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.
Connie Armstrong
HAZEL GREEN - Connie Ranae Johnson Armstrong, 27, died Wednesday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Friday at 2 p.m. at Laughlin Service Funeral Home chapel with Brother Oakley Drake officiating.
Burial will be in Green Valley Cemetery in Big Cove.
Survivors include her husband, Joe W. Armstrong of Hazel Green ; one daughter, Madison Paige Armstrong of Hazel Green ; her father, Jim Johnson of Huntsville; her mother, Anita Smartt of Huntsville; two brothers, Steven D. Smartt and Brad Smartt, both of Huntsville; one sister, Lisa Hall of New Hope; and her maternal grandmother, Faye Jones of Huntsville.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
William R. Chittam
ATHENS - William R. ''Bill Chittam, 67, of Hine Street died Tuesday at a local hospital. The funeral will be today at 3 p.m. at Spry Funeral Home in Athens with James Bridges officiating.
Burial will be in Dement Cemetery.
Mr. Chittam was a native of Limestone County, an Army veteran and retired from the Athens News Courier.
Survivors include one son, Scott Chittam of Athens; two brothers, Herbert Chittam of Athens and Mike Chittam of Texas; six sisters, Myrion Babcock of Beloit, Wis., Nancy McDonald of Royal Oak, Mich., Judy Winter of McComb, Mich., Marsha Harris of Madison Heights, Mich., Ocile Jenkins and Sarah McElyea, both of Athens; three grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
Memorial donations may be made to American Lung Association or to an Arthritis Foundation.
Maudine Chumley
ARAB - Maudine Chumley, 59, of 893 Swinging Bridge Road died Wednesday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Friday at 2 p.m. at Shady Grove Baptist Church.
Burial will be in the adjoining cemetery with Gober Funeral Home of Arab in charge.
Survivors include one daughter, Marie Stanford of Arab; three sons, Leon Chumley, David Chumley and Mark Chumley, all of Arab; four sisters, Mary Thompson, Hazel Eason and Ruby Whitaker, all of Cullman, and Linda Bice of Hanceville; two brothers, G.H. Eason and Junior Eason, both of Cullman; and 11 grandchildren.
Mildred W. Clifford
HARVEST - Mildred W. Clifford, 73, died Wednesday at her home. The funeral will be Friday at 11 a.m. at Valhalla Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Doug Wever officiating.
Burial will be in Valhalla Memory Gardens.
Mrs. Clifford was a member of Harvest Baptist Church and was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Nos. 40 and 8.
Survivors include her husband, Ray Clifford of Harvest; one daughter, Anita Godleski of Atlanta; three sons, Frank Godleski and Ronnie Clifford, both of Madison, and Marty Clifford of Huntsville; and nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the funeral home.
Lomer S. Gosdin
WOODLAND - Lomer Smith Gosdin, 90, died Wednesday at her home. The funeral was today at 11 a.m. at Providence Baptist Church in Woodland with the Rev. David Daniel officiating.
Burial was in the adjoining cemetery with Benefield Funeral Home of Wedowee in charge.
Mrs. Gosdin was formerly of Huntsville. She was preceded in death by her husband, Chester Gosdin.
Survivors include one daughter, Glenda Wallace of Acworth, Ga.; one son, Dennis Gosdin of Woodland; two sisters, Madgalene Hester of LaGrange, Ga., and Inis Wilson of Florence; and two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Annie A. Hill
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - Annie Allen Hill, 73, of 3913 Cookville Court died Wednesday at a North Carolina hospital. The funeral will be Friday at 10 a.m. at St. Matthews United Methodist Church in Fayetteville with the Rev. Larry G. Patrick officiating.
Burial will be in Riverview Memorial Cemetery in Spring Lake, N.C.
Survivors include one daughter, Barbara Kent of Huntsville; two brothers, Paul Allen and Julian Allen, both of Louisburg, N.C.; one sister, Lola Smith of Fayetteville; and one grandson.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to the church at 202 Hope Mills Road, Fayetteville, N.C., 28304.
Derek V. Hill
MADISON - Derek Van Hill, 33, died Monday in Fayetteville, Tenn. The funeral will be Friday at 1 p.m. at Roselawn Funeral Home in Decatur with Lowell Sallee officiating.
Burial will be in Gum Springs Cemetery in Fayetteville.
Mr. Hill was an engineer at Hitache Seiki in Huntsville and was an Army veteran.
Survivors include his wife, Lizabeth Hill; two daughters, Jessica Hill and Raven Hill, both of Madison; one stepdaughter, Chelsea Green of Madison; two sisters, Jana Byrd of Hartselle and Pamela Dickerson of Somerville; and his mother, Linda Hill of Decatur.
Luby C. Jones
ALBERTVILLE - Luby Carl Jones, 90, of 407 South Hambrick St. died Monday in a Jacksonville, Fla., nursing home. The funeral will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Albertville.
Burial will be in Marshall Memorial Garden.
Survivors include two daughters, Carol Stoner of Huntsville and Brenda King of Florida; three sons, Jerry Jones of Georgia, Carl Jones of Mississippi and Joe Jones of Brownsboro; two sisters, Annie West of Horton and Dera Williams of Spanish Fort; one brother, Emmitt Jones of Louisiana; and five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimers Association.
Joseph A. Knothe
HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. - Joseph A. Knothe, 65, died Wednesday in Hendersonville. The funeral will be Saturday in Hendersonville.
Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery with Spry Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include his wife, MaryAnn Knothe of Hendersonville; two sons, Greg Knothe of White Bear Lake, Minn., and Larry Knothe of Huntsville; three daughters, Jayne Faulkner, Barbara Anderson and Nancy Clark, all of Huntsville; and eight grandchildren and two step-grandsons.
Memorial donations may be made to Four Seasons Hospice, P.O. Box 2395, Hendersonville, 28793.
Kaylah Lanz
ARAB - Kaylah Lanz, infant daughter of Matt and Jennifer Lanz of Arab, died Tuesday at a Birmingham hospital. A graveside service was to be today at 4 p.m. at Gilliam Springs Cemetery.
Gober Funeral Home of Arab is in charge of burial.
Other survivors include grandparents, Jack and Linda Karr of Arab and David and Nancy Vice of Connecticut; and great-grandparents, Joe and Bernice Dorn and James and Mattie Mathis, all of Arab, and Ida Beaulier.
Henry E. Marcus
Henry Ely Marcus, 89, of Huntsville died Tuesday at his home. The graveside service will be Friday at 11 a.m. at Maple Hill Cemetery with Rabbi Steven L. Jacobs.
Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery with Laughlin Service Funeral Home in charge.
Mr. Marcus worked at Redstone Arsenal 32 years, beginning in 1958 as chief of the maintenance branch for the Redstone, Jupiter and Pershing Missile systems. At retirement he was chief of maintenance for the Safeguard missile program. He was a graduate of Drexel Institute of Technology in Philadelphia and supported the Huntsville/Madison County Public Library, Community Ballet Association, Huntsville Symphony Orchestra, Huntsville Museum of Art, Huntsville/Madison County Botanical Garden and Temple BNai Sholom, where he was a member.
Survivors include his wife, Manya Marcus of Huntsville; two sons, Richard S. Marcus and David Marcus, both of Boston; one daughter, Joan M. May of Huntsville; one brother, Robert Marcus of Huntsville; and five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to the public library or Temple BNai Sholom.
Harry M. Murray
Retired Army Col. Harry M. Murray, 88, of Huntsville died Tuesday at a local hospital. The graveside service was today at 11:30 a.m. at Maple Hill Cemetery with Air Force Col. Guy Jackson Sherrill officiating.
Laughlin Service Funeral Home is in charge of burial.
Col. Murray graduated from North Carolina State University with a degree in mechanical engineering. His military career included command of a battalion in the southwest Pacific during World War II, assignment to the Military Assistance Advisory Group in Copenhagen, Denmark, and assignment as NATO project manager for the Hawk missile system. His decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Air Medal and the NATO Meritorious Achievement Medal. He was preceded in death by one son, Dr. Harry Murray Jr.
Survivors include his wife, Kathren S. Murray of Huntsville; and two grandsons, Gordon Robinson Murray of Atlanta and Michael Lyons Murray of Quantico, Va.
Eddie G. Player
TALLADEGA - Eddie Gene Player, 64, died Sunday at a Birmingham hospital. The funeral will be Friday at 2 p.m. at Mount Canaan Baptist Church in Talladega with the Rev. Dr. Horace L. Patterson and the Rev. Dr. B.E. McKinney officiating.
Burial will be in Pine Hill Memorial Park with Terrys Metropolitan Mortuary of Talladega in charge.
Mrs. Player was a member of Mount Canaan Church and a 1958 graduate of Alabama A&M University.
Survivors include his wife, Marie Harris Player of Talladega; three sons, Alan Bryant of Sylacauga, Eric Player of Huntsville and Duane Player of Tuscaloosa; two sisters, Frances Barber of Detroit and Mary Ruth Phillips of Gadsden; four brothers, James Player and Hughie Player, both of Sycamore, Richard Player of Childersburg and Delois Player of Tuskegee; and six grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to the Councill Challenge at Alabama A&M University, P.O. Box 1057, Normal, Ala.
His body will be at the church one hour before the funeral.
Freddie R. Smith
ABBEVILLE - Freddie Ross Smith, 58, died Tuesday at his home. The funeral will be Friday at 11 a.m. at Taylor-Ardmore Funeral Home chapel with Bro. Ralph Halbrooks officiating.
Burial will be in Gatlin Cemetery.
Mr. Smith was a member of Cash Point Baptist Church and Woodmen of the World. He was preceded in death by one daughter, Teresa Jane Graviett.
Survivors include his wife, Doris Hargrave Smith of Abbeville; three sons, Freddie Barton Smith of Nashville, Toney Martin Smith of Fayetteville, Tenn., and Nelson Ross "Ozzie" Smith of Lewisburg, Tenn.; two stepsons, Floyd J. Hall and Jeffery D. Hall, both of Fayetetville; her mother, Alice Verona Slayton of Abbeville; and nine grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Gretchen P. Thompson
Gretchen Payne "Billie" Thompson, 88, of Huntsville died Wednesday. The funeral will be Friday at 2 p.m. at Spry Funeral Home chapel.
Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery.
Mrs. Thompson was a native of Grundy County, Tenn., but spent most of her life in Madison County. She was preceded in death by two husbands, Charles Payne and Ernest Thompson.
Survivors include one son, Charles Jan Payne of Huntsville; one brother, Garnett Thompson of Huntsville; and three grandchildren.
Visitation will be Friday from noon to 2 p.m. at the funeral home.
Alma M. Travis
BIRMINGHAM - Alma Mae Travis, 96, died Tuesday in Birmingham. The funeral will be Friday at 2:30 p.m. at Spry Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Arnie Elliff and her grandson Jarred Robinson officiating.
Burial will be in Charity Cemetery.
Mrs. Travis was a native of Madison County and had lived in Toney. She had lived in Birmingham 15 years.
Survivors include five daughters, Verna Davis of Lewisburg, Tenn., Estelle Robinson of Birmingham, Joyce Rucker of Huntsville, Jean Priest of Hazel Green and Brenda McFarlen of El Porto, Texas; one son, Calvin Travis Jr. of Toney; and 17 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 5 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Laura S. Walker
HAZEL GREEN - Laura Syler Walker of 169 Cothren Road died Tuesday at a local hospital. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at Higgins Funeral Home with the Rev. Tommy Rosenblum officiating.
Burial will be in Riverview Memorial Gardens.
Mrs. Walker was a native of Madison County and a member of Plainview Church of Christ. She owned and operated Syler Grocery in Fayetteville for several years.
Survivors include her husband, Bill Walker of Hazel Green ; one sister, Verna Bobo Gowen of Nashville; and several nieces and nephews.
Robbie N. Williams
GUNTERSVILLE - Robbie Nell Williams, 63, of 287 Cha-La-Kee Road died Monday at a Nashville hospital. The funeral was today at 10 a.m. at Carr Funeral Home in Guntersville.
Burial was in Diamond Cemetery.
Survivors include her husband, Dan Williams; one daughter, Cynthia Williams of Nashville; two sons, Stephen Williams of Guntersville and Morris Williams of Nashville; mother, Ida Lois Nolen of Alexander City; one brother, William Nolen of Alexander City; and one grandchild.
Marvin L. Wilson
BOAZ - Marvin Lewis Wilson, 88, of 1057 Whitesville Drive died Tuesday at a local hospital. A graveside service was today at 11 a.m. at Forrest Home Cemetery.
Albertville Memorial Chapel Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Survivors include one daughter, Linda Phillips of Boaz; two sons, Wayne Wilson of Boaz and Charles Wilson of Montgomery; two sisters, Pauline Brown and Mae Croft, both of Boaz; one brother, Lonzo Wilson of Boaz; and three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
