Obituaries – 01/01/20
Bobbie Dueise Holland
Danville
A memorial service for Bobbie Dueise Holland, 84, was held Dec. 21 at 11 a.m. at Shady Grove Baptist Church with the Rev. Tom Campbell officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing.
Mrs. Holland died Dec. 19 at Summerford Nursing Home. She was born Sept. 3, 1935, in Morgan County to W.O. and Ida Legg Burgess. She was employed by Copeland Corporation on the assembly line, prior to her retirement.
Preceding her in death were her husband, Alvin Holland Sr.; her parents; and three beloved sons, Joseph, David and Timothy Holland.
Survivors include three daughters, Sue Mitchell (Jessie), Marvelle Moore (Michael) and Nancy Eddy (Dewayne); three sons, Alvin Holland Jr., John Holland (Amanda) and Jeremy Holland; and 18 grandchildren.
Ruth Russell Murphy
Cotaco
Ruth Russell Murphy was born in Cotaco Nov. 26, 1936, to Novel Augusta Russell Wright and Hammond Christopher Russell. She married the love of her life, William Lonnie Murphy, and remained devoted to him for 66 years.
Through their lives they traveled through his service in the Air Force to Texas, Indiana, England and Florida. They happily returned to Alabama after retirement, where she relished reuniting with her siblings, with whom she enjoyed a very close relationship.
After returning to Alabama, she and W.L. bought a country grocery store, Murphy Grocery, which they ran together for 22 years. She loved her customers and was known especially for making “piled high” sandwiches. Her customers quickly became her lifelong friends.
After selling their grocery store, Ruth became devoted to helping the elderly and those who needed meals, help with doctor’s appointments or help in their homes. Above it all, she was devoted to her six grandchildren. She loved preparing meals for them, allowing them to spend the night, attending their school and sporting events and “sneaking” them money occasionally during their college years.
Most would agree that no one came to her home hungry without leaving with at least an ice cream sandwich; she was especially service minded in that way.
Ruth was a member of Valhermosa Christian Church. She is survived by her husband, William Lonnie Murphy; three children, Pamela Kennedy (Joe), Dena Stephenson (George) and Michael Murphy (Julie); six grandchildren, Evin Schneider (Ryan), Meeda Bosse (Jonathan), Murphy Kennedy, William Stephenson, Johnston Murphy and Russell Murphy; and her siblings, Mary Yeager, Hilda Borie, James Russell, Gladys Oakes and Naomi Gindhart.
She was preceded in death by her parents and two siblings, Buddy Russell and Crucy Russell.
The family wishes to thank Hospice of the Valley and Alabama Home Care Specialists for their loving care. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Hospice of the Valley or Meals on Wheels.
Graveside services were Dec. 23 at Valhermosa Christian Church at 3:30 p.m. at Valhermosa Cemetery with the Rev. Dr. Ron Wilson officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Pallbearers were her grandsons Will Stephenson Johnston and Russell Murphy as well as her grandsons–in-law, Jonathan Bosse and Ryan Schneider and Kane Moore.
Virgil Wayne Parker
Decatur
Memorial service for Virgil Wayne Parker, 72, of Decatur was Dec. 23 at 7 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Gary Dobbs officiating and Peck Funeral Home Directing.
Mr. Parker was born June 3, 1947, in Morgan County to Virgil I. Parker and Marvalene Mitchell Parker. He passed away Dec. 21 at his residence.
He served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He retired from General Motors Delphi after 22 years.
Virgil is preceded in death by his parents; wife Shirley Parker; two daughters, Tammy Parker and Amy Cole; and half-sister Virgie Mae Parker.
Survivors include his son, Daniel B. Parker; two brothers, Bobbie (Darlene) Parker and Billy Parker; half-brother, Bobby Moore; sister, Brenda (James) Patterson; half-sister, Ruthie (Joe) Pirdle; and five grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Southern Care Hospice.
Lee Ottice Webster
Madison
Funeral service for Lee Ottice Webster, 87, was Dec. 28 at 11 a.m. at Mt Zion Baptist Church in Monrovia with the Rev. Kevin Moore officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in Center Springs Cemetery.
Mr. Webster died Dec. 20 at Hospice Family Care. He was born Oct. 2, 1932, in Morgan County to Robert Lee Webster and Sarah Verdie McGee Webster. He was born during the Depression years and served with the United States Army during the Korean War. He was a physicist and worked with the Army and Werner Von Braun prior to his retirement. He loved to travel. He was a member of the Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Monrovia.
Preceding him in death were his parents; a son, Mark Webster; and a brother, Roland Webster.
Survivors include his wife, Mary “Jenny” Webster; two sons, Eric L. Webster (Mollie) and Alex J. Webster (Katherine); a sister, Yvonne Monk; grandchildren, Cameron, Catherine, McKenzie, Mina and Samuel; and great-grandchildren Emmett, Sophia, Zane, Wesley and Jeremiah Jr.
Pallbearers were Jim McArthur, Rocky Collins, Keith Monk and Cameron.
Edna Nell Thompson
Hartselle
Mrs. Edna Nell Thompson, 86, died Dec. 22 at Falkville Health Care Center. She was born Oct. 22, 1933, in Morgan County to Irous C. Kyle and Nolia Beatrice Kyle. She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and great–grandmother. She served as an organist and pianist for East Highland Baptist Church in the 1980s and ’90s, where she was a member for many years.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ray Thompson; her parents, Irous and Nolia Kyle; two sons, Alan and Tommy Thompson; two sisters, Jessie Thompson and Dorothy Thompson Gargis; and a granddaughter, Greta Thompson.
Survivors include one daughter, Valerie Stephenson (Rick); one son, Raymond Thompson (Maria); one grandson, Kyle Thompson; three granddaughters, Kasmine Chambers (Jim), Irica Edwards (Steven) and Miranda Thompson; three great-granddaughters, Elysa Chambers, Ileana Chambers and McKenna Wheeler; and three great-grandsons, Thomas Edwards, Christian Edwards and Dylan Edwards.
A private family memorial service will be held in the near future.
In lieu of flowers the family requests a memorial donation be made to your favorite charity.