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Hartselle Enquirer

Obituaries Sept. 23-30

Charles Melvin Black

Hartselle

Funeral service for Charles Melvin Black, 76, was Sept. 25 at 10 a.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Myron Mooney and Bro. Charles Shaddix officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. 

Burial was in Hartselle Memory Gardens. 

Mr. Black died Sept. 21. He was born Oct. 1, 1942, in Morgan County to Melvin Ethridge Black and Vera Nell Vice Black, who preceded him in death.

He was the owner and operator of Charles Black Enterprises, a carpet cleaning business. Charles loved music and loved the jitterbug; he played the piano and loved nice cars with great sound systems. His family was sometimes invited to sit in his car and listen to music with him. 

He was a showman and liked to entertain everyone; he was always the life of the party

and brought a smile to every room he entered. 

He was the greatest of all practical jokers.

Charles knew something about anything and everything, could fix anything and was the person to call when anybody was in need. He would be there to provide or arrange whatever was needed. He never gave up on finding a solution for any problem. 

Never meeting a stranger, he was a friend to all and was an accomplished businessman. 

Most of all, Charles was a family man. He was the family “rock” and his grandchildren’s “Hero,” and he always made sure they were all taken care of. His love for his family was never-ending.

Survivors include four daughters, Bibi Black Pride (Harvey), Gigi Hornilla (Victor), Darla Black and Tia Black; three sisters, Pat Moore (Jimmy), Janet Owens (Bill) and Janice Moon (Pete); eight grandchildren, Zachary, Benjamin, Noah, Samuel, Grace, Joshua, Nathaniel and Joy; and mother of his children, Wanda Black.

His grandsons served as pallbearers.

 

Dean Folds Ward

Hartselle

Mrs. Dean Folds Ward, 65, passed away Sept. 23 at Decatur Morgan Hospital. 

She was born Dec. 28, 1953, in Cullman County to Bill Folds and Lovie Adamson Folds. She was employed by Lynn Layton Chevrolet on their secretarial staff, prior to her retirement. She was preceded in death by her parents.

A memorial service might be held at a later date.

Survivors include her husband, Rickey Ward; two daughters, Pamela Morris (Michael) and Kim Lee; one sister, Shirley Jones; four grandchildren, Chance Morris (Tia), Serenity Morris, Hunter Lee (Drea) and Piper Lee; and two great-grandchildren, Mathias Morris and Lincoln Lee.

 

Harold Richard Plemons

Hartselle

Funeral service for Harold R. Plemons, 85, was Sept. 28 at 2 p.m. at New Center Baptist Church with Bro. Ben Bates officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in New Center Cemetery.

Mr. Plemons died Sept. 24 at River City Center. He was born Jan. 21, 1934, in Morgan County to Virgil Plemons and Azubah Speegle Plemons.

He was employed by National Steel as a millwright prior to his retirement. He was an avid fisherman and was a man of quiet strength. He was a member of New Center Baptist Church.

Preceding him in death were his parents; two daughters, Gayle James and Renee Kowalski; and four brothers, Hugh, Glen, Doyle and Frankie Plemons. 

Survivors include his wife, Karen Plemons, Hartselle; three sons, Harold W. Plemons (Diana), Yuma, Ark., Tim Plemons (Amy), Glen Carbon, Ill., and Scott Schmitt (Elena), Hahira, Ga.; one daughter, Tracy Hardison, Ocala, Fla.; one brother, Horace Plemons (Sarah), Hartselle; one sister, Faye Ballentine (Dennis), Decatur; nine grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers were Mike Plemons, Mark Plemons, Dennis Ballentine, Pat Halbrooks, Jimmie Halbrooks and Tommy Adcock. 

 

Wade M. Skinner

Danville

Funeral service for Wade M. Skinner, 65, was Sept. 28 at 10 a.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Josh Sparkman officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in Johnson Chapel Cemetery. 

Mr. Skinner died Sept. 25 at UAB Hospital, Birmingham. He was born Oct. 10, 1953, in Morgan County to Lester Roosevelt Skinner and Willie Sue Shelton Skinner. 

He was the owner and operator of Skinner Machine Shop for 44 years. He was an avid race car driver and a member of the No Fences Cowboy Church. 

His parents preceded him in death.

Survivors include his wife, Jean Skinner; two sons, Craig Skinner and Jason Skinner; one brother, Mark Skinner (Teresa); and one sister, Anita Skinner (James Borden).

Pallbearers were Allen Guyse, Frank Campbell, Stephen Camper, Gary Long, Melvin Lawrimore and Jeff Melson. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the No Fences Cowboy Church, the Foundation for Diabetes Research or a charity of your choice. 

 

Martha Ann Blackwell

Falkville

Funeral service for Martha Ann Blackwell, 73, was Sept. 29 at 1:30 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Ralph Henderson officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in Bell Springs Cemetery. 

Ms. Blackwell died Sept. 20. She was born July 26, 1946, in Jefferson County to Louis E. Blackwell and Dorothy Ann Green Blackwell. She was a homemaker and a loving mother and grandmother. She was preceded in death by her father.  

Survivors include three sons, William Pope (Kristi), Thomas Pope Jr. and Terry Pope; two daughters, Virginia Pope and Phenicia Akin (Steve); mother, Dorothy Blackwell; brother, Junior Blackwell; one sister, Linda Martin; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.


Bobbie Smith Wesson
Decatur
Bobbie Smith Wesson died peacefully at UAB Hospital Sept. 26, surrounded by her family. She was the daughter and only child of Alton and Louise Terrell Smith, who predeceased her.
Bobbie was born Aug. 10, 1952, in Lincoln County, Tenn. She grew up in Decatur and graduated from Austin High School in 1970, and she continued her education at Auburn University, earning her Bachelor of Science and then her master’s degree in early childhood education.
She began her teaching career in Autaugaville, then Flint and Eva before coming to Crestline Elementary in 1983. She loved being a kindergarten teacher and was a much beloved teacher and co-worker there.
She retired in 2003 following a massive stroke in December 2002. Though retired, she kept up with her former students throughout the years, following their progress and achievements as they grew to adulthood.
Bobbie believed in celebration, color, a can-do attitude and fun. Her faith in the Lord Jesus informed her lifestyle, work ethic and influence. She was generous and exuberant. If one gift was nice, three might be better! If one Christmas tree could create a festive mood, three were clearly better – then a fourth, which was covered in Auburn ornaments.
Given the pain and paralysis she experienced, she could have become withdrawn, even embittered, but that was not the way she chose to go. She extended herself to serve, love and inspire her husband of more than 38 years, Robert Edward “Bob” Wesson; her son, Clay Edward Wesson of McMinnville, Oregon; and her daughter, Elizabeth Anne Wesson Limbaugh and her husband Donald Patrick Limbaugh of Birmingham.
The birth of precious granddaughter, Charlize Joan Limbaugh, in January of this year was a most wonderful event in her life. She and Bob were thrilled to be grandparents and spent last weekend having Charlize up to Hartselle for a visit.
In addition to her many cousins and a host of wonderful friends, she leaves behind her mother-in-law, Gwendolyn Payne Wesson, brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Doug and Jane Wesson Turney, their children and grandchildren.
Bobbie will be sorely missed here but awaits our arrival in Heaven with both arms thrown wide, tears of joy alone and a skip in her step as she offers to show us every wonderful and beautiful expression of God’s Amazing Grace.
Funeral was held Sept. 30 at 3p.m. at First Baptist Church of Hartselle with the Rev. Ron Wilson and the Rev. Clayton Speed officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing.
Pallbearers were Steve Mckee, Barry Pearson, Dan Sparkman, Tom Jones, Tony Riddlehoover, Butch Waldrop and Mike Alexander.

Nora Downs McGee
Decatur

Funeral service for Nora Downs McGee, 100, was Sept. 30 at 1:30 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Walter Blackman officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in Hartselle City Cemetery. 

Mrs. McGee died Sept. 26 at Diversicare Nursing Home in Oneonta. 

She was born Oct. 1, 1918, in Hodges to James Allen Jackson Downs and Mary Frances Bobo. She was a homemaker and a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She was a member of East Highland Baptist Church. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, William Gary McGee, her parents and a daughter, Nancy Krutchen.

Survivors include one son, William Allen McGee (Betty); two grandchildren, Connie Barron (Scott Brown) and Wayne Morgan; and three great-grandchildren, Adam Barron, Max Krutchen and Kevin Krutchen.

 

Levonne “Bonnie” Kirby

Falkville

Funeral service for Levonne “Bonnie” Kirby, 78, will be Oct. 2 at 10 a.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial will be in Johnson Chapel Cemetery. 

Mrs. Kirby died Sept. 29 at Decatur Morgan Hospital.

She was born March 24, 1941, in Michigan to Christian Richard Frazier and Virginia Mae Phillips Frazier. She was a homemaker and a loving, devoted wife, mother and grandmother. 

She was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Joe Kirby, and her parents.

Survivors include five daughters, Tresa Curnel, Shela Eddy, Connie Pike (husband, J.L.),

Shelby Kuehner (husband Ray) and Penny Coutlee (husband Sean); 10 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers are Chris Hattery, Daniel Vickers, Jeff Pike, Charles Speegle, Brian Sims, Jamie Pike and Sean Coutlee. Honorary pallbearers are grandsons and great-grandsons. 

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