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.
Lois C. Beggs
BOAZ - Lois C. Beggs, 84, of 2038 Mt. Vernon Dr. died Thursday at a local hospital. The graveside service is today at 2 p.m. at Pine Hill Memorial Park in Talladega with Carr Funeral Home of Boaz in charge.
Survivors include several nieces and nephews.
P.B. Berry
GROVE OAK - P.B. Berry, 81, died Thursday at his home. The funeral will be today at 4 p.m. at Rainsville Funeral Home with the Revs. Jerry Myers and Rayford Fricks officiating.
Burial will be in Mount Pleasant Cemetery.
Mr. Berry was preceded in death by his wife, Luna Berry; and one son, Randy Berry.
Survivors include two daughters, Faye Berry of Detroit, Mich., and Bobbie Lewis of Rainsville; three sisters, Edna Morgan of Chattanooga, Rudell Bennett of Grove Oak and Bertha Peters of Guntersville; one brother, Herbert Berry of Chattanooga; and eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Mary P. Case
CARTERSVILLE, Ga. - Mary Pearl Case, 78, died Friday. The funeral will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at Rudder Funeral Home in Stevenson, with the Rev. Howard Gothard officiating.
Burial will be in Rocky Springs Cemetery in Bridgeport.
Survivors include one son, Harold Richard Case of San Antonio, Texas; one sister, Alma Laney Hammons of Kingston, Ga.; and two grandchildren.
Annie M. Coleman
FORT OGLETHORPE, Ga. - Annie Mae Coleman, 92, died Thursday. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at Rainsville Funeral Home with the Revs. John Collins and Melvin Hilley officiating.
Burial will be in Green s Chapel Cemetery.
Mrs. Coleman was a member of the Piney Grove Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Eddie H. Coleman; and one son, James Irby Coleman.
Survivors include one son, Warren Briggs Coleman of Chattanooga; and three grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
Christa A. Decher
Christa Anna Decher, 71, of Huntsville died today at her home. Laughlin Service Funeral Home will announce funeral arrangements.
Mrs. Decher was a member of the Church of the Visitation.
Survivors include her husband, Rudolf Decher of Huntsville; one son, Peter Decher of Portland, Ore.; one daughter, Marianne Watson of Huntsville; one sister, Almuth Schmidt-Rimpler of Bonn, Germany; and one granddaughter.
James L. Gibson Sr.
HARTSELLE - James Leeman Gibson Sr., 78, of 914 High St. died Friday at his residence. The graveside service will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at Hartselle City Cemetery with the Rev. Ron Wilson officiating.
Peck Funeral Home is in charge of burial arrangements.
Mr. Gibson was a member of First Baptist Church, was retired from Wolverine Tube after 36 years and was a captain in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret, and one sister, Margarete Stone.
Survivors include two sons, William Warren Gibson of Nashville and James L. Gibson Jr. of Hartselle; one brother, S.E. Gibson of Mobile; and three grandchildren.
Joseph D. Saulsbury
MADISON - Joseph D. Saulsbury, 53, died Tuesday at his home. The funeral will be Tuesday, July 13, at 1:30 p.m. at Hampton-Gentry Funeral Home in Plainfield, Ind.
Burial will be at Maple Hill Cemetery in Plainfield.
Mr. Saulsbury was a production shop worker for Daimler Chrysler Corporation for 30 years and was a U.S. Air Force veteran.
Survivors include two daughters, Tonya M. Heard of Plainfield and Heather J. Hamilton of Avon, Ind.; one son, Derek J. Saulsbury of Indianapolis; his stepfather and mother, Walter and Juanita Phelps of Cincinnati; and five grandchildren.
Visitation will be Monday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Charles R. Stone Sr.
ALBERTVILLE - Charles R. Stone Sr., 81, of 420 Teague St. died Thursday at a local hospital. The funeral will be today at 4 p.m. at Albertville Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.
Burial will be in the Hillcrest Cemetery.
Survivors include his wife, Jean Rains Stone; two daughters, Betsy Pain of Oklahoma and Jean Anne Stone of Tennessee; a son, Charles Stone Jr. of Oklahoma; a sister, Wilma Peppers of Oneonta; a brother, Ralph Stone of New Hope; and seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Acie B. Turner
PROSPECT, Tenn. - Acie B. Turner, 80, died Friday at his home. The funeral will be Monday at 2 p.m. at Limestone Chapel Funeral Home.
Burial will be in Pettusville Cemetery.
Mr. Turner was a member of Sand Spring Baptist Church. He was retired from Stanley Tools in Pulaski.
Survivors include his wife, Nina Turner; four sons, Acie Turner Jr. of Mt. Pleasant, S.C., Ray Turner of Leoma, Larry Turner of Fayetteville and Mark Turner of Ardmore; five daughters, Lois Haraway of Rogersville, Ruth Sanders of Prospect, Linda Staggs of Summertown, Jane Meeks of Lawrenceburg and Joan Fox of Roy, Utah; one brother, Calvin Turner of Cincinnati; and 15 grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Sunday from 4 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Donations may be made to St. Jude Hospital in Memphis.
Marcus Williams Sr.
HOLLY POND - Marcus Williams Sr., 66, of 5015 Co. Rd. 1725 died Thursday in Tennessee. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at Arab Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.
Burial will be in the Brocks Chapel Cemetery.
Survivors include his wife, Beatrice Williams; a son, Mark Williams Jr. of Union Grove; two daughters, Janice Veach of Grant and Sandra Mary Key of Albertville; a brother, William Eugene Williams of Huntsville; a sister, Jewel Arnold of Rusk, Tx.; and a grandson, Randy Joe Williams.
07/11/99
Lee O. Boyd
ARAB - Lee Ola Boyd, 102, died Saturday at her home. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at Gober Funeral Home of Arab.
Burial will be in the Arab Memorial Cemetery.
Survivors include one son, James K. "Sonny Boyd of Cullman; three daughters, Iva Jean Thompson, Sarah Clark and Anita Miller, all of Arab; and 21 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great-grandchildren.
John R. Bradshaw
John R. "Buck Bradshaw, 73, of Huntsville died Saturday at a local hospital. The graveside service will be Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Faith Memorial Park with Bro. James Wessels officiating.
Spry Funeral Home is in charge of burial arrangements.
Mr. Bradshaw was a native of Limestone County and a long-time resident of Madison County.
Survivors include three daughters, Frances Holt, Diane Wessels and Brenda Holt, all of Huntsville; five sons, Frankie Bradshaw, Bobby Bradshaw, Johnny Bradshaw, Jimmy Baker and Jerry Baker, all of Huntsville; two sisters, Lucille Roberts of Huntsville and Grace Flenor of Florida; and 14 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
His body will be at 2109 First St. after 11 a.m. on Monday until the service on Tuesday.
Mattie E. Chambers
BIRMINGHAM - Mattie Estella Chambers, 90, died Saturday at a local nursing home. The funeral will be Monday at 2 p.m. at New Hope Funeral Home chapel.
Burial will be in Hayden Cemetery with New Hope Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. Chambers was a homemaker and member of the New Hope Church of God.
Survivors include two sons, James L. Chambers of Birmingham and Olen Wayne Chambers of Tennessee; three daughters, Lila E. Little and Betty Ewing, both of Birmingham, and Earline Smith of Montgomery; one sister, Lois Whitaker of New Hope; and several grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
H.T. Clark
WOODVILLE - H.T. Clark, 67, died Friday at his home. The funeral will be Monday at 11 a.m. at Elkwood Holiness Church with the Revs. David Jones and Erskine Williams officiating.
Burial will be in Cochran Cemetery with Gallant Funeral Home in charge.
Mr. Clark was a native of Madison County. He was a pest control technician and a member of Keel Mt. Holiness Church.
Survivors include his wife, Shirley Clark; one daughter, Rebecca Clark of Woodville; his mother, Idella Clark of Toney; two sisters, Carolyn Johnson of Knoxville and Mary Rowe of Toney; and seven brothers, Lewis Clark, Grayson Clark, Kenneth Clark and David Clark, all of Hazel Green, James Clark of Huntsville, and Thomas Clark and Charles Clark, both of Toney.
Visitation will be today from 5 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
His body will be at the church two hours before the funeral.
Christa A. Decher
Christa A. Decher, 71, of Huntsville died Friday at her home. The funeral will be Tuesday at 2 p.m. at St. Mary Church of Visitation with the Rev. Robert Wagner officiating.
Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery with Laughlin Service Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. Decher was a native of Germany. She was a volunteer for many Huntsville community agencies and was a member of St. Mary Church of Visitation.
Survivors include her husband, Rudolf Decher; one son, Peter Decher of Portland, Ore.; one daughter, Marianne Watson of Huntsville; one sister, Almuth Schmidt-Rimpler of Bonn, Germany; and one granddaughter, Teresa Decher of Portland.
Visitation will be Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Donations may be made to Hospice Family Care of Huntsville.
Ricky M. Franklin
Ricky Morris Franklin, 48, of Huntsville died Friday at his home. Spry Funeral Home will announce funeral arrangements.
Mr. Franklin was a native of Huntsville.
Survivors include one brother, Tommy Don Franklin of Huntsville; and three sisters, Janice Marie Nichols and Pamela Joan Franklin, both of Huntsville, and Sharon Reene Franklin of Indiana.
Marion M. Hunn
BIRMINGHAM - Marion M. Hunn, 78, died Thursday. The funeral will be Monday at 1 p.m. at Ascension Lutheran Church in Huntsville with the Rev. Bernard Ansorge officiating.
Burial will be in Valhalla Memory Gardens with Valhalla Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. Hunn was a member of Ascension Lutheran Church. She retired from Civil Service at Redstone Arsenal, was a member of the Ascensions Womens League and was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of World War II.
Survivors include two daughters, Judith H. Campbell of Madison and Patricia H. Tichenor of Birmingham; two sons, Joseph Edward Hunn of West New York, N.J., and James Martin Hunn of Washington, D.C.; and five grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 4 to 6 p.m. at the funeral home.
Her body will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral.
Woodrow Johnson
GUNTERSVILLE - Woodrow Johnson, 81, of 973 Red Barn Road died Friday at his home. The funeral will be today at 4 p.m. at Guntersville Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.
Burial will be in Marshall Memorial Gardens.
Survivors include his wife, Ann Johnson; two daughters, Gail Snow of Scant City and Shirley Moore of Guntersville; three sons, Lynn Johnson, Kenneth Johnson and Shannon Johnson, all of Guntersville; one sister, Helen Edmondson of Guntersville; two special friends, Heather Henson and Hollie Dobbins, both of Albertville; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Joseph A. Knothe
HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. - Joseph Arthur Knothe, 65, died Wednesday at his home. The funeral will be Monday at 11 a.m. at Spry Funeral Home chapel in Huntsville.
Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery with Spry Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Ann Knothe; three daughters, Jayne Faulkner, Barbara Anderson and Nancy Clark, all of Huntsville; two sons, Greg Knothe of White Bear Lake, Minn., and Larry Knothe of Huntsville; and eight grandchildren and two step-grandchildren.
Leonard C. Lacy Jr.
ANDALUSIA - Leonard C. Lacy Jr., 66, died Friday in Chattanooga. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at Kerby Funeral Home in Henagar.
Burial will be in Liberty Cemetery in Henagar.
Survivors include one daughter, Deborah C. Morton of East Ridge, Tenn.; two sons, L.C. "Rusty Lacy III of Nashville and Jeff Lacy of Chattanooga; two sisters, Lillie Brandon of Fort Payne and Betty Sheperd of Signal Mountain, Tenn.; and four grandchildren and one step great-grandchild.
Samuel C. McKenty
LAWTON, Okla. - Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col Samuel Charles McKenty, 55, died Thursday at his home. The funeral will be Monday at 10 a.m. at New Post Chapel with the Revs. Michael L. Stock Sr. officiating and David Rapske officiating.
Burial will be in Post Cemetery, Fort Still with Becker Funeral Home in charge.
Col. McKenty was a former resident of Huntsville.
Survivors include his wife, Jeanne G. McKenty; three daughters, Vickie Lynn Moody of Geronimo, Okla., Kimberly Ann McKenty of Phoenix and Robin Marie Espey of Katy, Texas; two brothers, Bruce G. McKenty of Tacoma, Wash., and Michael J. McKenty of Austin, Texas; one sister, Susan R. Tetterton, N.C.; and two grandchildren.
Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, Comanche County Unit, 1305 W. Gore, Suite A, Lawton, OK 73501 or the Girl Scouts of America.
Robert E. Miller
Robert E. Miller, 83, of Huntsville died Saturday at a local hospital. The graveside service will be Tuesday at 10 a.m. at Union Cemetery in Woodville with Laughlin Service Funeral Home in charge.
Mr. Miller was a World War II veteran and was retired from Civil Service.
Survivors include his wife, Johnnie C. Miller; four brothers, Willie C. Miller and Thomas E. Miller, both of Anniston, David Miller of Owens Cross Roads and Marvin Miller of Nashville; and one sister, Marie Short of Ft. Myers, Fla.
Visitation will be Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Donations may be made to a favorite charity.
Alma L. Moorehead
ELORA, Tenn. - Alma Lou Moorehead, 76, died Saturday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral will be Monday at 3 p.m. at Gallant Funeral Home in Fayetteville with Lewis Whitt officiating.
Burial will be in Elora Cemetery.
Mrs. Moorehead was a native of Boaz, and member of Elora Church of Christ.
Survivors include one son, Gene Moorehead of Elora; one daughter, Carolyn Rogers of Cleveland, Tenn.; and five grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 3 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Jessie B. Oliver
ALBERTVILLE - Rev. Jessie B. Oliver, 68, died Friday at his home. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at Rainsville Funeral Home with the Revs. Travis Carr and Jimmy Estes officiating.
Burial will be in Marshall Memory Gardens.
Survivors include his wife, Emma Fay Oliver; one son, A.D. Oliver of Albertville; two sisters, Ruth Edmondson of Albertville and Ina Mae Peacock of Geraldine; and one grandchild and two great-grandchildren.
Destiny M. Patterson
HARTSELLE - Destiny Marie Patterson, infant daughter of Joshua and Shaluana Patterson of 497 Tall Pine Road, died Friday at a Decatur hospital.
A graveside service will be Monday at 2 p.m. at Slaten Cemetery with the Rev. David Boseman officiating and Peck Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include one brother, Cody Patterson of Hartselle; grandparents, Dave and Wanda Patterson of Hartselle and Doug and Melissa Harris of Falkville; and great-grandparents, Mary Waugh of Fort Wayne, Ind., George and Wilma Kirby of Danville and James and Mary Patterson of Hartselle.
Isabel M. Rivera
SWEARENGIN - Isabel M. Rivera, 80, died Friday at a Scottsboro hospital. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at Oak Grove Holiness Church with Revs. Alton Willmon and Shirley Byrum officiating.
Burial will be in Gunters Mountain Memorial Gardens with Scottsboro Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include one daughter, Carmen M. Newton of Swearengin; one son, Nelson Rivera of Dyer, Ind.; and four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Geraldine D. Roberts
DECATUR - Geraldine Dean Roberts, 71, of 3423 U.S. 31 South, died Saturday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Monday at 9 a.m. at Peck Funeral Home in Hartselle with the Rev. Tim Anderson officiating.
Burial will be in Johnson Chapel Cemetery.
Mrs. Roberts was preceded in death by one daughter, Ruth Schrut, and her husband, Odis Roberts.
Survivors include her mother, Rosie Carpenter of Falkville; four sons, James Edward Roberts of Decatur, and Odie G. Roberts, Willis Ray Roberts and Hoyt Ray Roberts, all of Hillsboro; two daughters, Helen Louise Roberts of Athens and Marie Ann Bates of Decatur; two sisters, Bertha McCormick of Hartselle and Myrtle Bell of Decatur; and 19 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Alene S. Rollings
ATHENS - Alene Standifer Rollings, 86, of 907 E. Forrest St. died Saturday at her home. The funeral will be Monday at 11 a.m. at Limestone Chapel Funeral Home with Charles Chumley and Don Osborne officiating.
Burial will be in Athens City Cemetery.
Mrs. Rollings was a member of Market Street Church of Christ. She was preceded in death by her husband, A.J. Rollings.
Survivors include one son, David Rollings of Roanoke, Va.; three daughters, Judy Bardford and Trisha Chavanne, both of Elkmont, and Martha Giardina of Atlanta; one adopted son, James Allen Hughey of New Smyrna Beach, Fla.; and 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Donations may be made to Hospice of Limestone County, Athens Bible School or Royce and Cindy Reynolds-Ghana Mission Fund.
Helen M. Smith
Helen Margaret Smith, 72, of Huntsville died Friday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at Fairview Baptist Church in Decatur with Dr. Sam Wolfe and Rev. Rick Johnson officiating.
Burial will be in Huntsville Memory Gardens with Spry Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. Smith was a native of Wagar and had lived in Huntsville for the past 11 years. She was a member of Fairview Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband, Lloyd Smith Jr.; one daughter, Shirley Streeter of Maryville, Tenn.; two sons, Lloyd L. Smith III of Tullahoma, Tenn., and Bob Smith of Huntsville; one brother, Thomas Lane Jr. of Pooler, Ga.; and nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Her body will be at the church a half hour before the service.
Donations may be made to the Madison County Chapter of the Red Cross Blood Service.
Acie B. Turner
PROSPECT, Tenn. - Acie B. Turner, 80, died Friday at his home. The funeral will be Monday at 2 p.m. at Limestone Chapel Funeral Home. Burial will be in Pettusville Cemetery.
Mr. Turner was a member of Sand Spring Baptist Church. He was retired from Stanley Tools in Pulaski.
Survivors include his wife, Nina Turner; four sons, Acie Turner Jr. of Mt. Pleasant, S.C., Ray Turner of Leoma, Larry Turner of Fayetteville and Mark Turner of Ardmore; five daughters, Lois Haraway of Rogersville, Ruth Sanders of Prospect, Linda Staggs of Summertown, Jane Meeks of Lawrenceburg and Joan Fox of Roy, Utah; one brother, Calvin Turner of Cincinnati; and 15 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Sunday from 4 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Donations may be made to St. Jude Hospital in Memphis.
Robert B. Vaughn
SOMERVILLE - Robert Bedford Vaughn, 82, of 2656 Alabama 67 South, died Friday at a Falkville nursing home. The funeral will be Monday at 11 a.m. at Peck Funeral Home in Hartselle with the Rev. Harold Fanning officiating. Burial will be in Shoal Creek Cemetery.
Mr. Vaughn was preceded in death by his wife, Lillian Vaughn.
Survivors include three sons, Tommy Vaughn of Somerville, Billy Perry Vaughn of Gadsden and R.B. Vaughn of Birmingham; and eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Gilbert C. Willems
SLIDELL, La. - Gilbert C. Willems, 64, died Saturday at his home. The funeral will be Mon- day at 8 p.m. at Honaker Funeral Home.
Burial will be in W.R. Brown Cemetery in Columbia, Tenn., with Oakes and Nichols Funeral Home in charge.
Mr. Willems was a native of Sao Paulo, Brazil. He was a former resident of Nashville and Huntsville, Ala. He was a U.S. Army veteran and was a recipient of the Navy Meritorious Service Award in 1991.
Survivors include his wife, Barbara Brown Willems; two sons, Bryen Massie Willems of Sydney, Australia, and Patrick Brent Willems of Clifton Park, N.Y.; one daughter, Laura Lynn Hodgson of Pearl River; one brother, Antenor Willems of Pittsburgh; and six grandchildren.
