Richard Lawrence Owen

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

Visitation will be at Foreman Brown Service Funeral Home Sat., May 25, 2013, from 3 until 5 p.m. with funeral services to follow. Brothers Brent Cook and Alan Joyner will officiate. The graveside service will be Sun., May 26, 2013, at 5 p.m. at 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 will include 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.

 

Jimmie Paul Robbins

Jimmie Paul Robbins, age 72, formerly of Andalusia, died Sun., May 19, 2013, at a rehabilitation facility in Crestview, Fla.

He was born in Covington County to James Albert Robbins and Maude Cravey Robbins of the Greenbay community between Opp and Florala.

He was a 1959 graduate of Covington County High School in Florala, and was a member of New Hope Baptist Church.

An avid outdoorsman all his life, he loved fishing and hunting and spent many hours on river banks and in the woodlands of Covington County. He was known for his gardening ability and took pleasure in sharing the fruits of his efforts with family and friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents and 12 siblings.

He is survived by his daughter, Sonja Robbins Tuttle (Scott) of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.; his son, James Robbins (Heather) of Milton Fla.; grandchildren Christopher Young, Jason Young, Brittani Insalaco, Zach Robbins, Nate Robbins, and Micah Robbins; two great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A graveside memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Sat., June 8, 2013, at New Hope Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Crestview Manor, 603 North Pearl St., Crestview, FL 32536, in support of a memorial garden in his name.

 

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 will be at 2 p.m. Sun., May 26, 2013, at Foreman Brown-Service Funeral Home with the Rev. Ronald Davis officiating. Interment will follow 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.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Foreman’s.

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.

 

Richard “Ricky” Lassiter

Mr. Richard “Ricky” Lassiter, age 61, of Andalusia passed away Wed., May 22, 2013, at his residence.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Mon., May 27, 2013, at Keahey Funeral Home Chapel. The Rev. Billy Boles will officiate. Interment will follow in Pleasant Home Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 4 to 6 p.m., Sun., May 26, 2013, at Keahey Funeral Home.

Survivors include his wife, Teresa Lassiter of Andalusia; son, Randy (Keela) Russell of Andalusia; daughters, Holly Holland of Birmingham, Hope (Craig) White of Birmingham, Sonya (Mike) Goodson of Andalusia, and Dawn (Casey) Ray of Andalusia; his brothers, John (Barbara) Lassiter of Crossville; Jimmy (Debbie) Lassiter of Indiana, Raymond (Patricia) Lassiter of Andalusia; his sister, Kathy (Ricky) Wallace of Andalusia; and 11 grandchildren.

Serving as pallbearers will be Jerry Altman, Eddie Johnston, Mike Bowman, Buddy Bryant, Bill Hamby, and Ronald Anderson.

Friends and family may sign the guest book for this family at keaheyfuneralhome.com

 

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 will be held Sunday at 3 p.m. at Shiloh Baptist Church at Cotton Hill, Ga. The Rev. Steve Williams will officiate. Interment will follow 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 will received friends Saturday at Mathews Funeral Home.