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.
Beverly Edna Barfield
GADSDEN - Beverly Edna White Barfield, 81, died Friday. The funeral will be Monday at 11 a.m. at the Village Chapel with Dave Leonard officiating.
Burial will be in Crestwood Cemetery.
Mrs. Barfield was preceded in death by her husband, J.D. Barfield. She was a member of Sansom Avenue Church of Christ for 50 years.
Survivors include one son, Ken Barfield; one daughter, Ann Willingham; four sisters, Audrey Turner of Scottsboro, Nell Maddox of Horton, Betty Hendricks of Oxford and Frances Forrester of Weaver; one brother, Paul White of Huntsville; and three grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to AGAPE, Madison Academy or Childhaven.
Tyra C. Blankenship
ATHENS - Tyra Charles Blankenship, 87, of Ardmore died Friday at an Athens nursing home. The graveside service will be Monday at 10 a.m. at Gatlin Cemetery with Spry Funeral Home directing.
Mr. Blankenship was born April 19, 1911, in Limestone County. He was a retired farmer.
He is survived by a nephew, Sid Spratt of Ardmore.
Charles H. Bolton
TRINITY - Charles H. Bolton, 67, died Friday at a Decatur hospital. The funeral will be Monday at 10 a.m. at Shelton Funeral Home with the Rev. E.T. Waddell officiating.
Burial will be in Roselawn Cemetery.
Mr. Bolton was a member of the Trinity Town Council, a Marine veteran and a retiree of NASA. He was born on April 12, 1931, in Limestone County.
Survivors include his wife, Jean Rogers Bolton; two sons, Andy Bolton and George Bolton, both of Trinity; one daughter, Cindy Ham of Decatur; one brother, Wayne Bolton of Athens; and two grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at Shelton Funeral Home.
Lillian V. Bryan
FYFFE - Lillian Victoria Bryan, 79, died Friday at a DeKalb County hospital. The funeral will be today at 4 p.m. at W.T. Wilson Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Edwin Dean officiating.
Burial will be in Trinity Cemetery.
Mrs. Bryan was preceded in death by her husband, O.A. Bryan. She was a member of Fyffe First Baptist Church.
Survivors include three daughters, Jeanette Lankford of Hixson, Tenn., Mary Reese of Austell, Ga., and Linda West of Dallas, Ga.; three sons, Michael Bryan of Section and David Bryan and Jerry Bryan, both of Fyffe; one brother, Johnny Duran of Chattanooga; and 13 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
Kenneth Griffin Jr.
Kenneth Griffin Jr., 13, of 4508 Calvert Road died Friday at a Birmingham hospital. The funeral will be Thursday at 2 p.m. at Oak Valley United Methodist Church in Tallassee.
McKenzie Funeral Home of Tuskegee will be directing.
The teen-ager had completed the seventh grade at Ed White Middle School.
Survivors include his parents, Linda and Kenny Griffin Sr.; and one brother, Durell J. Griffin of Huntsville.
Edward Hancock
HARTSELLE - Edward Hancock, 76, of Decatur died Friday at a Tuscaloosa hospital. The funeral will be today at 1 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Bobby King and Charles Littrell officiating.
Burial will be in Johnson Chapel Cemetery.
Mr. Hancock was born Sept. 15, 1921, in Cullman County. He was a retired group leader at Wolverine Tube, a Navy veteran of World War II and a member of the Church of Christ.
Survivors include his wife, Susie Hancock of Decatur; two stepsons, Thomas Ingram of Decatur and Bobby King of Trinity; two daughters, Debbie Osment of Palm Bay, Fla., and Donna Gentry of Moulton; three sisters, Effie Cavert of Bremen, Jessie Allred of Cullman and Lily Blanton of Hartselle; and two grandchildren and four step-grandchildren.
Robert C. Hargrove
ARDMORE, Tenn. - Robert C. Hargrove, 74, of 26579 Austin St. died Saturday at his home. The funeral will be Monday at 2 p.m. at Taylor Funeral Home with Douglas Eubanks officiating.
Burial will be in Hasting Cemetery.
Mr. Hargrove was a retired employee of NASA, an Army veteran of World War II and a member of Ardmore Church of Christ.
Survivors include his wife, JoAnn Hargrove; one son, Jody Hargrove of Athens; one daughter, Diane Hargrove Hobbs; one brother, Elbert Junior Hargrove, both of Athens; three sisters, Myrtle Wales, Betty Sue Wales and Shirley Lewis, all of Elkmont; and four grandchildren.
Visitation will be Sunday after 2 p.m. at the funeral home.
William T. Ivey
FAYETTEVILLE - William Thurston Ivey, 81, of West Point Drive died Friday at a Nashville hospital. The funeral will be today at 3 p.m. at Higgins Funeral Home with the Rev. Larry Meeks and the Rev. Dalton Warden officiating.
Burial will be in Kirkland Cemetery.
Mr. Ivey was a farmer and a retiree from the Tennessee Department of Transportation. He was a World War II veteran and a member of Hilldale Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Betty Caldwell Ivey; one daughter, Hilda Capley; one brother, Hurley Ivey, all of Fayetteville; and two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Kathleen R. Johnson
HARTSELLE - Kathleen Rose Johnson, 84, died Friday at a Hartselle hospital. The funeral will be today at 4 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Wayne Penn and the Rev. Danny Pitts officiating.
Burial will be in Hartselle City Cemetery with Peck Funeral Home directing.
Mrs. Johnson was born Dec. 21, 1913, in Morgan County. She was a member of the Union Grove Methodist Church and a homemaker.
Survivors include her husband, Willie M. Johnson; a son, Waymon O. Johnson of Hartselle; a daughter, Sonja Johnson Little of Hartselle; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren and two step-grandchildren.
Elizabeth Light
GROVE OAK - Elizabeth Light, 93, died Saturday. The funeral will be Monday at 11 a.m. at Rainsville Funeral Home with the Rev. Kip Box officiating.
Burial will be in Green s Chapel Cemetery.
Survivors include four daughters, Rexine Rowell of Albertville, Mary Jo Chandler of Grove Oak, Toby Davidson of Decatur and Judy Lingerfelt of Fyffe; six sons, Junior Light, W.A. Light and Devell Light, all of Grove Oak, and Maurice Light of Chattanooga, Sonny Light of Geraldine and Ted Light of Albertville; one sister, Iris Woodall of Cedar Bluff; and 23 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today at 2 p.m. at the funeral home.
Opal Irene Light
ARAB - Opal Irene Light, 79, of 124 7th Ave. NE died Saturday at a local nursing home. The funeral will be Monday at 11 a.m. at Arab Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.
Burial will be in Gilliam Springs Cemetery.
Survivors include one sister, Geneva Rhodes of Arab.
Frank W. Maples
SCOTTSBORO - Frank W. Maples, 73, died Saturday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral will be Monday at 10 a.m. at Calvary Baptist Church with the Rev. Roger Mardis and the Rev. Charles Williams officiating.
Burial will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery with Scottsboro Funeral Home directing.
Mr. Maples was a World War II and Korean War veteran.
Survivors include his wife, Cecile Maples; one daughter, Julia Loy of Scottsboro; one son, David Edward Maples of Decatur; three sisters, Mary Allen Lemley of Huntsville, Mogene Kelley of Mobile and Pauline Maples of New Hope; two brothers, Charles Maples of Red Bay and J.D. Maples of Huntsville; and two grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to the Leukemia Society.
Visitation will be today from 2 until 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Lynn Martin
BRIDGEPORT - Lynn Martin, 37, died Friday at her home. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at Rudder Funeral Home in Stevenson with Mike Walker officiating.
Burial will be in Mount Carmel Cemetery in Bridgeport.
Mrs. Martin was a member of Dorans Cove Church of Christ.
Survivors include her husband, Dale Blevins; one son, Christopher Martin of Bridgeport; her parents, James and Laura Holder of Bridgeport; three sisters, Jammie Carroway, Kristy Collins and Angie Morrow, all of Bridgeport; and her grandmother, Dorothy Crownover of Bridgeport.
Orena McBrayer
BIRMINGHAM - Orena McBrayer, 81, died Friday. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. at Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home chapel Tuesday with the Rev. Walter Sandell officiating.
Burial will be in Jefferson Memorial Gardens East.
She retired from The Stag Shop in 1979.
Survivors include one daughter, Virginia Ann Barron of Huntsville; three sons, Don McBrayer of Florence, Doug McBrayer of La Marque, Texas, and Randy McBrayer of Birmingham; two sisters, Othello Swanzy of Boaz and Trudy Broyles of Ocala, Fla.; one brother, Don Moore; and 13 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Monday from 6 to 8 p.m.
Joe Vann Morrow
HARTSELLE - Joe Vann Morrow, 68, died Friday at his home. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at Shiloh Baptist Church with the Rev. Harlon Hood officiating.
Burial will be in Shiloh Cemetery with Peck Funeral Home directing.
Mr. Morrow was born March 21, 1930, in Morgan County. He was an Army veteran of the Korean War and an operator at Monsanto.
Survivors include his wife, Beatrice Ward Morrow; one son, Vann Arden Morrow; three daughters, Debra Hall and Dena Vandiver, all of Hartselle, and Aprile Flemons of Decatur; his mother, Ozell Morrow of Hartselle; and eight grandchildren.
Vancel Phillips
HENAGAR - Vancel Phillips, 72, died Friday at a Fort Payne hospital. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at Kerby Funeral Home in Henagar with the Rev. Bud Laney and the Rev. David Barrentine officiating.
Burial will be in Concord Cemetery.
Mr. Phillips was retired from DuPont in Chattanooga.
Survivors include his wife, Linnie Ruth Phillips; three daughters, Tricia Brown of Sylvania, Kathy Dankovic of Rainsville and Janet White of Ider; one son, Don Phillips of Fyffe; one sister, Willodean Gwen of Gadsden; one brother, Melton Phillips of Rosalie; and five grandchildren.
Merle Richardson
Merle Richardson, 79, of Huntsville died Friday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Monday at 3 p.m. at Valhalla Funeral Home chapel with Dr. Jim Roberts and the Rev. Jim Hunter officiating.
Burial will be in Valhalla Memory Gardens.
Mrs. Richardson was a volunteer with the Aquarius Club, a social group for the seriously mentally ill sponsored by the local Mental Health Association. She was a member of Hope Presbyterian Church.
Survivors include her husband, Melvin W. Richardson; two daughters, Ann Scheuer of Peachtree City, Ga., and Joy Babcock of Huntsville; two sons, Lee Richardson of San Antonio and Joe Richardson of Charleston; and eight grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 5 to 7 p.m.
Memorial donations may be made to the local Mental Health Association, 701 Andrew Jackson Way, Huntsville 35801.
Paul Schuppener
Paul B. Schuppener, 83, of Huntsville died Friday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Tuesday at 2 p.m. at the Church of the Nativity with Father Jack Wilson officiating.
Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery with Laughlin Service Funeral Home directing.
Mr. Schuppener was former commander of the Missile and Munitions Center and School. He was a member of the Church of the Nativity.
Survivors include his wife, Helen L. Schupppener; two sons, David Paul Schuppener of Huntsville and Steven R. Schuppener of Houston; one daughter, Linda L. Schuppener of Iowa City, Iowa; and one grandchild.
Ella Schwerman
Ella Schwerman, 82, of Huntsville died Friday at a local hospital. The funeral will be announced by Laughlin Service Funeral Home. Father Phil OKennedy will officiate.
Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery.
Mrs. Schwerman was a professional artist and a member of the Huntsville Art League. She was a member of Good Shepherd Catholic Church and Holy Spirit Catholic Church. Other memberships included the local botanical garden society, the Dogwood Garden Club and the Rural Letter Carriers Auxiliary.
Survivors include three daughters, Arlene Stewart of Huntsville, Dolores R. Riley of Dana Point, Calif., and Gloria Jean Phillips of Unicoi, Tenn.; one son, Roger D. Schwerman of Huntsville; and four grandchildren.
Visitation will be Monday from 6 to 7 p.m. at Laughlin with a rosary at 7.
Ozell Annie Webb
GURLEY - Ozell Annie Webb, 88, died Saturday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral will be announced by Spry Funeral Home.
Survivors include two sons, Gilbert R. Webb of Huntsville and Homer C. Webb of Gurley; one sister, Myrtle Smith of Guntersville; and several grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.
Donald W. White
ATHENS - Donald William White, 70, of 611 West Market St. died Friday at an Athens nursing home. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. today at Limestone Chapel Funeral Home.
Burial will be in Sunnyhill Cemetery.
Mr. White was a World War II veteran.
Survivors include two sons, Donald William White Jr. and Bradley Don White, both of Hartselle; two daughters, Donna Abernathy and Juanita Newman, both of Athens; two sisters, Linnie Smith and Alene Goode, both of Athens; and six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Annie Belle Wiggins
CROSSVILLE - Annie Belle Wiggins, 57, of 47 Opal St. died Friday at a lcoal hospital. The funeral will be today at 3 p.m. at Victory Baptist Church.
Burial will be in the adjoining cemetery with Albertville Memorial Chapel Funeral Home directing.
Survivors include her husband, Richard Wiggins; one daughter, Libby A. Smith of Crossville; two sisters, Margie Lee of Virginia and Vela Frazier of Crossville; two brothers, H.A. Hughes and Billy J. Hughes, both of Virginia; and two grandchildren.
