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.
Joe R. Bankston
ALBERTVILLE - Joe Ray Bankston, 58, of 1731 George Wallace Drive died Thursday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Monday at 11 a.m. at Albertville Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.
Burial will be in Marshall Memorial Garden.
Survivors include his wife, Annie Sue Bankston; one daughter, Freida Bankston of Albertville; two sons, Terry Bankston of Albertville and Michael Bankston of Ashville; mother, Ruth Bankston of Albertville; eight sisters, Nova Cofield, Judy Harris, Annette Allen, Melba Holder, Betty Morgan and Donna Henderson, all of Albertville, Kay Berry of Gadsden and Barbara Fransen of Illinois; three brothers, Voss Bankston of Albertville, Ronald Bankston of Sardis and Wayne Bankston of Crossville; and two grandchildren.
Edith L. Cooper
BOAZ - Edith Leach Cooper, 88, of 305 West Mann Ave., died Thursday at a local hospital. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at St. Paul Methodist Church.
Burial will be in Hillcrest Cemetery with Carr Funeral Home of Boaz in charge.
Survivors include one daughter, Nancy Smith of Boaz; one brother, Leon Leach of Decatur; and one grandchild.
Anne Q. Drake
Anne Quick Drake, 104, of Huntsville died Thursday at her home. The funeral will be Monday at noon at Lakeside United Methodist Church with the Rev. Pery Nolan officiating.
Burial will be in Northside Cemetery with Nelms Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. Drake was the widow of Alabama A&M Universitys fourth president, Dr. J. F. Drake. She graduated from Fisk University and received a masters degree in French and German from Cornell University. She taught foreign languages for many years.
Mrs. Drake was a member of Lakeside United Methodist Church, Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, and the Business and Professional Womens Club.
Survivors include two daughters, Miriam Drake Weston of Heathrow, Fla., and Geneva Drake Whatley of Huntsville; two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
The Alpha Kappa Alpha Ivy Beyond the Wall ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. at the funeral home with visitation to follow.
John C. Eaton
BELLE CHASE, Tenn. - John "Jim C. Eaton, 81, died Sunday at his home. No funeral services were held.
Mr. Eaton was a native of Manchester, Tenn., and a Navy veteran.
Survivors include his wife, Helena "Betty de Veer Eaton; two daughters, Helen "Beth" Green and Patricia Pitre; six sisters, Lena Hodges, Edna Rawls, Nora Wallace, Mamie Newby, Mildred Cagle and Elizabeth, all of Huntsville; and three grandchildren.
Wilburn F. Hayes
DECATUR - Wilburn F. Hayes, 76, died Thursday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral will be today 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.
Mary Herrin
MADISON - Mary "Ginnie Herrin, 71, died Friday at her home. The graveside service will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at Maple Hill Cemetery with the Rev. Thomas Walker officiating.
Spry Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Herrin was a lifelong resident of Madison County. She was a member of Hillsboro Heights Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband, Joe Herrin; two sons, Tommy Joe Herrin of Nashville and David E. Herrin of Hazel Green ; one daughter, Kay King of Arab; one brother, J.C. Cobb of Birmingham; one sister, Ola Mae Cain of Conrowe, Texas; and seven grandchildren and one great-grandson.
Visitation will be today from 5 to 8:30 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to the Owens Cross Roads United Methodist Church Piano Fund.
C.S. Hillis
C.S. Hillis, 67, of Huntsville died Friday at a local hospital. The funeral will be today at 1 p.m. at Caldwell Baptist Church with the Rev. Wayne Scott officiating.
Burial will be in Mulberry Cemetery with Gallant Funeral Home in Fayetteville, Tenn. in charge.
Mr. Hillis was a native of Lincoln County. He was a member of Caldwell Baptist Church and was a mechanic for the John Deere Tractor Co.
Survivors include his wife, Dorothy Brannon Hillis; two daughters, Gennie Badger and Gail Tumminello, both of Huntsville; one brother, Robert Hillis of Flintville, Tenn.; and six grandchildren.
Wymon A. King
ARAB - Rev. Wymon A. "Slick King, 78, of 1454 Mobbs School Road died Thursday at a local hospital. The funeral will be today at 1 p.m. at Corinth Baptist Church.
Burial will be in Gilliam Springs Cemetery.
Survivors include his wife, Vela Dean King; one daughter, Dean Cox of Montgomery; two sons, Billy King of Arab and Jimmy King of Georgia; two sisters, Mary N. Waldrop and Mae Mann, both of Arab; three brothers, Alvin King of Birmingham and Ernest King and Clifton King, both of Arab; nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Herman D. Mullins
Herman Daniel "Danny Mullins, 62, of Huntsville died Thursday at a local hospital. Laughlin Service Funeral Home will announce arrangements.
Mr. Mullins was a charter life member of the American Motorcycle Assoc., BMW Motorcycle Owners Assoc., and a life member of the NRA.
Survivors include two sons, Nick Mullins of Huntsville and Christopher David Mullins of Sicily; his mother, Elizabeth Mullins of Huntsville; two grandchildren; and a special friend, Marilyn Poffenberger of Huntsville.
Visitation will be Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
A.C. Parson
WICHITA, Kan. - A.C. "Ace" Parson, 75, died Wednesday. The funeral will be today 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 Boeing 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, Kan.; 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.
William L. Perkins
UNION GROVE - William L. Perkins, 86, of Union Grove died Friday at a Guntersville nursing home. The funeral will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at Gober Funeral Home in Arab.
Burial will be in Sweet Home Cemetery.
Survivors include his wife, Genell Perkins; one son, Don Perkins of Union Grove; one brother, James Perkins of Union Grove; and two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
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 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 today from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Joseph T. Stafford
Elder Joseph Thomas Stafford, 91, of 4902 Oakwood Road, died Oct. 17 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 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 today from 7 to 8 p.m. at Royal Funeral Home.
His body will be at the church one hour before the funeral.
Vera Traylor
ALBERTVILLE - Vera Traylor, 82, of 4100 Rose Road died Thursday at her home. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at Carr Funeral Home in Boaz.
Burial will be in Red Apple Cemetery.
Survivors include five daughters, Shirley Yates of Blountsville, Gail Baker and Susan Oliver, both of Albertville, Diane Wells of Hokes Bluff and Mary Cordray of Indiana; seven sons, Arnell Traylor, Charles Traylor and Michael Oliver, all of Albertville, Donald Traylor, Ronald Traylor and Jackie Traylor, all of Oneonta, and Rayford Traylor of Louisiana; three sisters, Desalene Smith of Collinsville, Anna L. Shultz of Tennessee and Ollie M. Rowell of Indiana; and 27 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
Thomas B. Usher II
Thomas Bostick Usher II, 85, of Huntsville died Friday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at Valhalla Funeral Home.
Burial will be in Valhalla Memory Gardens.
Survivors include his wife, Cynthia Usher; three daughters, Nancy Henson of Huntsville, Glenda Kuehn of Florida and Beverly Bateman of Madison; two sons, Jim Usher of Arab and Tom Usher of Atlanta; one brother, Herman Usher of Mississippi; and nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
O.B. Wells
BOAZ - O.B. Wells, 87, of 508 Brown St., died Thursday at his home. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at Albertville Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.
Burial will be in Beulah Cemetery.
Survivors include his wife, Velma Wells; one son, Odis Wells of Boaz; and one grandchild.
Estelle C. Whitworth
ATHENS - Estelle C. Whitworth, 88, of 27220 Newby Road died Friday at a Huntsville nursing home. The graveside service will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at Madison City Cemetery with Bro. Jeff Wood officiating.
Limestone Chapel Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Whitworth attended Bethel Church of Christ. She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter T. Whitworth; two brothers, Harvey H. Crutcher and Nick Crutcher; and one sister, Kathryn Thomas.
Survivors include one son, William Archie Whitworth of Madison; one daughter, Marjorie Dunnivant of Athens; three brothers, R.O. Crutcher of Hazel Green, Malcolm David Crutcher of Toney and T.R. Crutcher Jr. of Huntsville; and four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
