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.
Ronny Joe Acton
ROGERSVILLE - Ronny Joe Acton, 45, of Jennifer Circle, died Wednesday at Athens-Limestone Hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Rogersville United Methodist Church with Frank Ellison and Buddy Hannah officiating.
Burial will be in Oliver-Beddingfield Cemetery with Spry funeral Home of Athens directing.
Mr. Acton was a member of Rogersville United Methodist Church, a Sunday School superintendent and lay pastor of the Jasper district of the United Methodist Church.
Survivors include two aunts, Lorene Hacker of Birmingham and Hilda Rayford of Warrior; one uncle, Raymond Moody of Oneonta; one half-brother, William Acton of Birmingham; and two nieces and one nephew.
Lela C. Beal
GURLEY - Lela C. Beal, 91, died Wednesday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Gurley with the Revs. Billy Hunt and Richard Edmonds officiating.
Burial will be in Gurley City Cemetery with Spry Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. Beal, a native of Jackson County, lived in Madison County for 60 years.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Leon Beal, and a daughter, Mary Virginia Edgil.
Survivors include three daughters, Martha Harless of Gurley, Margaret Holder of Anniston and Betty Jo Wilbourn of Atlanta; three sons, Billy Beal and Bobby Beal, both of Huntsville, and Michael "Mickey" Beal of Atlanta; one brother, J.P. Carden of Colorado; and 15 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to Hospice Family Care or to the First Baptist Church in Gurley.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Her body will be at the church one hour before the funeral.
Dorothy Beene
Dorothy "Hazel" Beene, 83, of Huntsville died Thursday at her home. The funeral will be Saturday at 10 a.m. at Laughlin Service Chapel with the Rev. Evelyn Brodeur officiating.
Burial will be in Campground Cemetery.
Mrs. Beene was a member of Big Cove Cumberland Presbyterian Church and had been the owner of the Big Springs Cafe from 1947 to 1992.
Survivors include her husband, Wilford Beene of Huntsville; one brother, Thomas H. Cowley of Big Cove; one sister, Georgie C. Hill of Huntsville; and six nieces and one nephew.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to Big Cove Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
Sim L. Caldwell
FAYETTEVILLE - Sim L. Caldwell Jr., 76, of Towry Lane died Thursday at a Tennessee hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Gallant Funeral Home with the Rev. Wade Towry officiating.
Burial will be in Elora Cemetery with Gallant Funeral Home in charge.
Mr. Caldwell, a native of Madison County, was a retired supply officer for Redstone Arsenal, was a member of Elora Baptist Church and was a U.S. Army veteran. He was preceded in death by his wife, Louise Boyd Caldwell.
Survivors include one son, Sammy Caldwell of Fayetteville; one stepson, Billy Joe McAnally of Fayetteville; one brother, Palmer "Spank" Caldwell of Fayetteville; three sisters, Joyce Layman of Elora, Tenn., Marie Hughes of Tuscon, Ariz., and Maurine Milner of Boaz; and six grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
James D. Cox
LEXINGTON - James Dalton Cox, 60, of Earnest Street, died Thursday at a Florence hospital. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at Corums Chapel Missionary Baptist Church with Burton Sampson officiating.
Burial was to be in Pettus Cemetery with Spry Funeral Home of Athens directing.
Mr. Cox was a member of Corums Chapel Missionary Baptist Church and was a retired carpenter.
Survivors include his wife, Virginia Cox; one daughter, Donna Davis of Athens; and two sisters, Faye Hammond of Anderson and Immadean Porter of Lexington.
Arthur L. Davis
ATHENS - Arthur Lester Davis, 80, of 19130 Airfield St. died Wednesday at an Athens hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Limestone Chapel Funeral Home with Malcom Andrews officiating.
Burial will be in Limestone Memorial Gardens.
Mr. Davis was a member of the Church of Christ. He was preceded in death by one son, Harold Winford Davis.
Survivors include his wife, Lucille H. Davis of Athens; six sons, Fred Junior Davis of Chicago, Billy Doyle Davis of Tuscaloosa, Donny Lynn Davis of Clearwater, Fla., and Lester Wayne Davis, Phillip Dale Davis and Anthony Mark Davis, all of Athens.; one sister, Lillie Mae Adams; and 15 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation was to be today from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Raymond O. Goodman
CHATTANOOGA - Raymond O. Goodman Jr., 69, formerly of Huntsville, died Monday in Crystal River, Fla. The graveside service will be Monday at 1 p.m. at National Cemetery in Chattanooga.
The National Cremation Society will be in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Goodman, a native of Danville, Va., was a graduate of Virginia Polytechnic Institute. He was a U.S. Army veteran and was a sales engineer for the Trane Co. in Huntsville for 43 years.
Survivors include his wife, Phyllis C. Goodman of Chattanooga; and one brother, Robert W. Goodman of Charlotte, N.C.
Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Citrus County, 3350 West Audubon Park Path, Lacanto, Fla., 34461.
Joe A. Hamil
Joe A. Hamil Jr., 80, of Huntsville died Thursday at a local hospital. The memorial service will be Sunday at 3 p.m. at Valley United Methodist Church with the Rev. James C. Cotton officiating.
Laughlin Service Funeral Home will be in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Hamil, an Auburn University graduate, served in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II. He retired from NASA after 27 years and was a founding member of Valley United Methodist Church.
Survivors include two sons, William J. Hamil of Johnson City, Tenn., and John T. Hamil of Rockwall, Texas; one sister, Annie Clair Shepherd of Knoxville; and four grandchildren.
Visitation will be Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to Valley United Methodist Church.
Daisy R. Jones
Daisy R. Jones, 95, of 6019 Rickwood Drive in Huntsville died Thursday at a Montgomery Hospital. The funeral will be Wednesday at noon at Bethany Seventh-day Adventist Church in Montgomery with Elder Frank L. Jones officiating.
Burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery in Selma with Royal Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include two daughters, Jessye M. Bryant of Cleveland, Ohio, and Rosetta Winters of Montgomery; five sons, Frank L. Jones and Edward O. Jones, both of Huntsvlle, Noah Cartwright and James Cartwright, both of Cleveland, and Judd Jones of New York City; and 28 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Monday from 7 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Her body will be at the church one hour before the funeral.
Moses King
OWENS CROSS ROADS - The Rev. Moses King, 78, of 173 Wade Road died Wednesday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at Liberty Primitive Baptist Church with the Rev. Johnny Jones officiating.
Burial will be in Big Cove Cemetery with Royal Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Lucille King of Big Cove; eight daughters, Emora Lewis, Bessie Bradford, Mary L. Crosby, Helen K. Drake, Effie K. Burt and Frances L. King, all of Huntsville, and Rosie M. King and Dorothy K. Drake, both of Big Cove; one sister, Lue Birter Jennings of Huntsville; and 27 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
His body will be at the church one hour before the funeral.
John Kleminsky
MADISON - John Kleminsky, 76, died Wednesday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 10 a.m. at St. Johns Catholic Church with the Rev. Patrick Murphy officiating.
Burial will be in Faith Memorial Park with Madison Chapel Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include his wife, Reba Kleminsky; four sons, Michael Kleminsky of Big Cove, Jeffrey Kleminsky of Memphis, Gregg Kleminsky of Huntington Beach, Calif., and David Kleminsky of Madison; two daughters, Janeth Whidden of Springfield, Ore., and Michonne Hanthorne of Russellville; and two sisters, Anna Chomo of Fort Myers, Fla., and Helen Blanier of New Jersey.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. with a rosary at 7.
Rosa B. Limbaugh
MERIDIANVILLE - Rosa Bell Limbaugh, 85, died Thursday at a local nursing home. The funeral will be Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at Spry Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. John Rutland officiating.
Burial will be in Memory Gardens.
Mrs. Limbaugh, a native of Texas, lived most her life in Madison County and was a member of Epworth United Methodist Church.
Survivors include one son, Larry Limbaugh of Gadsden; four daughters, Violet Lunney of Virginia, Wanda Palmer of Decatur, Bernice Huie of Oneonta and Victoria "Tobey" Avery of Meridianville; one brother, Vernon Brooks of Murfreesboro, Tenn.; and 14 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
George McCalep
George McCalep Sr., 93, of Huntsville died Thursday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at noon at St. Christopher Holy Cross Episcopal Church with the Rev. Robert R. Cook officiating.
Burial will be in Valhalla Memory Gardens with Nelms Memorial Funeral Home in charge.
Mr. McCalep was born in Lawrence, Kansas, and he received bachelors and masters degrees from Kansas University. He was a geography professor at Alabama A&M for 41 years and served as faculty manager for the schools football team. He served on the board of directors for the North Alabama Boy Scouts of America and the American Red Cross. He was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Inc.
Survivors include one daughter, Patricia M. McIntosh of Huntsville; one son, Dr. George McCalep Jr. of Atlanta; and five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be at the church 30 minutes before the funeral.
John Paul Moore
HARTSELLE - John Paul Moore, 37, of 1004 Mitwede St., died Wednesday at Decatur General Hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Mount Zion Baptist Church with the Rev. Greg Alred officiating.
Burial will be in Mount Zion Cemetery with Peck Funeral Home directing.
Mr. Moore was baptized at the First Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Angela Michelle Moore; his mother, Palsy Sue Bonner of Decatur; his father, J.P. Moore of Hartselle; one son, Jonathan Moore of Hartselle; two stepdaughters, Marlyia Nix and Martina Nix, both of Lawrenceburg, Tenn.; one sister, April Moore Vinzant of Hartselle; and one brother, Robert E. Moore of Florence.
Nella Garris Roberts
ATHENS - Mrs. Nella Garris Roberts, 84, of U.S. 72, died Thursday in Athens. The funeral will be Saturday at 12:30 p.m. at Spry Funeral Home with Calven Havens and Lavoyd Moore officiating.
Burial will be in Limestone Cemetery with Spry Funeral Home directing.
Mrs. Roberts was a homemaker and a member of Oakdale Homemakers Club. She attended Friendship United Methodist Church and was preceded in death by her husband, Cecil A. Roberts.
Survivors include one stepson, one stepdaughter and several nieces and nephews.
Harris Robinson
Harris Robinson, 76, of 4607 Mastin Lake Road in Huntsville died Saturday at his home. The funeral will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Madkins Chapel C.P. Church with the Rev. David Lee Robinson officiating.
Burial will be in Collier Cemetery in Triana with Royal Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include two sons, James Harris Robinson of Huntsville and Frank Edward Robinson of Cleveland, Ohio; two sisters, Mattie Jefferson and Jettie Massey, both of Huntsville; two brothers, Fred Robinson Jr. and Elisha Robinson, both of Huntsville; and five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Ola Mae Shoulders
Ola Mae Shoulders, 66, of 4703 Mastin Lake Road in Huntsville died Saturday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at Douglas Tabernacle Primitive Baptist Church with the Rev. Robert Rogers officiating.
Burial will be in Meadowlawn Garden of Peace with Royal Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include her husband, Sam Shoulders of Huntsville; two daughters, Lynda Faye Edwards and Betty K. Ware, both of Huntsville; one son, Jerome N. Shoulders of Huntsville; one stepson, Fred D. Stone of Huntsville; two sisters, Mattie Milton of Huntsville and Shirley Elliott of Flint, Mich.; two brothers, Ommie Hamlett of Chicago and John Hamlett of Huntsville; and nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Her body will be at the church one hour before the funeral.
Jiles H. Spears
ALBERTVILLE - Jiles Houston Spears, 73, of 1058 Old Oneonta Road, died Wednesday. The funeral was to be today at 4 p.m. at Adams Funeral Home in Albertville.
Burial was to be in New Harmony Cemetery.
Survivors include two sons, Rickey Spears of Dothan and Roger Spears of Tennessee; four sisters, Velma Maltbie of Albertville, Gertrude Bartlett and Nellie Maltbie, both of Boaz, and Eulie McKeehan of Georgia; and five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Lola M. Weaver
GUNTERSVILLE - Lola Mae Weaver, 62, of 3502-B Wyeth Mountain Road, died Thursday in a local hospital.
The funeral was to be today at 3 p.m. at Carr Funeral Home in Guntersville.
Burial was to be in Rehobeth Cemetery.
Survivors include two daughters, Karen Burnett of Scottsboro and Charlotte Oliver of Snead; four sons, Tim Weaver, Greg Weaver and Allen Weaver, all of Guntersville, and Keith Weaver of Scant City; his mother, Odie Morgan of Guntersville; one sister, Mavis Davis of Guntersville; and eight grandchildren.
