Alabama, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1805-1967 - 1814-1935
J. Dickie Roberds
J. Dickie Roberds, hailed as a radio pioneer who followed through on his vision to provide quality entertainment, died Saturday at a Mobile hospital after a sudden illness.
Roberds, 52, chief executive officer of Roberds Broadcasting Co. through which he fine-tuned radio stations WGOK-AM and WYOK-FM in the Mobile market, was hit with severe stomach cramps in the middle of the night, said his father-in-law, J.C. McAleer, and taken to Providence Hospital.
McAleer said Roberds, a father of five sons ranging in age from 6 to 23, "showed no signs of being sick" prior to the illness, though a hepatitis infection several years ago had damaged his liver. He said an autopsy was being conducted at the hospital but the results were pending.
Though Roberds was his son-in-law, McAleer said, "he was like a brother." The two, along with McAleer's son, had planned to go fishing in the Mobile Delta on Saturday.
Roberds was a member of the Coastal Conservation Association, he said.
"He called me about 8 last night, " remembered McAleer, "and said, 'I'm going to pick up John at 7:30 and pick you up at 8. It's going to be a great day!'"
But "we got that call in the middle of the night, " he said. "It's terrifying. He held on as long as possible."
McAleer said his Roberds "started at the bottom" in radio, selling ads and working his way up through management to ownership of the stations that provided rhythm and blues, gospel and urban-contemporary music.
"He developed a niche in the market and filled it, " said McAleer, noting that he widened the market from WGOK's dawn-to-dusk operations to the 24-hour appeal of WYOK.
"He was a pioneer in R&B;, " said longtime friend Tom Wilson. "He's been in radio a longtime. I admire a man who can go from sales manager to station owner."
Wilson said Roberds was "not very talkative. He was kind of laid-back in a sense."
That style served Roberds well, said business partner Kevin Wagner from his home in Miami. He called Roberds "a legendary broadcaster. My life from this point forward I have him to thank."
Wagner said he learned from Roberds by example "how to enjoy life and to keep a smile on your face. Nothing really bothered him."
While he lauded Roberds' business acumen, Wagner also held him in high regard for what he taught him, again by example, on his parenting skills.
"I learned a lot from him about being a father, " said Wagner, notably the importance of not just being with one's children, but spending quality time with them.
"He was a devoted father, " echoed McAleer. "He loved those kids. They worshipped him. He was at all the ball games with his children."
"He was just a great guy, " McAleer said. "Everybody that knew him liked him, and it was mutual. He was caring, giving. He wouldn't mind being the butt of a joke - he was just that kind of a guy."
Survivors include his wife, Theresa Ann "Terry" Roberds; five sons, Jay Dickie Roberds II, Jake S. Roberds, Grady W. Roberds, Clayton S. Roberds and Chandler M. Roberds, all of Mobile; his mother, Shirley S. Roberds of Fairhope; two sisters, Shirley "Sissy" Moore of Fairhope and Mary Steward Stephens of Pirate's Cove; one brother, George W. Roberds of Fairhope; and other relatives.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday at Radney Funeral Home. In addition, visitation will be held Tuesday at Dauphin Way United Methodist Church beginning at 9 a.m. until the 10 a.m. funeral. Burial will be in Pine Crest Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to UMS-Wright Preparatory School or St. Paul's Episcopal School.
[Published date: 11/28/1999]
Gus Jetter
Gus Jetter, a native of Union, S.C., and resident of Mobile, died Tuesday at a local health care facility. He was 97.
Jetter was a self-employed contractor.
He is survived by his stepson, Robert Kidd of Oakland, Calif.
Visitation will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Reese Funeral Home, followed by graveside services and burial at 11 a.m. at Whispering Pines Cemetery.
[Published date: 11/28/1999]
Judith L. Smith
Judith Locke Smith, a native of Birmingham and resident of Mobile, died Thursday at a local hospital. She was 63.
She is survived by two daughters, Melissa Bowers of Mobile and Minnette Spencer of Tuscaloosa; two sisters, Jean Gay and Jerry Shall of Argyle, Texas; and three grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at First Presbyterian Church in Pensacola, with visitation following. Graveside services and interment will be at 3 p.m. in Bayview Memorial Park Cemetery in Pensacola.
Radney Funeral Home in Mobile handled arrangements.
[Published date: 11/28/1999]
Virginia T. Thompson
WILMER - Virginia Thurman Thompson, a native of New Hebron, Miss., and resident of Wilmer, died Friday in a local hospice. She was 56.
She is survived by three children, Tony Thurman, Betty Pierce and Scott Thompson of Wilmer; her father, J.D. Thurman of Gautier, Miss.; three brothers, Tommy Thurman and Farrion Thurman, both of Jackson, Miss., and Billy Thurman of Mendenhall, Miss.; two sisters, Dorothy McCurty of Jackson, and Lagina Belk of Byrum, Miss.; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Valhalla Memorial Funeral Home in Semmes. Graveside services and interment will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Valhalla Memorial Gardens.
[Published date: 11/28/1999]
Mr. Thomas "Tim" Milton Haas, Jr.:
Born April 21, 1952, Druid City Hospital in Tuscaloosa, AL died November 15, 1999 in Merida, Mexico. A resident of Xcalak, Quintana Roo, Mexico, for the past 10 years and a resident of Mobile, Alabama, prior to residing in Xcalak. Tim was predeceased by his mother, Bettye Claire McDuffie. Tim is survived by his wife, Arely, and son, Thomas Milton Haas, III both residing in Xcalak, Mexico. He is also survived by his daughter, Melanie (Blake) Lary, of Mobile, Alabama; his two sisters, Mary Lucinda (John) Sully, Grand Bay, Alabama, Norma Ruth (Hal Bailey) Haas, Decatur, Georgia; his two brothers, Dr. Stephen Bowen Haas, Pensacola, FL, and Carl Frederick Haas, Mobile, Alabama; by his father and step-mother, Thomas Milton Haas, Sr. and Betsy Moody Haas; his granddaughter, Claire Elizabeth Lary, Mobile, Alabama. Tim is also survived by his former wife, Virginia Haas, Mobile, Alabama. He is also survived by his uncle, Robert Oliver (Elizabeth) Haas, Hollywood, Alabama; and his aunt, Mary Lisbeth (Bibba) Jones (Art), Santa Rosa Beach, Florida; and numerous relatives and friends. A funeral service was held in Xcalak, Mexico on November 19, 1999, conducted by the Roman Catholic Church and the Seventh Day Adventist Church of that city. The pallbearers were Keith Turner, David Randall, Del Bahnsen, and Tom Biller. Burial was in the Community Cemetery in Xcalak, Mexico. A Memorial Service for Tim will take place at the residence of his father and step-mother on the shore of Dog River at 3957 Scenic Drive, Mobile, Alabama, on Monday, November 29, 1999 at 4:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers those who wish may contribute to their favorite church or charity in Tim's name.
Miss Kandida Georgianna Houston:
A native and lifelong resident of Mobile, AL, died Friday, November 26, 1999. Funeral services will be held Monday, November 29, 1999 at 10:00 A.M. from the chapel of Serenity Funeral Home. Interment will take place in Serenity Memorial Gardens. Funeral arrangements are by SERENITY FU NERAL HOME, 8691 Old Pascagoula RD, Mobile, AL.
Mr. Shane Jason Marshall:
Age 23. A native and lifelong resident of Mobile, AL died on Saturday, November 27, 1999. Mr. Marshall attended Montlimar Baptist Church. He is survived by his wife, Christina Marshall of Saraland, AL; mother, Phyllis Parker of Mobile, AL; father, Woody Leon Marshall of Saraland, AL; two brothers, Michael (Chris) Adams of Mobile, AL and Scott (Ashli) Adams of Mobile, AL; step-sister, Gena Dumas of Saraland, AL; paternal grandmother, Audrey Duke Marshall of Saraland. AL; nieces, nephews, many friends and other relatives. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, November 30, 1999 at 10:00 A.M. from the chapel of Radney Funeral Home. Interment will be in Mobile Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be on Monday evening from 5:00 P.M. t o 8:00 P.M. at the funeral home. Arrangements by RADNEY FUNERAL HOME, 1200 Indus trial Parkway, Saraland, AL.
Mr. James W. "Buddy" Reed, Sr.:
Age 90, a native of Whistler, AL and a resident of Mobile died on Saturday, November 27, 1999 at a local hospital. He was preceded in death by one son, Donald J. Reed. He is survived by a very dear friend and companion, Mary Lois Chandler of Mobile; one son, James W. (Lou) Reed, Jr. of Bay Minette, AL; one step-son, William Carl Stark of Mobile, AL; three grandchildren, Pamela D. Reed of Jacksonville, FL, James Donald Reed of Bay Minette, AL and Lynn S. Davis of Mobile, AL; six great-grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives, Funeral services will be held from the chapel of Radney Funeral Home on Tuesday, November 30, 1999 at 1:00 P.M. Visitation will be 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Monday evening at the funeral home. Interment will in Magnolia Springs Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are by RADNEY FUNERAL HOME, 3155 Dauphin Street, Mobile, AL.
