By Staff
Walter Lee Boykin
ATMORE – Walter Lee Boykin was born Jan. 20, 1940 in Camden to Ben Edward and Sylvia Martin. On Thursday, March 13, 2008 at 2:07 a.m. his earthly life expired and his eternal life with the Lord began.
Walter moved to Atmore and continued his education at the Escambia County Training School and graduated with the class of 1959. He was a member of the Second Mt. Triumph Baptist Church in Atmore. Despite his disabilities, he operated and managed several small businesses including his own lawn service.
Walter was preceded in death by three children, Vernon Charles Boykin, Marilyn Finklea and Angela Williams; parents, Ben Edward and Sylvia Martin; grandparents, George and Matilda McMillan; a sister, Martha Ann Martin and a brother, Albert Lee Haynes.
He leaves to cherish his memories, five daughters, Beverly (Travis) Perkins and Ms. Alice Boykin, both of Montgomery, Delores Jackson of Century, Fla., Janet Williams of Alaska and Sloane (Jamal) Couisnard of Huntsville; three sons, Alonzo (Zoar) Freeman of Eglin, S.C., Royald (Sylvia) Jones of Foley and Nicholas Graves of Gulf Port, Miss.; 31 grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren; four sisters, Matilda (Terry) Kimbrough of Pensacola, Fla., Paralee Milton of Orlando, Fla., Alice Brown (Earl Dortch) and Mary Ann Riley, both of Atmore; four brothers, Roy Edward Martin of Atmore, Geno Donnell (Belinda) Martin of Perdido and Willie and Andrew Johnson, both of Jamaica, N.Y.; a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and other relatives and two special friends, Jacob Knight and Peter Bishop.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 20, 2008 at Second Mt. Triumph Baptist Church with Pastor Joe. L. Hayes officiating. Interment followed in Fairview cemetery. Pallbearers were nephews and flower bearers were nieces.
John T. Daniel Jr.
ATMORE – John T. Daniel Jr. (J.T.), 77, left to meet his Savior on March 20, 2008 after a lengthy illness.
He lived the majority of his life in Auburn where he was a member of the Auburn Church of Christ. He attended Georgia Tech University in Atlanta. He retired from the banking business in 1994 where he served as Vice President of the Alabama Exchange Bank in Tuskegee and later was with South Trust Bank of Auburn. He was honorably discharged serving as an Airman First Class in the United States Air Force in Nov. 1953. He moved to Atmore due to illness and later moved to Mobile to an assisted living extended care facility. His parents, John and Ethel (Hart) Daniel preceded him in death.
He leaves behind five children and their families, John (Danny) Daniel III, wife Deborah and daughter Levy of Atmore, Diane Barron and daughter, Allison of Gulf Shores, Dennis Daniel, wife Sherry, and sons Travis and Josh of Atmore, Dawn McKenzie, son Damian and daughter Desiree of Gulf Shores and William (Doug) Daniel, wife Becky and son Will of Mobile; two brothers, Jerald Lee (Janelle) Daniel of Navarre, Fla. and Floyd (Juanita) Daniel of Searcy as well as numerous nephews and nieces.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 29, 2008 at St. Paul Independent Church in Atmore with his brother, Floyd Daniel officiating.
The family would like to express their appreciation to the staff of Ashbury Manor and Odyssey Hospice for their care and assistance in his last month of his life. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in his name to Ashbury Manor, 6582 Old Shell Road, Mobile, AL., 36608.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home handled crematory arrangements.
Nathan H. Gross
LEESBURG, Fla. – Nathan H. Gross, 88, of Leesburg, Fla. passed away Tuesday, March 18, 2008 in Leesburg, Fla.
Born in Heard County, Ga. he lived in LaGrange, Ga. before moving to Leesburg from Atmore in 2000. He was a retired Master Navigator in the Air Force and a member of Okahumpka Baptist Church.
Survivors include, his loving wife of 67 years, Lemma Gross of Leesburg, Fla.; two wonderful daughters, Arnell G. Connell of Eustis, Fla. and Ann G. Thompson of Homosassa Springs, Fla.; a brother, Robert Gross of Lafayette, Ga. two grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held in Florida with Beyers Funeral Home of Leesburg directing.
Rita Jean Campbell
BAY MINETTE – Mrs. Rita Jean Campbell, 56, passed away on Thursday, March 20, 2008 at a Bay Minette Hospital.
Mrs. Campbell was a native of Mobile and a resident of Bay Minette. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Bay Minette.
Survivors include, her husband, the Rev. Paul W. Campbell of Bay Minette; her mother, Joyce S Sutton of Bay Minette; a son, John Mark Campbell of Bay Minette; a daughter, Jennifer Campbell of Bay Minette; a brother, John Sutton of Stockton; two sisters, Diane Crabtree and Carla Lambert both of Bay Minette and a granddaughter, Paige Sigle of Bay Minette.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 22, 2008 at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. Dr. Chip Starnes and the Rev. Dr. Henry Cox officiating. Burial followed at Oak Hill cemetery. Visitation was held from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. Friday, March 21, 2008 at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Petty-Eastside Chapel, LLC of Atmore was in charge of directing services.
Mary Diane Black
PENSACOLA, Fla. – Mrs. Mary Diane Black, 71, passed away Tuesday, March 18, 2008 at a Pensacola Hospital.
Mrs. Black was a native of Uriah and a resident of Pensacola, Fla. Her parents and a son preceded her in death.
Survivors include, three daughters, Jean Zhang of Pensacola, Fla., Beck Mack of McDavid, Fla. and Gail Williamson of Milton, Fla.; a brother, Sonny Snow of Rocky Hill; a sister, Louise Cobb of Rocky Hill and two grandchildren, Ashlyn and Owen Williamson.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Friday, March 21, 2008 at the Petty-Eastside Chapel with the Rev. Walter Sheffield officiating. Burial followed at Poplar Springs cemetery. Visitation was held at 1 p.m. until funeral time Friday, March 21, 2008 at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers were David Williamson, Billy Williamson, David Morgan and Hong Zhang.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home, LLC was in charge of directing the services.