Obituaries

Ruby M. Johnson

April 19, 2002

Funeral for Ruby M. Johnson, 89, of Hartselle was Sunday, April 21, at 2:30 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Tom Campbell officiating.

Burial was in Johnson Chapel Cemetery.

Mrs. Johnson died Friday, April 19, 2002, at Hartselle Medical Center. A native of Morgan County, she was a member of Shady Grove Baptist Church and a homemaker. She was the widow of Cleo Johnson.

She is survived by one daughter, Betty June Austin of Hartselle.

Pallbearers were Steve Austin, Marshall Woods, John D. Kirby, Sammie Wiley, Brad Turrentine and Barry Bullard.

Rex Overacker

April 20, 2002

Rex Overacker, 77, of Hartselle died Saturday, April 20, 2002, at Cullman Regional Medical Center.

A native of Pennsylvania, he retired from General Electric in Decatur in 1988. He was a Methodist.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Joyce Overacker of Hartselle; two sons, Gary Overacker of Fairport, N.Y., and James Overacker of Troy, N.Y.; one daughter, Carolan Long of Tampa, Fla.; two sisters, Helen Gates of Estella, Pa. and Marie Shell of Paxinos, Pa.; eight grandchildren; and two great grandchildren.

Peck Funeral Home will announce further arrangements.

H. T. ‘Tuck’ Stone

April 20, 2002

Funeral for H.T. “Tuck” Stone, 54, of Hartselle was Monday, April 22, at 10 a.m. at St. Ann Catholic Church with the Revs. Joe Culotta and Michael McMahon officiating.

Burial was in Hartselle City Cemetery with Peck Funeral Home directing.

Mr. Stone died Saturday, April 20, 2002, at his residence. A native of Frankfurt, Germany, he was retired as a former refuge manager at Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge. He was the son of the late Henry Charles Stone.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley Stone of Hartselle; two sons, Russell Stone of Birmingham and Bryan Stone of Hartselle; his mother, Emmy Lafleur Stone of Kentucky; one brother, Henry “Butch” Stone of Virginia; and three sisters, Mary Rackley of South Carolina, Jennie Miller of Virginia and Susie Powell of Kentucky.

Pallbearers were Dwight Cooley, Marvin Nichols, Frank Dukes, Kim Gandy, Ronnie Montgomery and Larry Bowling.

Ruby Plemons Blankenship

April 19, 2002

Funeral for Ruby Plemons Blankenship, 83, of Hartselle was Sunday, April 21, at 1 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Randy Milligan and Glenn Smallwood officiating.

Burial was in Hartselle Memory Gardens Cemetery.

Mrs. Blankenship died Friday, April 19, 2002, at Summerford Nursing Home. A native of Morgan County, she was a homemaker and a member of First United Methodist Church in Hartselle. She was the widow of John Howard Blankenship.

She is survived by one son, Tommy Blankenship of Hartselle; one daughter, Shirley Riddle of Hartselle; two brothers, Cecil Plemons of Somerville and Lewis Plemons of Hartselle; one sister, Francis Hamilton of Decatur; five grandchildren; four great grandchildren; and one great great grandchild.

Pallbearers were Stephen Riddle, Michael Riddle, David Cross, John Tidwell, Johnny Plemons and Gary Posey.

Memorials may be made to Meal on Wheels or a church of choice.

Betty Wilhite Walker

April 17, 2002

Funeral for Betty Wilhite Walker, 72, of Falkville was Saturday, April 20, at 3 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Terry Nappier, Jim Henderson and David Hooks officiating.

Burial was in Burningtree Memorial Gardens.

Mrs. Walker died Wednesday, April 17, 2002, at Summerford Nursing Home. A native of Morgan County, she was a member of Piney Grove Christian Church and the Gideon Auxiliary. She retired from Community Bank in Falkville after 29 years of service.

She is survived by her husband, Leonard B. Walker of Falkville; three sons, James L. Walker of Decatur and Ronald L. Walker and Donald G. Walker, both of Falkville; two brothers, Paul Wilhite of Falkville and Earl Wilhite of Hartselle; and two sisters, Stella Legg and Opal NeSmith, both of Falkville.

Frederick LeWayne Caldwell

April 19, 2002

A memorial service for Frederick LeWayne Caldwell, 76, of Decatur was Monday, April 22, at 10 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in Ripley, Tenn., with the Rev. Jim Alford officiating.

A family service was held Saturday, April 20, at 2 p.m. at 3211 Mountain View Road S.E., Decatur, with the Rev. Don Wright officiating. Priceville Funeral Home handled local arrangements.

Mr. Caldwell died Friday, April 19, 2002, at The University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital. A native of Kentucky, he was a self-employed wholesale gas distributor. He was a member of Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church in Decatur and Gideons International for more than 40 years. An Air Force veteran, he received a bachelor’s degree in business at Vanderbilt University. He was the husband of the late Rachel Lee Caldwell.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Lee Caldwell of Decatur; two sons, Frederick Lockhart Caldwell of Virginia Beach, Va. and Larry Wayne Jeona of Columbus, Miss.; three daughters, Deborah Oaks Caldwell Coughlan of Ripley, Tenn., Cynthia Lee Caldwell McDonald of Virginia Beach and Teresa Jeona Duvall of Albertville; six grandchildren; and five great grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Gideons International at 609 Bank St., N.W., Decatur, AL 35601, or a charity of choice.

Gerald C. Chapman

April 21, 2002

A memorial service for Gerald C. Chapman, 90, of Somerville will be announced later by Peck Funeral Home.

He died Sunday, April 21, 2002, at his residence. A native of Cullman County, he was a retired self-employed mechanic and a member of the Decatur Seventh Day Adventist Church.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara M. Chapman of Somerville; four daughters, Dian Morrow, Marilyn Williams, Zelda Robinson and Glenda Stahlbuhk, all of Hanceville; two stepdaughters, Carol A. Weaver and Cheryl J. Hall, both of Somerville; and 11 grandchildren.

Jesse ‘Mutt’ Lawrence

April 20, 2002

Funeral for Jesse “Mutt” Lawrence, 71, of Falkville was Monday, April 22, at 11 a.m. at Peck Funeral Home with the Rev. Randall Ashley officiating.

Burial was in Lebanon Cemetery.

Mr. Lawrence died Saturday, April 20, 2002, at Carraway Methodist Hospital in Birmingham. A native of Morgan County, he was a maintenance worker for Liberty National Life Insurance Co. He attended Lebanon Baptist Church. He was the brother of the late Manuel Lawrence, Charles Lawrence and Emmaline Wilhite.

He is survived by his wife, Jo Ann Lawrence; two daughters, Sandra Lowery of Falkville and Kathy Hogan of Danville; one brother, Wesley Pat Lawrence of Falkville; and three grandchildren.

Pallbearers were Wesley Lawrence Jr., David Anders, Sam Anders, Mark Peck, Stanley Mitchell, Joe Lee Anders, Phil Wilhite and Jimmy Ray Wilhite.

Joyce Geneva Ferguson

April 19, 2002

Funeral for Joyce Geneva Ferguson, 88, of Falkville was Tuesday, April 23, at 11 a.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Charlie Brown officiating.

Burial was in Hartselle Memory Gardens.

Mrs. Ferguson died Friday, April 19, 2002, at Hartselle Medical Center. A native of Marshall County, she was a member of West End United Methodist Church in Hartselle. She was the widow of Harl Ferguson, the mother of the late Billie Joy Ferguson and sister of the late Buster Brown, John H. Brown and Jean Burdell. She was a homemaker.

She is survived two nephews, James Burdell and Mike Burdell, both of Opelika; five nieces, Carol Rainwater of Selma, Mary Emma Eligah of Branson, Mo. and Susan Hall, Shirley Herring and Jan Burdell, all of Opelika.

Pallbearers were Tim Vest, John Vest, Keith Ferguson, Jimmy John Ferguson, Jimmie Ferguson and Mike Cole.

Ruth Griffith Bennett

April 18, 2002

Funeral for Ruth Griffith Bennett, 74, of Falkville was Saturday, April 20, at 11 a.m. at Pattillo Street Church of God with the Revs. Jerry Irwin and John Elliott officiating.

Burial was in Mt. Zion Cemetery with Peck Funeral Home directing.

Mrs. Bennett died Thursday, April 18, 2002, at her residence. A native of Morgan County, she was a member and children’s Sunday school teacher at Pattillo Street Church of God for approximately 50 years and worked for the Quaker Oats Company in Decatur for about 10 years. She was the widow of Zilpher W. Bennett and sister of the late Mildred Wilborn and Catherine Hodges.

She is survived by three sons, Joel Bennett and Steve Bennett, both of Falkville and Gary Bennett of Hartselle; two daughters, Joan Robinson of Hartselle and Reba Burch of Elkmont; three brothers, Charlie Griffith, John Griffith Jr. and Ed Griffith, all of Hartselle; four sisters, Geneva Griffith, Dorothy Partain and Louise Waddell, all of Hartselle and Jessie Hill of Falkville; 10 grandchildren; and six great grandchildren.

Pallbearers were grandsons and great grandsons.

Sue Tomlin Russell

April 21, 2002

Funeral for Sue Tomlin Russell, 70, of Falkville was Wednesday, April 24, at 1 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home with the Rev. Roger Ammons officiating.

Burial was in Round Top Church Cemetery.

Mrs. Russell died Sunday, April 21, 2002, at her residence. A native of Morgan County, she was a homemaker and a member of Pine Street Baptist Church in Falkville.

She is survived by her husband, L. M. Russell of Falkville; three sons, Joe Russell, Mac Russell, both of Falkville and Tom Russell of Hartselle; 13 grandchildren; and 22 great grandchildren.

Pallbearers were Jesse Russell, Rodney Russell, Billy Russell, Bobby Russell, Paul Lawrence and Barry Wright.

Macie Beck

April 22, 2002

Funeral for Macie Beck, 79, of Eva will be Thursday, April 25 (today), at 1 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Riley Collier and Albert Dean Estes officiating.

Burial will be in the Eva Cemetery.

Mrs. Beck died Monday, April 22, 2002 at her residence. She was a member of the Daniel’s Chapel Missionary Baptist Church. She was active in the Girl Scouts in the 1960’s. She had worked as a nurse’s aide at Summerford Nursing Home in Falkville. She was the widow of Deon Beck and the mother of the late Charles Beck and Douglas Beck.

She is survived by two sons, Dale Beck of Eva and Jerry Beck of Hankamer, Texas; 10 grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be John Beck, Jason Beck, Jimmy Beck, Denis Holmes, Mike Holmes and Pat Holmes.

Mary Frances Hill

April 23, 2002

Funeral for Mary Frances Hill, 84, of Hartselle will be Thursday, April 25 (today), at 11 a.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel.

Burial will be in the Cedar Creek Cemetery.

Mrs. Hill died Tuesday, April 23, 2002 at Baptist Medical Center-Princeton in Birmingham. She had been employed by Montgomery Ward in personnel and accounting. She was a member of the Cedar Creek Freewill Baptist Church. She was the mother of the late Thomas Junior Hill and the sister of the late Ben Sellers.

She is survived by her husband, Thomas Andrew “Bud” Hill of Hartselle; two grandsons and three great grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be grandsons and nephews.

Garvis Oden

April 21, 2002

Funeral for Garvis Oden, 69, of Eva, was Tuesday, April 23, at 2 p.m. at Oden Ridge Baptist Church with the Revs. Shelby Puckett and Larry Stallings officiating.

Burial was in the adjoining cemetery with Peck Funeral Home directing.

Mr. Oden died Sunday, April 21, 2002, at Decatur General Hospital. He was a native of Morgan County.

He is survived by one sister, Glenda Ford of Eva.

Buddy Johnson

April 23, 2002

Funeral for Buddy Johnson, 43, of Hartselle will be Friday, April 26, at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Dewitt Crowe officiating.

Burial will be in the New Center Cemetery.

Mr. Johnson died Tuesday, April 23, 2002, at his residence. A native of Morgan County, he was an auto painter and body repairman at Johnson Body Shop. He was a member of the New Center Baptist Church. He was the son of the late Paul Edward Johnson.

He is survived by one son, Buddy Wayne Johnson of Muscle Shoals; his mother, Jean Blankenship Johnson of Hartselle; three brothers, Jack Edward “Jacky” Johnson and Paul David Johnson, both of Hartselle and Timothy Dale Johnson of Somerville; two sisters, Carla Johnson Ransom and Connie Johnson Hardin, both of Hartselle; and two grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Bobby Bean, Paul Wayne Tapscott, Stanley Walls, Tony Ransom, Kenny Posey, Billy Phillips, Marty Walls and Mickey Allen.

Frances M. Shannon

April 23, 2002

Memorial services for Frances M. Shannon, 95, of Decatur will be Thursday, April 25 (today), at 7 p.m. at Priceville Funeral Home Chapel.

Burial will be in Brookside Cemetery in Fairgrove, Mich.

Mrs. Shannon died Tuesday, April 23, 2002 at Falkville Healthcare Center. A native of Minnesota, she was a homemaker. She was a life member of the Eastern Stars and served in many posts including matron of honor in Michigan. She spent many years as a 4-H Club leader. She was the widow of Harten Shannon and the mother of the late Dean Shannon and James Shannon. She was the grandmother of the late Lee Anne Durling and Stephen Shannon.

She is survived by one son, Herb Shannon of Lady Lake, Fla.; one daughter, Mary Achenbach of Decatur; one brother, Jack Gilbert of Akron, Ohio; two sisters, Marie Ramsden of Fairgrove, Mich. and Marium Deming of Caro, Mich.; three grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association.