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.
Ollie H. Bailey Jr.
SCOTTSBORO - Ollie H. Bailey Jr., 69, died Thursday at his home. The funeral will be today at 4 p.m. at Scottsboro Funeral Home with the Revs. Erby Shankles and Aubrey Pockrus officiating.
Burial will be in Larkinsville Cemetery.
Survivors include his wife, Bertha Knight Bailey; one daughter, Rhonda Dupree of Scottsboro; one son, Mike Bailey of Scottsboro; two sisters, Mary McCoy of Scottsboro and Willie Mae Wilbanks of Rossville, Ga.; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Johnie D. Benson
ALBERTVILLE - Johnie D. Benson, 77, died Thursday at a local hospital. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at Alder Springs Presbyterian Church with the Revs. Norman Dye, Billy Todd and J.D. Cobb officiating.
Burial will be in the adjoining cemetery with Albertville Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include his wife, Beatrice Benson; four sons, Jimmie Benson, Donny Benson and Rickey Benson, all of Albertville, and Ronald Benson of Mableton, Ga.; one daughter, Charlotte Bryant of Guntersville; and nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Noah L. Burch
ANDERSON - Noah Leon Burch, 90, died Friday at an Athens health facility. A graveside service will be today at noon at Civitan Cemetery with Jimmy Grisham officiating and Spry Funeral Home of Athens in charge.
Mr. Burch was a retired mechanic.
Survivors include his wife, Helen Burch; one daughter, Rebecca Ingrum of Athens; one sister, Grace Reed of Birmingham; two grandchildren and one great-grandchildren.
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 the Huntsville Hospital Foundation.
Linda R. Crews
Linda Renee Crews, 39, of Huntsville died Wednesday at a local hospital. The graveside service will be today 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 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., 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.
Linda N. Cushen
SYLVANIA - Linda Nell Cushen, 55, died Thursday at her home. A memorial service will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at W.T. Wilson Funeral Home with the Rev. Junior Garrett officiating.
Survivors include one son, Jeremy Todd Cushen of Sylvania; three sisters, Peggy Wisner Salg of Lithia Spring, Ga., Faye Wisner Hunter of Villa Rica, Ga., and Glenda Wisner Cargle of Rainsville; and three brothers, Robert Wisner and Donald Wisner, both of Rainsville, and Gerald Wisner of Madison.
Mary L. Griffin
Mary Lou Griffin, 77, of 1011 Crestline Road died Wednesday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at Briar Fork C.P. Church with the Rev. Theodis Acklin officiating.
Burial will be in Huntsville Memory Gardens with Royal Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include two daughters, Mary Janes Lane and Bertha Pickett Armstrong, both of Huntsville; one son, Charles Williams Jr. of Huntsville; one sister, Emma Lou Irvin of Decatur; two brothers, Mitchelle Green Jr. of Indianapolis and Willie Lee Green of Chicago; and four grandchildren.
Her body will be at the church a half hour before the funeral.
Ozie C. Hammock
ALBERTVILLE - Ozie Cecil Hammock, 72, of 325 Hammock Road died Thursday in a local hospital. The funeral will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at Adams Funeral Home.
Burial will be in Memory Hill Cemetery.
Survivors include his wife, Betty S. Hammock; one daughter, Teresa Tankersley of Boaz; three sons, Jerry Hammock, James Hammock and Randy Hammock, all of Albertville; one sister, Bobbie Deerman of Albertville; and six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Martha Hammond
Martha Catherine Gallatin Smith Hammond, 86, of 310 Devon Circle died Thursday. The funeral will be Monday at Trinity Episcopal Church in Demopolis at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Canon Jervis O. Burns officiating.
Burial will be in Dempolis Memorial Gardens with Kidd-Robbins Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. Hammond was a resident of Huntsville for the past 24 years and a member of Trinity Episcopal Church. She was a former teacher and elementary school principal, a member of the Colonial Dames of the XVII and the Huntsville Chapter of DAR. She graduated from John Hopkins University and received a masters in education from the University of Maryland.
Survivors include two sons, Robert T. Smith of Huntsville and Richard C. Smith of Baton Rouge, La.; four sisters, Bobbie Gallatin and Lillian F. Vann, both of Birmingham, Mary Cruse Price of Montgomery and Virginia O. Foscue of Tuscaloosa; and four granddaughters.
Donations may be made to the church at P.O. Box 560, Demopolis, AL 36732.
Mary L. Hunt
Mary L. Hunt, 98, of 3803 Crane Drive died Wednesday at her home. The funeral will be Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at Flint P.B. Church with the Rev. Ross L. Payton officiating.
Burial will be in Shiloh Cemetery in Ryland with Royal Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. Hunt was a native of Madison County.
Survivors include one daughter, Idissie H. Maston of Huntsville; and one grandchild, two great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren and one great-great-great-grandchild.
Alvin McCrary Sr.
Alvin McCrary Sr., 68, of 3234 Delacado Drive died Thursday at home. The funeral will be Monday at 11 a.m. at Pine Grove M.B. Church with the Rev. Dave McGlathery officiating.
Burial will be in Indian Creek Cemetery with Royal Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include his wife, Ernestine K. McCrary; four daughters, Constance Whitman, Sheila McCrary, Vivian Barnes and Alisha McCrary, all of Huntsville; four sons, Erwin McCrary and Alvin McCrary, both of Huntsville, Ronald McCrary of Austell, Ga., and Virgil McCrary of Birmingham; three sisters, Virginia Harness of Chicago, Lucille Garner and Mattie Moore, both of Harvest; one brother, Eldridge McCrary of Huntsville; and 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Deoma N. Mullins
ARDMORE, Tenn. - Deoma N. Mullins, 98, died Thursday at her home. The funeral will be today at 3 p.m. at Laughlin Service Funeral Home 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.
Sam Parker
TONEY - Sam Parker, 78, of 183 Lewis Drive 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; four sisters, Everlou Scruggs of Huntsville, Mary Moore of Boston, 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.
Simon A. Rice Sr.
GRANT - Simon Atlas Rice Sr., 82, of 316 Rice Road died Thursday at his home. The funeral will be today 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.
Thelma B. Sanders
FAYETTEVILLE, Tenn. - Thelma B. Sanders, 97, of 9th Ave. died Thursday at her home. The funeral will be today 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.
Clyde L. Smith
ALBERTVILLE - Clyde Leete Smith, 74, of 106 East Sims Ave., died Thursday at his home. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at Adams Funeral.
Burial will be in New Hope Cemetery.
Survivors include his wife, Wanda B. Smith; and two sisters, Jean Bohannon of Douglas and Audrey Johnson of Birmingham.
Madie R. Smith
Madie Roberts Smith, 76, of 2314 Hammonds Ave. died Wednesday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Monday at 3 p.m. at Church Street C.P. Church with the Rev. Henry Bradford Jr. officiating.
Burial will be in Northside Cemetery with Royal Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include two sons, Kenneth Roberts Smith and Michael David Smith, both of Huntsville; one stepson, Carl E. Davis of St. Louis; four sisters, Mary L. Roberts of Warrento, Ga., Margaret R. Chark of Catskill, N.Y., Sue R. Potts of Atlanta and Emily Catherine R. Beden of New York City; one brother, James C. Roberts Jr. of Atlanta; and four grandchildren.
Her body will be at the church one hour before the funeral. Visitation will be Sunday from 7 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Ola M. Sterling
BOAZ - Ola M. Sterling, 88, of 680 Roden Road died Thursday at her home. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at Roswell Creek Baptist Church.
Burial will be in the adjoining cemetery with Gober Funeral Home of Arab in charge.
Survivors include her husband, Noah Sterling; four daughters, Betty Naylor and Sue Owens, both of Boaz, Mary A. Tidwell of Florida and Janie Miller of Mississippi; two sons, Clifford Gresham of Guntersville and Tunney Gresham of Oneonta; five sisters, Cora Long and Mary Rackley, both of South Carolina, and Ella Dyer, Ola Mae Smith and Louise Sidden, all of North Carolina; one brother, Edgar Bryant of South Carolina; and 21 grandchildren and 39 great-grandchildren.
