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 A. Betowt
Barbara Ann Betowt, 52, of Aldridge Drive in Huntsville died Monday at a local hospital. The graveside service will be Thursday at 11 a.m. at Tri-Cities Memorial Garden in Florence.
Spry Funeral Home of Athens is charge of burial.
Mrs. Betowt was a native of Lauderdale County and was employed at the Huntsville Dialysis Center.
Survivors include her husband, J. Wayne Betowt; two sons, Glenn Gautney and Steven Gautney, both of Rogersville; one daughter, Katie Reaves of Florence; two step-daughters, Jennifer Alison Betowt of Chapel Hill, N.C., and Mary Anastasia Betowt of Huntsville; her mother, Mildred Horton of Rogersville; one sister, Sandy Loop of Huntsville; and one granddaughter.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 9 p.m., at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 930 Franklin St. S.E., Huntsville, AL 35801.
Frank G. Hart
HENAGAR - Frank Gardner Hart, 90, died Tuesday in Rossville, Ga. The funeral will be Thursday at 1 p.m. at Kerby Funeral Home in Henagar with the Rev. Benjamin Young and the Rev. Larry Haynes officiating.
Burial will be in Fuller Cemetery in Ider.
Mr. Hart was a member of the Ider Church of God and was retired from Cumberland Case Co. in Chattanooga.
Survivors include his wife, Viola Hart; three daughters, Johnnie Ruth Johnson of Ringgold, Ga., and Martha Jean Davis and Ruby Jo Kerin, both of Rossville; three sisters, Bobbie Smith of Sylvania, Tony Lofty of Pisgah and Ruth Gross of Kingston, Tenn.; and seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Visitation was to be today until 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Deborah A. Jones
GURLEY - Deborah Carol Jones, 46, died Tuesday. The funeral will be Thursday at 2 p.m. at Pleas Mount Baptist Church with the Rev. Wade Martin officiating.
Spry Funeral Home is in charge of burial.
Mrs. Jones was a native of Gurley and a member of the church. She was self-employed.
Survivors include her husband, Lassater M. Jones of Gurley; two daughters, Lorie Posey of Gurley and Brandie Campbell of New Market; one stepdaughter, Lynette Walls of Huntsville; one stepson, Burt Jones of Austin, Texas; her mother, Kathryne Isbell of Gurley; and six grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the funeral home.
Her body will be at the church 45 minutes before the funeral.
Raymond F. Jones
NEW HOPE - Raymond Floyd Jones, 81, died Monday at a Guntersville nursing home. The funeral will be Thursday at 11 a.m. at New Hope Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Dewayne Martin officiating.
Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery.
Survivors include two sisters, Edna Lorene James of Albertville and Flora Louise Walker of Guntersville; one brother, J.C. Jones of Horton; and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be today from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Lawrence M. Norris
GERALDINE - Lawrence Maynard Norris, 80, died Sunday in Fyffe. The funeral was Tuesday at Lane Southcrest Chapel with the Rev. John Whitaker officiating.
Burial was in Forrest Cemetery with W.T. Wilson Funeral Chapel in charge.
Survivors include one stepdaughter, Imogene Denton of Geraldine; one stepson, Eugene Burns of Geraldine; three brothers, Tam Norris of Rainbow City and Lamar Norris and Robert Norris, both of Gadsden; one special friend, Merl Williams of Geraldine; and six grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Paul L. Reeves
ALBERTVILLE - Paul Lester Reeves, 59, died Tuesday at a local hospital. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at Albertville Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Thomas Cagle officiating.
Burial will be in Marshall Memorial Gardens.
Survivors include two stepdaughters, Barbara Snider and Margaret Deerman, both of Albertville; four sisters, Elwanda Richey, Irene Stephens and Bertha Drain, all of Albertville, and Wynell Harrison of Fort Payne; and three step-grandchildren, three great-step-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Allen G. Stevens
SYLVANIA - Allen Gene Stevens, 47, died Monday at a Scottsboro hospital. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at the Kerby Funeral Home in Henagar.
Burial was to be in Green haven Memorial Gardens in Henagar.
Survivors include his wife, Wanda Posey Stevens; two daughters, Amy Stevens of Sylvania and Wendy Dover of Henagar; his mother, Ada Stevens Lawrence of Trenton, Ga.; four sisters, Helen Daniels, Della Ann Stone and Mona Shoemaker, all of Trenton, Ga., and Wilma Mobley of Ravenna, Ohio; three brothers, Frank Stevens of Southside, Ala., Dan Stevens of Attalla and Michael Stevens of Trenton; and his grandmother, Ethan Dover.
Bithey G. Sylvester
ARDMORE, Ala. - Bithey Gates Sylvester, 90, of 6th Street died Tuesday. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at Taylor-Ardmore Funeral Home chapel with Bros. Sammy Brister and Ray Green officiating.
Burial will be in Mount Pleasant Cemetery.
Survivors include one daughter, Louise Sylvester of Ardmore, Ala.; two sisters, Agnes Reece and Clara Campbell, both of Elkmont; and several nieces and nephews.
10/21/99
William W. Beard
SCOTTSBORO - William W. ''Bill Beard, 88, died Wednesday at his home. The funeral will be Friday at 10 a.m. at Scottsboro Funeral Home with Dr. Rick Stevens officiating.
Burial will be in Forest Lawn Gardens in Anniston.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Reid Beard; one sister, Ruby Lee Bruce of Birmingham; one stepdaughter, Rosa Baty of Scottsboro; and three step-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to the First Baptist Church of Scottsboro.
Benjamin L. Bradford
LAKELAND, Fla. - Benjamin Leroy Bradford, 79, died Wednesday at a local hospital. Gentry Morrison Southside Chapel Funeral Home of Lakeland will announce funeral arrangements.
Mr. Bradford moved to Lakeland from Huntsville in 1950. He was a retired house painter.
Survivors include his wife, Drexel Bradford of Lakeland; two sons, Stephen Bradford of Lakeland and Marlon Bradford of Clay City, Ky.; three daughters, Brenda Sloan and Laraine Schamel, both of Lakeland, and Randie Lynn Putnal of Paris, Texas; four brothers, Mack Bradford, Carl Bradford and Kay Bradford, all of Huntsville, and Louie Bradford of Toney; three sisters, Judy Johnson of Toney, Marvelene Stadum of Mississippi and Nellie Fay Porter of Bailey, Colo.; and 10 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to the Leukemia Society of America Inc., Central Florida Chapter, 3101 Maguire Blvd. Suite 225, Orlando, Fla., 32803.
Stancel W. Braswell
Stancel W. Braswell, 81, of Huntsville died Monday at his home. The funeral was today at 11 a.m. at Valhalla Funeral Home chapel.
Burial was in Valhalla Memory Gardens.
Mr. Braswell was a World War II Navy veteran and a native of Montgomery County, Miss.
Survivors include his wife, Audra S. Braswell of Huntsville; one son, Tommy Braswell of Ardmore, Ala.; one sister, Bonnie Brisoe of Winona, Miss.; one brother, Noel Braswell of Memphis, Tenn.; and two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Coleman Combs
GROVE OAK - Coleman Combs, 84, died Tuesday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Friday at 11 a.m. at Kellys Chapel Baptist Church with the Rev. Carthell Owens and the Rev. Keith Gilbert officiating.
Burial will be in the adjoining cemetery with W.T. Wilson Funeral Chapel in charge.
Survivors include one daughter, Melinda Young of Fort Payne; three sons, Billy Don Combs and Sammy Combs, both of Grove Oak, and Tommy Combs of Douglas; and 17 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
Morgan Cowley
FAYETTEVILLE, Tenn. - Morgan Cowley, 69, of 81 Cowley Hollow Road died Wednesday at a Tullahoma, Tenn., hospital. The funeral will be Friday at 1 p.m. at Higgins Funeral Home with the Rev. Mike Robertson officiating.
Burial will be in Kelso Cemetery.
Mr. Cowley was a native of Lincoln County, Tenn., and retired from Kraft Foods.
Survivors include his wife, Joann Dickey Cowley of Fayetteville; two stepsons, Virgil Jones and Dale Jones, both of Fayetteville; two sisters, Jewell Wilkerson and Anna Lee Thrasher, both of Fayetteville; and one step-grandson and several nieces, nephews great-nieces and great-nephews.
Memorial donations may be made to St. Judes Childrens Hospital in Memphis.
Beulah C. Gray
FAYETTEVILLE, Tenn. - Beulah C. Gray, 85, of 7th Avenue died today at a local hospital. The funeral will be Sunday at 1 p.m. at Gallant Funeral Home in Fayetteville with the Rev. Alan Howard officiating.
Burial will be in Riverview Memorial Gardens.
Mrs. Gray was a native of Giles County, Tenn., a member of Fayetteville Nazarene Church and a retired seamstress.
Survivors include two daughters, Martha Butler and Christine Riggle, both of Fort Wayne, Ind.; one brother, Charlie Crabtree of Fayetteville; and four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Aubrey T. Greer
Aubrey T. Greer, 70, of Huntsville died Wednesday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Valhalla Funeral Home chapel.
Burial will be in Valhalla Memory Gardens.
Mr. Greer was a longtime Huntsville resident, a Korean War Navy veteran and a member of Twickenham Church of Christ. He retired in 1997 after 38 years as an engineer for NASA.
Survivors include his wife, Marie Greer of Huntsville; two daughters, Sarah Ann Woodbury and Vickie Greer Sauer, both of Huntsville; one son, Michael T. Greer of Huntsville; one brother, Walter Greer of Concord, Tenn.; and five grandchildren, one great-grandchild and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
William James
William "Hoss" James, 84, of Huntsville died Tuesday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at noon at Nelms Memorial Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Theodis Acklin officiating.
Burial will be in Pennys Cemetery.
Survivors include two daughters, Doris L. Nance and Lorean Fuqua, both of Huntsville; two sons, Latham James and William Gregory James, both of Huntsville; one sister, Beulah Bayless of Huntsville; and 11 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Friday from 7 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Deborah C. Jones
GURLEY - Deborah Carol Jones, 46, died Tuesday. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at Pleas Mount Baptist Church with the Rev. Wade Martin officiating.
Burial will be in Pleas Mount Cemetery with Spry Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. Jones was a native of Gurley and a member of the church. She was self-employed.
Survivors include her husband, Lassater M. Jones of Gurley; two daughters, Lorie Posey of Gurley and Brandie Campbell of New Market; one stepdaughter, Lynett Wells of Huntsville; one stepson, Burt Jones of Austin, Texas; her mother, Kathryne Isbell of Gurley; and seven grandchildren.
Her body was to be at the church 45 minutes before the funeral.
Hilda M. Kelsoe
CULLMAN - Hilda Marie Kelsoe, 74, of 671 County Road 1485 died Tuesday at her home. The funeral was today at 11 a.m. at Peck Funeral Home in Hartselle with the Rev. Mike Thomas officiating.
Burial was in Forrest Chapel Cemetery near Hartselle.
Mrs. Kelsoe was a native of Morgan County and a homemaker.
Survivors include one daughter, Pam ONell of Cullman; one brother, William T. Kelsoe of Decatur; four sisters, Geneva Blankenship and Linda Oden, both of Decatur, Mary Lou Sandlin and Barbara Wynn, both of Hartselle; and three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Mamie P. Maze
Mamie P. Maze, 90, of 7811 Cadillac Drive died Wednesday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Friday at 2 p.m. at Gober Funeral Home in Arab.
Burial will be in New Canaan Cemetery in Cullman County.
Survivors include one daughter, Jean Drake of Huntsville; three sisters, Alene Holaway, Cressa Holaway and Effie Jones, all of Arab; and four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Rubye McClendon
ALBERTVILLE - Rubye Laverne Sims McClendon, 87, of 426 North Carlisle St. died Wednesday at a Guntersville nursing home. The funeral will be Friday at 1 p.m. at Adams Funeral Home in Albertville.
Burial will be in Martling Cemetery.
Survivors include one daughter, Frances Wheeler of Albertville; and four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
William R. Pfanstiel
William R. Pfanstiel, 85, of Huntsville died Monday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Friday at 2 p.m. at Morningside Baptist Church with the Rev. Marty Jordan officiating.
Burial will be in Cedar Bluff Cemetery in Rockford, Ill., with Laughlin Service Funeral Home in charge of local arrangements.
Mr. Pfanstiel was a member of the church and retired after 45 years at the Woodward Governor Co., where he was the service shop manager for 38 years. He was preceded in death by one daughter, Mary Farnsworth.
Survivors include his wife, Thelma Pfanstiel of Huntsville; one son, Roger Pfanstiel of Glen Burnie, Md.; and five grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to the church.
Ivo H. Sparkman
Ivo Hall Sparkman, 100, of Huntsville died Wednesday at a local hospital. The graveside service will be Friday at 11 a.m. at Maple Hill Cemetery with the Rev. George W. Hayes and the Rev. Coy Hallmark officiating.
Laughlin Service Funeral Home is in charge of burial.
Mrs. Sparkman was the widow of Sen. John J. Sparkman, who served on the United States Senate for 42 years. She was a native of Albertville, attended Huntingdon College for two years and transferred to the University of Alabama. She taught school while her husband established his law practice in Huntsville during the late 1920s. After he was elected, she traveled and entertained with him in Washington D.C. and around the world. She wrote two books about her life.
Survivors include one daughter, Julia Ann Sparkman Shepard of Washington D.C.; two brothers, Dr. Edwin Presley Hall Jr. and Col. Glen O. Hall, both of Silver Spring, Md.; and one grandson and three great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to First United Methodist Church.
Edna P. Wallace
FLORENCE - Edna Pearl Wallace, 75, died Wednesday at a Florence hospital. The funeral will be Friday at 11 a.m. at Rudder Funeral Home in Scottsboro.
Burial will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery in Scottsboro.
Mrs. Wallace was a Baptist and retired from Maples Industries in Scottsboro. She was preceded in death by her husband, James ''Bub Wallace.
Survivors include one daughter, Linda Puller of Florence; one sister, Louise Roden of Scottsboro; and one granddaughter, Heather Jenkins of Marietta, Ga.
Visitation was today from 9 to 11 a.m. at the funeral home.
Robert M. Ward
Robert Maurice Ward, 88, of Huntsville died today at a local nursing home. The graveside service will be Friday at 4 p.m. at Twickenham Memorial Gardens with Rabbi Steven Jacobs officiating.
Laughlin Service Funeral Home is in charge of burial.
Mr. Ward was a member of Cahaba Shrine Temple.
Survivors include two sons, Robert C. Ward of Huntsville and Harvey A. Ward of Atlanta; and six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to the Parkinsons Disease Foundation, 1501 Northwest 9th Ave., Miami, Fla., 33136.
Hollis G. White
ALBERTVILLE - Hollis Grant White, 86, of 3605 Whitesville Road died Tuesday at a local hospital. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at Albertville Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.
Burial was to be in Memory Hill Cemetery.
Survivors include his wife, Louise White; two daughters, Cynthia White of Albertville and Jennifer Poole of Southside; and one granddaughter, Megan Poole of Southside. Other Deaths
Thomas Durden
BAY CITY, Mich. - Thomas Durden, who wrote the lyrics to Elvis Presleys hit "Heartbreak Hotel," died Sunday at his home in Houghton Lake, Mich. He was 79.
Durden co-wrote "Heartbreak Hotel" with Mae Boren Axton of Nashville, Tenn., and for reasons never explained, Presley also was given writing credit.
In 1956, Durden was performing with a band in Jacksonville, Fla., when he came across a newspaper account of a man who had committed suicide. The man left a note that said, "I walk a lonely street," and Durden said he used that as the basis for "Heartbreak Hotel."
Durden continued to write and perform music and played with Nashville legends including Johnny Cash.
