By Staff
Obituaries for December 15, 2004 edition of the Atmore Advance
Ara Vee Brantley
Ara Vee Brantley, 81, wife of C. C. Brantley, born in Wilcox County, Ala. and a resident of Bay Minette, Ala. died Sunday, Dec. 12, 2004 at her residence. She was a homemaker.
She is survived by her husband of 63 years, C. C. Brantley of Bay Minette, Ala.
Two sons Billy and wife Penny Brantley of Bay Minette, Ala. and Jerry and wife Pam Brantley of Atmore, Ala. Two daughters Carolyn and husband Jack McDuffie of Matlacha, Fla. and Vicky and husband Thomas Kelly of Mobile, Ala.
Five sisters Frances Wynan, Alexandria, VA, Grace Spencer, Orange Beach, Ala., Vermell Lee, Tuscaloosa, Ala., Jane Dunn, Tuscaloosa, AL., Doris Brantley, Bay Minette, Ala. Eight Grandchildren and Nine Great Grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2004 at 2:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church with Dr. Robbie Howard and Dr. Henry Cox officiating. Interment will follow at Bay Minette Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Charles Brantley, Brian Sims, George Kahalley, Stuart Brantley, Wade Butler, Christopher Brantley and Kenny Parnell.
The family will receive friends Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2004 from 12:00p.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church.
Although the family will accept flowers, they suggest memorial contributions to Baldwin Community Hospice, 311 D'Olive Street, Bay Minette, AL. 36507 or to the First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1628, Bay Minette, AL. 36507.
Funeral arrangements are by Norris Funeral Home.
Gordon Rush Atkeison
Rev. Gordon Rush Atkeison, age 88 of Atmore, Al. died Sunday, Dec. 12, 2004 in Atmore. He was a retired United Methodist Minister, born in Mobile, Al. on October 28, 1916 to the late Horace Oscar and Sarah Salome Ingram Atkeison. Rev. Atkeison was a Graduate of Birmingham Southern University and attended Duke University Theological Seminary and was ordained in the Methodist Church at St. Francis Street United Methodist Church in Mobile 1942. Survivors are: His wife, Leo Wise Atkeison of Atmore, Al. One daughter, Sarah Atkeison of Traverse City, MI; two sons: William H. Atkeison and wife, Kathy of Mobile, Al., John F. Atkeison of Wilmington, DE. Two Grandchildren: Billy Rae Dooms and Jessica Woods. Three great-grandchildren: Jordan Dooms, Logan Dooms and Jonathan Woods. Nephew: Wali Atkeison of Lompoc, CA.
Services will be Wednesday Dec. 15, 2004 at 10am from the First United Methodist Church of Atmore, with Dr. Douglas Newton and Rev. Bert Weis officiating. Interment will follow in Magnolia cemetery, Mobile, Al. at 1:30pm Dec. 15, 2004. Family will receive friends, Tuesday evening, Dec. 14, 2004 at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home from 6pm to 8pm.
In Lieu of Flowers, Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church of Atmore, Disaster Relief Fund.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home, Inc. is in charge of all arrangements.
Ella Lee Bolton Ash
Mrs. Ella Lee Bolton Ash, age 98 passed away on Saturday, Dec. 11, 2004 in an Atmore Nursing facility. Mrs. Ash was a native of Evergreen, Al. and had been a resident of the Flomaton area for the past 77 years. She was a homemaker and was a member of the First Baptist Church of Flomaton. Mrs. Ash was preceded in death by her husband Mr. Walter H. Ash, Jr.
She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, James Walter and Betty Joyce Ash of Uriah, Al.; a brother, John David Bolton of Birmingham, Al.; a sister, Carrie Lou Keebler of Montgomery, Al.; three grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, Dec. 13, 2004 at 11am at the Flomaton Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Jerry Keese, and Rev. Tim McKnight officiating. Interment will follow in Flomaton Cemetery.
Visitation will be held at Flomaton Funeral Home on Monday from 10am until service time at 11am.
Pallbearers will be Daniel Moore, Jim McCutchin, Walter Dewitt, Dewey Bondurant, Roger Adkinson, Danny White, and Steve Ross. Honorary Pallbearers will be H.D. Spilker, Marshall Lambeth, Sterlon Scott, Hoyt Bonds, Jerome Upton, A.N. Nolin, Duey Harwell, Leon Jackson, Herb Boutwell.
Donnie Macks
Mr. Donnie Macks, 52, passed away on Monday, Dec. 13, 2004 at a Pensacola hospital. Mr. Macks was a native and lifelong resident of Century, FL and attended the Bluff Springs Holiness Church. He was an employee of the Alabama Department of Corrections, Fountain K-9 Unit for 20 years, an avid outdoorsman, coon hunter, squirrel hunter, and fisherman. He was preceded in death by his father, Mr. Leonard O. Macks.
Survivors include: his wife of 33 years, Pearl Macks of Century, his son, Don Wesley and Leigh Ann Macks of Jay; his daughter, Wendy Jean and Billy Merchant of Flomaton; six grandchildren; Darrin, Mallory, Hannah, Tanner, Todd, and Jay; his mother and stepfather, Helen and Dirk Spence of Walnut Hill; five brothers, Leonard A Macks, Lavon Macks, Joe Eddie Macks and Tommy Macks, al of Century, and Ronnie Macks of Pensacola; and a special friend, Ray Radford of Pensacola.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, Dec. 16, 2004 at 2pm at the Eastside Funeral Home with Rev. Ray Hudson officiating. Burial will follow at Beulah Chapel Cemetery. Visitation will be held Wed. Dec. 15, 2004 between 6pm and 9pm at the Eastside Chapel Funeral Home. Pallbearers and honorary pallbearers will be guards from the Alabama Department of Corrections.
Eastside Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Deacon John Henry Baldwin, Sr.
Deacon John Henry Baldwin, Sr. was born in Sedan, Al. to the late Elias and Fannie Baldwin on April 18, 1924.
At an early age, John Henry confessed Christ and became a member of Old Gates Baptist Church, which later became Mt. Zion Baptist Church. John Henry was Chairman of the Deacon Board for over 50 years. He was also a parliamentarian of the Mt. Zion Mission Church, a member of the Mt. Zion Bible Class, vice president of the Mt. Zion Male Chorus and advisor to the Mt. Zion Youth Crusade. John Henry sung with various groups, such as the renowned Fairfield Four, Southern Echoes Gospel, Christian Travelers and Happyland Gospel Singers.
On June 16, 1953, John Henry was wedded in Holy Matrimony to the late Lola Mae Baldwin. From this union God blessed them with nine children. He worked for over 45 years at Chatman and Hardwood.
John Henry departed this life on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2004. He was preceded by his wife, Lola Mae Baldwin, a daughter, Shirley Bolar, three brothers, Reverend L.V. Baldwin, Joseph Baldwin, and Elias Baldwin, Jr. He leaves to cherish his memories five daughters; Patricia Thomas, Selma, AL, Lois (Darryl) Murphy, Bridgeport, CT, Lola (Nonnie) King, Bloomfield, JJ, Debrah Baldwin, Montclair, NJ, Ida (Christopher) Boggs, Waldorf, MD, three sons; John (Selena) Baldwin, Jr., Paterson, NJ, Bryant (Venice) Baldwin, Paterson, NJ, Kelvin (Lucinda) Baldwin, Olive Branch, MS, three sisters; Lillian A. Golden, Atmore, AL, Elnora Kennedy, Vredenburgh, AL. Vera Mae Moody, Camden, AL, five brothers-in-law, six sisters-in-law, 14 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Services were held Sat. Dec. 11, 2004 at 12pm at the Mt. Gilead Missionary Baptist Church in Coy, AL. with the Rev. Willie Merrills officiating and the Rev. Alfred Mack, Presiding. Pallbearers were nephews and sons-in-law. Flower Bearers were friends of the family.
Christian Memorial Funeral Home, Camden, AL was in charge of all arrangements.