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.
Barbara Amos
FAYETTEVILLE, Tenn. - Barbara Amos, 61, of 280 Old Quick Road died Thursday at her home. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at Higgins Funeral Home with the Rev. Charles Jones officiating.
Burial was to be in Lincoln Cemetery.
Mrs. Amos was a housewife and a member of Bevils Chapel Baptist Church.
Survivors include one daughter, Sara Currey of Flintville, Tenn.; three sons, Derek Amos of Nashville, Edwin Amos of Fayetteville and Jeffery Amos of Flintville; and two grandchildren.
Jimmy L. Baker
SCOTTSBORO - Jimmy Leon Baker, 46, died Thursday at his home. The funeral will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Rudder Funeral Home with the Rev. Oscar Partin officiating.
Burial will be in Zion Rest Cemetery.
Mr. Baker was a maintenance shop foreman.
Survivors include his wife, Sandra Baker; two daughters, Polly Baker of Gurley and Cassandra Hammons of Scottsboro; one stepson, Drew Phillips of Scottsboro; his parents, David and Jane Baker of Scottsboro; one sister, Ann Hinkle of Scottsboro; two brothers, Mack Baker and Paul Baker, both of Scottsboro; his grandmother, Birtie Romans of Scottsboro; and one grandchild.
Visitation was to be today until 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Willie J. Baker
BOAZ - Willie J. Baker, 69, died Thursday. The funeral will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at W.T. Wilson Funeral Chapel.
Burial will be in Salem Cemetery in Geraldine.
Mrs. Baker was a member of Liberty Congregational Methodist Church and retired from Boaz Spinning Mill.
Survivors include two aunts, Winnie Farmer of Fort Payne and Dorsey Lybrand of Dawson.
Visitation will be today at 4 p.m. at the funeral home.
Mildred R. Bolton
ATHENS - Mildred R. Bolton, 72, of 16121 Brownsferry Road died Thursday at her home. The funeral was to be today at 2:30 p.m. at Limestone Memorial Gardens with Bro. Don Osborne officiating.
Limestone Chapel Funeral Home is in charge of burial.
Mrs. Bolton was owner of Mildreds Beauty Shop and a member of the Church of Christ.
Survivors include her husband, Billy Bolton of Athens; one son, Vance Pryde Bolton of Madison; one brother, Buddy Reece of Athens; two sisters, Mavis Collier of Decatur and Marjorie Ferguson of Athens; and several nieces and nephews.
Martha Calahan
Martha Belle Turner Calahan, 84, of Huntsville died Thursday at her home. The memorial service will be Sunday at 10:15 a.m. at Epworth United Methodist Church with the Rev. Byron White officiating.
Spry Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Calahan was a native of Madison County and had lived in Huntsville 18 years. She was an active member of the church. In 1982, 1983 and 1984 the Rocket City Business and Professional Womens Club named her "Woman of Distinction." She was an active member of the Senior Center and in 1977 received special recognition for 21 years of service in the Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve and the 9th Air Force in Sumpter, S.C.
Survivors include her husband, Buford S. Calahan of Huntsville; one sister, Lillian T. Pullen of Hoover; and five nieces and three nephews.
Memorial donations may be made to the church or to the Huntsville Hospital Foundation.
Linda R. Crews
Linda Renee Crews, 39, of Huntsville died Wednesday at a local hospital. The graveside service will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Valhalla Memory Gardens with the Rev. Henry Bradford Jr. officiating.
Royal Funeral Home is in charge of burial.
Ms. Crews was a 1978 Lee High School graduate and received a degree in English from Spelman College in Atlanta and a masters degree in Humanities from Ohio State University. She also studied at the University of Wisconsin to become a certified reading teacher. She was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and was a member of the National Teachers Association, the Milwaukee Education Association, the Wisconsin Education Association and the National Education Association.
Survivors include her parents, Louis Crews and Martha Crews, both of Huntsville; one sister, Ruby Gordon of Chattanooga; and one niece.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Sara Formby
DOUGLAS - Sara Ruth Ellis Formby, 65, of 295 Hambrick Drive died Thursday at her home. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Douglas.
Burial was to be in Douglas Cemetery with Albertville Memorial Chapel Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include her husband, Bobby T. Formby; three daughters, Deborah Powell of Mount Hebron, Karen Rush of Arab and Belinda Arrington of Douglas; one son, Bobby R. Formby of High Point; three sisters, Irene Sims of Hyatt, Maglene Bolton of New Hope and Judy Thompson of Albertville; one brother, James Ellis of Nixon Chapel; and eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
John T. Hilliard
ATHENS - John Tommy Hilliard, 74, died Wednesday at his home. The funeral will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at Spry Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Paul Bradford, the Rev. Frank Ivey and the Rev. Ben Johnson officiating.
Burial will be in Madison City Cemetery.
Mr. Hilliard was a lifelong Madison County resident. He retired from General Products Co. and was a member of Full Gospel Church.
Survivors include his wife, Alice Cobb Hilliard of Athens; two sons, Jimmy Ray Hilliard and Tommy Eugene Hilliard, both of Athens; one brother, Garland L. Hilliard of Huntsville; and seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 5 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Frances F. Hughes
CHATTANOOGA - Frances Faye Hughes, 54, died Tuesday at her home. The funeral will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Kerby Funeral Home in Henagar.
Burial will be in New Home Cemetery in Henagar.
Survivors include one son, Henry E. Oxendine of Harrison, Tenn.; her mother, Florence Clinton of Chattanooga; two sisters, Annie Mae Wilson of Chattanooga and Louise Gibson of Millington, Tenn.; and two grandchildren.
Visitation was to be today until 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
William H. Libby
William Harold Libby, 77, of Huntsville died Thursday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Covenant Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Hal Oakley officiating.
Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery with Laughlin Service Funeral Home in charge.
Mr. Libby was a native of York and had lived in Huntsville since 1957. He was an Auburn graduate, a Mason and a member of Covenant Presbyterian Church. He also retired from Goodyear and was a World War II Army veteran.
Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth Libby of Huntsville; four daughters, Phyllis Moudry of Tuscaloosa, Barbara Hall of Huntsville, Beth Phillips of Birmingham and Judy Fisher of Beaumont, Texas; one brother, Robert G. Libby of Huntsville; one sister, Ruth Winstanley of Mobile; and eight grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to Second Mile Development Inc.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
His body will be at the church one hour before the funeral.
Deoma N. Mullins
ARDMORE, Tenn. - Deoma N. Mullins, 98, died Thursday at her home. The funeral will be Saturday at 3 p.m. at Laughlin Service Funeral Home chapel with Bro. Kenneth Underwood officiating.
Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery.
Mrs. Mullins was a Baptist.
Survivors include one grandson, Dewayne Mullins of Ardmore, Tenn.; one granddaughter, Brenda Mullins of Toney; and three great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Charles W. Orr
DURHAM, N.C. - Dr. Charles Walter Orr, 89, died August 27. A memorial service will be Monday at 11 a.m. at Northside Cemetery with the Rev. Monroe Freeman officiating.
Royal Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Dr. Orr was formerly of Huntsville and was the first president of the National Alumni Normalite Association Inc. He attended Alabama A&M, Alabama State, Fisk and Columbia universities. He did post-doctoral work at New York and Harvard universities. In 1955 he was appointed an Alabama delegate to the White House Conference on Education and from 1957 to 1958 served on the Alabama Education Commission. During his career he was credited with many other successful efforts to improve education, especially for black children.
Survivors include his wife, Hester Wilson Orr of Durham; one sister, Dr. Nancy Gilmore Williams of Tuscaloosa; and one brother, James Franklin Gilmore of Alabaster.
Sam Parker
TONEY - Sam Parker, 78, of 183 Lewis Drive in Huntsville died Monday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at noon at Syler Tabernacle Primitive Baptist Church with the Rev. Perry Clark officiating.
Burial will be in St. Ruth Cemetery in Hazel Green with Royal Funeral Home in charge.
Mr. Parker was a World War II Army veteran and a 30-year member of St. Rebecca Primitive Baptist Church, where he was an usher.
Survivors include four daughters, Annie Langford, Arlean P. Hardin, Barbara A. Johnson and Sharon L. Crump, all of Huntsville; five sons, Rocky Parker and Leon Parker, both of Huntsville, and Freddie Parker Sr., Carl Parker Sr. and Samuel Parker, all of Toney; three sisters, Mary Moore of Boston, Mass., Josie Faine of Cocoa Beach, Fla., and Tommie Scott of Merrith Island, Fla.; two brothers, James Parker and Robert Parker, both of Huntsville; and 18 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
His body will be at the church one hour before the funeral.
Hamenray Patel
MADISON - Hamenray Patel, 50, died Thursday at his home. The funeral will be Saturday at 3 p.m. at Spry Funeral Home chapel.
Spry Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Patel was a native of Zambia and studied in England. He moved to the United States in 1989 and owned a local motel.
Survivors include his wife, Shobhanaben Patel of Madison; one daughter, Dina Patel of Madison; and one son, Punit Patel of Madison.
Simon A. Rice Sr.
GRANT - Simon Atlas Rice Sr., 82, of 316 Rice Road died Thursday at his home. The funeral will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Grant Memorial Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Clayton Tuggle and Bro. Charles Willmon officiating.
Burial will be in New Prospect Cemetery.
Survivors include one daughter, Dianna Rice Baugh of Brierfield; two sons, Simon Atlas "Mack" Rice Jr. and Rodger Dwight Rice, both of Swearingen; three brothers, Jack Rice of Swearingen, Runt Rice of Albertville and Duck Rice of Huntsville; one sister, Verda Rice Ayers of Grant; a special friend, Josephine Baker of Elora, Tenn.; and nine grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Thelma B. Sanders
FAYETTEVILLE, Tenn. - Thelma B. Sanders, 97, of 9th Ave. died Thursday at her home. The funeral will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Higgins Funeral Home with the Rev. Dalton Warner officiating.
Burial will be in Lincoln Cemetery.
Mrs. Sanders was a housewife and a member of Prospect Baptist Church.
Survivors include one daughter, Avaleen McKin of Fayetteville; one son, Milan Sanders of Nashville; one sister, Mattie Cowan of Nashville; and 10 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, 13 great-great-grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, seven great-step-grandchildren and two great-great-step-grandchildren.
Hodge S. Skeldon
ATHENS - Hodge Sherwin Skeldon, 52, of Sledge Road, died Wednesday at his home. The funeral will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Spry Funeral home with Chris Kemp officiating.
Burial will be in Limestone Memorial Gardens.
Mr. Skeldon was service manager for Neely Coble Co. in Decatur, an Army veteran of the Vietnam War, and a member of Mount Carmel Church of Christ.
Survivors include his wife, Kathy Skeldon; his father, Arthur Skeldon Jr,. of Athens; two stepsons, Jerry Banks of Charlotte, N.C., and Terry Banks of El Paso, Texas; two brothers, Arthur Skeldon III of Tallulah, La., and Rickey Skeldon of New Orleans; one sister, Vickie Beden Bender of Oak Grove, La.; and four grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Limestone County.
Kenneth L. Wilbourn
SOMERVILLE - Kenneth Lee Wilbourn, 24, died Tuesday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at New Hope Funeral Home with Bro. Ben Johnson officiating.
Burial will be in West Point Cemetery.
Survivors include his mother and stepfather, Shirley and Charles Leonard of Somerville; his father and stepmother, Wayne and Deborah Wilbourn of New Hope; one stepsister, Pam K. Smith of New Hope; one brother, Eugene Wilbourn of New Hope; one stepbrother, Tony Hillis of New Hope; grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Olan Wilbourn of Laceys Spring, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Wilbourn of Huntsville and Shirley F. Smith of Shelbyville; and step-grandmother, Christine Wilbourn of Gurley.
Thomas K. Wilson
ALBERTVILLE - Thomas Keith Wilson, 33, of 411 Teague St. died Thursday at his home. The funeral will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Adams Funeral Home in Albertville.
Burial will be in Brashers Chapel Cemetery.
Mr. Wilson was a computer technician for Tandy Corp.
Survivors include one stepson, Nicholas Childress of Oklahoma; parents, Eva Wilson of Albertville and Bill Wilson of Oklahoma; two brothers, David Wilson of Albertville and Cameron Wilson of Oklahoma; and grandmother, Helen Wilson of Oklahoma.
