Obituaries
Published 3:30 am Monday, June 5, 2006
By Staff
Click link for 6-4-06 Obits
Lucille Davis Bonds
MCDAVID – Mrs. Lucille Davis Bonds, 76, passed away Thursday, June 1, 2006 in McDavid, Fla.
Bonds was born in Flomaton to Charlie and Essie Davis. She married Malcolm Bonds June 1, 1948 moved to Jay, Fla., and have five children. In 1962 they moved to McDavid, Fla., to their farm. She was dedicated and retired bus driver after 26 years for the Escambia County, Fla., school system and past treasurer of the Century United Methodist Church for many years as well as MYF leader. Lucille was an avid Atlanta Braves fan and a diehard Alabama fan.
She is preceded in death by the love of her life, her husband, Malcolm Bonds, her son, Jerry Bonds, parents, Charlie and Essie Davis, and four brothers, Dan Davis, Lomax Davis, Frank Davis and Ed Davis.
She is survived by her son, Larry and JoAnne Bonds of Atmore; three daughters Dianne and Coy Campbell of Molino, Fla., Sue Hadden of McDavid, Fla., and Terry and Tony Taliancich of Merritt Island, Fla.; 13 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; her brother, Arthur Raymond Davis of Gulf Shores and a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held Sunday, June 4, 2006 at 3 p.m. at the Century United Methodist Church with Rev. Janet Lee officiating.
Burial will follow at Flomaton Cemetery with Petty Funeral Homes, LLC. directing. Visitation was held Saturday, June 3, 2006 between 5:30 and 9 p.m. at the Petty Eastside Chapel Funeral Home. Pallbearers will be Larry Wayne Bonds, Steven Bonds, Joshua Bonds, Bobby Williams, Tim Dunsford and Dave Brantley. Honorary pallbearers will be Herbert McCurdy, Bob Reynolds, Ken McCurry, T.G. Taliancich and Matt Taliancich.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Century United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 245, Century, Fla. 32535.
Karol Lee Rhodes
ATMORE – Mrs. Karol Lee Rhodes, 53 passed away Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at a local hospital.
Rhodes was a native of Alma, Mich., and a resident of Atmore for most of her life. She was an employee of Barnhill's Restaurant, attended the Grace Fellowship Church and was preceded in death by her husband, Roy Rhodes and a sister, Pamula Kay Zimmerman.
Survivors include: two daughters, Melanie and Lee Bennett and Mary and Michael Reynolds, both of Atmore; five grandsons, Vincent Bennett, Gabriel Bennett, Nicholas Bennett, James Reynolds and Jeremy Reynolds; her parents, Raymond and Shirley Zimmerman of Sumner, Mich; a brother, Gilbert Zimmerman of Poarch; and three sisters, Connie Donaldson and Jane King both of Alma, Mich., and Rebecca Odom of Atmore.
Funeral services were held on Friday, June 2, 2006 at 10 a.m. at the Petty Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Pastor Gene King officiating.
Visitation was held Thursday, June 1, 2006 at Petty Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Willie Taylor Merchant
CENTURY – Mrs. Willie Taylor Merchant, 91, passed away Thursday, June 1, 2006 in Century, Fla.
She was a native of Toccoa, Ga., and a resident of Bluff Springs, Fla., since 1951 and attended the Baptist church.
Survivors include: three sons, William H. Hamilton of Century, Fla., George C. Hamilton of Louisa, Va., and Fred A. Taylor of Century, Fla.; two daughters, Dorothy Greenwell of McDavid, Fla., and Ann Rydowski of Flomaton; 12 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; and her sister, Ora Gibson of Seneca, S.C.
Funeral services will be held Monday, June 5,2006 at 10 a.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. John Evangelista officiating. Burial will follow at Crary Memorial Cemetery. Visitation will be held Sunday, June 4, 2006 between 6 and 9 p.m. at the Petty Eastside Chapel Funeral Home. Pallbearers will be her grandsons.
Howard Ray Milstead
ATMORE – Mr. Howard Ray Milstead, 64, passed away Friday, June 2, 2006 at a Pensacola, Fla., hospital.
He was a native and former resident of Oak Grove, Fla., and a resident of Atmore for the past seven months, retired from Champion International after 36 years, was an avid farmer and attended the Baptist church. Preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence Hilton Milstead and Lillie Bell Ziglar Milstead, and a sister, Frances Hanks.
Survivors include: three sons, Ken and Sandra Milstead of Bay Minette, Scott and Debbie Milstead of Mobile, and Trent Milstead of Atmore; seven grandchildren, Amiee Milstead, Kyndall Milstead, Caitlin Fagan, Erica Milstead, Scottie Milstead, Hannah Milstead, and Preston Milstead; three sisters, Yvonne Coon of Oak Grove, Fla., Joanne White of Tallahassee, Fla., and Helen Haddock of Oak Grove, Fla.; and a special friend, Louree Bailey of Bratt, Fla.
Funeral services will be held Monday, June 5, 2006 at 2 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Billy Burtt officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be held Sunday, June 4, 2006 between 6 and 9 p.m. at the Petty Eastside Chapel Funeral Home. Pallbearers will be Mike Hanks, Will Perkins, Matt Dorriety, Richard Caum, Cody Burroughs, Scott Milstead and Donnie Prater.
Rose Marie Ewing
CENTURY – Mrs. Rose Ewing, 60 of Century, Fla., died Saturday, May 27, 2006 at Jay Hospital in Jay, Fla.
She was born March 2, 1946 in Evergreen. She was the fifth child of twelve children born to the late Burnett and Ardellar Wallace Ewing. She relocated to Century, Fla., in 1953.
Ewing lived for a period of time on Long Island, N.Y. She moved back to Florida after the passing of both parents to care for siblings and a niece still living in the home. She became guardian and reared three additional nieces (Joann, Shanava, and Chiquita) in the same home. One sister, Bernice Harris preceded her in death.
She loved children and children loved her. She has opened up her home to many of the community's youth in times of need. She also loved fishing, cookouts and getting together with friends on social occasions. On Sunday mornings, she loved watching preaching on television or listening to gospel music on the radio. Yes, Ewing gave reverence to the Lord on Sunday though she rarely attended a church. She knew God and God blessed her and helped her in many things to maintain her home and household to the best of her ability. Last year, she accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior from a ministering sibling whom she talked with often of the Lord and His words.
Ewing is survived by four brothers, Daniel (Corine), Bobby (Kathy), Sammie and Burnett Ewing Jr., all of Century, Fla.; six sisters, Wilsie Ewing, Rozella (Fred) Artis of N.Y., Alberta (Peter) Hicks of Boston, Mass., Willie Lois and Isia Mae Ewing of Century, Fla., and Patricia (James) Peeples-Bernard of Atlanta, Ga.; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, three aunts, friends, a dear friend Ivory Lee Brown and loved ones.
Funeral services were held Saturday, June 3, 2006 at 2 p.m. at Pilgrim Lodge Baptist Church in Century, Fla. Burial followed in Century Cemetery in Century, Fla.
Final arrangements were entrusted to Christian Memorial Funeral Home in Atmore.
Michael Odom
FLOMATON – Mr. Michael Odom, 47, passed away on Monday, May 29, 2006 at his residence. He was a native and a resident of Flomaton for many years.
Odom was employed as a caregiver and was preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Hester Odom.
He is survived by two sisters, Ernestine (Jackie) Lester of Flomaton and Rebecca G. Odom of Snellville, Ga.; Richard (Gudrun) Odom, Sr., Tommy (Gwen) Odom Sr., Johnny Odom and Steve (Marietta) Odom all of Flomaton and Aubrey (Rosie) Odom of Century, Fla.
Memorial Services were held Saturday, June 3, 2006 at 1 p.m. at Damascus Baptist Church in Flomaton with Elder Steve Odom and Rev. Henry Hawkins officiating.