Andrew T. Parsons

Andrew T. Parsons, 50, passed away on Sat., Sept. 24, 2016, in Marietta, Ga.

He was born Nov. 25, 1965, in Bainbridge, Ga., to Linda (Gibson) Parsons and the late Henry “Ted” Parsons. He graduated from Escambia County High School in Atmore in 1983. Drew was also a proud graduate of the University of Alabama.
Drew married Joan Vonderhaar on May 25, 1991, in Camden, Ohio. They shared 26 years of an incredible marriage. His pride and joy were his four children, Nate, Grant, Zach and Claire; his brother, Michael (Pam) Parsons; his uncles, David Gibson, Brian Gibson, Barre Gibson; aunts, Barbara Kelly, Bonny Brewer and Gina Nottingham; and one nephew and two nieces.

Drew, together with his wife Joan, was on staff with Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ) for 26 years. He and his family lived in Auburn, Hattiesburg, Miss, Budapest, Hungary and Marietta. His desire was to know the Lord and make him known.

A celebration of life and funeral service was held Oct. 1, 2016, at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta.

 

Berry Lynn Ross

Berry Lynn Ross, 47, of Poarch, passed away on Mon., Sept. 12, 2016, in Atmore.

He was a member of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians and served on the tribal council. He was born in Pasadena, Texas on July 3, 1969 to Eugene R. and Marilyn Morris Ross.

He is preceded in death by his Father, Eugene R. Ross; and grandparents, M.C. and Hattie Lou Morris.

Survivors are his wife, Melissa Freeman Ross of Poarch; his mother, Marilyn Ross of Poarch; two sons, Elliot Gene Ross and Troy Lynn Ross, both of Poarch; one brother, Steven (Regina) Ross of Poarch; and many aunts, uncles, family and friends.

Services were held Sept.16, 2016, from the Friendly Holiness Church, with Bro. Benny Stokes and Bro. Johnny Stabler serving as officiates. Interment followed in New Home Cemetery.

Active Pallbearers were Burl Wiggins, Odell McGhee, Marion McGhee, Darrell Hollinger, Jerrel Hollinger, James Bagwell, Rusty Lassitter and Clint Lassitter.

Honorary pallbearers were Poarch Creek Indian Tribal Council.

Family received friends Sept. 15 at the Friendly Holiness Church.

Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Inc. was in charge of all arrangements.

 

Bessie Mae Knight Martin

Mrs. Bessie Mae Knight Martin, 99, of Hilton Head, S.C., formerly of Atmore, answered the master’s call on Mon., Sept. 26, 2016, at Life Care Center in Hilton Head.

Born Nov. 13, 1916, Mrs. Bessie was a native of Monroeville and had lived most of her life in Atmore. She was one of the oldest members of Greater Mt. Triumph Baptist Church of Atmore for over 70 years singing in the gospel chorus for over 60 years.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James Martin; one daughter, Marva Nettles Collins; a granddaughter, Cynthia Beth Collins; her parents, Henry Lincoln and Annie Elizabeth Knight; her sister, Ruby Helen Jones; her brother, Lloyd Knight; and a niece, Carol Jones Roberts.

Those left to cherish memories of her life and love are a daughter, Cynthia (Bill) Sutton of Bluffton, S.C.; three grandchildren, Eric (Cheryl) Collins of Chicago, Ill., Patrick Collins of Indianapolis, Ind., and Keely (Etoya) White of Stockbridge, Ga.; 10 great-grandchildren, Sean Collins, Peter Collins, Brianna Collins, Nena Brown, Kala Sutton, Amari Hurn, Nasir White, Elyssa White, C.J. White and Olivia White; and a host of other family and Friends.

Celebration of life service will be held on Sat., Oct. 8, 2016, at 1 p.m. EST at Saul Funeral Home, 90 Simmonsville Rd., Bluffton, S.C. Sauls Funeral Home directing and Turner Funeral Chapel LLC announcing.

 

Charles Herbert Brantley

Charles Herbert Brantley of Foley, passed away on Thurs., Sept. 29, 2016. He was born April 5, 1934, in Goodway.

He graduated from J.U. Blacksher High School in Uriah in 1952. He married his sweetheart, Jo Ellen, in 1956. He served in the U.S. Army.  He, his father and brothers owned and operated Brantley’s Tires in Atmore for many years. He and Jo Ellen moved to Foley in 2000.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William Frank and Myra Belle Wiggins Brantley; sisters, Christine Culbreth and Mary E. Brantley; and brothers, William Frank (Bud) Brantley Jr., Hollis Brantley and an unnamed infant brother.

He is survived by his wife, Jo Ellen Brantley; their children, Sheila Brantley Strickland (Chris) of Hoover, Mike Brantley (Rhonda) of Silverhill, Jerry Brantley of Fort Worth, Texas and Jeff Brantley (Darla) of Winfield; grandchildren, Courtney Strickland, Jennifer Strickland, Shelley Brantley Rasinen (Ryan), Stacey Brantley Wolf (Stefan), Daniel Brantley (Tori), William Brantley (Anna), Emily Brantley, Nathan Brantley (Sophie), Reuben Brantley, Esther Brantley, Luke Brantley and Robin Brantley; seven great-grandchildren; sister, Eloise Leggiero; brothers, Robert Earl Brantley, Harlan Brantley and Joe Brantley; and many nieces and nephews.

He was known as Pop to all his family. He loved to read western novels, hunt and fish. He was a wonderful example of living out his faith in God to all who knew him through his love, generosity and work ethic.

Funeral services were held at First Baptist Church of Foley on Oct. 1, 2016. Burial followed at Pine Rest Cemetery in Foley following the service. Dr. Billy Nale, the Rev. Earl Lee and the Rev. Jeff Brantley officiated. In lieu of flowers, you may make a donation to the Foley First Baptist Church Building Fund.

Charles “Bo/High Pockets” Thomas

Mr. Charles “Bo/High Pockets” Thomas, 51, passed away on Wed., Sept. 28, 2016, in Huntsville.

He was a native of Atmore and a resident of Perdido for most of his life. He was of the Baptist Faith.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Elbert Thomas Jr. and Mary Helen Thomas; and a sister, Paula Suzanne Douglas.

He is survived by his wife, Kimberly Thomas of Perdido; two sons, Gary Dewayne Thomas and Kyle Austin Thomas, both of Perdido; one daughter, Kayla Marie Thomas of Bay Minette; one brother and sister in law, Roy and Nellie Thomas of Foley; two sisters, Betty Jane Thomas of Huxford and Teresa (A.K.A., Pettie) and Scott Sutherland of Rabun; and one grandson, Gabriel Richerson.

Funeral services were held Oct. 4, 2016, from the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. Isaac Tolbert Cassidy officiating. Burial followed at the Pine Grove Cemetery.

Visitation was held Oct. 3 at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.

Pallbearers were Roger Hadley, Ronnie Hadley, Chris Travis, Garren Martin, Ethan Long and Scott Sutherland.

Honorary Pallbearer was Ricky Mitchem.

Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes LLC was in charge of all arrangements.

 

Genevieve Barlow Bell

Genevieve Barlow Bell, 89, of Century, Fla., passed away on Mon., Sept. 26, 2016, at her residence.

She was born April 19, 1927, in Escambia County, Fla. to the late Walter and Annie Pace Barlow. She attended Fretwell Tabernacle Church.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Clinton G. Bell; a son, Philip Michael Bell Sr.; brothers, Pee Joe Barlow and Floyd Barlow; and one sister, Edith Ortego.

She had worked at Vanity Fair in Atmore and the Bag Plant in Cantonment, Fla.

She is survived by her daughter, Rebecca Bell of Flomaton; five sisters, Margaret (Larson) Bryars of Perdidio, Judy Rathsack of Atmore, Diane (Terry) Elkins of Atmore, Debbie Barlow of Walnut Hill, Fla. and Theresa Barlow of Flomaton; a sister in law, Jackie Barlow; her four brothers, Walter “Tobe” (Bobbie) Barlow of Texas, James Barlow of Louisiana, Donald Barlow of Walnut Hill and Frank Barlow of Nokomis; grandchildren, Anna (Ed Henderson) Bell and Philip Michael (Heather) Bell Jr.; great-grandchildren, Devin (Allyson), Brendan, Trey, Madicyn and C.J; and great-great grandchildren, Waylon and Summer.

Funeral services were held Sept. 29, 2016, from the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Brain Calhoun and Bro. Wilbur “Gam” Graves serving as officiates. Burial followed in Hollywood Cemetery.

Active pallbearers were Philip Bell, Devin Bell, Waylon Bell, Trey Bell, Brendan Bell, C.J. Bell, Madicyn Bell and River Calloway.

Visitation was held Sept. 28 from the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.

Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

 

James Walter Ash

Mr. James Walter Ash, 89, of Uriah, passed away on Sun., Oct. 2, 2016, at the Monroe County Hospital.

He was a native and former resident of South Flomaton before moving to Uriah. He was a Navy Veteran and member of the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents W.H. Ash and Ella Lee Bolton Ash.

He is survived by his wife, Betty Joyce Northrop Ash of Uriah; two sons Dr. W.L. “Woody” (Janice) Ash of Uriah and James Allan (Dale) Ash of Atmore; one daughter, Beth Ash Petrie of Cantonment, Fla.; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held on Sat., Oct. 8, 2016 from 9:30 a.m. until 11 a.m. at the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. from Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church with the Rev. Pete Dunn and the Rev. Leon Stewart officiating. Interment will be at the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery with Johnson Funeral Home directing. Memorials may be made to the Pat Dunn Water Well Memorial. Donations can be mailed to Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church at 26 Lambert Ln. Uriah, AL 36480.

 

Steven Ledell Knight Sr.

Steven Ledell Knight Sr. gained his wings on Fri., Sept. 30, 2016, at North Baldwin Infirmary in Bay Minette.

He was born in Atmore on Sept. 6, 1980, to the late Curtis Finklea Jr. and Carolyn Madison. He confessed Christ at an early age and was baptized at Church of Christ in Atmore. He was a product of Budweiser Company in Loxley. He graduated from Escambia County High School in 1999, where he discovered his love for basketball and music. He was a member of the music group called Throwed Off Boyz (T.O.E.) While attending Faulkner State Community College, he met LaToya Griffin. On June 25, 2005, they became one. To this union, two sons were conceived — Steven Ledell Knight Jr. and Braylon Makeil Knight.

He portrayed great pride in raising his boys by joining the Bay Minette Youth Football League. There, he went on to provide great effort to teach not only his son, but other young boys as well, the power of defense. He was an amazing son, brother, cousin, husband, father, friend and coach. To know him was to love and enjoy him. He will be truly missed by all who knew him.

He is preceded in death by his father, Curtis Finklea Jr.; both grandfathers, Curtis Finklea Sr. and Jerome Knight; and a brother, Ty’Justin Clark Sr.

He leaves to cherish his memories a loving, caring and devoted wife, LaToya Griffin; two precious sons, Steven Ledell Knight Jr. and Braylon Makeil Knight; one lovely daughter, Adrienne Lacy Ivy; a loving mother, Carolyn (John) Madison; two grandmothers, Bessie (Joe) Hill and Gertrude Knight; one sister, Loren (Zaphine) Jones; six nephews, Justin Knight, Ty’Justin Clark Jr., Jy’Quiryius Griffin, Bricen Griffin, Gregory McDonald and Logan Conners; four nieces, Harmony Clark, Makyai McDonald, Natalie Wheeler and Hailey Long; a devoted mother in law, Anita Griffin; a father in law, Jackie Ray (Sherry) McCants Sr.; three brothers in law, Jackie Ray (Kristen) Griffin Jr., Aaron (Marion) Griffin and Zaphine (Loren) Jones; one sister in law, Rebecca Long; a special grandmother in law, Mable Griffin; and a host of uncles, aunts, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Sat., Oct. 8, 2016, from Morning Dove Baptist Church in Perdido with Pastor Stanley A. Cox officiating. Interment will be held at Luscious Cemetery.

Repast will be held at Latoya Knight’s home located at 1004 Newport Parkway in Bay Minette.

Pallbearers will be Paul Martin, Michael Weaver, Vicent Bynum, Robert White, Ericke Bynum, Quentin Bynum and Darnell Jackson.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Kendrick Gray, Aaron Griffin, Travis Brown, Jerome Williams, Joe Stevens, Jackie Ray Griffin, Mike Watson, Bobby Steven, Eli Martin and Thomas Packer.

Flower bearers will be the Finklea and Knight families.

Funeral services are entrusted to Christian Memorial Funeral Home in Atmore.