Hayward F. O’Neal

Hayward F. O’Neal, 90, of Sylvester, Ga., formerly of Albany, Ga., died May 24, 2013, at Pine Shadows Assisted Living. Funeral services were held Sun., May 26, at Shiloh Baptist Church at Cotton Hill, Ga. The Rev. Steve Williams officiated. Interment will followed in the church cemetery.

A native of Geneva County, Ala., Mr. O’Neal graduated from Andalusia High School in 1941 and served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II. He moved to Albany, Ga., in 1965 and lived there until 1977 when he moved to Cotton Hill, Ga., and Mobile, Ala., before returning to Albany, Ga., in 1995.

Mr. O’Neal retired as a management service analyst from the Marine Corps Logistic Base in Albany. He was a member of Byne Memorial Baptist Church and was formerly a member of Shiloh Baptist Church and the First Baptist Church of Andalusia, Ala., where he served as a deacon during his membership at each. He was preceded in death by his wife, Quida Crozier O’Neal, and two daughters, Dianne O’Neal and Melanie O’Neal Everett.

Survivors include a daughter, Denise Freitas and her husband, Mike, of Leesburg, Ga.; three granddaughters, Lindsay Hopkins and her husband, Robbie, and Rebecca Spillers and her husband, Donnie, all of Leesburg, Ga., and Josie Coates and her husband, William, of Dahlonega, Ga.; a great-granddaughter, Natasha Wescott of Leesburg, Ga.; and four great-grandsons, Charlie Hopkins and Jack Hopkins of Leesburg, Ga., and Isaiah Everett and Hunter Coates of Dahlonega, Ga.

The family received friends Saturday at Mathews Funeral Home.

 

Richard Lawrence Owen

Richard Lawrence Owen, 67, of Andalusia, formerly from New Albany, Miss., died Fri., May 24, 2013, at his residence.

Visitation was at Foreman Brown Service Funeral Home Sat., May 25, 2013, with funeral services following. Brothers Brent Cook and Alan Joyner officiatee. The graveside service was Sun., May 26, 2013, in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery in New Albany, Miss.

Mr. Owen is survived by his wife, Sharon Louise Owen; two daughters, Shay Lorance Owen and Hope Louise Owen; a son, Hunter Richard (Heather) Owen; three grandchildren, Jackson Richard Owen, Addison Grace Owen, and Karson Louise Owen; one brother, Johnny (Wonda) Owen from New Albany, Miss.; two sisters, Sandra (Charlie) Williamson from Tupelo, Miss., and Joe Ann (Charles) Reaves from Rogers, Ark., and numerous nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers included Keith Madden, Nathan Brown, C.R. Pate, Cecil Ammons, Eddie Simmons, Ruck Ashworth, Billy Bimbo, and Tanner Brooks.

Family and friends unable to attend the services may sign the guest registry online at www.foremanfuneralhome.com.

 

Verbie Lee Ledbetter Pettis

Mrs. Verbie Lee Ledbetter Pettis, 85, of Panama City, Fla., and formerly of Red Level, died Thurs., May 23, 2013, at her residence.

Funeral services were at 2 p.m. Sun., May 26, 2013, at Foreman Brown-Service Funeral Home with the Rev. Ronald Davis officiating. Interment followed at Fairmount Cemetery.

Mrs. Pettis was preceded in death by a son, Jody Bennett Ledbetter.

Mrs. Pettis is survived by five daughters and sons-in-law, Betty (Doug) Johnson of Andalusia, Linda Darnell Newsome of Panama City, Fla., Dorothy (Richard) Stocks of Selma,, Martha (Michael) Bennett of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Jeanette (Drew) Woods of Tallahassee, Fla.; six sons and daughters-in-law, James G. (Jo) Ledbetter, Jr. of Greenville,, Terry Glenn (Susan) Ledbetter of Breaux Bridge, La., Henry Lee (Rebecca) Ledbetter of Panama City, Fla., William Ralph (Sally) Ledbetter of Dawsonville, Ga., Jerry Neal (Carol) Ledbetter of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Donald Moore (Paula) Ledbetter of Dickenson, Texas; 25 grandchildren, 45 great grandchildren, one great-great grandchild; and a sister, Frances (Frank) Johnson of Andalusia.

Family and friends may the guest registry online at www.foremanfuneralhome.com.

 

Carl Greil Chesser

Carl Greil Chesser, 89, passed away in Gallatin, Tenn., on Thurs., May 23,2013.

Greil was born on Aug. 4, 1923, in Red Level, the first of 10 children born to Eunice (Kervin) and Arthur Chesser. Upon graduation from Red Level High School in 1943, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He served as a storekeeper, second class at the Auxiliary Naval Air Station, Brown Field in Otay Mesa, Calif., for two years before being transferred to the USS Albamarle (AV-5), a seaplane tender. He was aboard that ship when it participated in the testing of the atomic bomb in the Marshall Islands. Upon discharge from the Navy in 1946, he returned to Red Level and married Mildred Shaddix.

Greil founded B & C Auto Parts in Andalusia along with Thaxton Brannon, retiring in 1981. As a deacon at West Highland Baptist Church, he served tirelessly and with great distinction for many years, known by all as a man of his word.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Wilma Chesser McIntyre; one brother, Morris Chesser; and a brother-in-law, Lavon Shaddix.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Mildred Shaddix Chesser; his three children, Tonnie Chesser (Bill) Cooper of Panama City, Fla., Kathy Chesser (Danny) Gantt of Andalusia, and Dr. Bruce Greil (Joy) Chesser of Hendersonville, Tenn.; four grandchildren, Meredith Cooper (Robert) Yoder of Greensboro, N.C., Patricia Cooper (Andy) Hogan of Athens, Ga., Justin (Meredith) Chesser of Montgomery, and Travis Chesser of Nashville, Tenn.; as well as five great-grandchildren. He is also survived by three sisters, Yvonne Jones Smith of Daphne, Joyce Chesser (Don) Rhyne of Mobile, and Linda Gugliotta (Jerry) Basset of Montgomery; three brothers, Bobby (Earline) Chesser of Red Level, Carol (Lynda) Chesser of Evergreen, and Ken (Melissa) Chesser of Georgiana; one aunt, Lois Colvin Gipson; and a sister-in-law, Louise Shaddix of Andalusia.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Tues., May 28, 2013, at Foreman Brown Service Funeral Home, followed by interment in Andalusia Memorial Cemetery. The pallbearers are to be announced. Honorary pallbearers will be the deacons of the West Highland Baptist Church.

Family will receive friends one hour before the service at Foreman Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America or the West Highland Baptist Church.