Billy Don Maples, Sr.
Hartselle
Funeral service for Billy Don Maples Sr., 77, was held April 22 at 2 p.m. at New Center Baptist Church with Bro. Ben Bates, Billy Maples Jr. and Geoff Halbrooks officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in New Center Cemetery. 

Mr. Maples died April 19 at Decatur Morgan Hospital. He was born Dec. 19, 1943, in Morgan County to Buford Carel Maples and Clara Lee Speers Maples, who preceded him in death. 

Mr. Maples was a member of New Center Baptist Church and was employed by Monsanto Chemical
Company as a Grade 12 senior machine operator prior to his retirement. He was a charter member of the Morgan County Sheriff’s Posse. He enjoyed farming, fishing, camping and spending time with his family. He loved his children and grandchildren, always giving each of his grandchildren a special nickname. He also loved his dog, Lucky. 

Survivors include his wife, Mearleen Slate Maples, Hartselle; sons, Billy Maples Jr., Hartselle, and Brad Maples (Monica), Priceville; daughter, Tara Heard; Hartselle sisters, Evelyn Motes, Hartselle, and Linda Jo Bomar (Cecil), Hartselle; nine grandchildren; and 18 great–grandchildren.  

Pallbearers were sons and grandsons. 

Sharon Garmon Harper
Hartselle

Funeral service for Sharon Garmon Harper, 73, was held April 21 at 3 p.m. at First United Methodist Church with Bro. Harold Thompson officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in Hartselle City Cemetery. 

Mrs. Harper, a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, mother-in-law and friend to so many, died April 18 at Decatur Morgan Hospital. She was born in Georgia Oct. 10, 1947, to Paul R. Garmon and Mary Virginia Smith Carroll but grew up in Centre, which is where she always considered home. She married Keith in 1969, and together they raised four boys.  

Sharon was a homemaker for her family while they were growing up, and she was sure to be at all the boys’ ballgames, musical performances or whatever they were involved in at the time. 

Sharon loved the Lord, always being active in church activities and her Sunday school class, and she especially enjoyed singing in the Heritage Choir. She enjoyed gardening and loved quiet time drinking coffee, reading a book or watching shows on her iPad. She loved her dog, Lucy, and all the other pets our family had growing up.  

Sharon enjoyed going to or watching events and performances. Alabama football was a passion, but her
favorite was going to see the Gaithers perform at various places. 

Sharon was a fighter: She was a breast cancer survivor, and she, along with her entire family, was very proud of that fact. She had several other health issues after that, and she fought valiantly through them all. 

Sharon was preceded in death by her parents.  

She loved and missed her own mother very much and talked about her all the time. We are comforted to know she is joyous to be reunited with her in heaven right now. 

Survivors include devoted husband of 51 years, Keith Harper, Hartselle; four loving sons, Chris K. Harper (Carol), Guntersville, Kevin Harper, Hartselle, Scott Harper (Peg), Mobile, and Derek Harper (Chrissy), Hartselle; and eight adoring grandchildren, Mandy Anderson, Sennia Harper, Adeline Harper, Michael Harper, Cole Harper, Claire Harper, Cate Harper and Cal Harper.  

Pallbearers were sons and grandsons.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation or the Hartselle FUMC Good Sam and Hope House ministries or Heritage Choir. 

Marsha Ruecilla “Rue” Wilson
Hartselle
Marsha Ruecille “Rue” Wilson, 59, died April 16 at her residence. She was born July 1, 1961, in Morgan County to Harold Dean Wilson and Margaret Ransom Wilson. She was a fun, loving and caring person. 

Raised with her family as a Methodist, she was born in Hartselle, but she was a long-time resident of St. Petersburg, Florida, along with her son, Richard Barry. She graduated from Morgan County High School and grew up in the Priceville community, where she had extensive family and friends. She had recently moved back to Hartselle, in January 2020.  

She was retired from the food service. 

Preceding her in death were her parents and a sister, Kathy Dean Wilson. 

If you were a friend of Rue’s, you were her friend for a lifetime. 

Survivors include her son, Richard “Richie” Barry; brother, Michael D. Wilson (Jan); sister, Susan Terry (Mike); niece, Miranda Carlisle; nephews, Nathan Terry, Chris Dunn and Brett Wilson; and great–nieces and nephews Sidni and Kane Dunn, Kasidy Kylei and Rigs Carlisle and Rylei-Jayne, Micah Case and Gracyn Belle Terry.
No services were scheduled. 

Betty Carolyn Leeth
Hartselle
Funeral service for Betty Carolyn Leeth, 73, was held April 23 at 1 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Earl Holt officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in Shoal Creek Cemetery. 

Mrs. Leeth died April 19 at her residence. She was born April 26, 1947, in Morgan County to Bernard Edward Light and Joyce Elzora Ryan Light. 

She was employed by Hartselle City Schools for 28 years, teaching physical education at F.E. Burleson Elementary School, prior to her retirement.  

Mrs. Leeth was a devout Christian woman and member of Serenity Baptist Church.
She enjoyed camping, birdwatching and traveling with her granddaughter, MiKayla, and family trips. She especially loved her annual trips to the beach with Lisa and Sally.  

She was preceded in death by her parents. 

Survivors include her husband, Benny Leeth; son, Tim Leeth; daughter, Lisa Leeth; and grandchildren, MiKayla Hawkins, Ryan, Brian, Logan and Wyatt Self, T.J. and Mary Jane Light and Isaiah Johnson. 

Pallbearers were Brian Self, David Ford, T.J. Light, Mike Nelson, Larry Bowling and Chris Dunn.  

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made in her name to Serenity Baptist Church, 1062 Perkins Wood Road, Somerville, AL, 35670. 

Kinnie James Brown 

Falkvile 

Funeral service for Kinnie James Brown, 65, of Falkville was held April 26 at 5 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. David Bradford officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. 

Mr. Brown was born Feb. 17, 1956, in Cullman County to James Burns Brown and Mildred Louise Holland Brown. He passed away April 24 at his residence. 

Mr. Brown lived on Wilhite Road on a farm raising chickens, hogs and cows. He also grew sweet potatoes. He was a graduate of Brewer High School and graduated from Wallace State with an electronics technology degree. He worked for Wolverine Tube for 23 years and Sales for 28 years. He enjoyed coaching ball, hunting and horseback riding and being on the farm.  

He had many cherished friends throughout his life. His greatest joy was becoming a grandpa to his two granddaughters. 

He will be dearly missed by his family and friends. 

Survivors include his son, Christopher Brown and wife Ashley, of Falkville; daughter, Shelby Matchen of Baileyton; sister, Kathleen Hough and husband Don of Hartselle; two granddaughters, Carter Brown and Cassidy “JoJo” Brown; nieces, Susan Moore and husband Michael and Amanda Haskins and husband Mark; and numerous great–nieces and nephews. 

 In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Cullman Regional Hospice by contacting Amy Canter at 256-736-4657 or Kids Loving Kids by contacting Alisha Beard at 205-717-7978 or Pam Dodd at 256-318-4555. After the service the family had a memorial service at 2254 Wilhite Road, Falkville, AL 35622. 

Michael Ray Dial 

Decatur 

Graveside service for Michael Ray Dial, 70, of Decatur was held April 26 at noon at Mt. Zion Cemetery in Cullman, with the Rev. Chris Martin officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. 

Mr. Dial was born Jan. 10, 1951 in Morgan County to James King Dial and Zelma Marie Alexander. He passed away April 23 at Decatur-Morgan Hospital. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter Stacey and three brothers, Samuel, Evett and Wayne.  

Survivors include a daughter, Misty Dial (Tony); three sisters, Patsy Dougherty (Jerry), Pam Campbell (John) and Barbara Wood (Tyler); three grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; many loving nieces and nephews; and other family and friends.  

Pallbearers were Seth Campbell, Josh Wood, Tony Woods, Parish Dial, Gregory Bell, Zac Dial and Elijah Bravo. Honorary pallbearers were John Campbell, Tyler Wood and Jerry Dougherty. 

Albert B. Pettey Sr. 

Hartselle 

Funeral service for Albert B. Pettey Sr., 64, of Hartselle was held April 27 at 11 a.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Greg Standridge officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. 

Mr. Pettey was born Nov. 14, 1956, in Palm Beach County, Florida, to Marvin Jot Pettey and Minnie Victoria Corley Pettey. He passed away April 24 at his residence. 

Albert was a well-respected Christian and was a member and deacon at Tunsel Road Baptist Church. He was a devoted and loving husband, father and grandfather. He retired from A Duda & Sons after 26 years, where he worked as an electrician. He was employed by the Alabama Mental Health Center before his death.  

Albert was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Emmett Pettey.  

Survivors include his wife, Connie Pettey; two sons, Albert Pettey Jr. (Michelle) of Georgia and James Pettey (Haley) of Priceville; daughter, Jennifer McWhorter (Steve) of Hartselle; brother, Robert “Bob” Pettey (Brenda) of Somerville; two sisters, Carol Pettey of Decatur and Mary “Kate” Shade (Jim) of Falkville; and five grandchildren.  

Pallbearers were Jimmy Pettey, David Pettey, Jim Shade, Timothy Pettey, James Shade, Tim McWhorter, Lyndon McWhorter and Nathan Hill.  

Geraldine Johnson Garner
Somerville
Funeral service for Geraldine Johnson Garner, 87, of Somerville will be April 28 at 11 a.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Ben Bates officiating. Burial will be in the Antioch Cemetery. Peck Funeral Home is directing.  

Mrs. Garner, who was born May 29, 1933 in Morgan County to Cicero Fount Johnson and Lois Ella Johnson, died April 24 in Somerville. She was a member of the Antioch United Methodist Church.  

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, James Jack Garner; a granddaughter, Kim Eslinger, and her husband Tommy; two brothers, Iley Johnson and James Johnson; and three sisters, Iris Jackson, Jean Windsor and Linda Harris. 

She is survived by two sons; Rickie Garner (Sharon) and Tommy Garner (Sharon); two daughters, Janet Allen (Wayne) and Amy Mims (Bobby); seven grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.  

Robert Mims, James Jackson, Ray Garner, Matt Taylor, Wes Ray, Bryan Thigpen and Jarrod Weeks will serve as pallbearers. Rickie Garner, Tommy Garner, Wayne Allen and Bobby Mims are honorary pallbearers.