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.
Florence R. Austin
IDER - Florence R. Austin died Tuesday at a Chattanooga hospital. The funeral will be Thursday at 1 p.m. at Kerby Funeral Home in Henagar with Jimmy Ball officiating.
Burial will be in Beulah Cemetery in Cartersville.
Mrs. Austin was preceded in death by her husband, Bryan J. Austin.
Survivors include one son, Robert C. Flowers of East Ridge, Tenn.; one sister, Mildred Austin of Ider; and one brother, Gordon Scott of Union City, Tenn.
Jean R. Burgess
ALBERTVILLE - Jean Roberta Burgess, 62, of 1201 Nelson Road died Monday at her home. A graveside service was to be today at 1 p.m. at Memory Hill Cemetery.
Albertville Memorial Chapel Funeral Home is in charge of burial.
Survivors include her husband, John Burgess Sr.; one daughter, Rebecca Cryar of Boaz; two sons, John Burgess Jr. of Cullman; two stepdaughters, Tommie Sue Pollard of Albertville and Janice Rhue of Florida; one brother, Frank Nickolson of Florida; and nine grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Joseph R. Dabney
PETERSBURG, Tenn. - Joseph R. Dabney, 73, of 366 Cold Springs Road died Monday at a Nashville hospital. The graveside service will be Friday at 10 a.m. at Rose Hill Cemetery in Fayetteville, Tenn., with the Rev. Bobby Bates officiating.
McCauley Funeral Home in Fayetteville is in charge of burial.
Mr. Dabney was a native of West Virginia and was in the heating and air conditioning business. He was also a Baptist.
Survivors include his wife, Lucille Dabney of Petersburg; two daughters, Barbara Jordan of Cornersville, Tenn., and Patty Wells of Fayetteville; one son, Gary Dabney of Bradenton, Fla.; two sisters, Mona Jean Mattie of Florida and Lois Dabney of Wyoming; and six grandchildren and one nephew.
Girthel M. Guess
STEVENSON - Girthel Mae Guess, 90, died Monday at her home. The funeral will be Thursday at 2 p.m. at Rudder Funeral Home in Stevenson with the Rev. Melvin Dawson and the Rev. J.B. Dunn officiating.
Burial will be in Mount Carmel Cemetery.
Mrs. Guess was preceded in death by her husband, George Foster Guess; and two sons, Thomas Guess and Joseph Guess.
Survivors include one daughter, Dora Helen Barron of Tampa, Fla.; four sons, David Guess of Mobile, Samuel Guess of Tampa and George Guess and Douglas Guess, both of Stevenson; three sisters, Inez Garner of Stevenson, Maxine Loggins of Warrior and Fronnie Hunt of Pinson; one brother, Freddie Howell of Pinson; and 24 grandchildren, 63 great-grandchildren and 17 great-great-grandchildren.
Lydia S. Norrell
ORMOND BEACH, Fla. - Lydia S. Norrell, 78, died Tuesday at a local hospital. A memorial service will be held later in Daytona Beach, Fla.
Laughlin Service Funeral Home is in charge of local arrangements.
Mrs. Norrell was a member of Florida Craftsman Association, Ormond Beach Memorial Gallery, League of Women Voters and the American Association of University Women. She lived in Huntsville from 1963 to 1967.
Survivors include two daughters, Martha Norrell White of Huntsville and Louise Norrell of Athens; one son, Andrew L. Norrell of Nevada City, Calif.; and three grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
William D. Osmer
WOODVILLE - William D. Osmer, 67, died Monday at a Scottsboro hospital. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at Paint Rock River Holy Cross Baptist Church with the Rev. Mark Askew officiating.
Burial was to be in Union Cemetery in Woodville with Scottsboro Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include his wife, Katie Osmer; two sons, William Paul Osmer and James Robert Osmer, both of Woodville; one sister, Nancy Osmer of Woodville; and five grandchildren.
Irene Robinson
FALKVILLE - Irene Robinson, 90, died Tuesday at an area nursing home. The funeral will be Thursday at 11 a.m. at Robinson Cemetery with the Rev. Lynn Marshall officiating.
Shelton Funeral Home of Decatur is in charge of burial.
Miss Robinson retired from Goodyear and was a member of Vestavia Hills Baptist Church. She was a native of Morgan County.
Survivors include two sisters, Louise Seibert of Decatur and Rube Segars of Muscle Shoals.
Ann M. Sadler
GUNTERSVILLE - Ann Mayo Sadler, 82, of Guntersville died Tuesday at a local nursing home. The funeral will be Thursday at 10 a.m. at Carr Funeral Home in Boaz. Burial and a graveside service will follow at 3:30 p.m. at Elmwood Cemetery in Birmingham.
Mrs. Sadler was the first woman to be elected to the Homewood City Council.
Survivors include her husband, Dewey Sadler; one daughter, Bethann Grace of Albertville; one sister, Rink Thompson of Georgia; and one grandchild.
Nora B. Thomas
Nora Bethel Thomas, 86, of Huntsville died Tuesday at her home. Laughlin Service Funeral Home will announce funeral arrangements.
Survivors include two nieces, Joyce T. Tidwell of Monrovia and Ruth W. Scrivener of Tucker, Ga.; one nephew, David L. "Dea" Thomas of Monrovia; and several great-nieces and great-nephews.
07/15/99
James H. Byrd
James Herman Byrd, 68, of Huntsville died Monday at his home. Spry Funeral Home will announce funeral arrangements.
Burial will be in Neals Chapel Cemetery.
Mr. Byrd was a native of Madison County and retired from Huntsville Hospital. He was preceded in death by one stepson, Dan Byrd.
Survivors include one stepdaughter, Deborah Easler of Ashland City, Tenn.; one half-sister, Maybell Walls of Owens Cross Roads; one niece, Carolyn Faye Byrd Rice of Huntsville; one nephew, Paul Byrd Jr. of Huntsville; and one aunt and several great-nieces and great-nephews.
Kempus Crist
ALBERTVILLE - Kempus Crist, 78, of 205 Barnes St. died Wednesday at a Birmingham hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at First Methodist Church in Albertville.
Albertville Memorial Chapel Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Survivors include his wife, Nell Crist; one daughter, Diane Spicer of Arkansas; two sons, Michael Crist of Oklahoma and Robert Crist of Piedmont; one stepdaughter, Linda Jeff of Birmingham; one stepson, Bill Hooper of Albertville; one sister, Joan Peterson of North Dakota; and six grandchildren.
Cordelia Crumbley
CHICKAMAUGA, Ga. - Cordelia ''Tot Crumbley, 77, died Tuesday at a Chattanooga hospital. The funeral was today at 11 a.m. at Rudder Funeral Home in Stevenson with the Rev. David Pickard officiating.
Burial was in Caperton Cemetery in Stevenson.
Mrs. Crumbley was preceded in death by her husband, Frank Crumbley. She was a member of the Delray Baptist Church in Rossville, Ga.
Survivors include three daughters, Louise Fletcher of Rossville, Imogene Baker of Chickamauga and Carolyn Brookshire of Louisville, Ky.; one son, Stanley Crumbley of Chattanooga; two sisters, Sara Elizabeth Owens and Ethel Rash, both of Stevenson; one brother, Dal Smith of Stevenson; and seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Eric C. Dalton
Eric C. Dalton, 41, of Huntsville died July 6 at a local hospital. The memorial service will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at St. Marks Lutheran Church with Pastor Vernon Luckey officiating.
Mr. Dalton was director of MilTec and a member of St. Marks Lutheran Church. He owned and operated Dalton Polled Charolais.
Survivors include his wife, Melanie Hykes Dalton of Huntsville; two sons, Case Dalton and Charles Dalton, both of Huntsville; one daughter, Candice Dalton of Huntsville; his mother, Charlotte K. Dalton of Huntsville; and one sister, Karla D. Schlenker of Mission Viejo, Calif. Memorial donations may be made to the Alabama Forever Wild Land Trust at the State Lands Division of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, 64 North Union St., Montgomery, 36130.
Jamie L. Hicks
HAZEL GREEN - Jamie Leanne Hicks, 16, died Tuesday. The funeral will be Friday at 2 p.m. at Spry Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Austin Posey officiating.
Burial will be in Lincoln Cemetery in Lincoln, Tenn.
Miss Hicks was a native of Lincoln County, Tenn., and had lived in Madison County three years. She was to begin her third year of high school this fall.
Survivors include her father and stepmother, Richard and Cindy Hicks of Hazel Green ; her mother and stepfather, Beverly and Brian Bevels of Hazel Green ; two brothers, Jonathon Hicks of Hazel Green and B.J. Bevels of Fayetteville, Tenn.; two sisters, Monica Hicks and Victoria Hicks, both of Hazel Green ; grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. J.D. Hicks of Hazel Green ; and great-grandmother, Mildred Cothran of Hazel Green .
Visitation will be today from 3:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the funeral home.
Glenn A. Johnson
Glenn A. "Johnny" Johnson, 80, of Huntsville died Wednesday at his home. Laughlin Service Funeral Home will announce funeral arrangements.
Mr. Johnson was a Ham Radio operator, an avid golfer, an electronics hobbyist and a member of Cahaba Shrine Temple, Elks Lodge No. 1648, Fraternal Order of Eagles, American Legion, Retired Officers Association and Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was also a World War II veteran.
Survivors include his wife, Lucille K. Johnson of Huntsville; one son, Danny G. Johnson of Huntsville; and one granddaughter, two nieces and one nephew.
Visitation will be Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Joe W. Magnusson
ARDMORE - Joe W. Magnusson, 78, of 25925 7th St. died Wednesday at a Nashville hospital. The funeral will be Friday at 11 a.m. at Ardmore United Methodist Church with Bro. Bruce Walters officiating.
Burial will be in Gatlin Cemetery with Taylor-Ardmore Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include one son, Joe C. Magnusson of Atlanta; and one sister, Dolores Norton of Ardmore, Ala.
Visitation will be today from 5 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
His body will be at the church 30 minutes before the funeral.
George A. Martin
George A. Martin, 85, of 1915 Rideout Road No. 114 in Huntsville died Friday at his home. The memorial service will be Sunday at noon at Harvest Seventh-day Adventist Church with Pastor Vincent White officiating.
Royal Funeral Home is in charge of burial arrangements.
Survivors include his wife, Mary M. Martin of Huntsville; two daughters, Ruth Sanders of Hempstead, N.Y., and Mary Breach of Silver Spring, Md.; one sister, Mary Thompson of Bronx, N.Y.; one brother, Harry Martin of Southampton, N.Y.; and 24 grandchildren, 71 great-grandchildren and 15 great-great-grandchildren.
Lydia S. Norrell
ORMOND BEACH, Fla. - Lydia S. Norrell, 78, died Tuesday at a local hospital. A memorial service will be held later in Daytona Beach, Fla., with the Rev. Barbara Morgan officiating.
Laughlin Service Funeral Home is in charge of local arrangements.
Mrs. Norrell was a member of Florida Craftsman Association, Ormond Beach Memorial Gallery, League of Women Voters, the American Association of University Women and Community Unitarian Universalist Church of Dayton Beach. She lived in Huntsville from 1963 to 1967.
Survivors include two daughters, Martha Norrell White of Huntsville and Louise Norrell of Athens; one son, Andrew L. Norrell of Nevada City, Calif.; and three grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial donations may be made to Community Unitarian Universalist Church of Daytona Beach, 1124F Beville Road, Daytona Beach, Fla., 32119.
Wiley D. Ray
ATHENS - Wiley Dixon Ray, 89, died Wednesday at a local hospital. Spry Funeral Home of Athens will announce funeral arrangements.
Nora B. Thomas
Nora Bethel Thomas, 86, of Huntsville died Tuesday at her home. The graveside service will be Friday at 11 a.m. at Union Cemetery in Woodville.
Laughlin Service Funeral Home is in charge of burial.
Survivors include two nieces, Joyce T. Tidwell of Monrovia and Ruth W. Scrivener of Tucker, Ga.; one nephew, David L. "Dea" Thomas of Monrovia; and several great-nieces and great-nephews.
Helen R. Vann
DECATUR - Helen Rachel Vann, 89, of Decatur died Wednesday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Friday at 11 a.m. at Roselawn Funeral Home with the Rev. Hal Noble and the Rev. John Clotfelter officiating.
Burial will be in Roselawn Cemetery.
Mrs. Vann was preceded in death by her husband, Roy K. ''Doc Vann and was a member of Central United Methodist Church.
Survivors include one daughter, Rebecca L. Vann of Huntsville; and two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Hoyt Vassar
HAZEL GREEN - Hoyt Vassar, 90, died today at his home. Valhalla Funeral Home will announce funeral arrangements.
Ernestine Walker
ST. PAUL, Minn. - Ernestine Walker, 77, died Monday in Huntsville. The graveside service will be Monday at 1 p.m. at Rosehill Cemetery in Columbia, Miss., with the Rev. Michael Edwards officiating.
Nelms Memorial Funeral Home is in charge of burial.
Survivors include one son, Donald R. Walker of St. Paul; one daughter, Gwendolyn Thomas-Jones of Huntsville; one sister, Juanita Williams of Lumberton, Miss.; and eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
