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.
Tootsie M. Bates
KELSO, Tenn. - Tootsie McWhirter Bates, 73, of 37 Lackey Road died Monday at a Fayetteville, Tenn., nursing home. The funeral will be Thursday at 11 a.m. at Higgins Funeral Home with the Rev. Woodrow Pinkleton and the Rev. Franklin McWhirter officiating.
Burial will be in Flintville Cemetery.
Mrs. Bates was a native of Lincoln County, Tenn., a former restaurant and school cook and a member of Gum Springs Baptist Church.
Survivors include four sisters, Annie B. Williams and Thelma McWhirter, both of Fayetteville, Essie Herndon of Forsythe, Ga., and Dixie Gordon of Macon, Ga.; five brothers, Alvin McWhirter of Mulberry, Tenn., William McWhirter of Hendersonville, Tenn., Franklin McWhirter of Forsythe, Ga., and James McWhirter and Henry McWhirter, both of Fayetteville; and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Visitation will be Wednesday from 4 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Carl M. Brooks
Carl Mabrey Brooks, 84, of Huntsville died Sunday at his home. The funeral will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Spry Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Don Scarlett and the Rev. George Jones officiating.
Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery.
Mr. Brooks was a native of Lincoln County, Tenn., but spent most his life in Madison County. He retired from NASA and was a member of Heritage Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Ernestine Brooks of Huntsville; one daughter, Marcella Boyd of Huntsville; one brother, Cecil Brooks of Harvest; one sister, Inez Prince of Morgan City; and two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 4 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Marie Chambers
FORT PAYNE - Marie Chambers, 70, died Sunday. The funeral was to be today at 3:30 p.m. at Rainsville Funeral Home with the Rev. Roger Graham and the Rev. Clinton Graham officiating.
Burial was to be in Pilgrim's Rest Cemetery.
Survivors include one daughter, Robin Chambers Scherer of Peachtree City, Ga.; three sons, Lonnie Verlon Pell of Rainsville and Terry Chambers and Gary Chambers, both of Fort Payne; and nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Harvey W. Cline
TANNER - Harvey Wendell Cline, 58, died Sunday at an Athens hospital. The funeral will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Spry Funeral Home in Athens with Junior Long and Ollie Adams officiating.
Burial will be in Tanner Cemetery.
Mr. Cline was a native of Limestone County, a member of Holt Road Baptist Church and a farmer.
Survivors include his wife, Barbara Smith Cline; two sons, Timothy Cline and James Cline, both of Athens; three daughters, Linda Moss, Delyne Sain and Brenda Gail Carter, all of Athens; three sisters, Creola Cottles, Mabel Boyd and Edna Brewer, all of Athens; and eight grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
William D. Combs Sr.
ATHENS - William Daniel ''Danny'' Combs Sr., 61, of Cascade Drive died Sunday at his home. The funeral was today at 11 a.m. at Spry Funeral Home of Athens with Tim Anderson officiating.
Burial was in Roseland Cemetery.
Mr. Combs was retired from General Motors' Delphi Saginaw Steering Systems Co.
Survivors include his wife, Peggy Nanette Combs; one daughter, Kathy Renee Pressnell of Athens; three sons, William Daniel Combs Jr. of Akron, Ohio, Kenneth Combs of Flowery Branch, Ga. and Keith Alan Combs of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio; one brother, Ira Combs of Jackson, Ohio; three sisters, Agnes Perry of Winchester, Ky., Irene Wilmoth of Akron and Lois Holbert of Diana, Fla.; and three grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
Selma J. Crawford
GUNTERSVILLE - Selma J. Crawford, 81, of 100 Terrace Lake Village died Friday at a local hospital. A graveside service will be held Wednesday at 2 p.m. at State Line Cemetery in State Line, Miss.
Carr Funeral Home of Guntersville is in charge of burial.
Survivors include three brothers, Howard Hamrick of Scottsboro, David Hamrick of Virginia and Thomas Hamrick of Arizona.
John J. Dobbins
John Joseph Dobbins, 62, of Huntsville died Sunday at a local hospital. Laughlin Service Funeral Home will announce arrangements.
Mr. Dobbins was an insurance broker with J. Smith Lanier Insurance Company. He was a member of St. Columba in-the-Cove Church.
Survivors include his wife, Suzie Dobbins; two sons, John Joseph Dobbins of Del Ray, Fla., and Christian Dobbins of Boulder, Colo.; one daughter, Meredith Ann Dobbins of Orlando; one stepdaughter, Jessica Lauren Hughes of Brownsboro; his mother, Mary Jo Dobbins of Tampa; one brother, Fred Dobbins of Tampa; one sister, Mary Jean Gibson of Tampa; his ex-wife, Harriet Meredith Dobbins of Huntsville; and three grandchildren and several nieces.
Visitation will be Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Myrtle H. Garrett
MERIDIANVILLE - Myrtle Hambrick Garrett, 90, died Sunday at a Fayetteville, Tenn. nursing home. The funeral was to be today at 2:30 p.m. at Laughlin Service Funeral Home chapel.
Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery.
Mrs. Garrett was preceded in death by her husband, Isaac ''Ike'' Garrett, and one daughter, Mary Francis McCollum.
Survivors include several nieces and nephews.
Kittye P. Henshaw
PRINCETON - Kittye Pauline Henshaw, 94, died Monday in Huntsville. The funeral will be Thursday at 11 a.m. at Bostic Hill Church in Princeton with Dr. John Campbell and the Rev. Bob Smith officiating.
Burial will be in Henshaw Cemetery with Scottsboro Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. Henshaw was preceded in death by her husband, Oscar Henshaw.
Survivors include three daughters, Kathleen Hellquist of Anaheim, Calif., Martha Joe Clemons of Nashville, Tenn., and Charlotte Steele of Scottsboro; one son, Robert V. Henshaw of Hampton Cove; 10 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Wednesday from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Annie M. Holder
NEW MARKET - Annie Mae Holder, 95, died Monday at her home. The funeral will be Thursday at 2:30 p.m. at Spry Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Winifred Stayton officiating.
Burial will be in Cameron Cemetery.
Mrs. Holder was a native of Madison County and a member of Home Mission Baptist Church.
Survivors include three daughters, Flora Mae Holcomb of Birmingham, Ruby Doris Aaron of Indiana and Jewell Patterson of New Market; three sons, Willie C. Holder of Tennessee, Arville Holder of Indiana and Grady Holder of Huntsville; and several grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Wednesday from 5 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Louneal M. Levie
HARVEST - Louneal M. Levie, 92, died today at a local nursing home. The funeral will be Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Valhalla Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Bill Stone officiating.
Burial will be in Pineland Memory Park in Centreville.
Survivors include one son, William D. Levie of Harvest; and eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to Centreville United Methodist Church, 157 Valley St., Centreville, 35042; Parker Chapel United Methodist Church in Madison; or to a favorite charity.
Edna G. Locker
FAYETTEVILLE, Tenn. - Edna Gray Locker, 87, of 34C Eastgate Arms died Sunday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Tuesday at 1 p.m. at Higgins Funeral Home with Bro. Bob Leonard officiating.
Burial will be in Stewarts Cemetery.
Mrs. Locker was a homemaker and a member of Liberty Church of Christ.
Visitation was to be today from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the funeral home.
Patsy H. Pressnell
ARDMORE, Ala. - Patsy Hargrove Pressnell, 52, died Saturday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Piney Grove Baptist Church with Bro. Ray Stonecypher and Lynn Newton officiating.
Burial will be in Gatlin Cemetery with Taylor-Ardmore Funeral Home in charge.
She was a member of the church.
Survivors include her husband, Kenneth Pressnell of Ardmore, Ala.; four sons, Kenneth Pressnell Jr., Ricky Pressnell and Toney Pressnell, all of Ardmore, Ala., and Kelvin Pressnell of Japan; her mother, Irene Hargrove of Ardmore, Ala.; one brother, Gerry Hargrove of Ardmore, Ala.; two sisters, Barbara Gey of Ardmore, Ala., and Ruth Ann Priest of Madison; and four grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 9 p.m at the funeral home.
Kathleen N. Rutland
GURLEY - Kathleen N. Rutland, 88, died Sunday at a local hospital. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at Valhalla Funeral Home with the Rev. Shelby Gurley officiating.
Burial will be in Valhalla Memory Gardens.
Survivors include four sons, Bill Rutland and Bob Rutland, both of Gurley, and Fred Rutland and Jim Rutland, both of Scottsboro; two sisters, Jewel Evans and Virginia Castile, both of Huntsville; and seven grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Walter A. Sloan Sr.
GUNTERSVILLE - Walter Alex Sloan Sr., 78, of 2211 Feemster Gap Road died Monday at his home. The funeral will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Arab Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.
Burial will be in Wesley Chapel Cemetery in Limestone County.
Survivors include five daughters, Barbara Smith and Diana Corbin, both of Arab, Janice Cross and Audrey Pierce, both of Georgia, and Annette Culp of Ohio; three sons, Curtis Sloan of Tennessee, Walter A. Sloan Jr. of Arab and Chris Overstreet of Georgia; three sisters, Eva Parcus of Union Grove, Mary Fowler of Somerville and Gerlene Scott of Ohio; one brother, Shelby Sloan of Union Grove; and 29 grandchildren and 36 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Ethel L. Smoot
Ethel Lewis Smoot, 89, of Huntsville died Sunday at a local hospital. The graveside service will be Thursday at noon at First Baptist Cemetery in Calera with the Rev. Dr. Rogers L. White officiating.
Nelms Memorial Funeral Home is in charge of burial.
Mrs. Smoot was a retired teacher who taught in public and private schools. She was active in several civic and educational organizations.
Survivors include one son, Dr. Charles T. Smoot Sr. of Huntsville; two grandsons, Charles T. Smoot II of Webster, Texas, and Kenneth E. Smoot of Huntsville; and two great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Wednesday from 6 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to a favorite charity.
Fleecie Stapler
SCOTTSBORO - Fleecie Inez ''Cootie'' Swearengin Stapler, 79, of 2282 Horseshoe Bend Road died Sunday at her home. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at Oak Grove Holiness Church with Bros. Alton Willmon and Shirley Byrum officiating.
Burial will be in New Prospect Cemetery with Grant Memorial Chapel Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include six daughters, Lonia Stapler, Nell Wallingsford and Peggy Goodson, all of Swearengin, Shirely Grubbs and Mary Ellon Coulter, both of Huntsville, and Leona Frank of Scottsboro; four sons, Charles R. Swearengin, Freddie Swearengin and Tommy Swearengin, all of Swearengin, and Donald Swearengin of Huntsville; eight sisters, Verdia Cameron, Beatrice ''Whack'' Cameron and Ileen Crowder, all of Swearengin, Clara Alred of North Carolina, Ola Martin of Guntersville, Sarah House of Arab, Gertrude Guffey and Christine Lemons, all of Grant; and 27 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
James O. Turner
James O. Turner, 77, of Huntsville died Monday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Spry Funeral Home chapel with Richard Harp officiating.
Burial will be in Stateline Cemetery.
Mr. Turner was a native of Tennessee but spent most his life in Madison County. He was a World War II veteran.
Survivors include his wife, Brenda Hart Turner of Huntsville; five daughters, Evelyn Ledbetter and Martha Jo Buchanan, both of Lacey's Spring, Peggy Jane Kirkland of Tennessee, Shirley Rhodes of El Paso, Texas, and Emma Taymon of Huntsville; three sons, James Turner Jr. of New Market, Lonnie Turner of Huntsville and Roy Turner of Lacey's Spring; one stepson, Billy J. Jones of Morgan City; four brothers, J.C. Turner, Aubry Gene Turner and Billy J. Turner, all of Huntsville, and Charles Turner of North Carolina; and 17 grandchildren, two step-grandsons and 17 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 5 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Frances G. Williams
MADISON - Frances G. Williams, 76, died Monday in Las Vegas. Laughlin Service Funeral Home will announce funeral arrangements.
Survivors include one son, Harry S. Williams Jr. of Las Vegas; one daughter, Sulvia Petrella of Madison; and two granddaughters, Larissa Maynard of Huntsville and Marian Williams of Las Vegas.
