Obituaries for Wed., Jan. 30, 2019
Published 5:44 pm Tuesday, January 29, 2019
Elijah Lewis Lyons
U.S. Army Elijah Lewis Lyons (retired), 60, of Atmore, answered the master’s call on Jan. 26, 2019, at Baptist Hospital in Pensacola, Fla.
A native of Atmore, Lyons was a graduate of Escambia County High School in 1976. Upon graduation, he enlisted in the U. S. Army, where he served until his retirement. While in the Army, he was an aviation assault aircraft specialist. He enjoyed fishing, traveling and football (University of Alabama).
Those whom preceded him in death are his parents, Elijah (Johnny) Lyons and Josie Mae Lyons; one sister, Sandra Lyons Poindexter; and one brother, Kenneth Lyons.
Those left to cherish memories of his life are his wife, Olivia Lyons of Atmore; two daughters, Merlinda (Shawn) Mattison of Dayton, Ohio and Elijah (Maurice) Simmons of Newport News, Va.; three sons, Davon Lyons of Mobile, Derrick Lyons and Eric Lyons, both of Newport News; two sisters, Diann (Harry) Adams of Atmore and Shelia (William) Hauser of Pensacola; two brothers, Ricky (Tammy) Lyons of Brewton and Randy Lyons of Atlanta, Ga.; five grandchildren; nieces; nephews; cousins; and friends.
Public viewing will be tomorrow, Thurs., Jan. 31, from 2-7 p.m. at the funeral home.
A funeral service will be held Fri., Feb. 1, 2019, at 9 a.m. at Gaines Chapel AME Church, 122 Carver Ave., Atmore with the Rev. Freddie Banks as eulogist and the Rev. Amos Smith as host pastor.
Inhumation with full military honors will be held at 12:30 p.m. at the Alabama State Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Hwy. 225, in Spanish Fort. His remains will lie instate at the church one hour prior to the funeral service with Turner Funeral Chapel LLC directing.
Letha Elizabeth Brown Walker
Ms. Letha Elizabeth Brown Walker, 84, a resident of Atmore, fell asleep in the arms of Jesus at her residence on Fri., Jan. 25, 2019.
A native of Atmore, Walker was a graduate of Escambia County Training School, Knoxville College and Alabama A&M University.
She was a retired educator as she taught at Escambia County Training School and Escambia County High School.
She also worked several years in Mobile with the federal government. She was a longtime member of Greater Mt. Triumph Baptist Church, where she served as the church secretary, trustee, Sunday school member, missionary society member and vacation Bible school director.
She was a member of the PCRC (the first female member), the Ladies of Essence advisor, member of the Yellow Hat Society and a member of Phi Delta Kappa Inc. In her leisure, she enjoyed watching westerns, reading the Bible, working crossword puzzles and playing Pokeno, where she was part of a Pokeno club.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Cleve and Josie Watson-Brown; two sisters, Mary Montgomery and Annie Pearl Nettles; three brothers, D. C. Scott, Cleveland Brown and Clarence Sylvester Brown; and in laws, the Rev. Rufus Rudolph, Marzetta Scott and Jackie Brown.
Those left to cherish memories of her life and legacy are a sister, Johnnie Mae Rudolph of Atmore; a faithful/caring niece, Magaline (Anthony) Marshall of Atmore; two Goddaughters, Vangela (Walter) Franklin and Shelia (Ewric) Johnson-Williams, all of Atmore; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, former students and friends.
A funeral service will be held this Fri., Feb. 1, 2019 at 1 p.m. at Greater Mt. Triumph Baptist Church, 157 Carver Ave., Atmore with the Rev. Willie Hawthorne as pastor and eulogist, and the Rev. Michael Wilson Sr., as president.
Retirement of her remains will be in Lucious Cemetery. Public viewing will be this Thursday from 2-7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Her body will lie instate at the church two hours prior to the funeral service with Turner Funeral Chapel LLC directing.
Hettie Lewis Sanders
Hettie Lewis Sanders, 80, of Walnut Hill, Fla., passed away on Jan. 26, 2019, in Fairhope.
She was a homemaker, born in Scranton, Ark. on June 9, 1938 to the late John W. and Bertha Burnette Stovall.
She is preceded in death by her parents; her husbands, Irie O’Neal Lewis and Clarence Sanders; and multiple brothers and sisters.
Survivors are two sons, Orville (Darra) Lewis of Bay Springs, Fla. and Roy (Lynn) Lewis of Pace, Fla.; two daughters, Bertha (Joey) Brown of Perdido and Carol (Mike) Crittenden of Fairhope; eight grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.
Graveside services will be held at 1 pm. today, Wed., Jan. 30, 2019, in Bay Springs Cemetery in Bay Springs, Fla. with Bro. Kenneth Johnson officiating.
Interment will follow in Bay Springs Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be her children and their spouses.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Inc. is in charge of all arrangements.
Ivan Iconium Stewart
Ivan Iconium Stewart, 88, of Perdido, passed away on Jan. 19, 2019, in Mobile.
He was a retired Mechanic with the U.S. Government, born in Baldwin County on Nov. 3, 1930 to the late Frank Johnson and Mattie Bell Downey Stewart. He served in the United States Marine Corps during Korean War, and was a member of Pine Grove Freewill Baptist Church.
He is preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Edward Stewart, Frank Jr. Stewart, Everett Stewart and Calvin Stewart; and six sisters, Christine Heathcock, Dorothy Goodson, Jeannette Fickling, Evlyn Goins, Frances Hadley and Patricia Anette McCullough.
Survivors are his wife, of 64 years, Gwen Chafin Stewart of Perdido; one son, Kent C. (Pam) Stewart of Nokomis; one brother, Winston (Arlene) Stewart of Perdido; one sister, Brenda (Alton) Spence of Walnut Hill, Fla.; two grandsons, Kenny (April) Stewart of Nokomis and Kristopher (Robin) Stewart of Bratt, Fla.; four great- grandchildren, Kody Stewart, Kaleb Stewart, Kole Stewart, Maggie Stewart; and one great-great granddaughter, Olivia Faith Stewart.
Services were held Jan. 24, 2019 from Pine Grove Freewill Baptist Church, with Bro. Stony Daw. Interment followed in Pine Grove Freewill Cemetery.
He received Military Honors and honorary pallbearers were the American Legion.
Family received friends Jan. 24 at Pine Grove Freewill Baptist Church.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Inc. was in charge of arrangements.
Jessie Muriel Seale Swindle
Mrs. Jessie Muriel Seale Swindle, 82, passed away on Tues., Jan. 22, 2019, in Milton, Fla.
She was a native of Brewton and had resided in Canoe for most of her life. She was well known from Winn Dixie in Atmore; BP in Flomaton; was best known as Mrs. Jessie; and was employed with Vanity Fair with 20 years of service.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Willey and Marguerite Seale; daughter, Marie Booth; three sisters, Lucille Butt, Mary McClain and Jeanette Lois Creamer; and one brother, Clifford Seale.
She is survived by her three sons, Edward “Buck” Wilson of Crestview, Fla., Bennie (Cathy) Wilson of Milton, Fla. and Dudley (Wendy) Wilson of Wawbeek; two daughters, Jeanette Quick of Century and Muriel Philyaw of Atmore; three brothers, Lee Verne Seale of Atmore, Murlon (Margaret) Seale of Atmore and Floyd (Betty) Seale of Atmore; two sisters, Nancy Nelson of Foley and Dottie (Charles) West of Ozark; 12 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; and nine great-great grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Jan. 25 from the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. Malcolm Harrelson officiating.
Burial followed at Moyeville Cemetery.
Visitation was held Jan. 24 at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers were Dudley Flowers, Jimmy Odom, Benjamin Jimenez, Michael Weaver, Henry Wiggins and Kenneth Morrow.
Honorary pallbearers were Johnny Wilson and Brian Adkinson.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes LLC was in charge of all arrangements.
John P. Johnson
Mr. John P. Johnson, 59, passed away on Sat., Jan. 26, 2019 in Lake City, Fla.
He was a native of Milton, Fla. and had resided in Century, Fla. for most of his life. He was of the Assembly of God Faith.
He is preceded in death by his parents, JB and Vonniev Johnson.
He is survived by the mother of his children, Kay; two sons, Donnie Johnson of Pensacola, Fla. and Ben Johnson of Milton; four brothers, Lewis (Wanda) Johnson of Milton, Joseph V. (Mary) Johnson of Century, Ollie (Donna) Johnson of Century and JB (Trudy) Johnson Jr. of Century; step-mother, Laura Johnson of Century; and aunt, Helen Clark of Wetumpka.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today, Wed., Jan. 30, from Byrneville United Methodist Church with the Rev. Chris Hawkins officiating.
Burial will follow at Byrneville United Methodist Cemetery.
Visitation will be held from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. today at the Byrneville United Methodist Church.
Pallbearers will be Dane Clark, Andy Miles, Bryan Carro, Bryson Carro, Wade White and Caleb White.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes LLC is in charge of all arrangements.
Robert C. Martin
Robert C. “Bobby” Martin, 69, of Davisville, Fla., passed away Jan. 25, 2019.
He was born on June 19, 1949, in Atmore to the late Robert J. and Ethel Lee Mooney Martin. He attended the Atmore First Assembly of God Church. He was retired from the Army National Guard and was a retired corrections officer with Escambia County Florida Department of Corrections.
He was an avid fisherman and outdoorsman, and was known for his excellent cooking skills of fried fish and oysters.
His parents preceded him in death.
He was survived by his wife, Nancy Etheridge Martin of Davisville; two children, Jennifer Beck of Cantonment, Fla. and Russell Martin of Tuscaloosa; three brothers, Ronnie (Gayle) Martin of Atmore, Harold (JoAnn) Martin of Warren Robbins, Ga. and Greg Martin of Atmore; and two grandchildren, Lauren and Lindsey Beck of Cantonment.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. tomorrow, Thurs., Jan. 31, 2019, from the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Don Davis and Bro. Michael Roley officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Timothy Lassiter, Paul Hudson, Earl Bodiford, Chris Smith, Melvin Iutzi, and Jeremy McGhee.
Visitation will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. today, Jan. 30, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Ruby Mae Davis
Mrs. Ruby Mae Davis, 65, passed away on Wed., Jan. 23, 2019, at her home in Perdido.
She was a native of Bay Minette and had resided in Perdido for most of her life. She was of the Catholic Faith.
She is survived by her husband of 45 years, Millard Davis of Perdido; two sons, Stephen (Michelle) McDonald of Bay Minette and Vic (Jessica) Davis of Bay Minette; four brothers, Ray Stewart of Perdido, Charles (Linda) Stewart of Mt. Vernon, Freddie (Sandy) Stewart of Rabun and William Stewart of Rabun; and four grandchildren, Joshua, Cassidy, Victoria and Cody.
Funeral services were held Jan. 27 from the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Steve Burton officiating.
Visitation was held Jan. 27 at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes LLC was in charge of all arrangements.
Sylvester Thomley
Mr. Sylvester Thomley, 82, passed away on Sat., Jan. 26, 2019, in Bay Minette.
He was a native and lifelong resident of Perdido. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle and friend to all who knew him.
He was affectionately known as “Uncle Syl” by all who loved him.
He was employed with Alabama Dry Dock with 28 years of service, retired from the Baldwin County School Board with 18 years of service, was a lifelong cattleman and attended the Hall’s Fork Assembly of God Church.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Myrtle Thomley; one brother, Elisha Thomley; and four sisters, Eulia Hadley, Flora Peacock, Earlene Hicks and Jean Brown White.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Joyce Thomley of Perdido; one son, Samuel (Paula) Thomley of Perdido; two daughters, Magi (Jackson) Williams of Cantonment, Fla. and Gloria Hadley of Perdido; two sisters, Aileen Quinley of White House Fork and Frankie Lou (Wendell) Hall of Bay Minette; nine grandchildren, Brandon Williams, Aaron Thomley, Jonathan Thomley, Jeremy Hadley, Nathan Thomley, Elisha Thomley, Levi Thomley, Johnathan Hadley and Rachel Meyer; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. today, Wed., Jan. 30, 2019, from the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. James Peacock, the Rev. Angelo Thomley and the Rev. Windell Hadley officiating.
Burial will follow at Bay Minette Cemetery.
Visitation was held Jan. 29 at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be his grandchildren, Aaron Thomley, Jonathan Thomley, Nathan Thomley, Elisha Thomley, Levi Thomley, Jeremy Hadley and Rachel Meyer.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes LLC is in charge of all arrangements.