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.
Gene W. Cantrell
Gene W. Cantrell, 65, of Huntsville died Monday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Friday at 1 p.m. at Spry Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Clyde Crawford officiating.
Burial will be in New Sharon Cemetery.
Mr. Cantrell was a native of Madison County and retired after 25 years with the Huntsville Police Department.
Survivors include two daughters, Doretta Cantrell Self of Athens and Lora Jean Wilson of Madison; one son, Larry Gene Cantrell of Huntsville; two brothers, Charles Cantrell of Texas and Jerry Cantrell of Huntsville; three sisters, Jeannette Burgess of Guntersville, Sue Darrell of Albertville and Charlotte Auldridge of Memphis, Tenn.; and four grandchildren.
Visitation will be Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Elizabeth J. Gilbert
TENBROECK - Elizabeth Jean Gilbert, 49, died Tuesday at a Gadsden hospital. The funeral will be Thursday at 2 p.m. at W.T. Wilson Funeral Chapel in Rainsville with the Rev. Stanley Jones, the Rev. Don Self and the Rev. Charles Ray Gilbert officiating.
Burial will be in Mount Pleasant Cemetery.
She was a member of the church.
Survivors include her husband, Mickey Dean Gilbert of Tenbroeck; two daughters, Tonya Woods of Fort Payne and Patti Lee of Shiloh; one son, Jamie Gilbert of Whiton; her mother, Willie Mae Tucker of Dawson; one sister, Karen Croft of Geraldine; and one brother, James David Bowers of Grove Oak.
Kathy W. Jones
FAYETTEVILLE, Tenn. - Kathy Warren Jones, 41, of 386 Molino Road died today at a local hospital. The funeral will be Friday at 3 p.m. at Higgins Funeral Home with the Rev. Sonny Moore officiating.
Burial will be in Prospect Cemetery.
Mrs. Jones was a native of Huntsville, a homemaker and a member of First Church of God in Shelbyville.
Survivors include her husband, Ronnie "Decon" Jones of Fayetteville; one daughter, Stephanie Lynn Posey of Fayetteville; one son, James Brian Jones of Fayetteville; her parents, James and Lois Brady Warren of Fayetteville; one sister, Debbie Henderson of Jonesboro, Ga.; and one brother, Doraynn Warren of Fayetteville.
Visitation will be Thursday at 5 p.m. at the funeral home.
Euline B. Patterson
NEW HOPE - Euline B. Patterson, 86, died Tuesday in Guntersville. The funeral was today at 11 a.m. at New Hope Cemetery with Perry Wood officiating.
New Hope Funeral Home is in charge of burial.
She is survived by several nieces and nephews.
Peggy T. Phillips
FAYETTEVILLE, Tenn. - Peggy Towry Phillips, 58, of Wright Road died Monday at her home. The funeral will be Thursday at 11 a.m. at Gallant Funeral Home of Fayetteville with Pastor Bert Baker officiating.
Burial will be in Pleasant Grove Cemetery.
Mrs. Phillips was a native of Lincoln County, Tenn., a member of Highland Rim Church of God and a seamstress at Jama South Side.
Survivors include her husband, Harold Phillips of Fayetteville; one daughter, Carol Ann McBay of Fayetteville; six brothers, Thomas Towry of Hillsdale, Mich., Dallas Towry of Taylor, Mich., Wade Towry of Chicago and Cletes Towry, Virgil Towry and Clyde Towry, all of Fayetteville; two sisters, Marie Roland and Lorene Childress, both of Fayetteville; and one grandchild, two step-grandchildren and five great-step-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 4 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Younger R. Pitts Jr.
FAYETTEVILLE, Tenn. - Younger R. Pitts Jr., 85, of 604 West Washington St. died Tuesday at a local nursing home. The funeral will be Friday at 1 p.m. at Higgins Funeral Home with the Rev. Van Johnson officiating.
Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery.
Mr. Pitts was a native of Lincoln County and a deacon at Fayetteville First Baptist Church.
Survivors include one daughter, Beverly Sue Hatchett of Virginia Beach, Va.; one sister, Louise Pitts of Fayetteville; and six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Thursday at 4:30 p.m. at the funeral home.
Gaines Simmons Jr.
Gaines Woodrow Wilson "Jay" Simmons Jr., 62, of Huntsville died Monday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Thursday at 1 p.m. at Cochran Cemetery with Sam Gulley officiating.
Spry Funeral Home is in charge of burial.
Mr. Simmons was a lifelong Madison County resident. He was preceded in death by one son, Joey Lynn Simmons.
Survivors include his wife, Dorothy Simmons of Huntsville; three daughters, Kathy S. Clark and Teri Simmons Nunn, both of New Hope, and Vicki Simmons of Grant; one son, William Neal Simmons of Huntsville; his mother, Evelyn Johnson of Huntsville; six half-sisters, Sandra Gray of Union Grove, Irene Edge of Hazel Green, Aileen Tucker of Ardmore, Ala., and Diane Koonce, Joyce Weaver and Pearl Johnson, all of Huntsville; two brothers, Russell Simmons of Ohio and Paul Simmons of Huntsville; six half-brothers, Ben Johnson, Alfred Johnson and Tommy Johnson, all of Huntsville, Harold D. Johnson and Danny Simmons, both of Union Grove, and Timothy Simmons of Arab; and eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 5 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Richard B. Thompson
ALBERTVILLE - Richard B. Thompson, 81, died Monday at his home. The funeral will be Thursday at 2 p.m. at Albertville Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. D.V. Harper and the Rev. Jesse Hill officiating.
Burial will be in Memory Hill Cemetery with Albertville Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include his wife, Lela Thompson of Albertville; five sons, Billy Thompson of Birmingham, Wayne Thompson of Georgia, J.T. Thompson and Roger Thompson, both of Albertville, and Randy Thompson of Tennessee; two daughters, Kandy Young and Brenda Hollis, both of Albertville; two brothers, Virgle Thompson of Kilpatrick and LeRoy Waldrop of Albertville; one sister, Jane McGatha of New Hope; and 22 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
Michelle C. Winters
Michelle Crutcher Winters, 44, of Huntsville died Saturday in Harriman, Tenn. The funeral will be Friday at 1 p.m. at Little Indian Creek Primitive Baptist Church with Elder Jerry Crutcher officiating.
Burial will be in Northside Cemetery with Nelms Memorial Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include three daughters, Tiffany Winters, Miranda Jason and Takiya Jason, all of Huntsville; one son, Delano Keith of Huntsville; two brothers, Robert Crutcher of Huntsville and Jerome Crutcher of Chicago; grandfather, Freeman Bone of Huntsville; her stepfather, Neal Green of Chicago; one stepsister, Vernita Young of Chicago; and one stepbrother, Anthony Green of Chicago.
Her body will be at the church one hour before the funeral.
Dorthea Wolfe
Dorthea "Dot" Wolfe, 66, of Huntsville died Monday at her home. The funeral will be Thursday at 1 p.m. at Spry Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Roland Lee officiating.
Burial will be in Shiloh Cemetery in Ryland.
Mrs. Wolfe was a native of Madison County and retired from Krystal after working there 20 years. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack J. Wolfe.
Survivors include one son, Daniel Wolfe of Huntsville; two sisters, Beverly Mullins of Huntsville and Burvlee Harbin of Brownsboro; two brothers, Arnold Kuykendall of Huntsville and Oscar Kuykendall of Houston; and five grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 5 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
11/18/99
Verdie Austin
ALBERTVILLE - Verdie Austin, 100, of Albertville died Wednesday at her home. The graveside service was today at 11 a.m. at Mount Olive Cemetery.
Adams Funeral Home of Albertville was in charge of burial.
Survivors include one daughter, Nellie Epps of Albertville; one sister, Fannie Bell Norton of Horton; one brother, Ed Morrow of Gadsden; and three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
William E. Buford
William Earl "W.E." Buford, 70, of Huntsville died today at a local hospital. The memorial service will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Laughlin Service Funeral Home chapel.
Mr. Buford fought in the Korean War in the 82nd Airborne, retired from Thiokol Chemical Co. and was a member of the local Elk's Club, American Legion Post No. 237 and the Huntsville Eagle's Club.
Survivors include his wife, Joyce W. Buford of Huntsville; one son, Sidney G. Buford of Huntsville; one daughter, Gay Buford Vann of Blue Ridge, Ga.; his mother, Mattie L. Buford of Huntsville; one sister, Sharin Hunt Curry of Huntsville; and one uncle and four grandchildren.
James L. Day
ATHENS - James Lewis Day, 83, of Buchanan Street died Monday at a local hospital. The funeral was Wednesday at Emmanuel Baptist Church with Bo Grace officiating.
Burial was in Roselawn Cemetery with Spry Funeral Home directing.
Mr. Day attended Emmanuel Baptist Church, was retired from R.E.A. Express and was an Army veteran of World War II.
Survivors include his wife, Julia Camilla Day; one daughter, Jean Hodges of Athens; one sister, Ovelle Hodges of Uniontown; one half-brother, T.J. Day Jr. of Thomaston; and two grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
Eugene E. Eslick Jr.
PULASKI, Tenn. - Eugene Edward Eslick Jr., 74, died today at his home. The funeral will be Friday at 2 p.m. at Carr and Erwin Funeral Home in Pulaski.
Burial will be in Maplewood Cemetery.
Mr. Eslick had worked on Redstone Arsenal and was a native of Tennessee.
Survivors include his wife, Pearl B. Eslick of Pulaski; two daughters, Donna Rathbun of Madison, Tenn., and Pam Stafford of Pulaski; four brothers, J.L. Eslick and Ralph Eslick, both of Pulaski, Robert Eslick of Texas and Merritt Eslick of North Carolina; and two grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to the East Hill Church of Christ Building Fund.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Mary M. Hopkins
Mary Mullaney Hopkins, 72, of Huntsville died Wednesday. Laughlin Service Funeral Home will announce funeral arrangements.
Survivors include her husband, Jesse R. Hopkins Sr. of Huntsville; four sons, Jesse R. Hopkins Jr. and Jerry L. Hopkins, both of Atlanta, Samuel M. Hopkins of Tampa, Fla., and Jeff A. Hopkins of Birmingham; one daughter, Sue M. Moseley of Mobile; two brothers, John V. Mullaney of Lexington, Ky., and Thomas Mullaney of Cleveland, Ohio; one sister, Margaret Bemus of Detroit; and five grandchildren.
Visitation will be Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Effie Jarrett
HARTSELLE - Effie E. Steele Jarrett, 87, died Wednesday in Falkville. The funeral will be Friday at 1 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home with the Rev. John L. Elliott and the Rev. Bill Partridge officiating.
Burial will be in Andrews Chapel Cemetery in Danville.
She was preceded in ddeath by her husband, Timothy Jarrett; and one son, Reyford Jarrett.
Survivors include one son, Rathern Jarrett of Danville; three daughters, Cora Powell and Audrey Logg, both of Falkville, and Doris Penn of Crane Hill; five brothers, Johnny Steele of Sidney, Ohio, Emmett Steele, Cecil Steele and Dewey Steele, all of Danville, and Ernest Steele of Morris; two sisters, Odie Lee Lawrence and Edna Bibb, both of Danville; and 13 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Winford Keese
ARAB - Winford Keese, 78, of 658 City Park Drive died Tuesday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral was to be today at 2:30 p.m. at Union Hill Methodist Church.
Burial was to be in Arab Memorial Cemetery with Arab Memorial Chapel Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include his wife, Eva Keese; two daughters, Rhea Richards of Arab and Ruth Tuck of Lafayette; and six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Helon B. Manning
JACKSONVILLE - Helon B. Manning, 84, died Sunday. The funeral was Tuesday at Crestwood Cemetery in Gadsden.
Crestwood Funeral Home was in charge of burial.
Survivors include her husband, Robert Lee Manning Sr. of Jacksonville; one daughter, Katie Pilkerton of Huntsville; one son, Robert Lee Manning Jr. of Huntsville; and several grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to a favorite charity.
Richard R. Martul
Richard Raymond Martul, 65, of Huntsville died Tuesday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Friday at 10 a.m. at Good Shepherd Catholic Church with the Rev. Phil O'Kennedy officiating.
Burial will be in Twickenham Memory Gardens with Twickenham Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include his wife, Pauline Martul of Huntsville; two sons, Lee Robinson of Elgin, Ill., and Rick Robinson of Huntsville; three daughters, Kimberly Turner of Huntsville, Carolyn Racki of Hinsdale, Ill., and Mary Hodges of Illinois; one brother, Paul Martul of Cicero, Ill.; one sister, Helen Brave of Cicero; and two nephews and 10 grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 5:30 to 8 p.m. followed by a Rosary service from 8 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to the Good Shepherd Catholic Church Building Fund.
Gordon L. Masters
JORDAN, Minn. - Gordon LeRoy Masters, 83, died Monday at a local nursing home. The funeral will be Friday at 11 a.m. at J.S. Klecatsky and Sons Funeral Home.
Burial will be in Fort Snelling National Cemetery.
Mr. Masters was preceded in death by his wife, Guylett Masters.
Survivors include one son, Merlyn Masters of Huntsville; one daughter, Sandra Sasse of New Prague, Minn.; two sisters, Carol Klein of Crystal, Minn., and Beatrice Hansen of Minneapolis; and five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Friday from 10 to 11 a.m. at the funeral home.
James L. Norris
GERALDINE - James Lamar Norris, 59, died Wednesday at a Gadsden hospital. The funeral will be Friday at 2 p.m. at W.T. Wilson Funeral Chapel in Rainsville.
Burial will be in Hopewell Cemetery.
Survivors include three daughters, Jane Grimes of Douglas, Jean Wilks of Crossville and Melba Childress of Dawson; two sons, Lavon Norris of Geraldine and Danny Norris of Crossville; two brothers, Howard Norris and Wayne Norris, both of Attalla; and four grandchildren.
Visitation will be today at 4 p.m. at the funeral home.
Roy C. O'Linger
SCOTTSBORO - Roy C. O'Linger, 66, died Wednesday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Friday at 2 p.m. at Scottsboro Funeral Home with the Rev. Eugene McDowell and the Rev. Dean Jeffery officiating.
Burial will be in Gross Cemetery.
Mr. O'Linger was preceded in death by his wife, Lillian O'Linger.
Survivors include three daughters, Patricia Rice of Skyline, Judy McCormick of Manchester, Tenn., and Kay Kennedy of Scottsboro; three sons, James O'Linger of Scottsboro, Rickey O'Linger of Madison and David Bailey of Indiana; three sisters, Kathy Rice of Skyline and Gladys Bradford and Mattie Romans, both of Scottsboro; four brothers, Larry O'Linger of Augusta, Ga., Charles Ray Hodge of Powell, Ala., and Jerry O'Linger and Kenny O'Linger, both of Section; and 16 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today until 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Edna H. Parsons
HARTSELLE - Edna Hamrick Parsons, 78, died Tuesday at her home. The funeral will be Saturday at Somerville Church of God Cemetery with the Rev. Jack Redfearn Jr. officiating.
Peck Funeral Home of Hartselle is in charge of burial.
Mrs. Parsons was a native of Jefferson County and a member of West Hartselle Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband, Paul Parsons of Hartselle; two sons, Larry Parsons of Wellford, S.C., and Steve Parsons of Hartselle; one daughter, Rebecca Pace of Harvest; and one sister, Mildred Hodges of Hoover.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Visitation will be Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Alma B. Smith
FAUNSDALE - Alma Brame Smith, 76, died Tuesday at her home. The funeral will be Friday at 11 a.m. First United Methodist Church in Faunsdale with the Rev. Virgil Pino and Bro. Brad Bridges officiating.
Burial will be in Dayton Cemetery with Kidd-Robbins Funeral Directors of Demopolis in charge.
Survivors include her husband, Enoch Smith of Faunsdale; three daughters, Florence Posey of Huntsville, Bettie Black of Faunsdale and Susie Ward of Jasper; one son, Lee O. Brame of Huntsville; two stepdaughters, Marilyn Marie Murphy of Centreville and Deborah Diane Smith of Selma; two stepsons, E.W. Smith of Selma and Jimmy Leon Smith of Faunsdale; two sisters, Betty D. Davis of Eufaula and Louise Capps of Columbiana; and two brothers, Thomas Drummond of Farmington, Ark., and William Fletcher Drummond Jr. of Thomaston; and 11 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, 13 step-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
