Dorothy Mae Fussell Baggett
February 6, 2021
Jesus himself carried Ms. Dorothy Mae Fussell Baggett, 94, to her heavenly home on Feb. 4, 2021, after a brief illness. Dorothy was born in Evergreen, Alabama to Gaither Fussell and Carrie Keebler Fussell on May 17, 1926. At the age of 17, she met her lifelong love, Travis Solomon Baggett from Castleberry. He was home from a Navy fire controller service job during WWII and just happened to stop in at the diner where she was waitressing. “I saw him walk in the door, and I wanted to ease over to his table,” she used to laugh and tell her grandchildren. That was the start of a lifetime courtship.
The couple married later that year and just celebrated their 77 th year of marriage in November of last year (2020). Sadly, a month later, during a short hospital stay, Travis and Dorothy said their earthly farewells to each other, and Dorothy became a widow. Mawmaw, as her family affectionately called her, always claimed that her life’s work was to raise and love her “husband, her sons, her grandchildren and help as much as she could with her great-grandchildren.” Anyone who knew her, however, knew that “raising a family,” also meant cooking up old-school meals – like fried chicken and ham-hock and rice, or salmon patties and steamed fried potatoes. She knew every favorite dish for each of her children and grandchildren and would prepare them special meals when she knew they would be traveling her way. Her family loved that and loved her tremendously. She was a lifelong home-maker, mother and grandmother, and has earned every accolade for those positions in her family’s eyes.
Living in Atmore since 1965, Dorothy was known locally as “The Cake Lady,” supplying every doctor on her list with a homemade coconut cake or a doublechocolate cake nearly every time she had to go. Sometimes she would make extra cakes to drop off to someone who had “shown her a little bit of Jesus,” as she would explain to Travis, while they were making their rounds in the red truck. Everybody knew how Mawmaw could cook and looked forward to the bounty she would constantly share, which she did even as late as this past Christmas, complete with turkey and dressing and all-from-scratch dumplings. All four of their sons were raised in Atmore. They and almost all of their downline still make this area their home.
One of the family’s favorite memories of Mawmaw is when she got baptized several years ago, and her normally shy and inhibited nature became interrupted when a new person arose from the water, one that spoke boldly of Christ and testified to His greatness and holiness. Later, although her eye sight was fading, and her body had become frail, she remained a voice for goodness and morality through her actions and her speech. She constantly reminded her grandchildren of what it meant to be committed in friendships, relationships, marriages and even in a family, giving specific examples along the way. She would never judge out loud, but she told her grand- daughters that a good judge of a man’s character is how he treated his mother, and if he stood when a woman walked in the room. She had been known to turn the television off of a show, if she thought it had too many “bad words,” even if she were sitting there watching it by herself. “I refuse to let my mind hear that,” she would say. A true Southern Lady, whose modesty and self-respect remained to the end, Mawmaw will be missed.
Dorothy is preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 77 years, Travis Baggett; her son Steve Baggett of Atmore; and daughter-in-law Rita Baggett of Atmore; deceased siblings: Wink, Earl, Eddie, Johnny, Bobby, Billy, Louise, Katherine, Margaret, Betty, and Gail.
She is survived by one sister: Sarah (Lavon) Baggett of Evergreen, AL; her sons: Ronnie (Margaret) Baggett and Donnie Baggett, all of Atmore; Garry (Vicki) Baggett of Bratt, FL; her grandchildren: Stephen Baggett, Corry Baggett and Melissa Baggett of Atmore; Krystal (Charles) Weaver of Dothan; Lexxi Baggett of Bratt, and Alex (Kaylee) Baggett of Louisiana. She is also survived by five great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held at 9 am on Tuesday, Feb. 9 at Petty Funeral Homes of Atmore, with Funeral services following at 10am. Rev. Tim James of Atmore Apostolic Church is officiating. Burial will follow at Buffington Cemetery in Castleberry.
Active pallbearers are Alex Baggett, Corry Baggett, Hunter Kite, Luke Miller, Zack Miller and Bobby Wooten.
James Franklin “Butch” Kirkland Jr.
February 6, 2021
In loving memory of James Franklin “Butch” Kirkland Jr, age 75, of Jay, passed from this life into the Heavenly life with Jesus Christ; who saved his soul in 2006, which he was so thankful for the change this made in his life. He was a member of New Life Fellowship Assembly of God Church. James loved to share his testimony with everyone he met.
James graduated from Jay High School. He worked at Monsanto-Solutia and retired after 28 years of service. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved to raise and train bird dogs. In later years, he enjoyed deer hunting. He will be most remembered for always gardening and riding the tractors.
James was preceded in death by his parents, James Kirkland Sr. and Flara Whitley Kirkland; his brother, Michael Kirkland; and his brothers- in-law, Aubrey Johnson and Bobby White.
James is survived by his spouse of 47 years, Julia “Judy”; sons, Duaine (Tammy) Kirkland, Ronnie (Sheryl) Kirkland, Chad (Corissa) Diamond; his daughter, Cindy (Ken) Blair; grandchildren, Hunter Kirkland, Kaylen (Aaron) Cabiness, Marisa (Shai) Jackson, Colby (Kendra) Diamond, and Cade Diamond; his brother, Jerry (Becky) Kirkland of Walnut Hill; his sisters, Paula (Billy) of Chumuckla, Florida, Betty Johnson of Kentucky, and Barbara White of Pace, Florida; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and special friends, Henry Mullins, Steve Andrew who took care of his dogs, David Jernigan and Ricky Butler.
Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Monday, February 8, 2021, at Lewis Funeral Home, Pace Chapel, with Pastor Lavon Caraway officiating. Burial will follow services in Cora Baptist Church Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Hunter Kirkland, Colby Diamond, Cade Diamond, Shai Jackson, Aaron Cabiness and Rich Diamond.
Visitation will be held 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m., prior to the services.
Escambia Zoning Change Allows Some Homes On An Acre Or More To Be Sold Away From Farmland
February 5, 2021
The Escambia County Commission voted Thursday night to amend zoning to allow homes to be severed away from larger agricultural parcels and sold, if certain conditions are met.
Agricultural zoning currently allows one dwelling unit per 20 acres. The new zoning amendment allows the sale of residential structures that predate the agricultural zoning designation to remain conforming uses as long as they are sold on a parcel that is at least one acre in size.
“This action doesn’t allow for increased density by what we are doing,” Barry said. “The home would be severed out of the parent parcel. The remaining orphaned parcel doesn’t have an entitlement for a home.”
For example, a farmer might purchase a 20 acre parcel that contains a home. The farmer would be allowed to sell the home on a one acre parcel. Another home could never be constructed on the remaining 19 acres, but that acreage would remain zoned for farming, including timber.
Barry said that when a farmer buys a large tract of property in agriculture areas, there’s often an older home on it. The farmer often has no intended use for the structure. Previously, that forced them to sever out 20 acres to have a conforming use in order to sell the house.
With the zoning change, they can now sell the home with an acre or more and retain the remainder of the land for farming.
“This has a possibility of creating a better protection for the agriculture nature of the north (part of the county) than just about anything we’ve ever seen,” Commissioner Doug Underhill said.
Pictured: The sun sets over a North Escambia cornfield. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
ECSO Seeks Two That Charged Thousands On Credit Cards Stolen From Business
February 5, 2021
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking for two suspects that allegedly took credit cards from a business.
Investigators said the pictured suspects used stolen credit cards to purchase thousands of dollars in gift cards from a local store on January 21.
The stolen credit cards were taken from an employee at the Farm and Nursery Mart located on Pine Forest Road. The store said the wallet was stolen from inside the manager’s office, and the suspects spent about $13,000.
She was alerted to the theft when her bank called to say someone was using her cards at the Walmart on Pensacola Boulevard.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Rainy Pattern Through Saturday
February 5, 2021
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Friday: Showers likely, mainly after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 57. North wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Friday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers, mainly before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 39. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 61. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. East wind around 5 mph.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 66. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. South wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 66.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41.
Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53.
Flomaton’s Jackson Dullard Signs With Troy University Football
February 5, 2021
Flomaton’s Jackson Dullard signed a letter of intent Thursday to play football at Troy University this fall.
Dullard was a member of Flomaton’s 2018 state championship team, playing offensive and defensive line that year before transitioning to fullback his junior and senior years earning all state honors. He will continue at Troy as a fullback.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Another 800 Should Receive $3,000 Escambia CARES Grant Soon
February 5, 2021
An additional 800 people are on track to receive a $3,000 Escambia County Family CARES grant as county staffers continue to work to contact about 1,000 more.
In January, the Escambia County Commission instructed county staff to reach about again to about 2,500 Family CARES Grant applicants who do not have complete information on their application.
Of those 2,500 applicants, 1,500 have been contacted and 800 of those have responded and provided needed information.
“We’re making good progress. We have seven county staff that are working on this,” Deputy County Administrator Chips Kirschenfeld told commissioners Thursday. “We think those 800 will be good to go. We’ve got about 1,000 more people to contact that have not been easy to contact, but we’re still working on that.”
Kirschenfeld the final total will be about 1,000 additional grants to be awarded to residents that provide the needed documentation.
“We think over the next three or four weeks, we should have all those contacts made,” Kirschenfeld said. Applicants will have two weeks to respond once they are contacted by the county.
Applicants can check their status in an online portal. If the status indicates “Applications Under Review,” the applicant should expect contact from the county.
The Escambia County Family CARES Grant program application and verification process began back on September 25 of last year. As of December 30, the county had approved 5,736 households for the $3,000 grants totaling over $17 million. In its four-day application window, the county received a higher than anticipated volume of applications with 9,558 households submitting information.
During a Thursday meeting, Commissioner Steven Barry thanked county staff for their hard work on the grant program and getting at least 800 more residents approved.
“That’s going to be a huge impact on their household and on their life, and it’s an impact that wouldn’t have taken place if the board had not taken additional actions,” Barry said.
Century Baseball, Softball Final Registration Is Saturday
February 5, 2021
A final registration event will be held Saturday for the Century Baseball Association.
Baseball and softball sign ups will be held from 10 a.m. until noon at Showalter Park.
Registration is $65, including a hat and shirt. There is a $10 discount for all returning 2020 players. A birth certification and insurance information is needed at the time of registration.
Century Baseball Association is under new leadership this year, and Vice President David Burkett said leaders are working to grow the program.
Other board members are President Heath Burkett, Treasurer Nathan Brown and Secretary Hannah Sanders.
Pictured: Century’s Opening Day 2019. NorthEscambia.com file photos.
FHP: Cantonment Teen Intentionally Ran In Front Of Pickup Before He Was Hit
February 5, 2021
A teen intentionally ran in front of a vehicle before he was struck Tuesday, the Florida Highway Patrol said in a news release Thursday afternoon.
A Ford truck driven by a 46-year old Pensacola man was traveling south on Highway 95A approaching East Kingsfield Road when “a 15 year old juvenile male of Cantonment intentionally ran into the path of the Ford”, the FHP report states.
The 15-year old male was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital by Escambia County EMS. FHP said the teen’s injuries were determined to be minor.
The teen was held under Florida’s Baker Act, which provides for temporary detention and emergency mental health services.
The pickup driver was not injured.
File photo.
Shirley L. Clayton
February 5, 2021
Shirley L. Clayton passed away on Friday, January 29, 2021. She was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on November 30, 1927 at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital.
She graduated from Baton Rouge Highschool. During retirement, she moved to Zwolle, Louisiana, where she was an active church member. Shirley then moved to Molino, Florida to be close to family, where for the last eighteen years, she was a parishioner of St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church in Cantonment, Florida. She was also a member of the Molino Homemakers Association, which she dearly loved. Her favorite past-times were gardening and sitting in her swing on the back porch.
Shirley was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, who was devoted to her family and church. Touching the hearts of so many, she will be greatly missed, as she leaves behind many special friends and family.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Robert B. Clayton; father, Burris J. Landry; mother, Ada D. Alleman; and brother, Malcom A. Landry.
Shirley is survived by her daughters, Cheryl A. Gremillion and Tara A. (Jeff) Turnipseed; grandchildren, Kelly A. (Tim) Connell, Clayton P. Gremillion, Grant F. Gremillion, Kate (Sean) Turnipseed-White, and William J. Turnipseed; and great-grandson, Mac Walker.