By Staff
Click link for 9-28-05 Obits
Alfred Brown
CANTONMENT – Alfred Brown, 79, passed away Monday, Sept. 26, 2005. Mr. Brown was born Jan. 28, 1926 in Beaumont, Texas. He was well known throughout Northwest Florida for his talent as a singer/entertainer at corporate and social events. He was involved and active in local politics in Escambia County, a friend to everyone, a stranger to no one. He brought immeasurable joy and happiness to thousands with his dynamic personality and musical abilities to sing and play the guitar. His grand personality allowed him to relate to everyone.
He performed for audiences the world over ranging from Europe's USO's, the United States Senate, Florida Senate, Corporate America, and hundreds of associations. He was educated in Escambia County, enlisted in the U.S. Army, served the 13th Airborne Division, 82nd Airborne Division, 2nd Armored Division and a Veteran of WWII. He was a member of Ray's Chapel Baptist Church. He was an honorary member of Florida Watermelon Association and the member of the American Legion, Moose Club and was 32nd Degree Mason. He began his career as an employee of Monsanto, Pensacola; Nationwide Chemical of Fort Myers and owned Brown and Brown Bus Company of Atmore prior to joining Instrument Control Service of Pensacola, Fl. For the remainder of his career. Brown cherished many relationships and friends made while working in central Florida.
Brown is preceded in death by his precious daughter, Marsha; his father and mother, G. H. and Libby Brown; sisters, Grace Laneli and Elma Hall; brothers, Keel, Dale and Floyd Allen Brown.
He is survived by his devoted wife, Melanie and three children; Judith (Jacky) Helton of Atmore, Donna Mae of Orlando, Fla, Dow Brown of Pensacola, Fla, and nine grandchildren: Jill Lee, Atmore, Jacqueline Stabler, Pensacola, Fla, Jason Helton, Bakersville, Calif., Christina Lowery, Atlanta, Ga., William Holberg, Navarre, Fla, Gunter Lugg, Hawaii, Chandler and Jon Mac of Lake Whales and Melanie Lynn Brown of Pensacola, Fla; and nine great grandchildren.
He is also survived by eleven sisters and brothers: Louise Byerly, Beaumont, Texas, Wanda Biggs, Bay Minette, Betty (Freddie) Mooney, Shirley (Russell) Black, McDavid, Fla., Willard (Joyce ) Brown, Margaret (Allen) Jones, Patsy Brown, June Chambers, Chuck (Sandra) Brown, Joy (Richard) Calhoun all of Pensacola, Fla, Gail (Joe) Digmon of Pace, Fla.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2005. A celebration of his life will be held Friday, Sept. 29, 2005 at 10 a.m. at Faith Funeral Home North with Rev. Marcus Caraway, Rev. Brian Calhoun and Rev. Jacob Morgan officiating. Internment will follow with full Military honors in Rays Chapel Cemetery.
Active pallbearers are: Damon Morgan, Will Brown, Donnie Bell, Brad Calhoun, Eric Black, Matt Jones, Johnny Biggs, Ronnie Brown. Honorary pallbearers will be a host of friends. At Mr. Brown's request a tribute in me memory may be sent to Melanie Brown Ministries, 2648 Stephanie Road, Cantonment, Fla 32533.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home located on 1000 Highway 29 South Cantonment is in charge of arrangements.
Raymond Lloyd Fransen
ATMORE – Mr. Raymond Lloyd Fransen, 69, died on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2005 in Atmore. Mr. Fransen was a native of Gettysburg, S.D. and a resident of Atmore. He served in the U.S. Navy.
His wife, Bette Arlene Fransen, precedes Mr. Fransen in death. He is survived by one daughter, Rebecca (Steve) Thompson of Atmore; one grandchild, Nicholas Thompson of Atmore; one sister, Dorothy Sloat of Gettysburg, S. D.; three brothers, Darrell Fransen of Portland, Or, Frank Fransen of Gettysburg, S.D., Harlan Fransen of Albuquerque, N.M.; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at Atmore Memorial Chapel Funeral Home on Friday, Sept. 29, 2005 at 1 p.m. with Bro. Bill Hodge and Bro. Aubrey Till officiating.
Burial will follow at the Bethlem Cemetery in Barnett Crossroad. The family will receive friends on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2005 at the funeral home from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.
Atmore Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Newton P. Beasley, Jr.
ATMORE – Mr. Newton P. Beasley, Jr., 65, of Atmore died Saturday, Sept. 24, 2005 at his residence.
He was employed at Atmore Area Vocational Center with the building trade, born in Mobile on June 13,1940 to the late Newton P. Sr. and Emma Robinson. Mr. Beasley was an Elder at Atmore Church of Christ.
Survivors are: his wife, Ruth Roley Beasley of Atmore; two daughters, Pamela Beasley Clayton and Patsy Beasley Sikes both of Montgomery; three grandchildren; one sister, Margaret Redman of Bay Minette.
Services were Sunday, Sept. 25, 2005 at 3 p.m. from the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. O.B. Richardson officiating. Interment followed in Oak Hill Cemetery. Family received friends Sunday at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home from 1:30 p.m. to service time.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home, Inc. was in charge of all arrangements.
Earnestine Curry Thomas
NOKOMIS – Earnestine (Coot) Curry-Thomas, 62, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2005 in Bay Minette. Thomas was born on Sept. 29, 1943 to the late Isom and Winnie Curry in Nokomis. Mrs. Thomas attended Escambia County Training School where she graduated in 1962. She was employed by Family Dollar for many years. Mrs. Thomas was a member of Mt. Shiloh Baptist Church where she dedicated her life to Christ at a very early age.
She was united in Holy Matrimony to Mr. Cleophus McCants, Sr. To this marriage four kids were born: Michael Curry, Greg (Tammy) McCants, Cleophus McCants, Jr., Stephanie McCants, and Tonia (William) America all of Atmore.
Later in life she married Marshall Thomas. To this marriage one child was born: Christopher Thomas and one special stepson, Mickey Thomas.
Proceeding her in death was her mother and father, Mr. Isom Curry and Winnie Smith-Curry; one sister, Mrs. Betty Riley.
She leaves to cherish her noble memories four sisters and one brother: Annie Mae (Roosevelt) Core, Indianapolis, Ind, Jessie Fisher of Atmore, Mary Ann (William) Wilburn, Chicago, Ill., Edna (Kyles) Kimbrough, Detroit, Mich., Dorothy (Angus) Stewart, Chicago, Ill., and Isom (Vester) Curry of Indianapolis, Ind.; sixteen grandchildren, three great grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews, cousins and friends. She also leaves some very special friends: Mary Bolar, Helen Lockett, JoAnne Jenkins, Glenda Harrell and the entire Class of 1962.
Funeral Services were held Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2005 at Mt. Shiloh Baptist Church in Nokomis with the Rev. Anthony Cox, Elder Austin Kidd and Elder Willie Williams officiating. Burial followed at Mt. Shiloh Family Cemetery in Nokomis.
Final arrangements were entrusted to Robinson and Christian Memorial Funeral Home in Atmore.
Alford Bowens
ATMORE – Mr. Alford Bowens, 66, died Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2005 at his residence in Atmore.
Mollie Mae Harris
CENTURY – Mrs. Mollie Mae Harris, 80, died Sept. 24, 2005 at Jay Hospital in Jay, Fla.