Ronn Carter Stewart

Ronn Carter Stewart, 42, the artistic director and co founder of Foster Dance Studios and Cocodaco Dance Project in Evanston, Ill., left his earthly body on Sat., Sept. 30, 2017. Born on April 23, 1975, in Atmore, he was preceded in death by his father Dewain Kendall Stewart; grandparents, Doris and Roy Stewart; uncle, Ronald Lynn Stewart from Atmore; and grandparents, Johnnie and William Findley; and uncle, Ted Findley from Canoe.

He is survived by his wife, Sarah Goldstone; and their daughter, Kendall Madeline Goldstone Stewart, expected in February; mother and step-father, Gail and Joel Cohen; sister, Riegel Cohen; step-brother, Ethan (Christina) Cohen; step-sister, Julie (Zack) Cohen; mother and step father in law, Renee and Mike Rhyner; father in law, Larry Goldstone; sister in law, Rebecah Goldstone; brother in law, David (Katy) Goldstone; as well as nieces, nephews, uncles, aunts, cousins and countless friends.

A red head from a small town in southern Alabama with indigenous roots and raised Jewish, Ronn believed that dedicated artists often emerge from unusual circumstances. Never one for a conventional lifestyle, Ronn forged his own path and challenged everyone’s perceptions about the impact of movement and dance.

Ronn discovered jazz dance at the age of 10 under the direction of Susan Quinn and Michael Williams in Pensacola, Fla. He performed at the First Jazz Dance World Congress when he was 15 and at the Kennedy Center when he was 19. He was offered a full scholarship to the University of Arizona for dance, but opted instead to continue training and hone his artistry with the goal of opening his own studio by the time he was 25, which he did. Ronn trained with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and danced professionally with Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, Gail Gilbert Dance Ensemble, and the Santa Fe Opera. He was the founder and artistic director of Moving People Dance, Santa Fe Dance Festival, and Foster Dance Studios. He taught and choreographed at The Joffrey Ballet Academy for the last seven years. Ronn also developed a new and popular movement technique called MoPeD® (More People Dancing).

Ronn opened his first studio, Moving People Dance Santa Fe, in 2001. He broadened students’ horizons and taught a variety of dance forms that drew out dancers’ expressivity, creativity, and power. He was a dance instructor at the Santa Fe Community College, the University of Arizona, and held several other teaching posts over the course of his career. He was recognized for sharing his craft with others in 2002 when he received the Outstanding Teachers Award from the prestigious Youth American Grand Prix. He was chosen as one of the “21 Intriguing Santa Feans You Should Know” (Santa Fean Magazine, May 2007).

His philosophy that dance should be an active part of any community inspired him to create inclusive dance spaces that embraced students from different socioeconomic backgrounds. Ronn wanted everyone to experience the gift of dance and to appreciate the art form. On his days off, he taught dance to underprivileged and deaf students, which led to the opening of the school Moving Arts Española. The organization provides high quality, affordable performing and visual arts education, as well as nutritional and academic support to children and youth from the Española Valley and the surrounding communities of Northern New Mexico.

Before he was 30, Ronn inspired thousand of dancers, many of whom became successful dancers in their own right. Students have gone on to dance colleges, summer programs, and companies including The Juilliard School, New York University/Tisch School for the Arts, Boston Conservatory, Point Park University, University of Arizona, Cornish College, University of Indiana, San Francisco Conservatory, Shen Wei Dance Company, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Ate9 Dance Company, Visceral Dance Chicago, New Jersey Ballet, the Suzanne Farrell Ballet, and The Joffrey Ballet. As a teacher, he instilled his five principles of life and dance: keep going, listen to your body, suspend judgement, remember what you’re working for, and do it with love and appreciation. Ronn loved outdoor music festivals, road trips, camping, hiking, abstract painting, and adored his wife, Sarah, and their dog, Sweetpea.

The family is arranging memorials in Chicago and Santa Fe; dates to be announced. The family requests that any donations be made in Ronn’s honor to Sarah and Kendall’s  GoFundMe page (www.gofundme.com/in-loving-support-of-sarah) or to Moving Arts Española (www.movingartsespanola.org).

 

Mary Victoria Allen

Mary Victoria Allen, 59, a native of Atmore and a resident of Daphne, passed away on Sun., Oct. 8, 2017, in Houston, Texas, after a long fight with lung cancer.

Vickie was an active member of Eastern Shore Baptist Church. She loved the Lord and deeply cared for people. She invested her life in her children and family. Her favorite hobby was working in the yard in her flower garden.

Vickie received her master’s degree in elementary education from the University of South Alabama and taught in Baldwin County for 13 years. She was a dedicated volunteer in Daphne Public Schools and a member of the PTA. She is very loved and missed by many.

She is preceded in death by her sister, Deborah Gray; and her step-father, Jim Ray.

Vickie is survived by her husband, Bob Allen; a daughter, Laura Allen; and a son, Scott Allen, all of Daphne; two brothers, Kevin Ray of Tuscaloosa and Joey Ray of Atmore; her father, O’Neal (Myrtle Lee) Dawson of Brewton; and her mother, Mary Ray of Atmore.

Visitation will be held tomorrow, Thurs., Oct. 12, 2017 from 5-7 p.m. at Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Home in Daphne.

Funeral services will be held, Fri., Oct. 13, at 10 a.m. at Eastern Shore Baptist Church in Daphne.

Interment will follow in Jubilee Memorial Gardens.

 

Billy Huskey

Billy Huskey, 80, of Atmore, passed away peacefully at home in the early morning of Oct. 4, 2017.
He is survived by his wife of over 51 years, Patsy, and their children Leslie (Gary) Chandler, Tommy Huskey, Ronnie (Christy) Huskey, Will (Haley) Huskey; 11 loving grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Billy is preceded in death by his parents, Will and Elizabeth Floyd Huskey; his three sisters and three brothers; and most recently his son, John Huskey in 2015.
Although he was a very quiet and private man, Billy loved to share stories and memories of his childhood growing up as the youngest of seven children in Pollard. Being a very competitive athlete, he would fondly recall his days on the Flomaton High School football team in the 1950s.
He set a great example for the young family he and Patsy began in Century, Fla. As a civically active member of the community, he served as a volunteer firefighter, worked with the Boy Scouts of America and gave often during local blood drives. There, he worked for Alger-Sullivan Lumber Co., which was later acquired by Jim Walter Doors. But working and building for Swift Lumber Co., became his ultimate career.
Billy loved carpentry, fishing and growing large vegetable gardens in the summer. In all this, he taught his children and others by example. He taught them the importance and value of honesty and hard work. Work seemed to his children, to be his hobby.
The young family moved to Atmore in the late 70s as Billy became a vital part of the expansion of Swift Lumber Co. and eventually built his wife’s dream home in Byrneville, Fla. After over 30 years of dedicated employment, Billy retired and spent many days fishing on the Alabama and Tensaw Rivers.
In the most recent years, he spent three days a week at the Atmore Dialysis Center, where he continued to set an example for his family of strength and endurance. This quiet simple man had only one final request of his family, that there he no funeral or visitation and his remaining ashes be cast upon the still waters of the river he loved so much.

 

Rebecca “Becky” Black

Mrs. Rebecca “Becky” Black, 54, passed away on Sat., Oct. 7, 2017, in Pensacola, Fla.

Mrs. Black was a native and life-long resident of Bogia, Fla. She was a member of Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church and loved her animals. She is preceded in death by her parents, Junior and Diane Black; and a brother, Joe Black.

She is survived by her two sisters, Jean (Hong) Zhang of China and Gail (David) Williamson of Milton, Fla.; special aunt, Christine Truesdell of McDavid; two aunts, Joan Brooks of McDavid and Louise Cobb of Uriah; one uncle, Sonny Snow of Uriah; and a niece and nephew, Ashlyn Williamson and Owen Williamson.

Funeral services were held Oct. 10, 2017 at Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church with Rev. Nathan Brown and Rev. Dexter Truesdell officiating.

Burial followed at Ray’s Chapel Cemetery.

Visitation was held Oct. 10 at Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church.

Pallbearers will be George Snow, David Williamson, Owen Williamson, Charlie Wilson, Paul Stewart and Brad Brooks.

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

 

Dewey H. Janes

Dewey H. Janes, 79, of Atmore, passed away on Tues., Sept. 26, 2017, in Atmore. He was born on May 28, 1938, to the late Ernest and Florence Smith Janes. His occupation was a maintenance mechanic for Chemstrand/Monsanto in Pensacola, Fla.

He served in the U.S. Army and was a member of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

He is preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Deborah Janes; and sisters, Addie B. Johnson, Lois Harris, Eunice Musgrove and Jewel Monie.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Margaret Jefferies Janes of Atmore; two sons, Keith (Tracy) Janes of Millbrook and Jerry (Danna) Janes of Atmore; a dear brother in law, Joseph Jefferies of Atmore; a sister in law, Delois Carver and husband, James, of Atmore; four grandchildren, Marina Janes, Carson Janes, Anna Grace Janes and Jamison Janes; two step-grandchildren, Shawn Williams and Savannah Williams; and many nieces and nephews.

Services were held Sept. 30, 2017, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Mark Jones officiating. Interment followed at Oak Hill Cemetery.

Active pallbearers were Brandon Smith, Jamey Odom, Terry Owens, Chris Black, Chad Black and Elliott Weaver.

Family received friends Sept. 29 at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.

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

 

Alma Inez Robinson Prestwood Davis

Mrs. Alma Inez Robinson Prestwood Davis, of Pensacola, Fla., went to be with her Lord on Oct. 10, 2017, after a full and rich 95 years in this life with her family.

Inez was born on May 3, 1922, in Goodway, to Elophus Walter and Alma Castillow Robinson, and she was the second-oldest daughter of nine children.

She was a longtime resident of McCullough and Atmore, and she enjoyed her final 18 years in Pensacola, in the home of her daughter and son in law, Marcia and Charles Thompson.

First as Mrs. Prestwood and later as Mrs. Davis, Inez devoted her life, with love, to her family. She wore many hats with grace and beauty.

She was gifted with an extraordinary ability to gather her family for occasions both happy and sad, and bringing them together brought her great joy.

She opened her home and heart constantly. She never gathered her family without preparing a feast, which nourished bodies and souls alike.

She supported her family with a multitude of professional talents, working as a banker, merchant, farmer, cotton ginner and bookkeeper at different points in her life, and she treasured these talents (even subscribing to farming magazines until her death).

She worked hard, smart and often, and she taught her children and grandchildren the great value of good work done with a great attitude.

She simultaneously modeled the importance of both knowing one’s roots and broadening one’s horizons – she read often and traveled when her life called upon her to do so.  Her life’s experiences cultivated a natural wisdom and strength of spirit, which she shared generously. She was always composed and totally unflappable, regardless whether the challenge was a bank robber with a gun or a toaster an unwitting grandchild inadvertently exploded.

She had endless stories of wit, encouragement, and laughter. She used all of her gifts every day, to the great benefit of those around her.

Inez was preceded in death by her husband, Terry Prestwood; her brothers, Andrew Leonard Robinson, Walter Robinson, Raymond Ernest Robinson and Kenneth Robinson; and her sisters, Annie Lou (Robinson) Prestwood, Agnes Vernelle (Robinson) Lee and Bernice (Robinson) Fell. She is survived by sons, Lewis George Prestwood and Oris Earl Davis Jr. (Monica); daughters, Judith Prestwood Lorenz, Sylvia Prestwood Bellot (Jim), Marcia Prestwood Thompson, Sandra Prestwood Wood and Jennifer Prestwood Manasco (Mike); 16 grandchildren; and 30 great-grandchildren. She was a loving aunt to a host of nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the McCullough Cemetery in memory of Inez Prestwood Davis.The family expresses its heartfelt appreciation to all NurseSpring staff, particularly caregivers Pauline Drakeford and Terrie Duke; and all Emerald Coast Hospice staff, for their excellent care in recent years.

Inez attributed her many blessings to her Maker, and as the time approached for her to meet Him she said with great peace and comfort that she was ready for the occasion. Her family and friends will gather to celebrate her life and that joyous meeting at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home in Atmore, at 2 p.m. on Sat., Oct. 14, with burial to immediately follow the service at McCullough Cemetery in McCullough.

The family will receive visitors from 1-2 p.m. prior to the funeral service at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be Mrs. Davis’ grandchildren.