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.
John T. Carroll III
VICKSBURG, Miss. - John Thomas Carroll III, 54, died Monday at a Vicksburg hospital. The memorial service was to be today at 1 p.m. at Fisher-Riles Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. David Patrick officiating.
Burial was to be in Leland-Stoneville Cemetery in Leland, Miss.
Mr. Carroll lived in Huntsville for 17 years and had attended Calhoun Community College and the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
Survivors include his wife, Kay Darby Carroll of Batesville; one daughter, Morgan Paige Carroll of Jackson; his mother, Geneva R. Butts of Vicksburg; and two sisters, Donna Anderson and Becky Smith, both of Vicksburg.
Visitation was to be today from 12:30 to 1 p.m. at the funeral home.
Daphene Clark
TONEY - Daphene Clark, 55, died Sunday at her home. The funeral will be Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. at Spry Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Larry Fincher officiating.
Burial will be in Huntsville Memory Gardens.
Mrs. Clark was a native of Madison County and worked at Mosely Technical Service.
Survivors include two daughters, Kim Pence and Angie Clark, both of Huntsville; her mother, Nellena Moyers of Toney; one sister, Kathy Key of Madison; and three grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 5 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Sarah L. Collier
GURLEY - Sarah Looney Collier, 76, of 340 Joe Cross Road died Friday at her home. The funeral will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Acklin Chapel CME Church with the Rev. Adolphus Elliott officiating.
Burial will be in Liberty Cemetery in Berkeley with Royal Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include 10 daughters, Betty Chatman, Laura Rice, Roxie Bone, Mary Collier, Christine Collier, Sonia Gray, Armenta Collier, Loretta Collier, Forstina Collier and Pamela Collier, all of Huntsville; four sons, Warren Collier and Theoplis Collier, both of Huntsville, and Jerry Collier and Posey Collier, both of Gurley; one sister, Laura Biford of Tuscaloosa; one brother, Rosco Looney of New Market; and 54 grandchildren and 83 great-grandchildren.
Her body will be at the church one hour before the funeral.
Wilma C. Collins
Wilma Christine Collins, 86, of Huntsville died Sunday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Maple Hill Cemetery with the Rev. Johnny Johnson officiating.
Spry Funeral Home is in charge of burial.
Mrs. Collins was a native of Jackson County but spent most her life in Huntsville. She was retired and had worked as a licensed practical nurse at several local nursing homes.
Survivors include one sister, Sophie "Ozella" Smith of Huntsville; one stepdaughter, Nora Jean Medley of Michigan; and two grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Carl Hightower
CULLMAN - Carl "Melvin" Hightower, 80, of 460 County Road 751 died Saturday at his home. The funeral was Monday at Welti Baptist Church with Randy Sellers and Hobert Thompson officiating.
Burial was in Welti Cemetery with Williams-McCracken Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include his wife, Bonnie Hightower of Cullman; one son, George Michael Hightower of Cullman; one stepson, the Rev. Bobby Smith of Eva; two stepdaughters, Deborah Gray of New Hope and Arlita Pennington of New Hope; one brother, Guyland Hightower of Hanceville; two sisters, Grace Skinner of Cullman and Ethllee Nails of Hanceville; and two grandchildren, 11 step-grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Kenneth D. Hunt
DOWELLTOWN, Tenn. - Kenneth Dale Hunt, 47, of 330 Toad Road died Monday at his home. The funeral will be Thursday at 1 p.m. at Walker Funeral Home Liberty Chapel in Liberty, Tenn., with Bill Shaw officiating.
Burial will be in Salem Cemetery in Liberty.
Survivors include one brother, J.V. Hunt of Michigan; and three sisters, Shelia Thomas and Terry Ricketts, both of Dowelltown, and Brenda Thompson of Liberty.
Visitation will be Wednesday at 4 p.m. at the funeral home.
Luther M. Jeffers
ALBERTVILLE - The Rev. Luther Major Jeffers, 77, died Sunday at his home. The funeral will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Albertville Funeral Home chapel with the Revs. William C. Putman and Junior Smith officiating.
Burial will be in Forrest Home Cemetery.
The Rev. Mr. Jeffers was a member of Wesleys Chapel Church of God and was a disabled veteran of World War II. He was preceded in death by one son, Dexter Jeffers.
Survivors include his wife, Allie Jo Jeffers; two sons, J.B. Jeffers of Gadsden and Jerry Jeffers of Boaz; three daughters, Linda Hendrix and Mary Richardson, both of Boaz, and Star Julian Knight of Gadsden; two sisters, Faye Boroian of Florida and Vernaleen Rutterbush of Michigan; and 17 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be today form 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Gary Johnson
ARAB - Gary Johnson, 12, of 110 8th St. died Friday at his home. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at New Life Assembly of God.
Burial was to be in Corinth Cemetery with Arab Memorial Chapel Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include his mother, Janet Johnson of Arab; one brother, Jay Wellborn of Birmingham; and one uncle, Chip Wellborn of Arab.
Cecil Mayo
BOAZ - Cecil Mayo, 85, of 8805 Cox Gap Road died Monday in a local nursing home. The funeral will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Albertville Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.
Burial will be in Sardis Cemetery.
Survivors include his wife, Leone Mayo; two daughters, Marie Mosley of Boaz and Irene Bailey of Phenix City; one son, James Mayo of Boaz; and eight grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
Richard W. Parker Jr.
Richard W. "Rick" Parker Jr., 43, of Huntsville died Saturday at his home. The memorial service will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Valhalla Funeral Home with the Rev. Kevin Raymond officiating.
Valhalla Funeral Home is in charge of burial arrangements.
Mr. Parker attended Impact Ministries.
Survivors include his wife, Sue Parker of Huntsville; two sons, Wayne Parker and Chris Parker, both of Tennessee; two stepdaughters, Christy Lankford of Toney and Susan Shannon of Huntsville; one stepson, Daniel Maynard of Huntsville; his mother, Dorothy Parker of Huntsville; one sister, Linda Bishop of Woodbridge, W.Va.; one brother, David Harris of Hazel Green ; and two grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to the Childrens Advocacy Center, 106 Lincoln St., Huntsville, 35801.
Henry L. Paseur
GURLEY - Henry Lee Paseur, 74, died today at a local hospital. The funeral will be Thursday at 1 p.m. at Spry Funeral Home chapel with the Revs. Frank Mayo and James Wilbourn officiating.
Burial will be in Hayden Cemetery in New Hope.
Mr. Paseur was a native of Madison County and a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. He retired from Redstone Arsenal. He was a member of Shipps Mission Baptist Church and of the Gurley Masonic Lodge.
Survivors include his wife, Gladys B. Paseur of Gurley; two sons, Henry L. Paseur Jr. of Clayton, Ga., and Ronald E. Paseur of New Market; one daughter, Margaret J. Russell of Huntsville; four brothers, Ellihugh Paseur of Hazel Green, and Robert Paseur, James O. Paseur and Eddie M. Paseur, all of Huntsville; six sisters, Ruby Dowdy, Margie Cooper, Janie B. Reed and Sue Marino, all of Huntsville, Lera Jean of Fayetteville, Tenn., and Vivian Lones of Ringgold, Ga.; and seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Wednesday from 4:30 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
James R. Smith
James Rodney Smith, 82, of Huntsville died Monday at his home. The funeral will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church with Dr. Ralph Langley officiating.
Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery with Laughlin Service Funeral Home in charge.
Mr. Smith was a native of West Columbia, S.C., and earned an undergraduate degree in mathematics from Wofford College and a masters degree from Louisiana State University. He taught mathematics at Texas A&M and North Carolina State universities. He served in the Army as an infantry officer in Newfoundland during World War II. He worked in the Veterans Administration Regional Office in Columbia, S.C., and transferred from there to the U.S. Army Missile Command at Redstone Arsenal. He retired in 1977. He was a member of First Baptist Church, where he was a Sunday school teacher and a member of the Hallelujah Choir.
He was preceded in death by a son, John Richard Smith.
Survivors include his wife, Elma Lea Smith of Huntsville; two sons, Rodney Eugene Smith of Birmingham and Donald Lea Smith of Huntsville; one brother, Walter P. Smith of Spartanburg, S.C.; and three grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 4 to 6 p.m. at the funeral home.
Margurette W. Smith
McBURG, Tenn. - Margurette Weiss "Ted" Smith, 90, of 163 Swan Creek Road died Monday at a Fayetteville, Tenn., hospital. The funeral will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at McCauley Funeral Home in Fayetteville with the Revs. Todd Jenkins and Bill Shouse officiating.
Mrs. Smith was a native of Lincoln County, Tenn., a retired nurse and a member of the First Presbyterian Church.
Survivors include one son, Bobby Smith of Louisville, Ky.; and four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to the Bellwood Presbyterian Home for Children in Anchorage, Ky.
John F. Webster
The Rev. John Felix Webster, 67, of Huntsville died Sunday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Spry Funeral Home chapel with the Revs. James Harrell and the Rev. Roy Harbin officiating.
The Rev. Mr. Webster was a lifelong resident of Madison County. He was also a truck driver for Sherman Industries and a retired Baptist minister.
Survivors include his wife, Christine Webster of Huntsville; one daughter, Barbara Rozell of Huntsville; two sons, John Felix Webster Jr. of Meridianville and Kim Webster of Hazel Green ; his mother, Evelyn Webster of Huntsville; one sister, Joy Gagle of Huntsville; three brothers, Charles Webster and Daniel Webster, both of Huntsville, and Morris Webster of Florence; and six grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 5 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Opal E. Wells
WOODVILLE - Opal E. Wells, 66, died Sunday at her home. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at Scottsboro Funeral Home with the Revs. Calvin "Bud" Durham and Betty Love officiating.
Burial was to be in Union Cemetery.
Mrs. Wells was a member of Church of Love in Grant and the Scottsboro chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star.
Survivors include her husband, Marvin Gene Wells of Woodville; one son, Michael E. Wells of Woodville; one daughter, Robin Wells Luckhart of Woodville; one stepdaughter, Dawn Townsel of Pulaski, Tenn.; three sisters, Mary Lee Farmer, Era Faye Hurst and Beatrice Thompson, all of Scottsboro; two brothers, Earskin Edmonds of Scottsboro and Hugh Coleman Edmonds of Chicago; and three grandchildren, one step-grandson and several nieces and nephews.
Mike Wixson
Mike Wixson, 33, of Huntsville died Sunday in Florida. Laughlin Service Funeral Home will announce funeral arrangements.
Mr. Wixson was a dive master and a fully certified cave diver. He worked at Uni Graphics Solutions and his hobbies were photography, pool and chess. He was also a life Boy Scout.
Survivors include his parents, Steve and Janet Wixson of Chattanooga, Tenn.; one sister, Laura Hanson of Tampa, Fla.; his grandparents, Cliff Wixson of Tulsa, Okla., and Ruby Jerome of Shell Knob, Mo.; his companion, Nina Donath of Huntsville; and one uncle and one aunt.
Visitation will be Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
