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.
Bernice Graden
SECTION - Bernice Graden, 75, died Monday at a Scottsboro hospital. The funeral was to be today at 3 p.m. at Rainsville Funeral Home with the Rev. Ed Whitton officiating.
Burial was to be in Piney Grove Cemetery.
Mr. Graden was preceded in death by his wife, Bonnie Berry Graden.
Survivors include one sister, Vera Wilson of Section; and two brothers, William Graden and Grady Graden, both of Section.
Lola C. Hamby
Lola Claudene Hamby, 66, of Huntsville died Tuesday at a local hospital. Spry Funeral Home will announce funeral arrangements.
Burial will be in Georgetown Cemetery in Pottsboro, Texas.
Mrs. Hamby lived in Huntsville 38 years, was president of the Huntsville Education Association and had taught at Riverton, Chapman, Highlands, Calvary Hills and Ed White elementary schools.
Survivors include three sons, Stephen Ray Seat of Nashville, Clyde David Seat of Madison and Tracy Alan Seat of Meridian; her father, R.D. Wilson of Texas; five brothers, Jim Wilson, Jack Wilson, Joe Wilson and Rick Wilson, all of Texas, and Dale Wilson of Oklahoma; and three grandchildren.
Visitation will be Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to a favorite charity.
Elaine G. Haskell
Elaine G. Haskell, 75, of Huntsville died Saturday at a local hospital. No funeral is planned.
Valhalla Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Ms. Haskell retired from AVEX Corp.
Survivors include two daughters, Pat Moss of Atlanta and Pamela Powers of Huntsville; two sons, Richard Haskell of Atlanta and Robert Haskell of New Orleans; two sisters, Margaret Johnson of Pawcatuck, Conn., and Betty Coffee of Pennsylvania; one brother, Albert Prunier of Deland, Fla.; and two grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Michael S. Hayashi
ATHENS - Michael S. Hayashi, 65, died Sunday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Valhalla Funeral Home chapel with full military honors and with Chaplain Maj. Loran Bulla and the Rev. Steve Lacy officiating.
Burial will be in Valhalla Memory Gardens.
Mr. Hayashi was a retired U.S. Army sergeant first class and served during the Korean and Vietnam wars. He was a native of Hilo, Hawaii, and retired from Redstone Arsenal.
Survivors include his wife, Bettie Hayashi of Athens; one son, David Hayashi of Madison; two daughters, Wynema Wooten of Madison and Melissa Case-Hayashi of Athens; one brother, H. Hayashi of Hawaii; three sisters, Bernice Tarumota, Ethel Tokunaga and Leatrice Komatsu, all of Hawaii; and seven grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 5 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Reuben Johnson
ATHENS - Reuben Johnson of 14634 Chris Way died Monday at his home. Limestone Chapel Funeral Home will announce funeral arrangements.
Albert W. Keel
PULASKI, Tenn. - Albert W. Keel, 79, of 1041 Dellrose Road died Monday at a Pulaski hospital. The funeral will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at New Hope Funeral Home.
Survivors include his wife, Jean Keel of Pulaski; two sons, Randy Keel and Woody Keel, both of Tennessee; one brother, Harvey Keel of Utah; one sister, Lena ORear of Huntsville, Ala., and three step-grandchildren and one step-great-granddaughter.
Visitation will be today from 4 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Waylon Lipham
RAINSVILLE - Waylon Lipham, 67, died Sunday in Ringgold, Ga. The funeral was to be today at 4 p.m. at Rainsville Funeral Home with the Rev. R.V. Wells officiating.
Burial was to be in New Bethel Cemetery.
Mr. Lipham was preceded in death by one son, Michael Lipham; and one granddaughter, Tamara Hope Jones.
Survivors include three daughters, Kimberly Wright of Tucson, Ariz., Gina Poole of Mobile and Sharon Pearce of Ringgold; six sons, Gary Phillips of Dallas, Texas, Steve Phillips of Chickamauga, Ga., Butch Lipham of Rossville, Ga., Marcus Lipham of Gates, Tenn., and Jimmy Lipham and Richard Lipham, both of Ringgold; five sisters, Delores Carlyle of Rainsville, Shelby Hilley of Fyffe, Clyde Smith of Bryant, Carolyn Marshall of Scottsboro and Pat Askew of Birmingham; two brothers, Frank Lipham of Rainsville and Fred Lipham of Tullahoma, Tenn.; and 16 grandchildren.
James W. Locke
FAYETTEVILLE, Tenn. - James William Locke, 80, died Sunday in Lewisburg, Tenn. The funeral will be Thursday at 2 p.m. at McCauley Funeral Home in Fayetteville with the Rev. Carlos Beddingfield officiating.
Mr. Locke was a native of Madison County, Ala.
Survivors include his wife, Susie Locke of Pulaski; one daughter, Vivian Daniel of Huntsville, Ala.; and two nephews, one nieces, two grandsons and one great-grandson.
Visitation will be Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Mary Looney
GUNTERSVILLE - Mary Looney, 55, of 1533 Rayburn Ave. died Saturday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Carr Funeral Home in Guntersville.
Burial will be in Guntersville City Cemetery.
Survivors include one daughter, Carmen Hampton of Guntersville; four sons, Rodney Hampton of Albertville and Brad Hampton, Jonathan Hampton and Jermaine Hampton, all of Guntersville; two sisters, Agnes Ewing of Huntsville and Sharon Stacey of Guntersville; four brothers, Waymon Hampton of Albertville, Lawrence Hampton of Huntsville, John Hampton of Louisiana and Terry Hampton of Pennsylvania; and three grandchildren.
Raymond McCullough
DECATUR - Raymond Lawrence McCullough, 77, died Sunday. The funeral will be Wednesday at 10 a.m. at Shelton Funeral Home in Decatur with the Revs. G. Douglas Ripley and Bob Cyphers officiating.
Burial will be in Roselawn Cemetery.
Mr. McCullough was a member of the Decatur Baptist Church and served in the U.S. Army in World War II.
Survivors include his wife, Sarah F. McCullough of Decatur; one daughter, Juanita M. Smith of Decatur; four brothers, David McCullough of Las Vegas, Elijah "Pete" McCullough and Winfred McCullough, both of Memphis, and Alfred McCullough of Bells, Tenn.; three sisters, Sudie Gray Deverell of Charleston, Tenn., Jean Wildman of Jackson, Miss., and Martha Lane of Rogersville, Tenn.; and one granddaughter and two great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Clara F. Newby
DECATUR - Clara Frances Newby, 70, died Saturday at her home. There will be no funeral.
Roselawn Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Newby was a native of Decatur and a homemaker.
Survivors include her husband, James E. Newby; three sons, Steven Newby of Pensacola, and Jeffrey Newby and Matthew Newby, both of Concord, N.C.; one daughter, Alison Newby of Madison; one brother, David Hannah of Athens; one sister, Nella Collins of Athens; and several grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of the Valley.
Ollie B. Norwood
PISGAH - Ollie Black Norwood, 73, died Sunday at a Scottsboro hospital. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at Section Funeral Home with the Revs. Johnny Nix and Billy Parker officiating.
Burial was to be in Old Sardis Cemetery.
Survivors include one daughter, Lanita Cline of Pisgah; one sister, Hazel Mashburn of Lookout Mountain, Ga.; and two brothers, Arthur Black of Section and Irvin Black of Tunnel Hill, Ga.; and three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Jonas E. Owens
EAST RIDGE, Tenn. - Jonas Edward Owens, 69, died Sunday at a local hospital. A graveside service will be Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. at Shelton Cemetery in Scottsboro.
Turner Funeral Home of Chattanooga is in charge of burial.
Mr. Owens, a native of Stevenson, had lived in Chattanooga since 1952. He had previously lived in Hollywood, Ala.
Survivors include his wife, Cleo Brandon Owens; three daughters, Charlotte Owens West of East Ridge, Judy Owens Miller of Lookout Mountain, Ga., and Kathy Owens Bearden of Hendersonville, N.C.; and six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Visitation was to be today from 4 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Elizabeth J. Phillips
ATHENS - Elizabeth Jayne "Betty" Phillips, 78, of West Elm Street died Sunday at a Pulaski, Tenn., nursing home. The funeral will be Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. at Mount Pisgah Baptist Church in Athens with Drs. Juakem Dumas and Dan Kiefer officiating.
Burial will be in Mount Pisgah Cemetery with Taylor-Ardmore Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include her husband, Murrell Phillps of Athens; one son, Bob Phillips of Chicago; one daughter, Joyce Kiefer of Athens; one brother, Sam Church of Hebron, Ind.; two sisters, Anna Coman of Valparaiso, Ind., and Lydia Pominski of Lansing, Ill.; and six grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Courtney B. Ridgeway
ARAB - Courtney Beth Ridgeway, infant daughter of Todd and Amy Ridgeway of 76 Nicki Lane, died Monday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral was to be today at 4:30 p.m. at Arab Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.
Burial was to be in New Brashiers Chapel Cemetery.
Other survivors include her grandparents, Threase Payton of Gurley, Johnny and Charlotte Payton of Woodville and Debbie and Michael Ridgeway of Arab; her great-grandparents, Joyce Gray of Gurley, Maxine Ridgeway of Arab, Betty Brooks of Horton and Joe Brooks of Crossville; and her great-great-grandparents, Arlene Wright of Arab and Roxie Wilburn of Huntsville.
Thomas J. Russell II
Thomas J. "Tommy Jack" Russell II, 67, of Huntsville died Monday in Huntsville. The funeral will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Valhermoso First Christian Church with the Rev. Gene McDowell officiating.
Burial will be in the church cemetery with Laughlin Service Funeral Home in charge.
Mr. Russell worked in the aerospace industry 30 years and retired from Thiokol and USBI. He owned and operated several small businesses and was a farmer most of his adult life. He was a member of the church and was a master mason at Masonic Lodge No. 721 in Somerville.
Survivors include one son, Thomas J. "Jackie" Russell III of Huntsville; one daughter, Beverly Towry of Huntsville; one brother, Bill Russell of Huntsville; one sister, Mary Foster of Ormond Beach, Fla.; and five grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Mario L. Smith
MERIDIANVILLE - Mario Lanza Smith, 32, of 104 Colonial Drive died Saturday at his home. A memorial service will be Friday at 3 p.m. at Church of the Lamb in Madison with Pastor Dean Brooks officiating.
Royal Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Smith was a native of Eau Claire, Mich., and had lived in Huntsville several years. He taught children to paint at the Boys and Girls Club. He was also a student at Alabama A&M University.
Survivors include his father and stepmother, Al and Mary Smith of Meridianville; his mother, Judy Smith of California; his grandmother, Marcella Smith of Eau Claire; two brothers, Alvin Smith Jr. of Tennessee and Jeff Smith of Huntsville; one sister, Marcella Smith of Huntsville; four half-brothers, Joseph Smith and Jared Smith, both of Meridianville, Julius Smith of Huntsville and Brandon Smith of Ohio; seven half-sisters, Jenna Smith of Meridianville, Celecia Smith of Huntsville, Myesha Smith, Christiania Smith, Jamee Smith and Jessica Smith, all of California, and Sharon Smith of Michigan; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.
Memorial donations may be made to the Mario L. Smith Memorial Fund in care of the branch manager at Colonial Bank, 1217 North Parkway, Huntsville, 35801.
Barry Swearengin
Barry Swearengin, 25, of 2506 Guenevere Ave. died Sunday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Grant Memorial Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Randy Blakely officiating.
Burial will be in Gunters Mountain Cemetery.
Survivors include his parents, Donald and Bep "Mai" Swearengin of Huntsville; one brother, Timothy Swearengin of Huntsville; one sister, Stephanie Swearengin of Huntsville; and grandmother, Inez Swearengin Stapler.
Visitation will be today at 6 p.m. at the funeral home.
Danny R. Thompson
HOUSTON - Danny Ray Thompson, 52, died Saturday at a local hospital. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at Gober Funeral Home in Arab.
Burial was to be in New Home Cemetery.
Survivors include his companion, Kathy Rich of Arab; two daughters, Patti Thompson of Arab and Pam Davidson of Guntersville; his mother, Beatrice Thompson of Huntsville; four sisters, Margaret Larkin of Arab, Rhonda Hall and Jan Echard, both of Huntsville, and Wilma Boyles of Baileyton; two brothers, Gene Thompson of Indiana and Junior Thompson of Tennessee; and one grandchild.
Jessie C. Walden
GUNTERSVILLE - Jessie Carl Walden, 86, of 4211 Morrow St. died Monday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Carr Funeral Home in Guntersville. Burial will be in Crestview Cemetery.
Survivors include three sisters, Pauline Johnson and Mozelle Glass, both of Guntersville, and Nellie Jo Elliott of Albertville; and one brother, D.M. Walden Jr. of Guntersville.
Ruth White
Ruth "Mama" White of Huntsville died Monday in Huntsville. The funeral will be Wednesday at 10 a.m. at Spry Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Talmidge Clayton officiating.
Spry Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert White.
Survivors include one daughter, Bobbie Estell of Huntsville; three sons, Maurice White, Larry White and Neil White, all of Huntsville; and 10 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to the United Methodist Childrens Home in Selma.
Curtis S. Williams
ELORA, Tenn. - Curtis S. Williams, 89, of Limestone Road died today. The funeral will be Thursday at 2 p.m. at Gallant Funeral Home in Fayetteville, Tenn., with the Rev. James Brazier officiating.
Burial will be in Elora Cemetery.
Mr. Williams was a native of Albertville and a retired farmer. He was preceded in death by his wife, Anna Medley Williams.
Survivors include one daughter, Elsie Green Rogers of Elora; one son, Vernon Williams of Elora; and two grandchildren, Barry Green of Elora and Stan Williams of Huntsville; and one great-granddaughter.
Visitation will be Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
