Obituaries for Thurs., Aug. 20, 2015

Published 12:00 am Thursday, August 20, 2015

CLARA JEAN NALL

Mrs. Clara Jean Nall, 82, of Andalusia, passed away Wed., Aug. 19, 2015, at her residence.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Fri., Aug. 21, at Foreman Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. John Eiland officiating, interment will follow in Andalusia Memorial Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9 – 11 AM prior to services at the funeral home.

She is survived by his sons and daughter-in-law, Alan Denny and Carolyn Nall of Fairhope, and Reginald David Nall of Andalusia; grandchildren, Amber Robinson, Tanner Nall, Alex Nall, and Aaron Nall; and great-grandchildren, Ian Nall and Skylar Nall.

In lieu of flowers please make memorials to Greentree Christian Fellowship, 16554 US 84, Andalusia, AL 36421.

 

ETHEL MEISELS

Ms. Ethel Meisels, age 95, of Baker, Fla., passed away Mon., Aug. 17, 2015, at her caregiver’s residence in Andalusia. She was accompanied by her daughter, Vickey Tiel, and close friends.

Ethel Kipnes was born in Hudson N.Y., the Hudson that has become today one of the hangouts of the New York City arts community. Her father owned Hudson’s only soda pop factory, producing creme soda and root beer in pale green bottles with Kipnes Bottling Hudson in giant relief across the top.

Ethel lived on Fairview Avenue in a house on a hill overlooking the picturesque mountain town. She had big dreams to become a fashion designer in New York. Her mother sewed most of her dresses and Ethel bought all the fashion magazines in the 1930s and learned to sketch and eventually sew her own dresses. World War II put and end to her fashion dreams and she moved to Washington to work as a secretary for the war department.

There, she met and fell in love with a handsome Russian, David Tiel. He was a man with his own dream to become an architect and a builder of homes in the Maryland suburbs. They married, had a daughter, Vicky, and divorced when ultra-conservative David discovered his wife had a secret passion for expensive shoes.

Very slim, a chic beauty and always fashionable, Ethel had no trouble finding husband number two, a top government official. Together they moved with teenage Vicky, to leafy Chevy Chase, Maryland, where Ethel had the perfect 1950s housewife, life-of-country clubs, Cadillacs, and backyard pools. Ethel could not play the housewife for very long. After a few months, she signed up for fine art school at American University, and after graduating in 1956, began a 55-year career of painting in oil and sketching in pen and ink, in large notebooks as she traveled the world with her international tax man, Milton Meisels.

In 1975 Ethel Kipnes had a one-woman’s art show in the Avanti Gallery in Georgetown, Washington, D.C. The sellout success was enough for Ethel to continue to believe in her gifts and to continue oil painting. Her paintings were mostly figures, often on very large canvas, and yet she never had another show, as her paintings were her “babies.” She could not part with a single one.

Every few years Ethel flew to France to visit her daughter who became the fashion designer, (Vicky Tiel) the Parisien couturier of her mother’s dreams. There Ethel painted in her daughter’s top floor studio in Normandy. Often mother and daughter painted side by side, in the converted grenier of Vicky’s sixteenth century mill house near Giverny.

In Normandy, in the 1970s and the 1980s, Ethel was inspired by Monet, Matisse and Bonnard, and her canvases changed with their new broad strokes and more vibrant colors that were inspired by the French Fauve movement. Her previous darker oil paintings of the 1950s had evolved into the bright earthen tones by the 1980s as she grew in confidence and happiness from her years in France, close to the homes of her idols.

She had her first art show at 92 in 2012 at LAAC in Andalusia, Ala., and was a member of the National Association of Women’s Artists, showing four times in New York at Po Kim gallery on Layfayette Street and Nawa on Fifth Avenue.

The family will receive friends at Keahey Funeral Home tonight, Thurs., Aug. 20, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.

A graveside service will be held 10:15 a.m., Friday at Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, Fla.

MARTHA PEARL POSEY

Mrs. Martha Pearl Posey, 90, of Red Level, passed away Tues., Aug. 18, 2015, in the Andalusia Manor Nursing facility.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. today, Thurs., Aug. 20, at Fairmount Baptist Church with the Rev. John Bell and the Rev. Billy Boles officiating, interment will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:30 – 8 p.m. Wed., Aug. 19, at Foreman Funeral Home and at the church 30 minutes prior to services.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Diane and Marvin Odom of Red Level; her son and daughter-in-law, Wayne and Betty Posey of Blountstown, Fla.; five grandchildren, Mark Odom, Elizabeth Ann (Ben) Sims, Andrew (Haley) Odom, Shannon Posey, and Melissa (Paul) Cessna; seven great-grandchildren; a sister and brother-in-law, Era and Dennis Barrentine of Dunnellon, Fla.; and sister-in-law, Estelle Salter of Pensacola, Fla.

Pallbearers will be Mark Odom, Shannon Posey, Paul Cessna, Nicholas Cessna, Donnie Griggs, and Rex Henderson.

Those unable to attend the services may sign the guest registry online at www.foremanfuneralhome.com.

 

MARVIN CLARENCE BRAND, JR.

Marvin Clarence Brand, Jr., 87, of the Heath community, passed away Tues., Aug. 18, 2015, in the Andalusia Hospital.

He was a Korean War veteran, serving two tours in Japan. In 1949, he married Virada Hornsby. The couple moved to Andalusia in 1956 when he accepted a teaching position at Straughn School. He taught vocational agriculture and was an FFA Chapter advisor for 36 years.

Marvin attended Southern Union Junior College and Auburn University where he received both his bachelor and masters degree in agricultural education.

He also served as a lay minister to two churches, including New Home Congregational Church in River Falls. He also served as a deacon and Sunday School teacher for many years and dedicated his life to encourage and serve others in Jesus Christ.

Mr. Brand volunteered at Sav-a-life, the Red Cross Chapter and many community and church organizations. He was also a member of Mt. Zion Methodist Church. He received many awards and honors for excellence in education and was presented with Auburn University’s Instructors Award, and placed on the University’s wall of honor.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. today, Thurs., August 20, at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church with Ministers Charles Melvin, Monroe Sasser, and Woody Clark officiating the service. The interment will follow in the church cemetery with Foreman Funeral Home directing.

He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Randall and Laverness Brand; daughter, Carole Brand of Andalusia; his grandchildren, Ladetra and Kurt LeRoy of Andalusia, Gina and Brad Moreman of Brandon, Miss.; five-great grandchildren, Brandon LeRoy, Alyssa LeRoy, Addie Moreman, Lucy Moreman, and Jacob Moreman; four brothers, Edward Brand of North Carolina, Billy Brand of Alex City, Ala., Jack Brand of Wadley, Ala., and Tom Brand of Illinois; his sisters, Polly Bernard of Charleston, S.C. and Annette Carden of Wadley, Ala.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Virada; parents, Marcin C. Brand, Sr., mothers, Jewel and Rhoda Mae; brothers, Bobby, Charles, and Jesse Brand; and sister, Marjorie.

Those unable to attend the services may sign the guest registry online at www.foremanfuneralhome.com.

Rachel Mason Floyd

Mrs. Rachel Mason Floyd, has gone to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  The time of her passing was Tues., Aug. 18, 2015.

Rachel was the beloved wife of James L. Floyd for almost 46 years. Born in Andalusia on June 3, 1947, Rachel attended Andalusia High School before attending and graduating from Troy State University in 1969 with a BS degree in accounting. She spent most of her professional career working for West Point Pepperell in accounting and the corporate tax department. She retired in 1990 to spend time with her family. Rachel was an avid gardener and a member of the Charter Garden Club in West Point, Ga. She also served on the Board of Directors of the Circle of Care in Valley, Ala.

Rachel was an active member and volunteer at Spring Road Christian Church. Besides serving in the nursery and kitchen throughout the years, she helped maintain the church grounds where her love for gardening and landscape beautification were evident. Rachel was a member of the Boomers Sunday School Class at Spring Road and a long-time member of the Tuesday and Thursday Bible Studies where she served as recording secretary. In her free time, she loved to read and enjoyed traveling whenever possible.

Rachel is survived by her husband, James L. (Jim) Floyd; son, Michael (Leah) Floyd and their two sons, William Floyd and David Floyd of Houston, Texas; sister, Dorothy King of Montgomery; her sister-in-law, Gayle (Hall) Curtis of Boaz, Ala.; several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Fri., Aug. 21, 2015 at 11 a.m. EST in the chapel at Spring Road Christian Church. The Rev. David Bradshaw and the Rev. Perry Rubin will officiate. Interment will follow at Hillcrest Gardens Cemetery in Lanett. The family will receive friends at the church Friday morning from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Circle of Care, Valley, Alabama or the Christian Service Center in Lanett, Ala.

Please visit our website at www.johnsonbrownservicefh.com to sign the online guest book.

Johnson Brown-Service Funeral Home in Valley is directing.