By Staff
Click link for 5-30-07 Obits
Irene Salter Thomas
ATMORE – Mrs. Irene Salter Thomas, 64, widow of the Rev. Joseph Thomas, of Atmore died on Monday, May 21, 2007 at her residence after an extended illness.
She was a native of Atmore and a graduate of Escambia County Training School Class of 1960. Mrs. Thomas was a former resident of N.Y. where she worked for Life Savers. She later moved back to Atmore where she married the Rev. Joseph Thomas, who pastured Pleasant Hill Baptist Church and Second Mt. Triumph Baptist Church in Atmore. She was a former employee of Southern Aluminum in Bay Minette where she worked until her health failed.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Stephanie Salter, her parents, Ben and Susie Salter, a sister, Geraldine S. Stephens and a nephew, Eric Stephens.
She is survived by: one brother, Grady (Euthia) Salter of Fairfield, Calif.; two sisters, Ailene Sams of Port Chester, N.Y. and Alice (Roosevelt) Jones of Wabassa, Fla.; nine step children, one very special step-son, Minister Garry Thomas of Mobile; a host of nieces and nephews, special niece and caregiver, Karen Stephens of Atmore; three god-children, Kenyatta Keon McCants, Jr., Katrice Shanta Tucker, and Felicia Jones; and four special friends, Ms. Waymon Wingate, Ms. Linda Faye George, Ms. Dorothy Lee and Mrs. Helen Brown all of Atmore.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 at 11 a.m. at the Pleasant Hill Full Gospel Baptist Church (Hwy. 21) in Atmore with the Rev. Freddie Banks, Pastor, officiating. Retirement of her remains will be in the Fairview Cemetery.
Public viewing will be held on Monday from 2 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at the Turner Funeral Chapel. Her body will lie instate at the church one hour prior to funeral services.
Turner Funeral Chapel of Atmore is directing.
Rev. Fred Edward Brown
ATMORE – The Rev. Fred Edward Brown, 88, passed away on Friday, May 25, 2007 in Atmore.
Mr. Brown was a native of Eliska, and a resident of Atmore since 1942. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, American Legion, VFW and a member and Pastor Emeritus of the New Bethlehem Baptist Church.
Survivors include: his wife, Mrs. Fred Brown of Atmore; his son, Edward C. and Joyce Brown of Atmore; his daughter, Frances and Ray Holt of Flomaton; his stepson, Kevin Gleem and Tina Presley of Atmore; his stepdaughter, Tereasa Lynn Presley of Atmore; four grandchildren, Mark Edward Brown, Julie Brown Chandler, Jennifer Brown Brewton and Mike Holt; three step-grandchildren, Amanda Farrar Lambert, Robert Wiley Farrar, Jr. and Lindsay Farrar; 11 great-grandchildren; one step-great-grandchild; and a sister, Ethel and Leon Strength of Atmore.
Funeral services were held Monday, May 28, 2007 at 2 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. Pat Andrews, the Rev. Mark Brown, the Rev. Ron McGhee and Bro. Bo Brantley officiating.
Burial followed in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Visitation was held Monday, May 28, 2007 from noon until funeral time at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers were Mike Holt, Ken Brewton, Doug Chandler, Wiley Farrar, Cleve Roberson and Tommy Fields.
Honorary pallbearers were his Brother Masons.
Freeman "Doug" Dockens
CHRISTIAN HOME – Mr. Freeman "Doug" Dockens, 64, of Christian Home died unexpectedly in his yard at home while cleaning and doing yard work, which he loved very much. He was a native of Bogia and had been a resident of Christian Home for the past 58 years, and member of Christian Home Freewill Baptist Church and retired from Monsanto with 30 years of service. Preceded in death by his parents, Freeman and Maggie Dockens.
Survivors include: two sisters, Luverne Patermoster of Cantonment, Fla. and Linda Drulia (Joe) of Middleburg, Fla.; a number of nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, May 29, 2007 at 11 a.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. R.C. Wiggins, the Rev. John Shamblin officiating.
Burial followed at Christian Home Cemetery.
Visitation was held Monday, May 28, 2007 from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers: William Holland, Ervin Thortis, Glenn Goetter, Lavon Parham, Mike Burkett and Donald Ray Dockens.
Honorary pallbearers: Willie Peebles, Kenneth Blanton, Clark Caraway and John Shouppe.
Helen Grace Williams
PENSACOLA, Fla. – Mrs. Helen Grace Williams, 76, passed away on Thursday, May 24, 2007 in Bay Minette.
Mrs. Williams was a native of Peterman, and a resident of Pensacola, Fla. for the past 53 years. She was a loving and caring mother, grandmother and great grandmother, and attended the Baptist Church. Predeceased in death by her husband, Raymond Elbert Williams.
Survivors include: three sons, Bobby and Janice Williams of Atmore, Larry and Beth Williams of Saraland, and Randy and Lynn Williams of Pensacola; her daughter, Mary and Randy Barrow of Pensacola, Fla.; 10 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; two brothers, J.D. Brown of Peterman, and Joe Brown of Camden; and three sisters, Betty Jean Sheffield of Evergreen, Louise Robinson and Pat Lovell, both of Camden.
Funeral services were held Sunday, May 27, 2007 at 2 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. C.L. Langford officiating.
Burial followed at Oak Hill Cemetery.
Visitation was held Saturday, May 26, 2007 from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers were her grandsons, Christopher Barrow, Matthew Williams, Michael Barrow, Casey Williams, Logan Williams and Justin Harris.
Honorary pallbearers were Eric Barrow, LaDana Thomas, Miranda Williams and Amber Harris.
Dorothy Belle Pitts McGill
ATMORE – Mrs. Dorothy Belle Pitts McGill, 79, passed away on Sunday, May 27, 2007 in Atmore.
Mrs. McGill was a native of Bessemer, a former resident of Trussville and a resident of Atmore for the past five years. She was a member of the Jefferson County Republicans Women's Club and attended the McRae United Methodist Church.
Survivors include: two sons, Dwight Kevin and Angie Lanoli McGill of New Orleans, La and Brian and Kelly McGill of Atmore; six grandchildren; and a sister, Mae Jones of Ogden, Utah.
Graveside services will be held today, Wednesday, May 30, 2007 at 2 p.m. at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Oneonta.
Visitation was held Tuesday, May 29, 2007 from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be State Troopers.
Robert Stephens Sr.
ATMORE – Mr. Robert Stephens Sr. of Atmore passed away May 28, 2007 at his residence.
Services are to be announced by Turner Funeral Chapel.
Marcus Earl Coleman
BREWTON – Mr. Marcus Earl Coleman, 45, of Brewton died Sunday, May 27, 2007 at his residence. Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 2, 2007 at 11 a.m. at Zion Fountain in Brewton. Burial will be in Baptist Hill Cemetery.
Christian Memorial Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Kelsey Bowens
VALDOSTA, Ga. – Mr. Kelsey Bowens, 18, of Valdosta, Ga., formerly of Atmore died Friday, May 25, 2007 in a car accident in Tallahassee, Fla.
Services are to be announced by Turner Funeral Chapel.