Obituaries for 6/21/2003
Published 12:00 am Friday, June 20, 2003
Bonnie Leigh Carter Chesser
Bonnie Leigh Carter Chesser, 95, of Andalusia, died Wednesday, June 18, 2003, in an Andalusia hospital.
Graveside funeral services will be held 3 p.m., Sunday, June 22 at the Andalusia Memorial Cemetery with Rev. Joel Faircloth officiating. The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. Sunday at Keahey Funeral Home until time to depart for the cemetery.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Fred J. Chesser, who was Superintendent of Mails in Andalusia. Bonnie Chesser was a member of a prominent Covington County family. She was the great-granddaughter of William Thomas Acre, who was the first Probate Judge of Covington County, served in the Alabama State Legislature, and was Superintendent of Covington County. She was the oldest daughter of John Henry Carter and Ophelia Acre Carter of Covington County.
Mrs. Chesser was a life long member of First Baptist Church of Andalusia. In her younger years, she was known for her artistic ability.
A frequent speaker at the local garden clubs, she taught color and flower arranging techniques. She was often recognized for her prize-winning camellias. Numerous homes in Andalusia continue to be decorated with her canvas paintings of flowers from her garden. In addition to her garden, her home was her hobby. She collected old glass, china, and antique furniture. A half century ago, her home on East Three Notch St. was featured in the American Home magazine. Later, she donated some of her antiques to the Three Notch Museum.
Survivors include two nieces, Genar Carter Reed of Birmingham and Betty Sue Kirby of Ft. Walton, Fla.; a nephew, John White of Mobile; and a dear friend and caregiver, Edna Smith.
She was preceded in death by siblings, Jessie Mae Carter, Allive Carter White, and Arthur Eugene Carter.
Pallbearers will be Ziba Anderson, John F. Jones Jr., James Jones, Danny Posey, Steve Posey and J. Fletcher Jones.
Geraldine H. Smith
Geraldine H. Smith, of Opp, died Tuesday, June 17, 2003, in a local nursing facility.
Funeral services were held Thursday, June 19 at 2 p.m. at Wyatt Funeral Home with Wayne Sharpe officiating. Burial followed in Peaceful Acres Cemetery.
Survivors include two sons, William Smith and Michael Smith; five grandchildren, Michael R. Smith, Larissa Smith, William M. Smith, Ethan Smith, and Joseph I. Smith, all of New York; and a brother, Charles H. Harrelson Jr.
She was preceded in death by her sisters, Kate Nichols, Sarah Knight, Myrtle Ruth Messick and Jeanette Goodson.
Pallbearers were Wayne Merrill, Charles M. Messick, Michael R. Smith, William M. Smith, Joseph I. Smith, and Charles H. Harrelson III.
Rush Limbaugh Granke
Rush Limbaugh Granke, infant son of Mark Norman and Mary Pitts Granke, of Sumter, S.C., died Tuesday, June 17, 2003 at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.
Funeral services will be held Monday, June 23 at 2 p.m. at Bullock Funeral Home with Evangelist A.A. Granke Jr. officiating. Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 3 to 5 p.m. at Bullock Funeral Home. Online memorial messages may be sent to the family at www.bullockfuneralhome.com
Survivors in addition to his parents are; a sister, Clarissa Granke; a brother, Andrew Granke, both of Sumter; maternal grandmother, Merry N. Childree of Andalusia; paternal grandparents, AA. Granke Jr. and Cindy Granke, of Sumter; and an aunt, Tanja Groenen of the Netherlands.
He was preceded in death by his aunt, Erica Lynne Smith.