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.
Junita P. Allard
Junita Patience Allard, 83, of Huntsville died Tuesday at a local nursing home. Spry Funeral Home will announce funeral arrangements.
Mrs. Allard was a native of Oklahoma, a former resident of Barefoot Bay, Fla., and had lived in Madison County four years.
Survivors include one daughter, Joanne L. Long of Decatur; and one niece, Kathy Huff of Topeka, Kansas.
Douglas C. Broyles Jr.
SAN ANTONIO, Fla. - Douglas C. Broyles Jr., 81, died Tuesday at a Tampa hospital. The funeral will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at Trinity Memorial Gardens Cemetery with full military honors.
Trinity Memorial Gardens Funeral Home is in charge of burial.
Mr. Broyles was a native of Madison.
Survivors include his wife, Helen Broyles of San Antonio; three sons, Douglas Broyles III of Lutz, Fla., Greg Broyles of Tampa and Robert Broyles of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; one daughter, Bonney Dunn of Wenatchee, Wash.; two sisters, Mary Lee Mahaffey of Montevallo and Lucille Alsup of Madison; and seven grandchildren.
Paul P. Bunch
UNION GROVE - Paul Pritchett Bunch, 80, of 3037 Union Grove Road died Wednesday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Friday at 11 a.m. at Carr Funeral Home in Guntersville.
Burial will be in Union Grove Cemetery.
Survivors include his wife, Vergie Bunch; one daughter, Carol Weaver of Arab; one son, Sammy Bunch of Albertville; two sisters, Lorene Isbell of Arab and Edna Bunch of Union Grove; one brother, Lyma Bunch of Arab; and four grandchildren.
Rev. Sam A. Butler
LANGSTON - The Rev. Sam A. Butler, 79, died Tuesday at his home. The graveside service was to be today at 2 p.m. at Hillcrest Cemetery in Boaz with Dr. Rick Stevens and the Rev. Gilbert Burke officiating.
The Rev. Butler was a retired Baptist minister and a U.S. Air Force veteran of World War II.
Survivors include his wife, Ruth Butler; one daughter, Gale Hallmark of San Antonio, Texas; three sons, Sam A Buter Jr. of Mansfield, Texas, Dan Butler of Birmingham and Joe Butler of Lewisville, Texas; one sister, Mary Edith Thompson of Huntsville; two brothers, Ralph Butler of Birmingham and Marvin Butler of Boaz; and nine grandchildren.
Leona Gilbreath
ALBERTVILLE - Leona Gilbreath, 90, of Albertville died Tuesday at a local hospital. The funeral was to be today at 11 a.m. at Albertville Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.
Burial was to be in Henegar Cemetery.
Survivors include one daughter, Ruth Herring of Albertville; two sons, W.L. Roberts of California and Verlon Gilbreath of Georgia; and five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Clayton R. Gradine
ARAB - Clayton Russell Gradine, 75, died Wednesday at a Huntsville hospital. The memorial service will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at Arab Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.
Survivors include his wife, Nila Gradine; two daughters, Rosemary Lewis and Cathy Gradine, both of Florida; one sister, Dorothy Cross of Washington; and one grandchild.
R.P. Hayes
ARAB - R.P. Hayes, 81, of 1110 County Road 1828 died Wednesday at his home. The funeral will be Friday at 11 a.m. at Warrior Creek Baptist Church.
Burial will be in New Canaan Cemetery with Arab Memorial Chapel Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include his wife, Opal Hayes; one daughter, Jeanette Stone of Arab; one son, Bobby Hayes of Arab; and six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Helen D. Hudson
FLINTVILLE, Tenn. - Helen Dorning Hudson, 59, of 182 Pendergrass Road died Tuesday at her home. The funeral will be Thursday at 11 a.m. at McCauley Funeral Home in Fayetteville, Tenn., with the Rev. Charles Jones and the Rev. Kirk Smith officiating.
Mrs. Hudson was a native of Madison County, a homemaker and a member of Flintville Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband, Tim Hudson of Flintville; one daughter, Tina Hudson Phillips of Flintville; one son, Patrick Kyle Hudson of Flintville; two sisters, Sue Kinsey Boswell of Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., and Bobbye J. Mick of Huntsville; four brothers, Irving Dorning Jr. of Lawrenceburg, Tenn., William Dorning of Leoma, Tenn., and Ken Dorning and Jerry Dorning, both of Fayetteville; and one grandson and several nieces and nephews.
Robert L. Jones
Robert L. Jones, 47, of Huntsville died Monday at his home. The memorial service will be Friday at 6 p.m. at Laughlin Service Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. J.B. Pendergraft officiating.
Survivors include two nieces, Chris Heckler and Lynn Colburn, both of Huntsville; and two great-nieces and one great-nephew.
Visitation will be Friday from 5:30 to 6 p.m. at the funeral home.
Millie A. Kemp
Millie Ann Kemp, 68, of Huntsville died Sunday. The funeral will be Friday at noon at Madkins Chapel Cumberland Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Endia Scruggs officiating.
Burial will be in Meadowlawn Garden of Peace with Royal Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include one daughter, Ollie Ann Franklin of Huntsville; two sisters, Beulah McCaulley and Igusta Sandifer, both of Huntsville; one brother, Alexander Seay of Huntsville; and six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Eliza Love
Eliza Love, 73, of 1302 Lancewood Drive in Huntsville died Monday. The funeral will be Sunday at 1 p.m. at First Seventh-day Adventist Church with Elder Benjamin Jones officiating.
Burial will be in Meadowlawn Garden of Peace with Royal Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include two daughters, Lena Love of Huntsville and Alice Omaji of Starkville, Miss.; two sons, Bobby Joe Parker of Huntsville and Howard James Parker of Chattanooga, Tenn.; four sisters, Margaret Nance and Olivia Love, both of Huntsville, and Mary Pruett and Peacola Whatley, both of Chattanooga; two brothers, Willie Love of Huntsville and J.T. Love of Cleveland; and five grandchildren.
Her body will be at the church one hour before the funeral.
Thurman Mauldin
Thurman "Tim" Mauldin, 76, of Huntsville died Tuesday at his home. The funeral will be Friday at 10:30 a.m. at First Baptist Church with Dr. Ralph Langley officiating.
Burial will be in Valhalla Memory Gardens with Valhalla Funeral Home in charge.
Mr. Mauldin was a member of the First Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Thea Mauldin of Huntsville; three daughter, Julia Mauldin of Massachusetts, Rebecca Roller of Auburn and Lisa Browne of Missouri; three sons, Manning Mauldin of Colorado, Harris Mauldin of Huntsville and Michael Mauldin of Holland; one sister, Edith Davis of Mississippi; and seven grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial donations may be made to the church.
Visitation will be Friday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home.
Lucille Melton
MADISON - Lucille Melton, 84, died Wednesday at a Moulton hospital. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Spry Funeral Home of Athens.
Derrick Porterfield Sr.
HAZEL GREEN - Derrick Porterfield Sr., 41, of Stateline Road died Wednesday at his home. The funeral will be Friday at 11 a.m. at Taylor-Ardmore Funeral Home chapel with Bro. Al Rudolph officiating.
Burial will be in Gatlin Cemetery.
Mr. Porterfield was a member of Stateline Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Rhonda Kay Porterfield of Hazel Green ; two sons, Lyndell Derreck Porterfield Jr. and Brian Keith Porterfield, both of Hazel Green ; his father, James Morgan Porterfield of Minor Hill, Tenn.; one brother, James Michael Porterfield of Ardmore, Ala.; and three sisters, Sandra Gail Sisk of Toney, and Janice Marie Holt and Joanie Teresa Holt, both of Pulaski, Tenn.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Pansy B. Roberts
RAINSVILLE - Pansy Bailey Roberts, 81, died Wednesday at her home. The funeral will be Friday at 2 p.m. at Rainsville Funeral Home with Rev. Melvin Dawson and Dorsey Walker officiating.
Burial will be in New Canaan Cemetery.
Survivors include three daughters, Brenda Keller and Nancy Keller, both of Rainsville, and Anne Griffin of Kingston, Tenn.; two sisters, Pauline Haymon of Sylvania and Joy Faulkner of Gainesville, Texas; one brother, Jack Bailey of Cape May, N.J.; and eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Rebecca A. Shedd
CULLMAN - Rebecca Annerton Shedd, 68, died Wednesday at a local hospital. The graveside service will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Roselawn Cemetery in Athens with Charles Annerton officiating.
Spry Funeral Home of Athens is in charge of burial.
Mrs. Shedd was a native of Limestone County and a homemaker.
Survivors include one son, Norman Shedd of Beaumont, Texas; one sister, Katherine Himmel of Meridianville; two brothers, David Annerton of Huntsville and Charles Annerton of Athens; and one granddaghter and nieces and nephews.
Ruth V. Smallwood
TANNER - Ruth Virginia Smallwood, 74, died Wednesday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral will be Friday at 11 a.m. at Limestone Memorial Gardens with the Rev. Carl Smallwood officiating.
Limestone Chapel Funeral Home is in charge of burial.
Mrs. Smallwood was a member of the Church of Christ.
Survivors include three sisters, Molly McAdams and Dorothy Lakes, both of Tanner, and Jane Halbrooks of Decatur; two brothers, Carl Smallwood of Decatur and Bill Smallwood of Dothan; and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Mary O. Sowell
ATHENS - Mary Ozell Sowell, 88, of U.S. 72 East, died Tuesday at a local hospital. The funeral was to be today at 11 a.m. at McConnell Funeral Home with Eddie Gooch and Barry Dunn officiating.
Burial was to be in Athens City Cemetery.
Mrs. Sowell was a native of Limestone County and a member of Cambridge United Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, W.F. Sowell, and one sister, Leovis Whitt.
Ruby L. Stone
BOAZ - Ruby Lenora Stone, 88, of Boaz died Tuesday at a local hospital. The funeral was to be today at noon at First Baptist Church in Boaz.
Burial was to be in Mount Zion Cemetery with Albertville Memorial Chapel Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include one daughter, Barbara Wright of Boaz; two sisters, Bertha Battles and Hazel Walker, both of Boaz; two brothers, Doyle Johnson and Ernest Johnson, both of Boaz; and two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Opal Sumners
TAFT, Tenn. - Opal Sumners, 69, of 1707 Ardmore Highway died Tuesday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral will be Friday at 11 a.m. at Higgins Funeral Home in Fayetteville, Tenn., with the Rev. Wayne Simmons officiating.
Burial will be in Blanche Cemetery.
Mrs. Sumners was a native of Blanche, Tenn., had worked for Serbins Fashions Co. and retired from the Ardmore Cheese Store. She was a member of Blanche United Methodist Church.
Survivors include her husband, James Cole Sumners of Blanche; four sons, Jim Sumners, Danny Sumners and Donny Sumners, all of Blanche, and Benny Joe Sumners of Ardmore, Ala.; one sister, Annie Ganann of Ackerman, Miss.; one brother, Bob Whitt of Blanche; and two grandchildren and four step-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 5 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Ruby K. Thomas
SCOTTSBORO - Ruby Kennamer Thomas, 87, died Tuesday at her home. The funeral was to be today at 11 a.m. at Scottsboro Funeral Home with the Rev. Gene Thomas, the Rev. Darrel Chambers and the Rev. Leon Etheredge officiating.
Burial was to be in Union Cemetery.
Mrs. Thomas was preceded in death by her husband, Clyde Thomas; and one son, K. Thomas.
Survivors include one daughter, Sue Thomas of Scottsboro; two granddaughters, Pam Vernon of Woodville and Paula Wilson of Boaz; and three great-grandchildren.
William E. Weaver
William Edward Weaver Sr., 80, of Huntsville died today at a local hospital. Spry Funeral Home will announce funeral arrangements.
Mr. Weaver was a native of Limestone County and had lived in Huntsville most of his life. He was also a World War II veteran.
Brooksie H. Wilks
BOAZ - Brooksie Heard Wilks, 85, of Boaz died Tuesday at a local hospital. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at Carr Funeral Home in Boaz. Burial was to be in Hillcrest Cemetery.
Survivors include two daughters, Novis Hale of Florida and Evora Holliday of Boaz; three sisters, Rosa Martin of Boaz, Jewell Brown of Albertville and Annie Akins of Florida; one brother, John Heard of Boaz; and three grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Jessie L. Zarger
Jessie L. Zarger, 64, of Huntsville died Monday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Friday at 2 p.m. at Valhalla Funeral Home chapel. Burial will be in Valhalla Memory Gardens.
Survivors include her husband, Courson Zarger of Huntsville; three daughters, Suzanne Zarger of Huntsville, Michelle Marshall of Nicholasville, Ky., and Tina Bagby of Campbellsville, Ky.; one son, Curtis Zarger of Louisville, Ky.; and eight grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
