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.
Bridget L. Davin
Bridget Lee Davin, 93, of Huntsville died Friday at a local nursing home. Laughlin Service Funeral Home will announce arrangements.
Mrs. Davin was a native of Tipperary, Ireland, and had been a resident of Huntsville since 1971. She was a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Edenderry Club and the Huntsville Senior Center. She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Davin, and a granddaughter, Bridget Junen.
Survivors include one daughter, Mary Junen of Huntsville; one son, Denis Davin of Long Island, N.Y.; one sister, Patricia Darcy of Ireland; and six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
A prayer service will be held Sunday at 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to the Holy Spirit Building Fund or Huntsville Senior Center.
Cecil Franklin
ARAB - Cecil Franklin, 79, of Arab died Friday at a Huntsville hospital. A graveside service will be today at 11 a.m. at Braishers Chapel Cemetery with Gober Funeral Home of Arab in charge.
Survivors include two sons, David Franklin and Floyd Franklin, both of Arab; one sister, Plura Bobo of Arab; and eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Ricky L. Gladden
HOMESTEAD, Fla. - Ricky Lynn Gladden, 42, died Monday at his home. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at Lemley Funeral Chapel in Oneonta with Brother Elwyn Williamson officiating.
Burial will be in Foster s Chapel Cemetery.
Mr. Gladden was a heavy equipment operator.
Survivors include his wife, Kay Gladden of Maryville, Tenn.; one son, Joshua Gladden of Maryville; his mother, Thelma Gladden of Huntsville; two sisters, Freda Holder of Huntsville and Brenda Bowling of Homestead; and one brother, Bennie Gladden of Jacksonville Beach, Fla.
Visitation will be today from noon to 2 p.m. at the funeral home.
Alvin H. Harper
JOPPA - Alvin H. Harper, 68, of Joppa, died Thursday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at Union Hill Congregational Methodist Church.
Burial will be in the adjoining cemetery with Gober Funeral Home of Arab in charge.
Survivors include his wife, Willene Harper; three daughters, Barbara Black and Michelle Williams, both of Joppa, and Becky Terrell of Asbury; two brothers, Wilburn Harper of Arab and Lavon Harper of Joppa; one sister, Willie Mae Poole of Joppa; and five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Retha R. Marks
ATHENS - Retha Raby Marks, 81, of 305 Suffield St., died Thursday at a local nursing home. The funeral will be today at 10 a.m. at Copeland Presbyterian Church with the Revs. William Robert Sharman and William J. Kaylor officiating.
Burial will be in Madison Cross Roads Cemetery with McConnell Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. Marks was a native of Limestone County, retired from the Limestone County Probate Office, was a pianist and Sunday School teacher at Copeland Presbyterian Church. She was preceded in death by two husbands, Grady Sherman Raby and Winston Marks.
Survivors include two daughters, Carol Copeland and Anita Raby, both of Athens; two stepsons, Claude Marks and Ronnie Marks, both of Athens; two sisters, Bertha Mason and Roberta Smith, both of Athens; one grandson; four step-grandchildren and one step-great-grandchild and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be made to Copeland Presbyterian Church, 27085 Copeland Road, Athens, AL 35613.
Jewell M. Mitchell
ATHENS - Jewel Mae Edwards Mitchell, 81, of Thatch Road died Thursday at her residence. The funeral will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church with Dr. Bob Sharman officiating.
Burial will be in Huntsville Memory Gardens with Spry Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. Mitchell was a homemaker and was preceded in death by one sister, Mary Henry; and four brothers, James Edwards, Edgar Edwards, Ray Edwards and Ernest Warren Edwards.
Survivors include her husband, John R. Mitchell; five daughters, Judy Mitchell Todd of Lawrence, Kan., Susan Bryan of Huntsville, Sally Elizabeth Mitchell of Baltimore, Katherine Melanie Murray of Atlanta and Rebecca Jean Cartier of Athens; one son, John R. Mitchell Jr. of Suffolk, Va.; one brother, Lester Edwards of Decatur; two sisters, Bertha Sue King of Huntsville and Nancy Bell of Swartz Creek, Mich.; nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Limestone County or the American Cancer Society.
Mary Moore
SCOTTSBORO - Mary Moore, 65, died Thursday in Huntsville. The funeral will be Sunday at 3 p.m. at First Baptist Church with Dr. Dennis Wiles officiating.
Burial will be Valhalla Memory Gardens with Valhalla Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. Moore was a member of First Baptist Church, was retired from the Army and was a financial analyst.
Survivors include one daughter, Patricia Ann Moore Sizemore of Huntsville; two sons, Gary Allen Moore of Huntsville and Jeffery Moore of Scottsboro; two sisters, Bobbie Olsen of Orleans, Mass., and Marie Saint of Scottsboro; and six grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home. Her body will also be at the church one hour before the funeral.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 3000 Bob Wallace Ave., Huntsville, AL 35805.
Viola Peppers
BOAZ - Viola Peppers, 81, of 207 East Sparks Ave., died Thursday at her home. The funeral will be today at 11 a.m. at Boaz Church of God.
Burial will be in the Hillcrest Cemetery with Carr Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include two sons, Jimmy Peppers of Florida and Johnny Peppers of Crossville; one daughter, Nina Pilger of Missouri; two sisters, Ophie Mae Peppers of Boaz and Pauline Jolley of Ider; and six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Thomas E. Spruiel Sr.
ARAB - Thomas Elton Spruiel Sr., 90, of South Main St., died Thursday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral will be today at 11 a.m. at Arab Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.
Burial will be in Arab Memorial Cemetery.
Survivors include his wife, Marie Spruiel; one son, Thomas Spruiel of Arab; two daughters, Patsy Glass and Mary Tompkins, both of Arab; two brothers, Roy Spruiel and Luther Spruiel, both of Detroit; one sister, Mary Cantrell of Sulligent; and five grandchildren.
08/22/99
Simp M. Bain
GUNTERSVILLE - Simp M. Bain, 90, of 760 Meltonsville Road died Friday in a local hospital. The funeral will be today at 3 p.m. at Haneys Chapel Church.
Burial will be in Haneys Chapel Cemetery with Guntersville Memorial Chapel Funeral Home directing. The body will be at the church one hour before the funeral.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Jewel J. Bain.
Survivors include two daughters, Betty Culbert and Janie McCutchen, both of Guntersville; and five grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson.
Brunner Bodine
ARAB - Brunner Bodine, 96, of 245 Guntersville Road died Saturday at her residence. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at Arab First Methodist Church with the Rev. Robert Sparkman officiating.
Burial will be in Arab Memorial Cemetery with Gober Funeral Home of Arab in charge.
Survivors include one daughter, Thessell Bates of Union Grove; and three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Her body will be at the church one hour before the funeral.
Evelyn D. Collins
ARAB - Evelyn Drusilla Collins, 69, of 410 Bonair Drive died Saturday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Monday at 2 p.m. at Arab Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.
Burial will be in Rocky Mount Cemetery.
Survivors include her husband, Houston Collins; a daughter, Jane Helton of Arab; two sons, Wayne Collins of Decatur and Tony Swafford of Arab; a brother, Sammy Lemaster of Rome, Ga.; four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Gladys A. Cook
ARAB - Gladys Ann Cook, 78, of 1430 Arlington Road died Friday at a nursing home in Guntersville. The funeral will be today at 3 p.m. at Carr Funeral Home of Guntersville.
Burial will be in New Friendship Cemetery near Union Grove.
Survivors include two daughters, Rebecca Whitehead of Wetumpka and Vera Ramsey of Montgomery; two sons, Wallace Cook of Union Grove and Van Cook of Boaz; four sisters, Margie Olson, Lila Mae Price and Mary Nell Styles, all of Guntersville, and Geneva Lopez of Florida; and one brother, Bobby Neal Jones of Guntersville.
Mary V. Crisco
UNION GROVE - Mary Virginia Crisco, 72, of 193 Crisco Road died Friday at her home. The funeral will be today at 3 p.m. at Pine Ridge Baptist Church.
Burial will be in the adjoining cemetery with Arab Memorial Chapel Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include three daughters, Carol Knighten of Union Grove, Shelby Rikli of Florida and Mary Trussell of Sylacauga; a brother, Clarence Reed of Arab; three sisters, Mildred Edmonds and Ela Gross, both of Guntersville, and Margaret Jacobs of Maryland; and two grandchildren.
Bridget L. Davin
Bridget Lee Davin, 93, of Huntsville died Friday at a local nursing home. The funeral will be Monday at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Spirit Catholic Church with Father Phil OKennedy, Father Louis Giardino and Monsignor Michael Sexton officiating.
Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery with Laughlin Service Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. Davin was a native of Tipperary, Ireland, and had been a resident of Huntsville since 1971. She was a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Edenderry Club and the Huntsville Senior Center. She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Davin.
Survivors include one daughter, Mary Junen of Huntsville; one son, Denis Davin of Long Island, N.Y.; one sister, Patricia Darcy of Ireland; and six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
A prayer service will be held today at 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to the Holy Spirit Building Fund or Huntsville Senior Center.
Dewey S. Gentles
LIMROCK - Dewey S. Gentles, 72, died Friday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at the Scottsboro Funeral Home with the Rev. David Hall officiating.
Burial will be in Gentle Cemetery in Limrock.
Mr. Gentles was preceded in death by a son, Bradford Glenn Gentle.
Survivors include his wife, Audrey Saint Gentles; one daughter, Sandra Cain of Pleasant Groves; three sons, Dewey Gentles of Woodville, Terry Gentles of Scottsboro and Roger Gentles of Aspel; four grandchildren, six step-grandchildren and six great-grandsons.
Iva Hooper
Iva Grier McQuiston Hooper, 84, of Huntsville died Saturday at a local nursing home. A memorial service will be held Sunday, Aug. 29, at First Presbyterian Church in Murfreesboro, Tenn. at 2 p.m. with Dr. David Garth officiating.
Mrs. Hooper was a native of Covington, Tenn. She was a member of Faith Presbyterian Church.
Survivors include her husband, Ernest Hooper; one son, James Hooper of Chattanooga; one daughter, Mary Hooper of Huntsville; and two granddaughters.
Memorial donations may be made to Faith Presbyterian Church or to a favorite charity.
Annie Kerby
FYFFE - Annie Kerby, 81, died Friday at a Fort Payne hospital. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at Rainsville Funeral Home with Revs. Walt Bryant and Chester Shankles officiating.
Burial will be in Town Creek Cemetery.
Survivors include three daughters, Frances Thomas of Henagar, Stella Chastang of Bay Minette and Joyce Kerby of Fyffe; one son, Billy Kerby of Fyffe; one sister, Sarah Gilbreath of Altoona; one brother, Bobby Busby of Jamestown; and 33 grandchildren, 49 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Kimberly Pendergrass
MERIDIANVILLE - Kimberly R. Pendergrass, 17, died Saturday at a local hospital. Spry Funeral Home will announce funeral arrangements.
Aileen V. Pidich
Ailleen Virginia Pidich, 77, of Huntsville died Saturday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Monday at 1 p.m. at Spry Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Charles Godwin officiating.
Burial will be in Valhalla Memory Gardens with Spry Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. Pidich was a native of Madison County.
Survivors include one son, Larry King of Huntsville; one sister, Judy Griggs of Gurley; and two grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Visitation will be today from 5 to 9 p.m at the funeral home.
William E. Rawson Sr.
MERIDIANVILLE - William E. Rawson Sr., 58, died Friday at a local hospital. A graveside service will be Monday at 11 a.m. at Maple Hill Cemetery with the Rev. Roderic Murray officiating.
Survivors include his wife, Landess Lehman Rawson; one son, William E. Rawson Jr. of Huntsville; two daughters, Kate Noble Purvis of Decatur and Jane Walker Rawson of Huntsville; one sister, Jane Rawson Troup of Huntsville; and three grandchildren.
Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Bobby Sheehan
NEW ORLEANS - Bobby Sheehan, bassist for the Grammy-award winning band Blues Traveler, died in his house Friday, the bands publicist said. He was 31.
The cause of death was not immediately known. Police released few details.
"He went to sleep at his home around 4:30 a.m. and when his friends, who had spent the night, tried to wake him up at 11, he was unresponsive," said Lt. Marlon Defillo of the New Orleans Police Department.
There were no signs of foul play or obvious trauma, Defillo said.
The band, which formed in 1987, sold more than 12 million copies of their six albums worldwide. The band won a Grammy in 1995 for their song Runaround.
