By Staff
Click link for 1-17-07 Obits
Ute Maria Merriman
ATMORE – Mrs. Ute Maria Merriman, 66, passed away on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2007 at a local hospital.
Mrs. Merriman was a native of Kaiserslautern, Germany, a resident of Atmore since 1992 and attended the Atmore Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witness.
Survivors include: her husband, Ray Merriman of Atmore; two daughters, Karen Hudson of Atmore, and Peggy Chuckel of River Falls, Wis.; three grandchildren; a brother, Carl Heize Dietenhoefar of Worms, Germany; and two sisters, Irmgarde Lehminr of Hauhna, Germany and Magdalene Pechmann of Jacksonville, Fla.
Memorial services will be held Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2007 at 11 a.m. at the Atmore Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's with Bro. David Rabon officiating.
Clarence J. Brown
ATMORE – Mr. Clarence J. Brown, 96, passed away Sunday, Jan. 14, 2007 at Atmore Community Hospital. He was a native of Frisco City and a resident of Atmore for many years. He was a member of Greater Mt. Triumph Baptist Church and was retired from the city of Detroit, Mich., working for the water works department.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Lula Mae Brown, parents, Johnnie Lee and Pelham Brown, daughter, Teresa Brown, and a son, Larry Brown.
Mr. Brown is survived by: three nieces, Annie Pearl Nettles, Johnnie Mae (Rev. Rufus) Rudolph, and Leatha Walker, all of Atmore; one nephew, Clarence (Jackie) Brown of Atmore; a host of great nieces and nephews; host of great-great nieces and nephews; host of great-great-great nieces and nephews; care-givers Wanda Armstrong and Karl Taliaferro, both of Atmore.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, Jan. 18, 2007 at 12 p.m. at Greater Mt. Triumph Baptist Church in Atmore with the Rev. Willie Hawthorne.
Burial will follow in Stallworth Cemetery in Atmore.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2007 at Turner Funeral Chapel.
Turner Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Joseph M. "Joe" McKinley
Mr. Joseph M. "Joe" McKinley, 31, passed away on Friday, Jan. 12, 2007 in Atmore.
Mr. McKinley was a native of Monitcello, Miss. and a resident of Atmore since 1979. He attended the New Beginnings Church and was preceded in death by his mother, Vadean McKinley, a sister, Sandra Lee McKinley, and a brother, Tony Dewayne McKinley.
Survivors include: his father and stepmother, John and Lillie McKinley of Atmore; three brothers, Donald Ray McKinley of Jay, Fla., Bobby Andrew McKinley and Jon Mitchell McKinley, both of Atmore; and a number of nieces, nephews, aunts, and uncles.
Funeral services were held Monday, Jan. 15, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. at the Petty- Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Tim Wetzel and the Rev. Thurl Pearson officiating.
Burial followed at McCullough Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Shawn McKinley, Gregg Botteron, Gilbert Zimmerman, Marcus Stewart, Tim Odom, and Johnny Burkett.
Alternate pallbearer was Robert Cook.
Roy Alan Godwin
ATMORE – Mr. Roy Alan Godwin, 57, of Atmore passed away on Monday, Jan. 15, 2007 at his residence. Mr. Godwin worked as a cable technician and retired after 33 years with Bell South Telephone Company. Born Dec. 3, 1949 to Clark and Myrtle Godwin. Mr. Godwin served in the U.S. Army and was an active member and deacon of the Little Escambia Church. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Survivors include: his wife, Teresa Ann Whitehurst Godwin; one son, Jason Alan and Tara Godwin of Mobile; one daughter, Dena Ann and Terry Strength of Atmore; one brother, Gary and Stacey Logan of Logan, UT, mother-in-law, Anna Whitehurst of Atmore; three sisters. Fran and David Wiggins of Mobile, Ann and Jerry Shenk of Atmore, Carol and Travis Glidden of Brewton; two grandchildren, Chandler Strength, Chase Godwin.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2007 at 10 a.m. at Atmore Memorial Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Douglas Hogg officiating. Burial will follow at the Sardis Baptist Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Wednesday evening from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
The pallbearers will be the deacons of Little Escambia Church and honorary pallbearers will be Bill Spears Sunday School class. Atmore Memorial Chapel Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Malcolm Shymil Jones
On April 22, 1992, God blessed Donyale and Gregory with a beautiful son whom they called Malcolm.
The name chosen for him symbolized their hope for a son of good and strong character.
God honored their belief and anointed Malcolm with intelligence, courage, strength, determination and a kind heart.
Malcolm was a gift to the world. Whomever he met, he touched their life with the gifts that God bestowed upon him.
Malcolm devoted his life to Christ and worked diligently in church, namely Arkadelphia Baptist Church in Pine Apple.
He attended church regularly and honored God by singing praises in the choir. Malcolm demonstrated acquired biblical knowledge throughout the community and his school as a result of seeking God through Sunday school and church services.
Malcolm, meaning strength, obtained his education within the Wilcox County School System. As a student at G.W. Watts Elementary School, he consistently excelled as an honor student and served as a member of the drill team.
He also served as a tutor throughout the school year. His excellence did not stop there. He continued demonstrating his talents and academic strengths by being selected as a gifted student at Camden School of Arts and Technology.
Furthermore, he received numerous awards, including honors achievements, science fair awards and SAT-10 recognition. He continued to perform as an exceptional student at Wilcox Central High School.
He was a dedicated member of the Jaguar Football Team, thus striving for excellence in his playing position as a center on the Offensive line.
Malcolm's desire was to attend Auburn University and play football for the Tigers. Additionally, he planned to pursue a degree in Business and later attend law school to become a prominent attorney.
He aspired to become a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, following his fathers' legacy
He is survived by: his parents, Donyale (James) Love and Gregory (Chenequia) Simpson; four sisters, Adrianna Moton, Summer Fitzpatrick, Brooke and Linnita Grooms; brothers, Isaiah Love, James Love, Jr., Jaden Simpson, Kalandis Love, Bailey Grooms; grandparents, Willie (Lena *deceased*) Powell, Harrison (Ruby) Jones, Juanita Simpson (deceased), Tommy (Regina) King, Jr.; great-grandparents, Nettie Powell and Paris Jones; great aunts, Leslie Simpson, Edna (Marvin) Carter, Mattie Arnold, Annie Pauley, Carrie McCord, Ella Powell; aunts, Carla Jones, Chandra (Tyrone) Quarles, Sonya (Willie) Hutchinson, La Brita (Rev. Nathaniel) Copeland; uncles, Ricky Powell, Tyrone Huff, Michael (Tammy) King, Tommy (La Trina) King, III, Marcus (Michelle) King, Herman (Angela) Withum; special cousin, Rickel Powell; special friends, Zanetta, Quanda, Percy, Chaquita and John.
There was a memorial service for Malcolm on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2007 at noon at the Camden School of Arts and Technology with the Rev. Daniel Garner, the Rev. Willie Powell and Minister Malinda Abner officiating.
Interment followed in Powell Cemetery in Yellow Bluff.
Pallbearers were Wilcox Central High School Football team and flower bearers were classmates of 2010 and friends.
Christian Memorial Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.