John William Spence
May 24, 2020
Mr. John William Spence, age 82, passed away Friday, May 22, 2020 in Stockton, Alabama.
Mr. Spence was a native of Nokomis, FL and had resided in Walnut Hill, Florida for most of his life. He was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corp. Mr. Spence also known as PopPop was an avid outdoorsman, partner in the Spence Logging Company, retired supervisor from Gulf Power with 20 years of service and a member of the Bratt First Baptist Church. He is preceded in death by his parents, John and Alice Rebecca Spence; brother, Alton Spence and three sisters, Annie Mae Cook, Doris Payne and Marie Locke.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Mary Ann Spence of Walnut Hill, FL; two sons, Scott (Sandra) Spence of Walnut Hill, FL and Kenneth “DJ” (Dianna) Spence of Molino, FL; four daughters, Robin (Joey) McCall of Walnut Hill, FL, Shannon (Chris) Kinley of Century, FL, Kathryn (Barry) Sumrall of Atmore, AL and Regina (Brian) Simpson of Pensacola, FL; one brother, J.D. “Dink” (Jean) Spence of Pineville, FL; thirteen grandchildren and one on the way; eighteen great grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, May 27, 2020 at 10:00 AM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Sis. Helen Stewart and Bro. John C. Spence officiating.
Burial will follow at the Spence Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, May 26, 2020 from 6 to 8 PM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be DJ Spence, Jake McCall, Rusty Hodges, Don Spence, Cole Norton and Nathaniel Nelson.
Honorary Pallbearers will be Romeo Coleman, James Ed Gilman, Robert Gilman, Clark Ziglar, Jim Bolerjack, Phillip Kelly and Bobby Amerson.
Sabrina White Godwin
May 24, 2020
Mrs. Sabrina White Godwin, age 50, passed away on Tuesday, May 19, 2020, in Pensacola, Florida.
Mrs. Godwin a native and lifelong resident of Atmore, Alabama. She was a loving mother, daughter, sister and aunt. She is preceded in death by her father, Billy White; daughter, Kayla Godwin and sister, Traci White.
She is survived by her mother, Louise White of Atmore, AL; one son, Justin Daniel White of Atmore, AL; one brother, Bill White of Atmore, AL; one sister, Melissa (Steven) Carpenter of Atmore, AL; two nieces, Shyla O’Barr of Perdido, AL and Camryn O’Barr of Perdido, AL; one great niece, Elliana Allen of Perdido, AL; and special aunts and uncles.
Funeral services were held Saturday, May 23, 2020, at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Ronald Hall officiating.
Burial was at Serenity Garden Cemetery.
Pallbearers were James Lloyd, Brian Roye, Jason Roye, Steve White, Gage White and Steven Carpenter.
Carolyn Yvonne McCall Lambeth
May 24, 2020
Mrs. Carolyn Yvonne McCall Lambeth, age 81 of Flomaton, AL, passed away on Wednesday, May 20, 2020, at her home.
Mrs. Lambeth was born in Century, FL, and had been a life-time member of the Flomaton community. During her working years, she worked at D.W. McMillan Memorial Hospital as a LPN. She enjoyed being a nurse, and taking care of her family. She was preceded in death by her brother, Hoarce McCall and was of the Christian faith.
She is survived by her husband, John J. Lambeth of Flomaton, AL; son, Johnny (Telina) Lambeth of Flomaton, AL; brother, Freddie W. (Margie) McCall of Century, FL; sister, Marilyn (Cecil) Nelson of Byrneville, FL; grandchildren, Jessica (Richard) Meacham of Lillian, AL and Jeffrey (Erin) Lambeth of Flomaton, AL; great-grandchildren, Jordyn, Finley and Madeline; numerous other family members and friends.
Funeral services were held on Sunday, May 24, 2020, at Flomaton Funeral Home Chapel with Bro Glenn Johnson officiating.
Interment was in Flomaton Cemetery in Flomaton, AL.
Escambia Reports One New COVID-19 Death For A Total Of 26
May 23, 2020
The number of reported COVID-19 deaths in Escambia County increased by one on Saturday to 26 as the number of cases increased by nine, according to the Florida Department of Health.
The fatality was an 85-year old long-term care facility resident that had contact with a known case.
The number of cases in Escambia County increased by nine to 740,, and Santa Rosa was up by eight to 207.
Of the 26 deaths in Escambia County, at least 18 have been long-term care facility residents or staff. There have been eight deaths in Santa Rosa County, seven of those at the Blackwater River Correctional Facility and none in long-term care facilities.
Statewide, there were 50,127 cases including 48,814 Florida residents. There have been 9,310 hospitalizations and 2,232 deaths.
EscambiaCounty cases:
- Total cases — 749 (+9 since Friday)
- Pensacola — 550
- Cantonment — 48
- Bellview — 6
- Perdido Key — 1
- McDavid/Walnut Hill — 1
- Molino – 4
- Century — 2
- Hospitalizations: 63*
- Deaths — 26
- Male — 255
- Female — 360
- Youngest — 0
- Oldest — 105
Santa Rosa County cases:
- Total cases — 207 (+8 since Friday)
- Milton — 123
- Navarre — 35
- Gulf Breeze — 27
- Pace — 16
- Jay — 2
- Residents: 129
- Nonresidents — 1
- Hospitalizations — 23*
- Deaths — 9
- Male — 143
- Female — 61
- Youngest — 2 months
- Oldest — 94
Florida cases:
- Total cases — 5,127
- Florida residents — 48,814
- Deaths — 2,232
- Hospitalizations — 9,310*
*“Hospitalizations” is a count of all laboratory confirmed cases in which an inpatient hospitalization occurred at any time during the course of illness. These people may no longer be hospitalized. This number does not represent the number of COVID-19 positive persons currently hospitalized. The FDOH does not provide a count of patients currently hospitalized.
One Person Injured, Three Vehicles Wrecked When Driver Hits Cow On Highway 97
May 23, 2020
One person was injured and three vehicles were wrecked when a driver a hit a cow Friday night on Highway 97 near Molino.
The first vehicle hit the cow on Highway 97 near Gibson Road just before 9 p.m. The front seat passenger in the vehicle was transported by Escambia County EMS to an area hospital. The driver and other passengers, both juveniles, were not injured.
The driver of a Nissan Versa slowed or stopped to avoid the cow in the roadway and was rear-ended by a Chevrolet passenger car. Neither driver was injured.
The cow did not survive.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
What About High School Graduations? Here’s The Tentative List On Ceremony Dates.
May 23, 2020
School is now officially out for summer. But what about high school graduations?
Escambia and Santa Rosa counties both still plan to have graduation ceremonies and have scheduled tentative dates. Once dates are finalized, more details will be mail available.
Escambia County
June 23, July 14 or July 27
- Tate High School
- Northview High School
- Pine Forest High School
- West Florida High School
June 24, July 15 or July 28
- Pensacola High School
- Escambia High School
- George Stone Technical College/Escambia Virtual/Success Academy/Camelot
- Washington High School
Santa Rosa County
June 19-20, July 16-17 and July 29-30 at Pensacola Bay Center
- Pace High School 11 a.m.
- Navarre High School 2:30 p.m.
- Gulf Breeze High School 6 p.m.
June 23, July 14 or July 31
- Jay High School in the gym at 5 p.m.
- Central High School 7 p.m. in the gym.
June 18, July 14 or July 28
- Milton High School at 8 p.m.
Pictured: The Tate High School Class of 2019 graduation at the Pensacola Bay Center.
Vehicle Burns By Pumps At Local Gas Station
May 23, 2020
A vehicle erupted into flames Friday night next to the fuel pumps at a local gas station.
The vehicle burned under the gas canopy at the Tom Thumb on Chemstrand at the intersection of East Kingsfield Road. The Ensley and Cantonment Stations of Escambia Fire Rescue were dispatched to the fire.
There were no injuries reported.
Pictured top: A vehicle burns under the gas canopy. Pictured first below: Someone attempts to use a fire extinguisher to put on the blaze, but they were unsuccessful. Pictured below: Escambia Fire Rescue arrives. Reader submitted cellphone photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Coast Guard, Good Samaritans Rescue Seven From Capsized Vessel Off Pensacola
May 23, 2020
The Coast Guard, with assistance from three good Samaritan vessels, rescued seven people from a capsized recreational vessel offshore from Pensacola on Friday.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Mobile received a report at approximately 8:30 a.m. that the 28-foot recreational vessel, Uno Mas, was taking on water. Coast Guard Station Pensacola launched a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium boat crew to assist.
In the process of launching rescue assets, Sector Mobile received an additional report that all seven people had moved to nearby good Samaritan vessels and no injuries were reported. The boat crew from Station Pensacola picked up five adults and two children from the good Samaritan vessels and returned to Orange Beach.
“This case highlights the importance of having vital life saving equipment while boating,” said Lt. Cmdr. Corrie Sergent, Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator at Sector Mobile. “The fact that all people aboard were wearing life jackets and used their VHF radios to call for help ensured their successful rescue. We are thankful for the quick actions of the good Samaritans vessels nearby providing assistance until our crew could arrive.”
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County’s Unemployment Rate Skyrockets To 12.8%
May 23, 2020
The April unemployment rate in Escambia County and across Florida skyrocketed in April due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 12.9 percent in April 2020, up 8.5 percentage points from the revised March 2020 rate of 4.4 percent, and up 9.6 percentage points from a year ago. There
were over 1.2 million jobless Floridians out of a labor force of 9,438,000. The U.S. unemployment rate was 14.7 percent in April.
Escambia County’s unemployment rate soared to 12.8% in April, up from 4.5% in March and 3.2% in February. One year ago, it was just 2.9%.
There were nearly 11,000 people that lost their jobs in Escambia County between March and April.
The jobless rate is bad across Florida, with 43 of the states 67 counties with a jobless rate of 10% or worse.
The jobless numbers do not count those that applied for unemployment in May. Those numbers will be out in June.
Warm And Humid Memorial Day Weekend With A Chance Of Scattered Showers
May 23, 2020
A burn ban remains in effect for Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Memorial Day: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 85.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69.
Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 86.