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.
Rachel B. Black
Rachel Bradford Black, 82, of Huntsville died Wednesday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Laughlin Service Funeral Home chapel with Byrom Laird officiating.
Burial will be in Huntsville Memory Gardens.
Survivors include one son, Bill Black of Huntsville; one grandson, Trae Black of Huntsville; two sisters, Judith Troupe of Paducah, Ky., and Peggy Holt of Nashville; and four brothers, Billy Dollar of Fayetteville, Tenn., William J. Bradford and Franklin Bradford, both of Taft, Tenn., and John Bradford of Raleigh, N.C.
Visitation will be today from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Lung Association or Madison Academy.
Margie L. Brazelton
Margie L. Brazelton, 85, of Huntsville died today. The funeral will be Sunday at 1 p.m. at Laughlin Service Funeral Home chapel with Charles Washburn officiating.
Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery.
Mrs. Brazelton retired from Huntsville Manufacturing Co. and was a member of Fanning Heights Church of Christ.
Survivors include two sons, David Brazelton of Owens Cross Roads and Kenneth Brazelton of Huntsville; one sister, Annie Mae Lamb of Fayetteville, Tenn.; one brother, Raymond Bolden of Montgomery; and four grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Saturday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Peter J. Buffington
ATLANTA - Peter J. Buffington, 58, died Wednesday. The funeral will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at All Saints Episcopal Church with the Rev. Karin Lindsey officiating.
H.M. Patterson and Son Arlington Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Buffington was formerly of Huntsville.
Survivors include his wife, Jean Buffington of Atlanta; two sons, Mark Buffington of San Francisco and John Buffington of Chapel Hill, N.C.; one stepdaughter, Courtney Adams of Auburn; and two brothers, Tom Buffington of Kingsland, Ga., and David Buffington of St. Simons Island, Ga.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Timothy L. Burns
BIRMINGHAM - Timothy Lewis Burns, 49, died Wednesday. The funeral will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Cathedral of St. Paul in Birmingham.
Burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery with Ridout's Valley Chapel of Homewood in charge.
The Rev. Mr. Burns was a Catholic priest and had served as associate pastor of Holy Spirit Church in Huntsville.
Survivors include his brother, D. Michael Burns of Birmingham; and one uncle, one niece, two nephews and several cousins.
Visitation will be today from 5 to 7 p.m. at Our Lady of the Universe Catholic Church in Huntsville and Saturday from 10 to 11 a.m. at Cathedral of St. Paul.
Memorial donations may be made to the Burse Club of the Diocese of Birmingham, P.O. Box 12047, Birmingham, 35202.
Lela S. Cannon
FAYETTEVILLE, Tenn. - Lela Sweeney Cannon, 91, died Thursday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Rose Hill Cemetery with the Rev. Roger Holley officiating.
Higgins Funeral Home is in charge of burial.
She retired from Elk Cotton Mill and was a member of the Methodist Church.
Survivors include one daughter, Peggy L. Smith of Fayetteville; and four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Claudeen S. Cook
ROSSVILLE, Ga. - Claudeen Sargent Cook, 68, died Thursday at her home. The funeral will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at Kerby Funeral Home in Henagar.
Burial will be in Liberty Cemetery.
Mrs. Cook was preceded in death by her husband, William Kirby Cook.
Survivors include one daughter, Frances Willodean Dickson of Flinstone, Ga.; two sons, Kirby Lebron Cook of Pisgah and Marcus Matthew Cook of Rossville; two sisters, Ozetta Temple of Pisgah and Johnnie Mae Hubert of East Ridge, Tenn.; and eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Wilma J. Finley
Wilma Jean Finley, 53, of Huntsville died Thursday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Friday at 2 p.m. at Hayden Cemetery with Bro. Otis Graves officiating.
New Hope Funeral Home is in charge of burial.
Survivors include two sons, Robert "Bear" Burton of Jasper and Thomas William Burton of Huntsville; four daughters, Tammie Godfrey and Sheri Haggard, both of Jasper, Christie McAbee of Huntsville and Debbie Worley of Jasper; and seven sisters, five brothers and 11 grandchildren.
Opal M. Ikerd
MADISON - Opal Montgomery Ikerd, 89, died Thursday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at Memorial Gardens in Clarksdale, Miss., with the Rev. Jeff Holland officiating.
National Funeral Home of Clarksdale is in charge of burial.
She was a retired licensed practical nurse at Old and New Clarksdale hospitals.
Survivors include two daughters, Earlene Ikerd Waldrup and Hazel Ikerd Barron, both of Huntsville; one son, Charles B. Ikerd III of Huntsville; and two grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Orbin L. Isbell
HAZEL GREEN - Orbin Leon Isbell, 77, of Bobo Section Road died Wednesday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral will be Friday at 2 p.m. at Gallant Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Perry Sims officiating.
Burial will be in New Sharon Cemetery.
Mr. Isbell was a native of Madison County, a retired county schools principal and a World War II Army veteran.
Survivors include one daughter, Anne Sims of Hazel Green ; one son, Tim Isbell of Hazel Green ; one sister, Flora Anthony of San Diego, Calif.; and three grandchildren.
Anna M. Jones
Anna Marie Jones, 76, of Huntsville died Wednesday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Friday at 10 a.m. at Valhalla Memory Gardens with the Rev. Frank Broyles officiating.
Valhalla Funeral Home is in charge of burial.
Survivors include one son, Darrell Jones of Huntsville; three sisters, Grace Miller, Sugar Stanley and Jessie Tucker, all of Virginia; one brother, Douglas Howard of Virginia; and three grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
John M. Lyle Jr.
LACEY'S SPRING - John Martin Lyle Jr., 57, died Thursday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Cedar Point Baptist Church with the Rev. Verlon Stiefel officiating.
Burial will be in Hayden Cemetery with New Hope Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include his wife, Geraldine Lyle of Lacey's Spring; two daughters, Donella Taymon of Owens Cross Roads and Fran Walker of California; two sons, Christopher Lyle of Decatur and Fredrick Lyle of Owens Cross Roads; one stepdaughter, Theresa McBride of Arab; one sister, Carolyn Anderson of New Hope; two brothers, James E. Lyle of Owens Cross Roads and Ruben T. Lyle of New Hope; and eight grandchildren, one great-grandchild and several nieces and nephews.
His body will be at the church one hour before the funeral.
Visitation will be today from 5 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Janice D. Maddox
ALBERTVILLE - Janice Diane Maddox, 36, of 475 Mitchell Ave. died Wednesday at a local hospital. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at Adams Funeral Home in Albertville.
Burial was to be in Beulah Cemetery.
Survivors include her mother, Sandra Maddox of Albertville; three sisters, Donna Allen of Boaz, Cynthia Ward of Albertville and Melanie Tabor of Owens Cross Roads; one brother, John M. Maddox of Albertville; and two grandmothers, Bernice Jordan of Albertville and Ethel Maddox of Ardmore.
William M. Maples
ATHENS - William Malcolm ''Mack'' Maples, 85, of Elkmont, died Thursday at his home. Funeral arrangements will be announced by McConnell Funeral Home.
Mr. Maples was a native of Limestone County and was a farmer and prominent in civic and political affairs.
Visitation is tentatively set today from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the funeral home and the funeral is tentatively set for Saturday.
Cary R. McCool
YUKON, Okla. - Cary Ray McCool, 41, died Monday at an Oklahoma City hospital. The funeral was Thursday at Yanda and Son Funeral Home chapel in Yukon.
Burial was in Frisco Cemetery in Yukon.
Mr. McCool retired as a senior electrical technician for Nichols Research in Huntsville. He was formerly of Lacey's Spring.
Survivors include his wife, Denise McCool of Yukon; three sons, Jeremy R. McCool, Keith D. McCool and Roby A. McCool, all of Yukon; three brothers, Jerry R. McCool of Midwest City, Okla., Barry R. McCool of Bethany, Okla., and Greg R. McCool of Oklahoma City; his parents, Donald and Loretta McCool of Yukon; and paternal grandmother, G.R. Stevens of Hesperia, Calif.
James D. Neal
GURLEY - James Donald Neal, 58, died Thursday. The funeral will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Spry Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Erskine Williams and Bro. Tim Ashworth officiating.
Burial will be in Nelson's Chapel Cemetery.
Mr. Neal was a native of Madison County and a farmer.
Survivors include his wife, Linda Neal of Gurley; three daughters, Donna Guerin and Amy Guerin, both of Woodville, and Lori Hereford of New Market; his mother, Viola Neal of Owens Cross Roads; two sisters, Eleanor King of Grant and Thelma Rich of Owens Cross Roads; six brothers, John H. Neal of Woodville, Kenneth Neal of Big Cove, Leon Neal of Owens Cross Roads, Junior Neal of Gurley, Billy Neal of Boaz and Bruce Neal of New Hope; and five grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Dorothy L. Prouty
HAZEL GREEN - Dorothy Lorraine Prouty, 62, of Will Holt Road died Wednesday at her home. The funeral will be today at 4 p.m. at Stateline Cemetery with the Rev. Eddie Lones officiating.
Gallant Funeral Home of Hazel Green is in charge of burial.
Mrs. Prouty was a native of Minnesota, a retired sales representative and a member of Stateline United Methodist Church.
Survivors include four daughters, Leigh Ann Konkright of Henderson, Nev., Tracy Prouty of Lacey, Wash., Robin Cangey of Bellingham, Wash, and Wendy Jones of Hazel Green ; two sons, Kasey Prouty of Garden Grove, Calif., and Kelly A. Brown of Kingwood, Texas; four sisters, Myrnetta Knudson of Montivedo, Minn., Myrna Rogers of Visalia, Calif., Marilyn Eiler of Bellingham, Wash., and Gloria Sollee of Culver City, Calif.; three brothers, Royal Myhre of Spokane, Wash., Richmond Myhre of California and Theodore Myhre of Springfield, Ore.; and eight grandchildren, two step-grandchildren and four great-step-grandchildren.
Lucy S. Sandberg
Lucy Short Sandberg, 76, of Huntsville died Wednesday at her home. The funeral will be Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at Spry Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Byron White officiating.
Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery.
Mrs. Sandberg was a native of Madison County and a member of Epworth United Methodist Church.
Survivors include her husband, Roy J. Sandberg of Huntsville; one daughter, Sharon Johnson of Chicago; a son, Michael Sandberg of Atlanta; a sister, Floy Carrigan of Zionsville, Ind.; a brother, William F. Short of Salinas, Calif.; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to Hospice.
Alvin E. Schiessl
Alvin E. Schiessl, 62, of Huntsville died Wednesday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Good Shepherd Catholic Church with the Rev. Phil O'Kennedy officiating.
Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery with Twickenham Funeral Home in charge.
Mr. Schiessl was a member of the Kiwanis Club, Elks Club, the Retired Officers Association and Good Shepherd Catholic Church. He was a tour guide at EarlyWorks Museum.
Survivors include his wife, Kathleen Schiessl of Huntsville; two daughters, Sherry Grasson of Sterling, Va., and Lorrie P. Smith of Atlanta; one brother, George Schiessl of Surfside Beach, S.C.; one sister, Eileen Yacullo of Annandale, N.J.; and three grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 7:30 p.m. followed by a Rosary service at the church.
Memorial donations may be made to the On this Rock Building Fund at Good Shepherd Church or St. Stephens Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 4207, Huntsville, 35815.
Frances L. Talley
Frances Louise Talley, 56, of Huntsville died Thursday at her home. The funeral will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at Huntsville Free Will Baptist Church with the Rev. Brian Attwood officiating.
Burial will be in Valley View Memorial Gardens with Spry Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. Talley was a native of Nashville, but spent most her life in Madison County. She worked for Chrysler Corp. and was a member of the church.
Survivors include her husband, Charles Talley of Huntsville; one son, David Larand Wallace of Huntsville; one daughter, Angela D. Eitleman of Huntsville; her parents, Edgar and Louise Barnett of Huntsville; five sisters, Nelda West of Lacey's Spring, Brenda Baugher of Athens, Mary Koker of Las Vegas and Betty Tucker and Rhonda Rose, both of Huntsville; one brother, Gary Edwin Barnett of Huntsville; and six grandchildren.
Visitation will be Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Her body will be at the church one hour before the funeral.
Lisa Ward
ATHENS - Lisa Jo Walsh Ward, 34, died Thursday at her home. The funeral will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at Valhalla Funeral Home with Bishop James A. Harris officiating.
Burial will be in Valhalla Memory Gardens.
Ms. Ward was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Survivors include two sons, Evan Ward and Justin Ward, both of Athens; her parents, James L. Walsh and Mary Jo Walsh of Athens; and two brothers, Gary Walsh and Keith Walsh, both of Athens.
Visitation will be Saturday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Dorothy Allison
NEWARK, N.J. - Dorothy Allison, a renowned police psychic who helped locate the hideouts of Patty Hearst's kidnappers and later gave an accurate description of "Son of Sam" killer David Berkowitz, died Wednesday of heart failure. She was 74.
Ms. Allison located two hideouts where the Hearst kidnappers stayed in 1974, and correctly predicted that Ms. Hearst would rob a bank with her kidnappers.
She also correctly said Berkowitz would be captured with a traffic ticket.
In 1980, when she went to Atlanta to consult on the mass killings of children, she guaranteed the killer wouldn't hurt any more children, bared her throat to TV cameras and dared the killer to strangle her.
Ms. Allison never took money for the more than 5,000 cases she worked on, although she was paid to make appearances on TV.
