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.
Otha L. Acuff
MERIDIANVILLE - Otha L. ''Buster Acuff, 67, died Tuesday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Friday at 10 a.m. at Valhalla Funeral Home with Tommy Rosenblum, Byron Laird and J.B. Whitaker officiating.
Entombment will be in Valhalla Memory Gardens.
Mr. Acuff was a minister at the Taft Church of Christ and a U.S. Army veteran. He retired from Redstone Arsenal after 25 years of work there.
Survivors include his wife, Ruby Acuff; one daughter, Carolyn A. King of Madison; two sons, Phillip R. Acuff of Fayetteville and Jerome L. Acuff of New Market; one brother, Victor R. Acuff of Meridianville; one sister, Jettie Sue Koster of Huntsville; and seven grandchildren.
Visitation will be Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to Madison Academy or AGAPE.
Orba Branum
MT. OLIVE - Orba Branum, 74, died Monday in Birmingham. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at Gardendale Chapel.
Burial was to be in Mt. Olive Cemetery with Spry Funeral Home in charge.
Mr. Branum was a World War II veteran and a member of Gardendale Baptist Tabernacle.
Survivors include two daughters, Shelby Branum of Mt. Olive and Debra Uptain of Parrish; four sisters, Gracie Carlton and Irma Justice, both of Gurley, Maggie Isbell of Maysville and Mary Jane McPeters of New Hope; two brothers, Willie Branum of Owens Cross Roads and Buddy Branum of New Hope; and two grandchildren.
Henry L. Camp
CROSSVILLE - Henry Leonard Camp, 65, of 1142 County Road 21 died Monday at a local hospital. The funeral was today at 11 a.m. at Albertville Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.
Burial was in Lathamville Cemetery.
Survivors include his wife, Dortha H. Camp; two daughters, Debbie Prince of Crossville and Vickie Booker of Hokes Bluff; one sister, Louise Hooper of Crossville; and two brothers, James Camp of Tennessee and Lynell Camp of Boaz.
Henry H. Chase
Henry Homer Chase, 84, of Huntsville died Monday at a local hospital. The graveside service will be Thursday at Maple Hill Cemetery with the Rev. Jack Wilson officiating.
Laughlin Service Funeral Home will be in charge.
Mr. Chase, a native of Huntsville, was one of the founders of the Huntsville-Madison County Botanical Garden. He served as head of the predecessor to the Alabama Nurserymens Association, president of the Southern Nurserymens Association and was an Alabama delegate at the annual state nurserymens association. Mr. Chase was president of Wholesale Nursery Growers of America, the American Nurserymens Protective Association and was a founder of the Horticultural Research Institute.
He was elected president of Chase Nursery in 1960 and served in that position until 1980, when he retired.
Survivors include his wife, Plez Chase of Huntsville; one son, Henry Homer Chase Jr.; one daughter, Emily Chase Cook of Macon, Ga.; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Church of the Nativity.
Memorial donations may be made to the Boy Scouts of America or to the Huntsville-Madison County Botanical Garden.
Rebecca K. Crowson
Rebecca Kay Crowson, 51, of Huntsville died Monday at her home. A memorial service will be Saturday at 3 p.m. at Holmes Street United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dalton Styes and the Rev. Sandra Locke-Godbey officiating.
Laughlin Service Funeral Home will be directing.
Mrs. Crowson was an active member of Holmes Street United Methodist Church. She started humor therapy projects at the Huntsville Hospital oncology unit and the Comprehensive Cancer Institute. She was a family counselor and a child development specialist with early intervention programs in Huntsville. She was also placement director at Phillips Junior College. She and her family lived in Germany five years before moving to Huntsville 12 years ago.
Survivors include her husband, Roger Crowson of Huntsville; one daughter, Ashley Burchfield of Tuscaloosa; two sons, Chase Crowson of Atlanta and Jeremey Crowson of Huntsville; her mother, Trula Vee Quinney of Linden; two sisters, Margaret Ellenstein of Chicago and Marilyn Peters of Huntsville; one brother, Dale Quinney of Montgomery; and one grandson, Heath Alexander Burchfield.
Memorial donations may be made to Huntsville Hospital Foundations Sunny Side Up program at 517-8077, to St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital at 1-800-822-6344 or to The ARK of Huntsville.
Bonnye C. Currie
ALBERTVILLE - Bonnye Carole Currie, 58, of 1022 Edgemont St., died Sunday at her home. The funeral was today at 11 a.m. at Adams Funeral Home in Albertville.
Burial was in Memory Hill Cemetery.
Survivors include her husband, R. Edward Currie; one daughter, Kathy Humphrey of Madison; two sons, Steve Currie of Huntsville and Scott Currie of Horton; her mother, Edith Moore of Albertville; one sister, Linda Lacey of Boaz; and one brother, R. David Moore of Albertville.
Clary Deerman
ARAB - Clary Deerman, 87, of 1068 Deerman St. died Tuesday at a local nursing home. The funeral will be today at 4 p.m. at Arab Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.
Burial was to be in New Brashiers Chapel Cemetery.
Survivors include her husband, Louie Deerman.
Mazie N. Freil
BIRMINGHAM - Mazie Newman Freil, 93, of Fairfield Highlands died Saturday in North Carolina. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at Fairfield Highlands Presbyterian Church with Dr. Wayne Berry officiating.
Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery in Ensley with Brown Service West Chapel funeral home in Hueytown in charge.
Mrs. Freil was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence Edward Freil, and one son, Lawrence Edward Freil Jr.
Survivors include three daughters, Imogene Thrasher of Houston, Ruth Rothe of Huntsville and Barbara Caine of Charlotte, N.C.; 13 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to Fairfield Highlands Presbyterian Church at 907 11th Ave., Midfield 35228.
Gladys Hicks
PISGAH - Gladys Hicks, 85, died Monday at her home. The funeral will be Thursday at 1 p.m. at Rainsville Funeral Home chapel.
Burial will be in Green Haven Memorial Gardens with Rainsville Funeral Home directing.
Survivors include six sons, Braxton Hicks of Murray, Ky., Carnell Hicks of Kentucky, Dennis Hicks of Dutton and Kenneth Hicks, Dwight ''Buddy Hicks and Nelson Hicks, all of Pisgah; two daughters, Doris Tidwell of Pisgah and Catherine Griffin of Monteagle, Tenn.; 26 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren.
James W. Holder
OWENS CROSS ROADS - James William Holder, 79, died Thursday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral will be Thursday at 2:30 p.m. at Spry Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Jerry Parvin officiating.
Burial will be in Huntsville Memory Gardens.
Mr. Holder was a Jackson County native and had lived in Huntsville since 1948. He was retired from the City of Huntsville.
Survivors include his wife, Irene McNeil Holder; two daughters, Elizabeth Holder Looney of Harvest and Carolyn Holder Campbell of Huntsville; two sons, Pete Holder of Decatur and Mack Holder of New Market; two sisters, Louie Bass of Bridgeport and Addie Mae Kirk of Stevenson; one brother, Eldon Holder of Whittwell, Tenn.; nine grandchildren; eight great-great grandchildren and four step-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 5 to 9 p.m.
Mary M. Jackson
Mary McAnally Jackson, 66, of Huntsville died Monday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Thursday at 1 p.m. at Huntsville Holiness Church with Bro. David Jones officiating.
Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery with Spry Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. Jackson was a member of Huntsville Holiness Church.
Survivors include her husband, Lonnie Jackson of Huntsville; two daughters, Susan Smallwood of Hazel Green and Lisa Glisson of Huntsville; one son, Dean Jackson of Hazel Green ; two sisters, Jean Cantrell and Janie Reid, both of Huntsville; and one brother, Jack McAnally of Auburn.
Visitation will be today from 4 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
The body will be at the church one hour before the funeral.
Rudolph Lewter
ARDMORE, Tenn. - Rudolph Lewter, 79, of Ardmore Ridge Road died Tuesday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at Taylor-Ardmore Funeral Home chapel with Bro. Mickey Buford officiating.
Burial was to be in Hasting Cemetery in Ardmore, Ala.
Mr. Lewter was a member of Union Hill Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Lewter; five sons, Corney Rich of Ardmore, Tenn., and Randy Lewter, Steve Lewter, David Rich and Charles Rich, all of Ardmore, Ala.; one daughter, Carol Hooper of Ardmore, Tenn.; one brother, Donnie Lewter of Ardmore, Ala.; three sisters, Connie Lyle of Huntsville, Marie Walker of Decatur and Louise Thomas of Houston; seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Vivian Martin
BOAZ - Vivian Martin, 78, died Tuesday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Thursday at 11 a.m. at Carr Funeral Home in Boaz.
Burial will be in Happy Hill Cemetery.
Survivors include her husband, Salis Floyd Martin; two daughters, Lula Shaffer and Martha Turner, both of Georgia; one sister, Opal McCreless of Albertville; one brother, Inoma Willmore of Arab; 13 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and 11 great-great-grandchildren.
Richard T. Mason
ALBERTVILLE - Richard Thomas Mason, 22, of 880 Pine St. died Sunday at his home. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at Forrest Home Methodist Church.
Burial was to be in the adjoining cemetery with Adams Funeral Home of Albertville directing.
Survivors include his mother and stepfather, Gladys and Wallace Tarvin; three sisters, Marie Hollis, Sheila Mason and Lorene Mason, all of Albertville; and one brother, Ricky Mason of Boaz.
Norman Prestwood
DAWSON, Ala. - Norman Francis Prestwood, formerly of Grove Oak near Rainsville, died Sunday at a Birmingham hospital. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at W.T. Wilson Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Eddie Cantrell officiating.
Burial was to be at Mountain Home Cemetery in Ider.
Survivors include one daughter, Norma Joan Womack of Trenton, Ga.; one son, Lester Frank Prestwood of East Ridge, Tenn.; three brothers, Borlin Prestwood of Georgia and Benjamin Prestwood and Garland Prestwood, both of Florida; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Ozella P. Rogers
TEMPLE, Texas - Ozella Payne Rogers, 68, formerly of Huntsville, died Tuesday at a Temple hospital. A private family service will be held in Huntsville.
She was retired from Chrysler Corp.
Survivors include three sons, Terry Rodgers of Huntsville, Howard Rodgers of Orlando and Jerry Rogers of Northport; one daughter, Sandra Kaye Ivey of Killeen, Texas; nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Ralph W. Shockley
HAZEL GREEN - Ralph Wayne Shockley, 54, of Mason Drive died Monday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral was to be today at 1 p.m. at Gallant Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Elton Brazier officiating.
Burial was to be in Pleasant Grove Cemetery.
Mr. Shockley was a native of Lincoln County, an accountant for the Madison County Commission and a member of Mountain View Free Holiness Church.
Survivors include his wife, Regina Bragg Shockley; two sons, Derrick Shockley of Hazel Green and Jason Shockley of New Market; five sisters, Gladys Lovvorn of Riverton, Velma Patrick and Martha McCord, both of New Market, and Helen George and Betty Taylor, both of Flintville; and one brother, Jesse Arvil Shockley of Huntsville.
Dureal Smith
TALLADEGA - Dureal Smith, 72, of 517 East St. North died Monday at his home. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at High Point Baptist Church.
Burial was to be in the adjoining cemetery with Albertville Memorial Chapel Funeral Home directing.
Survivors include his wife, Evelyn Smith; one daughter, Patricia Cox of Albertville; one son, Larry Smith of Talladega; one sister, Jeanette Hill of Boaz; two brothers, Virgle Smith of Boaz and Sherman Smith of Horton; nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Margaret G. Stephens
SIDNEY, Ohio - Margaret Gahagan Stephens, 89, died Friday at an Ohio retirement home. The funeral will be in Pennsylvania at a later date.
Mrs. Stephens was retired after 30 years at Lamson and Sessions Co. in Kent, Ohio. She lived in Brady Lake, Ohio, for more than 50 years and was a member of Brady Lake Methodist Church where she volunteered. She was a longtime member of Ravenna Rebecca Lodge.
Survivors include two daughters, Betty Gahagan Zingler of North Canton, Ohio and Shirley Gahagan Gareri of Huntsville; one son, V. Paul Gahagan of Sidney, Ohio; and 11 grandchildren, including Huntsville Fire and Rescue Chief Robert Gareri, 29 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Memorial donations may be made to Dorothy Love Life Care Fund, 3003 Cisco Road, Sidney, Ohio 45365 or to Alpha Community Center Foundation, P.O. Box 4641, Sidney, Ohio 45365.
Pat Wode
Pat Wode of Huntsville died Monday in Athens, Ga. Laughlin Service Funeral Home will announce the funeral.
Mrs. Wode was the owner of Creative Crafts.
Survivors include her husband, Melvin G. Wode of Huntsville; one son, Gary Ken Wode of Huntsville; one daughter, Susan Raeann Wode of Huntsville; and one granddaughter.
Visitation will be Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
