Billy Joe Cox Sr. 

Danville 

A memorial service for Billy Joe Cox Sr., 57, was held July 22 at 6 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with John Ryan officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. 

Mr. Cox died July 19 at his residence. He was born Jan. 28, 1963, in Jefferson County to Charles Randolph Cox Sr. and Essie Faye Humphrey Cox. He was employed as a construction worker prior to his
passing.  

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Charles Randolph Cox Jr.; and a sister, Ruby Ann Jones. 

Survivors include one son, Billy Joe Cox (Angelia); two daughters, Candace Boes (Burse) and
  Shelley Heath; one brother, Bobby Gene Cox (Inez); two sisters, Sheila Fay Porter and Rita Ann Hughes (Bobby); eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. 

James Richard Smith 

Somerville 

Funeral service for James Richard Smith, 88, was July 24 at 11 a.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Michael Gunter officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in Long Acre Cemetery in
Jackson County.  

Mr. Smith died July 20 at Athens Convalescent Center. He was born Feb. 21, 1932, in Morgan County to Benjamin Franklin Smith and Lexie Margaret Parker Smith. He was a self-employed farmer for many years. 

He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Betty Jean Smith. 

Survivors include one sister, Lexie Knight, and two nephews, Dalton James Knight and Jonathan Andrew Knight. 

Samuel Edward Lewis Sr. 

Moulton 

Funeral service for Samuel Edward Lewis Sr., 76, was July 27 at 1 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in Roselawn Cemetery.  

Mr. Lewis died July 23 at his residence. He was born Oct. 3, 1943, in Morgan County to George and Vera Lewis. He was employed by Dunlop Tire and Rubber Company, building tires, prior to his
retirement.  

Preceding him in death were his wife, Shirley Faye Lewis; his parents; a son, Steven Michael Lewis; and a granddaughter, Jessica Sharrie Lewis. 

Survivors include one son, Samuel Lewis Jr. (Johnnie); one daughter, Sharri Burnside (Paul); six grandchildren, Samantha Reid, Candice Lewis, Zachary Lewis, Brittany Lewis, Joshua Burnside and Jacob Burnside; and 13 great-grandchildren. 

Donnie Lott 

Somerville 

A graveside service and interment for Donnie Lott, 64, will be held Aug. 1 at 2 p.m. at Rock Creek Baptist Church Cemetery with the Rev. Charles Crawford officiating. No visitation is scheduled. Peck Funeral Home is assisting the family. 

Mr. Lott died July 21 at his residence. He was born Nov. 1, 1955, in Morgan County to Mallie Alton Lott and Cevilla Winsett Lott. He was employed by Huntsville Hospital, working in the janitorial department, until his retirement.  

He was preceded in death by his parents and a nephew, Randy Lott. 

Survivors include two sons, Shawn Lott (Marie) and Daniel Lott (Renea); two brothers, Danny Lott and
  Terry Lott; and eight grandchildren. 

Brenda S. Champion 

Hartselle 

Funeral service for Brenda S. Champion, 62, of Hartselle, was July 27 at 3 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home with the Rev. Roger Aldridge officiating. Burial was at Center Springs Cemetery.  

Mrs. Champion died July 24 at her residence. She was born Oct. 8, 1957, in Limestone County to Andrew Suggs and Birchie Reed Suggs.  

Brenda was a very kind woman. She always had a smile on her face and a heart of gold. She worked hard for 23 years in laundry at Falkville Healthcare. She loved just about everyone she met.  

Mrs. Champion was preceded in death by her parents and a son, Evlis Glenn Champion. 

Survivors include her husband, W.C. Champion; two sons, Jeff Champion (Amanda) and Jasper Champion (Tabitha); three brothers, Jerry Suggs, Ed Suggs and Felton Suggs; one sister, Judy Ashley; and three grandchildren. 

Pallbearers were Greg Bell, Jeff Steeples, Bobby Champion, Kevin Champion, Brandon Carroll and David Champion. 

James William Wilhite 

Falkville 

Funeral service for James William Wilhite, 87, of Falkville, was July 28 at 1 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home. Burial was at the Wilhite Family Cemetery.  

Mr. Wilhite died July 25 at Cullman Regional Medical Center. He was born Oct. 26, 1932, in Morgan County to James Spurgeon Wilhite and Rosa Bell Higdon Wilhite.  

Mr. Wilhite retired from Americold Co. in Cullman County. He was a veteran of the United States Air Force.  

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Venetia Wilhite Calvert; his parents; and a sister, Georgia Barber. 

Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Margie Nell Wilhite; two sons, Daniel Kevin Wilhite (Leigh Ann) and Kenneth James Wilhite; two grandsons raised as sons, James Garren Wilhite (Dana) and Anthony Shane Wilhite; four grandchildren, Daniel Thomas Wilhite (Heather), Blake William Wilhite, James Corey Wilhite and Brandon Riley Wilhite; seven great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Eugene Wilhite and Gary Wilhite (Gretta). 

Pallbearers were family and friends. 

Raymond Norton 

Falkville 

A graveside funeral service and interment for Raymond Norton, 86, were held July 28 at 10 a.m. at Elmwood Cemetery in Town Creek with the Rev. Marty Mosley officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. 

Mr. Norton died July 25 at Falkville Health Care Center.
He was born Feb. 13, 1934, in Colbert County to Leonard Norton and Bertha Agee Norton. He was employed by the Lawrence County Road Department doing road work and maintenance prior to retirement.  

He was preceded in death by his wife, Louise Davis Norton; his parents; a brother, Franklin
“Red” Norton; and two sisters, Doris Norton and Louise Norton. 

Survivors include son Steven Norton (Sue); two stepsons, Roger Smith and Buddy Smith; three stepdaughters, Carolyn Agee Copeland, Nell Smith and Sue Smith Weckwert; one brother, Willard Norton (Dorothy); two sisters, Hazel Chambers and Stella Norton; one grandchild, Nickolas Norton; one step-grandson, Russell Patterson (Amanda); one step-granddaughter, Beth Letson; and five great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers were family and friends. 

Ivydene Carol Walls 

Hartselle 

July 24 Dene Walls passed from this life at Decatur Morgan Hospital to her eternal reward. She was 80 years old. 

Because of the coronavirus outbreak and the safety of family members and friends, a private family funeral was held with private graveside service following. Bro. Phillip Hines officiated the private service. 

She was born Sept. 20, 1939, in Hartselle to the late E. E. “Fonnie” Simpson and the late Olive Compton Simpson. She graduated from Morgan County High School in 1957 and married her husband of 63 years the following day. 

Affectionately called Nanny by her grandchildren and great–grandchildren, she was a member of the Hartselle Church of Christ for more than 65 years.  

She was an avid genealogist and spent more than 40 years researching her family roots in libraries, courthouses and archives. She made numerous trips to most north Alabama counties and has researched in Mississippi, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Texas and the DAR Library, Library of Congress and the National Archives in Washington. Her first genealogical venture was researching and co-authoring two volumes of Morgan County Cemeteries. She has published six family history books on different branches of her family. Her ancestors were some of the earliest settlers of Morgan County,
having settled here before statehood. Her primary focus for many years was the Morgan County Genealogical Society, which she was instrumental in forming. She was a charter member and has served in all offices. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Willard Simpson and Damon Simpson; and a grandson, Zachary Cole Walls.  

Mrs. Walls leaves to cherish her memory her beloved husband, Clarence J. Walls, of Hartselle; one son, David Scott Walls and wife Loretta; one daughter, Gayla Carol Walls Castell and husband Kevin; five grandchildren, Caleb Adam Castell and wife Brittnie, Danielle Brooke Walls White and husband Justin, Jessica Lane Perkins Puckett and husband Jarred, Chase Garrett Castell and Nicholas Kyle Walls; and eight great-grandchildren, Jaxon Carter White, Hatleigh Dean White, Wiley Ellison White, Ryleigh Renee Castell and Raelyn Caroline Castell, Layne Adam Castell, Peyson Lane Puckett and Troy Kiesyn Puckett. 

She will be sorely missed. She was a faithful Christian and devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She leaves behind some very happy and sweet memories that will live on in the hearts of her family and friends. 

Pallbearers were friends.