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.
Ella M. Caudle
Ella Mae Caudle, 46, of 2714 Unit Half Craft Ave. in Huntsville died Tuesday. The funeral will be Sunday at 1 p.m. at St. Andrews Primitive Baptist Church with the Rev. George Franklin Sr. officiating.
Burial will be in Huntsville Memory Gardens with Royal Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include two daughters, Andrea L. Caudle and Devona T. Caudle, both of Huntsville; one son, Judson Alison Caudle of Huntsville; her mother, Emma J. Caudle of Huntsville; five sisters, Bonnie F. Langford, Marion D. Love, Janice L. Caudle, Elsin Caudle and Margaret Russel, all of Huntsville; six brothers, Horace Caudle, Jackie Caudle, Edward Caudle, Anthony Caudle, Freddie L. Caudle and Jessie L. Caudle, all of Huntsville; and four grandchildren.
Her body will be at the church one hour before the funeral.
Bernice E. Cosby
FORT PAYNE - Bernice Elizabeth Cosby, 56, died Oct. 10 at her home. The funeral will be Saturday at 3 p.m. at Nelms Memorial Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Leroy Cole officiating.
Survivors include one son, Eugene Cosby of Richmond, Va.; two sisters, Brenda Cotman and Thelma Cosby, both of Richmond; and two brothers, George Cosby and Aubrey Cosby, both of Richmond.
Tommy L. Driver
MUSCLE SHOALS - Tommy Lynn Driver, 41, died Thursday. The funeral will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Morrison Funeral Home chapel in Tuscumbia.
Mr. Driver was formerly of Huntsville. He was a police officer for the city of Cherokee.
Visitation will be Saturday before the funeral at the funeral home.
James H. Fincher
CROSSVILLE - James H. Fincher, 68, of Crossville died Wednesday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at Forrest Home Methodist Church.
Burial will be in the adjoining cemetery with Albertville Memorial Chapel Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include his wife, Katherine Fincher; one daughter, Mary Armstrong of Douglas; one sister, Adell Canady of Boaz; and three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Aubrey T. Greer
Aubrey T. Greer, 70, of Huntsville died Wednesday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 11:30 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 more than 38 years as an engineer for NASA.
Survivors include his wife, Marie Greer of Huntsville; two daughters, Sarah G. 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.
Martha Hammond
Martha Catherine Gallatin Smith Hammond, 86, of Huntsville died Oct. 7. The funeral was Oct. 11 at Trinity Episcopal Church in Demopolis with the Rev. Canon Jervis O. Burns officiating.
Burial was in Demopolis Memorial Gardens with Kidd Robbins Funeral Directors in charge.
She lived in Huntsville 24 years and was formerly of Demopolis and Gallion. She was a former teacher and elementary school principal. She was a graduate of Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland and was preceded in death by her husband, Lawson G. Smith.
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 five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to the church.
Wilburn F. Hayes
DECATUR - Wilburn F. Hayes, 76, died Thursday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 10 a.m. at Shelton Funeral Home in Decatur with the Rev. Dr. Dwayne McDuff officiating.
Burial will be in Roselawn Cemetery.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Irene Allen Hayes.
Survivors include two sons, Mike Hayes and Tim Hayes, both of Decatur; two daughters, Debbie Hayes Griffin of Montgomery and Michele Hayes Cook of Decatur; two brothers, Jim Hayes and Ray Hayes, both of Decatur; two sisters, Mamie Lentz of Moulton and Roselle Livingston of Price ville; and four grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Billy L. Higginbotham
SCOTTSBORO - Billy Lee Higginbotham, 79, died Wednesday. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Scottsboro with the Rev. George Cobb officiating.
Burial was to be in Cedar Hill Cemetery with Scottsboro Funeral Home in charge.
Mr. Higginbotham was the owner-operator of Higginbotham Wholesale, a U.S. Army veteran and a member of Scottsboro Masonic Lodge No. 357.
Survivors include his wife, Bernice Higginbotham; three daughters, Peggy Drews of Richmond, Va., Billie Maples of Toledo, Ohio, and Rachel Turner of Scottsboro; three sisters, Mattie Bush of Chattanooga, Ruth Clapper of Oxford, Ala., and Edith Woodall of Rossville, Ga.; two brothers, Jessie Higginbotham of Cullman and Robert Higginbotham of Scottsboro; and nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Charles E. Hopper Sr.
Charles Ewing Hopper Sr., 77, of Huntsville died Wednesday at his home. Laughlin Service Funeral Home will announce funeral arrangements.
Mr. Hopper served in the Navy and the Army. He coached and taught at Butler and Huntsville high schools. He was executive director of the Huntsville Boys Club for 20 years. He graduated from Huntsville High School and earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Alabama, where he was captain of the cross-country team and a member of Phi Delta Theta. He was a member of the Huntsville Jaycees, the Optimist Club, Sertoma Club, Kiwanis Club, American Legion Post No. 237, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 2702 and Central Presbyterian Church.
Survivors include his wife, Anna Jackson Hopper of Huntsville; two sons, Charles Ewing Hopper Jr. and Edward Given Hopper, both of Huntsville; two daughters, Nona Hopper Campbell and Carol Hopper Fandre, both of Huntsville; two sisters, Anne Hopper Johnson of Albuquerque, N.M., and Mildred Hopper Clisson of Huntsville; two stepsons, Turner Jackson of Cleveland, Tenn., and Jim Jackson of Piedmont, S.C.; two stepdaughters, Jeanie Gonsewski of Harvest and Kay Stephenson of Huntsville; and two grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Huntsville, 215 Abingdon Ave., Huntsville, 35801.
Lora V. Kerby
HENAGAR - Lora Vesta "Mays Kerby, 92, died Thursday. The funeral will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Kerby Funeral Home in Henagar with Elders Melvin Slatton, David Barrentine and Tim White officiating.
Burial will be in Henagar Memorial Park in Henagar.
Mrs. Kerby was a lifelong resident of DeKalb County and a member of Mount Pisgah Baptist Church in Henagar. She was preceded in death by her husband, Willie B. Kerby; and one son, Billie Hue Kerby.
Survivors include one daughter, Ann Kerby Cordell of Henagar; one son, Roy Kerby of Henagar; and six grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and several great-great-grandchildren and two step great-grandchildren.
Sylvia A. Mitchell
NEW HOPE - Sylvia Ann Mitchell, 29, died Thursday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at Spry Funeral Home in Athens with Benny Colvett officiating.
Mrs. Mitchell was a native of Limestone County, a project cost auditor for the Alabama Department of Transportation, a graduate of West Limestone High School and attended Calhoun Community College.
Survivors include her husband, James K. Mitchell; her parents, Charles and Everne Black of Athens; two sisters, Judy Hamilton of Athens and Linda Hunt of Decatur; one brother, Mike Black of Athens; grandmothers, Beulah Tucker of Athens and Jessie Black of Elkmont; and aunts and uncles.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association.
Ruby Morton
FAYETTEVILLE, Tenn. - Ruby Jewell McElyea Morton, 80, of 11 Wilkes Road died Wednesday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Friday at 3:30 p.m. at Higgins Funeral Home with the Rev. Kenneth McNatt officiating.
Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery.
Mrs. Morris was the retired owner and operator of the Formac Center and a member of First Assembly of God Church.
Survivors include her husband, Henry Morton of Fayetteville; two daughters, Margie Mooney of Fayetteville and Ellie Edwards of Harvest; three sons, William D. McElyea and Donny McElyea, both of Huntsville, and Ronny McElyea of Fayetteville; two sisters, Clorie Dill of Huntsville and Ruth Andrews of Toney; and 27 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren.
Betty S. Nabors
GUNTERSVILLE - Betty Sue Nabors, 59, of 2143 Union Grove Road died Thursday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Sweet Home Baptist Church.
Burial will be in the adjoining cemetery with Arab Memorial Chapel Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include her husband, Max Nabors; one son, Tim Nabors of Arab; two brothers, Lelton Whitlock of Guntersville and Gary Whitlock of Cullman; and one grandchild.
Her body will be at the church one hour before the funeral.
A.C. Parson
WICHITA, Kansas - A.C. "Ace" Parson, 75, died Wednesday. The funeral will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Grace Presbyterian Church in Wichita with the Rev. Dee Cooper officiating.
Burial will be in White Chapel Memorial Gardens with Downing and Labey Mortuary East in charge.
Mr. Parson was a native of Vinita, Okla., a retired flight test engineer for the Boeing Co. and was formerly of Huntsville.
Survivors include his wife, Gwendolyn June Parson of Wichita; three daughters, Christine Gibber of Fort Collins, Colo., Beverly Cowling of OFallon, Mo., and LeAnn Beavers of Benton, Kansas; and seven grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to the church at 5002 East Douglas St., Wichita, 67208; or to Hospice Inc., P.O. Box 3267, Wichita, 67201-3267.
Doris L. Sisco
Doris Louise Sisco, 74, of Huntsville died today at a local hospital. The funeral will be Sunday at 1 p.m. at Spry Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Otis Graves officiating.
Burial will be in Locust Grove Cemetery.
Mrs. Sisco was a native of Madison County and former owner and operator of the Lady Bazaar Dress Shop.
Survivors include her husband, Thomas L. Sisco of Huntsville; one son, Thomas Howard Sisco of Birmingham; three sisters, Edith Kennedy, Carolyn Whitaker and Florence Upton, all of Huntsville; two brothers, B.C. Ray and Jack Douglas Kennedy, both of Huntsville; and two grandchildren.
Visitation will be Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Joseph T. Stafford
Elder Joseph Thomas Stafford, 91, of 4902 Oakwood Ave. in Huntsville died Sunday at at his home. The funeral will be Sunday at 11 a.m. at Oakwood College Seventh-day Adventist Church with Elder Eric C. Ward officiating.
Mr. Stafford was conscientious objector in the Army. He graduated from Oakwood College and Fisk University. He retired after 23 years as principal of Oakwood College Academy. He was interim pastor at the church several years and started the Oakwood College Credit Union.
Survivors include his wife, Ruth N. Frazier Stafford of Huntsville; one son, James E. Stafford of Huntsville; and one grandchild.
Visitation will be Saturday from 7 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
His body will be at the church one hour before the funeral.
William D. Wright
ARAB - William D. Wright, 91, of 4054 Matt Morrow Road died Wednesday at a local nursing home. The funeral was to be today at 4 p.m. at Gober Funeral Home in Arab.
Burial was to be in Gilliam Springs Cemetery.
Survivors include his wife, Rovirta Wright; three daughters, Glenda Welch and Judy Langley, both of Georgia, and Louise Mann of Arab; two sons, Williams C. Wright of Dallas and Harold Wright of Georgia; one stepdaughter, Lois Vaughn of Arab; three stepsons, Ralph Richards, L.B. Richards Jr. and Joe Richards, all of Arab; one sister, Thelma Shumate of Arab; and eight grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.
Jeanelle C. Moore
RALEIGH, N.C. - Jeanelle C. Moore, the widow of former North Carolina Gov. Dan Moore, died Wednesday. She was 88.
Mrs. Moore worked for beautification of the state while her husband was in office from 1965 to 1969. She helped form the Governors Beautification Committee, which was succeeded by Keep North Carolina Beautiful Inc. She became executive director of the nonprofit organization in 1974.
Mrs. Moore also wrote "The First Ladies of North Carolina," and she was honorary chairwoman of a drive to raise $75,000 to build the Chapel of the Nameless Woman at Womens Prison in Raleigh.
