By Staff
Leo Nathaniel Luker Sr.
ATMORE – Mr. Leo Nathaniel Luker Sr., 83, of Atmore died Monday, Jan. 21, 2008 in Mobile. He was a lifelong resident of Atmore, born on Oct. 22, 1924 to Issac Ezell and Madora Elizabeth Luker. Owner of Luker &Sons, dirt hauling and excavation Co. He was a member of Presley Street Baptist church; a deacon; teacher; a committed Christian gentleman and a sterling example to four generations, his children’s generation, his grandchildren’s generation and his great grandchildren’s generation. He was one of few self made men that are left. He took the things the Lord blessed him with in the absence of inherited wealth or the benefits of a college education and made the best of it. Morally, in the business world and family.
His wife, Luverne Vivian Luker; a son, Gerald Steve Luker and a granddaughter, Heather Luker, all preceded him in death.
Survivors include, a son, Leo N. Luker Jr. (Margaret) of Atmore; a daughter Rheada L. Dukes (Jimmy) of Loxley; a daughter-in-law, Marilyn Luker Singleton of Atmore; three sisters, Miriam Milliken and Mary McMath, both of Atmore and Lois Amerson of Baton Rouge, La.; eight grandchildren, Ashley (Derrek) Wilson, Leo (Barbara) Luker III, Jonathon (Jennifer) Luker, Jed (Cathy) Dukes, Tar (Randy) Brooks, Shelley Dukes, Stevie (Dawn) Luker and Amber (Glendon) Harrison and 10 great grandchildren, Selina Dukes, Dillon Rolin, Brady Rolin, Savannah Fretwell, Blaze Fretwell, Lauren Wilson, Blake Luker, Dillian Crutchfield, Alanna Johnson and Jacob Luker.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24, 2008 from the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Bro.’s Tim Evans, Leo Luker Jr. and Jimmy Dukes officiating. Interment will follow in Oak Hill cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Jed Dukes, Leo Luker III, Jonathon Luker, Stevie Luker Jr., Glendon Harrison, Derrek Wilson and Randy Brooks.
Honorary pallbearers will be Ual Linam, Bobby Davis, David Smith, J.T. Moye, James Burkette, Richard Maxwell, Ronald Hendrix, David Morrow and Garland Chaudron.
Family will receive friends from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2008 at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home, Inc. is in charge of all arrangements.
John “Shorty” Stewart
PERDIDO – Mr. John “Shorty” Stewart, 73, of Perdido died Thursday, Jan. 17, 2008 at a local hospital. Mr. Stewart retired after 25 years with Standard Furniture in Bay Minette. His parents, John B. and Polly Shrock Stewart and one brother, Andy Shrock preceded him in death.
Survivors include, his wife of eight years, Mary Alice Odom; four sons, Charles Stewart of Mt. Vernon, William Benjamin Stewart of Perdido, Robert Ray Stewart of Perdido and Freddie Houston Stewart of Perdido; one daughter, Ruby Mae Davis of Perdido; two step sons, James Roy Odom of Fairhope and Eugene Edward Odom of Pensacola Fla.; one brother, Woodrow Benjamin Stewart of Perdido; one sister, Fannie Hall of Perdido; 23 grandchildren; 33 great grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan 19, 2008 at the Fretwell Tabernacle with Sister Helen Stewart officiating. Mr. Stewart lay instate at the Church from Friday Jan. 18, 2008 from 4 p.m. until the 2 p.m. service time on Saturday. Burial followed at the New Home cemetery in Lottie.
Atmore Memorial Chapel Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
William Earl “Bill” Amerson
ATMORE – Mr. William Earl “Bill” Amerson, 71, passed away on Sunday, Jan. 20, 2008 in Atmore.
Mr. Amerson was a native of Bratt, Fla. for the past 35 years, an avid fisherman, a member of the Operator’s Engineer’s Union, an employee of the Slaughter Construction Company and he attended the Freewill Baptist Church. His parents, Walter and Ida Amerson; two sisters, Tina Brown and Marie Summers and two brothers, Vernon Amerson and Harvey Amerson, preceded him in death.
Survivors include, his wife, Lynda Lewis Amerson of Atmore; two sons, Truman Earl Garvin and James E. Amerson, both of Pensacola, Fla.; two grandchildren, William Shanks Gavin of Jacksonville, Fla. and Eric Lee Gavin of Mobile and three great grandchildren.
Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, 2008 at the Bethel United Methodist Church with the Rev. Joe Digmon officiating.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Covenant Hospice.
Pinkie Lawson
ATMORE – Mrs. Pinkie Lawson, 63, of Atmore died Thursday, Jan. 17, 2008 at a Pensacola, Fla. hospital. Public viewing was held from 3 p.m. until 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008 at Christian Memorial Funeral Chapel. Services will be held at 2 p.m. today, Jan. 23, 2008 at Holy Community Center. Burial will follow in Fairview cemetery.
Christian Memorial Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Sister Elizabeth McMillan Moore
DETROIT, Mich. – Sister Elizabeth McMillan Moore was born Sept. 24, 1935 to the late Victoria Williams and the late Israel McMillan Jr. She departed this life on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2008 in Detroit, Mich.
She was a resident of Atmore for many years. She graduated from Escambia County Training School in 1954. She retired from the Alabama State Board of Corrections.
She leaves to mourn, one great aunt, Louise Sims of Detroit, Mich.; two sons, Douglas McMillan of Los Angles, Calif. and Henry McMillan of Atmore; one daughter, Doris Brooks of Detroit, Mich.; four grandsons, Christopher, Richard, Rayshaud and Ricardo; four granddaughters, Rayshaun, Renata, Tonya and DaShanya; three great granddaughters; two great grandsons; one niece; a special cousin and neighbor, Rita (Cookie) Williams and a host of cousins and friends.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2008 at the Second Mt. Triumph Church with Elder Willie L. Williams, officiating and the Rev. Joe Hayes, Pastor. Interment followed in Fairview cemetery.
Pallbearers were friends and family. Flower bearers were friends and family.
Christian Memorial Funeral Home directed the service.
Albert Poulsen
WALNUT HILL, Fla. – Mr. Albert Poulsen, 61, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008 at a Pensacola hospital.
Mr. Poulsen was a native and lifelong resident of Walnut Hill, Fla. and attended the Baptist church.
Survivors include, his brother, Jerry (Sharon) Poulsen of Walnut Hill, Fla.; his sister, Nita (Leon) Smith of Davisville, Fla. and a number of nieces and nephews.
Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 24, 2008 at the Walnut Hill Baptist cemetery with the Rev. Joe Gipson, Bro. Ray McCullough and the Rev. Ted Bridges officiating and Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home directing.
Visitation will be held from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan 23, 2008 at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Lottie Wilkinson
ATMORE – Mrs. Lottie Wilkinson, 89, passed away Sunday, Jan. 20, 2008 in Atmore.
Mrs. Wilkinson was a native and former resident of Davisville, Fla., a resident of Bratt, Fla. since 1981, a retired employee of A &P and Brook’s IGA and attended the Pinebarren Baptist Church. Her husband, Leonard Cecil Wilkinson, preceded her in death.
Survivors include, her daughter, Janice Wilkinson (Wayne) Faircloth of Bratt, Fla.; three grandchildren, Selena Faircloth Stedham of Pensacola, Fla. and Misty Faircloth and Christie Faircloth, both of Bratt, Fla.; two great grandchildren, Devin Stedham and Shealyn Stedham and a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. today, Jan. 23, 2008 at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. Ronnie Champion officiating. Burial will follow at Pinebarren cemetery.
Visitation was held from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008 at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Glenn Faircloth, Ralph Darby, Mike Wilson, Ricky Hughes, Terry Day and Wade Hall.
Louise J. Courtney
CENTURY, Fla. – Mrs. Louise J. Courtney, 97, passed away Sunday, Jan. 20, 2008 at a local hospital.
Mrs. Courtney was a native of Brewton, but had been a member of the Century community her lifetime. She was a member of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Bluff Springs, a homemaker and a surviving WWI widow.
Survivors include, three daughters, Linda Nowling of Pensacola, Fla., Diane (Berry) Deville of Pace, Fla. and Eloise Albritton of Pensacola, Fla.; one brother, Earl Johns of England; 13 grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. today, Jan. 23, 2008 at Flomaton Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Walter L. Clark officiating. Interment will follow in Crary Memorial cemetery in Bluff Springs, Fla. Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. today until the 11 a.m. service time. Pallbearers will be Barry Deville, Jeff Overhalser, Mikey Burkett, Daniel Kelly, Chris Shanner and Robert Simmons.
Charles Farmer
ATMORE – Mr. Charles Farmer, 68, of Atmore died Sunday, Jan. 20, 2008 at his residence.
Marvin Russell
ATMORE – Mr. Marvin Russell, 47, of Atmore died Thursday, Jan. 17, 2008 in Atlanta. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, 2008 at St. Paul A.F.M Church of God.