J.C. Tew

J.C. Tew, 82, died Thursday, December 25, 2003 at his home in Florala after an extended illness.

He was born in Barbour County on January 12, 1921 and moved to Lockhart in 1945 with his wife Bobby, where they reared their six children. He worked with the State of Alabama as a livestock inspector for 35 years until his retirement. After retirement he was active in the Florala community and was the principal stockholder in WKWL Radio Station for many years. A member of Lockhart Baptist Church, he served as Deacon until his failing health caused him to be no longer active. A veteran of a WWII, he served in the U.S. Army of nearly three years.

Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Bobby Trawick Tew of Florala; sons, Charles and wife, Jeannette of Eclectic, Terry and wife, Shirley of Andalusia, Arthur and wife, Sandra of Andalusia, Hamp and wife, Katherine of Wadsworth; daughters, Annabel Zorn and husband Lynn of Paxton, Fla., Jackie Brazzell and husband, James of Semms; one brother, Marion Tew and wife, Gayle of Ozark, one sister, Louise

Johnson and husband, Jerry of Clio; 13 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.

He ws preceded in death by his father and mother, Arthur and Dora Walker Tew and 13 brothers and sisters.

Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Saturday, December 27, 2003 from Evans Funeral Home in Florala with Rev. Glenn Peters and Rev John Bryan officiating. Burial followed at 3 p.m. at Spring Hill Cemetery at Blue Springs.

The family will accept flowers or donations may be made to the Gideon’s International, P.O. Box 538, Opp, AL for Gideon Bibles in his memory.

Edward B. (Ned) Baker

Edward B. (Ned) Baker, 84, died Sunday, December 28, 2003 after a long illness. The was a resident of Andalusia for 35 years before relocating to Daphne in 2001.

After serving in the army in World War II, Mr. Baker began his career in labor relations with Cluett Peabody and Company, Inc., an international apparel manufacturing company in Troy, New York. He served in Virginia, Minnesota and Atlanta, Georgia before moving to Andalusia.

As Cluett, Peabody continued to expand in the southeast, Mr. Baker was in the forefront of a serch committee that recommended the purchase, in 1967, of Alatex, Inc., a shirt manufacturing company headquartered in Andalusia, with other production sites throughout the state. In order to facilitate the transition of the Alatex organization into Cluett Peabody’s international operations. Mr. Baker relocated to Andalusia in 1968 and served as the company’s vice-president until he retired in 1981.

During this time, he was active in corporate and civic affairs, as a member of the Rotary Club- named by Rotary to the select group of &uot;Paul Harris Fellows&uot; for his outstanding leadership and achievement as a member. He also served as president of the Andalusia Chamber of Commerce, working diligently to bring industry and commerce into the area. He was a busy member of the christ the King Church, the founder and first president of its Parish Council, and one of its prime movers from a small facility on Barton Street in 1973 to the large, modern church it is today.

He is survived by his wife, Jean; seven children, James Baker of Albany, Ga., Patricia Demetrio of Pine Brook of New Jersey, Margaret Jennings of Tampa, Fla., Deborah B. Martin of Nashville, Tenn., Christopher Baker and William Baker, both of Daphne; three sons-in-law; two daughters-in-law; 13 grandchildren.

A funeral mass will be celebrated on Saturday, January 3, 2004 at 1 p.m. at Christ the King Church in Andalusia. In lieu of flowers the faqmily requests memorial be made to the Sav-a-Life Pro-Life Center, P.O. Box 487, Andalusia, AL 36420. Alabama Cremation Centers of Dadeville is in charge of arrangements.

Robert Lee Davis Sr.

Robert Lee Davis Sr., 66, died Friday, December 26, 2003 at River Willows Nursing Center in Abbeville, Ga. after a 25 year struggle with Parkinson’s disease.

He was born in the Cedar Grove community and was graduated from Straughn High School in 1957. For more than 20 years, he was a resident of Hokes Bluff, where he was a member of White’s Chapel Baptist Church and the First Baptist Church of Hokes Bluff.

Friends and neighbors will remember him as an avid softball enthusiast, devoted youth basketball coach and consistent church volunteer.

Survivors include his sons, Robby Davis and Royal Davis of Albany, Ga., Rusty Davis of Smiths Station; his daughter, Rawn Salvador of Hokes Bluff; six grandchildren; two brothers, Rayford Davis of Andalusia and Ray Hillard of Jay, Fla. He was formerly married to Madonna Grimes of Rose Hill.

Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Monday, December 29, 2003 at the Cedar Grove Baptist Church with Rev. Monroe Sasser officiating and burial in Cedar Grove Cemetery.

Mrs. Bera Hudson Hall

Mrs. Bera Hudson Hall, of Andalusia, died Friday December 26, 2003 after an extended illness in Florence.

Mrs. Hall was the sixth daughter of Jessie Calvin and Katey McCall Hudson. She graduated from Andalusia High School and Andalusia Business School. Bera worked at the Department of Human Resources for 37 years, where she served as the financial director for many of those years.

Bera married Franklin Campbell Hall of Red Level, October 13, 1940, Frank preceded her in death on February 5, 1987, Mrs. Hall was a dedicated member of the First Baptist Church of Andalusia all her life. She taught girls youth Sunday School and was also involved in the WMU of the First Baptist Church for many years.

Bera had a gift of enjoying life and could see the bright side of any situation. She was an outstanding cook and enjoyed sharing her spirit and food with her family and friends. Bera loved her family, friends, and the Lord and served them all well.

She is survived by her son Roger (Marie) Hall of State Line, MS. and her daughter Katherine (Gil) Griggs of Florence, AL, her five grandchildren, Virginia Hall (Stephen) Koonce, Henry Oilman (Martha) Griggs, Julia Katherine Griggs, Dale (Bridgette) Hall, and Tonya Hall (Jason) McCuiston, her four great grandchildren, Julia Kathryn Koonce, Charlotte Olivia Koonce, Georgia Katherine Griggs, and Gabe Thompson, two sisters, Mary Emma Anderson of Atlanta, GA, and Bernice Costen of Pascagoula, MS, and many nieces and nephews, Katherine and Roger would like to express their sincere gratitude to Virgil Dillard, Kathryn and Keltys Powell, Lee Olive Steele, Tommy and Pat Thompson of Andalusia, and Gwen Rich, Shelly Thornton and Judy Wisdom of Florence for all the love, special attention, and kind care given to Bera in her last years.

Pallbearers were Philip Merrill, Richard Merrill, Stephen Koonce, Dale Hall, Peter Anderson, Howard Anderson and Jason McCuiston.

Honorary pallbearers were Virgil Dillard, Keltys Powell, Tommy Wible, Basil Thompson, Jr.

Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church, 700 East Three Notch St., Andalusia, AL 36420 or the charity of your choice.