U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Alma Lybrand Royster
Our dear, sweet wife and mother, Alma Lybrand Royster, passed away at Baptist Hospital in Pensacola, Fla., on Palm Sunday morning, April 5, 1998. Alma was born in Aug. 23, 1935, in Aiken, S.C., and has been a resident of the Fort Walton Beach area for 33 years. She was a member of the Shalimar United Methodist Church.
She is survived by her devoted and loving husband of 45 years, Sam Royster; daughters and their spouses, Debbie and Dale Walker of Alamogordo, N.M., and Donna and Tim Mills of Fort Walton Beach; and mother and step-father, Ruth and J.C. Maxwell, of Warrenville, S.C. Survivors also include, her four grandchildren, Jamey and A.J. Ward, and Bryce and Blair Mills; brother and sister-in-law, Claude and Jean Royster; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins and very special friends, Gene and Regina Brown, Anne Prosser, Witt and Claire Perry, Betty Sue Chapman, and many cherished others. The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., today, April 6, 1998, at the Emerald Coast Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 7, 1998, at the Emerald Coast Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. John Collins officiating. Interment will follow in Beal Memorial Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to further research with the American Diabetes Association or to Hospice of Northwest Florida.
"Our dear mother, you spent your entire life loving and nurturing your family even when your body had grown tired and weak. You courageously fought the painful battle to be here for us until Jesus mercifully called you home. We will miss you dearly, but find comfort in knowing that your suffering has ended and you are now at peace with the angels in heaven. Until we meet again..."
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 N.E. Racetrack Rd., Fort Walton Beach, is in charge of arrangements.
James S. Gilmore
Mr. James S. "Jim" Gilmore, age 71, of Laurel Hill, Fla., died Saturday evening, April 4, 1998, at the North Okaloosa Medical Center in Crestview, Fla. Mr. Gilmore was born in Opp, Ala., on Feb. 17, 1927, to Ben Hill and Angie Maulden Gilmore, and had been a lifelong resident of the Northwest Florida area. Mr. Gilmore was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Army and was a veteran of the Korean War. He was retired as an agent with Independent Life Insurance Company, having been in their employment for many years. Jim was a member of the First Baptist Church of Laurel Hill. He was a loving father and grandfather and will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Lillie P. Gilmore.
Survivors include his three sons and daughter-in-law, James A. and Valerie Gilmore, William D. Gilmore and Bryan K. Gilmore, all of Laurel Hill; daughter, Elizabeth A. Gilmore, and brother Avery Gilmore, both of Crestview; sister and brother-in-law, Beaulah and John Bennett, of Laurel Hill; and seven grandchildren.
A time of visitation will be conducted from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today, April 6, 1998, at the Whitehurst Funeral Home. The funeral service will be conducted at 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 7, 1998, at the Chapel of Whitehurst Funeral Home with the Rev. Shirley Simmons officiating. Interment will follow the service in the Almarante Cemetery in Laurel Hill.
Floral tributes will be accepted at the funeral home.
Arrangements and services are under the direction of the Whitehurst Funeral Home, 436 West James Lee Boulevard, Crestview, Fla.
Camilla E. Young
Camilla E. Young passed to the Lord on April 3, 1998, at home in Shalimar, Fla.
She was born in Ashville, N.C., and was employed by the U.S. Forestry Service. Upon retiring, she moved to Shalimar in 1971. She was a member of Shalimar Methodist Church.
She is survived by a sister, Ann Young; and a much beloved nephew, Rob Young.
Graveside services were held on April 6 in Ashville, N.C.
Bessie Pearl Spence
Bessie Pearl Spence of DeFuniak Springs, Fla., died Monday, April 6, 1998, in a local hospital.
Mrs. Spence was born on Sept. 25, 1904, in Malacoff, Texas. She lived most of her life in Walton County, Fla., and was a member of East Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, C.H. Spence. Survivors include her son, Guy W. Spence of Lexington, N.C.; daughters, Iris McCollum of Columbus, Ga., Virginia Lathinghouse, Ann Beamon, Marie Lathinghouse and Chestine Henderson, all of DeFuniak Springs; nine grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted at 3 p.m. today in Clary-Godwin Chapel with the Rev. Bill Bricker officiating. Burial will follow in Steele Cemetery.
A time of visitation will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Floral arrangements will be accepted or memorials may be made to East Baptist Church, 901 Bay Ave., DeFuniak Springs, FL 32433.
Clary-Godwin Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Clarence J. Sasser
Clarence J. "Charlie" Sasser passed away Monday, April 6, 1998, at his residence after an extended illness.
Charlie was born in Geneva, Ala., on March 30, 1924. He honorably served in the U.S. Army during World War II and in the Italian campaign. He received the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and Silver Star. He was discharged as an honorable World War II disabled veteran on Oct. 31, 1944.
Charlie was the owner/operator of Bay Barber Shop since 1954. He was a member of First United Methodist Church of Fort Walton Beach, Fla.
Charlie is survived by his wife, Sally Sasser; daughter, Carol S. Mitchell; two brothers; three sisters; three granddaughters; and one great-grandson. He was preceded in death by his sons, Mack and Don Sasser.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, April 8, at 2 p.m. at First United Methodist Church of Fort Walton Beach (Prayer Chapel) for family and close friends. The Rev. James Ross will officiate.
As was Charlie's request, he will be cremated and his cremains sent to Arlington National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to Hospice of Northwest Florida, 1005 W. College Blvd., Suite B, Niceville, FL 32578; or to the American Lung Association of Florida, P.O. Box 30470/4300 Bayou Blvd., Pensacola, FL 32503.
McLaughlin Mortuary, 17 Chestnut Ave., Fort Walton Beach, entrusted with arrangements.
Maggie Jones Blair
Maggie Jones McCall Blair passed away April 4, 1998, at Westwood Healthcare Center in Fort Walton Beach, Fla.
Maggie was born in Brewton, Ala., on Aug. 31, 1904. She married Lewis Blair on Jan. 5, 1923, and they moved to Mary Esther, Fla., from Mobile, Ala. After the death of her husband in 1975, she lived with her daughter, Edna Pittman, in Fort Walton Beach until her recent move to Westwood Healthcare Center.
She joins those who passed on before: her husband of 52 years, Lewis Monroe Blair; daughter and son-in-law, Ruby and Ernest McDonald; four sisters; and seven brothers.
Those left behind who will miss her greatly are: her sister, Myrtle Hicks of Louisiana; daughter, Edna Pittman of Fort Walton Beach; son and wife, A.M. "Buddy" and Helen Blair of Spanish Fort, Ala.; son and wife, Charles and Beverly Blair of Indianapolis; 14 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.
"Granny" Blair will long be remembered to all who knew her for her special hugs, smiles and love for everyone. She brought joy to all she met. Maggie was what every child's image of a grandmother should be. She remained faithful in the Lord, attending the Fort Walton Beach Church of Christ on Hollywood Boulevard, and told her "babies" many Bible stories. She fed everyone who came into her kitchen, and she loved unconditionally. Her family was her heart. While her family mourns her absence, we are thankful and blessed for all the days we called her "Momma" or "Granny."
There are no words to express the thanks deserved to the superior staff at Westwood Healthcare Center. They truly deeply cared for their and our "Granny" Blair, and enriched her life every day with hugs and love. For that we are ever so grateful.
A visitation service will be held on today from 5 to 9 p.m. at Williams Memorial Chapel in Brewton.
Funeral services will be conducted on Wednesday, April 8, at 11 a.m., with burial following at Coopers Cemetery in Brewton.
Elizabeth Anna Kessinger
Elizabeth Anna Kessinger, age 72, of Nokomis, Fla., died April 4, 1998.
She was born on Feb. 28, 1926, in Merzig, Saarland, Germany, and was a former resident of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., for many years. Mrs. Kessinger was an accountant/bookkeeper with the U.S. Armed Forces; and a member of The Congregational Church of Laurel, Fla.
Survivors include her husband, Forrest G. Kessinger; daughters, Roma Marlene Griffin of Sarasota, Fla., and Sharon Sandra Kessinger of Provo, Utah; sisters, Gretel Zenner and Gertrude Rosendahl, both of Merzig; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Friends may call at the church from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, April 9. Services will follow at 1 p.m.
Memorial donations may be made to The Congregational Church of Laurel, P.O. Box 367, Laurel, FL 34272.
O'Dee Richter Judd
O'Dee Richter Judd, age 76, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., died Friday, April 3, 1998, at her home.
Ms. Judd was born in Jackson County, Fla., and was a music teacher in the Walton County school system prior to moving to Fort Walton Beach in 1950, where she became a business woman.
Survivors include a daughter, Judith Ann Fundaburk of Fort Walton Beach; sons, Allen Judd of Tucker, Ga., and Dee Judd, residing in California; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
It was Ms. Judd's request to be cremated with private inurnment at Beal Memorial Cemetery.
Because of her love of education, The O'Dee Richter Judd Scholarship Fund will be endowed to grant annual music education scholarships. Donations in her memory should be made to State University of West Georgia Foundation Inc., Carrollton, GA 30118-6100.
The care of Ms. Judd was entrusted to Milton Funeral Home in Milton, Fla.
Larkie W. Lyons
Mrs. Larkie Lyons, "Granny," age 78, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., passed away Friday, April 3, 1998.
Mrs. Larkie Lyons was born to the late Samuel Whitaker and the late Mary Etta Draughn on July 31, 1919, in Edgecombe County, N.C. She was educated in North Carolina and married the late Herbert Lyons. In this union one daughter, Lillie, was born. They later moved to Washington, D.C. Mrs. Lyons was a federal employee until her medical retirement.
Mrs. Lyons moved to Fort Walton Beach with her daughter and son-in-law, David, in November 1963. He preceded her in death in 1994. Larkie was a faithful member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church since 1968.
Mrs. Lyons leaves to cherish her loving memories her devoted and loving daughter, Lillie Prince; her only grandson, Steve and wife Stephanie Prince of Fort Walton Beach; granddaughters, Vera Prince of Fort Walton Beach, Tina Prince of New Orleans, and Sharon and husband Mark Kidd of Mobile, Ala.; great-grandsons, Tim L.Prince, Timothy S. Prince Jr. (PJ) and David L. Prince, all of Fort Walton Beach; great-granddaughters, Tiffany M. Prince and Tonya D. Prince of Fort Walton Beach, and Julisa A. Kidd of Mobile; great-granddaughter, Keundra Prince of Fort Walton Beach; sisters, Mary Groom of Washington, D.C., and Annie Bell Hinton of Yarboro, N.C.; brothers, Samuel Whitaker of Yarboro and Howard Whitaker of the Bronx, N.Y.; special niece and nephew, Pernetia and Tommy Lovett of Fort Walton Beach; special friends, Mrs. Alberta Simpkins, Mrs. Brenda Cart, Mrs. Annie Jackson, Mrs. Margaret Dawson and Hattie Bell; a special nephew, Herman Pittman (Little Buddy) of Baltimore; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Mrs. Lyons was affectionately known as Granny by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren whom she helped raise, and many other children that grew up around.
Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 10, at Little Chapel Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 11, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Shalimar, Fla., with the Rev. Karl Haeussler officiating. Graveside services and interment will follow in Beal Memorial Cemetery.
Little Chapel Funeral Home, 910 Beal Parkway, Fort Walton Beach, is in charge of arrangements.
