MILDRED CRAIG

Mrs. Mildred Craig, 80, of Andalusia, passed away on Tues., May 5, 2015.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. tomorrow, Fri., May 8, 2015, in the Keahey Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow in the Andalusia Memorial cemetery with Keahey Funeral Home directing. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. today, Thurs., May 7, at the Keahey Funeral Home.

Survivors include sons, Rickey (Debi) Smithart of Columbus, Ga. and Kenny L. Craig of Andalusia; daughter, Debra (Donny) Smith of Andalusia; brothers, Jerry D. (Ina) Hall Sr. of Mobile and Larry (Linda) Hall of Phenix City; sister, Hazel Scruggs of Gantt; grandchildren, Tiffany (Robert) Nicholas, Jenna (Matthew) Olesin, Jeremy (Kristen) Craig, Jarrod (Jessica) Craig and Ty Smith; great-grandchildren, Kayden Eggie, Addison Nicholas, Reagan Nicholas, Brooklyn Olesin, Skylar Olesin, Gibson Craig, Adelyn Craig, Ellie Craig and Ezra Craig.

Mrs. Craig was preceded in death by her husband, Cecil Aubrey Craig; brothers, Don Hall and Bobby Hall; and sister, Evelyn Smelley.

JEFFERSON DIGE BISHOP

Jefferson Dige Bishop, born July 1, 1913, in Chambers County, Ala., died May 4, 205, at age 101.

He was predeceased by his parents, U.S. and Alverta Roberts Bishop; his beloved wife of 54 years, Julia Higgins Bishop; brother, Harty Bishop; and son, Jeff Bishop.

He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Ivan and Jean Bishop of Andalusia; daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Richard Brent of Pensacola; grandson, Ty Cowen (Debbie) and great-grandson, Cody, of Pensacola Beach; and grandson Drew Cowen (Kara) and great-granddaughters, Samantha and Rabecca, of Gulf Breeze; and close friend, Annette Bryant of Pensacola, formerly of Andalusia.

He moved to Andalusia with his family in 1946 to help bring a local radio station to his new hometown. During his years in radio, he had interests in stations in Alabama, Georgia, Florida and Mississippi. In 1965, he founded TV Cable Company of Andalusia. He actively participated in that business until his 98th birthday. During his career, he served as president of the Alabama Broadcasters Association and the Alabama Cable Television Association.

He loved his community and worked hard to make it a better place. He was proud to have been a part of bringing Lurleen B. Wallace Community College to Andalusia. He was recently honored for more than 60 years as a Scottish Rite Mason and Master Mason.

He always loved music. A lover of the “Big Band” sound, he would say, “Now that is REAL music.” As a young man, he played piano, trumpet, and tenor sax, and sang in five different dance bands. His wife, Julia, said he was “happiest man in the world when he was playing.” Even after leaving his involvement in bands, he continued to enjoy his music and share his talent. He played piano for the Men’s Bible Sunday School Class at First United Methodist Church for more than 40 years, and at the Lion’s Club for the musical part of their meetings.

He was a loving and encouraging family man; an employer who helped many of his employees strive for personal growth and success; an active member of his community; a friend of many; and an example for others to follow. A friend described him as “a true Southern gentleman.”

A celebration of his life will be held Fri., May 8, at Foreman Funeral Home in Andalusia. Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. with his funeral service to be held at 11 a.m. Pallbearers will be Bob Brooks, Jimmy Faulkner, Ty Cowen, Drew Cowen, Cody Cowen, Tommy Thomas, Mike Russell and Jamie Hawkins.

In lie of flowers, donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 1066, Andalusia, AL 36420

STEVE EDWARD HENDERSON

Mr. Steve Edward Henderson, 50, of Aiken, S.C., passed away on Mon., May 4, 2015, at his home.

Shellhouse Funeral Home in Aiken will be in charge of arrangements. A memorial was held on May 5 at Shellhouse Funeral Home for family and friends. A graveside service will be held tomorrow, Fri., May 8, 2015, at Andalusia Memorial Cemetery, where Steve will be buried with his parents. Officiating will be the Rev. Tony Xavier from Christ the King Catholic Church in Andalusia.

Steve was born in Augusta, Ga., on May 27, 1964. He lived in Aiken since 2007 and worked for Tri-Development Center.

Steve is survived by a sister, Debbie (Jim) Rhodes of Aiken; brother, Charles (Melissa) Henderson; niece, Chapman Henderson of Sharpsburg, Ga.; nephew, Stephen Mack Bates (stationed in Nicaragua in the United States Marine Corp.); aunt, Marilyn O’Neal of Andalusia; uncle, Edward (Janet) Henderson of Birmingham; cousins, Anne (Tommy) Wright of Andalusia, Lynne (Mark) Dayton of Andalusia, Bob (Katie) O’Neal of Andalusia, Rebecca (Kevin) Giadrosich of Birmingham, Daniel (Ellison) Henderson of Birmingham and David Henderson of Birmingham.

Steve was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Dorothy Henderson; grandparents, Charles and Abbie Henderson; grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hobson; and uncle, Bond O’Neal.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Tri-Development Center of Aiken, P.O. Box 698, Aiken, S.C. 29802.

HAROLD EDWARD BARNES

Mr. Harold Edward Barnes, 82, of Andalusia, passed away on Mon., May 4, 2015, at his residence.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Mon., May 11, 2015, at the Purcell Funeral Home chapel in Bushnell, Fla. Interment will follow in the Florida National Cemetery with military honors and Keahey Funeral Home directing.

The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. today, Thurs., May 7, 2015, in the Keahey Funeral Home chapel and one hour prior to services in the Purcell Funeral Home chapel in Bushnell.

Survivors include a wife, Nancy Barnes of Andalusia; sons, Harold Beagle of Andalusia and Robin (Vickie) Barnes of Tampa, Fla.; daughters, Wanda Sealey of Brandon, Fla. and Pam (Don) Hillard of Brandon; step children, Lisa Weaver of Riverview, Fla., Marjorie Bryan of Brooksville, Fla. and James Beagle of Apollo Beach, Fla.; brothers, Barney (Betty) Barnes of Montgomery, Deward Barnes of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. and Wayne (Carolyn) Barnes of North Carolina; 14 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Mr. Barnes was preceded in death by his son, Ronald Barnes.

ROBERT EUGENE LINDER

Robert Eugene Linder, 88, died Sat., May 2, 2015. Funeral services will be held today, Thurs., May 7, 2015, at Foreman Brown-service Funeral Home with Brother Herb Carlisle officiating. Visitation will be held at the funeral home at 1 p.m. with funeral services at 2 p.m.

During World War II, Robert E. Linder was drafted (at age 18) into military service with the U.S. Army. At the time of his draft, he was a student at Samson Alabama High School. He began active service with the Army on July 18, 1944. After completing basic artillery training in Camp Roberts, Calif., he was assigned to Service Battery, 757 Field Artillery Battalion. His Battery was stationed in Queson City, outside of Manila, Philippines. (He spent his 19th birthday in the Philippines.) He was assigned as an ammunition handler. He moved ammunition from an ammunition dump near the harbor in Manila to his firing batteries several miles north of Manila. He was discharged from the Army in October 1946.

He enrolled at Troy State Teacher’s College (now Troy University) in December 1948. Then, he transferred to Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now Auburn University). On May 31, 1952, he graduated from AU with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. As a result of his ROTC training at Auburn, he was placed on orders to go to Korea. In Korea, he served in the Army as an executive officer of Headquarters Battery, 623 Field Artillery Battalion. He served in this capacity until he was rotated back to the states. He was discharged from the Army in late 1953 at Fort Campbell in Kentucky.

While employed in Geneva, he enlisted in 1957 as an army officer in the Alabama National Guard. He served in the Army National Guard in Geneva and Andalusia for several years. He then transferred to the U.S. Army Reserves. He retired from reserve service in 1974 at the rank of major. His military service spanned at retirement — 20 plus years, with full military privileges.

He and his family moved to Andalusia in the fall of 1960 when he was employed as a Covington County Farm Agent with Auburn University Extension Service. To enhance his agricultural education background, he completed his master’s degree, plus 30 additional graduate semester credit hours in agriculture from Auburn University. He retired from the Covington County AU Extension Service as a county agent coordinator in 1987 with 27 plus years of employment. His local community service included over 50 years membership in the Andalusia Civitan Club and over 50 years membership with the Andalusia First Baptist Church. His post-retirement involvement included work on his farm and seasonal employment as a field representative of the Alabama Agricultural Statistics Service.

He was married for 62 years to Barbara Ann Northcutt Linder. They were the parents of two lovely daughters, Elaine Annette Linder and Victoria Jean Linder.

Mr. Linder was preceded in death by his parents, Irving Veron and Eula Mae Owens Linder; five brothers, Johnie Holland Linder, William Roland Linder, General Webster Linder, Marvin Veron Linder and Lee Edward Linder; three sisters, Rosalee Linder Zuberer, Sarah Ellen Linda Moore and Evelyn Mae Linder Herring. He is survived by his wife, Barbara; two daughters and a son-in-law, Elaine Linder and Victoria L. and Mike Coleman; and two grandsons, Wesley Garret Coleman and Andrew David Coleman.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice.