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.
Betty J. Allen
ATHENS - Betty Joyce Allen, 64, of 19090 Admmiral Way died Saturday at Jackson, Tenn. hospital. The funeral will be Monday at 3 p.m. at Limestone Chapel Funeral Home.
Burial will be in Lentzville Cemetery with Limestone Chapel Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. Allen was a member of Titus Baptist Church.
Survivors include one son, William Cecil Allen of Athens; one daughter, Lillian Joyce Walker of Athens; one sister, Edna Stewart of Opelika; nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Larry Brookshier
IGNACIO, Colo. - Larry Brookshier, 55, died Saturday at a local hospital. Laughlin Service Funeral Home in Huntsville will announce funeral arrangements.
Survivors include one daughter, Paige Maxine Brookshier of Florence; and one sister, Susan Wilson of Albuquerque, N.M.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home.
Juanita M. Crick
Juanita M. Crick, 92, of Huntsville died Friday at a local hospital. The graveside service will be Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Maple Hill Cemetery with Dr. Dave Reynolds officiating.
Spry Funeral Home is in charge of burial.
Miss Crick was a native of Huntsville. She was a member of Central Presbyterian Church.
Survivors include one niece, Gay Murray of Huntsville; and one nephew, Edwin ''Sonny Crick Jr. of Huntsville.
Visitation will be Monday from 5 to 9 p.m.
John E. Dempsey
HAZEL GREEN - John Edward Dempsey, 57, died Thursday at a local hospital. The funeral will be today at 1:30 p.m. at Spry Funeral Home with Rev. Wilson Byrd and Elder Fae Harwell officiating.
Burial will be in Wesley Chapel Cemetery.
Mr. Dempsey was a lifelong resident of Madison County. He was employed by Excellence Inc.
Survivors include two daughters, Sharon Malone of Huntsville and Melissa Harrell of Meridianville; five sons, Rickey Dempsey of Elkmont, Jody Dempsey of Toney, Jacky Dempsey, Johnny Dempsey and Bobby Dempsey, all of Huntsville; his mother, Euna Dempsey of Huntsville; three sisters, Rosie Mae Ivey and Martha Dabbs, both of Athens, and Gladys Bradford of Huntsville; four brothers, Sammy Dempsey of Texas, Earl Dempsey of Decatur, Wayne Dempsey and Sidney Dempsey, both of Huntsville; 26 grandchildren and one great-grandson.
Jessie M. Dykes
Jessie M. Dykes, 80, of Huntsville died Friday at a local hospital. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at Laughlin Service Funeral Home with Dr. Jimmy Jackson officiating.
Burial will be in Huntsville Memory Gardens.
Mrs. Dykes was a member of the Huntsville Senior Citizens and Senior Friends.
Survivors include one son, Franklin B. Dykes Jr. of Tuscaloosa; one daughter, Jessica Dykes McGee of Blountville, Tenn.; one sister, Pauline Dear Trammell of Jacksonville; four grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
Visitation will be today from noon to 2 p.m. at the funeral home.
Donations may be made to the American Lung Association or American Heart Association.
Margaret M. Ford
Margaret McWhorter Ford, 79, of 565 Ryland Pike died Friday at a Tuscaloosa hospital. The graveside service will be Monday at 2 p.m. at Maple Hill Cemetery with Dr. Bill Bostick officiating.
Memory Chapel Funeral Home is in charge of burial.
Survivors include one daughter, Betty Ford Meadows of Tuscaloosa; three sisters, Martha Shipp and Mary Hope, both of Fort Payne, and Louise Griffin of Gadsden; and one granddaughter.
Donations may be made to a favorite charity.
Cecil Gilliland
BOAZ - Cecil Gilliland, 78, of 1667 Cove Springs Road died Friday at his home. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at Carr Funeral Home in Boaz.
Burial will be in Clear Creek Cemetery.
Survivors include one daughter, Carolyn Blackwood of Gurley; two sons, Keith Gilliland and Paul Gilliland, both of Boaz; one sister, Vaudean Harvey of Albertville; and four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Alton R. Harris
PETERSBURG, Tenn. - Alton R. Harris, 76, of 18 Brown Tea Road died Friday at an area hospital. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at Howell Church of Christ with Brother James Pigg officiating.
Burial will be in Harris Cemetery with Higgins Funeral Home in charge.
Mr. Harris was a retired equipment operator with the Interstate Construction Co. He was a member of Howell Church of Christ.
Survivors include his wife, Evelyn Rudd Harris; two daughters, Patricia Hopper of Fayetteville and Sandra Hornbuckle of Wartrace; and four grandchildren.
Annie L. Johnson
HARVEST - Annie Louise Johnson, 88, of 1531 Nick Davis Road died Thursday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Monday at noon at Pine Grove M.B. Church with Rev. Dave McGlathery officiating.
Burial will be in Pine Grove Cemetery with Royal Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include five daughters, Cora Little Page of Fayetteville, N.C., Gwendloyn Johnson and Hattie Barrow, both of Harvest, Ruth Horton of Madison and Farris Gantt of El Paso, Texas; one sister, Ola B. Evans of Harvest; six grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.
Her body will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral.
Mark D. Jones
BILLINGSLEY - Mark David Jones, 47, died Thursday at his residence. The funeral will be Monday at 2 p.m. at Martin Funeral Home Chapel in Clanton.
Burial will be in Martin Memorial Cemetery with Martin Funeral Home in charge.
Mr. Jones was a former resident of Huntsville. He was former medical director at Huntsville Hospital. He received his B.S. degree in respiratory therapy from Florida Tech and was also a graduate of Georgia State University.
Survivors include his wife, Eleanor Leadley Jones; one son, Paul David Jones of Billingsley; his father, Charles T. Jones of Billingsley; and his mother, Irene L. Jones of Billingsley.
Jeanette King
Jeanette King, 76, of 284 Johns Road in Huntsville died Friday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Tuesday at noon at Indian Creek P.B. Church with Rev. Timothy Rainey officiating.
Burial will be in Indian Creek Cemetery with Royal Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include five daughters, Annie King, Valeria King and Terasha King, all of Huntsville, Marsha Moore of Winter Robbins, Ga.. and Barbara Williams of Birmingham; five sons, Johnny King, Eugene King, Larry James King, Darious King and Orlander King, all of Huntsville; four sisters, Maggie Bailey, Mary Bailey and Martha Harris, all of Chattanooga and Katie Ruth Gary of Atlanta; five brothers, J.C. Bailey, Glen Thomas Bailey, Will Roger Bailey and Jimmy Bailey, all of Chattanooga, and Joe Bailey of Mulberry, Tenn.; 14 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Her body will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral.
George Lanier
DETROIT, Mich. - George Lanier died Sunday, March 21. The funeral will be Monday at 11 a.m. with Stinson Funeral Home Chapel in charge.
Burial will be in United Memorial Garden in Detroit.
Mr. Lanier was a former resident of Huntsville.
Survivors include four nieces, including Nelsie J. Jones and Bettye Brown Martin, both of Huntsville; and two nephews, Sammie Johnson and Ronnie Lanier, both of Huntsville.
Max E. Light
GUNTERSVILLE - Max Emmett Light, 55, of 777 Ringold St. died Friday at an Attalla nursing home. The funeral will be Monday at 2 p.m. at Arab Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.
Burial will be in Ryan Cemetery.
Survivors include one daughter, Wayna Black of Joppa; one son, Darryl Light of Arab; two sisters, Ann Eberhardt of North Carolina and Helen Jenkins of Huntsville; one brother, Dennis Light of Arab; and four grandchildren.
James E. McKinney
ROGERSVILLE - James E. McKinney, 76, of Lauderdale County Road 91 died Friday at his residence. The funeral will be today at 3 p.m. at Spry Funeral Home in Athens with Jerry Marlon officiating.
Burial will be in Miller Cemetery.
Mr. McKinney was a native of Limestone County, a member of First Baptist Church in Rogersville and a farmer.
Survivors include one sister, Margaret Goode of Rogersville; three brothers, Charles McKinney of Florence, Johnny McKinney and J.C. McKinney, both of Rogersville; and several nieces and nephews.
Earl Medlock
IDA, La. - Earl Medlock, 72, died Friday in Vivian, La. The graveside service will be Monday at 10 a.m. at Enon Cemetery in Doddridge, Ark., with Rev. Gary Medlock officiating.
Hanner Funeral Home in Atlanta, Texas, is in charge of burial.
Mr. Medlock was a veteran of World War II and the Korean War, serving in the U.S. Air Force.
Survivors include his wife, Birdie Medlock; one son, Johnny Medlock of Knoxville, Tenn.; one daughter, Patsy Sneed of New Market, Ala.; three brothers, Irvin Medlock and Calvin Medlock, both of Hope, Ark., and George Medlock of Pine Bluff, Ark.; three sisters, Pearl Malardia of Hope, Viola LaHa of Houston and Fannie Eskew of Port Arthur, Texas; and four grandchildren.
Riley Nichols
Infant Riley Nichols of Huntsville died Friday at a local hospital. A private graveside service will be held Tuesday at 10 a.m. at Huntsville Memory Gardens.
Twickenham Funeral Home South is in charge of burial.
Survivors include her parents, Ralph and Lee Nichols.
Visitation will be Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Olive I. Powell
ATHENS - Olive I. Powell, 89, of 12748 Cambridge Lane died Saturday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Monday at 11 a.m. at McConnell Funeral Home with Jimmy Clark officiating.
Burial will be in Athens City Cemetery.
Mrs. Olive was a native of Morgan County, a member of Bethel Church of Christ and had been employed at Catos in Athens, J.C. Penney in Decatur and the Diana Shop in Huntsville.
Survivors include one daughter, Francis Broadwater of Athens; one son, Bobby Powell of Athens; two sisters, Sue Martin of San Angelo, Texas, and Ozell Rhodes of Hico, Texas; six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Leroy Sanders
Leroy Sanders, 85, of Huntsville died Friday at his home. The funeral will be Monday at 1:30 p.m. Spry Chapel with Steve Mercer and Byron Laird officiating.
Burial will be in Charity Cemetery with Spry Funeral Home in charge.
Mr. Sanders was a native of Madison County and a member of Farley Church of Christ. He retired from NASA and the city of Huntsville.
Survivors include his wife, Margreta Sanders of Huntsville; one daughter, Carolyn S. Orr of Birmingham; one son, Billy Joe Sanders of Orange City, Fla.; three sisters, Florence Carter, Juanita Robison and Virginia Broadbent, all of Huntsville; and seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Phoeba V. Strong
BAILEYTON - Phoeba Victoria Strong, 85, of 6895 Apple Grove Road died Friday at her home. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at Ryan Baptist Church.
Burial will be in the adjoining cemetery with Arab Memorial Chapel Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include one daughter, Sharon Vaughn of Arab; two sons, Douglas Strong and Glenn Strong, both of Ryan; one brother, C.M. Nunnelley of Cullman; and seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Rose E. Warren
HAZEL GREEN - Rose Ezma Warren, 82, died Friday at a local hospital. Laughlin Service Funeral Home will announce funeral arrangements.
Burial will be in Huntsville Memory Gardens.
Survivors include one son, Wendell Warren of Hazel Green ; two daughters, Judy Diane Dove of Suffolk, Va., and Deborah Susan Zager of Kansas City, Kan.; three sisters, Dorothy Elliott and Lollis Williams, both of Curry, and Carolyn Bonome of Ohio; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
