Alabama, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1805-1967 - 1814-1935
Rev. Will Simpkins
Preacher Will Simpkins dies at 100
CHUNCHULA - The Rev. Will Simpkins didn't intend to preach, his family said. He was a farmer.
Back in the 1930s, the Lord knocked Simpkins out when he called Simpkins into the ministry - literally, said Simpkins' nephew, Robert Samuels of Mobile.
"He was at a baptizing when he was called to preach, " Samuels said. "He fell into a coma for about a week." Family members thought he was dead, said the nephew.
When Simpkins' sister arrived, Simpkins woke up preaching, his nephew said.
Simpkins, a native of Brewton, Ala., was a longtime resident of Chunchula. He died Tuesday in a local medical facility at the age of 100.
Simpkins may have been Chunchula's oldest resident, his nephew speculated.
He worked as a farmer in Chunchula at least 70 years, raising vegetables and hogs.
For many years, he had served as the assistant pastor at Starlight Baptist Church in Chunchula and watched as the church grew from a small wooden structure into a substantial brick building.
Samuels remembered spending time at his uncle's home just outside of Chunchula back in the 1940s. He recalled how his uncle, who didn't have running water, had to cross U.S. Highway 45 to get water from a nearby creek.
He also recalled his uncle's going to town in a horse-drawn buggy before he got a truck.
Samuels said his uncle, the youngest of 11 children, missed serving in the military, being too young to fight in World War I and too old to serve in World War II.
Instead, he focused his energy on preaching and farming, supplementing his income by selling kindling, his nephew said.
"He was a wonderful uncle, " Samuels said. "He always talked about his sisters and brothers. He talked about farming and everything."
Also among Simpkins' survivors are his nieces, Ruth Dubose of Mobile and Iona Hudnell of Las Vegas.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until the 11 a.m. service Saturday at Starlight Baptist Church. Lovett's Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
[Published date: 12/18/1998]
Sam Cadle dies at 98
Sam A. Cadle, a sheet-metal worker who had been employed by NASA, died Wednesday in a local nursing facility. He was 98.
Cadle, a native of Prentiss County, Miss., was a resident of Mobile.
He had been employed at NASA's facility in Huntsville and had worked on many projects for the space program, including the Saturn V rocket which carried the first astronauts to the moon.
Born in Booneville, Miss., Cadle gave up farming as a young man and spent 10 years as a rural newspaper carrier in northern Mississippi for The Commercial Appeal of Memphis between 1930 and 1940.
Too old to serve in World War II, Cadle enrolled in a trade school near Memphis to learn to become an aircraft sheet-metal worker, then went to work repairing aircraft at Brookley Field in Mobile.
In 1959, he went to work at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, where he participated in the construction of the Saturn V rocket that took the astronauts to the moon. He received a certificate of participation for his work on the project from Werner von Braun, then-director of the center.
He retired Dec. 31, 1970.
Cadle was a member of Government Street Baptist Church, the Woodmen of the World, the NAARF and the Howard Masonic Lodge No. 69 F&AM.;
In addition, he was a member of the Abba Temple Shrine, the Scottish Rite, the York Rite and the NOMADS, where he clowned until the age of 92.
He enjoyed country-western music and writing letters to friends, He gardened into his 90s.
His survivors include his daughter, Jean Weeks of Mobile; his sister, Ruby Cadle Henderson of Booneville, Miss.; one grandson; and two great-grandchildren.
Services are scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday at Radney Funeral Home on Dauphin Street with visitation from 11 a.m. Burial will be in Pine Crest Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Government Street Baptist Church; or the Abba Temple Shrine Crippled Children's Transportation Fund, 7701 Hitt Road, Mobile, AL 36695.
[Published date: 12/18/1998]
Francis E. Smith
Francis Earl Smith, a former local businessman, died Monday at his residence. He was 97.
Smith was a native of Escatawpa, Miss., and a longtime resident of Mobile.
In 1937, he founded Smith Electric Co. and spent more than 50 years in the busniess arena.
He was involved in various civic organizations and was a lifetime member of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
He is survived by one son, Francis Mader Smith of Mobile; two daughters, Dorothy Elizabeth Shannon of Wichita, Kan., and Carole Hope Phillpott of Dallas, Texas; two sisters, Mabel Irene Davis of Kansas City, Mo., and Etta Krebs Mack of Escatawpa, Miss.; six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Services are scheduled for 11 a.m. today at Radney Funeral Home on Dauphin Street. Burial will be in Pine Crest Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
[Published date: 12/19/1998]
Peter R. Snyder
Peter Robert Snyder, a member of Knights of Columbus Council 666, died Friday at a local hospital. He was 61.
Snyder, a native of Philadelphia, Pa., lived in Mobile for many years. He was a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi.
Survivors include his wife, Dorothy Elliott Snyder of Mobile; and his son, Peter R. Snyder of Mobile.
Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday at Radney Funeral Home on Dauphin Street, where services are set for noon Monday. Burial will be in Mobile Memorial Gardens.
Memorial contributions may be made to Catholic Charities.
[Published date: 12/19/1998]
Emoline Sanders
Emoline M. Jenkins Sanders, a Gilbertown native who lived in Eight Mile, died Friday at a local nursing home. She was 88.
Mrs. Sanders is survived by one son, Marshall Sanders of Gilbertown; two daughters, Ruth James of Gilbertown and Mary Mosley of Eight Mile; 12 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and 12 great-great grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at Phillips Funeral Home in Gilbertown. Services will follow at 2 p.m. at the funeral home, with burial in Mosley Cemetery.
[Published date: 12/20/1998]
