Obituaries for Wed., May 4, 2011
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, May 4, 2011
MYRTICE HAMMOND BESS TODD
Myrtice Hammond Bess Todd, 89, passed away Sat., April 30, 2011.
She was a member of the Chapel Hill Baptist Church, where she had taught Sunday school and sang with the Chapel Hill choir. She loved her church family. Some of her happiest times were spent visiting other churches as part of the Chapel Hill choir. Gospel sings were one of her favorite pastimes.
Mrs. Myrtice is the mother of seven children – five daughters and two sons, who gave her 18 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. She is survived by six of her children: Evelyn Mitchell and husband, James, of Opp, Dorothy Daughtry and husband, William, of DeFuniak Springs, Fla., Jimmie Nell Stewart of Andalusia, Judy Williams and husband, Ed, of Ozark, Joyce Leddon of Andalusia; and one son, Rex Bess of Paxton, Fla.. Her other son, Royce Bess, married JoAnn Smith of Irving, Texas, and made his home in Texas until he succumbed to pancreatic cancer in 2006.
She was a loving mother who sacrificed for her children. On a wood stove, she cooked the best teacakes and biscuits anyone ever ate. And she made wonderful chocolate syrup to go with it. She was a devoted Christian, and, as such, was dearly loved by family and friends. She was a homemaker and was employed by Franklin Ferguson for 29 years.
In 1984, at the age of 62, she retired from the shirt factory, where she’d folded shirts. In 1958, she married Sylvan Todd of Montgomery, and they were happy until he preceded her in death 10 years ago.
After the Bible, her favorite book was The Little Red Hen. Like the little red hen, she was known for her hard work and doing things her way. Often she would say, “Then I’ll do it myself,” and she did – with a little help from her children.
God blessed her with a green thumb. She never saw a flower she didn’t like, and she could grow anything. She also loved animals – dogs, cats, birds, and even once a ‘possum she fed at night on her porch. In her latter years, she was homebound, but having her pets around and watching birds from her window brought her much pleasure.
Then that Sunday afternoon late, the Lord decided He had something better in store for her, and He called Mrs. Myrtice home. We rejoice that she is now with the Lord, but she will be truly missed.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., today, Wed., May 4, at Evans Funeral Home with the Rev. William Aplin, the Rev. James Pickron, Billy Pickron and Roger McLain officiating. Interment will follow in the Damascus Cemetery.
CLIFTON ‘GENE’ WILLIAMS
Clifton “Gene” Williams, 61, of Andalusia, died Sat., April 30, 2011, at the Andalusia Hospital.
Funeral services were held Tues., May 3, from Foreman Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Fred Karthaus officiating and burial following in Andalusia Memorial Cemetery.
Survivors include a special aunt, Barbara Cross of Andalusia, and other aunts, uncles and cousins.
Pallbearers were John Major Parker, William Carlton Cross Jr., Stephen Phillips, Christopher Long, Ronald Padgett and Timothy Chad Long.
The family requests no flowers; however, memorials may be made to the Omaha Home for Boys, 4343 North 52nd Street, Omaha, Neb., 68104.
Those unable to attend the services may sign the guest registry online at www.foremanfuneralhome.com.
GEORGE WASHINGTON WALLACE
George Washington Wallace, 82, of Andalusia, died Sat., April 30, 2011, at his residence.
He was a two-term city councilman for the City of Andalusia in the mid 1960s. He also served in the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy and was a veteran of the Korean conflict.
Graveside services were held Tues., May 3, at the Andalusia Memorial Cemetery with the Rev. Woody Clark and the Rev. Frankie McVay officiatng.
Survivors include his daughter and son-in-law, Ann and Ron Mancil of Warner Robbins, Ga.; his sons and daughters-in-law, Ricky and Kathy Wallace and Jeff and Sonia Wallace of Andalusia; eight grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and a sister, Odessa Bracewell of Andalusia.
Pallbearers were Zak Wallace, Branston Wallace, Chris Mancil, Eric Mancil, Ron Mancil and Mark Frank.
Those unable to attend the services may sign the guest registry online at www.foremanfuneralhome.com.
WILMA R. CARVER
Wilma R. Carver, 92, of Andalusia, died Fri., April 29, 2011, in a local hospital.
Funeral services were held Mon., May 2, from Foreman Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Drexel Copeland and the Rev. Billy Boles officiating and burial following in Mt. Pisgah Cemetery.
Survivors include her daughters and son-in-law, Mignon Page of Andalusia and Joan and Eugene Henderson of Saraland; seven grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Ila Lee Inabinett of Rose Hill and Irene Worley of Gainesville, Fla.
He is preceded in death by her husband, Lee F. Carver, and son, Donnie Carver.
Pallbearers were Tim Page, Jeff Page, Chris Page, Jeremy Moore, Eugene Henderson and Scott Dutton.
Those unable to attend the services may sign the guest registry online at www.foremanfuneralhome.com.
CHARLES WALKER
Charles Walker, 84, of Andalusia, passed away Sun., May 1, 2011, in the Andalusia hospital.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., Tues., May 3, at Gantt Baptist Church with the Rev. Jeff Walker, the Rev. Carl Douglas and the Rev. Wayne Sharpe officiating. Special music was provided by his granddaughter, Annie Vidich, and members of the River Falls and Gantt Baptist Church choirs. Burial followed at Fairmount Baptist Church Cemetery with Keahey Funeral Home directing.
Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Keturah Walker; son and daughter-in-law, Larry and Marshell Walker; daughters and sons-in-law, Kathryn and Steve Sharpe and Margaret Foley, all of Andalusia; special niece and nephew, Mary and Dale South of Tuscaloosa; brother and sister-in-law, Gilmer “Boots” and Vera Walker of Red Level; sisters-in-law, Gladys Hart of Tuscaloosa, Loyette Walker of Red Level and Frances Walker of Cantonment, Fla.; brother-in-law, John Mitchell of Saraland; grandchildren, Micheal (Tamara) Bush of Opp, Jonathan (April) Bush, Kim (Dennis) Allred, Jill Sharpe, Tim (Sonya) Walker and Annie Vidich, all of Andalusisa; two step-grandchildren, Janna (Eric) Nelson of Andalusia and Matt (Debbie) Cameron of Red Level; and great grandchildren, Hunter Allred, Grayson Bush, Reid Bush, Madalyn Bush, Mallory Bush, Meaghan Walker, Ryan Walker, Layne Vidich, Andrew Vidich Hailey, Nelson, Brianna Nelson and Bryan Cameron.
Serving as pallbearers were Micheal Bush, Jonathan Bush, Tim Walker, Jerry Scott, Dennis Allred and Ryan Walker.
Honorary pallbearers were Hunter Allred, Grayson Bush, Andrew Vidich, A.C. Godwin, Coy Williams and Albert “Hoggie” Pitts.
He was preceded in death by a son, Tommy Walker; his parents, Gilmer Thomas and Lena Margaret Walker; a sister, Operea Mitchell; brothers, James Walker and Hayward Walker; and grandson, Charles Boyd Walker.