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.
Patricia R.Adams
FAIRHOPE - Patricia Ruth Adams, 59 died Wednesday. The graveside service will be Monday at 11 a.m. at Valhalla Cemetery in Midfield.
Valhalla Funeral Home in Midfield is in charge of arrangements.
Survivors include her husband, Carl Adams; her mother, Wilma Basden of Huntsville; one sister, Pamela Bradley of Bellaire, Texas; two sons, Charles Beverly of Pensacola, Fla., and Patrick Beverly of Tallahassee, Fla.; two stepdaughters, Denise Bellezza of Douglasville, Ga., and Beth Cook of Huntsville; two stepsons, Stuart Adams of Fairhope and David Adams of Tulsa, Okla.; two grandsons and seven step-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Sunday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Karen J. Banther
SCOTTSBORO - Karen Jane Banther, 51, of 82 Pick Drive died Friday at an area hospital. The funeral will be Monday at 11 a.m. at Grant Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.
Burial will be in Old Prospect Cemetery.
Survivors include her husband, Charles L. Banther; three sons, Klinton Banther and Brian Banther, both of Scottsboro, and Phillip Banther of Guntersville; one brother, Dale Caldwell of Florida; one sister, Sylvia Caldwell of New York; and four grandchildren.
Visitation will be Sunday from 6 t 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Alice Barkley
MADISON - Alice Barkley, 78, died Friday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at Madison Chapel Funeral Home with the Revs. Rickey Lowery and George Bark officiating.
Burial will be in Madison City Cemetery.
Survivors include one son, Marvin Barkley of Madison; two brothers, Otis Lowery of Madison and Quinton Lowery of Harvest; two sisters, Norene Baird and Gertrude Brazelton, both of Madison; and three grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Hattie M. Berryhill
Hattie M. Berryhill, 92, of Huntsville died Friday at a local hospital. The graveside service will be Sunday at 1 p.m. at Maple Hill Cemetery with the Rev. Jerry Berryhill officiating.
Laughlin Service Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Survivors include one son, James Jerry Berryhill of Owens Cross Roads; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
William I. Black Jr.
NOKOMIS, Ill. - William I. Black Jr., 63, of Kokomis died Thursday in Jackson, Tenn. A memorial service will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at Spry Funeral Home in Athens with Spry Funeral Home in Athens in charge.
Mr. Black was a native of Athens and was preceded in death by his wife, Peggy Jean Black.
Survivors include three daughters, Crystal Golitko of Kokomis, Peggy Johnson and Tammy Pickle, both of Jackson; one sister, June Black of Athens; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Jartavius S. Blackburn
Jartavius Shaquon Blackburn, infant son of Keisha R. Blackburn and Jarvis J. Burns, died Thursday at a local hospital. The funeral will be today 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.
Otha Bone Jr.
TONEY - Otha "Bro" Bone Jr., 63, of 29595 Bethel Road died Monday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral will be today at 1 p.m. at Royal Funeral Home 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 today 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.
Ruth I. Brown
VALHERMOSO SPRINGS - Ruth Inez Brown, 89, of 862 Slaughter Road died Thursday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral will be Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home in Hartselle with the Rev. Ralph Snowden officiating.
Burial will be in Valhermoso Springs Cemetery.
Mrs. Brown attended the Talucah Presbyterian Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Elton Brown.
Survivors include one daughter, Nettie Sue Sparks of Valhermoso Springs; one brother, J.N. Bridges of Gadsden; two sisters, Rebecca Congo and Johnnie Aday, both of Athens; and two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 9 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 today from 5 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to Boy Scout Troop 15 or a favorite charity.
Goldie C. Davis
GUNTERSVILLE - Goldie Corrine Davis, 66, of 376 Columbus Lane died Thursday at her home. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at Pine Island Baptist Church.
Burial will be in Free Home Cemetery with Carr Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. Davis was owner and operator of Davis Store at Columbus City.
Survivors include two daughters, Patsy Stubblefield of Guntersville and Bonnie White of Columbus City; one son, Skeeter Davis of Columbus City; and two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Elizabeth H. Ferguson
GUNTERSVILLE - Elizabeth Hill Ferguson, 80, died Friday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral will be Sunday at 3:30 p.m. at Scottsboro Funeral Home with the Rev. Lee Earl Thompson officiating.
Burial will be in Gant Cemetery.
Survivors include her husband, Raymond Ferguson; one daughter, Edith Franks of Trenton, Ga.; two sons, James Ferguson of Guntersville and John Ferguson of Hollywood; one sister, Betty Jernigan of Monteagle, Tenn.; one brother, Marvin Hill of Monteagle; two grandsons and three great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 1 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Virgie M. Gann
SCOTTSBORO - Virgie M. Kilgore Gann, 83, died Saturday. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at Kerby Funeral Home in Henagar with the Rev. Charles Underwood officiating.
Burial will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery.
Mrs. Gann was preceded in death by her husband, John Carl Gann.
She was a lifelong resident of Jackson County and a member of the Church of the Nazarene.
Survivors include five daughters, Phyllis Prater of Trenton, Ga., Eloise Steele of Henagar, Carolyn Hermes of Norcross, Ga., and Betty Sisco and Elizabeth McKenzie, both of Scottsboro; two sisters, Ruby Butler of Rossville, Ga., and Inez Moore of Norcross; two brothers, John Kilgore and Bobby Ray Kilgore, both of Rossville; 14 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson.
Robert O.K. Garner
Robert O.K. Garner, 80, of Huntsville died Thursday at a Tuscaloosa nursing home. The graveside service will be Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at Maple Hill Cemetery with Laughlin Service Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include one cousin, Gladys H. Campbell of Huntsville; and several other cousins.
Visitation will be today from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home.
Donations may be made to a favorite charity.
James S. Gossett
James Sammy Gossett, 58, of Huntsville died Friday in Guntersville. Spry Funeral Home will announce funeral arrangements.
Mr. Gossett was retired from the Huntsville Police Department and was a member of Cedar Gap Baptist Church.
Survivors include one son, James W. Gossett of Huntsville; two daughters, Nancy Dempsey of Gurley and Suzann Tipton of Ardmore; and three grandchildren.
Lelia M. Hall
BOAZ - Lelia Mae Hall, 92, of Boaz died Thursday at a local nursing home. The funeral will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at Albertville Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.
Burial will be in Marshall Memorial Garden.
Survivors include one daughter, Mary Carrigan of Nashville; three sons, Harold Hall of Glencoe, James Hall of Albertville and Ed Hall of Guntersville; one brother, Fred Mayo of Albertville; and 14 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.
Dorothy I. Lindsey
GUNTERSVILLE - Dorothy Irene Lindsey, 75, of 1321 Lakeshore St., died Thursday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Monday at 10 a.m. at Carr Funeral Home.
Burial will be in Hillsboro Memorial Cemetery in Coffee County, Tenn.
Mrs. Lindsey was a member of Henryville Methodist Church and Lake Twirlers Square Dance Club.
Survivors include her husband, Marion Lindsey; two daughters, Patsy Condra of Tennessee and Martha Daniels of Michigan; one son, Lawrence Wellman of Michigan; three sisters, Verna Brock and Isabelle Brock, both of Michigan, and Eleanore Patterson of Florida; one brother, Douglas Gates of Michigan; and 26 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren.
Laura F. Major
Laura Fitzgerald Major, 88, of Huntsville, died Thursday at a Huntsville hospital. A Mass will be Sunday at Good Shepherd Catholic Church, Chaney Thompson Road, with McConnell Funeral Home of Athens directing.
Following cremation, interment will be at the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. Mrs. Major was a graduate of Boston University.
Survivors include her husband of 62 years, Col. Bernard P. Major; four daughters, Suzanne Williams of Huntsville, Laura Major of Oriental, N.C., Martha Major of New Windsor, Md., and Bernadette MicKey of Pylesville, Md.; 10 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Kristopher M. Orton
DECATUR - Infant Kristopher Michael Orton, son of Michael and April Orton of Decatur died Thursday at a Huntsville hospital.
A graveside service will be today at 1 p.m. at Huntsville Memory Gardens with Wayne Cowhick officiating and McConnell Funeral Home of Athens in charge.
Other survivors include his grandparents, Dave and Lisa Orton, Mark and Michele Cowhick, Cindy Sue Clements and Danny R. Ogle; and great-grandparents, Marcus and Carolyn Moreman and Cynthia M. Clements.
James C. Rainey
ARDMORE, Tenn. - James C. Rainey, 86, of 26787 Main St., died Thursday at home. The graveside service will be today at 10 a.m. at Blanche Cemetery with the Rev. James Holt officiating.
Higgins Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Rainey was a native of Blanche, was a retired funeral director and owner and operator of Rainey Funeral Home in Ardmore. He was a member of Ardmore Methodist Church.
Michael V. Ray
MADISON - Michael Vernon Ray, 35, died Tuesday. A private memorial service will be today 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.
Frank Smith
WOODVILLE - Frank ''Junior Smith, 73, died Thursday at a Scottsboro hospital. The funeral will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at Scottsboro Funeral Home with the Rev. Bill Venable officiating.
Burial will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery.
Mr. Smith was a World War II veteran.
Survivors include his wife, Myrtle Hall Smith; five daughters, Dililah Murphy, Debra Tidwell, Ann Nichols and Glenda Smith, all of Scottsboro, and Frankie Smith of Huntsville; five sons, Cecil Mason, Floyd Mason, Donald Mason and Jerry Mason, all of Scottsboro, and Eugene Mason of Rossville, Ga.; three sisters, Jean Frazier of Phoenix, Ariz., and Pauline Smith and Nadine McClure, both of Scottsboro; 25 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 9 a.m. until 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. The funeral will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at Gallant Funeral Home in Hazel Green with Dr. Tommy Bolan officiating.
Burial will be in Valhalla Cemetery with Gallant Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. Swanay was a native of Cardens Bluff, Tenn. She was a member of the Doe River Baptist Church in Elizabethton, Tenn.
Survivors include two daughters, Sharon Swanay Parks of Huntsville and Carole Swanay Johnson of Tuscaloosa; two granddaughters; and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
