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.
Harold Barber
Harold Barber, 65, of Huntsville died Thursday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at Valhalla Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Ken Love officiating.
Burial will be in Valhalla Memory Gardens.
Mr. Barber was a member of First Church of God of Huntsville. He was also an Army veteran and was preceded in death by one daughter, Kathy Luker.
Survivors include his wife, Joyce Lee Barber of Huntsville; one stepdaughter, Cynthia Dukes of Virginia; four sons, Harold Barber Jr. of Nebraska, Marty Barber and Tracy Barber, both of Huntsville, and Robin Barber of Madison; three stepsons, David Edmonds of Florida, Michael Edmonds of Huntsville and Billy Edmonds of Scottsboro; three sisters, Gladys Knight of Kentucky, Jonell Knight of Michigan and Linda Taylor of Indiana; one brother, Bobby Barber of Kentucky; and 11 grandchildren.
Visitation will be Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Jartavius S. Blackburn
Jartavius Shaquon Blackburn, infant son of Keisha R. Blackburn and Jarvis J. Burns, both of Huntsville, died Thursday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at St. James Primitive Baptist Church with the Rev. Billy Jones officiating.
Burial will be in Meadowlawn Garden of Peace with Royal Funeral Home in charge.
Other survivors include one sister, Kahlia L. Blackburn of Huntsville; one brother, Jacquez R. Blackburn of Huntsville; grandparents, Shirley L. Blackburn, Leon Wade, Johnnie Mae Burns and Charlie Crutcher, all of Huntsville; and great-grandparents, Luther Robinson and Florida Mae Burns, both of Huntsville.
His body will be at the church 15 minutes before the funeral.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Otha Bone Jr.
TONEY - Otha "Bro" Bone Jr., 63, of 29595 Bethel Road died Monday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at Royal Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Robert Winn officiating.
Burial will be in Meadowlawn Garden of Peace.
Survivors include one daughter, Deborah King of Huntsville; one sister, Lela Bone of Huntsville; one brother, Jimmy Bone of Louisville, Ky.; and two grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Grace H. Brandon
Grace Holden Brandon, 86, of 2241 Medaris Road in Huntsville died Wednesday at her home. The funeral will be Saturday at noon at First Missionary Baptist Church with Dr. Julius R. Scruggs officiating.
Burial will be in Valhalla Memory Gardens with Royal Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include one son, Ralph Brandon of Huntsville; and one grandchild, Marilyn Brandon of Nashville.
Her body will be at the church one hour before the funeral home.
James W. Cobb
James William Cobb, 61, of Huntsville died Wednesday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at Spry Funeral Home chapel with Bro. Billy Loveday officiating.
Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery.
Mr. Cobb was a native of Madison County, an Air Force veteran and owned and operated Worth Exhaust Center.
Survivors include his wife, Elaine Cobb of Huntsville; one son, Jay Cobb of Huntsville; his mother, Mildred Blackburn Cobb of Huntsville; and two grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Mary M. Cornell
Mary M. Cornell, 89, of Huntsville died Thursday at a local nursing home. The graveside service will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at Maple Hill Cemetery with the Rev. Coy Hallmark officiating.
Laughlin Service Funeral Home is in charge of burial.
Mrs. Cornell was a member of First United Methodist Church and was active in its Sunday school classes. She worked for Boswell and Cooper Insurance for 43 years and was a member of the Pilot Club, the Antique Collectors Guild and the Optimist Club. She also volunteered at Humana Hospital. She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas W. Cornell.
Survivors include one son, Thomas W. Cornell III of Huntsville; one sister, Marie Wilson of Fort Worth, Texas; and two grandchildren, one great-grandson and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be Saturday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to Boy Scout Troop 15 or a favorite charity.
Raymond Davis
STEVENON - Raymond Davis, 62, died Wednesday at his home. The funeral will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Rudder Funeral Home in Stevenson with Durell Bryant and Gordon Matthews officiating.
Burial will be in Cumberland Cemetery in Stevenson.
Mr. Davis was a member of the Church of Christ and Carpenters Union Local 64.
Survivors include one son, Brandon Davis of Brandon, Miss.; six sisters, Carolyn Piercy of Gallatin, Tenn., Shirley Bloodsworth and Kathleen Trusty, both of Homewood, Ill., Betty Draper, Linda Rudder and Patsy Summers, all of Stevenson; one brother, Richard Davis of Stevenson; and one granddaughter.
Lovell Denson
TALLADEGA - Lovell "Bubba" Denson, 52, died Monday in Morgan County. The funeral will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Union Springs Baptist Church with the Rev. Samuel Turner officiating.
Burial will be in the church cemetery with Sims Funeral Service in charge.
Survivors include his wife, Luevornia Danson of Talladega; one daughter, Sharon Denson of Talladega; his mother, Essie Denson of Talladega; three brothers, Henry Denson Jr. of Decatur and Carswell Denson and Paul Denson, both of Atlanta; and one sister, Carolyn Denson Drake of Huntsville.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Wilda R. French
ATHENS - Wilda R. French, 73, died Wednesday at an Athens hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at Spry Funeral Home of Athens with Don Osborne officiating.
Burial will be in Athens City Cemetery.
Mrs. French was retired from the Limestone County Stockyards here and Valley Stockyards in Decatur.
Survivors include one daughter, Donna French Townshend of Mason, Mich.; one son, John Hector French III of Athens; one sister, Christine Burch of Danville; and three nieces.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Robert O.K. Garner
Robert O.K. Garner, 80, of Huntsville died Thursday at a Tuscaloosa nursing home. Laughlin Service Funeral Home will announce funeral arrangements.
Survivors include one cousin, Gladys H. Campbell of Huntsville.
Visitation will be Saturday from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home.
Jack Hill
ESTILL SPRINGS, Tenn. - Jack Hill, 89, of 303 Shasteen St. died Wednesday. The funeral was to be today at 3 p.m. at Watson-Gamble Funeral Home chapel in Winchester, Tenn.
Burial will be in Franklin Memorial Gardens.
Survivors include one daughter, Odie Mann of Estill Springs; two sons, J.R. Hill of Huntsville and Donald Hill of Estill Springs; and 14 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
Lena Hulsey
CENTRE - Lena Jane Mayhall Hulsey, 82, died Thursday at a Gadsden hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at Tates Chapel Baptist Church with the Rev. Bill Gallahair and the Rev. Larry Garrard officiating.
Burial will be in Cherokee Memory Gardens with Perry Funeral Home of Centre in charge.
Survivors include her husband, Jim Hulsey of Centre; three sons, Charles Mayhall, Danny Mayhall and Ronnie Mayhall, all of Centre; three daughters, Barbara Smith of Collinsville, Wanda Reeves of Hazel Green and Debra Norton of Centre; two brothers, Earble Ashley and Kenneth Ashley, both of Centre; two sisters, Vernell Timmons of Rome and Lillian Mayes of Gaylesville; two stepsons, Odis Hulsey of Leesburg and Robert Hulsey of Collinsville; two stepdaughters, Janice McGaulgham of Glencoe and Marie Holcomb of Duck Springs; and 12 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Mary B. Kidd
ALBERTVILLE - Mary Berma Kidd, 95, died Wednesday at a local nursing home. The funeral was today at 11 a.m. at Belchers Gap Methodist Church.
Burial was in the adjoining cemetery with Albertville Memorial Chapel Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include three daughters, Doris Tolleson and Jene McCormick, both of Boaz, and Faye Coker of Gadsden; three sons, Otis Kidd of Collinsville and Norris Kidd and Donald Kidd, both of Crossville; two brothers, Howell Hallmark of Washington and Lucious Hallmark of Gadsden; and 10 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren and 23 great-great-grandchildren.
Howard M. Lee
Retired Marine Corps Col. Howard M. Lee, 81, of 2012 Winchester Highway died Wednesday at his home. The funeral was to be today at 4 p.m. at Higgins Funeral Home with Bro. Carroll Hickman officiating.
Burial will be in Kelso Cemetery.
Col. Lee was a native of Parkin, Ark., and retired from the Marine Corps.
Survivors include his wife, Margaret D. Lee of Fayetteville; one daughter, Ann Lee Morgan of Hazel Green ; and one grandson.
Memorial donations may be made to the Lincoln County Museum or a favorite charity.
Richard A. Milton Jr.
Richard Alan Milton Jr., 35, of Huntsville died Wednesday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at Laughlin Service Funeral Home chapel with Dr. R. Laurence Dill officiating.
Burial will be in Valhalla Memory Gardens.
Mr. Milton was a Grissom High School graduate and attended Athens State College. He worked at K.C. Honda.
Survivors include his parents, Doris McDonald of Huntsville and Richard A. Milton Sr. of Florida; one brother, Ryan A. Milton of Huntsville; and his finacee, Mary Beth Klinzak of Huntsville.
Visitation will be Saturday from noon to 1 p.m. at the funeral home.
Pearly C. Posey
ATHENS - Pearly C. Posey, 85, died Wednesday at an Athens hospital. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at Spry Funeral Home in Athens.
Burial was to be in Hesters Chapel Cemetery.
Mrs. Posey was a homemaker.
Survivors include two sons, Randy Posey and Roy Posey, both of Anderson; nine grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
Michael V. Ray
MADISON - Michael Vernon Ray, 35, died Tuesday. A private memorial service will be Saturday at First United Methodist Church in Huntsville.
Johns-Ridouts Funeral Home Southside Chapel of Birmingham is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Ray was a member of the North Alabama Science Fiction Association and worked at Luna Tech and Barnes and Noble Booksellers. He also served in the Army.
Survivors include his wife, Robin V. Ray of Madison; his father, James Ray of Henderson, Nev.; one brother, James Ray II of Farmington, Mich.; his stepmother, Pat Ray of Henderson, Nev.; and two sisters, Linda Ray of Prospect Heights, Ill., and Regina Ray of Rialto, Calif. Memorial donations may be made to MedFlight in care of Huntsville Hospital Foundation, 101 Sivley Road, Huntsville, 35801; or to BURNS at P.O. Box 610370, Birmingham, 35261-0370.
Sadie L. Rochelle
ARDMORE, Ala. - Sadie L. Rochelle, 80, died Thursday at her home. The funeral will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Taylor-Ardmore Funeral Home with the Rev. Bruce Walters officiating.
Burial will be in Sylone Cemetery.
Survivors include her husband, Thomas Rochelle of Ardmore, Ala.; two brothers, Wayne Wales of Decatur and John Wales of Elkmont; and one sister, Hazel Johnson of Decatur.
Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Limestone County.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Derek W. Simmons
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - Derek Williams Simmons, 40, of 1308 6th St. N.E. died Wednesday at his home. The funeral will be Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Jacksonville with the Rev. John Holloway officiating. A graveside service will be Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at Valhalla Memory Gardens in Huntsville.
K.L. Brown Funeral Home is in charge of burial.
Survivors include his wife, Diane Baker Simmons of Jacksonville; three sons, Michael David Simmons, Joseph William Simmons and John Derek Simmons, all of Jacksonville; his parents, Billy and Nina Simmons of Huntsville; and two sisters, Catherine Denise Cloer of New Hope and Julie Ann Simmons of Huntsville.
His body will be at the church one hour before the funeral.
Visitation will be today from 5 to 8 p.m. at the church.
Memorial donations may be made to the church building fund, Hospice of East Alabama or the American Cancer Society.
Benny W. Sulcer
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Benny Wilson "Wick" Sulcer, 70, of 2417 Cross Park Drive died Thursday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Taylor-Ardmore Funeral Home in Ardmore, Ala., with Bro. Joe Erwin and Pastor Mark Norris officiating.
Burial will be in Pettusville Cemetery.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Jean Sulcer.
Survivors include two sons, Jeff Sulcer of Nashville and Judd Sulcer of Murfreesboro; one daughter, Jill Simmons of Atlanta; his mother, Alice Sulcer of Falkville; one brother, Bud Sulcer of Tanner; and eight grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Mary A. Swanay
Mary Alice Swanay, 77, of Woodvalley Drive in Huntsville died Thursday at a local hospital. Gallant Funeral Home of Hazel Green will announce funeral arrangements.
Charles W. Thrasher
ESTILL SPRINGS, Tenn. - Charles Wayne Thrasher, 62, died Thursday. The funeral will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Scottsboro Funeral Home.
Burial will be in Pinehaven Memorial Gardens in Hollywood, Ala.
Survivors include his wife, Julia Loyd Thrasher; two daughters, Melinda McKenney of Huntsville and Terri Thrasher of Northport; one son, Tim Thrasher of Grant; three stepchildren, Keith VanWinkler of Gig Harbor, Wash., Shannon VanWinkler of Tuscaloosa and Lanna VanWinkler of Estill Springs, Tenn.; his father, T. Ozell Thrasher of Rogersville, Ala.; three sisters, Susan Crane of Arab and Angela Calhoun and Anita McKee, both of Rogersville; one brother, Richard Thrasher of Anderson; and two grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Ettie F. Underwood
ATHENS - Ettie Faye Underwood, 94, of 703 W. Washington St. died Tuesday at her home. The funeral was today at 11 a.m. at Limestone Chapel Funeral Home with Aaron Johnson officiating.
Burial will be in Athens City Cemetery.
She was preceded in death by one daughter, Alice Nelson.
Survivors include one stepson, Jack R. Underwood of Huntsville; four grandchildren, Wanda Emfinger of Bunker Hill, Tenn., and Abbie White, Carla Nelson and Larry Nelson, all of Athens; and six great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Limestone County.
