Betty Jean Strickland Wood 

Falkville 

A graveside funeral service and interment for Betty Jean Strickland Wood, 86, were held June 3 at 3 p.m. at Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Eva, with Bro. Terry Nappier officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing.  

Mrs. Wood died June 2 at her residence. She was born March 4, 1934, in Morgan County to Rufus Curtis Strickland and Mamie Elsie Dunlop Strickland. She was a homemaker for her family and a wonderful
mother and grandmother. 

Preceding her in death were her husband, William Gordon Wood; her parents; and two brothers, Curtis Jr. Strickland (his wife, Maryann) and Bobby Strickland. 

Survivors include three sons, Charles Norman Wood, Thomas Fred Wood and Jerry Wayne Wood (Dennett); one sister-in-law, Sharon Strickland; two grandchildren, Gayle Holcombe (James) and LaTayne Moncada (Chris); and four great–grandchildren, Betty Grace, Henry, Arthur and Wyatt. 

Pallbearers were family and friends. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the Gideon Bible Ministry or to Comfort Care Hospice. 

Sue Edmondson 

Falkville 

Funeral service for Sue Edmondson, 84, was held June 5 at noon at Mt. Zion Baptist Church with the Rev. Ronnie Bullard, Dr. Edwin Hayes and Dr. Jerome Ward officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was held in Mount Zion Cemetery.  

Mrs. Edmondson died June 2 at Huntsville Hospital. She was born July 3, 1935, in Cullman County to Dave Blankenship and Rita Gibson Blankenship. She was a production worker for Prestolite prior to her
retirement.  

She was a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother.  

She loved to fish and tend her flowers. To honor her love of fishing and her flowers and all things bright and beautiful, the family requested everyone dress comfortably in their fishing shirts or their bright, beautiful summer colors for the service, which was held outside under the church pavilion.
She was preceded in death by a brother, J.C. Blankenship; four sisters, Darvis Arnett, Mae Haynie, Marie Donaldson and Vernell Woods; and her parents. 

Survivors include her husband, Arthur Harold “Doc” Edmondson; a son, David Edmondson (Michelle); two daughters, Sue Ellen Norton (Steve) and Bonnie Edmondson; one brother, Vic Hopkins; three grandchildren; and five great–grandchildren. 

Pallbearers were Nickolas Norton, Nathan Hill, Patrick Gilstrap, Jim Bowers, Jackie Russell and Myron Tapscott. Honorary pallbearers were Jane Hill, Loretta Gilstrap, R.E. Tapscott, John Sivley, Marlon Tapscott, Rev. Ronnie Bullard and Marcy Bullard. 

Janice Lavonne Watson Slocum 

Hartselle 

Mrs. Janice Slocum, 67, passed away May 18 at her residence.  

She was born March 1, 1953, in Michigan to Hugh Kinnaird Watson Jr. and Jessie Ruth Dishman Watson.
She was a Baptist in her faith and was employed by Central Park Baptist Church Childcare. She dearly loved and was loved by her co-workers and the babies she cared for at work. She was a stay-at-home wife and mom until her daughters were ages 10 and 18, when she then started working as a nanny. 

She passed away peacefully after a 20-month battle against a rare form of cancer called leiomyosarcoma. 

She enjoyed reading on her Kindle, going to arts and crafts shows, getting ideas and making them from Pinterest, doing macramé, sewing outfits for her grandbabies, bike riding, decorating, party planning, making sweet memories, camping and taking mini vacations to Chattanooga and Gatlinburg. She enjoyed spending time cross-stitching and sewing, doing word searches and watching Wheel of Fortune. 

She mentioned in January 2018 that it was her desire to take her grandbabies, who she dearly loved, to Disney in April 2018 for their second and fourth birthdays. She was able to do this. Five months after her Disney trip, she was diagnosed with cancer. She said countless times how thankful she was that God allowed her the ability to take her sweet grandbabies to Disney. 

She was so moved and so thankful for her last birthday, which was a special surprise party for her in a quaint little cabin on the mountain at Monte Sano State Park. 

She was a very humble, kind, nurturing, selfless and loving person. She would always say she enjoyed the hunt, trying to find decorations for any special event, whether it was birthday parties, special events, etc. 

She was preceded in death by her parents and her grandparents, Hugh Kinnaird Watson Sr.(Robina Nee Martin) and James Robert Dishman (Anna Margaret Hanson). 

Survivors include her husband, Gordon Slocum; two daughters, Stacey Lynn Slocum and Shannon Renee Slocum Lewis (Will); two brothers, Hugh Watson III (Elizabeth) and Doug Watson (Cindy); and two grandchildren, William Calton “Cal” Lewis IV and Railey Morgan Lewis. 

A memorial service was held June 6 at 2 p.m. in the Peck Funeral Home Chapel. Interment of her ashes was held with her mother and father in Crestwood Memorial Cemetery in Gadsden. 

James “Horace” McAbee 

Hartselle 

Mr. James “Horace” McAbee, 76, died June 4 at his residence.  

He was born March 11, 1944, in Morgan County to Samuel D. McAbee and Mary Magdalen Jenkins McAbee. He was employed by Free State Trucking Company as an over-the-road truck driver prior to retirement. He was a wonderful father, brother and grandfather. He was saved and had all things right with God.  

He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Francis Johnson and Nina Wallace.  

Survivors include one daughter, Tara McAbee, Hartselle; one son, Rodney McAbee (Pam), Hartselle; three brothers, Joe Marion McAbee (Linda Carolyn), Hartselle, Dewayne McAbee (Elene), Moulton, and
John Allen McAbee (Valarie), Hartselle; four grandchildren; and two great–grandchildren. 

A memorial service will be held at a later date by his family. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the American Cancer Society or to the Lupus Foundation in his memory. 

Milton A. Haynes 

Hartselle 

Funeral service for Milton A. Haynes, 90, was held June 7 at 1 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Bobby Ray Halbrooks and Bro. Slade Hogan officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was held in Hartselle City Cemetery.  

Mr. Haynes died June 4 at Decatur Morgan Hospital. He was born July 10, 1929, in Morgan County to John Sherman Haynes and Olena Blevins Haynes. He was the owner-operator of Milton Haynes Sewer service and was also a truck driver for Gordon Transport prior to his retirement. 

He was a veteran of the United States Army and was stationed in the Panama Canal zone during his service in the cavalry division. He was a wonderful husband and father, a good friend to many and a kind–hearted man.  

He was a member of the Falkville First United Methodist Church. 

Survivors include his wife, Helen Haynes; one son, Don Haynes (Sherri); one daughter, Teresa Haynes; and a sister-in-law, Barbara Ann Haynes. 

Pallbearers were his nephews. 

Tommy Teague 

Hartselle 

A graveside memorial service and interment for Tommy Teague, 83, were held June 8 at 2 p.m. in Oak Ridge Cemetery with Bro. Sammy Evans officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing.  

Mr. Teague died June 4 at his residence. He was born Oct. 13, 1936, in Florida to Edward Teague and Lucille Kelso Teague. He was an instructor for Calhoun Community College prior to his retirement.  

He was preceded in death by his son, Thomas Ollie Teague Jr. (Dusty); his parents; four brothers; and one sister.  

His family would like to express heartfelt gratitude to Hospice of the Valley, especially Jennifer, Amanda, Gary and Megan, for their loving care of Mr. Teague.  

Survivors include his wife, Margaret Taylor Teague; one daughter, Lynne Braswell; one brother, Lemmond Johns; two grandchildren, Caitlin Wiggins and Nick Braswell; and five great-grandchildren, Taylor Braswell, Holden Braswell, Elijah Wiggins, Nora Wiggins and Lucy Wiggins. 

James Louis Lacy 

Hartselle 

Graveside service and interment for James Louis Lacy, 83, were held June 7 at 4 p.m. at Johnson Chapel Cemetery with Reggie Corum officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing.  

Mr. Lacy died June 4 at his residence. He was born May 20, 1937, in Winston County to Chester Louis Lacy and Ollie Gray Ward Lacy. He was the best husband and daddy ever. He would do anything for anyone, and there was never an unkind word said about him.  

Mr. Lacy was a heavy equipment operator with Shelby Contracting Company and was a dairy farmer for Gene Eason Dairy Farm.  

He was preceded in death by his parents.  

Survivors include his wife, Merle Franks Lacy; three sons, Lynn Lacy, Johnny Lacy (Sue) and David Lacy (Stacy); two daughters, Vicki Lacy Stutts (Steve) and Jennifer Lacy Salverson (Alan); three brothers, Frankie Ward, Ronald Ward and Roger Ward; four sisters, Betty Lacy Jones, Sarah Ward Robins, Cathy Ward Chance and Ann Lacy; 12 grandchildren; and five great–grandchildren. 

His grandsons served as pallbearers: Josh Lacy, Steven Stutts, Jonathon Lacy, Joseph Lacy, Ashley Scott and Andy Salverson. The family has requested no flowers. 

Mark Josiah Chatham 

Huntsville 

Mark Josiah Chatham passed away peacefully at his home June 4 after a brief but fearless battle with a rare brain cancer.  

He loved life and lived it to the fullest, even after receiving this devastating diagnosis. In the month just prior to his passing, Mark celebrated his 61st birthday and his 32nd wedding anniversary.  

He was born in Jackson, Miss., May 5, 1959, the youngest of seven children, to Kathleen McLaughlin Chatham and Grif B. Chatham. 

Mark earned his engineering degree from UAH in 1984. He was co-founder of EGS Corporation in Huntsville and was instrumental in its growth and success. There Mark co-owned a patent for a highly innovative electrical connection product line, which is still used in nuclear power plants around the world. While at EGS, he also served as a valued consultant to Ontario Power Generation, in support of the restart of the Canadian nuclear power program.  

He retired in 2016 as the general manager of the QualTech NP and Curtiss-Wright Nuclear Canada business units of Curtiss-Wright Nuclear. 

Mark was pre-deceased by his parents; his brother, Bert Chatham; and two sisters, Kathy Chatham and Betty Hammond.  

He is survived by his wife, Polly Howell Chatham.  

Also surviving are two sisters, Angela Norris and her husband James and Imelda Fisher; one brother, Frank Chatham; two nephews, Josh Fisher and Ethan Howell; one niece, Catherine Mullalond; and his brothers-in-law, Pat Howell and Don Hammond. 

The family received friends June 8 at 6 p.m. at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 625 Airport Road, Huntsville. Funeral mass was held June 9 at 1 p.m. at Holy Spirit, followed by inurnment at the Columbarium at Annunciation of the Lord Catholic Church, 3910 Spring Ave., Decatur. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Holy Spirit Catholic Church or Hospice of the Valley, 240 Johnston St. SE, Decatur, AL 35601. 

In Mark’s memory, please do as he did and share a laugh with someone every day. 

Zachary James Sandifer 

Decatur 

Funeral service for Zachary James Sandifer, 30, of Decatur, was held June 9 at 3 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home with Tom Watson officiating. Burial was held at Shoal Creek Cemetery.  

Mr. Sandifer died June 4. He was born July 31, 1989, in Mobile County to Arvard James “Buddy” Sandifer and Debra Leigh Wright Sandifer. He was employed as a brake press operator with Claborn Manufacturing.  

Mr. Sandifer was preceded in death by his grandmother, Edna Yvonne Wright; cousin, Caroline Mercer Whitney; great-grandmother, Clara Pierce; and grandfather, Howard Lynn Creel. 

Survivors include his fiancée, Hunner Creel; two sons, Elijah James Sandifer and Elliott Wayne Sandifer; mother, Debbie Sandifer; father, Buddy Sandifer; sister, Courtney Leigh White (Matthew John White); grandfather, Wilburn Eugene Wright; aunts, Linda Yvonne Wright and Robin Wright Whitney (Wade); cousin, Blakeley Wright Whitney; and grandparents, Wayne and Willene Creel.  

Pallbearers were Justin Ryan, Drew Reeves, Jaremie Fairbanks, Rendell Drummond, Davis Dodd, Nick Yula, Scottie Wilkins and Jason Iyod. Honorary pallbearers were Brian Thomas, Calvin Sinny, Kevin Wallace and James Keeton. 

Matthew Blake Shadden 

Marina Del Ray, California 

Graveside service and interment for Matthew Blake Shadden, 40, of Marina Del Ray, California, were held June 8 at 2 p.m. at New Friendship Cemetery in Somerville with Bro. Earl Holt officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing.  

Mr. Shadden died May 26 in Marina Del Rey, California. He was born March 1, 1980, in Morgan County to James Larry Shadden and Patricia Moses Shadden. Mr. Shadden was employed as a stuntman.  

He was preceded in death by his grandparents.  

Survivors Include his parents, Patricia and Larry Shadden; and one brother, Brandlee Shadden (Katina). 

Pallbearers were family and friends. 

Pamela Loreen Patek 

Decatur 

Funeral service for Pamela Loreen Patek, 55, of Decatur will be held June 13 at 11 a.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Charles Vaughn and the Rev. Phillip Farris officiating. Burial will be in Friendship Methodist Cemetery in Cullman County. Peck Funeral Home is directing.  

She was born Jan. 14, 1965, in Harvey, Ill., to Robert Hayes Sr. and Helen Milligan Hayes. She passed away June 6 at Huntsville Hospital.  

Pamela was preceded in death by her father and brother, Robert Hayes Jr. Survivors include her husband, Eugene Patek; two sons, Paul Westbrook and David Westbrook; mother and stepfather, Helen (Jerry) Gatlin; and brother, Richard Hayes.