Alabama, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1805-1967 - 1814-1935
Joe Henry Sears
Funeral for Joe Henry Sears, 78, of Decatur will be Wednesday at noon at Union Grove Primitive Baptist Church with the Rev. George Franklin officiating.
Burial will be in Sterrs Cemetery with Sharpley Funeral Home directing. The body will be in the church one hour before the service Wednesday. The family will receive friends tonight from 6 to 7 at the funeral home.
Mr. Sears died Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2002, at Huntsville Hospital. He was born Dec. 24, 1924, in Randolph County to Joseph Sears and Ada Henderson Sears. He was a member of Mount Olive Primitive Baptist Church. He was the brother of the late Ed Sears, Willie Sears and Deloris Sears.
Survivors include his wife, GeorgeAnn Sears; two sons, Willie Joe Sears of Russellville and L.C. Lyle of Birmingham; three daughters, Arnetta Sears of Russellville, Ernestine Mason of Athens and Vickie Langford of Decatur; three brothers, L.C. Sears and Charles Sears, both of Decatur and Jonathan Sears of Detroit, Mich.; two sisters, Willie Mae Stovers and Geneva Martin, both of Decatur; 24 grandchildren; and 30 great-grandchildren.
Grandsons and nephews will be pallbearers.
Glen L. Simpson
ATHENS -- Funeral for Glen L. Simpson, 57, of Rogersville will be Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Spry Funeral Home in Athens with Ed Marston officiating.
Burial will be in Barnett Cemetery. The family will receive friends tonight from 6 to 9 at the funeral home.
Mr. Simpson died Sunday, Jan. 13, 2002, at Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital. He was born May 19, 1944, in Lauderdale County to Frankie Simpson and Rosie Warren Simpson. He was employed by NAFCO Tile Manufacturing for 25 years. He was the brother of the late Patsy Sims.
Survivors include one brother, Arlon Simpson of Center Star; and three sisters, Shirley Baker of Killen, Doris Simpson of Rogersville and Cathy Purser of Georgia.
Pallbearers will be Chucky Baker, Marty Baker, Tommy Baker, Ronnie Baker, Charlie Baker, Johnny Ray Baker, Johnny Weems and Carl Simpson.
Robert L. 'Bob' Sitton
HARTSELLE -- Funeral for Robert L. "Bob" Sitton, 73, of Somerville will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Mount Moriah Baptist Church with the Rev. Paul Gilbreath officiating.
Burial will be in Mount Moriah Cemetery. The family will receive friends tonight from 6 to 9 at Peck Funeral Home. The body will be in the church one hour before the service.
Mr. Sitton died Sunday, Jan. 13, 2002, at Sunbridge Rehabilitation in Fayetteville, Tenn. He was born Jan. 8, 1929, in Bessemer to Robert Ester Sitton and Maude Ethel Sitton. He was a Korean War Air Force veteran. He was a chief electronic engineer for Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville for about 30 years before retiring. He later worked for Colsan Corp. in Huntsville before retiring.
Survivors include his wife, Laura Eston Sitton of Valhermoso Springs; three sons, Kenneth Sitton and Gil Sitton, both of Somerville, and Robert Ester Sitton of Umatilla, Fla.; one daughter, Cordelia Eston Orr of Umatilla; one brother, Silas Eugene Sitton of Birmingham; eight grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Kenneth Sitton, Robert Ester Sitton, Gil Sitton, Silas Sitton, Van Sitton and Marlon Sitton.
Lola Mae Terry
Funeral for Lola Mae Terry, 88, of Baytown, Texas, formerly of Courtland, will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Courtland United Methodist Church with the Rev. Ted Agee and the Rev. James Long officiating.
Burial will be in Roselawn Cemetery in Decatur with Roselawn Funeral Home directing. The family will receive friends tonight from 6 to 8 at the funeral home. The body will be at the church one hour before the service.
Mrs. Terry died Sunday, Jan. 13, 2002, in Baytown. She was born Sept. 3, 1913, in Alabama. She was a homemaker and a member of Courtland United Methodist Church for most of her life. She was the widow of Arn Terry Sr.
Survivors include one son, Arn Terry Jr. of Baytown; one brother, Sam Agee of Sparta, Tenn.; one sister, Geneva Terry of Decatur; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Annie Mannings West
Funeral for Annie Mannings West, 99, of Town Creek will be Wednesday at noon at Rock Springs Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Mount Hope with the Rev. Melvin Ingram officiating.
Burial will be in the church cemetery with Sharpley Funeral Home directing. The body will be in the church one hour before the service.
Mrs. West died at home Saturday, Jan. 12, 2002. She was born May 8, 1902, in Pickens County to Tillie Mannings and Manuel Mannings. She was the widow of Luster West and the mother of the late Gladis Hood, Elizabeth West, Sis West, Willie James West, Jessie James West, Robert Lee West, Henry Lee West and Ira B. West. She was the last of the Manning children and the oldest member of her church.
Survivors include one daughter, Annie Mae West Nelson of Town Creek; one son, William West of New Orleans; 11 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchidren.
Family and friends will be pallbearers.
Joseph Preston Whitt
ATHENS -- Funeral for retired U.S. Air Force Chaplain Joseph Preston Whitt, 88, of Athens will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Copeland Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Hugh Kelso and the Rev. William Robert Sharman III officiating.
Burial will be in Athens City Cemetery with McConnell Funeral Home directing. The family will receive friends two hours before the service at the church.
Mr. Whitt died Sunday, Jan. 13, 2002, at his home. He was born May 4, 1913, in Elkmont to Asa Alfred Whitt and Eva Matlock Whitt. He graduated from Huntsville High School and Cumberland College in Lebanon, Tenn. He received a bachelor of divinity degree from McCormick Seminary in Chicago in 1938. He worked in rural parishes in South Dakota, Arkansas and Oklahoma. He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. From 1951 to 1969, he served as an Air Force chaplain on tours of duty in Illinois, Tripoli, Libya, Utah, Arkansas, Pakistan, Minnesota, England, Wyoming, Thailand and Louisiana. After his retirement, he served as pastor of Mount Hope Presbyterian Church. He returned to Athens eight years ago. He was the widower of Mildred Ann Haznedl Whitt and brother of the late Geraldine Whitt.
Survivors include his wife, Vivian Harrington Whitt; one son, John Whitt of Quebec City, Canada; four daughters, Susan Johnson of Roff, Okla., Sally Rogers of Decatur, Ga., Nancy Whitt of Birmingham and Ellen deLathouder of Des Moines, Iowa; two brothers, Carlton D. Whitt of Athens and W. Wayne Whitt of Nashville; two sisters, Alta Chloe Whitt and Frances Juell Whitt, both of Athens; 16 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Johnny deLathouder, Yancy deLathouder, Frank Rogers, Justin Langley, David Fitch and William Rowe.
Copeland Presbyterian Church members will be honorary pallbearers. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Limestone County or Copeland Presbyterian Church.
Hollis Gene Blankenship Sr.
Funeral for Hollis Gene Blankenship Sr., 67, of Decatur will be Thursday at 2 p.m. at New Friendship Baptist Church with the Rev. Tommy Smothers and the Rev. Brady McCullough officiating.
Burial will be in Burningtree Memorial Gardens with Shelton Funeral Home directing. The family will receive friends tonight from 6 to 9 at the funeral home. The body will be at the church one hour before the service.
Mr. Blankenship died Monday, Dec. 31, 2001, at Veterans Administration Hospital in Birmingham. He was born Jan. 25, 1934, in Morgan County to Ollie Blankenship and Ollie Sue Hudson Blankenship.
He was a member of New Friendship Baptist Church, Fraternal Order of Police Auxiliary, Fraternal Order of Eagles, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Benevolent Protective Order of Elks.
Survivors include his wife, Shirley M. Blankenship of Decatur; one son, Hollis Gene Blankenship II of Decatur; one brother, David Blankenship of Somerville; one sister, Betty Bryant of Somerville; and two grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Beuice Morgan, Doyle Osborn, Doyle Bryant, Lester Collins, Chris Rigoni and Daryl Motes.
William Edgar Fizer
ATHENS -- Funeral for William Edgar Fizer, 67, of Athens will be Thursday at 11 a.m. at Limestone Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. Edward McCracken officiating.
Burial will be in Athens City Cemetery. The family will receive friends tonight from 6 to 9 at the funeral home.
Mr. Fizer died Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2002, at his home. He was born Dec. 1, 1934, in Ashland, Ky., to Shirley and Vivian F. Fizer. He was the father of the late Ellen Louise Fizer and the brother of the late Elizabeth Deann Fizer.
Survivors include his wife, Peggy Fizer; one son, William E.S. Fizer of Huntington, W. Va.; two daughters, Linda Sue Pullum of Athens and Lori Ann Stanley of Lester; one brother, Michael F. Fizer of Coal Grove, Ohio; one sister, Shirlene Smith of Pinellas Park, Fla.; three grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.
Pallbearers will be Ronnie Pullum, Mike Fizer, Vince Hammock, Billy Rigney, Jon Berthiaume and Richard Stanley.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Athens-Limestone County.
Roy Eugene Frank
HARTSELLE -- Funeral for Roy Eugene Frank, 59, of Hartselle will be Thursday at 1 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home with the Rev. Glen Smallwood officiating.
Burial will be in Moss Chapel Cemetery. The family will receive friends tonight from 6 until 9 at the funeral home.
Mr. Frank died Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2002, at his home. He was born Oct. 27, 1942, in Morgan County to August Frank and Thelma McClendon Frank. He retired as a machine operator at Monsanto after 30 years. He served in the United States Air Force for eight years. He was a member of Cross Baptist Church.
Survivors include one son, Geoffrey Scott Frank of Hartselle; one daughter, Ashley Brooke Frank of Hartselle; two brothers, Wilburn Frank of Cullman and Leonard Frank of Florida; and one sister, Charlotte Maples of Cullman.
Robert Rayford Glenn
CULLMAN -- Funeral for Robert Rayford Glenn, 68, of Cullman will be Thursday at 2 p.m. at Duck River Baptist Church with the Rev. Andrew Chambers and the Rev. J.W. Dial officiating.
Burial will be in the adjoining cemetery with Cullman Heritage Funeral Home directing. The family will receive friends today from 4 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Mr. Glenn died Monday, Dec. 31, 2001, at Carraway Methodist Medical Center in Birmingham. He was born June 1, 1933, in Cullman County to Robert Lee Glenn and Bannie Tankersly Glenn. He was a self-employed auto mechanic. He was the brother of the late Omie Harris.
Survivors include his wife, Carlie Wise Glenn; one son, Doyle Wayne "Buster" Glenn of Cullman; two daughters, Shirley Chambers and Melinda Torbert, both of Cullman; one brother, Roy Glenn of Cullman; eight sisters, Ruthie Burrow, Vernie Segars, Eva Phillips, Obera McKinney, Ola Jean Wright and Tressie Dean Wright, all of Cullman, Willodean Young of Decatur and Patricia Abercrombie of Scottsboro; eight grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
Andrew Jackson Murray
MADISON -- Graveside service for Andrew Jackson Murray, 89, of Manchester, Tenn., formerly of Anniston, will be Thursday at 2 p.m. at Anniston Memorial Gardens with Madison Funeral Home directing.
Mr. Murray died Monday, Dec. 31, 2001, at Manchester Medical Center. He was born Dec. 15, 1912, in Alabama to Jackson E. Murray and Rosalee Denkin Murray. He retired as a welder for Anniston Army Depot.
Survivors include one son, Eddie Murray of Piedmont; two daughters, Rose Copeland of Decatur and Becky Bolk of Manchester, Tenn.; one step-son, Bill Prichard of Decatur; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Lela P. Peoples
MOULTON -- Funeral for Lela P. Peoples, 89, of Moulton will be Thursday at 2 p.m. at Lawrence Funeral Home with the Rev. William Mears officiating.
Burial will be in Providence Cemetery. The family will receive friends Thursday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the funeral home.
Mrs. Peoples died today, Jan. 2, 2002, at National Health Care in Moulton. She was born Aug. 23, 1912, in Lawrence County, to Ottis Parker and Lena Parker. She was a homemaker and the widow of Willie Peoples.
Survivors include two sons, Carl Gipson of Lawrenceburg, Tenn., and Billy Gipson of Moulton; three daughters, Marie Borden and Olene Titus, both of Moulton, and Shelby May of Hartselle; two step-sons, Harlen Peoples of Double Springs and Hansel Peoples of Montgomery; two step-daughters, Lorene Peoples of Michigan and Opalean Gipson of Florida; 25 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.
Grandsons will be pallbearers.
Joe Mason Pylant
ATHENS -- Funeral for Joe Mason Pylant, 90, of Athens was to be today at 11 a.m. at Limestone Chapel Funeral Home with Rick Craft and the Rev. Dewey Craft officiating.
Burial was to be in Antioch Cemetery.
Mr. Pylant died Monday, Dec. 31, 2001, at Athens Convalescent Center. He was born Sept. 12, 1911, in Limestone County to Bud and Molly Pylant. He was a retired farmer and a Pentecostal. He was the widower of Eva Pylant and the father of the late Douglas Pylant and Pete Pylant. He was the step-father of the late Carson Smith.
Survivors include one son, Joe Allen Pylant of Athens; three daughters, Linda Looney of Elkmont, and Susan Pylant and Shirley Wells, both of Athens; two step-sons, Melvin Smith and Thomas Smith, both of Athens; two step-daughters, Nellie Powers and Evelen Pylant, both of Athens; 20 grandchildren; and 40 great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers were to be Michael Pylant, Tim Bullington, Chris Pylant and Joey Tennison.
