08/06/99
MOBILE COUNTY
Samuel Bailey
Samuel "Bo" Bailey, a retired furniture repairman, died Monday at a local health care facility. He was 63.
Bailey, a native of Luverne, Ala., was a resident of Mobile. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army.
Survivors include seven cousins, Mary Daniels of Annapolis, Md., Ronald Edwards of New Jersey, Donald Edwards, Edwin Edwards, Fred Edwards, Walter Edwards and Sheliah Battles, all of Mobile; and his longtime companion, Priscilla "Miss Pinkie" Harris.
Viewing will be at noon Sunday at Christian Benevolent Funeral Home, with visitation from 5 to 7 p.m. Services are set for 10 a.m. Monday at the funeral home.
Burial will be in Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola.
Helen J. Black
Helen Janice Black, a native and longtime resident of Mobile County, died Wednesday at her home. She was 58.
Mrs. Black is survived by her husband, Robert E. Black, of Eight Mile; one son, Donnie Salley of Saraland; three daughters, Sandra Williams and Rochelle White, both of Oak Grove, and Joette Tanner of Semmes; her mother, Josie Kirksey of Kushla, Ala.; three brothers, Lonnie Kirksey and Jackie Kirksey, both of Kushla, and Johnny Kirksey of Cocoa Beach, Fla.; three sisters, Londa McCulley of Fairhope, Judy Rockewell of Kushla, and Donna Bumpers of Wagerville, Ala.; and seven grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Valhalla Memorial Funeral Home. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Valhalla Memorial Gardens in Semmes.
Ira L. Bowens Sr.
The Rev. Ira Lee Bowens Sr., a retired truck driver, died Wednesday at a local hospital. He was 67.
The Pine Apple, Ala., native and Mobile resident was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He was a member and an associate minister at Greater Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Katrina Bowens of Mobile; nine children, Ira Lee Bowens Jr., Rush Watson III, Jennifer Miskel, Lenora Jordan, Dana Wilson, Elaine Rembert, Joyce Sigler, Elmer Yates and Michael Yates; and 13 grandchildren.
Visitation will be from noon to 4 p.m. and after 5 p.m. Monday at Greater Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church. The family will receive friends at 6 p.m., and services are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
The funeral procession will leave at noon Tuesday from Christian Benevolent Funeral Home. Burial will be in Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola.
Evelyn Davis
Evelyn Mizzelle Harris Davis, a native of Repton and long-time resident of Mobile, died Thursday at a local health care facility. She was 86.
She is survived by her husband, Leo P. Davis of Mobile; three sons, Richard Inge Smith of Perry, Ga.; Dick Davis of Gautier, Miss.; and Fred Davis of Gaston; one brother, John Paul Harris of Mobile; nine grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be at noon Saturday at Mobile Memorial Gardens Funeral Home. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Mobile Memorial Gardens.
Lula Mae Dorsey Lula Mae Dorsey, an Orrville native and Mobile resident, died Monday at a local hospital. She was 57 .
She is survived by one son, Willie Green of Atlanta; two daughters, Angela Pettway and Deborah Pettway of Mobile; and 27 grand children.
Visitation will be at 9 a.m. Saturday at New Home Baptist Church. Services will begin at 11 a.m. Burial will be in Rising Sons Cemetery.
Arrangements are by Lovett's Funeral Chapel.
William E. Taylor Jr.
William Edgar Taylor Jr., a native of Raleigh, N.C., and resident of Mobile, died Wednesday at a local hospital. He was 70.
Taylor received a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from North Carolina State University in 1952. He was a civil engineer in the petroleum industry, and retired shortly after moving to Mobile in 1971.
He was a charter member of the Salesian Mission Support Program, and as a licensed private pilot was a member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.
He is survived by his wife, Irene H. Taylor of Mobile; one son, William E. Taylor III of Mobile; one brother, H.O. Taylor of Raleigh, N.C.; and one sister, Elizabeth Wilson of Durham, N.C.
Arrangements for a memorial service will be announced by Radney-Belmany Funeral Home, 6110 Grelot Road.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 917 Western American Circle, Suite 104, Mobile.
Betty Walton
MOUNT VERNON - Betty Jean Brown Walton, a former registered nurse, died Sunday in a Mobile hospital. She was 61.
Mrs. Walton, a native of Sunflower, Ala., and resident of Mount Vernon, had been employed with Searcy Hospital for 26 years and had been the hospital's first black supervisor, family members said.
She received her degree as a licensed practical nurse from Carver State Community College and her degree as a registered nurse from S.D. Bishop State Community College. She later attended Mobile College and the University of South Alabama, and received bachelor of science and master's degrees.
Mrs. Walton was a member of Mizpah Grand Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star.
Survivors include her husband, Willie Walton; three sons, Edward Walton, Gerald Walton and Marcus Walton; three daughters, Renisha Brown, Lenise Walton and Stephanie Walton; two brothers; seven sisters; and 13 grandchildren.
Visitation will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Mount Shady Methodist Church in Sunflower, with services scheduled at noon. Burial will be in Brown Cemetery.
Arrangements are by Lovett's Funeral Chapel of Mobile.
Ada Williamson
Ada L. Smith Williamson, a native of Clarke County and resident of Theodore, died Tuesday at a local hospital. She was 79.
She is survived by one son, Charles Williamson of Theodore; three daughters, Clarice Anderson of Saraland, Betty Bolton of Satsuma and Denice Williamson of Theodore; three brothers, Clyde Smith of Jackson, W.C. Smith of Coffeeville and S.D. Smith of Theodore; five sisters, Flossie Roe of Walker Springs, Lois Batley and Nettie Allday of Jackson, Jeannette Lewis of Mobile, and Frances Davis of Grove Hill; eight grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 10 a.m. today at Mobile Memorial Gardens Funeral Home. Burial will be in Mobile Memorial Gardens.
CLARKE COUNTY
Gayle S. Chaney
JACKSON - Gayle Stephens Chaney, a native and resident of Jackson died Sunday. She was 65.
She is survived by two sons, Bobby Stephens and Calvin Stephens of Jackson; three daughters, Minnie Kimbrough and Sandra Stephens of Jackson, and Daisy Scott of Leroy; one brother, J.V. Stephens of Jackson; two sisters, Joyce Todd of Jackson and Gladys Jackson of Long Beach, N.Y.; and 15 grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 tonightat Andrews Funeral Home in Jackson, and from 10 a.m. until the 11 a.m. funeral Saturday at Foreman Chapel Baptist Church in Jackson.
Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in Jackson.
Jettie R. Jemison
JACKSON - Jettie Ree Jemison died July 30 at her home. She was 82.
She is survived by one daughter, Annie Ree Steele of Jackson; three brothers, Inish Moore of Thomaston, Robert Moore Jr. of Birmingham and Willie Charles Moore of Chicago; three sisters, Sarah Jackson of Jackson, Bessie Cox of Gastonburg and Rosie Chamber of Chicago; five grandchildren; and a number of great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 tonight at Jackson Memorial Funeral Home. Viewing will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Star Zion AME Zion Church in Jackson, with services at 11 a.m. Burial will be in the cemetery of Sidney Chapel AME Zion Church in Consul.
Joe H. Mitchell
GROVE HILL - Joe Henry Mitchell, a native of Suggsville and resident of Grove Hill, died Sunday at his home. He was 86.
He was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Army and earned a number of decorations, including the good conduct and World War II victory medals.
He is survived by one brother, Samuel Mitchell of Grove Hill.
Visitation will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Wayman Chapel AME Church in Whatley, with services at 2 p.m. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Arrangements are by Andrews Funeral Home in Jackson.
MARENGO COUNTY
Jerry Sewell
LINDEN - Jerry Sewell, a mill worker, died Wednesday at his home. He was 58.
Sewell, a native of Centerville and resident of Linden, was a veteran and a member of the Centerville Baptist Church.
He is survived by his wife, Annette Sewell of Linden; his father, George Sewell of Linden; his mother, Voncile Gentry Templin of Bessemer; a son, George "Jay" Sewell of Linden; a brother, Ronald Sewell of Bessemer; and two grandsons.
Visitation will be from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at O'Bryant Funeral Home. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. at Linden Memorial Park.
Arrangements are by O'Bryant Chapel Funeral Home in Linden.
OTHER
Roosevelt Johnson Sr.
MILTON, Fla. - Roosevelt Johnson Sr., a retired farmer, died July 29 at Santa Rosa Medical Center. He was 58.
Johnson, a native of Atmore and resident of Milton, attended Escambia County Training School in Atmore and was a member of Zion Hope Baptist Church in Leesburg, Fla.
He is survived by his wife, Doris Johnson of Milton; two daughters, Barbara Ann Johnson and Debra Diane Johnson, both of Milton; three sons, Carl Montgomery of Leesburg, Norris Montgomery of Nashville and Roosevelt Johnson Jr. of Milton; three sisters, Katie Rudolph and Peggy Jones, both of Atmore, and Essie Lee Johnson of Dorchester, Miss.; four brothers, Eddie Johnson and Jerry Johnson, both of Atmore, Willie James Johnson of San Francisco, and Willie B. Johnson of Nokomis; 19 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Visitation will be from 1 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. today at Turner Funeral Chapel in Atmore, with family hour from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Greater Mount Triumph Baptist Church in Atmore.
Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery.
08/09/99
CHOCTAW COUNTY
Mary E. Pittman
GILBERTOWN — Mary Evelyn Stafford Pittman, who worked as a seamstress for Vanity Fair Mills, died Saturday at a Jackson, Miss., hospital. She was 63.
Ms. Pittman was a native of Laurel, Miss., and a resident of Gilbertown, Ala.
She is survived by two daughters, Theda Hartzog and Debbie Hyatt, both of Gilbertown; one son, Jimmy Roy Stafford of Gilbertown; one stepson, Eddie Pittman of Toxey; one brother, Frank Guinn of Butler; and two sisters, Allie Andrews of Jachin, Ala., and Ann Parten of Demopolis; and three grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 tonight at Bumpers Funeral Home in Butler. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the chapel of the funeral home. Burial will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Gilbertown.
08/10/99
MOBILE COUNTY
James Billy Lee
James Billy Lee, 59, a native of Covington County and resident of Mobile, died Saturday.
He is survived by his wife, Clara Lee of Mobile; one son, Billy Joe Lee of Grand Bay; six brothers, William Lee of Albany, Ga., and Ronald Lee, Robert Lee, Chapman Lee, Harold Lee and Bobby Lee of Georgiana, Ala.; one sister, Wanda Merle of Kansas City, Kan.; and one grandchild.
Private services will be held at a later date.
Mary E. Pledger
Mary E. Pledger, a member of Central Mississippi Baptist Church, died Friday at a local hospital. She was 77.
Mrs. Pledger was a native of Waynesboro, Miss., and resident of Mobile.
She is survived by her children Deora E. Tinsley, Geraldine Knowles, John Henry King, Cora Kyser and Luverta Stinson all of Mobile; Hattie Wright of Detroit; Marilyn Johnson of Rowlett, Texas; James Jones Jr. of Dayton, Ohio; and Marshall Jones of Bessemer, Ala.; 17 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to the 11 a.m. funeral service Friday at Central Missionary Baptist Church, 840 Reynolds Ave. Burial will be in Whispering Pines Cemetery. Arrangements made by Christian Benevolent Funeral Home.
James B. White Jr.
James Bertis White Jr., a native of Mobile and resident of Tanner Williams, died Sunday at his residence. He was 38.
White, a member of Tanner Williams Assembly of God, was a boilermaker and member of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers Local No. 110.
He is survived by his wife, Susan White of Tanner Williams; two sons, A.J. White and Tre' White of Tanner Williams; three stepchildren, Melinda Lindsey of Cairo, Ga., Marie Cowart of Tanner Williams and Michael Corley of Leakesville, Miss.; parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.B. White Sr.; two sisters Celia Whitmore and Mary Evelyn Gandy of Tanner Williams; and four stepgrandchildren.
Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. today at Sigler Funeral Home in Lucedale. Memorials may be made Tanner Williams Assembly of God.
OTHER
Mattie Lee McDill
CONEHATTA, Miss. — Mattie Lee McDill, 84, a resident of Conehatta, died Sunday at a Union, Miss., hospital.
She is survived by four sons, James A. McDill of Pearl, Miss., Russell McDill of Mobile, and Wink McDill and George L. McDill of Conehatta; one daughter, Lola Dean Shanks of Jackson, Miss.; one brother, Cooper Andrews of Long Beach, Miss.; one sister, Ella Rigby of Forest, Miss.; 10 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 10 a.m. today at Sulphur Springs Baptist Church in Scott County, followed by burial in Sulphur Springs Cemetery.
Colonial Chapel Funeral Home in Forest handled arrangements.
