By Staff
William Otto Blanton
December 7, 2002
Funeral services for William Otto Blanton, 92 and a resident of Atmore, were held on Dec. 10, 2002 at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel, with Dr. Douglas Newton officiating. Interment followed at Oak Hill Cemetery.
Born in Bratt on April 3, 1910 to the late Franklin Sylvester and Ada Lambert Blanton, Blanton was a retired Correctional Officer with the State of Alabama. He died on Dec. 7, 2002 in Pensacola.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Louise Blanton, and a son, Cecil Earl Blanton.
As of Dec. 7, 2002, he was the oldest living member of First United Methodist Church in Atmore.
He is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Joe and Cheryl Blanton of Atmore; a brother, Dr. Franklin Sylvester Blanton of Gainesville, Fla.; a sister, Hazel B. Jones of Atmore; two granddaughters, Kimberly Dawn Blanton of Bay Minette and Kristi Nicole Blanton of Destin; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Active pallbearers were Kenneth Blanton, Ray T. Blanton, James Smith, Ronnie Brown, James Brown and Tim Gibbs. Honorary pallbearers were the First United Methodist Church's Men's Bible Class.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home, Inc., was in charge of arrangements.
Betty King
December 5, 2002
Funeral services for Betty King, 66 and a resident of Atmore, were held on Dec. 9, 2002 at the Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Earl Watson officiating. Burial followed at Oak Hill Cemetery.
King had been a resident of Atmore for the past 25 years and attended the Baptist Church. She is preceded in death by her husband, James Alex Morrow, Sr., and a stepson, Darrell McNeil. She is survived by her husband, Preston McNeil of Atmore; two sons, James (Toni) Morrow of Atmore, and Danny (Cindi) Morrow of Ellabell, Ga.; a stepson, Troy (Connie) McNeil of Atmore; four brothers, J.B. Vaughn, Jerry Vaughn, Kenneth Vaughn and John Vaughn, all of Saraland; two sisters, Annie Morrow of Port Wentworth, Ga., and Linda Andrews of Rabun; 14 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers were Scott Morrow, Andy Davis, Billy Wayne Andrews, Jeffrey Morrow and James Morrow III, Jerome Odom and Jeremy Odom. Eastside Chapel Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Charlie Nova Lee Graham
December 10, 2002
Funeral service for Charlie Nova Lee Graham, age 94 of Oak Grove, Fla., were held Thursday Dec, 12,2002 at the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Roy Chewning officiating, Interment followed at Oak Grove Cemetery.
Graham was a retired Farmer, born in Escambla County, Fla., on June 12,1908 to the late Charlie Edward and Maggie Godwin Graham. He was a Member of Oak Grove Baptist Church.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Mazelle Davis Graham; two Brothers, Bernice Graham and Alvin Graham; two Sisters, Myrtle Carden and Beatrice Milstead.
He is survived by one brother, Dole Graham (Gladyne) of Wilmer, Ala.; two sisters, Gladys Hall of Oak Grove, Fla., and Georgia Lambert of Pensacola, Fla.
Active pallbearers were nephews and Deacons from Oak Grove Baptist Church. Honorary pallbearers were his Sunday School Class.
Memorial's may be made to the Oak Grove Cemetery Assoc. 2600 Hwy 99 Century, Fla., 32535. Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home, Inc., was in charge of all arrangements.
William H. Wardell
December 9, 2002
Graveside services for William H. Wardell, age 67 of Perdido, Ala., were held Wednesday Dec. 11,2002 at Oak Hill Cemetery.
Born in New Castle County, Del., on August 10, 1935 to the late John H. and Pauline Smallwood, Wardell was an accountant with the University of Delaware. He died Monday in Atmore.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Donna Lee Wardell and a daughter, Donna Leigh Wardell. He is survived by one sister, Carolyn Harmon of Perdido, Ala.; three nieces, Susan (Kenny) Smith, Sharon (Brandon) Smith and Stacy (Adam) Griffith; four great-nieces and two great-nephews.
Active Pallbearers were Kenny Smith, A.G. Smith, Bruce Smith, James Smith, and Brandon Smith. Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home, Inc., was in charge of all arrangement.
Heron Hall
December 9, 2002
Funeral services for Heron Hall, age 75 and resident of Atmore, were held Thursday Dec. 12, 2002 at the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Doug Newton officiating. Interment followed at Oak Hill Cemetery.
Proceeded in death by his parents, Dempsey and Ethel Hall and a sister, Elon Holland, Hall was an electrical contractor for over 50 years and founder of H &H Electric Company.
He served in the Korean War as a United State Marine. He was a survivor of the Chosin Reservoir and a member of the Chosin Few. He received a letter of commendation with Combat V. He coached Little League baseball for 10 years and served on the Board of Directors for years.
He was an avid sportsman and a member of the First United Methodist Church. He died at his residence after a lengthy illness.
He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Hazel Brown Hall; three daughters, Linda (Terry) Jones and Cathy (Mike) Phillips of Atmore, and Patty (Greg) McKinley of Lottie; five granddaughters, Ashley (Jason) Harper, Wendy (Brandon) Whitehead, Amy Jones (Kevin Sanders), Katrina Phillips, Heather (Jamie) Jones; one grandson, Justin Heron McKinley; two great-grandchildren, Talana Heathcock and Colton Whitehead; two sisters, Ruby Jones of Huntsville and Ruth Holderfield of Birmingham.
Pallbearers were Tim Currie, Scottie Flowers, Dickie Dickerson, Carl Brown, Jr., John Jernigan, and James D. Boiledack. Honorary Pallbearers were Dr. C. William Daniels, Jake Wiggins, Bobby Davis, Giles Chapman, Tom Miniard, Pete Jimenez, Louis Hardy, Johnny Holland, Shanon Lambeth and Ronnie Ross. Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home, Inc., was in Charge of all arrangements.
Thelma Sharpless
December 10, 2002
Funeral services for Thelma Sharpless, 97 and a resident of Atmore, were held on Dec. 13, 2002 at Brooks Memorial Baptist Church, with Brother Mike Grindle and Brother Doug Hogg officiating. Interment followed at Walnut Hill Baptist Cemetery.
Born in Bluff Springs, Fla., on Oct. 22, 1905 to the late Richard Lawson and Annie Toomer Bratcher, she was a homemaker. She died on Dec. 10, 2002 in Atmore.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Jackson L. Sharpless, Sr. She is survived by three sons, Carlton Sharpless and Jack Sharpless, both of Atmore, and Ronald Sharpless of Gautier, Miss.; five daughters, Waldin Amanda Argorves of Snellville, Ga., Joyce Hogg of Crestview, Fla., Carolyn Smith and Lynn Fralick, both of Atmore, Brenda Cruce of Snellville, Ga.; 21 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great-grandchildren.
Active pallbearers were Bruce LaDon Smith, Phillip Sharpless, Kevin Frailick, Lamar T. Argovers, Glenn Sharpless and Larry Sharpless.
Honorary pallbearers were Thomas Frazier, Leon Jackson, Earl Bryant, Grover Everette, Bo Bergloff, Hugh Long and Bo Brantley.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home, Inc., was in charge of arrangements.
Aline G. Kent
December 10, 2002
Funeral services for Aline G. Kent, 89 and a resident of Atmore, were held on Dec. 13, 2002 at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home, with Brother George Nall officiating. Interment followed at Pleasant Grove Cemetery in Atmore. Born on Feb. 5, 1913 in Escambia County to Daniel Barton and Florence Walker Gohagin, she was a homemaker.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Herman Kent. She is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Leo and Verba Kent and Claude and Lanette Kent, all of Atmore; a daughter and son-in-law, Barbara and G.W. Ford of Atmore; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers were Brian Ford, Michael Ford, Kevin Ford, Danny Kent, Marty Kent and Nick Johnson.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home, Inc., was in charge of arrangements.
Melba Weekley Brown
December 10, 2002
Funeral services for Melba Weekley Brown, 79 and a resident of Atmore, were held on Dec. 14, 2002 at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home, with Dr. Doug Newton officiating. Interment followed at Perdido Baptist Cemetery.
Born on Dec. 26, 1922 in Rabun to the late Buford and Sarah E. Frost Weekley, she was a retired sales person with the Baldwin Times.
She is survived by two sons, Adrian Farrel Brown of Pensacola and Ronald Buford Brown of Houston, Texas; a former daughter-in-law, Sibyl Gohagen Brown; a daughter-in-law, Rebecca Crutchfield Brown; a sister, Joan Copage of Brewton; three grandchildren, Adria Brown Yabut and Ashley Farrell Brown, both of Pensacola, and Katherine Brown of Houston, Texas; and two great-grandchildren, Aden Yabut and Ren Harrington, both of Pensacola. Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home, Inc., was in charge of arrangements.
James Wilson
December 11, 2002
Funeral services for James Wilson, 87 and of Bratt were held Saturday, Dec. 14, 2002 at Bratt First Baptist Church with Rev. Marcus Caraway officiating. Burial followed at Godwin Cemetery.
Wilson was a member of the Century Masonic Lodge #213, the Scottish Rite, Hadji Shrine, the Order of the Eastern Star, a veteran of WWII, retired from the Navy after 20 years. He is preceded in death by a daughter, Martha Anne Wilson.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Ann Hanks Wilson of Bratt; a son and daughter-in-law, J.W. (Sandy) Wilson of Bratt; three brothers, Glover Lee Wilson of Palmetto, Ala., Ralph Wilson of Palmetto, Ala., and Earnest Wilson of Maine; a sister, Velma Aldridge of Palmetto, Ala.; and his granddaughter, Harmony (Travis) Branch of Atmore. Eastside Chapel Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Mary Edna Welch
December 11, 2002
Funeral Services for Mary Edna Welch, age 62 of Brewton, were held on Saturday Dec. 14, 2002 at the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Tony Richburg and Bro. Alan Blackmon officiating. Interment followed at Pine View Cemetery.
She is preceded in death by two brothers, Sam Perkins and Robert Lee Perkins and one sister, Floy Harville.
She is survivors by her husband, Fate Welch, Jr. of Brewton; two sons, Jimmy Ray "Rick" Welch of Birmingham, and Terry Welch of Brewton; two daughters, Charlene (Donald) Odom of Brewton and Darlene (Duane) Hornan of Bay Minette; three sisters, Magallne Hill of Walterboro, S.C. Jeanette Adams and Ann 'Welch, both of Bay Minette; three grandchildren, Josh Odom, Andrew Odom and Derek Homan.
Active Pallbearers were Stephen Welch, Herman Hartley, Raymond Whatley, Sonny Martin, Manford Welch and B. Langham.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home, Inc., was in charge of all arrangements.
Ralph Gibbs
December 11, 2002
Funeral services for Ralph Gibbs, 70 and a resident of East Brewton, were held on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2002 at Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home with Dr. James Meadows and Rev. Herbert Heller officiating. Interment followed at Fort Crawford Cemetery.
Gibbs was a native and long-time resident of Atmore before moving to Brewton over 20 years ago. He was a member of the Church of the Nazarene.
The son of the late Dee and Georgia Gibbs of Atmore, he is survived by his wife Jean H. Gibbs of Brewton; four daughters, Charlene Nall of Atmore, Darlene Larson of Fairhope, Marlene Lopes of Ft. Walton Beach, Arlene Collette of Gulf Breeze; one stepson, Garrett T. Hicks of Dalton, Ga.; two stepdaughters, Beverly Broomes of Pensacola and Mary Anne Chesser of Huntsville; one brother, Larry Gibbs of Mobile; four sisters, Gloria Lovell of Birmingham, Sarah Beyette of Atmore, Clara Burton of Oregon and Connie Ford of Warrenton, Va.; and 11 grandchildren. Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Brewton directed.
Reese Barron Williams
December 6, 2002
Funeral Services for Reese Barron Williams, 56 and a resident of Fort Walton Beach, were held on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2002 at Mount Shiloh Baptist Church in Nokomis. Interment followed at Mt. Shiloh Baptist Church Cemetery.
Williams was born to the late JoAnn Williams McCullan on Dec. 16, 1945.
He is survived by two daughters, Nicole Dave of Union Dale, N.Y., and Jemesha Knight of Atmore; one son Larry Watson of Atlanta, Ga.; one grandson, Nathan Ferguson of Union Date, N.Y.; two sisters, Bernice Williams, Yvonne (Anthony) Williams, both of Atmore; six brothers, Walter (Earnestine) Williams, Lester McCullan, Eugene (Jody) McCullan, all of Atmore, Leroy Williams of Bronx, N.Y., Eddie Williams of Fort. Pierce, Fla., Albert (Carol) McCullan Jr. of Fort. Steward, Ga.; two cousins, Mary (JI.) Kennedy of Mobile and Geneva Autry, of San Antonio, Texas; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Judia Louise Odom
December 10, 2002
Funeral services for Judia Louise Odom, 36 and a resident of Flomaton, were held Saturday, Dec. 14, 2002 at Damascus Baptist Church in Flomaton with Rev. Harvey Odom, Jr., and Rev. Victor Archie officiating. Internment followed at Fannie/Damascus Cemetery, also in Flomaton.
Odom, a 1986 graduate of Flomaton High School, was a member and the treasurer of the senior choir and the youth directress for the Hawkins Crusaders, the youth choir of the church. She is preceded in death by her father, Rev. Harvey J. Odom, Sr.
She is survived by her mother, Laura Odom; two daughters, Chaneca and ShaQuita Odom of Flomaton; one son, DeNarius Odom, five sisters, Gloria Barnes, Linda Williams, LaTasha Odom and KaMeithris Odom, all of Flomaton, and Rhonda (Willie) Brooks of Canton, Ga.; six brothers, Willie McPherson and Rev. Harvey (Adrenne) Odom, Jr., both of Flomaton, Anthony "Cedric" (Alysia) Odom of Pollard, Timothy Odom of Montgomery, Dewayne (Rose) Williams of Evergreen, and Gil Odom of Pensacola; and a dear companion, Clemente' Brooks of Flomaton. Pallbearers were friends of the family. Turner Funeral Chapel was in charge of arrangements.