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.
Johnny R. Allison
SHERWOOD, Tenn. - Johnny Ray Allison, 52, died Wednesday at a Jackson County hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Rudder Funeral Home in Stevenson with the Rev. Len Casity officiating.
Burial will be in Cumberland Cemetery in Stevenson.
Survivors include two daughters, Melinda Valdez of Stevenson and Lisa Quinn of Sherwood; one son, Leslie Allison of Sherwood; one sister, Linda Ferrell of South Pittsburg, Tenn.; and seven grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Lynn Bowling
LACEYS SPRING - Lynn Bowling, 75, of 512 Pine Ridge Road died Thursday at his home. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at Arab Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.
Burial was to be in Union Grove Cemetery.
Survivors include his wife, Mildred Bowling; one daughter, Jan Lawson of Laceys Spring; three sons, Harlon Bowling, Nathan Bowling and Danny Bowling, all of Laceys Spring; one brother, Howard Bowling of Union Grove; and two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Jessie W. Byrd
Jessie Wall Byrd, 81, of Huntsville died Thursday at her home. The funeral will be Saturday at 9:30 a.m. at Laughlin Service Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Tommy Rosenblum officiating.
Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery.
Mrs. Byrd was preceded in death by her husbands, Thomas O. Byrd and former Madison County Sheriff L.D. Wall.
Survivors include three daughters, Barbara Jacobs of Scottsboro, Betty Mefford of Huntsville and Linda Summerville of New Hope; three stepsons, Don Byrd of Tullahoma, Tenn., and Randel Byrd and Larry Byrd, both of Big Cove; two sisters, Ruby Wilbourn of Madison and Myrtle Smith of Gurley; one brother, Harry Gray of Scottsboro; and 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
William C. Campbell
DECATUR, Ga. - William C. Campbell, 63, died Wednesday at an Atlanta hospital. The funeral will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Scottsboro with Dr. George Cobb officiating.
Burial will be in Chaneys Chapel Cemetery in Dutton.
Mr. Campbell taught at Scottsboro High School, Lincoln High School in Lincoln, Ala., and Tuskegee High School. He served as an administrator in the Altanta public school system from 1969 until 1996.
Survivors include his wife, Willodean Barnes Campbell; one daughter, Debra Cox of Stockbridge, Ga.; one son, Martin C. Campbell of Braselton, Ga.; his mother, Bessie Bell Campbell of Scottsboro; one sister, Lucy C. Henry of Charlotte, N.C.; two brothers, Donald L. Campbell of Mount Juliet, Tenn., and James A. Campbell of Quoque, N.Y.; and two grandchildren.
Visitation was to be today and Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
O.G. Coward
O.G. Coward, 89, of Huntsville died Tuesday at a local nursing home. The funeral will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Laughlin Service Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Guy McDaniel and the Rev. Bill Roberts officiating.
Burial will be in Limestone Memorial Cemetery in Athens.
Mr. Coward was retired, but for most his life he owned and managed a landscaping and garden nursery in Beaumont, Texas. He also lived in Arkansas for more than 10 years, farming and raising cattle. He moved to Athens in 1977 and for the last eight years has lived with his son and daughter-in-law in Huntsville. He moved to Big Spring Specialty Care this year. He was a member of Weatherly Heights Church of Christ.
Survivors include one son, Mike Coward of Huntsville; one daughter, Deborah Nicholas of Hanau, Germany; two sisters, Pauline Weems and Lucille Coward, both of Nashville; three brothers, Odell Coward and Cecil Coward, both of Gallatin, Tenn., and James Coward of Fairhope; and three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Rollen W. Earwood
JOPPA - Rollen Whit Earwood, 87, of 113 County Road 1596 died Wednesday at a local hospital. The funeral was today at 10 a.m. at Hebron Church of Christ.
Burial was in the adjoining cemetery with Gober Funeral Home of Arab in charge.
Survivors include his wife, Ellean Earwood; two sons, Nickey Earwood and Eddy Earwood, both of Birmingham; and one grandchild and one great-grandchild.
Movollene B. Faulk
Movollene B. "Polly" Faulk, 85, of Huntsville died today at a local hospital. Laughlin Service Funeral Home will announce funeral arrangements.
Mrs. Faulk was a member of Sweet Springs Baptist Church in Harvest.
Survivors include one son, two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to Hospice Family Care.
Henrietta Gurley
SOMERVILLE - Henrietta Gurley, 82, died Monday at a Decatur hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at Mount Mariah United Methodist Church with the Rev. Jeffrey Rainey officiating.
Burial will be in Currys Chapel CME Cemetery with Reynolds Funeral Home of Decatur in charge.
Survivors include three sons, Lord Gurley, William Gurley and George Gurley, all of Detroit; one daughter, Vesta M. Pears of Houston; one brother, Jim Emerson of Somerville; three sisters, Arlene Orr, Roxie Gurley and Sally Sharpley, all of Somerville; and 15 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Odie P. Hargrove
ATHENS - Odie Paul Hargrove, 82, of 26812 Nick Davis Road died Thursday at a local hospital. Funeral arrangements will be announced by McConnell Funeral Home.
Lila Jancha
BUDA, Texas - Lila "Mickie" Jancha, 67, died Friday, July 2. The funeral was Monday, July 5, at Harrell Funeral Home in Austin, Texas, with Pastor Mark Porterfield officiating.
Burial was in Onion Creek Memorial Park in Austin.
Mrs. Jancha was raised in Welch, W.Va. She had lived in Huntsville and was a registered nurse.
Survivors include her husband, Bill Jancha of Buda; four sons, Tim Driver of Dickinson, Texas, and Randall Driver, Bill Jancha Jr. and David Jancha, all of Austin; one daughter, Karen Klebs of Buda; and six sisters and five grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to the Cure for Lymphoma Foundation, 215 Lexington Ave., New York, N.Y., 10016, (800) CFL-6848; or to the Leukemia Society of America, 600 3rd Ave., New York, N.Y., 10016, (800) 955-4LSA.
Edith L. Johnson
ATHENS - Edith L. Johnson, 71, of 20608 Tillman Mill Road died Thursday at her home. Funeral arrangements will be announced by McConnell Funeral Home.
William D. Newgent
NEW MARKET - William D. "Skill" Newgent, 65, died Wednesday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Sunday at 1 p.m. at Cochran Cemetery with the Rev. Bobby Lewis officiating.
Spry Funeral Home is in charge of burial.
Mr. Newgent lived in New Market his entire life.
Survivors include one sister, Peggy Diedrick of Addison, Ill.; and one niece and three nephews.
Visitation will be Saturday from 4 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Tee E. Parker
Tee Etter Parker, 71, of 2900 Barbara Drive in Huntsville died Wednesday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at Union Hill Cumberland Presbyterian Church with the Rev. McKinley Jones officiating.
Burial will be in Meadowlawn Garden of Peace with Royal Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include his wife, Mary D. Parker of Huntsville; one daughter, Jonice Jennings of Huntsville; two stepsons, Edison Ezell and Charles Ezell, both of Memphis, Tenn.; and five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Edward Perdue
BIRMINGHAM - Edward Perdue, 74, died Wednesday. The funeral will be Saturday at 10 a.m. at Johns-Ridouts Southside Chapel.
Burial will be in Perdue Cemetery in Honorville.
Mr. Perdue was a member of Southside Baptist Church and American Legion Post No. 43. He worked 31 years at the VA hospital in Birmingham and was a committee member at Boy Scout Troop 19.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Jo Perdue of Birmingham; one son, James K. Perdue of Madison; two daughters, Gay Ola White of Birmingham and Diane Glass of Tarrant; one brother, Ralph Perdue of Honorville; one sister, Florence Williamson of Honorville; and five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Younger R. Pitts III
FAYETTEVILLE, Tenn. - Younger Riley "Bud" Pitts III, 60, of 304 West Washington St. died Thursday at his home. The funeral will be Saturday at 4:30 p.m. at Higgins Funeral Home with the Rev. Van Johnson officiating.
Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery.
Mr. Pitts was a native of Lincoln County, Tenn., where he had been a judicial commissioner the past nine years.
Survivors include his wife, Adele Barry Pitts of Fayetteville; one son, Benjamin Younger Pitts of Chattanooga, Tenn.; two daughters, Martha Frances Pitts of Eugene, Ore., and Louise Pitts Scott of Duluth, Ga.; his father, Younger Riley Pitts Jr. of Fayetteville; one sister, Beverly Sue Hatchett of Virginia Beach, Va.; and one granddaughter.
Annie M. Ray
FAYETTEVILLE, Tenn. - Annie Mildred Ray, 89, of 10 West Point Drive died Thursday at a Fayetteville hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 10 a.m. at Higgins Funeral Home with the Rev. Don Gatlin and Bro. Jerry Gatlin officiating.
Burial will be in Bethany Cemetery.
Miss Ray was a member of Victory Chapel Church.
Survivors include one sister, Nora Wooten of Pulaski, Tenn.; and several nieces and nephews.
Mary Stucker
SIMPSONVILLE, Ky. - Mary Willie Reed Stucker, 89, of 4041 Fisherville Road died Wednesday at her home. The funeral will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Shannon Funeral Home in Shelbyville, Ky.
Burial will be in Grove Hill Cemetery in Shelbyville.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Estes Stucker; and one son, Estes Riley Stucker.
Survivors include three sons, Harvey Stucker of Simpsonville, David Stucker of Midway, Ky., and Patrick Stucker of Auburn, Ky.; three daughters, May Alice Stallings of Louisville, Ky., Georgia M. McCann of Eagan, Minn., and Carolyn L. Schneider of Huntsville; one brother, Woodson Reed of Veedersburg, Ind.; and 17 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Louisville.
Visitation will be today from 5 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Richard C. Thayer
Richard C. Thayer, 65, of Huntsville died Thursday at a local hospital. Laughlin Service Funeral Home will announce funeral arrangements.
Mr. Thayer retired from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and was a member of Our Lady Queen of the Universe Catholic Church.
Survivors include his wife, Shirley Thayer of Huntsville; two sons, Michael Thayer of Los Angeles and Todd Thayer of Dallas, Texas; one brother, Ralph Thayer of Santa Maria, Calif.; and one granddaughter.
Visitation will be Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home with a Rosary service at 7:30 p.m.
Memorial donations may be made to Catholic High School, 4810 Bradford Drive, Huntsville, 35805; or to the St. Vincent DePaul Society at Our Lady Queen of the Universe Catholic Church, 2421 Shady Lane, Huntsville, 35810.
V.M. Webb
DUTTON - V.M. Webb, 58, died Tuesday. A graveside service was Thursday at Pleasant Hill Cemetery with the Rev. Dale Haynes officiating.
Rainsville Funeral Home was in charge of burial.
Survivors include two daughters, Kelly Ann Palmetto, Calif., and Cynthia Rena Webb of Scottsboro; his mother, Mitchell Webb of Dutton; three sisters, Inez Rice of Dutton, Sybil W. Adkins of Scottsboro and Billy Jean Webb of Chicago; and two brothers, Junior Webb of Chicago and James R. Webb of Dutton.
Anita Carter
NASHVILLE - Anita Carter, who sang and played stand-up bass with the Carter Sisters, the legendary country music act, died Thursday. She was 66.
The cause of death was not immediately known. Carter had suffered from rheumatoid arthritis for several years.
June, Anita and Helen Carter performed with the Carter Family as children, and then with Mother Maybelle & the Carter Sisters.
Anita's soprano made her the featured singer, while June was a gifted comedienne and Helen was considered the best overall musician.
The Carter Sisters joined the Grand Ole Opry radio show in 1950, opened shows for Elvis Presley and joined the Johnny Cash show in 1961.
On her own, Anita Carter scored a No. 2 hit in 1951 with "Down the Trail of Achin Hearts," and had hit duets with Hank Snow and Waylon Jennings. She recorded albums of folk songs in the 1960's.
