Alabama, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1805-1967 - 1814-1935
Artemas K. Callahan
TUSCALOOSA - Artemas K. Callahan, 97, died on May 19, 2001, at Forest Manor Nursing Home in Northport. The funeral will be on Tuesday at 11 a.m., at Holt United Methodist Church with Rev. Kennard Smith and Rev. Darrell Garrett officiating. The burial service will follow at Tuscaloosa Memorial Park. The family will receive friends tonight from 7-9, at Heritage Chapel Funeral Home.
Born on May 18, 1904, on his parents' farm at what is now 705 Crescent Ridge Rd., N.E., Mr. Callahan was the son of William Thomas Callahan and Nancy Augusta Speed Callahan. Since 1997, until his death, he was the sole survivor in a family of 13 children. His young siblings nicknamed him "Temo."
On Jan. 10, 1942, he married Marguerite Tarwater of Fayette. She died in 1991.
Survivors include his daughter, Nancy Callahan, Tuscaloosa; his son, A.K. Callahan, Jr., New York City; nieces, nephews and cousins.
As a child, he attended the old Hopewell School. For the seventh grade, after his seasonal farming chores were concluded, he enrolled at Holt High School on Nov. 11, 1918, the last day of World War I. As he later recalled, the entire school was dismissed and all the students rode the trolley from Holt into Tuscaloosa, where a community Armistice Day was celebrated.
He graduated from Holt in 1923, the first year that the school, an 11-grade system, was accredited. He the entered law school at The University of Alabama. During his law school summers, he worked as a printer's devil for The Tuscaloosa News. On one occasion he set the type for a special edition of the paper reporting the death of President Warren G. Harding.
In 1926, Mr. Callahan graduated from law school and began his practice which would span more than 72 years. During the early years of his practice, he served as assistant solicitor for Tuscaloosa County, 1934-36; and county license inspector, 1943-51. Since the 1950s, he mentored numerous young attorneys who began their practices in his office.
In 1930, at age 26, Mr. Callahan was elected to the House of Representatives of the Alabama Legislature, and served five terms. During his first term, 1931-35, under Gov. B.M. Miller, he was the second youngest member of the Legislature and was known as one of the "young turks" of that body, progressives fighting to modernize the state government system that had not changed since the end of Reconstruction. It was during that term that the historic Budget Control Act was passed, mandating that the State of Alabama could not spend more than its income.
Mr. Callahan voted for that legislation, which set in motion his belief in fiscal responsibility in state government. In recent times, he said his vote for that Act was the most important vote he cast during his five legislative terms.
He went on to serve as state representative in 1947-51, and 1955-59, under Gov. James E. "Big Jim" Folsom; 1959-63, under Gov. John Patterson; and 1963-67, under Gov. George C. Wallace.
In the Legislature, Mr. Callahan was known as a spokesman for The University of Alabama, Bryce Hospital, Partlow State School, and Tuscaloosa County's labor movement. He was a long-time vice-chairman of the House Interim Committee on Mental Health and a member of the House Judiciary Committee.
In 1949, with his other local colleagues, he led passage of legislation requiring a one-cent sales tax in Tuscaloosa County, to finance creation of Druid City Hospital and the attached nursing school. He also served on the first board of directors of the hospital.
Among his other legislative highlights, he influenced Gov. Folsom in the 1950s to place one of the first junior colleges appropriated by the Legislature in Tuscaloosa County: Shelton State; and he introduced the legislative resolution naming the facility after his local legislative colleague, J.P. Shelton. He also sponsored the bill creating the fire college at Shelton State.
In the mid-1960s, Mr. Callahan sponsored legislation to build a new school building at Partlow, for which he successfully led passage during a filibuster, at that time, the only bill ever to have been passed in the Legislature during a filibuster.
In addition, he introduced and led passage of legislation making it illegal for parade participants to wear masks, an effort to thwart the Ku Klux Klan. He also was the first local attorney to include African Americans on his juries.
Originally a member of the Holt Baptist Church, he had been a member of the Holt United Methodist Church since 1943. He had been a member of the Tuscaloosa Lions Club, then the Holt Lions Club, and the Tuscaloosa County Democratic Executive Committee, which named him a "Yellow Dog Democrat" in 1996.
A life-long fiddle player, he often was master of ceremonies at local fiddling conventions, starting in the 1920s. In the 1970s, through PARA, he spearheaded the "Friday Night Jamborees," weekly old-time music presented at the gazebo at Capitol Park. As the event grew in popularity, it was moved to the Northport Community Center.
A member of the old Musicians Union, Local 413, he served as vice president of the Central Labor Council of Tuscaloosa County.
On July 31, 1998, at age 94, he drove himself to work and spent what turned out to be his last day as an active attorney. The following day, he experienced health issues that caused him to conclude his legal career. However, his wit and sense of humor prevailed.
On Father's Day, June 20, 1999, he was honored by his church as the "Oldest Father Present," at age 95.
Pallbearers will be Wade Blackman, Dick Callahan, Len Spiller, Jr., John Brasfield, Paul Whitehurst, Ted Edge, James Standifer, Trice Keene, Judge Steve Wilson and Sam Webb.
Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Tuscaloosa County and Alabama State Bar Associations.
The family suggests that any memorials be given to the Holt United Methodist Church, 2 Bealle St., N.E., Tuscaloosa, Ala., 35404; or to the Artemas K. Callahan Scholarship Fund, The University of Alabama School of Law, Box 870382, Tuscaloosa, Ala., 35487-0382.
Bernice Martin Dodson
BIRMINGHAM - Bernice Martin Dodson, 93, of 4949 Montevallo Road, died Jan. 7, 2001, at her residence. Services will be at Norwood Chapel today at 2 p.m. Burial will follow at Fayette City Cemetery. Visitation is one hour prior to service. Norwood Chapel is directing.
Bradley Alton Harkins
FAYETTE - Bradley Alton Harkins, 64, died Jan. 7, 2001, at Caraway Hospital in Birmingham. Services will be at Nelson Funeral Home Chapel on Wednesday at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at Covin Baptist Church Cemetery. Visitation is one hour prior to service. Nelson Funeral Home is directing.
Clara Evelyn Cook
NORTHPORT - Clara Evelyn Cook, 78, of 15758 Hwy 69 N., died Jan. 7, 2001, at DCH Regional Medical Center. Graveside services will be at Memory Hill Gardens today at 2 p.m. with Mike Bush officiating.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Luther Cook; parents, Mr. and Mrs. C.P. Hoover; brothers, James Hoover, C.P. Hoover and Harry Hoover.
Survivors include her sons, Jerry V. Williams (Myra) of Northport, and Tommy Williams (Debbie) of Northport; brother, Thomas Edwin Hoover (Grace) of Bossier City, La.; grandchildren, Diane Gallegos, Tina Piel (Rick) of Northport, Virgil Williams of Tuscaloosa, Rene' Jones (Mike) of Northport, Adam Williams, Dane Yarbrough (Pam) of Tuscaloosa; great-grandchildren, Ashley, Christian and Joshua Gallegos, Seth, Terron and Shelby Channell of Buhl, Jordan and Preston Jones of Northport, Grant Williams of Tuscaloosa, Ben, Luke and Will Yarbrough of Tuscaloosa.
Pallbearers will be Virgil Williams, Adam Williams, Mike Jones, Rick Piel, Dane Yarbrough and Keith Holliman.
Honorary pallbearers are Ham and Minnie Hamilton, Cecil and Betty Montgomery, Bil and Ann McCluskey, George and Zell Stewart, O.S. "Booty" Markham, Alton and Earline Williams, Dorla Carver, Eva Tierce, friends and neighbors of Springbrook and the Tuscaloosa Women's Bowling Association.
Bobby Billingsley
BIRMINGHAM - Bobby Billingsley, 65, died Jan. 7, 2001, at UAB Hospital. Services will be held at Dowdle Funeral Home Chapel today at 11 a.m. Burial will be at Millport City Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Dowdle Funeral Home is directing.
Ian Patrick Freeman
LINDEN - Infant Ian Patrick Freeman, of 1164 County Road 33, died Jan. 6, 2001, at Thomas Hospital. Graveside services will be held at New Octagon Cemetery today at 1 p.m. O'Bryant Chapel Funeral Home is directing.
James Wesley Crowder
TUSCALOOSA - James Wesley Crowder, 16 months old, died Dec. 16, 2000. Services will be at Memory Chapel Dec. 20, at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Michael Wallace officiating. Burial will follow in Tuscaloosa Memorial Park. Memory Chapel Funeral Home is directing.
He is preceded in death by his father, James Derek Crowder, grandparents, James F. and Evelyn R. Crowder and Lonnie Wesley York.
Survivors include his sisters, Whitney Leigh Crowder and Abby Nicole Crowder of Tuscaloosa, Ala.; mother, Teresa Ragland Crowder; grandparents, Susan Lowe of Berry and George Ragland of Tuscaloosa.
Pallbearers will be Jack York, Bobby York, Johnny York and Roy T. Crowder.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the Trust Fund set up at B.F. Goodrich, C.U.
Freddie Leo Crocker
STEWART - Freddie Leo Crocker, 97, died Jan. 4, 2001. Services were held at New Live Oak Cemetery in Selma.
Survivors include a son, Clemmie M. Crocker (Gwendolyn); four grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and two other daughters-in-law.
Ethel Meier
GUIN - Ethel Meier, 95, died Jan. 7, 2001. Services will be held at Norwood Funeral Home Chapel today at 2 p.m. Burial will be at Guin City Cemetery. Norwood Funeral Home of Guin is directing.
Lorenzo Burden
HOLT - Lorenzo Burden died Jan. 7, 2001, at DCH Regional Medical Center. Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date by Wills' Funeral Service, Inc.
Vera H. Thomas
TUSCALOOSA - Vera H. Thomas, 89, of 112 30th Street East, died Jan. 9, 2001, at DCH Regional Medical Center. Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date by Memory Chapel Funeral Home.
Betty Sue McCulley McDaniel
WEST BLOCTON - Betty Sue McCulley McDaniel, 53, died Jan. 8, 2001, at her residence. Graveside services will be at Kinard Cemetery on Thursday at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Ben Corley and the Rev. Ronnie Thompson officiating. Visitation is tonight from 6-8 at the funeral home. Rockco Funeral Home, Inc. of Centreville is directing.
Survivors include her husband, Morris McDaniel, West Blocton, Ala.; son, Frank McDaniel, West Blocton, Ala.; two daughters, Betty Garner, West Blocton, Ala., and Kathy Booth, Needhan, Ala.; mother, Elsie McCulley, West Blocton, Ala.; two sisters, Geraldine Thrasher, Pleasant Grove, Ala., and Shirley Corbell, Green pond, Ala.; three grandchildren, Joshua Booth, Jonathan Booth and Amanda Cates.
Pallbearers will be Billy Thrasher Jr., Clyde Lemley Jr., Wayne Lemley, Jimmy Corbell, Mac Thompson and Paul Thompson.
James Wesley Crowder
TUSCALOOSA - James Wesley Crowder, 16 months old, died Dec. 16, 2000. Services were held on Dec. 20, 2000, at Memory Chapel. The Rev. Michael Wallace officiated. Burial followed at Tuscaloosa Memorial Park. Memory Chapel Funeral Home directed.
He was preceded in death by his father, James Derek Crowder,; and grandparents, James F. and Evelyn R. Crowder and Lonnie Wesley York.
Survivors include his sisters, Whitney Leigh Crowder and Abby Nicole Crowder of Tuscaloosa, Ala.; mother, Teresa Ragland Crowder; grandparents, Susan Lowe of Berry, and George Ragland of Tuscaloosa.
Pallbearers were Jack York, Bobby York, Johnny York and Roy T. Crowder.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the Trust Fund set up at B.F. Goodrich, C.U.
William Parker Livingston
GREENSBORO - William Parker Livingston, 87, died Jan. 9, 2001, at IHS of Green sboro. Graveside services will be Thursday at 11a.m. at Memory Hill Gardens with Elder Glenn Payne officiating. The family will receive friends from 6-7 tonight at the funeral home. Kirk Funeral Homes of Green sboro is in charge of arrangements.
Survivors include his son, William R. Livingston, Eutaw, Ala.; sister, Sue L. Simmons, Green sboro, Ala.; brothers, Fred D. Livingston and Gene Livingston, both of Tuscaloosa, Ala.; grandchildren, Jennifer Shojae, Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Jaan Hankins, Carrollton, Ala.; great-grandchildren, Lelia Shojae, Tuscaloosa, Ala., Laura Shojae, Tuscaloosa, Ala., Drew Hankins, Carrollton, Ala., and Will Hankins, Carrollton, Ala.
Honorary pallbearers are the administration and staff of IHS of Green sboro.
Floyd Leon Kizziah
BESSEMER - Floyd Leon Kizziah, of Mt. View Nursing Home, died Jan. 6, 2001. Graveside services will be Thursday at 1 p.m. at Big Hurricane Cemetery in Brookwood. Visitation is Thursday from 11 until noon. Brown Service Bessemer is directing.
