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.
Jimmy D. Harless
GURLEY - Jimmy Donald ''J.D. Harless, 51, died Friday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral will be announced by Spry Funeral Home.
Mr. Harless was a lifelong resident of Gurley. He had worked with BellSouth the past 31 years.
Survivors include his wife, Kay Harless; one daughter, Erika Harless; and one sister, Jean Layne, all of Gurley.
Visitation will be today from 5 to 8 p.m.
Memorials may be made to the Ronald McDonald House in Buffalo, N.Y.
Juliette S. James
STEVENSON - Juliette Searcy James, 95, died Friday in Fort Oglethorpe. The funeral will be today at 4 p.m. at Rudder Funeral Home in Stevenson with Brother Bob Oliver officiating.
Burial will be in Stevenson City Cemetery.
Mrs. James was preceded in death by her husband, William Lee James.
Survivors include one daughter, Mary Carter of Chattanooga; one son, Edward James of Chattanooga; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Jesse D. Jarnagin
PRATTVILLE - Jesse Donald Jarnagin, 72, died Friday. The funeral will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at Scottsboro Funeral Home with the Rev. J.A. Linville officiating.
Burial will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery in Scottsboro.
Survivors include one daughter, Gale Jarnagin of Prattville; one son, Roger Jarnagin of Prattville; two sisters, Betty Jo Glazner of Huntsville and Maxine Wright of Scottsboro; one grandchild and one step-grandchild.
Visitation will be Sunday from 1-2 p.m. at the funeral home.
Inez Lawler
ARAB - Inez Lawler, 83, of 311 3rd St. died Thursday at a local nursing home. The funeral will be today at 1 p.m. at Arab Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.
Burial will be in the New Brashiers Chapel Cemetery.
Survivors include seven daughters, Josie McClain, Betty Beaton and Jean Peek, all of Arab, Stella Franklin, Ann Smith and Linda Bryan, all of Cullman, and Peggy Whitaker of Owens Cross Roads; two sons, Beamon Lawler of New Hope and J.T. Lawler of Owens Cross Roads; one brother, Henry Lankford of Blountsville; and 19 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Richard J. Martin
Richard J. Martin, 39, of Huntsville died Monday at his home. The funeral will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at Valhalla Funeral Home with the Rev. Martyn Douglas officiating.
Burial will be in Valhalla Memory Gardens.
Mr. Martin was a Marine veteran. He graduated from Johnson High School in 1978 and was a member of the American Legion.
Survivors include his mother, Hannah Martin of Huntsville; two sisters, Bonnie Osmer of Huntsville and Wendy Hornsby of Florida; and two brothers, Edwin Martin of Huntsville and Stanley Martin of Madison.
Visitation will be Sunday from 1-2 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to the local chapter of the American Diabetes Association.
Mary E. Parsons
FALKVILLE - Mary Elizabeth Parsons, 85, of 113 Cottonwood Lane died Thursday at a Cullman hospital. The funeral will be Sunday at Peck Funeral Home in Hartselle with the Rev. Steve Rogers officiating.
Burial will be in Cook Cemetery.
Mrs. Parsons was retired and was an American Red Cross volunteer during World War II.
Mrs. Parsons is survived by one son, Richard L. Parsons Jr., and one grandchild.
Mary E. Rodman
MADISON - Mary E. Rodman, 102, died Thursday at a Huntsville nursing home. A graveside service will be today at 10:30 a.m. with the Rev. Mike Hovis officiating.
Burial will be in Madison City Cemetery with Madison Chapel Funeral Home directing.
Survivors include two nieces, Susie Lewter of Madison and Avis White of Huntsville; and two nephews, Charles Rodman and George Rodman, both of Madison.
Linda D. Smith
GERALDINE - Linda Darlene Smith died Thursday. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at Macedonia Baptist Church with the Rev. Lawayne Levane and the Rev. Jerry Cook officiating.
Burial will be in Macedonia Cemetery with W.T. Wilson Funeral Chapel directing.
Survivors include her husband, Earl Edward Smith Jr.; one daughter, Karen Champion of Geraldine; two sons, Calvin Ferguson and William Ferguson, both of Lebanon; her mother, Johnie Faye Champion of Geraldine; three sisters, Sue Cleveland of Geraldine and Carolyn Stone and Sandy Malone, both of Crossville; one brother, Perry Champion; and her grandmother, Ruby Champion, both of Dawson.
Fred Taylor
DAWSON - Fred Taylor, 78, died Thursday at his home. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at Fairview Methodist Church with the Rev. Billy Skelton, the Rev. Bill Hall and the Rev. Alton Vaughn officiating.
Burial will be in the adjoining cemetery with W.T. Wilson Funeral Chapel directing.
Mr. Taylor was a member of Fairview Methodist Church. He was retired from 3M and the DeKalb County Sheriffs Department.
Survivors include his wife, Cordie Fuller Hall Taylor; two sons, Kenneth Taylor of Chattanooga and Gerald ''Red Taylor of Fort Payne; two stepsons, Jerry Hall of Fyffe and Bill Hall of Hammondville; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Mohns Thornton
Mohns Thornton, 78, of Huntsville died Thursday at a local nursing home. A memorial service will be today at 3:30 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church with Dr. R. Laurence Dill, Elise Moss and the Rev. John Verciglio officiating.
Burial was in Maple Hill Cemetery with Laughlin Service Funeral Home directing.
Mr. Thornton retired from the Navy as a lieutenant commander with 30 years of service. He was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church and the Von Braun Lions Club.
Survivors include his wife, Helen L. Thornton; two sons, Stephen K. Thornton of Huntsville and Kip Heimendinger of Indiana; two daughters, Deborah Wecks and Jerianne Heimendinger, both of Colorado; one brother, Aubrey L. Thornton of California; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Elder Care at Trinity Methodist or a favorite charity.
Visitation will be one hour before the service.
Laura Valente
Laura Roberts Valente, 86, of Huntsville died Friday at her home. The graveside service will be Tuesday at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Inverness, Fla.
Laughlin Service Funeral Home will direct local arrangements.
Mrs. Valente was a member of the Church of Christ in Inverness.
Survivors include one son, James K. Evans of Ocala, Fla.; one daughter, Evelyn Wootten of Huntsville; and six granddaughters.
Mary L. Wilkinson
STEVENSON - Mary Lee Wilkinson, 72, died Thursday. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at Rudder Funeral Home with the Rev. John Gamble and the Rev. George Bean officiating.
Burial will be in Long Acre Cemetery.
Survivors include her husband, Doug Wilkinson; two daughters, Joann Phillips and Patsy Broyles, both of Stevenson; four sisters, Jewell Purdy and Betty Meeker, both of Stevenson, Annie Ellen Steele of Tullahoma, Tenn., and Bobbie Blum of Missouri; six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
