Road died Thursday at a local hospital. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at Friendship Baptist Church.
Burial will be in the adjoining cemetery with Adams Funeral Home of Albertville in charge.
Mr. McDaniel was a veteran of World War II and was a prisoner of war.
Survivors include his wife, Sarah P. McDaniel; one daughter, Joy Mann of Boaz; one son, James C. McDaniel of Georgia; one brother, Edward McDaniel of Boaz; and five grandchildren.
Martha Pinkston
FAYETTEVILLE, Tenn. - Martha Aleene Hayes Pinkston, 74, of 73 Old Bethel Road died Thursday at a local hospital. A graveside service will be today at 2 p.m. at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Fayetteville with Bro. Elven Hensley officiating.
McCauley Funeral Home in Fayetteville is in charge of burial.
Mrs. Pinkston was a member of West Fayetteville Church of Christ.
Survivors include one son, William "Bill" Pinkston of Fayetteville; one sister, Mary Frances Hensley of Morgantown, Ga.; and two brothers, James "Jim" Buchanan Hayes Jr. and Maurice Alfred Hayes, both of Bells, Tenn.
Visitation will be today from noon to 2 p.m. at the funeral home.
J.E. Roberts
MADISON - J.E. "Zeke" Roberts, 71, died Thursday at a local hospital. Laughlin Service Funeral Home will announce funeral arrangements.
Mr. Roberts was a retired Navy lieutenant commander.
Survivors include his wife, Frances Stoner Roberts; one son, James Easel Roberts III of Washington; one daughter, Bonna R. Yost of Bucyrus, Kan.; and seven grandchildren.
Visitation will be Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m. at the funeral home.
Donations may be made to Hospice, American Cancer Socitey, American Heart Association or a favorite charity.
John H. Samies
MADISON - John H. Samies, 71, of 127 Champions Green Drive died Friday at his home. The funeral will be Monday at 11 a.m. Madison Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Allen Weatherly officiating.
Burial will be in Huntsville Memory Gardens.
Mr. Samies was a member of Asbury Methodist Church, was a Mason Consistory, member of the American Legion and BPOE. He graduated from Penn State, was an Air Force veteran and was retired from Merck Co. where he was a chemist with 37 years of service.
Survivors include his wife, Jeanne Samies of Madison; one son, Dr. John H. Samies Jr. of Orangeburg, S.C.; one daughter, Linda Lyons of Madison; and four grandchildren.
Visitation will be Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Imogene S. Tunstill
ATHENS - Imogene Stovall Tunstill, 73, of 22085 Carey Road died Friday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at Limestone Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Bill Irby in charge.
Burial will be in Athens City Cemetery.
Mrs. Tunstill was a member of Hobbs St. Church of Christ.
Survivors include two sons, Jimmy Don Tunstill and Al Tunstill, both of Athens; two daughters, Julia Bailey and Nancy Norman, both of Athens; two brothers, Billy Stovall and Dwight Stovall, both of Athens; two sisters, Sarah Pepper and Ann Norton, both of Athens; 11 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Alton L. Twilley
FORT PAYNE - Alton L. Twilley, 63, died Thursday at a DeKalb County hospital. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at W.T. Wilson Funeral Home in Rainsville.
Burial will be in Blackoak Cemetery in Dogtown.
Survivors include his wife, Fay Lea Twilley of Fort Payne; one daughter, Regina Twilley of Fort Payne; two sons, Ledon Twilley and Michael Twilley, both of Fort Payne; one sister, Shelbie Coe Partridge of Rainsville; two brothers, Jason Twilley of Forest Park, Ga., and Joel Twilley of Dacula, Ga.; and four grandchildren.
C. Franklin Weakley
C. Franklin Weakley, 91, of Huntsville died Thursday at his home. The funeral will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at Woodfin Chapel in Smyrna, Tenn., with the Rev. Edward Holt officiating.
Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Mr. Weakley was a native of Smyrna and moved to Huntsville in 1998. He was a partner at Marable and Weakley Department Store 26 years before he retired in 1978.
He was an Army Air Force veteran of World War II and was honored by his church for years of service with the C. Franklin Weakley Scholarship Fund at Middle Tennessee State University.
Survivors include his wife, Lenora Edwards Weakley of Huntsville; two daughters, Martha Len W. Hamilton of Fayetteville, Tenn., and Libby Weakley Whisenant of Huntsville; four sisters, Adeline W. Anderson, Effie W. Barrett, Lucy W. Jones and Bennie W. Maddox, all of Nashville; and four grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be today from 2 to 4 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to the C. Franklin Weakley Scholarship Fund at Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, 37132.
Larry W. Williams
TAFT, Tenn. - Larry W. Williams, 39, of Scott Orchard Road died Thursday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral will be today at 1 p.m. at Gallant Funeral Home with Rev. Frank Calder officiating.
Burial will be in Blanche Cemetery.
Mr. Williams was a native of Lincoln County. He was a mobile home builder for Clayton Homes and member of Cash Point Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Kathy Bailey Williams; one daughter, Samantha Williams of Taft; two sons, Larry T. Williams and Matthew Wayne Williams, both of Taft; and one sister, Wanda Faye Beddingfield of Taft.
Pauline Willoughby
MAYFIELD, Ky. - Pauline Willoughby, 91, died Wednesday at a Kentucky hospital. The funeral will be today at 3 p.m. at Mayfield Memory Gardens with Byrn Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. Willoughby was a member of First Baptist Church in Mayfield and had worked at Wyatt Drugs and Prescription Center. She was preceded in death by her husband, Grover Willoughby.
Survivors include two sons, Jack A. Willoughby of Paducah, Ky., and Grover Willoughby Jr. of Huntsville; and 11 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
Liddell Perry
MOBILE - Liddell Perry, a sharecroppers son who became a member of the Armys all-black Buffalo Division in World War II, died at a Mobile hospital. He was 76.
A native of Alberta, Ala., Perry was a resident of Mobile and a former resident of Sacramento, Calif. He died Tuesday.
Growing up in Wilcox County during the 1920s and 1930s, Perry joined his family working full-time in the cotton fields before he completed third grade.
When World War II broke out, Perry entered the military and eventually was assigned to the all-black 92nd Infantry Division. It was nicknamed the Buffalo Division after the Buffalo Soldiers, all-black cavalry and infantry regiments that patrolled the West after the Civil War.
In 1944, Perry was sent into combat in Italy with the Buffalo Divisions 370th Regiment, earning the Combat Infantry Badge, the North African Campaign Medal with three Bronze Stars, the Good Conduct Medal and a Purple Heart before his discharge at the end of 1945. The Purple Heart was for a shrapnel wound to the hand.
After leaving the Army, Perry went to work as a laborer in Mobile, taught himself to read and he worked his way up to civil servant at Brookley Air Force Base.
"He was larger-than-life to me and everyone who knew him," his nephew, Eddie Irby of Mobile, said. "I could not even fathom the thought that one day he would not be around."
Survivors include three sisters and a brother. The funeral is at 9 a.m. Monday at Christian Benevolent Funeral Home in Mobile, with burial in Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, Fla.
