THE REV. CLAUDE KEENAM

The Rev. Claude Keenam, 82, of Andalusia, died Fri., Dec. 31, 2010, in the Opp Nursing Home.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m., today, Tues., Jan. 4, at the First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Tim Trent and the Rev. Jim Batchelor officiating and burial following at Macedonia Cemetery in Rose Hill with Foreman Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Visitation will be at the First United Methodist Church one hour prior to the services.

Survivors include his wife, Nina Keenam of Andalusia; his daughter and son-in-law, Amy and Mike Mott of Andalusia; his son, Kerry Keenam of Opelousas, La.; his grandchildren, Melissa Mott, Zac Keenam and Kye (Amanda) Keenam; his great-grandchildren, Anna and Erica Keenam; three sisters and brothers-in-law, Mary and Billy Cole and Ida Lee and Vernon Joiner, all of Birmingham, and Joan Ann and Kenny Eaton of Marietta, Ga.

Those unable to attend the services may sign the guest registry online at www.foremanfuneralhome.com.

LUTHER TAYLOR JR.

Luther Taylor Jr., born December 18, 1922, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Jan. 1, 2011.

Graveside services were held Mon., Jan. 3, at Magnolia Cemetery with Dr. Fred Karthaus officiating, and Foreman Funeral Home directing.

The oldest son of Luther Taylor Sr. and Bertha Taylor, he was born and reared in Andalusia. Family, faith, community and business were important priorities to him, and he served his country and community well.

He attended Auburn University, enlisted as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army and served in Washington D.C. during WWII. His business career spanned four generations as the local Ford–Mercury dealer, where he served on the National Ford Dealer Council and the Advisory Board and was nominated as the “Time Quality Dealer of the Year.” He was a member of the Lions Club for almost 50 years, served on the Andalusia Housing Authority Board and the Andalusia Hospital Board. He was a life long member of First Baptist Church and served on the building committee that erected the current sanctuary building and fellowship hall.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Frances Ward Taylor of Andalusia; his son and daughter-in-law, Ward and Sue Taylor of Andalusia; his grandchildren, Heather Kirby and her husband, David, of Montgomery, Lance Taylor of Andalusia and Forrest C. Taylor of California; granddaughter, Kalisch Pruitt and her husband, Jonathan, of Crestview, Fla.; great-grandchildren, Colin, Cooper and Mason Taylor of Andalusia, James D. Kirby of Montgomery and Kailyn Pruitt of Crestview, Fla.; a brother, Robert Taylor of Mountain Brook; and daughter-in-law, Sandra W. Taylor of Greenville.

He is preceded in death by two sons, an infant and his son, Chris Taylor.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Andalusia.

Pallbearers were Earl Johnson, Campbell Kyle, Dan McMullen, Jim Krudop, Guy Tadlock and John Hill.

Those unable to attend the services may sign the guest registry online at www.foremanfuneralhome.com.

JEAN KELLER HEARD

Jean Keller Heard, 86, died peacefully Jan. 2, 2011, surrounded by family.

Born Aug. 7, 1924, in Andalusia, to James Albert Keller and Mariglynn Cornelius, Heard was a professional violinist and civic activist. She earned a bachelor of music degree from the University of Alabama in 1946 and an artists diploma in violin from the Juilliard School in 1948.

In 1949, she married Alexander Heard, chancellor emeritus of Vanderbilt University, who preceded her in death in 2009. A member of the North Carolina String Quartet and the Nashville Symphony, Heard performed in quartet and solo recitals in the Southeastern United States and worked in Nashville as a session violinist during the 1960s. She played a key role in effecting the merger of the Blair School of Music and Vanderbilt University, and she served on the boards of the Nashville Symphony, the Vanderbilt Chamber Music Society and the Blair Keyboard. She was also an announcer for public radio station WPLN in Nashville.

In addition to her music involvement, Heard helped develop the Friends of the Library of the Joint University Library (now Jean and Alexander Heard Library) and served as vice president (1974-76) and president (1976-78) of its board of directors. She was a member of the Citizens’ Committee for Comprehensive Survey of Social Welfare in metropolitan Nashville and the Committee to Study Problems of Unmarried Parents and testified about adolescent pregnancy before the President’s Commission on Mental Health at the request of Rosalynn Carter. Additional board service includes Florence Crittenton Home, Council of Community Services, Emergency School Assistance Program and the Tennessee Performing Arts Foundation. She was a founding director of Reading is Fundamental of Nashville, chair of the Murphy School Advisory Board and a member of the advisory board of Head School day care center.

She is survived by four children, Stephen (Sarah), Christopher and Connie (Edgar Meyer) of Nashville, Frank (Heidi) of Boca Raton, Fla., and Washington, D.C.; two grandchildren, Alexander Michael Heard and George Alexander Meyer; and sister, Anne Parrish, of Chapel Hill, N.C.

Visitation with the family will be at 1 p.m. on Sat., Jan. 8, at Benton Chapel at Vanderbilt University, followed by a memorial service at 2:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, gifts may be sent to the Jean and Alexander Heard Memorial Fund at Vanderbilt University, Gift Processing, Vanderbilt University, PMB 407727, 2301 Vanderbilt Place, Nashville, TN 37240-7727.

Marshall-Donnely-Combs of Nashville is in charge of arrangements.

CHARLES BOVINO

Charlie Bovino, 60, of Andalusia, passed away Thurs., Dec. 30, 2010, at his residence.

Funeral services were held 11 a.m., Mon., Jan. 3, 2011, at Christ the King Catholic Church with Father Tony Pullukattu officiating and burial following in Stone Lake Gardens Cemetery with Keahey Funeral Home directing and full military rites from the United States Marines.

Survivors included his wife, Reniel Bovino; sons, EnRico Bovino and Nico Bovino, all of Andalusia, John Bovino, Jr. of Pensacola, Fla., and Christopher Bovino of New Jersey; daughter, Lisa Lockhart of Andalusia; brothers, Richard Bovino of Staton Island, New York, and Robert Bovino of Pensacola, Fla.; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

VIOLA MAY GROSS

Viola May Gross, 85, of Andalusia, passed away Thurs., Dec. 30, 2010.

Funeral services will be held 2 p.m., Wed., Jan. 5, 2011, at New Hope Lutheran Church with Pastor Allen Kramp and the Rev. Carl Turman officiating and Keahey Funeral Home directing.

Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the church.

Survivors include daughter, Sharon Gross (Marion) Rucker of Golconda, Ill.; two sons, Keith Edward (Linda) Gross of Mooresville, Ind., and Kenneth Wayne Gross of Avon, Ind.; grandchildren, Richard Martin Rucker, Laura Lee English, Kenneth Russell Rucker, Marion “Shannon” Rucker Leonard, Megan Gross Pinckard, Patricia Lee Gross Henry, Kimberly Gross and Kenneth Allen Gross; one step-grandchild, Vickie Renee Rucker Myrick; 16 great-grandchildren; four step-great-grandchildren; seven step-great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Kenneth Edward Gross, and husband of 10 years, Clayton Randolph Miller; parents, Louis H. Jetter and Mary Ida Benicker Jetter; brother, Lawrence Martin Ridings; and sister, Dorothea Desson.

To leave online condolences, please sign the guest book for this family at www.keaheyfuneralhome.com.