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.
Brandy N. Bradley
ATHENS - Brandy Nicole Bradley, 22, of Sand Springs Road died Friday at her home. The funeral will be Tuesday at 4 p.m. at Taylor-Ardmore Funeral Home chapel with Bro. Jerry Smith officiating.
Burial will be in Gatlin Cemetery.
Survivors include her mother and stepfather, Brenda and Marlon Bradley of Athens; her father, Rodney Maddux of Eva; one brother, Matthew Bradley of Athens; and grandmothers, Ramona Burrell of Huntsville and Agnus Weeks of Eva.
Visitation will be Monday from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Waylon Brazelton
TONEY - Waylon Brazelton, 20, of Travis Circle died Friday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral will be today at 1:30 p.m. at Gallant Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Arnie Elliff officiating.
Burial will be in Charity Cemetery.
Mr. Brazelton was a native of Madison County and worked for Alabama Truck Lines.
Survivors include his mother, Laurie L. Elliff of Toney; his father Joe Brazelton of Toney; his stepfather, Johnny Elliff of Toney; one sister, Haley Elliff of Toney; two stepbrothers, Jonathan Elliff and Matthew Elliff, both of Toney; and his grandparents, Marie Groce of Athens, George and Marie White of Hazel Green and Judy Lamb and Geneva Elliff, both of Toney.
Loella G. Caves
SOUTH PITTSBURG, Tenn. - Loella G. Caves, 94, died Saturday at a Jackson County hospital. The funeral will be Monday at 2 p.m. at Long Island Baptist Church near Bridgeport with the Rev. Glen York and the Rev. Wayne Winters officiating.
Burial will be in New Hope Cemetery in New Hope, Tenn., with Rudder Funeral Home of Stevenson in charge.
Mrs. Caves was a member of the Long Island Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Dillard Caves; and one son, Billy Caves.
Survivors include two daughters, Bonnie Shoemake of South Pittsburg and Joyce Raulston of Algood, Tenn.; one son, Rev. James Robert Caves of Folda, Fla.; two sisters, Aileen Cates of Okeechobee, Fla., and Bozena Rogers of Hieleh, Fla.; and 14 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren and 13 great-great-grandchildren.
Lucille I. Donegan
Lucille I. Donegan, 89, of Huntsville died Thursday at a Pulaski, Tenn., hospital. The funeral will be Monday at 1 p.m. at Indian Creek Primitive Baptist Church with the Rev. Timothy Rainey officiating.
Burial will be in Indian Creek Cemetery with Royal Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. Donegan was a member of the church.
Survivors include one son, Ardene Blackburn of Huntsville; and 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Her body will be at the church one hour before the funeral.
Visitation will be today from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home.
Frances S. Farmer
GAINESVILLE, Texas - Frances S. Farmer, 82, died Wednesday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Monday at 2 p.m. at Valhalla Funeral Home chapel.
Burial will be in Valhalla Memory Gardens.
Mrs. Farmer was formerly of Huntsville.
Survivors include her husband, Robert L. Farmer of Gainesville; one son, James R. Freeman of Tampa, Fla.; two stepsons, Richard Farmer and Gary Farmer, both of Oklahoma; one brother, Roy Taylor of Savannah, Ga.; one sister, Lucille Etheredge of Fayetteville, N.C.; and five grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be Monday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the funeral home.
Irene Gattis
TULLAHOMA, Tenn. - Irene Gattis, 86, of Wilson Avenue died Saturday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral will be Monday at 1 p.m. at Higgins Funeral Home with Elder Don Burkhalter officiating.
Burial will be in Mulberry Cemetery.
Mrs. Gattis was a homemaker.
Survivors include several nieces and nephews.
Stephen W. Gero
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Stephen W. "Steve" Gero, 48, died Monday. The funeral will be Monday at 10 a.m. at Valhalla Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Phillip OKennedy officiating.
Burial will be in Valhalla Memory Gardens.
Mr. Gero was formerly of Huntsville.
Survivors include his mother, Claire E. Gero of Huntsville; three brothers, Greg Gero of Venezuela, John Gero of Florida and Mark Gero of Huntsville; four sisters, Debbie Volpe of Michigan, Sue Bond and Pam Rebman, both of Florida, and Laura Vasquez of Maine; and seven nieces and eight nephews.
Elmer Hargrove
ATHENS - Elmer ''Son Hargrove, 69, of 22548 Carey Road died Friday at a local hospital. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at Limestone Chapel Funeral Home with Brother Calvin Inman and Brother Tim Keenum officiating.
Burial will be in Sardis Springs Cemetery.
Mr. Hargrove was a member of Sardis Springs Baptist Church.
Survivors include one son, Tim Christopher of Detroit; five sisters, Sallie Hargrove, Estell Brown and Velma Batts, all of Athens, Lucille Clark of Elkmont and Lorene Brown of Decatur; and several nieces and nephews.
Mattie L. Holden
Mattie L. Holden, 87, of 215 Crutcher Drive died Friday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Monday at noon at Union Hill Cumberland Presbyterian Church with the Rev. McKinley Jones officiating.
Burial will be in Valhalla Memory Gardens with Royal Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. Holden was preceded in death by her husband, the Rev. Thorton Holden Sr.
Survivors include four daughters, Pearlie M. Smith of Chattanooga, and Susie Peters, Marie McQuiddy and Bobbie A. Moore, all of Nashville; one stepdaughter, Arleah Jones of Los Angeles; four sons, Carl Holden Sr. and James Holden, both of Madison, Thorton Holden Jr. of Atlanta and Thomas Holden of Harvest; one brother, Oliver Edwards of Chattanooga; and 19 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.
Cecil Hudgens
FLAT ROCK - Cecil Hudgens, 77, died Saturday at his home. The funeral will will be today at 2 p.m. at Ider Holiness Church with Bros. Rickey Holman and Bro. Rodger Sherley officiating.
Survivors include his wife, Doris Whited Hudgens of Flat Rock; one daughter, Glenda Johnson of Flat Rock; one son, Bennie Hudgens of New Market; four sisters, Ruby Freeman of Rainsville, Thursie Brown of Jacksonville, Tanah Wiggley of Chattanooga, and Cora Lee Clark of Trenton, Ga.; one brother, Sanford Hudgens of Whitville, Tenn.; and two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Lynn R. Layton
Lynn Reed Layton, 77, of Huntsville died Saturday at his home. Spry Funeral Home will announce funeral arrangements.
Mr. Layton was a native of Madison, Ind., and had lived in Huntsville since 1958. He was a mason and a member of University Baptist Church and retired from the Armys Hawk Missile Program.
Survivors include his wife, Norma Layton of Huntsville; one son, Stewart Layton of Lithia Springs, Ga.; two daughters, Ellen Belcher of Maysville and Susan Filip of Huntsville; one brother, Albert Layton of Madison, Ind.; and four grandchildren.
Mossie R. McCall
Mossie Rice McCall, 81, of 2309 Powers Drive died Friday at her home. The funeral will be Tuesday at noon at First Seventh-day Adventist Church with Elder Benjamin Jones officiating.
Burial will be in Northside Cemetery with Royal Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. McCall was the Colonial Hills Elementary School and the Huntsville City Schools "Teacher of the Year" in 1978. She was added to the Alabama Hall of Fame in 1978 and was in the Teacher Hall of Fame at Jacksonville State University in 1978 and 1979. She was a member of the First Seventh-day Adventist Church more than 50 years.
Survivors include one daughter, Karla McCall Swan of Missouri City, Texas; one son, Stanley E. McCall of Harvest; three brothers, Joe D. Rice of Huntsville and George Rice and Flute "Billy" Rice, both of Toledo, Ohio; two sisters, Gertrude Rice of Toledo and Dr. Nell Rice Anthony of Huntsville; and five grandchildren.
Her body will be at the church one hour before the funeral.
Visitation will be Monday from 7 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Billy O. Owens
RAINSVILLE - Billy Oliver Owens, 67, died Thursday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral will be today at 3 p.m. at Antioch Baptist Church with the Rev. David Hairston and the Rev. Larry Tilley officiating.
Burial will be Mountain View Memory Gardenns with W.T. Wilson Funeral Home in charge.
Mr. Owens was a retired truck driver and a member of the church.
Survivors include his wife, Eunice Owens of Rainsville; three daughters, Elaine Tomlin of Lebanon, Ala., Marlene Taylor of Spring, Texas, and Diane Horton of Rainsville; one sister, Willodean Horton of Fyffe; and seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Annie M. Parker
TONEY - Annie Mae Parker, 75, died Thursday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral will be today at 1 p.m. at Syler Tabernacle with the Rev. Perry Clark officiating.
Burial will be in St. Ruth Cemetery in Hazel Green with Royal Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. Parker was an usher at St. Rebecca Primitive Baptist Church, where she was a member 36 years.
Survivors include her husband, Sam Parker of Toney; four daughters, Annie Langford, Arlean P. Hardin, Barbara A. Johnson and Sharon Crump, all of Huntsville; five sons, Freddie Parker Sr., Carl Parker Sr., and Samuel Parker, all of Toney, and Rocky Parker and Leon Parker, both of Huntsville; one sister, Bessie Mitchell Hughes of Huntsville; and three brothers, Cleveland Lipscomb and James "Big" Lipscomb, both of Chicago, and Charles Mitchell of Sebastian, Fla.
Her body will be at the church one hour before the funeral.
Lillie M. Patterson
GUNTERSVILLE - Lillie Mae Patterson, 89, of 733 Ringold St. died Friday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral will be Monday at 11 a.m. at Carr Funeral Home in Guntersville.
Burial will be in Panquin Cemetery.
Survivors include four daughters, Dicie Keely of Claysville, Alpha Waters of Florida, Minnie Bell Bevel of Swearengin and Marie Harrison of Albertville; three sisters, Lela Bevel, Vera Rice and Della Hardin, all of Grant; and 11 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great-grandchildren.
Nell J. Peppers
BOAZ - Nell Jo Peppers, 73, of 56 Cooper Courts died Saturday at a Gadsden hospital. The funeral will be Monday at 2 p.m. at Noble Hill Baptist Church.
Burial will be in Myrtletree Cemetery with Albertville Memorial Chapel Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include one daughter, Patsy Carroll of Albertville; two sons, Rufus Peppers and Dewey Peppers, both of Boaz; two sisters, Shirley Summerford of Aroney and Beatrice Allen of Gadsden; four brothers, Cecil Hartbarger of Birmingham, Estell Hartbarger and Clarence Hartbarger, both of Sand Rock, and Clifford Hartbarger of Gadsden; and 17 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
David J. Pierce
David J. Pierce, 70, of Huntsville died Friday at a Nashville hospital. The gaveside service will be Monday at 2 p.m. at Maple Hill Cemetery with Fred Cole officiating.
Laughlin Service Funeral Home is in charge of burial.
Mr. Pierce lived in Huntsville 38 years and retired from Chrysler. He was a local businessman for 15 years and owned Pierce TV Co.
Survivors include his wife, Joyce Pierce of Huntsville; one son, Dwayne Pierce of Park City, Tenn.; one sister, Mildred Blair of Tulsa, Okla.; one brother, Paul Pierce of Springfield, Mo.; and five grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Lou S. Posey
ATHENS - Lou Stella Posey, 64, of 15962 ONeal Road died Saturday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Monday at 2 p.m. at Roselawn Cemetery in Athens with the Rev. Marty O. Wynn and the Rev. Ray Pettus officiating.
Limestone Chapel Funeral Home is in charge of burial.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Charlie Posey.
Survivors include two sons, Shelly Posey and Jeff Posey, both of Athens; one daughter, Rosemary Bowen of Leesburg; one brother, James Dunson of Tallahassee, Fla.; two sisters, Dell Daugherty and Jewel Price, both of Birmingham; and three grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and several neices and nephews.
Leeann C. Rucker
HENAGAR - Leeann C. Rucker, 45, died Friday at her home. The memorial service will be today at 2 p.m. at Victory Outreach Full Gospel Church in Henagar with the Rev. Rick Jones officiating.
W.T. Wilson Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Survivors include two sisters, Tiffany Wilkinson of Henagar and Tracey Landry of Biloxi, Miss.; one brother, Chris Wilkinson of Chattanooga; two adopted sons, Stephen Wilkinson and Casey Wilkinson, both of Henagar; and one aunt and one uncle.
Charlie E. Sizemore
RAINSVILLE - Charlie Eber Sizemore, 102, died Friday. The funeral will be today at 3 p.m. at Rainsville Holiness Church with the Rev. Charles Willmon and the Rev. Anthony Willmon officiating.
Burial will be in Kirk Memorial Gardens in Rainsville.
Mr. Sizemore, a native of DeKalb County, was a World War II veteran and a retired farmer. He was a member of the Veterans Foreign Wars, Rainsville Holiness Church and the Little River Chapter of the American Revolution. He was preceded in death by his wife, Myrtie Malone Sizemore.
Survivors include two daughters, Regina Kay Sizemore of New Hope and Donna Taheri of Rainsville; and three grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to Rainsville Holiness Church.
Lorene M. Stiles
LACEYS SPRING - Lorene Malone Stiles, 75, died Thursday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral will be today at 2:30 p.m. at Spry Funeral Home with the Rev. Jimmy Morrow officiating.
Burial will be in Union Grove Cemetery with Spry Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. Stiles was a native of Summertown, Tenn., but had lived in Alabama since 1950. She was a member of Whitesburg Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband, Joe Stiles of Laceys Spring; one son, Thomas Malone of Laceys Spring; six daughters, Frances Strickland of Griffin, Ga., Doris Williams of Grant, Bobbie S. Merrill of Huntsville, Mary Evans of Laceys Spring, Virginia Laws of Summertown and Sandra Hargrove of Panama City Beach, Fla.; one sister, Marie Flowers of Illinois; and 21 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.
G.H. Wickham
FORT PAYNE - G.H. ''Wick Wickham, 74, died Friday at a Fort Payne hospital. The funeral will be Monday at 1 p.m. at Kerby Funeral Home in Henagar with the Rev. Edward Soule and the Rev. Weldon Hardin officiating.
Burial will be in Green haven Memorial Gardens in Hollywood.
Mr. Wickham was a member of the St. Paul United Methoidst Church in Fort Payne and was a World War II veteran.
Survivors include his wife, Maxine Wickham; two daughters, Judy Brewer and Linda Wickham, both of Ider; one son, Gregg Wickham of Fairfield, Calif.; one sister, Jolaine Butterwick of Sun City, Calif.; and six grandchildren.
Bessie D. Wright
GUNTERSVILLE - Bessie Dorcas Wright, 95, of 5640 Pawnee Circle died Friday at her home. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at Swearengin Church of Christ.
Burial will be at New Prospect Cemetery with Carr Funeral Home of Guntersville in charge.
