By Staff
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John Howard Gunn
ATMORE - Mr. John Howard Gunn, 61, of Atmore passed away Saturday, July 30, at a local hospital.
Mr. Gunn was a native of Phillipsville and a resident of Atmore for most of his life. He was retired from Scott Paper Company, an avid fisherman and hunter, and attended the Baptist church.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Emma Gunn, and two sisters, Perry Lee Strength and Emma Lee Wilson. He is survived by his wife, Bobbie Gunn of Atmore; three sons, David Amos of Atmore, Neal Amos of Summerdale, and Ben Godwin of Atmore; two daughters, Brenda Moss of West Palm Beach, Fla., and Jennifer Stanley of Atmore; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; five brothers, Walter Gunn of Walnut Hill, Ben Gunn of Flomaton, Earl Gunn of Huxford, Cecil Funn of Mobile, and James Gunn of Perdido; and one sister, Evelyn Rutherford of Atmore.
Funeral services were held Monday, August 1, at the Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Ricky Peebles officiating. Graveside services followed at Sardis Cemetery. The family received friends Monday, August 1, until service time at Eastside Chapel.
Pallbearers were Glenn Helton, Roger Turner, Eddie Gideons, Joe Coker, Hooper Mattthews III, Greye Emmons, and Thomas Miller.
James E. "Jim" Barnes
JAY - Mr. James E. "Jim" Barnes, 81, of Flomaton passed away Saturday, July 30, in Jay Hospital.
He was born in Pollard on September 3, 1923. At a young age, he enlisted in the United States Army Cavalry. He then served the Army as a Combat Engineer, fighting in both the invasion of Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge. He was combat wounded and received the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star for bravery.
After World War II, he enlisted in the Air Force and served for 20 years before retiring as Master Sergeant. He returned to Flomaton and served as Chief of Police for the South Flomaton Police Department for four years. He then worked for 20 years as a Deputy Sheriff for the Escambia County (Fla.) Sheriff's Department before retiring.
Mr. Barnes was a 40-year member of Century Masonic Lodge #213 and was a 32nd Degree Mason. He served in all offices of the lodge and was Worshipful Master in both 1988 and 2000. He served as the District Deputy Grand Master in 1993 and was the State Chairman for the Grand Master's Charity Fund. The funds raised were used to benefit the Ronald McDonald House, Hospice agencies statewide, and the Masonic Cardiac Research Center in Unica, N.Y. He served on numerous local and state committees that worked for the benefit of mankind.
Mr.. Barnes was a member of Bethel Baptist Church in Flomaton, where he served as a deacon. He is a lifetime member of the Century Masonic Lodge #213, the Scottish Rite Temple, the York Rite Mount Horeb Chapter #6, the Union Council #7, the Zelica Grotto, Hadji Shrine Temple of Pensacola, and the Corur Delion Commandry of Knights of Templar #1. He held numerous honorary Masonic Lodge memberships; Jay #176, West Florida #210, Cantonment #322, Brentwood, Alpha of Ft. Walton Beach, Omega of Ft. Walton Beach, Mt. Euell of Baker #130, Escambia #15 of Pensacola, Carney Lodge #459 of Atmore, and Red Rock #96.
Mr. Barnes was a well-known and loved member of the community. He devoted his life to helping others by regularly contributing his time and efforts to fish fries and barbecues to raise money for those in need. He was especially fond of children and would rebuild and refurbish bikes for children less fortunate.
He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Willene Barnes of Century; two sons, Ronald Barnes of Wiscasset, Maine, and Charles Cash of Century; three daughters, Laura Lynn Barnes of Flomaton, Linda Webb of Century, and Lauriine Eidson of Grayson, Ga.; seven grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and two sisters, Zell Brantley of Flomaton and Doroty Carden of Flomaton.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, August 2 at the Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Mitch Herring officiating. Graveside services followed at Flomaton Cemetery with Masonic and Military honors.
Pallbearers were Johnny Tharp, Willie Ray Thomas, Coy Campbell, Ed Hudson, Jerry Brantley, and Vince Milstead. Honorary pallbearers were his Brother Masons.
The family will graciously accept flowers, or in lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Ronald McDonald House or Covenant Hospice.
Addie Mae McDaniel Dirden
ATMORE - Mrs. Addie Mae McDaniel Dirden, 65, of Atmore passed away Sunday, July 24, at her home.
She was born in Sweetwater on December 28, 1939, to the late Sylvester Dixon, Sr., and Agusta Williams. Later in life she moved to Thomasville, where she joined the First Baptist Church. In the 1970s she moved to Atmore and joined Jones Street Holiness Church and remained an active member until her health failed.
She was preceded in death by her parents and one sister, Linda Byne. She is survived by a loving and devoted husband, James Dirden of Atmore; one brother, Sylvester Dixon, Jr., and his wife, Shirley, of Detroit, Mich.; five god-children, Latonya Williams of Mobile, and James Bush, Jammie Bush Banks, Onika Parker, and Brandi Frye, all of Atmore; three brother-in-laws, Barron Dirden and Rosco Shoemaker, both of Atmore, and Henry Carter of Bay Minette; best friends Rebecca Williams, Mary Williams, Marve Lee Russell, Louise Dread, and Bell Tolbert, all of Atmore; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Funeral services were held Saturday, July 30, at Jones Street Holiness Church in Atmore with Bishop Willie Williams officiating. Graveside services followed at Fairview Cemetery. Family and friends served as pallbearers.
Final arrangements were entrusted to Robinson Christian Memorial Funeral Home.
Helen Willliams
RIVERDALE, Ga. - Mrs. Helen Williams, 72, of Jonesboro, Ga., passed away Friday, July 29, at Southern Regional Medical Center.
Funeral services will be held Friday, August 4, at 1 p.m. at Christian Memorial Funeral Home. Graveside services will follow at Pierce Cemetery in the Freemanville Community. The family will receive friends at noon Friday until service time at Christian Memorial Funeral Chapel.
Carl Mills Hayden
ATMORE - Mr. Carl Mills Hayden, 73, of Atmore passed away Friday, July 29, at his residence.
He was retired from the railroad, born in Caruthersville, Mo., on December 3, 1931, to the late George Carr and Maybelle Mills Hayden.
He is survived by his wife, Joan Ray Hayden, and daughter, Sherilyn McKinley, both of Atmore; three grandchildren, Brandy Hughes and her husband, Stacey, Jillian McKinley, and Alana McKinley; and one great-grandchild, Blake Hughes.
Funeral services were held Sunday, July 31, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home with Rev. Arnold Hendrix officiating. Graveside services followed in Oak Hill Cemetery. The family received friends Sunday at Johnson-Quimby until service time.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home, Inc., is in charge of all arrangements.
Allie D. Harrell
PANAMA CITY, Fla. - Mrs. Allie D. Harrell, 91, of Panama City passed away Monday, August 1.
Mrs. Harrell was a native of Brewton, a former resident of Canoe, and a resident of Panama City for the past three-and-one-half years. She loved fishing and attending and working for the Pentecostal Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Abner Harrell, and a son, Ray Harrell. She is survived by two sons, Marvin Harrell of Atmore and Henry Harrell of Milton; two daughters, Marie Dotson of Panama City and Patricia Smith of Sweetwater; 24 grandchildren and a number of great-grandchildren; a brother, Ed Mayo of Pensacola; and a sister, Eller Ruth Hooks of Pensacola.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 6, at 1 p.m. at Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Kenneth Baggett officiating. Graveside services will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends Friday, August 5, between 6 and 9 p.m. at the Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.