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.
George R. Bain
George R. "Dick" Bain, 55, of Huntsville died Monday at his home. Laughlin Service Funeral Home will announce funeral arrangements.
Mr. Bain was a veteran, a Mason and a Shriner. He was retired from BellSouth.
Survivors include his wife, Patsy Bain of Huntsville; one son, David Bain of Decatur; two daughters, Pamela Farnsworth of Huntsville and Carrie A. Bowman of Pell City; and several grandchildren.
Visitation will be Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Golden E. Bethune
SOUTH PITTSBURG, Tenn. - Mrs. Golden Eve Bethune, 89, died Monday. The funeral will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the
Rainsville Funeral Home.
Burial will be in Paynes Chapel Cemetery.
Survivors include two sons, Billy Joe Bethune of Chattanooga and Jeff Bethune of Higdon; four sisters, including Oma Spurgen of Chattanooga, Betty Summerford of Ider and Audy Burton of LaFayette, Ga.; one brother, Charles ''Mutt Holland of Higdon; and three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Visitation was to be today at the funeral home.
Vernon L. Culbert
ALBERTVILLE - Vernon Lucille Culbert, 72, of 3441 Rose Road died Sunday at her home. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at Adams Funeral Home in Albertville.
Burial was to be in Woosley Cemetery.
Survivors include one daughter, Sandra Kirkland of Albertville; one son, Richard Culbert of Guntersville; one sister, Thelma Minor of Albertville; four brothers, Joe Rhoades and Clyde Rhoades, both of Washington, and Hubert Rhoades of Oregon and Bill Rhoades of Georgia; and six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Paul P. Gilbert
HARVEST - Paul Palmer Gilbert, 63, died Monday at his home. The funeral will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Spry Funeral Home chapel.
Burial will be in Charity Cemetery in Hazel Green .
Mr. Gilbert, a native of Fluxier, Ky., had lived in Huntsville since 1981. He was retired from the U.S. Air Force and DecisionOne.
Survivors include his wife, Thelma Gilbert of Harvest; one son, David Wayne Gilbert of Harvest; and one daughter, Janet Lee Gilbert of Harvest.
Visitation will be today from 4 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Thomas V. Gilbert
The Rev. Thomas V. Gilbert, 65, of 1103 Chestnut Road in Huntsville died Friday at his home. The funeral will be Thursday at 1 p.m. at Wrights Chapel United Methodist Church in Brownsville with the Rev. Gary Formby officiating. A memorial service will be held today at 7 p.m. at Lowes Chapel United Methodist Church.
Burial will be in Zion Memorial Cemetery with Royal Funeral Home in charge.
The Rev. Mr. Gilbert was pastor at Lowes Chapel United Methodist Church and a former pastor at Wrights Chapel United Methodist Church. He was a supervisor at Stockham Valves and Sitting and attended Alabama A&M University.
Survivors include his wife, Mildred Gilbert of Huntsville; six daughters, Gloria Moore, Teara Brooks and Rhonda Milton, all of Birmingham, Joann Gilmore of Brooklyn, N.Y., Sharon Gilbert of Toney and Debra Bolling of Atlanta; one sister, Emma Pearl Lacey of Birmingham; and one brother, Wilber Gilbert of Birmingham; and 11 grandchildren.
Elva Herchenhahn
DECATUR - Mrs. Elva Mae Herchenhahn, 79, died Monday at a Decatur hospital. The funeral will be Thursday at 2 p.m. at
Roselawn Funeral Home with the Rev. Brooks Barkley officiating.
Burial will be in Roselawn Cemetery.
Mrs. Herchenhahn was a member of Southside Baptist Church.
Survivors include three daughters, Elizabeth H. Paddack of Dayton, Ohio, and Mary Ann Newton and Diane Nugent, both of Decatur; two sons, Terry J. Herchenhahn of Hanceville, Elbert Mark Herchenhahn of Decatur and Teddy A. Herchenhahn of Price ville; five sisters, Nelda Karr of Danville, Delpha Hayes and Maxine Fuller, both of Hanceville, and Jewell Monk and Shelby Green e, both of Decatur; and 16 grandchildren, four step-grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Jewell S. Herrington
Jewell Smith Herrington, 94, of Huntsville died Monday at her home. A memorial service will be today at 7:30 p.m. at Spry Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Lynn Dimon officiating. The funeral will be Thursday at noon at Union Cemetery in Union, Miss.
Mrs. Herrington, a native of Mississippi, had lived in Huntsville since 1970 and was a member of the Eastern Star and First United Methodist Church.
Survivors include one daughter, Martha Edwards of Huntsville; two sisters, Willo Nicholson of Philadelphia and Waulette Smith of Gulfport, Miss.; four brothers, Orvil Smith of Morton, Miss., Horace Smith of Cantonment, Fla., Howard Smith of Odessa, Texas, and Harold Smith of Pensacola; and four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to Aldersgate United Methodist Church or to Hospice.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Joe F. Hollis
ARAB - Joe Frost Hollis, 75, died Sunday at his home. The memorial service will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at First United Methodist Church of Arab with the Rev. Talmadge Clayton officiating.
Valhalla Funeral Home will be in charge of burial.
Mr. Hollis was a member of First United methodist Church, a World War II Marine Corps veteran, a member of the Lions Club, a graduate of the LSU School of Banking and the former president and chairman of the board at Security Bank and Trust Co. in Arab.
He retired in 1973.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Nall Hollis; one daughter, Merrill Hollis Mora of Valencia, Venezuela; one son, F. Nall Hollis of Huntsville; one sister, Mary Edna Taylor Foster of Mobile; four brothers, Dr. Morris W. Hollis of Sylacauga, Dr. John W. Hollis of Huntsville, Dr. J. Robert Hollis of Selma and Dr. Thomas G. Hollis of Lake Martin; and one grandchild.
Visitation will be Wednesday at 1 p.m. at the church.
Memorial donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Arab building fund.
Bernice Johnson
EUPORA, Miss. - Bernice Johnson, 72, died Sunday in Eupora. The funeral was to be today at 3 p.m. at Oliver Funeral Home chapel in Eupora.
Burial will be in Big Creek Methodist Cemetery in Sturgis, Miss.
Survivors include two sons, Sonny Johnson of Hattiesburg and Jerry Johnson of Meridianville, Ala.; three sisters, Eris Simmons of Sturgis, Avis Zepponi of Holly Ridge and Jimmie Morgan of Deer Park, Texas; and five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Glennice Kirkpatrick
HIGDON - Mrs. Glennice Kirkpatrick, 60, died Monday at a Fort Payne hospital. The funeral will be Wednesday at noon at the Rainsville Funeral Home with the Rev. Sam Whited officiating.
Burial will be in New Bethel Cemetery.
Survivors include her husband, James Kirkpatrick; one daughter, Cindy Kirkpatrick of Higdon; one son, Eddie Kirkpatrick of Bryant; seven sisters, Jeanette Martin of Tenbroeck, Annie Pearl Hester of Valley Head, June Wright of Henagar, Bonnie Woods of Powell and Inez Woods, Daisy Busby and Delinda Bean, all of Rainsville; and five grandchildren.
Doris Kirshtein
ATLANTA - Doris Mae Aaronson Kirshtein, 77, formerly of Huntsville, died Wednesday in Atlanta. The memorial service will be Sunday at noon at Temple Bnai Shalom.
Mrs. Kirshtein was a retired Huntsville city schools teacher.
Survivors include two sons, David H. Kirshtein of Atlanta and Philip M. Kirshtein of New Market; and three grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to American Cancer Society.
Flora B. Knight
UNION GROVE - Flora Bell Knight, 77, of 1028 New Friendship Road died Sunday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral was Monday at New Friendship Baptist Church.
Burial was in the adjoining cemetery with Arab Memorial Chapel Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include two daughters, Brenda Richards and Martha Peacock, both of Huntsville; two sons, David Knight of Laceys Spring and Phillip Knight of Union Grove; two sisters, Dallas Whatley of Dallas and Mary Gilley of Union Grove; one brother, James Saint of Montgomery; and nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Beate Leow
Beate Leow, 43, of Huntsville died Saturday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Laughlin Service Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Hal Howard officiating.
Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery.
Survivors include her husband, John R. Leow of Huntsville; one daughter, Tammy Williams of Huntsville; two sons, Chrispian Burks and Anthony Burks, both of Huntsville; her mother, Hildegard Metz of Germany; and three brothers, Achim Herder, Matthais Herder and Karlinz Herder, all of Germany.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Devin C. Martinez
FAYETTEVILLE, Tenn. - Devin Collin Martinez, 3, of 426 Bridalwood Drive died Sunday at a local hospital. The funeral was to be today at 10 a.m. at Higgins Funeral Home with the Rev. Dwight Smith officiating.
Burial will be in Cedar Hills Memorial Gardens with Higgins Funeral Home in charge.
He was preceded in death by one brother, Jonathan Ryan Martinez.
Survivors include his parents, Roger Jr. and Deidra Martinez, both of Fayetteville; one sister, Shelby Martinez of Fayetteville; his maternal grandparents, Wayne and Jennifer Smith of Fayetteville; his paternal grandparents, Paul and Juanita Funk of Fayetteville and Roger Sr. and Lena Ruth Martinez of Huntsville; and a great-grandmother, Cresenciano Sanchez.
Maud McMurry
MADISON - Maud McMurry, 88, died Monday at a local hospital. The graveside service will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Shady Grove Cemetery in Franklin County with the Rev. Bobby Poss officiating.
Laughlin Service Funeral Home will be in charge of burial.
Mrs. McMurry was a member of Hillsboro Heights Baptist Church.
Survivors include one son, Jerry McMurry of Guntersville; one daughter, Margaret Ann Cornelius of Madison; two sisters, Ovie Strickland of Pennsville, N.J., and Rachel Roland of Harriman, Tenn.; and four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Maria Morash
HARVEST - Maria Teresa Catalina Morash, 62, died June 25 at a Beaumont, Texas, hospital. A private funeral was Thursday at Veterans Administration National Cemetery in Chattanooga.
Mrs. Morash was a native of Torreon, Coahuilla, Mexico. She was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Madison.
Survivors include her husband, John F. Morash Sr. of Harvest; one son, John F. Morash Jr. of Harvest; and one brother, Juan J. Nalda of Paramount, Calif.
Noreen S. Payne
Noreen Slattery Payne, 52, of Huntsville died Monday at her home. The graveside service will be Wednesday at 10 a.m. at Maple Hill Cemetery with the Rev. Roman Mueller officiating.
Laughlin Service Funeral Home will be in charge of burial.
Mrs. Payne was a Junior League sustainer and a member of St. Josephs Catholic Church and the Alabama Zoological Society.
Survivors include her husband, Dave Payne of Huntsville; three sons, Mark Payne, John Payne and Davison Payne, all of Huntsville; her mother, Lil Slattery of Huntsville; one brother, Bart Slattery of Atlanta; and two grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to the Alabama Zoological Society Animal Sponsorship Fund, 2630 Cahaba Road, Birmingham, Ala., 35223.
Phillip M. Pepper
ATHENS - Phillip Maurice Pepper, 62, of Looney Road died Saturday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral was Monday at McConnell Funeral Home with Billy McGregor officiating.
Burial was in Roselawn Cemetery.
Mr. Pepper was a native of Limestone County and was retired from Ford Motor Co. in Sheffield where he was a machine operator.
Survivors include one daughter, Tammy Cargile of Athens; one son, Tim M. Pepper of Athens; his parents, Wilton L. and Nella Norton Pepper of Athens; two sisters, Patricia Abernathy and Pam Grisham, both of Athens; two brothers, Marion K. Pepper and William L. Pepper, both of Athens; and a special friend, Sadie Hobbs of Athens.
Shirley L. Spann
ARAB - Shirley L. Spann, 59, of 351 Bonair Drive died Saturday at her home. The graveside service was to be today at 2 p.m. at Brookwood Cemetery with Gober Funeral Home of Arab directing.
Survivors include her husband, Charlie Spann; one daughter, Deborah Bostick of Arab; one son, Steven Spann of Arab; her mother, Icle Lankford of Arab; one sister, Nell McGill of Arab; and three brothers, Glennell Lankford, Donald Lankford and Aaron Lankford, all of Arab.
George Stubbs
DECATUR - George Stubbs, 79, died Monday at a Decatur hospital. Sharpley Funeral Home will announce funeral arrangements.
Bobby Tucker
GRANT - Bobby Tucker, 66, died Sunday at his home. The funeral will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Grant.
Burial will be in Free Home Cemetery with Grant Memorial Chapel Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include his wife, Helen Bearden Tucker of Grant; two sons, Kenneth Tucker of Athens and Dr. Patrick Tucker of Huntsville; one sister, Betty Burroughs of Scottsboro; four brothers, Dr. Olon Tucker, Billy Ray Tucker and Nelson Travis, all of Grant, and Travis Tucker of Michigan.
Visitation will be Tuesday at 5 p.m. for family and 6 p.m. for friends.
Stella Voce
LACEYS SPRING - Stella Voce, 81, of Route 1, Laceys Spring, died Sunday at a Gardendale nursing home. The funeral was today at 11 a.m. at Arab Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.
Burial was in Ashridge Methodist Church Cemetery at Double Springs.
Survivors include two daughters, Aileen Martin of Huntsville and Virginia Baldy of Ashridge; two sons, Harold Voce of Crane Hill and Richard Voce of Birmingham; and 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
James B. Winton
James Bernard Winton, 32, of Huntsville died Sunday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Thatch-Mann Cemetery with the Rev. Wayne Snodgrass officiating.
Reynolds Funeral Home of Decatur will be in charge of burial.
Mr. Winton was a native of Limestone County.
Survivors include his wife, Jennifer Winton of Huntsville; his parents, Nathaniel and Clarissa Winton of Huntsville; three brothers, Jaris LaDell Winton, Christopher Winton and Jonathan Winton, all of Huntsville; one grandfather, Andrew Winton of Somerville; and one aunt.
