U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Martha P. Butts
Martha P. Butts, age 73, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., passed away Saturday, May 5, 2001.
Martha was born on Aug. 18, 1927, in New Albany, Miss. Mrs. Butts was a member of Shalimar Baptist Church, where she loved working with pre-school children.
Mrs. Butts is survived by her daughters, Patricia A. (Woody) Eaton of Taylorville, Ill., Joan Howie of Harrisbough, N.C., Jessie Cummins (Thomas) Hills of Fort Walton Beach, and Sandra S. (Victor) Garcia of Fort Walton Beach; sons, Gene (Renne) Cummins of Freeport, Fla., and Joe W. Cummins of Fort Walton Beach; stepdaughters, Marion Joan Butts (Mike) Hedrick of Vacaville, Calif., and Donna Kay Butts Belche of Atlanta; brothers, Lanny Moore of Birmingham, Ala., Cliff Moore of Birmingham, and Tom Moore of Milton, Fla.; sister, Anna Bell Free of Montgomery, Ala.; grandchildren, Johnathan and Ammie Hedrick, Natalie and Nathan Belche, Gloria Dorr, Debbe Sargent, Tim Bryant, Sky Cummins, Sonja Broxson, and Robert, Cynthia and Chris Howie; six great-grandchildren; as well as many nieces and nephews.
Services will be conducted at Shalimar Baptist Church on Thursday at 2 p.m. with the Revs. Bill Reese and Danny Adikson officiating. Interment will follow in Beal Memorial Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Pre-School Department of Shalimar Baptist Church.
McLaughlin Mortuary, 17 Chestnut Ave., Fort Walton Beach, is entrusted with arrangements.
Darrow A. Branch
Darrow A. Branch, age 76, of Mary Esther, Fla., passed away May 6, 2001, at his residence.
He was born in Winter Haven, Fla., to Manasis and Carrie Branch on July 8, 1924. He lived in this area for 45 years and was Baptist by faith. Mr. Branch was a member of the Air Force Association, VFW, and the Air Commando Association.
He is survived by his wife, Tomiko Noda Branch; sons, Mike W. Branch and Darrow Andrew Branch; daughter, Catherine B. Suddarth; nieces and nephews, Judy and Jim Brevard, Linda Bennit and Butch Parrish; and six grandchildren.
The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at McLaughlin Mortuary.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Friday, May 11, at McLaughlin Mortuary. Burial, with full military honors, will follow in Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, Fla., at 1:15 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Northwest Florida, 2001 N. Palafox St., Pensacola, FL 32501.
McLaughlin Mortuary is entrusted with arrangements.
William "Howard" Wolford
Tech. Sgt. Howard Wolford, U.S. Air Force retired, age 79, went to be with his Lord on Monday, May 7, 2001.
He was born on Aug. 17, 1921, in Blountville, Tenn., to the late Francis Jacob Wolford and Mary Cate Wolford. His sister, Elizabeth Wolford preceded him in death.
He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Madge E. Wolford; daughter and her husband, Merry Carole and Pete Kilgore of Navarre, Fla.; son, John P. Wolford of San Francisco; sister, Sara Coffey and husband Bob of Kingsport, Tenn.; brothers, Donald C. Wolford and wife Pat of Kingsport, and James L. Wolford and wife Lavon of Oceanside, Calif. He is also survived by a grandson, Andrew Kilgore; grand dog, Trixie; and numerous nieces, nephews and dear friends.
He moved his family to Fort Walton Beach, Fla., in 1969. After retiring from the Air Force with over 20 years of service, he drove a school bus for Okaloosa County schools and also was employed at the Northwest Florida Daily News. He enjoyed staying busy and going to coffee with his friends. He always loved life and will be truly missed by his family and friends.
Serving as pallbearers will be Don Anderson, George Duncan Sr., Carl Gicker, Andrew Kilgore, Jonathon Livingston and Tom Roberts. Honorary pallbearer is Ray Krupka.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Thursday at McLaughlin Mortuary with the Rev. Charles Sansom and Jimmy Richardson officiating. Burial will follow in Beal Memorial Cemetery, with military honors.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the local American Heart Association.
McLaughlin Mortuary, 17 Chestnut Ave., Fort Walton Beach, is entrusted with arrangements.
Ervin Karl Hoppe
Ervin Karl Hoppe, age 80, of DeFuniak Springs, Fla., died Tuesday, May 8, 2001, at his home.
Born March 7, 1921, in Alpena, Mich., he is survived by his wife Loretta of 53 years; a son, Dennis, his wife Debra, along with their children Seth and Adah of DeFuniak Springs; daughter, Renee of Albany, Ga.; three brothers; and three sisters who all reside in Michigan.
A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church on Circle Drive in DeFuniak Springs at 4 p.m. Thursday.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to First Presbyterian Church.
Shelby Havlik Johnson
Memorial services for Mrs. Johnson, age 63, will be held in Calhoun Park in Destin, Fla., on Sunday, May 13, at 5 p.m. with the Rev. John Friedman, Destin United Methodist Church, officiating. She died of cancer on April 30, 2001, in Dallas. Mrs. Johnson was a retired real estate representative.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Horace and Sarah Maynard; five brothers; and husband, John Havlik.
Survivors include her daughter, Janet (Mike) Kromer; grandchildren, Tara and Justin of Brandon, Fla.; son, Jim (Dawn) Head; grandchildren, Christina, Allison and Christopher; great-grandchild, Ashlyn of Hollywood, Fla.; husband, Rob Johnson of Callolton, Texas; sister, Jewel (Perry) Belcher of Lebanon, Tenn.; and niece, Amanda Belcher of Destin.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society in memory of Shelby Johnson.
In case of rain, services will be held at Destin United Methodist Church at 5:30 p.m.
John Elton Clemons
John Elton Clemons, age 72, of Mary Esther, Fla., died May 7, 2001, at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center.
Mr. Clemons was born on Aug. 1, 1928, in Levy County, Fla. He moved to Mary Esther in 1992 from Decatur, Ga. He retired from Emory University in 1990 as Professor Emeritus, after 24 years of teaching in the Division of Library and Information Management and as the unit's associate director. In addition to his teaching, he had administrative responsibility for admission to the division, financial aid and placement of graduates.
Prior to his appointment at Emory, Mr. Clemons was at Florida State University from 1949-1966. He was on the university library staff, then on the faculty of the School of Library and Information Studies, teaching courses and serving as university bibliographer. In this capacity, he taught the university's graduate students the use of library and research resources and assisted them with documentation and manuscript problems while preparing theses and dissertations.
From 1952-1954, Mr. Clemons was in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean conflict.
He attended the University of Florida from 1944-1947 and Florida State University from 1947-1949, from which he received the B.A. and M.A. degrees. He was a member of Theta Chi Fraternity and served after moving to Emory as a regional counselor.
Mr. Clemons was very active in associations within his profession. He was on the governing council of the American Library Association and the Executive Board of the Association of Library and Information Science Education. Also, he held various offices and committee appointments in local, state and regional association of libraries, librarians and information spe#####ts. In addition, he served in consulting capacities and on accreditation teams.
Since moving to the area, Mr. Clemons was active in the First Presbyterian Church of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., serving on the Board of Deacons and as its moderator and on several committees. Also, he was an active member of the Kiwanis Club of Fort Walton Beach, working on the lake project and serving on the Scholarship Board and a year as chair of Community Services.
Mr. Clemons is survived by his wife of 53 years, Jean Pryor Clemons; sons and their wives, Rodney and Carlene Clemons of Stone Mountain, Ga., and Rick and Terry Clemons of Conyers, Ga.; daughter and husband, Robyn and John Tharp of Stone Mountain, Ga.; grandchildren, Brenton, Rebecca and Angela Clemons of Conyers; and great-grandchild, Derrick "D.J." Freeman of Conyers.
Memorial services will be conducted at 2 p.m. on May 12 at First Presbyterian Church in Fort Walton Beach with Dr. Jack Walchenbach officiating.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 134 Beal Parkway S.W., Fort Walton Beach, Fla.
McLaughlin Mortuary, 17 Chestnut Ave., Fort Walton Beach, is entrusted with arrangements.
Joyce Ann Courtney
Joyce Ann Courtney, age 55, of Baker, Fla., passed away Monday, May 7, 2001.
Mrs. Courtney was born on April 23, 1946, in Crestview, Fla.
Survivors include her son, Ernest Strandberg Jr. of Baker; daughter, Nancy and husband Donald Ray Hulion of Crestview; special friend, Joe Williams of Baker; sisters, Betty Bass of Ocala, Fla., and Lois Holt of Crestview; grandchildren, Jennifer and Ashley Hulion; and several nieces and nephews.
Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, May 11, at Pyron Chapel Cemetery with the Rev. Nolan Lee officiating.
Brackney Funeral Service, Crestview, is in charge of arrangements.
Carol J. Redfield
Carol J. Redfield passed away from an extended illness on Sunday, May 6, 2001.
Mrs. Redfield, age 78, was born in Kansas City, Mo., and was a longtime resident of Fort Walton Beach, Fla. She was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of the World War II era, a dance instructor for the Arthur Murray Dance School, and worked for many years as an executive secretary in mortgage banking firms. In her later years she worked in a retail store. She will best be remembered as a loving and supportive spouse and parent.
She was preceded in death by her spouse, Dallas L. Redfield, also of Fort Walton Beach; and son, David D. Redfield of Baton Rouge, La. She is survived by her loving daughter, Dana Redfield Leonard; daughter-in-law, Carlene Cassulo Redfield; and grandsons, Damon Aaron, Desmond Anthony, and Devon Andre Redfield. She is also survived by numerous nieces; and a brother-in-law, Ervin Redfield and family.
Her quiet strength and kindness will be sorely missed by all who knew her, and while we selfishly wish her here with us, we know that she will dance happily in the loving arms of her husband and son this Mother's Day. She is without grief or unhappiness, in the arms of her departed family, and home at last with God.
Her family here wishes to express a special thank you to the third floor nurses and personnel at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center, her caregivers at Benton House, Dr. Kevin Berger, Walter Mirth and son A.J. Calabro, as well as all of her warm and caring neighbors.
Gregory Scott Durant
Petty Officer 2nd Class Gregory Scott Durant, a well-known Niceville, Fla., resident, age 34, passed away Saturday morning, May 5, 2001, in Norfolk, Va.
He was born in Chicopee, Mass., on May 10, 1967. He attended Ruckle Junior High School and graduated from Niceville High School in 1985. Upon graduation, Greg entered the U.S. Navy in the Medical Department, Dental Division. During his Naval career he was deployed overseas and served his country in four different locations.
From 1999 to 2000 he was stationed at NAS Pensacola, where he owned a home in Milton, Fla., and earned his degree as a dental hygienist through Pensacola Junior College. Greg's last assignment was aboard the Naval aircraft carrier USS George Washington CVN-73, homeport Norfolk.
He is survived by his two sons, Gregory James and Jeffrey Michael Durant; father, William; and brother, Steven Durant of Brandon, Fla. Greg was preceded in death by his loving mother, Dorothy Durant.
Medals earned during his Naval career are as follows: Enlisted Aviation/Air Warfare Pin, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with one star, Coast Guard Unit Commendation Medal, Navy Meritorious Unit Commenda-tion Service Medal, Navy-E with two stars, Good Conduct Medal with two stars, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expe-ditionary Medal with one star, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Navy Sea Service Ribbon with three stars, Navy Rifleman Marks-manship Rib-bon Expert Level (with silver E).
Funeral services will commence at 11 a.m. Friday, May 11, at Emerald Coast Funeral Home. Burial will take place at 2 p.m. in Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, Fla., with full military honors. The family will receive friends at the family home following the service.
Flowers will be accepted by Emerald Coast Funeral Home.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road, Fort Walton Beach, Fla., is entrusted with arrangements.
Roy Anthony Vance
Roy Anthony Vance, age 43, a native of Opeilika, Ala., and a resident of Elberta, Ala., died Tuesday, May 8, 2001.
He is survived by his parents, General and JoAnn Vance; son, Roy Anthony Vance Jr. of Destin, Fla.; brother, Michael Dana Vance of Houston; sister, Valerie Wardlaw of Destin; grandmother, Rosalie Sumrall of Chickasaw, Ala.; many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday from the chapel of Pine crest Funeral Home in Mobile, Ala.
Interment will be in Pine Crest Cemetery.
A memorial service will be held at a later date in Florida.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Rita Catholic Church, P.O. Box 1223, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459.
Arrangements by Pine Crest Funeral Home, Mobile, Ala.
