Obituaries for Saturday
Wade Houston “Jack” Brown, Bessemer
Thomas Cochran, Talladega
Jimmie L. Meadows Cole, Talladega
Ruby Hendrix Palmer Ficklen, Jacksonville
Tina Lorraine Fortenberry, Piedmont
Leavy Jacks, Anniston
Lemmuel “Lem” LeCroy, Centre
Willie C. Patton, Munford
Carrie S. Pegg, Anniston
Lois Jean Stephens, Munford
Sherlene Varner, Anniston
BESSEMER — Wade Houston "JACK" Brown, born October 19, 1926 in Tuscaloosa, passed away on Thursday, August 28, 2008. He married his soul mate, Mary E. "Kate" Jeffrey on April 28, 1950. He resided in Bessemer for 42 years, and in Birmingham for 19 years prior. He served in the U.S. Army Air Force as a flight trainee. He graduated from Phillips High School and attended the University of Alabama on the GI bill. His career in transportation began at L&N Railroad, then to Malone Freight Lines and to Mason & Dixon Tank Lines. He later owned Bandco Transportation Service. He played recreational softball with several area teams, and was once an avid bowler, golfer and fisherman. He followed University of Alabama football and Atlanta Braves baseball. He served as Worshipful Master of Central Park Masonic Lodge 808 and lived by principles of Freemasonry; he later belonged to Pleasant Grove Lodge 909. He was a member of Scottish Rite and was a Shriner. He was a loving, devoted husband, father, Peepaw and friend who will be greatly missed. Funeral services will be at Valhalla Funeral Home today, August 30, 2008, at 3:30 p.m. with burial in Valhalla Cemetery. Visitation will be at today, August 30, 2008, from 2 until 3:30 p.m.
Pallbearers will be members of his masonic lodge. He was preceded in death by his mother, Ruby B. McGraw of East Lansing, Michigan; grandparents, Marion and Lula Tannehill Barton of Tuscaloosa and brother, Billy Pat McGraw of East Lansing, Michigan. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Mary E. "Kate" Brown; two daughters, Deborah K. Brown and Lindie K. Brown of Anniston; one granddaughter, Layla B. Rosenow and husband, Chris; one great-granddaughter, Kaylen Rosenow; one sister, Sally Rowland-Ketley and husband, John; one brother, John McGraw and wife, Chris. Special thanks to the nurses and staff of Self Nursing Home.
TALLADEGA — Services for Mr. Thomas Cochran, 78, will be announced by Terry's Metropolitan Mortuary. Mr. Cochran died August 29, 2008 at Citizens Baptist Medical Center.
TALLADEGA — Services for Mrs. Jimmie L. Meadows Cole, 71, will be announced by Terry's Metropolitan Mortuary. Mrs. Cole died Thursday, August 28, 2008, at NEARMC.
JACKSONVILLE — Ruby Hendrix Palmer Ficklen, 83, departed from this life on August 28, 2008 to be with her heavenly father. She is now present with the Lord and at peace. The family will receive friends from 1-3 p.m. Sunday afternoon at K.L. Brown Funeral Home in Jacksonville. A graveside service will follow at 3 p.m. at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, with the Rev. William Cain, The Rev. Jimmy Ford, and Jeff Steward officiating.
Pallbearers will be Johnathan Steward, Charles Steward, Jeff Steward, Tony Hulsey, Ben Huff, Karl Allen and Colton Duke. Ruby was born on July 8, 1925 to Geather and Mary Hendrix. She was employed at Kitty Stone Elementary School for 27 years until her retirement in 1987. She was a faithful member of Asberry Baptist Church. To her cherished grandchildren she was known as Nannie and to her friends and family she was a talented cook and gracious hostess. Many knew her as the "bread lady". She had a cheerful, happy outlook on life and showed this by spreading her love by baking friendship cakes and Amish bread, and giving them to everyone she came into contact with. Mrs. Ficklen spent her life loving and caring for others. Her tremendous faith in her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, strengthened her.
She is survived by her daughters, Karen Steward and her husband, John, and Sue Wilkins and her husband, Jackie; nine grandchildren, Johnathan Steward, Charles Steward, Jeff Steward (Lori), Carol Allen (Karl), Tony Hulsey (DeShannon), Donna Huff (Ben), Greg Wilkins (Stacey), Jeff Wilkins (Jackie), and Shannon Hunter; nine great-grandchildren, Lindy, Garrett and Ella Steward, Noah, Eli, and Lucas Huff, McKenzley and Emmalee Hulsey, and Colton (Jordan) Duke; and one great-great-grandchild, Jenna Duke. She was preceded in death by her first husband of 28 years, John Palmer; her second husband of 18 years, Tony Ficklen; her parents, Geather and Mary Hendrix; her brothers, James Hendrix, Earl Hendrix and Lewis Hendrix; and one sister, Evada Llompart.
The family would like to offer special thanks to the nurses and assistants on Unit 2 at Piedmont Health Care Center for their love, devotion and desire to do everything possible to make our mom comfortable and happy. Also many thanks to Amy Gaskin and Linda Spurlin at Gadsden Regional Medical Center for making sure everything that could be done for mom was taken care of. Thanks to Dr. Russell Ulrich and Dr. Steve Sanders for your gentle bedside manner. We can never repay The Rev. William Cain and The Rev. Jimmy Ford for your many visits, encouraging words and being there at just the right moment. Thanks also to Donna Reeves from Anniston Health and Sickroom Supply for being the special friend that we all needed. Ruby's journey of life on earth has been completed and she has returned home to be with her Lord. She was a loving mother of whom no one can ever take her place. She will live in our hearts fothe Rever. Online condolences may be sent to the family at: www.klbrownfuneralhome.com
PIEDMONT — Graveside services for Tina Lorraine Fortenberry, 38, were Friday, August 29, 2008, at Highland Cemetery with Thompson Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
ANNISTON — Funeral services for Mrs. Leavy Jacks, 86, will be 3 p.m., Sunday, August 31, 2008, at Gray Brown-Service Mortuary with the Rev. Andy Lambert officiating. Burial will follow at Pine Hill Memorial Park in Talladega. The family will receive friends Sunday from 2 until service time at the funeral home. Mrs. Jacks died Thursday at NHC.
Survivors include one daughter, Elizabeth Dewar and husband, Paul, of San Diego, Calif.; two sons, Ronald Key and wife, Alice, of Anniston and Charlie Key and wife, Vickie, of Mapleton, Ga.; two step-daughters, Faye Sherbert and Sandy Shirley; one stepson, Eugene Jacks; eighteen grandchildren; twenty-six great-grandchildren; two sisters, Louise Hyatt and Ruby Pritchett, both of Oxford; one brother, Truman Nichols and wife, Frances, of Heflin; and several nieces and nephews. Mrs. Jacks is preceded in death by her husband, Edward Jacks; a daughter, Mildred Berens; and a son, Aussie Key. Mrs. Jacks was a native and life long resident of Calhoun County and a member of Glenn Addie Baptist Church. Gray Brown-Service Mortuary in charge of arrangements. (256) 236-3441 Online Condolences at: www.mem.com
CENTRE — Funeral services for Mr. Lemmuel "Lem" LeCroy will be at 3 p.m. today, August 30, 2008, at Perry Funeral Home Chapel. Visitation from 1-3 p.m. today at the funeral home.
MUNFORD — Funeral service for Willie C. Patton 76 of Silver Run Community will be announced by Goodson Funeral Home. Mr. Patton died Thursday at his residence.
ANNISTON — Funeral services for Carrie S. Pegg, 80, will be at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, August 31, 2008, at Gray Brown-Service Chapel with the Rev. Roy Thomas officiating. Burial will follow at Weaver Cemetery. The family will receive friends this evening at the funeral home. Mrs. Pegg died Thurday at her residents.
Survivors include son, Terry Pegg and wife, Pamela B.; grandchildren, Scotty Pegg and wife, Brook, and Clinton "Lucky" M. Pegg and wife, Cindy; great-grandchildren, Kayla Lashay Perry, Katlin Olivia Pegg, Dallas Alaine Huckins, John Denver Pegg, Terry Bruce Pegg, Jessica Octiva Pegg, Patrica Irene Pegg, Kasi Lynn Pegg, Ashlei Nicole Kaylor, Aliza Jane Kaylor, and Alexander B. Kaylor. Mrs. Pegg is preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, J.D. Pegg; and son Denver E. Pegg. Mrs. Pegg was a life long Christian and a member of Sunny Eve Baptist Church. Gray Brown-Service Mortuary in charge of arrangements. (256) 236-3441 Online condolences at: www.mem.com
MUNFORD — Funeral services for Mrs. Lois Jean Stephens, 74, will be at 2 p.m. on Friday, August 29, 2008, at the Munford Church of Christ with Minister Jeff Clark officiating. Burial will follow in Munford Cemetery. Mrs. Stephens passed away Tuesday, August 26, 2008, at her home in Munford, Alabama. She was born October 6, 1933 in Eastaboga, but had lived most of her life in Munford, where she was a homemaker. She was a 1952 graduate of Munford High School. She was a faithful member of the Munford Church of Christ. She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Billy E. Stephens; three sons, Eddy Stephens (Pamela), of Mobile, Eugene Stephens (Cynthia), of Oxford, and Jay Kirk Stephens (Katherine), of Munford; one daughter, Connie Stephens, of Munford; one sister, Mrs. Sue Byrd, of DeArmanville; five grandchildren, Elizabeth Stephens, Ryan Stephens, and Donny Stephens, of Mobile, Mrs. Amanda Jones and Mrs. Kim Mayo, of Munford; and a host of nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Kirkpatrick, and her brother, Mr. Lewis Harold (Preacher) Kirkpatrick, of Munford.
Pallbearers will be Ryan Stephens, Donny Stephens, Britt Weems, Justin Jones, Frank Mayo and Jeff Hughes. The family will receive friends at Usrey Funeral Home in Talladega from 6-9 this evening. There will be visitation at the church on Friday from 12-2 p.m. The family recognizes with grateful appreciation the assistance of Physicians Choice Dialysis, Regional Paramedics, Mid-South Home Health and Mrs. Janice Daniel, her personal caregiver. Usrey Brown-Service Funeral Home in charge of the arrangements.
ANNISTON — Funeral service for Sherlene Varner, 69, will be announced by Goodson Funeral Home. Mrs. Varner died Thursday at NEARMC. www.goodsonfuneralhome.com
