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.
Lena Copeland
GUNTERSVILLE - Lena Copeland, 92, of 237 Luther Road, died Friday in a Huntsville hospital. The funeral will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at Gober Funeral Home in Arab.
Burial will be in New Brashiers Chapel Cemetery.
Survivors include one son, Julius L. Copeland of Tarrant City; and four grandchildren.
John F. Downer
TIFTONIA, Tenn. - John Franklin Downer, 69, died Thursday. The funeral will be today at 3 p.m. at Sand Mountain Funeral Home in Rainsville with the Rev. Ralph Heard officiating.
Burial will be in Mountain Home Cemetery.
Survivors include one son, David Downer of Hixson, Tenn.; three sisters, Lorene Ellis and Clara Gordon, both of Chattanooga, and Mary Crabtree of Henagar; two brothers, Dixie Downer of Trenton, Ga., and Coolidge Downer of Wildwood, Ga.; and two granddaughters.
Marvin Drake
Marvin Drake, 96, of Huntsville died Thursday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at Laughlin Service Funeral Home with the Rev. Edward S. Babcock officiating.
Burial will be in Drake Cemetery in Big Cove.
Mr. Drake was a native of Madison County and a lifelong member of Big Cove Presbyterian Church USA, where he was treasurer for 30 years.
Survivors include seven nieces, Ann Kerr of Houston, Dotty Barbour of Knoxville, Tenn., Betty Finley and Mary Ann Blakemore, both of Big Cove, Marguerite Koontz of Huntsville, Linda Solmon of New Hope and Carol Culver of Crestwood, Ky.; and nine nephews, David Drake of Fayetteville, N.C., Thomas Brooks of Jacksonville, Ark., Bill Brooks, James Ikard, Curtis Nunn and David Nunn, all of Big Cove, and Charles Drake, Bill Nunn and Jimmy Nunn, all of Huntsville.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Vernon N. Haney
FORT PAYNE - Vernon Nelson Haney, 74, died Friday at his home. The funeral will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at W.T. Wilson Funeral Home in Rainsville with the Rev. Ronnie Bevel officiating.
Burial will be in Head Springs Cemetery.
Survivors include his wife, Callie Sue Whitley Haney; four sons, Jerry Nelson Haney of Hammondsville, Jack Lebron Haney of Henager, Max McCoy Haney of Newport, Tenn., and Garry Paul Haney of Fort Payne; one sister, Edna Whitgon of Vancouver, Wash.; and 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today at 12:30 p.m. at the funeral home.
Garvin W. King
GUNTERSVILLE - Garvin William King, 76, of 238 Drive In Road died Wednesday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at Carr Funeral Home.
Burial will be in Marshall Memorial Garden.
Survivors include his wife, Vada King; one daughter, Marla King of Guntersville; one son, Anthony King of Texas; one brother, James King of Guntersville; and two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Earle D. Kitchen
HARTSELLE - Earle Dewey Kitchen, 80, died Tuesday at home. The memorial service will be noon Monday at the home of Ford and Jane Gates, 56 Church Road in Hartselle.
Peck Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Kitchen was a native of Georgia, a World War II Army Air Corps veteran, a member of the Rotary Club and a volunteer for Meals of Wheels.
Survivors include four sons, David Kitchen of Pembrooke Pines, Fla., Al Kitchen of Atlanta, Ford Gates of Hartselle and Lee Kitchen of Montgomery; one daughter, Alice Kay Kitchen of Gulf Breeze, Fla.; two brothers, Al Kitchen of Augusta, Ga., and Harry Kitchen of Daytona Beach, Fla.; two sisters, Charlotte Bryngelson and Katherine Foran, both of Augusta; and 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of the Valley or a favorite charity.
Paul B. Landers
FAYETTEVILLE, Tenn. - Paul B. Landers, 84, of 1007 Second Ave. died Thursday at a local nursing home. The funeral will be Monday at 11 a.m. at First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Jay Archer officiating.
Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery with Higgins Funeral Home in charge.
Mr. Landers was a native of Shelbyville, a veteran of World War II and retired as a manager for National Life and Accident Insurance Company. He was a member of First United Methodist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Angie Wynn Landers; two sons, Douglas L. Landers of Nicholasville, Ky., and Ken Landers of Fairfax, Va.; and six grandchildren.
Visitation will be Sunday from 3 to 6 p.m. at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Frank Kelso Scholarship Fund.
Eddie M. Madewell
OCOEE, Fla. - Eddie Mae Madewell, 78, died Tuesday. The funeral will be today at noon at Liberty Baptist Church in Laceys Spring with the Rev. F.D. Roberts officiating.
Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery with Spry Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. Madewell was a native of Morgan County. She lived in the Ocoee/Wintergarden, Fla., area for 32 years.
Survivors include two daughters, Mary Ann Anderson of Laceys Spring and Cynthia Jean Henderson of Plymouth, Fla.; one son, James Leonard Made- well of Laceys Spring; two brothers, Connie E. Youngblood of Groveland, Fla., and Melvin Youngblood of Laceys Spring; and nine grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. Her body will be at the church two hours before the funeral.
Robert McCaulley Jr.
Robert Lee McCaulley Jr., 76, of Huntsville died Sunday at a local hospital. The funeral will be today at 1 p.m. at Madkins Chapel Cumberland Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Endia Scruggs officiating.
Burial will be in Meadowlawn Garden of Peace with Nelms Memorial Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include his wife, Beulah McCaulley of Huntsville; three daughters, Mary E. Thompson, Clara M. Franklin and Ollie M. McCaulley, all of Huntsville; two sons, Robert L. McCaulley and Willie L. McCaulley, both of Huntsville; two sisters, Jessie M. Buford and Mary Francis Eason, both of Huntsville; and two brothers, Ollie McCaulley of Huntsville and Charlie McCaulley of Columbus, Ga.
The body will be at the church one hour before the funeral.
Ibern C. McDonald
Ibern C. McDonald, 74, of Huntsville died Thursday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at Holmes Street United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dalton Styes officiating.
Entombment will be in Valhalla Memory Gardens with Valhalla Funeral Home in charge.
Mr. McDonald was a member of Holmes Street United Methodist Church and an Army veteran of World War II, where he received the Purple Heart.
Survivors include his wife, Hilna McDonald of Huntsville; two daughters, Debbie Burn of Milbrooke and Joy Moody of Huntsville; three sisters, Doris Dykes of Ovett, Miss., Ellen Lewis of Heidelberg, Miss., and Alma Stubbs of Grand Bay; one brother, Thomas McDonald of Huntsville; and three grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
James L. McElroy Sr.
TUSCALOOSA - James L. McElroy Sr., 69, died recently. The graveside service will be Sunday at 3 p.m. at Memory Hill Gardens with Pastor Jimmy Walker officiating.
Memory Chapel Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Survivors include two sons, James L. McElroy Jr. of Huntsville and Jerry W. McElroy of Buhl; one brother, Paul R. McElroy; and six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Jennifer C. Romine
ROGERSVILLE - Jennifer Carole Romine, 49, of Richter Road died Friday at home. A memorial service will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at Spry Funeral Home in Athens with Bob White officiating.
Mrs. Romine was a member of Elk River Baptist Church and a homemaker. She was preceded in death by one brother, Billy Wayne Miller.
Survivors include her husband, Johnny Romine; two sons, Mark Romine of Minor Hill, Tenn., and Travis Romine of Anderson; one daughter, Shawn Romine of Rogersville; her mother, Dorothy Miller Paulk of Athens; one brother, Jerry Miller of Elkmont; one sister, Michelle Browning of Toney; one half-sister, DeLaine Gulley of Athens; and a grandson.
Memorials may be made to Hospice or the American Cancer Society.
Pryor W. Sandlin
HARTSELLE - Pryor Wilson "Fess Sandlin, 71, of 2983 Vaughn Bridge Road died Friday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral will be Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home with the Revs. Harold Thompson and Buddy Brown officiating.
Burial will be in Oak Ridge Cemetery.
Mr. Sandlin was a sergeant in the Army in the Korean War. He was a member of Neel United Methodist Church.
Survivors include one son, Darryl Sandlin of Decatur; two daughters, Debbie Terry and Lorri McNutt, both of Decatur; two brothers, Joe Sandlin of Hartselle and Eugene Sandlin of Rogersville; two sisters, Lois Wallace of Hartselle and Ruth Taylor of Baton Rouge, La.; and six grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Pearl D. Thrasher
SCOTTSBORO - Pearl D. Thrasher, 86, died Friday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at Scottsboro Funeral Home with the Rev. David Hancock officiating.
Burial will be in Chaneys Chapel Cemetery in Dutton.
Mrs. Thrasher was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph Thrasher.
Survivors include one daughter, Cary Bolte of Scottsboro; two sons, Julian Thrasher of Scottsboro and Bill Thrasher of Dutton; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandson.
Visitation will be today from 5 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Daisy M. Tillman
Daisy Mae Tillman, 87, of Huntsville died Wednesday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at Douglas Tabernacle P.B. Church with Elder Robert Rogers officiating.
Burial will be in Northside Cemetery with Nelms Memorial Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include two nieces, Lillian Hudson of Whitehouse, Tenn., and Gladys Irving of Detroit; and two nephews, John Sharpley of Spring Hill, Fla., and William Sharpley of Detroit.
Brian H. Wilbur
Brian Harold Wilbur, 50, of Huntsville died Thursday at home. A private memorial service is planned for the family.
Spry Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Wilbur was a native of Johnson City, N.Y., and had lived in Huntsville for the past 10 years. He was employed with Thrasher Oil Co. He was preceded in death by a sister, Diane Wilbur.
Survivors include his wife, Mildred Wilbur; one daughter, Jennifer Dresselhaus of Huntsville; two stepsons, David Vinyard of Huntsville and Christopher Vinyard of South Carolina; two brothers, Gary Wilbur of Pennsylvania and Fred Wilbur of New Hampshire; and one sister, Dawn Wilbur of Indiana.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Liver Foundation.
Harvey Williamson Jr.
ARAB - Harvey Edward Williamson Jr., 80, of 5715 Brashiers Chapel Road died Thursday at a Guntersville nursing home. The funeral will be today at 11 a.m. at Arab Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.
Burial will be in New Brashiers Chapel Cemetery.
Survivors include Harriet Williamson; one daughter, Ilene Williamson of Georgia; two sons, Charlie Williamson of Albertville and Jim Williamson of Georgia; one stepson, James Chandler of New Hope; and four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Van Arsdale France
SANTA ANA, Calif. - Van Arsdale France, 87, the sunny optimist who created the training program that taught Disneyland employees how to sell happiness with a smile, died Thursday.
France was hired before Disneyland opened in 1955 to create the University of Disneyland.
