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.
Elsie T. Ashcraft
EAST RIDGE, Tenn. - Elsie Tankersley Ashcraft, 84, died Saturday. A graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Henagar Community Cemetery with the Rev. Gene Clingan officiating with Kerby Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. Ashcraft was preceded in death by her husband, Alva Ashcraft.
Survivors include five sisters, Clara Ruth Mounain of Bridgeport, Nellie Brown of Henagar, Audrey Messer of Rogersville, Tenn., Doris Devine of Rossville, Ga., and Barbara Gibson of Harrison, Tenn.; and one brother, Cecil Tankersley of Chattanooga.
Dorothy S. Cobb
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Dorothy Simpson Cobb, 85, died Thursday. A graveside service will be Monday at 11 a.m. at Maple Hill Cemetery with Dr. Ralph Langley officiating.
Spry Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Cobb was a native of Pulaski, Tenn., and former resident of Madison County. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Huntsville.
Survivors include one daughter, Sandra C. Walters of Jacksonville, Fla.
Visitation will be today from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Charles Coffman Sr.
STEVENSON - Charles David "Dougar Coffman Sr., 64, died Thursday at an area hospital. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at Rudder Funeral Home with the Revs. J.B. Jones and Gene Webb officiating.
Mr. Coffman was retired from the TVAs Widows Creek steam plant. He was a member of the Baptist church.
Survivors include his wife, Glenda Ann Haley Coffman; two daughters, Vickie C. Hammontree and Debbe C. Kirk, both of Stevenson; three sons, Charles D. Coffman Jr. of Bridgeport, Clinton E. Coffman and Matthew D. Coffman, both of Stevenson; two sisters, Jane C. Stump of Stevenson and Tully Crownover of Section; two brothers, Foster Coffman and Sanders Coffman, both of Stevenson; and eight grandchildren and one niece.
James Ferris
James Ferris, 89, of Huntsville, died Saturday at a local hospital. A memorial service will be Monday at 11 a.m. at Holy Spirit Catholic Church with Father Lewis officiating.
Spry Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Ferris was a native of Jackson, Miss., and a longtime resident of Madison County. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus 4th Degree.
Survivors include his wife, Louise Rossie Ferris; three daughters, Diane Ferris of St. Petersburg, Fla., Carole Ferris Wilson of Festus, Mo., and Judy Ferris DeRosier of Huntsville; one son, Dr. James M. Ferris of Los Angeles; and three grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to St. Judes Childrens Hospital, Memphis, TN.
Linda S. Henshaw
TONEY - Linda Sue Henshaw, 55, died Friday at her home. A graveside service will be today at 2 p.m. at Huntsville Memory Gardens with the Rev. Billy Wayne Fowler officiating.
Spry Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Miss Henshaw was a native of Madison County. She was a member of Sardis Springs Baptist Church.
Survivors include her father and stepmother, Bob and Jeanette Henshaw of Harvest; one brother, Bobby Henshaw of Vaiden, Miss.; one sister, Janie Henshaw of Huntsville; two stepbrothers, Bobby Cawthon of Huntsville and Billy Cawthon of Athens; and one stepsister, Tammye Ross of New Jersey.
Donations may be made to the Ostrogensis Imperfecta Organization Research, 804 West Diamond Ave., Gaithersburg, MD 20878.
Mary Hicks
HENAGER - Mary Ruth Hicks, 76, died Saturday at her home. A memorial service will be today at 2 p.m. at W.T. Wilson Funeral chapel in Rainsville.
Survivors include four daughters, Virginia Ford of Henager, Patricia Shumate of Anniston, Sandra Garren of Eufaula and Judy Lingerfelt of Rainsville; two sons, Michial Farmer of Lawrenceville, Ga., and Jimmy Farmer of Henager; three sisters, Mamie Lee Brooks of Pisgah, Nina Faye Dockery of Tuscaloosa and Wilma Jean Parker of Fort Payne; one brother, Howard Hicks of Henager; and 12 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
William B. Howard
HAZEL GREEN - William Buren Howard, 79, died Saturday at Gadsden. The funeral will be Monday at 11 a.m. at Hillwood Baptist Church with the Rev. Charles Freeman officiating.
Burial will be in Huntsville Memory Gardens with Laughlin Service Funeral Home in charge.
Mr. Howard was a member of the Alabama Federation of the Blind and was retired from Redstone Arsenal. He was a founding member of Hillwood Baptist Church.
Survivors include one sister, Mary McPherson of Jacksonville; one brother, Emerson Howard of Huntsville; one granddaughter, Wendy Howard Parise of Hazel Green ; one grandson, William Bryan Howard of New Market; and one great grandson, Michael Kaylen Parise of Hazel Green .
Visitation will be today from 5 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to the Alabama Federation of the Blind.
Caldonia L. Kennedy
ATHENS - Caldonia Langford "Miller Kennedy, 97, of 605 Elkton St. died Friday at a Athens nursing home. The funeral will be today at 1 p.m. at McConell Funeral Home with the Rev. Stanley Keifer officiating.
Burial will be in Cameron Cemetery in Madison County.
Mrs. Kennedy was a native of Madison County, was the oldest member of Mount Pisgah Baptist Church in Limestone County, was a lunchroom cook at the former Ripley Elementary School and Clements High School and was preceded in death by her husband, Augusta "Guss Kennedy; one son, Edward Miller and two daughters, June "Miller Calahan and Monteen Kennedy Richardson.
Survivors include two daughters, Flossie Finley Camody of Athens and Louise Miller Lee of Gurley; two sons, the Rev. Ellis Clifton Kennedy and Nelson Lee Kennedy, both of Athens; 23 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Larry C. Kesler
Larry Carthel Kesler, 49, of Huntsville died Friday at a local hospital. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at Old Shady Grove Baptist Church near Henager with the Revs. Ralph Heard, Anthony Pannell and Jesse Williams officiating.
Burial will be in the adjoining cemetery with W.T. Wilson Funeral Chapel in charge.
Survivors include his wife, Sarah Elaine Kesler; two daughters, Deanna Kesler and Traci Kesler, both of Scottsboro; four stepdaughters, Michele Bramlette of Crossville, Edith Hayes of West Virginia, Heather Morris of Duck Springs and Melissa Solomon of Huntsville; one sister, Theda Justice of Section; and 12 grandchildren.
Douglas Mills Sr.
Tullahoma, Tenn. - Douglas Mills Sr., 69, of 105 Inglewood Circle died Friday at a Smyrna hospital. The funeral will be today at 2:30 p.m. at Higgins Funeral Home with the Revs. Harold Pressley and Pat Hood officiating.
Burial will be in Riverview Memory Gardens.
Mr. Mills retired as supervisor of shipping from Serbin Fashions. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force.
Survivors include his wife, Jean S. Mills; one son, Benny Mills of Smyrna; four sisters, Lila Logan and Viola Stevenson, both of Fayetteville, Clady Robertson of Birmingham and Janice Zielinski of Huntsville; three brothers, Dan Mills and Willie Joe Mills Jr., both of Fayetteville, and Richard Mills of Tullahoma; and three grandchildren.
Lois I. Parrish
GUNTERSVILLE - Lois Irene Parrish, 92, of 22444 U.S. 431 died Friday in a local nursing home. The funeral will be Monday at 11 a.m. at Carr Funeral Home in Guntersville.
Burial will be in High Point Cemetery.
Miss Parrish was a retired school teacher.
Survivors include one sister, Sibyl Lang of Hueytown; and one brother, Rev. Spurgeon Parrish of Albertville.
Brian A. Sanders
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Brian Alan Sanders, 40, died Tuesday. Laughlin Service Funeral Home will announce funeral arrangements.
Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery.
Mr. Sanders was a 1977 graduate of Madison Academy and attended Harding Univeristy. He was preceded in death by one brother, Wayne Sanders.
Survivors include his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Marvis W. Sanders of Huntsville; one brother, John Sanders of Allen, Texas; and one sister, Emmalee Sanders of Avondale Estates, Ga.
Donations may be made to Child Have, P.O. Box 160, Cullman, AL 35056 or to AGAPE, P.O. Box 2887, Huntsville, AL 35810.
Parm J. Selvage
GRANT - Parm Jewel Selvage, 81, of 1916 Randles Rd. died Saturday at a Alabaster nursing home. The funeral will be Monday at 2 p.m. at Grant Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.
Burial will be in Old Union Cemetery.
Survivors include his wife, Rosalie "Rose Sims Selvage; one son, Ray Lee Selvage of Alabaster; two grandchildren, Erin Selvage of Murfreesboro, Tenn., and Jennifer Selvage of Guntersville; and two great-grandchildren and one nephew.
Visitation will be today from 7 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Ena Shirey
ATLANTA - Ena Shirey, died Friday at an Atlanta hospital. The funeral will be Monday at 11 a.m. at the Sand Mountain Funeral Home in Rainsville with the Rev. Ray Bush officiating.
Burial will be in Pinehaven Memorial Gardens in Hollywood.
Survivors include two daughters, Sandra Pepper of Atlanta and Jo Broyles of Albertville; two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 3 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Liza Steele
HOLLYWOOD - Liza Steele, 67, died Friday at a Huntsville hospital. A graveside service will be today at 2 p.m. at Longacre Cemetery in Stevenson with the Rev. Larry Gilliam officiating and Scottsboro Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include her husband, George S. Steele; four daughters, Christine Floyd and Betty Lou Lambert, both of Hollywood, Doris Mason of Scottsboro and Linda Harrison of Skyline; four sons, William Clay Steele of Hamilton, David Gerald Steele of Bridgeport, Jerry Kenneth Steele of Hollywood and James Rayford Steele of Scottsboro; two sisters, Mary Jane Hollis of Scottsboro and Dora Elizabeth Steele of Hollywood; one brother, Jerry Ike Steele of Stevenson; and 22 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
Ray Thompson
HARTSELLE - Ray Thompson, 65, died Friday at his home. The funeral will be Monday at 1 p.m. at East Highland Baptist Church with the Revs. Walter Blackmon, Joe Hoover and Calvin Inman officiating.
Burial with military honors will be in Burningtree Memorial Gardens Cemetery with Peck Funeral Home in charge.
Mr. Thompson was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and a member of East Highland Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Edna Kyle Thompson; three sons, Alan Ray Thompson and Tommy Gene Thompson, both of Hartselle and Raymond Kyle Thompson of Nashville; one daughter, Valerie Gail Stephenson of Hartselle; two brothers, Marvin Thompson of Kalmazoo, Mich., and Gene Thompson of Albertville; three sisters, Omega Singleton of Florence, El Rena Brackin of Town Creek and Sadie Coffey of Decatur; and six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home. His body will be at the church one hour before the funeral.
Donations may be made to Hospice of the Valley and Cancer Research.
Geneva S. Villarreal
RAINSVILLE - Geneva Smith Villarreal, 47, died Friday at her home. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at the Rainsville Funeral Home with the Rev. Robert Keef officiating.
Burial will be in Town Creek Cemetery.
Survivors include four daughters, Tammie Jones Roberts of Henagar, Angel Bevel Wells, Melissa Bevel Tolbert and April Treadway Miller, all of Rainsville; two sons, Ben Rush of Henagar and Blake Villarreal of Rainsville; four sisters, Diane Dow of Wake Forest, N.C., Kathy Keen of Summerville, Ga., and Carolyn Clark and Kelly Keown, both of LaFayette, Ga.; and 10 grandchildren.
Neal O. White
OCALA, Fla. - Neal Otho White, 70, died Friday. Laughlin Service Funeral Home will announce funeral arrangements.
Mr. White was a former resident of Madison County and was retired from Chrysler. He was a member of the Cahaba Shrine (Mason).
Survivors include his wife, Carol A. White; his mother, Lera Velma White of Huntsville; three sons, Jeffrey Neal White and Timothy Bryan White, both of Hazel Green and Rodney Craig White of New Market; two brothers, Billy White of Huntsville and Robert White of Albertville; three sisters, Lucille Clardy, Melba Hutto and Edna McKowan, all of Huntsville; four stepchildren, Lisha Hernandez of College Station, Texas, Tracy Gregg of Biloxi, Miss., Mary Ann Butler of Topeka, Ks. and Chuck Reed of Hutchinson, Ks.; and five grandchildren.
Edith G. Wiederecht
Edith G. Wiederecht, 88, of Huntsville died Saturday at a local nursing home. The funeral will be in Ridgewood, N.J., with Laughlin Service Funeral Home in charge of local arrangements.
Burial will be in Valleau Cemetery.
Mrs. Wiederecht was a graduate of the New Jersey College for Women. She was an avid reader and a former resident of New Orleans.
Survivors include two sons, Fabian P. Wiederecht of Huntsville and John H. Wiederecht of Jasper; and three grandsons, Daniel Owen Wiederecht, David Brian Wiederecht and John Pierce Wiederecht.
