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.
Barbara A. Ashby
SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. - Barbara Ann Ashby, 56, died Thursday at a Murfreesboro hospital. The funeral will be Monday at 1 p.m. at Gallant Funeral Home of Fayetteville, Tenn.
Burial will be in Booneville Cemetery.
Miss Ashby was a native of Lincoln County. She was a retired dispatcher for the Glades County Sheriff's Department in Clewiston, Fla.
There are no immediate survivors.
Visitation will be today from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Robert D. Barney
Robert Donald Barney, 85, of Huntsville died Thursday at a local nursing home. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at Valhalla Funeral Home with the Rev. Glenn Courtney officiating.
Burial will be in Valhalla Memory Gardens.
Mr. Barney was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
Survivors include his wife, Geraldine Curtis Barney; two daughters, Shannon Linville of Daphne and Dawn Walton of Huntsville; two sons, Gary Barney of Wisconsin and David Barney of Michigan; one sister, Ruth Condon of Florida; five brothers, Raymond Barney, Willie Barney, Dick Barney and Clifford Barney, all of Michigan, and Phil Barney of Arizona; and nine grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Huntsville Hospice.
James E. Bramlett
VALHERMOSO SPRINGS - James Ernest Bramlett, 77, died Friday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral will be Monday at 11 a.m. at Valhermoso First Christian Church with the Rev. Clint Coffey and the Rev. Wendell Miller officiating.
Burial will be in Valhermoso Springs Cemetery with Peck Funeral Home of Hartselle in charge.
Mr. Bramlett was a member of Valhermoso First Christian Church. He was preceded in death by his wife, Meriam Marie Bramlett.
Survivors include two sons, James W. Bramlett of Valhermoso Springs and Ernest Keith Bramlett of Ashville, N.C.; one daughter, Sandra B. Sims of Valhermoso Springs; one brother, Adrian Dwain Bramlett of Chicago; and five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Joe B. Malone
FRANKEWING, Tenn. - Joe Ben Malone, 83, of 38 Scagg Road died Friday at his home. The funeral will be Monday at 10 a.m. at McCauley Funeral Home in Fayetteville, Tenn., with Bro. Don Hudson officiating.
Mr. Malone was a native of Frankewing and a farmer.
Survivors include two daughters, Jane Drake and Jo Anne Buford, both of Fairview, Tenn.; one brother, John Roscoe Malone of Frankewing; one sister, Ethel Mae Creecy of Gallatin, Tenn.; and three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 3 to 6 p.m. at the funeral home.
Arthur C. McGuire
GOODSPRINGS - Arthur Claude McGuire, 76, died Friday at a Florence hospital. A grave- side service will be today at 3 p.m. at New Salem Cemetery in Limestone County with the Rev. Ralph Moore officiating and Taylor-Ardmore Funeral Home in charge.
Mr. McGuire was a member of Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by seven brothers and sisters.
Survivors include his wife, Lois McGuire; two daughters, Claudette McGuire Bradford of Rogersville and Janette McGuire Daniels of Athens; one brother, Bobby McGuire of Athens; three sisters, Mildred Lambert and Mable Crafts, both of Athens, and Ruth Mitchell of Huntsville; and three grandsons.
Visitation will be today from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at his home, 33073 Alabama Highway 99 in Goodsprings.
Emmett O. Mearse
PISGAH - Emmett O. Mearse, 88, died Friday. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at Kerby Funeral Home in Henagar with the Rev. Watson Williams and the Rev. Charles Underwood officiating.
Burial will be in Green haven Memorial Gardens in Henagar.
Mr. Mearse was retired from Singer-Coble Machine Shop in Chattanooga. He was a member of the Freehill Baptist Church in Rosalie, a mason and a U.S. Army veteran of World War II.
Survivors include his wife, Bessie Walker Mearse; one daughter, Hilda Jo Rooks of Henagar; two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
John A. Patton
John Alexander Patton, 92, of Huntsville died Friday at his home. The funeral will be Monday at 2 p.m. at Brainerd United Methodist Church in Chattanooga with the Rev. Brent Hall and the Rev. Harper Sasser officiating.
Burial will be in Brainerd Cemetery with Spry Funeral Home in charge of local arrangements.
Mr. Patton was retired from TVA where he worked for 37 years. He was a past master of Brainerd Masonic Lodge and member of Brainerd United Methodist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Frances McKnight Patton; one daughter, Johnice Patton Young of Huntsville; two grandsons, Marc Corley Young and Kevin Hayes Young; and four great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Monday at the church for one hour before the funeral.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Epworth United Methodist Church Building Fund in Huntsville.
A.B. Pugh
ELKMONT - A.B. ''Boots'' Pugh, 63, of 21011 Alabama 127, died Saturday at his home. The funeral will be Monday at noon at McConnell Funeral Home in Athens with Leamuel Green officiating.
Burial will be in Sandlin Cemetery.
Mr. Pugh was a native of Limestone County, retired as a Limestone County Animal Control Officer and retired from Burgreen Construction Co. He was preceded in death by one brother, Thomas Pugh.
Survivors include his wife, Judy Ann Pugh; one daughter, Jennifer Craig of Elkmont; two brothers, David Pugh and Franklin Brooks, both of Athens; and one sister, Cindy Siniard of Athens.
Arland L. Reasor
Arland L. ''Al'' Reasor, 78, of Huntsville died Friday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Monday at 1 p.m. at Valhalla Funeral Home chapel.
Burial will be in Valhalla Memory Gardens.
Mr. Reasor was a member of the Madison County Mustang Club and member of the U.S. Army 8th Infantry Division.
Survivors include one daughter, Karen Tidmore of Huntsville; one son, Daryl Reasor of Huntsville; two brothers, Arthur Reasor Jr. of Louisiana and Gene Reasor of New York; and three grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be today from 3 to 5 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to the World War II Memorial in Washington.
Pearline B. Taylor
Pearline B. Taylor, 70, of Huntsville died Thursday at her home. The funeral will be today at 1 p.m. at Spry Funeral Home with the Rev. Rodney Bowling officiating.
Burial will be in Madison City Cemetery.
Mrs. Taylor was a lifelong resident of Madison County.
Survivors include two daughters, Phyllis S. Villarreal and Julia Smith, both of Huntsville; two sons, Bruce Stallings of Decatur and Robert C. Taylor II of Harvest; two sisters, Martha R. Cornelison of Missouri and Bennie K. Buckner of Florida; four brothers, Marvin W. Brandon, Vernon Brandon, Bruce G. Brandon and John H. Flynn, all of Missouri; and three grandchildren.
Robert E. Thompson
HAMPTON COVE - Robert Edwin Thompson, 75, died Friday at his home. The funeral will be Monday at 11 a.m. at St. Columba Episcopal Church with the Rev. Larry Mentor officiating.
Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery with Spry Funeral Home in charge.
Mr. Thompson was a native of Los Angeles and a resident of Madison County for the last four years. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Navy. He was preceded in death by one son, Mark Thompson.
Survivors include his wife, Patricia Thompson; one daughter, Diane Cooper of Sunland, Calif.; one son, Bruce Thompson, New Harmony, Utah; one stepson, Bill Coker of Huntsville; and 12 grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 5 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Charles L. Toney
CHATTANOOGA - Charles Leonard ''C.L.'' Toney, 64, died Friday at a hospital in Sewanee, Tenn. The funeral will be Monday at 1:30 p.m. at Rudder Funeral Home in Stevenson, Ala., with the Rev. Stanley Weldon and the Rev. Jeff Cole officiating.
Burial will be in Old Baptist Cemetery in Stevenson.
Survivors include two sons, Johnny Toney and Jeffery Toney, both of Chattanooga; three sisters, Bennie Williams of Flat Rock, Ida Holcomb of Whitwell, Tenn., and Nellie Lamons of Chuckey, Tenn.; and three brothers, Raymond Toney of Ider, Bobby Toney of Huntsville and Lee Toney of Chattanooga.
Visitation will be today from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Rena Ulrich
MADISON - Rena Ulrich, 87, died Friday. Spry Funeral Home will announce arrangements.
Mrs. Ulrich was a native of Pittsburgh, Penn., and a resident of Madison County for the past 6 1/2 years.
Survivors include one daughter, Toni Nicholson of Madison; one grandson, Jeffrey Guess of Paris, France; and one great-grandson.
Memorial donations may be made to Southern Care Hospice.
Ollie Vann Sr.
GRANT - Oliie Vann Sr., 80, died Friday at his home. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at New Hope Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. C.H. Drake officiating.
Burial will be in Whitaker Cemetery in New Hope.
Mr. Vann was a U.S. Army veteran.
Survivors include his wife, Lillie Vann; three daughters, Marie Simmons of New Hope, Ruby Vann of Madison and Ann Winston of Grant; two sons, Charles Richard Vann of Montgomery and Ollie Vann Jr. of New Hope; two stepdaughters, Nancy Dake of New Hope and Janice Parker of Guntersville; two stepsons, Lester Dake and Johnny Osborne, both of Arab; one sister, Wilma Poarch of Grant; one brother, Buddy Vann of Grant; and 10 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, 12 step-grandchildren and 14 step-great-grandchildren.
Jui-Chih Wang
Jui-Chih Wang, 77, of Huntsville died Wednesday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Tuesday at 10 a.m. at Twickenham Funeral Home South chapel with Dr. Fan-Tsong Iseng officiating.
Mr. Wang was preceded in death by his wife, Weng-Hwa Wong.
Survivors include five sons, Hwai-Tseng Wang of China, Hwai-Tsu Wang of Huntsville, Hwai-Te Wang and Hwai-Chung Wang, both of Taiwan, and Hwai-Kuo Wang of Atlanta; and several grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 3 to 5 p.m. at the funeral home.
John H. Wright
JACKSONVILLE - John H. Wright, 68, died Wednesday at his home. A memorial service will be Sunday, Dec. 19, at 2 p.m. at Cheaha State Park chapel.
Mr. Wright retired from the U.S. Army Missile Command at Redstone Arsenal in 1986.
Survivors include his wife, Joan Clements Wright; one daughter, Amanda Lee Wright of San Diego; one son, Nathan Hart Wright of Dallas; one brother, Henry S. Wright of Canyon Lake, Texas; a special cousin, Jack Calvin Ellis of Lubbock, Texas; and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be one hour before the service at the park.
Memorial donations may be made to the First Baptist Church of Jacksonville or New Hopewell Baptist Church in Piedmont.
Ed Jones
DYER, Tenn. - Former U.S. Rep. Ed Jones, who sponsored major farm legislation during his 20 years in Congress, died Saturday of congestive heart failure. He was 87.
The Yorkville native was the third-ranking member on the House Agriculture Committee when he retired in 1988 after 10 terms representing the rural 8th District in West Tennessee. He was elected to represent the district in March 1969 after U.S. Rep. Robert A. Everett died in office.
Jones grew up on a farm in Yorkville and attended the University of Tennessee. He began his career as a dairy inspector with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.
He died at the Dyer Nursing Home. His funeral will be Monday at the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Dyer. Visitation will be Sunday at Karnes and Son Funeral Home in Dyer.
Jones is survived by his wife, Mrs. Llewellyn Jones of Yorkville; a daughter, Dr. Jennifer Jones Kinnard of Memphis; his brother, Lawrence Jones of Yorkville, and a granddaughter.
Shirley Hemphill
LOS ANGELES - Shirley Hemphill, who played a wisecracking waitress on the 1970s sitcom "What's Happening!!," was found dead Friday in her home. She was 52.
Gardeners called authorities Friday morning after they looked through a window and saw her face down on the bedroom floor, said Scott Gilmore, a West Covina Fire Department paramedic.
Paramedics forced their way through the garage door and pronounced her dead at the scene. It was not known how long she had been there, and the gardeners said they last saw her on Dec. 3, Gilmore said.
Ms. Hemphill played waitress Shirley Wilson on "What's Happening!!" The comedy, which ran from 1976-79, centered on three high school students who hung out together.
She also appeared on the series "One in a Million" in 1980, followed by a remake of the 1970s show called "What's Happening Now!," which ran from 1985-88.
