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.
Hattie B. Ackerman
Hattie Bragg Ackerman, 83, of Huntsville, formerly of Birmingham, died Saturday at her home. The memorial service will be Wednesday at 10 a.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church with Dr. R. Laurence Dill and the Revs. Ronald E. Gonia and Corky Bell officiating.
Burial will be at 3 p.m. in Jefferson Memorial Cemetery in Trussville with Laughlin Service Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. Ackerman had lived in Huntsville six years and was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church. She retired in 1992 after teaching dance for more than 50 years and she was a founder and partner of the Bobbie Ackerman School of Dance.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Lee Ackerman.
Survivors include two daughters, Bobbi Ackerman Goss of Nashville and Pat Ackerman Gonia Burns of Huntsville; one sister, Lela Bragg McFrancis of Trussville; and six grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. at the church.
Memorial donations may be made to a memorial fund at Trinity United Methodist Church in Huntsville.
Nina A. Brewster
ALBERTVILLE - Nina Agnes Brewster, 82, died Saturday at a local hospital. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at Albertville Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.
Burial was to be in Hillcrest Cemetery in Boaz.
Mrs. Brewster was a retired secretary for San Ann Oil Co.
Survivors include two daughters, Anita Brock of Boaz and Linda Hastings of Huntsville; one sister, Edna Rickles of Attalla; two brothers, Lamar Talton and Dick Talton, both of Attalla; and seven grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
John T. Calhoun
John T. Calhoun, 79, of Huntsville died Monday at his home. The funeral will be Wednesday at 3 p.m. at Valhalla Funeral Home with Dr. Ed Culpepper officiating.
Burial will be in Valhalla Memory Gardens.
Mr. Calhoun was a member of First Baptist Church, a World War II Army Air Corps veteran, a member of the Society of Professional Engineers and an Auburn University graduate with a degree in electrical engineering. While in the military, he received the Bronze Star. He retired from U.S. Army Missile Command and received a Decoration for Meritorious Civil Service.
Survivors include his wife, Wilma M. Calhoun of Huntsville; one daughter, Iris C. Walliser of Aiken, S.C.; three sons, John Neal Calhoun of Leeds, James S. Calhoun of Macon, Ga., and David T. Calhoun of Ardmore; one sister, Nan C. Linzey of Smyrna, Ga.; one brother, James E. Calhoun of Fairhope; and seven grandchildren.
Visitation will be Wednesday from 2 to 3 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to Hospice Family Care or to a favorite charity.
Wilburn Certain
GUNTERSVILLE - Wilburn Certain, 76, of 2010 Richardson St. died Sunday at a local hospital. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at Carr Funeral Home in Guntersville.
Burial was to be in Walker Cemetery.
Mr. Certain was a retired truck driver and a veteran of World War II.
Survivors include his wife, Theola Certain; three daughters, Marilyn Johnson of Texas and Janie Wilson and Linda Certain, both of Michigan; one stepdaughter, Martha Maroney of Huntsville; two sons, David Certain of Michigan and Bruce Certain of Gurley; two sisters, Annie Wimley of Tennessee and Alvree Dickerson of Hillsboro; and nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
John C. Costal
BRADENTON, Fla. - John Charles Costal, 62, died Wednesday. The funeral was Monday at Spry Funeral Home chapel in Huntsville with the Rev. Mike Carpenter officiating.
Burial will be today at 2 p.m. CDT in Marietta National Cemetery in Marietta, Ga.
Mr. Costal was a native of Buffalo, N.Y., and a former resident of Huntsville. He had lived in Bradenton five years.
Survivors include his wife, Carol Costal of Bradenton; one son, Alexander Costal of Huntsville; one stepson, Tim Buchman of Owens Cross Roads; one stepdaughter, Stephanie Buchman Bolden of Hazel Green ; and three grandchildren.
Family and friends will meet at the cemetery before burial.
Elizabeth Drain
ALBERTVILLE - Elizabeth Anne Evans Drain, 56, of 4 Sycamore Lane died Saturday at her home. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m. at First Methodist Church in Albertville.
Burial was to be in Marshall Memorial Garden with Adams Funeral Home of Albertville in charge.
Survivors include her husband, Jim Drain; two daughters, Susan Kennedy of Montgomery and Dianne Walker of Albertville; her mother, Betty Evans of Albertville; one sister, Jane Evans of Albertville; and one grandchild.
Joseph T. Evans
ELKMONT - Joseph Tyler Evans, 77, of 19334 Gilbert St. died Sunday at a local hospital. The funeral was today at noon at First United Methodist Church with the Revs. Grad Tanner and Wayne Blankenship officiating.
Burial was in Legg Cemetery with McConnell Funeral Home of Athens in charge.
Mr. Evans was a native of Elkmont. He graduated from Elkmont High School and enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He was a pilot, and received citations from the Chinese Nationalist Government for flying supplies from India to China along the dangerous ''Hump route over the Himalaya Mountains, much of it over Japanese held territory. He was discharged in 1946 with the rank of major, re-enlisted in 1949 to fly the Berlin Airlift, was awarded the Air Medal, the Medal for Humane Service and Distinguished Flying Cross. He was a former mayor of Elkmont, was a rural mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service here for more than 40 years and had been postmaster. He was a member of Elkmont Methodist Church and was preceded in death by his parents, Jesse and Claudia Steppe Evans.
Survivors include his wife, Betty Grisham Evans; one daughter, Susan Tyler Evans of Nashville; one sister, Ruth Evans Wright of St. Simons Island, Ga.; two brothers, James Evans of Charleston, S.C., and Jesse Evans Jr. of Elkmont; and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial donations may be made to Elkmont Methodist Church Bell Tower Fund, 25311 Cedar Ave., Elkmont, AL 35620.
Richard Fortenberry
ARAB - Richard Fortenberry, 58, of 100 Foothill Circle died Sunday at his home. A graveside service will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Pleasant Grove Cemetery with Gober Funeral Home of Arab directing.
Survivors include six brothers, James Fortenberry of Albertville, Buck Fortenberry and R.B. Fortenberry, both of Guntersville, Rex Fortenberry of Rainbow Crossing, Herman Fortenberry of Langston and J.C. Fortenberry of Union Grove.
Charles E. Gordon
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Charles Edward "Chuck" Gordon, 62, died Sunday at a Kansas hospital. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Abilene, Kan. with the Rev. Rick Saylor officiating.
Burial will be in Abilene Cemetery with Martin-Becker-Carlson Funeral Home in charge.
Mr. Gordon, a native of Athens, Ala., was a 1954 graduate of East Limestone High School and had fought in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He worked as a machinist in Enterprise, Kan., where he lived with his wife before they moved to Grand Prairie, where he worked as a process control engineer for Bell Helicopter until retirement.
Survivors include his wife, Carolyn Gordon of Grand Prairie; two daughters, Sherilyn Kay Skillman of Grand Prairie and Kathryn Sue Nilssen of Lakeland, Minn.; one son, Michael Charles Gordon of Hurst, Texas; four sisters, Anna Black of Toney, Elizabeth Meadows of Athens, LaWanda Guthrie of Elkmont and Ophelia Hamilton of Dallas, Texas; one brother, Van Gordon of Athens; and three grandchildren.
Visitation was to be today from 1 to 2 p.m. at the church.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association or to the First United Methodist Church in Grand Prairie.
Lewis Hodges
RIDGETOP, Tenn. - Lewis Hodges, 73, died Saturday at his home. The funeral was to be today at 1 p.m. at Spry Funeral Home chapel in Huntsville with the Rev. Gordon Hawkins officiating.
Burial will be in Fords Chapel Cemetery in Harvest.
Mr. Hodges was a native of Harvest and a longtime employee of the City of Huntsville. He was also a World War II Navy veteran and a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles.
Survivors include one daughter, Carolyn James of Green brier, Tenn.; his mother, Minnie Hodges of Huntsville; three sisters, Ellen Sharpe, Lucy Renfroe and Ruth Painter, all of Huntsville; and two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Dora M. Lee
PISGAH - Dora Mae Lee, 75, died Monday at her home. The funeral will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Section Holiness Church with Brothers Aubrey Hasting, Dewayne Hasting and William Manning officiating.
Burial will be in Macedonia Cemetery with W.T. Wilson Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include three daughters, Rachel Manning of Scottsboro, Beatrice Manning of Columet, Ill., and Mildred McAbee of Henagar; three sons, Fate Lee of Dutton, Buford Lee of Indiana and Henry Lee of Pisgah; two sisters, Burmer Edmonds of Section and Erma Robbins of Rainsville; and 32 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Martha S. Marshall
Martha Slater Marshall, 63, of Huntsville died today at a local hospital. Laughlin Service Funeral Home will announce funeral arrangements.
Mrs. Marshall was a homemaker and a former schoolteacher in Georgia. She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas N. Marshall.
Survivors include one son, Michael Marshall of Huntsville; one daughter, Mary Beth Marshall of Huntsville; three sisters, Madge Fox of Menlo, Ga., Dot Gilley of Summerville, Ga., and Margaret Elrod of Cairo, Ga.; and one grandson.
Judith McDaniel
Judith "Judy" McDaniel, 54, of Huntsville died Sunday at her home. The funeral will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Spry Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Roger Cooper officiating.
Burial will be in Huntsville Memory Gardens.
Survivors include her husband, Ray McDaniel of Huntsville; four sons, Scott McDaniel, Andy McDaniel and Chris McDaniel, all of Huntsville, and Tim McDaniel of Georgia; one daughter, Raychelle McDaniel of Huntsville; her mother, Valetta Talerico of Michigan; two sisters, Hazel Robbins of Michigan and Gertrude Myers of Florida; and three granddaughters and one grandson.
Visitation will be today from 4 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Lorene M. Medley
LAUREL, Md. - Lorene Miller Medley, 80, died Sunday at a Laurel hospital. The funeral will be Thursday at 11 a.m. at Olin L. Molesworth Funeral Home in Damascus, Md.
Burial will be in Bethesda United Methodist Cemetery in Browningsville, Md.
Mrs. Medley was a native of Madison County, Ala. She was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond S. Miller.
Survivors include one son, Jerry Lloyd Miller of Price ville; one daughter, Patricia Miller Vogt of Laurel; and five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Sam Nance
Sam Nance, 92, of 122 Baltimore Drive in Huntsville died Saturday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Wednesday at noon at New Zion P.B. Church with the Rev. Lester Baker officiating.
Burial will be in Union Cemetery in Gurley with Nelms Memorial Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include three nieces, Lillie M. Smith and Eve Briggs, both of Cleveland, Ohio, and Ruth Doss of Chattanooga, Tenn.; and three nephews, Lanie Moore of Cleveland and Chestine Moore and George Nance, both of Huntsville.
His body will be at the church one hour before the funeral.
Flora B. Riggins
NEW MARKET - Flora Beatrice Riggins, 80, died Sunday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Thursday at 1 p.m. at Concord Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Donny Russell officiating.
Burial will be in Concord Cemetery with Spry Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. Riggins was a Madison County native and a homemaker.
Survivors include one son, Ronald L. Riggins of Hazel Green ; two daughters, Virginia Stiles of New Market and Sherry Taylor of Huntsville; one sister, Grace Neal of Huntsville; and 13 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.
Visitation will begin today at her home and last until time of the funeral.
Her body be at the church one hour before the funeral.
Gregory N. Spain
GREENVILLE, S.C. - Gregory Nelson Spain, 34, died Tuesday. The funeral was Saturday at Thomas McAfee Funeral Home.
Burial was in Apex Cemetery in Apex, N.C.
Survivors include his wife, Nadine Spain of Greenville; two sons, Wayne Spain and Jake Spain, both of Greenville; one daughter, Katie Spain of Greenville; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Fran and Nonie Henry of Huntsville; and brother-in-law, Matt Henry of Huntsville.
Bertha Mae Statum
Bertha Mae Statum, 88, of Huntsville died Saturday at a local nursing home. The funeral was Monday at Spry Funeral Home chapel with Dr. James Junior officiating.
Burial was in Maple Hill Cemetery.
Mrs. Statum was a Madison County native and was retired from Huntsville Hospital. She was a member of Bethel Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by one daughter, Lucille Kruszewski.
Survivors include two daughters, Margaret O. Balch of Huntsville and Juanita Lightsey of Childersburg; two sons, Edward ''Ed Meeks of the Big Cove community and Charles R. Meeks of Hazel Green ; and 15 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren and five great-great grandchildren.
Burl G. Stephens
NASHVILLE - Burl Gabrel Stephens, 87, died Sunday at a Nashville hospital. The funeral will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Briarfork P.B. Church with Elders Howard McNelley and Clifton Johnson officiating.
Burial will be in Briarfork Cemetery with Spry Funeral Home of Huntsville in charge.
Mr. Stephens was a Madison County native and a member of the Primitive Baptist Church. He was also retired from civil service.
Survivors include three daughters, Doris Jean Totton of Buffalo, Mo., Annie Ruth Anderson of Huntsville and Peggy Elledge of Hazel Green ; two sons, Wesley Stephens of Nashville and Charles E. Stephens of Arab; two sisters, Claudine Mae Parker and Beatrice McNelley, both of Huntsville; two brothers, Raymond Stephens and Charlie Stephens, both of Huntsville; and several grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 3:30 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
His body will be at the church one hour before the funeral.
Billy Wall
PULASKI, Tenn. - Billy Wall, 75, of Morris St. died Saturday at a Tennessee hospital. The funeral was today at 11 a.m. at Carr and Erwin Funeral Home in Pulaski with Stanley Garrett officiating.
Burial will be in Maplewood Cemetery.
Mrs. Wall retired as manager of the Sands Motel in Frankewing, Tenn.
Survivors include two sons, Steve Wall of Pulaski and Billy Wall of Huntsville; two daughters, Sandra Holly of Lewisburg, Tenn., and Carole Swinford of Fayetteville, Tenn.; three brothers, Grover Horne, Jerry Horne and Mike Horne, all of Pulaski; two sisters, Barbara Anderson of Lewisburg and Jean Holley of Florida; and 15 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.
Betty W. Whatley
SCOTTSBORO - Betty Word Whatley, 69, of Scottsboro and Huntsville, died Sunday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at St. Lukes Episcopal Church in Scottsboro.
Burial will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery with Scottsboro Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. Whatley was on the board of directors of the Jackson County chapter of the American Red Cross. She was also a distinguished service member of the Alabama Society for Crippled Children and Adults. She served on the board of directors of the Huntsville Rehabilitation Foundation and was a member of the Scottsboro Music Study Club and Sextet. She was a member of St. Lukes Episcopal Church.
Survivors include her husband, William R. "Bill" Whatley of Huntsville; three sons, William Bradden Yates, Robert Lee Yates and Cecil Bruce Yates, all of Scottsboro; two daughters-in-law, Karen Yates and Lori Yates; two sisters, Peggy Word McClendon and Stella Word Benson; and four grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to the Jackson County chapter of the American Red Cross.
