06/17/99
MOBILE COUNTY
Francis Garris
Francis Olene Walker Garris, a member of Northside Baptist Church in Selma, died Wednesday at a local health care facility. She was 80.
Mrs. Garris, a native of Mississippi, was a former longtime resident of Selma. She lived in Mobile for the past 10 years.
Survivors include three children, Mike Garris of Mobile, Charlie Garris of Peachtree City, Ga., and Georgia Spiers of Bogalusa, La.; two brothers, Lester Walker and Edward Walker of Petal, Miss.; eight grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 this evening at Lawrence Funeral Home in Selma. Graveside services are set for 11 a.m. Friday in Pineview Memorial Gardens in Selma.
Local arrangements were handled by Radney Funeral Home on Dauphin Street.
Douglas M. Jones Sr.
Douglas M. Jones Sr., who had worked for many years as an insurance salesman in Mobile, died Wednesday at his home. He was 63.
A native of Jackson, Miss., Jones was a longtime Mobile resident and was a member of Word of Life Assembly.
During the 1950s and 1960s, he had worked for Southern Railroad.
Survivors include his daughter, Debra Lewis of Mobile; two sons, Douglas M. Jones II of Pensacola and Vince W. Jones of Mobile; and six grandchildren.
Memorial services are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Word of Life Assembly on Three Notch Road in Tillman's Corner.
Jones donated his body to science. The family suggests that memorials be made to the state of Alabama's Anatomical Gift Program at the University of South Alabama.
Donna M. Willis
Donna M. Willis, a homemaker and resident of Mobile, died Wednesday at a local hospital. She was 84.
Mrs. Willis, known affectionately as "Donie," was a native of Monroeville.
She is survived by her daughter, Mary Lee Willis of Mobile.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 this evening at Radney Funeral Home on Dauphin Street, where services are set for 10 a.m. Friday. Burial will be in New Hope Gardens.
CHOCTAW COUNTY
Thomas E. Weekley
BUTLER — Thomas Earl "Billy" Weekley, who had worked as a truck driver, died Tuesday at his home. He was 71.
Weekley, a native of Clarke County, Miss., was a resident of the Shady Grove community of Butler.
Survivors include his wife, Evelyn B. Weekley of Butler; two sons, Tommy Busby of Gilbertown, Ala., and Michael Weekley of Houston; one daughter, Billie Rae Allen of Houston; 11 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Services are scheduled for 3 p.m. today at Shady Grove Assembly of God, with burial in Shady Grove Cemetery in Butler. Bumpers Funeral Home of Butler is in charge of arrangements.
MONROE COUNTY
Dottie Ledkins
FRISCO CITY — Dottie Zell Huggins Ledkins, a homemaker and member of Oak Grove Assembly of God Church in Goodway, Ala., died Tuesday at a Mobile hospital. She was 90.
Mrs. Ledkins was a lifelong resident of Monroe County.
Survivors include four sons, Ralph Ledkins of Monroeville, Zerl Ledkins of Franklin, Ala., Joseph Lavaugn Ledkins of Atmore, Ala., and Darrell Ledkins of Excel, Ala.; three daughters, Myrtis Ledkins Butler of Forest Home, Ala., Morrell Odom and Marie Harris, both of Frisco City, Ala.; 21 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Services are set for 10 a.m. today at Johnson Funeral Home in Monroeville, with burial in Oak Grove Assembly Cemetery in Goodway.
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Edna T. Gavin
SEABOARD — Edna Taylor Gavin, a homemaker and resident of the Seaboard community near Tibbie, died Wednesday at a Mobile hospital. She was 73.
Mrs. Gavin was a native of Seaboard.
Survivors include one son, Henry Gavin of Grand Bay; one sister, Gladys Shepard of Seaboard; and three grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 6 to 9 tonight at Bumpers Funeral Home in Butler, where services are set for 1 p.m. Friday. Burial will be in Brightwater Cemetery in Needham, Ala.
OTHER
Benjamin Taylor Black
LILLIAN — Lillian resident Benjamin Taylor Black died Wednesday, June 16, 1999, at Foley Nursing Home. He was 90.
Black was a member of the Lillian United Methodist Church. Survivors include a stepson, Edward J. Lambert Jr. of Woodbridge, Va., and a niece, Edith Davidson of McEwen, Tenn.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Bayview Funeral Home in Foley. Burial will follow in Pine Rest Memorial Park, with the Rev. Gene May officiating.
Bayview Funeral Home of Foley is handling arrangements.
Gilbert B. Luce
GULF SHORES — Gilbert B. "Gil" Luce died Wednesday, June 16, 1999.
The 71-year-old was retired from Monsanto.
Survivors include his wife, Margaret Johnson Luce of Gulf Shores; a son, Steven Luce of Baton Rouge, La.; two daughters, Cynthia Milander of Fairfield, Conn. and Gillian Bartram of San Antonio; and seven grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at the Holy Spirit Episcopal Church in Gulf Shores with the Rev. Denis Baum officiating.
The family suggests that memorial donations be made to the American Cancer Society or Mercy Medical Hospice.
Baldwin Funeral Home of Gulf Shores is handling arrangements.
Vester Younce
ELBERTA — Vester Younce of Elberta died Tuesday, June 15, 1999.
The 94-year-old was a member of the First Baptist Church of Elberta.
Survivors include her daughter, Agnes Stitt of Elberta; her son, Harvey Younce of Elberta; 12 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren and great- great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. tonight at Bayview Funeral Home in Foley. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Friday at the funeral home, with burial in Wynn Cemetery in Summerdale.
Bayview Funeral Home of Foley is handling arrangements.
06/18/99
MOBILE COUNTY
Johnnie F. Bibbs
Johnnie F. Bibbs, a retired aircraft mechanic at Brookley Air Force Base, died Wednesday at a local hospital. He was 77.
Bibbs, a native of Theodore, was a resident of Prichard. He was a member of Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church.
Survivors include nine children, Annie Strother, Jimmie Bibbs, Theresa Nobles, Alfreda Williams, Jerry McCall, Wilbert McCall, Barry McCall and Ronnie Bibbs, all of Mobile, and Joseph Reese of St. Louis, Mo.; two sisters, Flora Holston and Lee Ollie Williams, all of Montgomery; 19 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Viewing will be from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday at Christian Benevolent Funeral Home. Viewing is also set after 9 a.m. Monday at Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church, 1712 Chestang St. in Prichard, with visitation from 11 a.m. until the noon services. Burial will be in Whispering Pines Cemetery.
Emma K. Bowden
Emma Kelson Bowden, a native of Vinegar Bend, Ala., and resident of Prichard, died Wednesday afternoon at the age of 89.
Survivors include three daughters, Rebecca Hardy of State Line, Miss., Ora Holmes of Prichard and Alma Rembert of Mobile; three sons, Birden Kelson of Mobile, and James Kelson and McKinley Kelson of Prichard; 18 grandchildren; 39 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
Visitation is set for 9 a.m. Monday at New Home Missionary Baptist Church, 1226 Neely Ave. in Prichard , followed by services at 11 a.m. Burial will be in Oaklawn Cemetery. Arrangements are with Reese Funeral Home.
Melvin A. Williams
Melvin A. "Bill" Williams, a retired supervisor with Shook and Fletcher Insulation Co., died Thursday at a local hospital. He was 74.
A native of Beardstown, Ill., Williams was a longtime resident of Mobile. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving as an armed guard. He was decorated for distinguished service.
His memberships include Disabled American Veterans No. 7, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 49 and American Legion Post 88.
He enjoyed gardening and reading.
Survivors include his wife, Helen Williams of Mobile; four sons, Carlos Williams, Rickey Williams and Brian Williams, all of Mobile, and Terry Williams of Fairhope; six brothers, Charles Williams, Keith Williams and Gary Williams of Pekin, Ill., Francis Williams of Manito, Ill., and Dale Williams and Marvin Williams of Murray, Ky.; one sister, Celia Mae Rice of Pekin; and nine grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday at Radney Funeral Home on Dauphin Street. Services with military honors are scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday at Forest Hill Church of God, with viewing from 1 p.m. until services. Burial will be in Pine Crest Cemetery West.
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Walter L. Peffer
FRUITDALE — Walter Louis Peffer, a retired truck driver with the city of Chatom, died Friday at an area medical facility. He was 70.
Peffer was a native and resident of Fruitdale. He was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include his brother, Clyde Allen "Pee Wee" Peffer of Millry, Ala.; and two sisters, Louise E. White of Spanish Fort and Elsie Lee Cunningham of Houma, La.
Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday at Freeman Funeral Home in Citronelle, where services are set for 10 a.m. Monday. Burial will be in Escatawpa Cemetery in Escatawpa, Ala.
OTHER
Henry C. Corbin
FAYETTEVILLE, Tenn. — Henry Cleveland Corbin, a former Mobile resident, died Wednesday in Fayetteville. He was 62.
Corbin had been a longtime employee with the Mobile Water Works. He was a former member of Magnolia Springs Baptist Church in Theodore.
Survivors include two sisters, Lillian Lemmons and Claudette Corbin, both of Florence, Ala.; one brother, Robert Corbin of Phoenix, Ariz.; two stepchildren; six step-grandchildren; and two step-great-grandchildren.
Services are scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday at Gallant Funeral Home of Fayetteville, with burial in Blanche Cemetery in Lincoln County, Tenn.
