Lorna Ann Williams
Lorna Ann Williams, age 77, of Destin, Fla., beloved mother, great friend and strong guiding light passed on into the kingdom of heaven early Friday morning, Feb. 27, 1998.
She was preceded in death by her youngest son, Richard A. Williams; and her husband of 54 years, Thomas O. Williams.
Born on July 14, 1920, Lorna was a 45-year resident of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., and then Destin. She helped found the Art and Design Society of Fort Walton Beach; helped form the Destin Chamber of Commerce; owned and operated the Village Art Gallery; and worked tirelessly to better her community.
She was a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, artist, writer, musician, teacher, business woman and a great cook. Her love, kindness, generosity and optimistic view of life were continually felt by her family and friends.
Survivors include two sons, Thomas N. and Herbert.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 7, at Destin Memorial Cemetery with the Rev. Marje Howard officiating.
McLaughlin Mortuary, Fort Walton Beach, is in charge of arrangements.
Carmen Lawson St. Clair
Carmen Lawson St. Clair, age 80, of Destin, Fla., died Wednesday, March 4, 1998, at 2:20 a.m. at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center.
He previously resided in Baton Rouge, La. He was a loyal friend, a good father and a loving husband.
He is survived by his loving wife, Bobbie St. Clair; sons, Ronald and Michael St. Clair; daughters, Cathy St. Clair and Vicki Smith; grandchildren, Michelle Loret, Christopher Smith, Ronald St. Clair Jr., Sheila St. Clair and Sydney Abb; and great-grandson, Storm St. Clair. He is also survived by four stepchildren, Richi Simkins, Bert Weaks, Betsy Keller and Sally Weaks; and six grandchildren, Amelia, Sara, Elizah, Peter, Paul and John.
Memorial services will be conducted at St. Simon's-on-the-Sound Episcopal Church on Thursday at 2 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Simon's Memorial Bell Fund, 28 Miracle Strip Pkwy., Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548.
McLaughlin Mortuary, 17 Chestnut Ave., Fort Walton Beach, entrusted with arrangements.
Willie Jo Bussey
Willie "Pete" Jo Bussey, age 76, of Niceville, Fla., passed away Tuesday, March 3, 1998, in a local hospital.
He was born in Opp, Ala., on Feb. 22, 1922, and had been a resident of this area since 1954. He retired from civil service at the Climatic Lab at Eglin Air Force Base and was a very good electrician.
He was the kind of man who would help anyone who needed it; he was a loving father and grandfather and will be missed by all who knew him.
Survivors include his son, Hinton Allen and wife Theresa Bussey of Niceville; brother, Cliff Bussey of Phoenix City, Ala.; sister, Fanny Parish of Opp, Ala.; Louise Junker of Columbus, Ga.; and grandchildren, Shawn Robert Bussey and Marlena Danielle Bussey.
The family will receive friends at McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home Chapel from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday.
A funeral service will be conducted at McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home Chapel on Friday, March 6, at 10 a.m. Interment will follow in Heritage Gardens Cemetery in Niceville.
McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home, Niceville, entrusted with arrangements.
Curtis McNulta Lee
Chief Warrant Officer W-4 Curtis McNulta Lee, U.S. Navy retired, age 86, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., died Tuesday, March 3, 1998, in a local nursing facility.
Chief Warrant Officer Lee served for over 30 years on active duty, seeing action in World War II and the Korean conflict, and retiring in 1957. He was born in New York City; and was a member of MARS. He had resided in this area for the past five years.
Survivors include his wife, Trudy Lee of Fort Walton Beach; daughter, Linda Gershen and husband Harvey of Niceville, Fla.; and grandchildren, Leah and Joshua Gershen.
Graveside funeral services, with military honors, will be conducted at Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, Fla., on Friday, March 6, at 11 a.m. with a U.S. Navy chaplain officiating.
McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home, Niceville, entrusted with arrangements.
Jessie C. Simmons
Jessie C. Simmons, age 44, 5 Alford Court, Fort Walton Beach, Fla., died Tuesday, March 3, 1998.
He was born in Florala, Ala., and moved to Fort Walton Beach in 1971. Mr. Simmons was a retired construction worker and a member of the Emerald Coast Church of Christ.
Survivors include his wife, Fredia; mother, Inez; stepfather, James Watts; children, Amin, Gabi, Jessie, Marcus, Cheyenne, Aisha and Chrystal; stepchildren, Michael, John and Tracy Jenkins; six grandchildren; six brothers; seven sisters; and a host of nieces, nephews, uncles, aunts, cousins and friends.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 7, at Beaulah Baptist Church with the Rev. S.L. Thigpen officiating. Mr. Simmons' remains will be placed in the church two hours before services. Burial will follow in Beal Memorial Cemetery.
Friends may call at the funeral home from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday.
Gainer Funeral Home, Fort Walton Beach, is in charge of arrangements.
Wallace Joel Johnsey
Wallace Joel Johnsey, age 55, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., died Tuesday, March 3, 1998, at his residence.
Mr. Johnsey was born on July 14, 1942, in Rienzi, Miss., and had been living in the Destin/Fort Walton Beach area since 1956. He retired after 25 years of service with Sears and worked with All South Delivery since 1989. Mr. Johnsey was a member and a deacon at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Fort Walton Beach. He was strong in his faith, a loving husband, son, brother, father, friend, and respected by all who knew him.
Mr. Johnsey was an avid woodworker who combined love as well as great skill in giving freely of his craft to his family and friends.
Mr. Johnsey was preceded in death by his father, Richard Wallace Johnsey; and his stepfather, J.L. Powell.
Mr. Johnsey is survived by his wife, Beverly A. Johnsey of Fort Walton Beach; son, Wallace Joel Johnsey and wife Sharon of Jacksonville, Fla.; daughter, Leigh Ann Johnsey of Fort Walton Beach; mother, Nadine Powell of Destin, Fla.; brother, Jackie Hunter Johnsey and wife Lisa of Mobile, Ala.; sister-in-law, Barbara R. Thompson of Niceville; three nieces and three nephews.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2:30 p.m. Friday, March 6, at Emerald Coast Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Jimmy Scarborough officiating. Interment will follow in Beal Memorial Cemetery.
Asked to serve as pallbearers are Doug Hill, Jeff Bogan, Bud Miller, Kent Peterson, Frank Sherman, Darrin McWaine and Richard Chval.
The family will greet friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be sent to First Christian Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 2319, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32549, in memory of Mr. Wallace Joel Johnsey.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road N.E., Fort Walton Beach, is in charge of arrangements.
Myron Richard Baughman
Myron R. Baughman, age 37, of Crestview, Fla., died Saturday evening, March 7, 1998, at his residence after an extended illness. Myron was born in Crestview, Fla., on Aug. 6, 1960, to Richard O. and Mary Lee Raybon Baughman Merritt and had been a lifetime resident of the Northwest Florida area. Myron was a member of the Southside Baptist Church and had been employed as an automobile painter with S&L and Raybon Paint and Body Shops. Myron had been an avid outdoorsman and loved fishing and hunting. He was known for his heart-warming smile and good nature with a very humble spirit. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
Survivors include his father and step-mother, Richard O. and Clarice Baughman, of Panama City, Fla.; mother and step-father, Mary Lee and T. Olin Merritt, of Baker, Fla.; son, Mycah Richard Baughman, of Baker, Fla.; sisters and brothers-in-law, Muriel and Jamie Remar, of Niceville, Fla., Tonya and Tom Smith, of Crestview, Fla., and Lisa and Mel Soutar, of Hahira, Ga.; numerous uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, cousins and a host of friends.
A time of visitation will be conducted from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, March 10, 1998, at the Whitehurst Funeral Home. The funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wedensday, March 11, 1998 at the New Bethel Methodist Church in Crestview, Fla., with the Rev. Dean McCrory and Rev. Donnie Cadenhead officiating. Myron will be placed in the church at 1 p.m., one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow the service in Live Oak Park Memorial Cemetery in Crestview, Fla. Floral tributes will be accepted at the funeral home, or for those who so desire, the family suggests contributions be made to the American Cancer Society in memory of Myron. Arrangements and services are under the direction of the Whitehurst Funeral Home, 436 W. James Lee Blvd., Crestview, Fla.
Odie Britt
Sgt. 1st Class Odie Britt, U.S. Army retired, passed away at Eglin Regional Hospital on March 3, 1998. A resident of Navarre, Fla., Odie was 72 years old at his passing.
Odie was born in Calhoun City, Miss., on June 18, 1925. His long military career began with the U.S. Navy in 1943. A Navy corpsman, Odie served aboard the USS New Jersey while attached to the shipboard Marine detachment during action in the Marshall and Caroline Island engagements, as well as the battle for Iwo Jima. He was awarded the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars and the Asiatic Ribbon with four stars.
After World War II, Odie reentered civilian life for two years. In 1947, Odie enlisted in the U.S. Army as a medic and served his country honorably for the next 20 years. In 1948, Odie was assigned to Germany where he met and married the former Rosa Schottl, his partner for the next 49 years. Odie's Army service included duty in the Republic of Korea during the Korean conflict as well as the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Sgt. 1st Class Odie Britt retired from active duty in 1967 at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., where he had served as wardmaster at the post hospital.
Following his military career, Odie served as an emergency medical technician at General Leonard Wood Army Hospital. In 1978 he and Rosa moved to Virginia. In Virginia the two were able to participate in the raising of their only grandson. Odie and Rosa moved to Navarre in 1994. They loved the area dearly and revered its beauty. The two would enjoy walking at the beach and fishing on the pier. Odie was a member of the Spectre Chapter of the local VFW, and volunteered assistance with the Red Cross at the Hurlburt Pharmacy when his health permitted. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Navarre.
His beloved Rosa, who passed away suddenly last July, precedes Odie in death. Survivors include his son, John E.; daughter-in-law, Mary J.; and grandson, Michael A. Britt of Woodbridge, Va.; son, Maj. William J. Britt, U.S. Air Force retired, of Navarre; sister, Lorene Dickson of Oxford, Miss.; cousin, Hubert Sanders of Water Valley, Miss.; as well as numerous nieces and nephews of Mississippi and Germany.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday at Navarre Chapel in Lewis Funeral Home of Navarre. The Rev. Scott Wienmann of Forst Baptist Church of Navarre will officiate. Graveside services and interment will be next to Rosa at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Gulf Breeze, Fla., immediately following.
Active pallbearers will be Randall Stewart, Gary Oquendo, Garry King, Ray O'Keefe, Elliot Zimmerly and Bill Sekunda. Hubert Sanders will serve as honorary pallbearer.
The family will receive flowers or memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 404 Munson Hwy., Milton.
Lewis Funeral Home Navarre Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Laura Ann Peterson
Laura Ann Peterson, age 34, of Atlanta died unexpectedly on March 7, 1998.
She was born at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., and was a resident of Mary Esther, Fla., for the greater part of her short life.
She will be deeply missed by her parents, Hal and Lois Peterson; brother, Chip Peterson and wife Deborah; sister, Paula Farland and husband Jay; brothers, Harry Peterson and wife Lisa, and Howard Peterson and wife Sharon. She also leaves behind her nieces and nephews whom she cherished dearly, Chelsea and Jared Farland, Allison and Zachary Peterson, Grant Peterson and Alexandra Peterson, who, along with her many close and special friends and co-workers, will miss her always.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Funeral services will be conducted at McLaughlin Mortuary Chapel on Wednesday, March 11, at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Mike Roberts officiating. Interment will follow in Beal Memorial Cemetery.
McLaughlin Mortuary, Fort Walton Beach, Fla., entrusted with arrangements.
Mary Blanche Powell
Mary Blanche Jarratt Powell, age 86, was rewarded for her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ upon her death on March 9, 1998, and now resides with the saints in Heaven.
She was born on Oct. 14, 1911, in Sardis, Miss., and married Steve Houston Powell on March 1, 1929. They settled in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., in 1949.
She was preceded in death by her husband and by their infant son, James R. Powell. This gracious, hospitable, southern lady and friend of many is survived by her sons, Steve J. Powell Sr. and wife Joann Benton Powell, and Richard H. Powell and wife Cynthia Hesterly Powell of Fort Walton Beach; seven grandchildren, Mariann Powell Alonzo and husband Joseph Alonzo of Point Washington, Fla., Stephanie Powell Engle and husband Douglas Engle of Huntsville, Ala., S. Jarratt Powell Jr. and wife Jeannie Powell of Nashville, Tenn., Rebecca Powell, Robert Powell and Susan Powell of Fort Walton Beach; and eight great-grandchildren, Joey Alonzo, Sarah Engle, David Alonzo, Emily Engle, Justin Powell, Michael Alonzo, John Engle and Annie Engle.
Mary Blanche was a devoted member of First United Methodist Church of Fort Walton Beach for 49 years, where she fulfilled her calling as an intercessory prayer warrior. She faithfully supported numerous ministries, including the 700 Club, Radio Bible Class, Ben Haden, In Touch, and avidly watched her TV minister, Dr. Charles Stanley.
Funeral services will be conducted at First United Methodist Church, 102 First St., Fort Walton Beach, on Wednesday, March 11, at 11 a.m. with the Revs. Jim Ross, Dallas Little and Syd Lock officiating. A visitation will also take place at the church beginning at 10 a.m. prior to the funeral.
Pallbearers will be Charles O'Neal, Julian Katz, John McGee, Allen Reynolds, William J. Roberts III and Patrick O'Neal.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Benevolence Fund of First United Methodist Church are suggested.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements.
