Tessie Ree (Henderson) Lewis

Tessie Ree (Henderson) Lewis, age 96, of the Carolina Community went to be with her heavenly father on Mon., Aug. 29, surrounded by friends and family and caring staff of Andalusia Manor.

Born Sept. 13, 1919, in Covington County, Ala., to William Washington and Daisy Bell Henderson, she was the fifth of eight children born into a family unique in its love for each other. Survival on a 40-acre farm, for a family of 10, during the depths of the Depression, forged bonds between siblings that were unique and everlasting. The love she learned during those hard times has been shared with all who were fortunate to know her. It is not trivial to say “to know her was to love her.”

She was a special lady—the epitome of a person who had influence on many people, simply by living the life that she believed her God expected of her. She never sought recognition but had great influence on others by living her life as a Godly example.

Her life spanned from horse and buggy to man on the moon, the Great Depression, building Liberty Ships for WWII, first radio to satellite TV, to computers and cell phones; kerosene lamps to electrification, dirt roads to the interstate highway system, home remedies to open heart surgery to organ transplants.

Throughout her years she always had a gentle loving nature and a willingness to care for others more than herself. She always had one more seat at the supper table. She had compassion for those in need of help who came her way and a willingness to take strangers into her home and treat them like family. Her nature was to take on the pain of others without making obvious her own pain.

She is survived by one sister, Elizabeth Bass; sons Kylan (Ann), Fred (Judy), Ron (Rosie), and Steve (Connie); and daughters Pam (Jeff) Snodgrass and Susan (Brise) Blackwell. She was blessed to be Grandmother to Stuart Lewis, Lisa Lewis Alonzo, Lori Lewis Ivy, Stephanie Lewis, Kylan Scott Lewis, Kalyn Lewis Keeney, Chad Lewis, Jeremy Lewis, Randi Lewis Tatsch, Stevie Lynn Lewis, Brent Van Wyck, Kasey Stuckey, Cody Farley, Justin Jones, Taylor Lewis, Trent Lewis, Dalton Lewis, and Katelynn Blackwell. She was “MeMa” Tessie to great-grandchildren, Kylan Hunter Lewis, Dawson Lewis, Will Lewis, Ashlyn Lewis, Spencer Lewis, Hudson Tatsch, Jude Tatsch, Madison Lewis, Mason Lewis, Makenna Lewis, Jake Lewis, Carsen Van Wyck, Graham Van Wyck, Jordan Davis, Tanner Stuckey, London Blackwell and Addie Blackwell, as well as great-great grandchildren Emma, Griffin and Weston Lewis. She is also survived by special family members Star Richardson and Janet Olsen.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ford Lewis; parents, Will and Daisy; brothers, Archie, Harrold, and Bibb, and sisters, Willie May, Ethyl and Bertha.

Visitation was Wednesday at Foreman Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be conducted by the Rev. Dr. Jason Thrower and the Rev. David Roy at the Andalusia First United Methodist Church on Thurs., Sept. 1, at 1 p.m. with graveside services to follow at Carolina Baptist Church Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity or church of your choice in her honor.

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

 

Charles Clayton Hartin

Mr. Charles Clayton Hartin, 81, of Red Level, passed away Tues., Aug. 30, 2016, in the Andalusia Manor.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thurs., Sept. 1, from Pressly Memorial Presbyterian Church with the Rev. P.J. McClung and Tom Lindsey officiating the service. Interment will follow in Mitchell Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Wed., Aug. 31, at Foreman Funeral Home. Mr. Hartin will also lie in state 30 minutes prior to services at the church.

He is survived by his wife, Jean K. Hartin of Red Level; son and daughter-in-law, David and Shirley Hartin of Chapel Hill, Tenn; daughters and son-in-law, Laura McArthur and Sandra and Ray Atkins all of Mexia, Ala.; six grandchildren, David (Amanda) Hartin II, Candace (Logan) Atkins, Brooke (Charlie) Waters, Amber (Ryan) Chastain, Jessica (Daniel) Philen, and Kayla Atkins; 16 great-grandchildren; sister, Betty McLelland of Red Level; brother and sister-in-law, Byron and Faye Hartin of Red Level; special family members, Les and Sheri Walters; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, George Matthew and Ruby L. Hartin, and son-in-law, Jimmy McArthur.

Pallbearers will be Charlie Waters, Daniel Philen, Ryan Chastain, Logan Atkins, David Hartin II, Tyree Bowen, Larry Newton and Thomas Griffith Dale Hartin will be an honorary pallbearer.

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

 

Ellen Ward Wallace

Ellen Ward Wallace, 86 of Alabaster, passed away on Mon., Aug. 29, 2016. She was born in Gantt, and lived in Montgomery, for some years before moving to Birmingham, where she worked for and then retired from AT&T. Ellen loved reading and travel; but most of all, family was her heart. She will be truly missed but reassured she has gone to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Mrs. Wallace is preceded in death by her husband, Marl Lomax Wallace; parents, George and Gertrude Ward; and brothers, George Washington Ward, Jr., Rex Ward and Ernest Ward.

She is survived by her son, Marl Lomax Wallace, Jr. (Denise); daughters, Randa Ellen Rulli, Mary Ann O’Donnell (Larry) and Gail Wallace Cowden (Richard); grandchildren, Anthony M. Rulli, Angela M. Rulli, Marl Lomax Wallace, III, Mallory L. O’Donnell, Chereè Wallace, Mary Sodano, Faith Cowden, Rachel Cowden and Derek Wallace; great-grandchildren, Sean Wallace, Darius Wallace, Ashton Wallace, Austin Wallace, Alana Wallace, Stephen Remy Pochè, Jacob Rulli, Cameron Rulli, Madison Chapman and Sean Chapman; sister-in-law, Ouida Venis; son-in-law, Al Rulli; and cousins, Spencer and Carole Valine.

The celebration of Ellen’s life will be at 10 a.m. on Fri., Sept. 2, 2016, at Southern Heritage Funeral Home in Pelham, Ala., with visitation beginning at 9 a.m. Burial will be at Ables Cemetery in Gantt. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Children’s Hospital of Birmingham.