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.
Oma L. Barksdale
FORT PAYNE - Oma Lee "Tootsie" Barksdale, 65, died Tuesday at her home. The funeral will be Thursday at at 2 p.m. at W.T. Wilson Funeral Chapel with the Rev. James Camp and the Rev. Eulas Hughes officiating.
Burial will be in Walkers Chapel Cemetery.
Survivors include four daughters, Sheila Watts, Diane Woods and Allison Barksdale, all of Fort Payne, and Lisa McCullough of Jacksonville, Fla.; three sons, Ricky Barksdale, Larry Barksdale and Brian Barksdale, all of Fort Payne; two sisters, Elaine Huggan of Fort Payne and Cleo Tate of Flintstone, Ga.; three brothers, Richard Roden, Billy Roden and the Rev. Warren Roden, all of Fort Payne; and six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Visitation was to be today at noon at the funeral home.
Maria J. Branford
STEVENSON - Maria Janet Branford, infant daughter of Kristy Matthews and Jonathan Branford, died Monday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Thursday at 11 a.m. at Rudder Funeral Home in Stevenson.
Burial will be in Stevenson Community Cemetery.
Other survivors include one sister, Jonaniesha Branford of Stevenson; one brother, Octavius Matthews of Stevenson; grandparents, Ronnie Lee Matthews of Stevenson, Queen Oates of Bridgeport and Howard Branford of Tuscaloosa; great-grandparents, Vernice Branford of Hollywood and Robert and Christine Fennell Evans of Hollywood; and several cousins, aunts and uncles.
Visitation will be today from 7 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Frankie D. Brown
ALBERTVILLE - Frankie Delane Brown, 43, of 1882 Brashers Chapel Road died Friday in Cape Coral, Fla. The funeral will be Thursday at 11 a.m. at Albertville Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.
Burial will be in Brashers Chapel Cemetery.
Survivors include two sons, Jason Brown of Chattanooga and John Paul Brown of Crossville; his parents, Franklin and Betty Brown of Albertville; one sister, Deborah Coleman of Albertville; one brother, Joe L. Brown of Albertville; and one granddaughter, Alexis Brown of Chattanooga.
Florence Clew
Florence Clew, 74, of Huntsville died Tuesday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Friday at 10 a.m. at Good Shepherd Catholic Church with the Rev. Phil OKennedy officiating.
Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery with Twickenham Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. Clew lived in the Huntsville area 13 years. She managed the Shepherds Nook at the church.
Survivors include her husband, O.I. "Buddy" Clew of Huntsville; one daughter, Deborah Elliott of Huntsville; one sister, Patricia Price of Memphis; two brothers, William Ray of Hiawasse, Ga., and Edward Ray of Huntsville; and four grandchildren.
Visitation will be Thursday from 7 to 8 p.m. followed by a rosary service at the church.
Memorial donations may be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society at Holy Spirit Catholic Church or Good Shepherd Catholic Church.
Ila Compton
ALBERTVILLE - Ila Compton, 73, of 2172 Rose Road died Monday at a Birmingham hospital. The funeral was today at 11 a.m. at Albertville Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.
Burial was in Union Grove Cemetery.
Survivors include one daughter, Barbara Thomas of Trafford; one son, Jim Compton of Pinson; one sister, Lessie Baucum of Harpersville; and four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Robert O. Denton
Dr. Robert O. Denton, 80, of Huntsville died Wednesday at a local hospital. Laughlin Service Funeral Home will announce funeral arrangements.
Dr. Denton was preceded in death by his wife, Frances S. Denton, and by one daughter, Diane D. Broders.
Survivors include three daughters, Dona D. Johnson of Nashville, Jane D. McDonald of Huntsville and Julie D. Neale of Dallas; two sons, Robert O. Denton Jr. of New Mexico and Scott J. Denton of New York; one sister, Barbara D. Brasell of Guntersville; and 10 grandchildren, one niece and four nephews.
Visitation will be Thursday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Church of the Nativity.
Memorial donations may be made to Pathfinders, the American Cancer Society or the American Lung Association.
Larry Dickey
MADISON - Larry Dickey, 69, died Tuesday at a local hospital. Laughlin Service Funeral Home will announce funeral arrangements.
Mr. Dickey was a retired sergeant 1st class in the U.S. Army.
Survivors include two sons, Lawrence Edward Dickey of Clayton and Roy Lee Dickey of Clio; one daughter, Lucy Richards of Madison; and five grandchildren.
Oliver F. Dilworth
NEW HOPE - Oliver Franklin Dilworth, 82, of 546A Johnson Ave. died Monday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Friday at 11 a.m. at New Hope Funeral Home chapel.
Burial will be in Walker Cemetery.
Survivors include one brother, Wiley Dilworth of New Hope; two stepsons, Ray Ledbetter of Naples, Fla., and Wayne Ledbetter of New Hope; one stepdaughter, Barbara Callaway of Madison; and five step-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Jessie W. Durham
STEVENSON - Jessie Willard "Bud" Durham, 84, died Tuesday at an area hospital. The funeral will be Thursday at 4 p.m. at Rudder Funeral Home in Stevenson with Buster McCully officiating.
Burial will be in Caperton Cemetery.
Survivors include one son, Jack Durham of Chattanooga, Tenn.; two sisters, Ula Shirley and Lily Ferguson, both of Stevenson; and two grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 2 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Todd W. Gibson
ALBERTVILLE - Todd Wesley Gibson, 17, of 2960 Alabama 205 died Monday at a local hospital. The funeral was to be today at 3 p.m. at Crossroads Assembly of God.
Burial was to be in Marshall Memorial Garden with Albertville Memorial Chapel Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include his parents, Terry and Debbie Gibson of Albertville; two sisters, Lindsay Gibson and Megan Gibson, both of Albertville; his grandparents, William and Ida Mae Gibson and Lawrence Hamilton, all of Albertville, and Benny and Nellie Striplin of Sardis; and his fiancee, Terri Pell of Albertville.
Donald H. Green e
Donald H. Green e, 79, of Huntsville died Monday at a local nursing home. The graveside service was to be today at 11 a.m. at Maple Hill Cemetery.
Laughlin Service Funeral Home is in charge of burial.
Mr. Green e was a World War II veteran, served in the 90th Air Force and participated in the Normandy invasion. He was preceded in death by his wife, Wanda Konsek Green e.
Survivors include two sons, Robert R. "Bob" Green e of Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., and Richard J. Green e, Ph.D., of Nashua, N.H.; and three granddaughters.
Memorial donations may be made to a favorite charity.
Eula S. Gunter
HORTON - Eula Smith Gunter, 87, of Horton died Monday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Thursday at 2 p.m. at Adams Funeral Home in Albertville.
Burial will be in Marshall Memorial Garden.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer Gunter; one daughter, Elnora Gunter; and two sons, Burl Gunter and Harold Gunter.
Survivors include two daughters, Corene Terrell of Albertville and Velma Bean of Horton; three brothers, D.C. Smith and Emmett Smith, both of Albertville, and Boyd Smith of Gadsden; and eight grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
William O. Hammers
ANDOVER, Kansas - William O. "Bill" Hammers, 49, died Monday. The funeral will be Friday at 10 a.m. at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Andover.
Downing and Lahey Mortuary East Chapel in Wichita, Kansas, is in charge of burial arrangements.
Mr. Hammers was formerly of Huntsville.
Survivors include his wife, Mary E. Hammers of Andover; two sons, William Scott Hammers and Michael Hammers, both of Andover; one daughter, Meredith Hammers of Andover; his mother, June Bailey of Austin, Texas; and one brother, Steve Hammers of Ellicot, Md.
Memorial donations may be made to Hospice Inc., P.O. Box 3267, Wichita, 67201-3267; or to the American Cancer Society, 400 North Broadway, Wichita, 67202.
There will be a rosary service Thursday at 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Gene T. Holden
Gene Taylor Holden, 68, of Huntsville died Tuesday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Thursday at 10 a.m. at Spry Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Paul Lombard and the Rev. Mac McCutcheon officiating.
Burial will be in Huntsville Memory Gardens.
Mr. Holden was a native of Lauderdale County and a graduate of Lauderdale County High School and the University of Oklahoma. He retired from MICOM as a contract specialist. He was an Army veteran and a member of Holmes Street United Methodist Church, Elks Lodge No. 1648 and Cahaba Temple.
Survivors include his wife, Willa Holden of Huntsville; three daughters, Pam Holden of Gurley and Jeri Holden and Suzanne H. Jefferson, both of Huntsville; one son, William "Bill" Holden of Gurley; one sister, Peggy Fulton of Florence; and three grandsons.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the funeral home.
Nelsia J. Jones
Nelsia Johnson Jones, 50, of Huntsville died Thursday at her home. The funeral will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at Nelms Memorial Funeral Home chapel with Elder Billy J. Jones officiating.
Burial will be in Valhalla Memory Gardens.
Survivors include one son, James G. Jones Jr. of Huntsville; three sisters, Bettye Martin Brown of Huntsville, Gloria Gurley of Detroit and Joan F. Adams of Seaside, Calif.; and two brothers, Sammie Johnson and Ronnie "Dink" Lanier of Huntsville.
Visitation will be Friday from 6 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Carl C. Kennerson
HOLLYWOOD, Calif. - Carl Craig Kennerson, 69, died recently at a California hospital. The graveside service will be Thursday at 1 p.m. at Maple Hill Cemetery with James W. Law officiating.
Laughlin Service Funeral Home is in charge of burial.
Mr. Kennerson was a longtime resident of Hollywood and an actor. He was in many off-Broadway theater productions and movies and was a member of the Hollywood Presbyterian Church.
Survivors include one sister, Mary Kennerson Taylor of Huntsville; one niece, Sondra Law of Huntsville; and one nephew, James W. Law of Vandenberg, Calif.
Thelma Mason
NEW MARKET - Thelma Mason, 69, of New Market Road died Sunday at her home. The funeral will be Thursday at 11 a.m. at Hazel Green Holiness Church with Bro. James Carl Black officiating.
Burial will be in Miller Cemetery in Plevna with Gallant Funeral Home of Hazel Green in charge.
Mrs. Mason was a member of the church.
Survivors include one daughter, Vickie Williamson of New Market; three sons, Dwight Mason and Jeffrey Mason, both of Elora, Tenn., and Kymmie Thomas Mason of Plevna; one sister, Flo Anthony of San Diego; one brother, Orbin Isbell of Hazel Green ; and nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Her body will be at the church one hour before the funeral.
Capitola C. Mayfield
Capitola C. Mayfield, 83, of Huntsville died Tuesday at her home. Laughlin Service Funeral Home will announce funeral arrangements.
Mrs. Mayfield lived in Madison County her entire life and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church. She was a New Hope High School graduate and the first president of the Huntsville/Madison County League of Women Voters.
Survivors include one sister, Frances Campbell of New Market, and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be Thursday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to the First Presbyterian Church or to a favorite charity.
Manuel D. Owens
ARAB - Manuel Dennis Owens, 80, of 107 Shoal Creek Trail died Tuesday at a local hospital. The funeral was to be today at 3 p.m. at New Friendship Baptist Church.
Burial was to be in the adjoining cemetery with Arab Memorial Chapel Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include his wife, Lila Owens; and two sisters, Lou Elna Bobo of Texas and Dorothy Starkey of Union Grove.
Emma L. Schock
FALLS CITY, Neb. - Emma Louise Schock, 89, died Monday at a Falls City hospital. The memorial service will be Friday at 11 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in Falls City with the Rev. Dale A. Lambert officiating.
Dorr Funeral Home in Falls City is in charge of arrangements.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Wilbur Schock.
Survivors include one son, Richard W. Schock of Huntsville; one daughter, Connie Nelson of Falls City; and six grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Bernice E. Smith
FLAT ROCK - Bernice Emmitt Smith, 70, died Tuesday at a hospital in Fort Oglethorpe, Ga. The funeral will be Thursday at 2 p.m. at Kerby Funeral Home in Henagar with the Rev. Dan Kirkpatrick officiating.
Burial will be in Caperton Cemetery.
Mr. Smith was preceded in death by his wife, Allie Lee Smith; and one daughter, Paulette Seale.
Survivors include one daughter, Janice Griffith of Flat Rock; two sons, Danion Smith of Ringgold, Ga., and Johnny Lee Smith of Flat Rock; three sisters, Dimple Godwin of Trenton, Ga., Faye Carter of Flat Rock and Virginia Sampson of Stevenson; three brothers, Harley Smith and Franklin Smith, both of Flat Rock, and Buford Smith of Bridgeport; and nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be tonight from 8 to 9 and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the funeral home.
Ester G. Sparkman
DETROIT - Ester Gurley Sparkman, 90, died Saturday. Laughlin Service Funeral Home will announce funeral arrangements.
Mrs. Sparkman had lived in Madison and Morgan counties and Birmingham. She was preceded in death by her husband, Otis L. Sparkman; and one son, Louie O. Sparkman.
Survivors include one son, Charles A. Sparkman of Detroit; one daughter, Barbara S. Goodwin of Pelham; and one granddaughter and one great-granddaughter.
Delbert M. Williams
MADISON - Delbert M. Williams, 93, of Old Alabama 20 died Monday at an Athens nursing home. The funeral was today at Spry Funeral Home in Athens with Ed Richards officiating.
Burial will be in Clearfield, Pa.
Mr. Williams was preceded in death by his wife, Leona A. Williams; and one son, Henry L. Williams.
Survivors include one son, Delbert L. Williams of Athens; two daughters, Gertrude E. ODell of Curwensville, Pa., and Susan M. Baker of Brush, Colo.; and 15 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
Alice R. York
BRIDGEPORT - Alice Ruby York, 79, died Monday at a Jackson County hospital. The funeral will be Thursday at 2 p.m. at Community Refuge Church of God in South Pittsburg, Tenn., with George White and Curtis Moore officiating.
Burial will be in Mount Carmel Cemetery in Bridgeport with Rudder Funeral Home of Stevenson in charge.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James Wesley York; one daughter, Mary York; and three sons, Kenneth York, Edward York and James York.
Survivors include four daughters, Wanda Ruth McCarver, Betty Holder and Mae Atkins, all of Bridgeport, and Shelia Downs of Resacca, Ga.; one son, Johnny York of Calhoun, Ga.; one sister, Virginia White of Stevenson; and 27 grandchildren, 51 great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today at her home.
