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.
Robert G. Banks
STAMFORD, Conn. - Robert G. Banks, 54, died Tuesday at a Huntsville hospital. A memorial service will be held later in Stamford.
Spry Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Survivors include his wife, Dorleen A. Banks of Stamford; his mother, Laura S. Banks of Goshen, N.Y.; one brother, John W. Banks Jr. of Huntsville; and two nieces.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association or the American Lung Association.
Lawrence Burns
FAYETTEVILLE, Tenn. - Lawrence Burns, 82, of Booneville Church Road died Thursday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Gallant Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Charlie Brown officiating.
Burial will be in Booneville Cemetery.
Mr. Burns was a native of Bedford County, Tenn., and retired from Jack Daniels Distillery.
Survivors include his wife, Mildred Laws Burns of Fayetteville; two daughters, Sherry Corder of Fayetteville and Janice Faulkner of Lynchburg, Tenn.; two sons, Larry Burns of Lynchburg and John Burns of Tullahoma, Tenn.; two sisters, Dot Nichols and Margie Sons, both of Shel Byville, Tenn.; and 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Thomas Christopher
ATHENS - Thomas Cecil Christopher, 75, of 802 Jackson Drive died Wednesday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church with Dr. William Robert Sharman III officiating.
Burial was to be in Roselawn Cemetery with McConnell Funeral Home in charge.
Mr. Christopher was a native of Limestone County, a 1942 graduate of Athens High School, attended Florence State College, now the University of North Alabama, and Auburn University. A certified public accountant, he founded Christopher, Durham, Pepper & Armstrong accounting firm in 1962 and retired as managing partner in 1989. He was a past president of the Athens Jaycees, the Athens Rotary Club, Athens-Limestone Chamber of Commerce, United Givers Fund, Athens school board and the Athens-Limestone County Industrial Development Committee. A Navy veteran of World War II, Christopher was recalled to military service during the Korean War. He was a member, ruling elder and chairman of the Board of Deacons of First Presbyterian Church. He was named the 1970 Citizen of the Year by the Athens-Limestone Chamber of Commerce and was named a Silver Beaver in 1972 by Boy Scouts of America.
Survivors include his wife, Aileen Orr Christopher; one daughter, LeAnn Miller of Athens; three sons, Mike Christopher of Canton, Ga., Greg Christopher of Atlanta and Jeff Christopher of Auburn; one sister, Martha Jane Benfante of Niagara Falls, N.Y.; four brothers, Nick Christopher of Huntsville, Harold Christopher of Cullman, James Allen Christopher and Norris Christopher, both of Athens; and seven grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to Athens Fitness Park, the American Cancer Society or Hospice of Limestone County.
William L. Dixon
ALBERTVILLE - The Rev. William Leroy Dixon, 93, of 664 Dixon Road died Thursday at his home. The funeral will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Braisher's Chapel FCM Church.
Burial will be in the adjoining cemetery with Adams Funeral Home of Albertville in charge.
Survivors include his wife, Bessie Louise Hard Dixon; three sons, the Rev. Charles Dixon and Walter Dixon, both of Albertville, and Sam Dixon of Hendersonville, Tenn.; five daughters, Pauline Leslie of Guntersville, Margaret Sims of Tennessee, Sue Turley of Delta, Opal Horton of Horton and Doris Duke of Douglasville, Ga.; a sister, Thelma Jones of Stevenson; and 34 grandchildren, 45 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great-grandchildren.
Clarcie V. Dollarhide
HOCHATOWN, Okla. - Clarcie Valrie Dollarhide, 75, died Wednesday in Dallas. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at Norwood-Leonard Funeral Home in Idabel, Okla., with the Rev. Tony Harris officiating.
Burial will be in Denison Cemetery in Idabel.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Lenard Dollarhide.
Survivors include three sons, Larry Dollarhide of Broken Bow, Okla., Lenard Dollarhide of Brentwood, Tenn., formerly of Huntsville, and Billy Dollarhide of Sherman, Texas; three sisters, Marie Ernhardt of Phoenix, Syble Jones of Durant, Okla., and Loraine Storey of Idabel; and eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Barbara R. Dunn
GRANT - Barbara Rose Dunn, 52, of 3326 Swearingen Road died Thursday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at Carr Funeral Home of Guntersville.
Burial will be in the Marshall Memorial Gardens.
Survivors include her husband, Leonard Dunn; three sons, Randy Morton of Gadsden, Robin Morton and Curtis Davidson, both of Guntersville; two sisters, Rhonda Atchley and Cynthia Stevens, both of Kilpatrick; and three grandchildren.
Marie L. Gordon
ATHENS - Marie Lanier Gordon, 76, of 405 West Market St. died Thursday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Athens City Cemetery with Dr. Carl Evans officiating.
Limestone Chapel Funeral Home is in charge of burial.
Mrs. Gordon was a member of First United Methodist Church and was preceded in death by one son, Ray Lanier Gordon.
Survivors include one daughter, Kitty Green haw of Athens; one sister, Jewel Lanier Parker of Waynesboro, Tenn.; and five grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
Memorial donations may be made to the Senior Health Center in Athens.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Clara T. Hall
Clara Tidwell Hall, 87, of Huntsville died Thursday at her home. The funeral will be Saturday at 10 a.m. at Laughlin Service Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Bob Blackburn officiating.
Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery.
Mrs. Hall was born in Hurricane Valley and spent most her life in Huntsville and Madison County. She was a homemaker and had worked several years at Belk-Hudson. She was a member of Southside Baptist Church and was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas R. Hall Jr.
Survivors include one son, Donald A. Hall of Gurley; two daughters, Helen Hall Medlin of Guntersville and Peggy Hall Adams of Huntsville; two brothers, her twin, Clarence A. Tidwell Sr., and Joe Tidwell, both of Huntsville; three sisters, Nan Lambert of South Pittsburgh, Tenn., Louise Mitchell of Mobile and Ruby Ervin of Lynchburg, Tenn.; and nine grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, eight great-step-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be today from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to Hospice Family Care, 2225 Drake Ave., Huntsville, 35801.
Irma G. Hall
PISGAH - Irma Gant Hall, 52, died Wednesday. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at Kerby Funeral Home in Henagar with the Rev. James Lackey and the Rev. Roger Haney officiating.
Burial was to be in Friendship Cemetery in Pisgah.
Mrs. Hall was a member of the Friendship Baptist Church in Pisgah.
Survivors include her husband, Kenneth Hall Sr.; two daughters, Rebecca Cooper of Woodville and Elizabeth Bell of Pisgah; one son, Kenneth Hall Jr. of Pisgah; her mother, Ethel Gant of Pisgah; four brothers, Bill Gant of Birmingham and Larry Gant, Bobby Gant and Wayne Gant, all of Pisgah; and four grandchildren.
Richard V. Hulin
Richard V. Hulin, 57, of Huntsville died Wednesday at a local hospital. The graveside service was today at 11 a.m. at Twickenham Memory Gardens with Bro. John Threatt officiating.
Twickenham Funeral Home East is in charge of burial.
Mr. Hulin moved to Huntsville from Birmingham about 23 years ago. He was a deacon and worked with the youth at Highlands Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Sandy Hulin of Huntsville; two sons, Scott Hulin of Mobile and Mark Hulin of Hazel Green ; one daughter, Lisa Carpenter of Atlanta; two sister, Barbara Pappas of Montgomery and Jean Holland of Jasper; and three grandchilden.
Memorial donations may be made to Highlands Baptist Church.
Erbie Humphrey
COLUMBIA, S.C. - Erbie Humphrey, 59, died Monday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at noon at First Missionary Baptist Church with Dr. Julius R. Scruggs officiating.
Burial will be in Stewart Cemetery in Toney with Royal Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include his wife, Ethel Langford Humphrey of Columbia; one daughter, Jacqueline Verna McCoy of Columbia; one son, James Patrick Humphrey of Jacksonville, N.C.; his mother, Josephine Humphrey of Huntsville; seven sisters, Lillian Humphrey, Ruby Jean Lynch and Doris Humphrey, all of Huntsville, Charlie Mae Ford of Chattanooga, Tenn., Velma Ford of Chicago, Norma Dees of Kansas City, Mo., and Shirley Brown of Macedonia, Ohio; and four grandchildren.
His body will be at the church one hour before the funeral.
Geneva A. Lawrence
ARAB - Geneva Alice Lawrence, 87, of 1037 Old Cullman Road died Thursday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Arab First Baptist Church.
Burial will be in the Brookwood Cemetery with Gober Funeral Home of Arab in charge.
Survivors include two sons, C.B. Lawrence Jr. of Boaz and Billy J. Lawrence of Decatur; two daughters, Benita Abernathy of Guntersville and Patricia Harvell of Arab; and eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Hazel L. Meagher
Hazel Lorraine Meagher, 78, of Huntsville died Thursday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Monday at 10 a.m. at Laughlin Service Funeral Home chapel with Dr. R. Laurence Dill officiating.
Burial will be Monday at 2 p.m. at Red Hill Cemetery in Whitwell, Tenn.
Mrs. Meagher was preceded in death by her husband, Arch W. Meagher.
Survivors include one son, William E. Meagher of Huntsville; one daughter, Carolyn Burns of Huntsville; one brother, Carl Thomas of Lynchburg, Va.; and five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Sunday from 4 to 6 p.m. at the funeral home.
Annie M. Rigsby
Annie Mae Rigsby, 88, of Huntsville died Thursday at a Guntersville nursing home. The funeral will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Huntsville Holiness Church with Pastor David Jones officiating.
Burial will be in Cameron Cemetery with Spry Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. Rigsby was a native of Jackson County but spent most her life in Madison County. She was a retired seamstress, a homemaker and a member of the church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Roy Rigsby.
Survivors include six daughters, Louise Pearman and Doris Cash, both of Huntsville, Betty Weaver of Madison, Faye Shook of Hazel Green, Nancy Gaye of Ashville and Peggy Freeman of Leeds; three sons, Jimmy Rigsby of Huntsville, Johnny Rigsby of Elora, Tenn., and Earl Rigsby of Wartrace, Tenn.; two sisters, Eula Key and Mary Nell Holt, both of Huntsville; one half-sister, Cornelia Cook of Ardmore, Tenn.; three brothers, Virgil Turner and John Turner, both of Huntsville, and Harry Turner of Dothan; two half-brothers, Frank Turner of Chicago and Jack Turner of New Market; and 23 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren, 12 great-step-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren and five great-great-step-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Her body will be at the church one hour before the funeral.
Gerileen Schrimsher
Gerileen Berryhill Schrimsher, 61, of Huntsville died Thursday at a local hospital. The funeral was today at 10 a.m. at Charity Cemetery with the Rev. David McMichael officiating.
Spry Funeral Home is in charge of burial.
Mrs. Schrimsher was a native of Madison County and a member of Mount Zion Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband, Ralph C. Schrimsher of Huntsville; one daughter, Geri S. Simms of Huntsville; one sister, Geneva Sammons of Huntsville; and three brothers, Vernon Berryhill of Grant Falls, N.C., Bobby Berryhill of Hazel Green and J.W. Berryhill of Huntsville.
Donald J. Thiel
Donald Joe Thiel, 54, of Huntsville died Tuesday at a local hospital. The memorial service will be Saturday at 4 p.m. at International Baptist Church with the Rev. Howard Lockwood officiating.
Spry Funeral Home is in charge of arragements.
Mr. Thiel was a retired Army veteran. He worked in the finance office at MICOM and had lived in Huntsville 22 years.
Survivors include his wife, Su Micha Thiel of Huntsville; one daughter, Pamela Su Thiel of Huntsville; and one grandson.
Audry E. Toone
CARROLL COUNTY, Ga. - Audry Ervin Toone, 69, died Thursday at her home. The funeral will be Sunday at 1 p.m. at Taylor-Ardmore Funeral Home in Ardmore, Ala., with Bro. Sammy Brister officiating.
Burial will be in Mount Pleasant Cemetery.
Mrs. Toone was formerly of Ardmore, Ala.
Survivors include her husband, Harry Toone of Carrol County; one son, Keith Toone of Carroll County; one daughter, PaTrina Moran of Douglasville, Ga.; two brothers, Howard "Monk" Ervin of Nashville and Claudie Ervin of Columbia, Tenn.; three sisters, Clara Mae Collins and Velma Watkins, both of Columbia, and Lois McDow of Nashville; and three grandchildren.
Visitation will be Saturday from 5 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Lisa W. Townsend
Lisa Wade Townsend, 39, of Huntsville died Monday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at Union Chapel Missionary Baptist Church with the Rev. O. Wendell Davis officiating.
Burial will be in Meadowlawn Garden of Peace with Nelms Memorial Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include one son, Thomas Clinton Townsend III of Huntsville; her mother, Dorah G. Wade of Huntsville; and one sister, Maria Anntionette Le'De of Huntsville.
George H. Vanderhoof
NEW HOPE - George Howard Vanderhoof, 58, died Wednesday at a Huntsville hospital. The memorial service will be Saturday at 7 p.m. at New Hope Funeral Home chapel with Bro. Simon Mayo officiating.
Survivors include one brother, James E. Vanderhoof of New Jersey; two nephews, Craig Vanderhoof and Edward Vanderhoof, both of New Jersey; and one niece, Ellen Johnson of New Jersey.
Richard H. Venettozzi
Richard H. Venettozzi, 60, of Huntsville died Wednesday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at Good Shepherd Catholic Church with the Rev. Phil O'Kennedy officiating.
Burial will be in Valhalla Memory Gardens with Laughlin Service Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include his wife, Jacqueline Venettozzi of Huntsville; one son, Timothy Venettozzi of Selden, N.Y.; one daughter, Michele Gordon of Selden, N.Y.; two sisters, Eva Conn of Huntsville and Elaine Johnson of Clinton, N.Y.; and two grandchildren and one step-grandson.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Mary Weaver
ALBERTVILLE - Mary Weaver, 89, died Thursday at a local nursing home. The funeral will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Arab Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.
Burial will be in the Brookwood Cemetery.
Survivors include four sons, James "Jim" Weaver of Union Grove, Larry Weaver of Georgia, Huey L. Weaver of Arab and William R. Weaver of Tennessee; one brother, Robert Reagon of Kansas; three sisters, Ruth Adams of Arkansas, Ollie Stovall of Tennessee and Levada Stovall of Mississippi; and 16 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
