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.
Stephen S. Biase
ARDMORE - Stephen S. Biase, 60, died Monday at his home. The funeral will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Taylor-Ardmore Funeral Home chapel with Bro. Wayne Kent officiating.
Burial will be in Gatlin Cemetery.
Survivors include his wife, Joan M. Biase of Ardmore; three sons, Dean Biase and Andrew Biase, both of Ardmore and Stephen Biase of Goodspring, Tenn.; Sheri Erickson of Hurley, Wisc., Dori Trombley of Ironwood, Mich., and Cindy Powell of Ardmore, Tenn.; and 13 grandchildren.
Visitation is today at 4 p.m. at the funeral home.
Montgomery K. Clark
CLEVELAND, OHIO - Montgomery Kieth ''Monty Clark, 33, of Cleveland died Saturday in Cleveland. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at Welcome Bethel Church.
Burial was to be in Pleasant Hill No. 2 Cemetery with Adams Funeral Home of Albertville directing.
Survivors include one daughter, Cassie Clark of Albertville; his mother, Doris Clark of Albertville; and one sister, Christy Wolvington of Albertville.
Sudie C. Corum
ATHENS - Sudie C. Corum, 90, died Sunday at an Athens nursing home. A graveside service will be Wednesday at 4 p.m. at Limestone Memorial Gardens with Bros. Eddie Miller and Tom Corum III officiating.
Mrs. Corum was preceded in death by her husband Tom Corum Sr., a daughter, Nell Wilburn and two grandchildren.
Survivors include one son, Tom Corum Jr. of Athens; one daughter, Betty Aston of Brentwood, Tenn.; and seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Boys and Girls Club of Athens-Limestone County or to Central Church of Christ building fund.
Ruby H. Cromer
ATTALLA - Ruby Joyce Holsonback Cromer, 65, of 1884 Old Sheffield Road died Monday at her home. The funeral will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Butler Baptist Church.
Burial will be in the adjoining cemetery with Albertville Memorial Chapel Funeral Home directing.
Survivors include one daughter, Cindy Oliver of Attalla; two sons, Bobby Cromer of Boaz and Roger Cromer of Attalla; eight sisters, Hazel Baugh of Rainsville, Lucille Baldwin of Guntersville, Linda Smith and Marketta Martin, both of Crossville, Maxine Holsonback of Glencoe, Marie Holsonback of Gadsden, Donna Holsonback of Albertville and Jean Fann of Tennessee; one brother, Harold Holsonback of California; and eight grandchildren.
Parthenia H. Dent
MADISON - Parthenia H. Dent, 68, died Saturday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral will be Thursday at 1 p.m. at Farris Drive Church of Christ with Bro. James Gray officiating.
Burial will be in New Hope Cemetery with Royal Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include eight daughters, Karen L. Stewart and Jane Fletcher, both of Huntsville, Minnie Pearl Holley, Patricia Blue and Laura Noel, all of Madison; Martha Marie Dent Robinson of Fort Drum, N.Y., Vernell Guevava of St. Louis, Mo., and Katherine Tulloch of Lilburn, Ga; five sons, Charles Thomas Holley and Jerry Dent, both of Madison, Kennis Dent of San Antonio, Texas, Connis Dent of Junction City, Kansas, and Jeffrey Dent of Fort Sill, Okla.; five brothers, John Holley of Huntsville, Roosevelt Holley, Alex Holley and Charlie Holley, all of Madison and Wilson Holley of Athens; five sisters, Annie Burks, Lucille Rice, Rachael Ervin, Mattie Holley and Pearl Troupe, all of Madison; and 27 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Wednesday from 6 to 7 p.m. att he funeral home.
Willard Dooley
BOAZ - Willard Dooley, 72, of 237 County Road 421 died Sunday in a local hospital. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at Albertville Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.
Burial was to be in Mount Zion Cemetery.
Survivors include his wife, Doris Dooley; four sons, Roland Dooley, Sid Dooley and Sam Dooley, all of Boaz, and Phillip Dooley of Trussville; two sisters, Barbara Hubbard of Boaz and Claudia Sasnett of Crossville; two brothers, John Dooley of Portersville and Fred Dooley of Albertville; and 13 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
George Edward Dudley
OWENS CROSS ROADS - George Edward Dudley, 81, died Monday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Huntsville Holiness Church with David Jones officiating.
Burial will be in Green Valley Cemetery with Spry Funeral Home in charge.
Mr. Dudley was a native of Madison County, and retired from The Huntsville Times. He was a member of Huntsville Holiness Church.
Suvivors include his wife, Helen Walker Dudley of Owens Cross Roads; four sons, Edward Dudley, Jerry Dudley, Bobby Dudley and Dean Dudley all of Huntsville; two stepdaughters, Barbara W. Meeks of Guntersville and Faye W. Howard of Huntsville; five sisters, Mildred Dearmond of Grand, Gertrude Wilker of Huntsville, Jean Moon and Zella Ruth Lang, both of Owens Cross Roads, and Bernie Dewart of New Hope; three brothers, David Maples and Charles Maples, both of Huntsville, and Junior Maples of New Hope; eight grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, two step-great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
Visitation is today from 6 to 9 p.m. at Spry Funeral Home.
The body will be at the church one hour before service.
Lirio T. Hicklen
NASHVILLE - Lirio Tanginan Hicklen, 49, of Nashville died Saturday at a Nashville hospital. The funeral will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Higgins Funeral Home with Father Tom McElHinney officiating.
Burial will be in Gatlin Cemetery with Higgins Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. Hicklen was a native of Cagayan De Oro, the Philippines, and a member of the Catholic Church.
Survivors include her husband, Billy Hicklen, and one son, Christopher Hicklen, both of Nashville and formerly of Fayetteville; one stepson, Daryl Hicklen of Aiken, S.C.; and one sister, Carla Baconga, and two brothers, Nonoy Tanginan and Kiking Tanginan, all of the Philippines.
Joe V. Hilderbrand
ATTALLA - Joe Vann Hilderbrand, 63, of Hilderbrand Lane died Sunday at a Gadsden hospital. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at Happy Hill Baptist Church in Sardis with the Rev. Larry Mashburn officiating.
Burial was to be in Happy Hill Cemetery with Morgan Funeral Chapel in charge.
Survivors include two brothers, Harold Hilderbrand of Attalla and Richard Hilderbrand of Dunn, N.C.; three sisters, Maxine Patterson of Eustis, Fla., Judy Bates of Madison and Mazene Anderson of Fayetteville, N.C.; and several nieces and nephews.
His body will be at the funeral home one hour before the service.
Reba Irene Holmes
ATHENS - Mrs. Reba Irene Holmes, 84, of Market Street died Sunday at Athens Convalescent Center. The funeral was today at 11 a.m. at Spry Funeral Home with James Bridges and Raymond Bush officiating.
Burial was in Dement Cemetery.
Mrs. Holmes was a native of Limestone County, a homemaker and member of Mount Carmel Church of Christ.
Survivors include her husband, Henry ''Jack Holmes; one daughter, Bessie Nash of Rogersville; and three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Ardell A. Horsley
Ardell A. Horsley of Huntsville died Sunday. The funeral was to be today at2:30 p.m. at Mount Zion Baptist Church with the Rev. David McMichael officiating.
Burial was to be in Huntsville Memory Gardens.
Mrs. Horsley was a member of Mount Zion Baptist Church. She worked in the principals office at Sparkman High School.
Survivors include her husband, Samuel P. Horsley of Huntsville; two daughters, Patsy Horsley of Huntsville and Brenda Johnson of Fort Payne; three sons, Samuel P. Horsley Jr. of Jonesboro, Ga., J. Michael Horsley of Montgomery and Steve A. Horsley of Welcome, N.C.; and eight grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or Mount Zion Baptist Church.
George Luke Karanza
George Luke Karanza, 73, of Huntsville died Monday at Windsor House. The funeral will be announced later by Spry Funeral Home.
Mr. Karanza, a native of Brooklyn, N.Y., retired from IBM after over 25 years of work there. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, serving in both the Pacific and European theaters, and received several medals.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Paul and John Karanza; one sister, Claire Deegan; and one granddaughter, Lori Bitting.
Survivors include his wife, Hellon Karanza; two daughters, Katherine Bitting and Christine Fiorina, both of Kingston, N.Y.; four sons, John Karanza of Panama City, Fla. William Karanza of Kingston, N.Y., and James Karanza and George Karanza, both of Palm Beach, Fla.; one stepdaughter, Judy Horton of Jasper; two stepsons, Steve Hargrove of Selma and Jacky Hargrove of Maysville; one sister, Louise Dennin of San Diego, Calif.; one brother, William Karanza of Vermont; and nine grandchildren, one great-grandchild and several nieces and nephews.
Dora L. Kennedy
ATHENS - Dora Lucille Kennedy, 87, died Sunday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Copeland Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Phillip Babcock officiating.
Burial will be in Copeland Cemetery with Limestone Chapel Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. Kennedy was a member of Copeland Presbyterian Church and moved to Limestone County in 1919. She was preceded in death by her husband, Harry Kennedy; and two sons, Glenn Kennedy and Kenneth Kennedy.
Survivors include three sons, Richard Kennedy of Elkmont, Don Kennedy of Toney and Hollis Kennedy of Athens; two daughters, Carolyn Lovell of Elkmont and Sarah Baugher of Athens; two sisters, Alberta Griffin and Frances Malone, both of Athens; and 21 grandchildren, 43 great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Her body will be at the church one hour before the funeral.
Visitation will be Tuesday from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimers Foundation.
William J. Morrison
William Joshua Morrison, 74, died Monday at a Fayetteville hospital. The funeral will be Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Gallant Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Albert and Malcolm Gardner officiating.
Burial will be in Valhalla Memory Gardens Cemtery.
Survivors include his wife, Betty Pollard Morrison; one daughter, Lorrie Metcalf of Fayetteville; two brothers, Leon Morrison of Hazel Green and Woodrow Morrison of Huntsville; and two grandchildren.
Visitation is today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
William F. Oliver
William Floyd Oliver, 75, of Huntsville died Thursday in California. The funeral will be Thursday at 2 p.m. at Mount Herman Baptist Church.
Burial will be in Baileyton Cemetery with Arab Memorial Chapel Funeral Home directing. Visitation will be Wednesday from 6 to 9 p.m.
Survivors include two sisters, Myrene Oliver of Huntsville and Allene Howell of Missouri; and two brothers, M.C. Oliver of California and Roland Oliver of Tuscaloosa.
David H. Sharpe
NEW MARKET - David Hurley Sharpe, 85, of New Market died Monday at his home. The funeral will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Spry Funeral Home chapel with Dr. Robby White and the Rev. Benny Berry officiating.
Burial will be in Locust Grove Cemetery.
Mr. Sharpe was a native of Madison County, a farmer and a carpenter. He was also an Army veteran and a member of Locust Grove Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Allene Berry Sharpe of New Market; two daughters, Judy Howland of Scottsboro and Linda Bonilla of New Market; two sons, Randy Sharpe and Billy Sharpe, both of New Market; one sister, Ivella Renfroe of Huntsville; one brother, Bruce Sharpe of New Market; and six grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 5 to 8:30 p.m. at the funeral home.
Edwin Boyd Wells
BIRMINGHAM - Edwin "Eddie" Boyd Wells, 43, died Sunday at a Birmingham Hospital. A gravside service will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. in Maple Hill Cemetery with the Rev. Otis Graves officiating and Spry Funeral Home in charge.
Mr. Wells was a native of Dallas, Texas, but lived most of his life in Huntsville before moving to Oklahoma City, and than to Birmingham. He was a paper carrier for The Huntsville Times in the Willowbrook neighborhood in the 1960s and 1970s. He was a graduate of Grissom High School and Auburn University, and a member of the Avondale United Methodist Church of Birmingham.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Hubert B. and Roberta Wells.
Survivors include a sister, Bonnie W. Coggin of Birmingham; one brother, William A. Wells of Alpharetta, Ga; and one niece and two nephews.
A memorial service will be Friday at 10 a.m. at the Avondale United Methodist Church in Birmingham.
Merle Gene Yarbrough
PENSACOLA, Fla. - Merle Gene Yarbrough, 74, formerly of Jonesboro, died Saturday at his home. The funeral will be Wednesday at 10 a.m. at Faith Chapel Funeral Home with Dr. Dale Patterson officiating.
Burial will be in Barrancas National Cemetery with military honors with Faith Chapel Funeral Home in charge.
Mr. Yarbrough was a native of Arkansas and lived many years in Millington, Tenn., while in the U.S. Navy. He graduated from Messick High School in Memphis, and retired as a chief petty officer from the Navy after serving 25 years. Among his military decorations is the Air Medal with Gold Star.
In 1967 he moved to Huntsville, Ala. where he lived with wife for 20 years, then moved to Pensacola.
Survivors include his wife, Vivian Yarbrough; three sons, Ronald Yarbrough, Donald Yarbrough and Michael Yarbrough, all of Pensacola; one sister, Merola Locke, and one brother, Jack Yarbrough, both of Huntsville; six grandchildren, Kory and Kristie Yarbrough, Jennifer and Brian Kritzmire, Scott and Shelia Holland; and five great-grandchildren and several nieces nephews.
