James E. Akins
James E. Akins, age 72, of Destin, Fla., and formerly of Louisville, Ky., died Sunday, Feb. 20, 2000, at his residence.
He was a retired employee of CIT Financial Services and former owner of Akins True Value Hardware Store in Louisville. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II and a member of Destin United Methodist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Virginia Shaw Akins of Destin; daughters, Lucinda Welsh of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Mary Ann Wolcott of Milton, Fla., Elizabeth Knopf of Louisville, Richner Belonger of Watkinsville, Ga., and Caoline O'Connell of Yukon, Ohio; brothers, Dr. William Akins of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Dr. Richard Akins of Manhattan, Kan.; 14 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 23, at St. Matthew's United Methodist Church, 319 Browns Lane, La. Burial will be in Cave Hill Cemetery.
Friends may call at the funeral home from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Northwest Florida, 2001 N. Palafox St., Pensacola, FL 32501.
Pearson Funeral Home, Louisville, is in charge of arrangements.
Sybil Wilson Young
Sybil Wilson Young, age 93, of Destin, Fla., passed away peacefully Sunday, Feb. 20, 2000.
She was a wife, a mother, a great-grandmother, a confidante and friend - all accomplished with her easy grace. She infused our lives with wisdom, kindness, strength and unconditional love. We will always remember her passion for living.
She was born on Jan. 5, 1907, in Andalusia, Ala., to George and Myrtle Wilson. Most of her childhood years were spent in Opp, Ala. She and her husband of 49 years, William Roy Young, lived in Montgomery, Ala., until his death in 1981. She resided at Sandestin since 1992. Sybil was preceded in death by her son, Billy, and grandson, Bill Moore of Fort Walton Beach.
Sybil was truly a "Grand Lady of Golf." She discovered it - the love of her life - at the age of 50 and it kept her active until recently. Sybil said golf was a tremendous consolation for her in times of loss and stress. And "it's what I'd rather do than anything else." She played for years in the Ladies Golf Association at the Montgomery Country Club. Ten years ago, the annual Sybil Young Ladies Invitational Golf Tournament was named in her honor.
Sybil's life is continued by her daughter, Ann Moore; grandsons, Bobby and Ben Moore; great-granddaughter, Kasey Leann Moore; sister-in-law, Mildred Young. She is also survived by Billy and Kay Walker, Craig and Janie Clemons, Johnny and Laura Wilson, Tom and Chris Head, Mike and Ginger Solomon, Connie Rainer and all their children whom Sybil adored.
Funeral services will be conducted at Brooks-Cargill Chapel, Greenwood Cemetery, 3154 Highland Ave., Montgomery, on Wednesday, Feb. 23, at 2 p.m., with a visitation an hour prior.
A memorial service will be held at Christ the King Episcopal Church in South Walton County at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26.
The family requests donations be sent to Emerald Coast Children's Advocacy Center in memory of Sybil Young, P.O. Box 1237, Niceville, FL 32588.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road N.E., Fort Walton Beach, is in charge of arrangements.
Annette Pooley
Annette Pooley, age 72, passed away at home Sunday evening, Feb. 20, 2000.
A native of Jacksonville, Fla., she worked as a realtor for more than 20 years and earned the designations of GRI and CSAII. Annette was a member for nearly 40 years at Southside Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), where she was a deaconess. She graduated from Andrew Jackson High School and later joined the auxiliary Jackson Jills.
She was preceded in death by her parents, J. Cullen and Ruth Albritton. Survivors include her husband, Lee Pooley; children, Jerry Pooley and wife Lynn of Springfield, Va.; son, Adam, a third-year cadet at the Military Academy at West Point, Jan Pooley of Shalimar, Fla., and David Pooley and wife Angie and their son Dallas of Hickory, N.C.
Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 23, at Southside Christian Church with the Rev. Drs. Ronald and Sandra Stroh officiating. Visitation with family will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Wednesday at the church. A reception and celebration of Annette's life will follow the service at the church.
Memorial contributions may be sent to Southside Christian Church, 6755 Atlantic Blvd., Jax, FL 32211; or Hospice of Northeast Florida, 4266 Sunbeam Road, Jax, FL 32257, in memory of Annette Pooley.
Arrangements entrusted to Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home, Jacksonville.
Daisy Belle Parker
Daisy Belle Parker, age 95, of Milligan, Fla., passed away Sunday, Feb. 20, 2000, after an extended illness, in Crestview Nursing and Convalescent Home.
She was born in Dorcas, Fla., and was a lifelong resident of Okaloosa County, Fla. She was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. She will be greatly missed.
Daisy Belle Parker was preceded in death by her husband, John Parker, of 51 years; son, Johnny M. Parker; and daughter, Annie Jean Wiseman.
Survivors include her sons and daughters-in-law, Telmon "Pee Wee" and Jeanett Parker, and Alton and Lois Parker; daughter, Reta Johns; 10 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 23, with the Rev. Ted Jernigan officiating. Burial will follow in Almarante Cemetery, Laurel Hill, Fla.
Whitehurst Funeral Home, Crestview, is in charge of arrangements.
Sybil Wilson Young
Sybil Wilson Young, age 93, of Destin, Fla., passed away peacefully Sunday, Feb. 20, 2000.
She was a wife, a mother, a great-grandmother, a confidante and friend - all accomplished with her easy grace. She infused our lives with wisdom, kindness, strength and unconditional love. We will always remember her passion for living.
She was born on Jan. 5, 1907, in Andalusia, Ala., to George and Myrtle Wilson. Most of her childhood years were spent in Opp, Ala. She and her husband of 49 years, William Roy Young, lived in Montgomery, Ala., until his death in 1981. She resided at Sandestin since 1992. Sybil was preceded in death by her son, Billy, and grandson, Bill Moore of Fort Walton Beach.
Sybil was truly a "Grand Lady of Golf." She discovered it - the love of her life - at the age of 50 and it kept her active until recently. Sybil said golf was a tremendous consolation for her in times of loss and stress. And "it's what I'd rather do than anything else." She played for years in the Ladies Golf Association at the Montgomery Country Club. Ten years ago, the annual Sybil Young Ladies Invitational Golf Tournament was named in her honor.
Sybil's life is continued by her daughter, Ann Moore; grandsons, Bobby and Ben Moore; great-granddaughter, Kasey Leann Moore; sister-in-law, Mildred Young. She is also survived by Billy and Kay Walker, Craig and Janie Clemons, Johnny and Laura Wilson, Tom and Chris Head, Mike and Ginger Solomon, Connie Rainer and all their children whom Sybil adored.
Funeral services will be conducted at Brooks-Cargill Chapel, Greenwood Cemetery, 3154 Highland Ave., Montgomery, on Wednesday at 2 p.m., with a visitation an hour prior.
A memorial service will be held at Christ the King Episcopal Church in South Walton County at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26.
The family requests donations be sent to Emerald Coast Children's Advocacy Center in memory of Sybil Young, P.O. Box 1237, Niceville, FL 32588.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road N.E., Fort Walton Beach, is in charge of arrangements.
Alan Barrett
Alan Barrett of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., passed away at his home Feb. 21, 2000, after a short illness.
Born in Castle, Okla., on Dec. 12, 1931, Alan served in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Army and was a Korean War veteran. He came to Fort Walton Beach in 1963 and was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church.
Survivors include his wife, Lorene; daughter, Laurie Barrett; son and daughter-in-law, Steve and Colleen Barrett, all of Fort Walton Beach; sister, Dorothy Russ of Santa Cruz, Calif.; and brothers, Ralph Barrett of Lindsay, Okla., and Ray Barrett of Tucson, Ariz.
A private memorial service will be held at a later date.
The family requests, in lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy be made in Alan's memory to St. Mary's Catholic Church, Fort Walton Beach; or to Hospice of Northwest Florida.
Milton Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Bill C. Cox
Bill C. Cox, age 58, of Douglasville, Ga., passed away Monday, Feb. 21, 2000.
Bill was born on June 7, 1941, to L.D. and Ernestine (Johnson) Cox. He was raised in Baker, Fla., and was a graduate of Baker High School. Bill moved to the Atlanta area in 1961 and was employed with Parker-Hannifin Co. in Atlanta.
Survivors include his sons, Richard C. Cox of Douglasville, and Andy Cox of Summerville, Ga.; daughter, Stephanie Cox of Northport, Fla.; stepmother, Millie Cox of Milton, Fla.; brothers, Charles Cox of Tucson, Ariz., and Jimmy Cox of Milton; and four grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 24, in the chapel of Brackney Funeral Service.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Brackney Funeral Service, Crestview, Fla., is in charge of arrangements.
John M. Feeney
John M. Feeney, age 77, of Niceville, Fla., died Monday, Feb. 21, 2000, at Twin Cities Hospital from complications following an extended illness.
John was a Special Agent (retired) for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. His career with the FBI spanned 26 years in Michigan, New Mexico and Alabama. Born in Pennsylvania in 1923, he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II from 1942 to 1945. He was a "Shipwrecked Sailor of the South Seas," having survived sinking of the Lexington during the battle of the Coral Sea. Prior to entering duty with the FBI and after the war, John graduated from Indiana University of PA and taught high school for a short period.
During his career with the FBI, John served in the Albuquerque, Detroit and Mobile Divisions with duty in the Battle Creek, Mich., and Tucumcari, N.M., resident agencies. After he retired from the FBI in Albuquerque, John continued working in the investigative field for 19 years and was associated with the FBI's BICS program until last year when poor health forced him to quit working. John and his wife Gail had moved to Niceville from Albuquerque in 1997.
He is survived by his wife of 29 years, Gail Feeney. He is also survived locally by his stepson and daughter-in-law, Scott and Belinda McAda and their children, Wesley and William McAda. John served as Scott's best man in the McAda's wedding in 1979. Other surviving children include son Christopher of Martinez, Ga.; daughter, Patricia Mauer of New Orleans; and son, Mike Feeney of Chandler, Ariz. Eight grandchildren survive.
A private memorial gathering for friends and family will be held at a later date in Niceville.
The family requests, in lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made to a charity of your choice.
James Loyd Ozbirn
James Loyd Ozbirn, age 73, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., died Monday, Feb. 21, 2000, after a brief illness at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center.
Mr. Ozbirn was born in Iuka, Miss., on Oct. 22, 1926, to Thomas Clyde and Twilla Ozbirn, who preceded him in death. He served in the U.S. Air Force for 22 years, where his career led him to numerous locations throughout the country and overseas. He retired to the local area and began his favorite hobby of fishing the local waters in 1967.
Survivors include his wife, Jewel Ozbirn; daughter, Mona and husband Tim Arrington; son, Ron and wife Kim Ozbirn; stepchildren, Sarah Williams, Diane and husband Moe Hodgdon, and Paul "Buddy" Engle Jr. and wife Linda. Grandchildren include Hunter and Brittany Ozbirn, and Morgan and Hallie Sweatt. Stepgrandchildren include Tana and Nick Engle, Amanda Jenkins, Jennifer Hodgdon, Logan Hodgdon; and step-great-grandchild, Andy Jenkins. Brothers and sisters include Hoyt Ozbirn and wife Jeannette, Doris Keck and husband Duane, Marie Reid and husband Curt, Lanis Price, Tom Ozbirn and wife Lois, along with numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 24, at Emerald Coast Funeral Home with the Rev. Jim Ross officiating. Burial will follow in Beal Memorial Cemetery.
Friends may visit with the family at the funeral home from 5 to 7p.m. Wednesday.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road N.E., Fort Walton Beach, is in charge of arrangements.
Mack Welch
Mack Welch, age 82, of Crestview, Fla., passed away Tuesday morning, Feb. 22, 2000.
He was a native of Hacoda, Ala., and lived in Okaloosa County, Fla., most of his life. Mr. Welch was a retired farmer and attended Crestview Church of God.
He is survived by three sisters, Lena Weeks, Louise Jones, both of Crestview, and Lucille Barber of Pensacola, Fla.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Graveside services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 24, at Almarante Cemetery with the Rev. Early Skipper officiating. The family will receive friends from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Thursday.
Brackney Funeral Service, Crestview, is in charge of arrangements.
