Herman “Dean” Clark Sr.
February 11, 2023
Herman “Dean” Clark Sr., 83, of Pensacola, Florida, passed away on Friday, February 3, 2023. Dean was born on January 4, 1940 in Jolo, West Virginia to parents, Robert Clark and Octavia Day. He was a member of the Northwest Florida Pest Control Association and the Peacemakers Gospel Group, and worked at Faith Chapel Funeral Home and Crematory for 12 years.
Dean is preceded in death by his wife, Annette Clark, his mother, Octavia Day, and his grandson, Justin Fagan.
He is survived by his daughters, Vickie Fagan (Richard) and Lisa Chason (Gary), his sons, Dean Clark Jr. (Susan) and Dennis Clark (Kathy), as well as his 10 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
Services for Dean Clark Sr. will begin with a visitation from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Tuesday, February 7, 2023 at Faith Chapel Funeral Home South. A funeral service will begin at 11:00 AM, Wednesday, February 8, 2023. Dean will be laid to rest at Pensacola Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will include: James Clark, Taylor Fagan, Seth Fagan, Kevin Revels, Scotty Hill, and Joshua Fagan. Honorary Pallbearers: Leland Arnette, Tyler Clark, and Zachary Burridge.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home South, 100 Beverly Pkwy., Pensacola, Florida 32505 entrusted with arrangements.
Rachel May Walker
February 11, 2023
Rachel M. Walker, 75, of Pensacola, FL, passed away Monday, February 6, 2023. She was born June 27, 1947, in Pensacola, FL. She was married to Julian Walker for 55 years. Rachel was the Music Director at Family Worship Center. She was a member of Family Worship Center and had a passion for ministry, witnessing and winning souls to Christ.
Rachel is preceded in death by her father, Gerald Caryl, Sr. and her mother, Juniece Peaden Caryl.
Rachel is survived by her husband, Julian Walker; daughter Johanna Walker; two brothers, Gerald Caryl-Gordon and John Burgess; and countless nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be Friday, February 10, 2023, from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North. Funeral Service will follow at 12:00 PM. Rev. Chuck Constant, Rev. Paul Wetzel and Rev. Sandra Fowler will be officiating. Interment will be at Eastern Gate Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Roger Watkins, John Lamb, Randy Wood, Gene Broxton, Joe Fritz and Chuck Roth. Honorary pallbearers will be J. D. Woodside, Lance George, Michael Caryl, David Powell, Dusty Richardson and Jason Vaughan.
Luther Eugene “Gene” Godwin
February 11, 2023
On Sunday, February 5th 2023, Gene Godwin of Molino, FL went home to be with the Lord. He was only 55 years old.
Gene was born September 8th, 1967 to Luther Godwin Jr and Shirley Phillips in Pensacola, FL.
Gene was considered a “Jack of all trades.” He could do anything and everything. He attended George Stone to be a mechanic and Pensacola State College where he earned his certification in welding. He worked at many different places throughout his life, but has been with Ingram Electric for the past 7 years. He was never scared to take on new opportunities and had a couple businesses of his own. One he named after his late son called Tejay’s Welding and Fabrication.
He fully enjoyed what he did and those he met in his days. He was easy to talk to and always had a story to tell. He never hesitated to help where he could, even if he grumbled about it the whole time. He would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it.
Gene was a hardworking man who loved his family very much. Everything he did, it was with them in mind. His grand babies were his pride and joy. They could always get away with anything and were often spoiled by him. If they wanted it, he got it.
He loved going on family vacations, especially to Tennessee. He always enjoyed the mountain scenery. He also liked to relax in the river during the summer months. He planned an Adventures Unlimited trip every year for his wife’s birthday and invited the whole family down. He would rent the biggest cabin they offered so that everyone had a place to stay.
Gene enjoyed cooking and often credited his granny Nelson for his great cooking skills. A fond memory from his children is that he would always ask you to taste his potato salad and dressing he cooked the night before Thanksgiving. Even if they were asleep and it was 1AM, he’d wake them up to get their opinion on his food. He took pride in his dishes and made sure to ask everyone how they liked it.
He looked forward to coming home and relaxing in his Lazy Boy after a long day at work. He’d always have a movie on and would sometimes watch the same movie multiple nights in a row, but the family thinks it’s because he would often fall asleep halfway through the first time around. He could fall asleep anywhere at any time, even mid conversation. He’d wake up and pick back up where he left off pretending nothing happened.
He was not a huge sports fan, but he loved Florida State Football and tried his best to watch every game.
Gene was larger than life and his shoes cannot be filled. He will be missed tremendously by his family and friends.
Gene is survived and missed by his loving wife, Tammy, of 20 years; his children Josh (Kaly) Godwin, Deddrick Perry, Valarie (Travis) Barnes, Kayla Godwin, Jordan Godwin, and Aaron Godwin; eleven grandchildren, Aubrey, Bray, and Rhett Godwin, Lexi, Payton, and Annalyse Barnes, Milah and Lainee Johnson, Brightleigh Perry, Destiny and Kylie Godwin; one expected grandchild and one great granddaughter; his mother, Shirley (Gene) Phillips; four brothers; John (Kim) Godwin, Charlie (Kelly) Phillips, Henry Joe Godwin, and Jamie (Sarah) Phillips; one sister, Kathy (Wayne) Briske; as well as numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his son, Tejay Godwin; his father, Luther Godwin Jr.; maternal grandparents, Delores and Wesley Nelson; paternal grandparents, Kathleen and Luther Godwin Sr.
Visitation will be held Monday, February 13th at Faith Chapel Funeral Home in Cantonment, FL. 12 PM-1 PM for family and 1PM-2PM for friends. Funeral Service will follow at 2 PM. Interment will be at New Beginnings Cemetery in Molino, FL.
Pallbearers will be Josh Godwin, Travis Barnes, Eric Allen, Shannon Edmonson, Jack Edmonson and Terry Capps. Honorary pallbearers will be John Godwin, Charlie Phillips, Henry Joe Nelson, Edwin Nelson, and Raymond Nelson.
FWC Law Enforcement Report
February 11, 2023
This week, the Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity from October:
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officer Specialist Pettey received information of two deer carcasses being dumped, oneof which had its head removed. Officer Pettey spoke to several landowners and discovered one individual had been using a deer depredation permit on a nearby field. The officer was able to speak with the individual, who admitted taking the antlered deer from the field, which is a violation of the depredation permit. The deer head was recovered and the individual was cited for the violations.
Officer Specialist Allgood observed an individual fishing. He conducted a resource and license inspection and determined the subject did not have a valid saltwater fishing license. In addition, he discovered the subject was a wanted fugitive in Henry County, Alabama. Officer Specialist Allgood arrested the subject and booked him the Escambia County jail.
Officer Specialist Allgood was on patrol and observed a commercial fisherman with a vessel in tow entering Florida from Alabama. The officer conducted a resource inspection. During the inspection, the officer asked the fisherman for the required documentation that allows a person to legally transport saltwater products into the state. The subject was unable to produce the required documents. The officer issued a notice to appear for transporting saltwater products into the state without an invoice or bill of lading.
Officer Specialist Allgood was on patrol and observed a man return from hunting. A resource inspection was conducted, and the officer found two recently harvested deer in the cooler of the subject’s truck. The hunter did not have a hunting license and was cited for possession of two deer during the closed season and possession of unlabeled deer meat.
Officer Specialist Allgood and Hahr checked three people hunting dove on a private, recently mowed millet field. Upon closer inspection, the officers located cracked corn spread in the middle of the field. Citations were issued for the violations.
Officer Lugg and Senst were on patrol in the Gulf of Mexico when they received a call referencing a commercial fisherman that ran from a National Park Service Officer by vessel. The Park Service Officer was attempting to stop him for commercially fishing in a closed area near Fort Pickens. Officer Specialist Cushing, McHenry and Robertson also responded to the area to assist. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officers located the suspect on the north side of Pensacola Bay. The subject was detained and turned over to the National Park Service officer. Multiple federal charges are pending on the suspect.
Officers Lugg, Wilkenson, and Senst were on patrol conducting fisheries inspections in the Gulf of Mexico. They cited four individual vessel operators for the following violations: an undersized greater amberjack, several filleted vermillion snapper, undersized red snapper during closed season, harvested red snapper during closed season, and no saltwater licensing.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officer Cushing conducted a commercial fishing vessel inspection at Shoreline Park. While inspecting the commercial diving vessel, he determined two of the seven greater amberjack were undersized. The captain of the vessel indicated he speared the fish and said he believed they were at least the 36” minimum commercial size limit. Using the captain’s ruler and a state issued ruler, it was determined they were clearly less than the minimum size limit. He was issued a citation for the violation.
Officer Bower received information about individuals fishing on the Pensacola Fishing Pier keeping a cooler full of undersized mangrove snapper. The subject was seen leaving the pier and the complainant was able to describe the vehicle leaving the area. Officer Bower was conducting resource inspections at another fishing location and identified the subjects matching the description from photos that were provided. Officer Bower located 12 undersized mangrove snapper. The subject was issued a notice to appear for possessing undersized and over the bag limit of mangrove snapper.
Officers Bower, Corbin, and Oliver responded to a boating accident with injuries. A group of personal watercrafts (PWC) were operating in the middle of the Santa Rosa Sound, near the county line. Two of the PWCs collided with ach other. The operator of the striking vessel did not maintain a proper lookout, as he was looking to his right instead of the direction he was traveling. The vessel struck another PWC causing injury to the operator, who was transported by EMS and treated for multiple injuries. Charges were filed against the operator of the striking vessel. While on patrol in Blackwater State Forest Wildlife Management Area (WMA), Officer Mullins located a couch and other items illegally dumped on management land. The officer gathered information and obtained a vehicle description. Officer Mullins and Roberson located the vehicle and subject at his nearby residence. The officers spoke with the suspect who admitted to illegally dumping the couch on Blackwater property. The officers followed the suspect back to the WMA where he loaded the couch and litter back into his truck and cleaned the area. The suspect was issued a notice to appear and multiple citations for several violations.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Rose M. Bauer
February 11, 2023
Rose M. Bauer, 79, of Cantonment, Florida, passed away on January 26, 2023. She was born in Poplar Bluff, Missouri on June 21, 1943 to Harry and Grace Casey. She was married to Ronald L. Bauer for 58 years. Rose worked as a teacher for the Escambia County School District and she was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
She was preceded in death by her father, Harry Casey; mother, Grace Casey; daughter, Dawn Bauer Hohlenkamp; brother, John T. Casey; sister, Rita Casey; and sister-in-law, San Dee Casey.
Rose is survived by her husband, Ronald L. Bauer; son, Ronald P. Bauer; grandsons, Lorenz Hohlenkamp, Evan Hohlenkamp, and Harrison Hohlenkamp; and sister, Mary Giedinghagen.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 1:00pm Saturday, February 11, 2023 at St Mary’s Catholic Church, Pensacola, Florida. Visitation will be prior to service from 12:00pm to 1:00pm. Burial will follow at Eastern Gate Memorial Gardens.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, 1000 South Highway 29, Cantonment, is entrusted with arrangements.
Ruby Wilson Barker
February 11, 2023
Ruby Wilson Barker, 95 passed away Friday February 10,2023. Ms. Ruby was born August 4,1927 in Atmore, Al to Benjamin “Hub” Wilson & Lula Mae Carraway Wilson.
Ms. Ruby owned & operated “Ruby’s Fish Camp” on Perdido River from 1960-1989. A few years later she went to work as a Precision Machinest” in Robertsdale, Al. a trade she took great pride in for approximately 10 years.
She only had two speeds in her life “wide open & stop” and she lived it to the fullest.
She never met a stranger and her love for serving others was evident in many ways .
At Christmas she always had a gift for everyone that came to her home and for those sick or in need she would prepare and deliver food. Her grandchildren were her the joy of her life in later years especially. After her retirement and during failing health she was fortunate to live with each of her daughters and two of the grandchildren, needless to say she enjoyed it tremendously. Whether known by Momma, Granny, Nana, or Granny Ruby she was deeply loved and her memory will be cherished forever.
She was preceded in death by her parents, five siblings, daughter Patricia Ann Thompson, and granddaughter Tammy Durden Gates.
Survivors include her daughters, Joyce Shaw of Pensacola, Fl. and Kay Durden(Ronnie) of Grand Ridge, Fl. Eight grandchildren Wendy(Fritz), Billy(Andrea) Danny(Lori) Buddy(Sidney) John(Marian) Belinda (Mike) Amy(John), Phillip(April). Eighteen great-grandchildren, and nine great-great-grandchildren. Several nieces, nephews, other family members and a host of friends also survive. Services will be Monday, February 13, at 2:00pm at Johnson Quimby Funeral Home Chapel Atmore Al. Visitation will be one hour prior to service.
Anthony “Tony” Taylor
February 11, 2023
Anthony “Tony” Taylor lifelong resident of Pensacola, Florida passed away on Wednesday, February 8, 2023 at the age of 84. He was born on July 27, 1938 to the late John Thomas Taylor and Henrietta Huggins Taylor.
Tony worked for ECUA retiring with 38 years of service. He was a member of Beulah Freewill Baptist Church. Tony enjoyed race car driving and fishing.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara Henderson Taylor; one infant son, Anthony Taylor, Jr.; parents; and four siblings.
Tony is survived by two children, Lynita Taylor; Thomas (Mary) Taylor; two grandchildren, John Taylor (Toni Evans) and Jennifer (George) Bower; and one great granddaughter, Amelia Bower.
Private family graveside will be held in Morgan Cemetery.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home South, 100 Beverly Pkwy, entrusted with arrangements.
Water ‘Not Safe To Drink’ In Large Area Of Atmore After Contractor Hits Main, Utility Says
February 10, 2023
UPDATE: The boil water notice has been lifted.
The water is not safe to drink over a “large area” in Atmore, and a boil water notice is in effect through the weekend.
“A contractor has bored thru a water main on N. Trammell St. This is causing discolored water and low water pressure over a large area. It is not safe to drink at this time,” West Escambia Utilities said in a statement early Friday afternoon. “We are working to repair the issue and will have it repaired as soon as we can.”
The water line that was damaged is near an elevated storage tank.
The utility did not provide a specific geographic area impacted by this incident.
EREC Members To See Lower Electric Bills
February 10, 2023
Escambia River Electric Cooperative members will see lower bills.
The “fuel cost adjustment” on member bills will drop to zero.
For EREC’s average resident customer using 1,450 kilowatt-hours per month, the savings will equate to about $30 a month.
According to EREC, about 40% of a member’s monthly bill goes toward fuel costs for PowerSouth – EREC’s wholesale power provider. PowerSouth uses that fuel to generate electricity which EREC then distributes to homes and businesses If the cost of that fuel goes up, the price EREC pays for electricity rises with it. In recent months natural gas, one of the most important fuel sources for PowerSouth, has reached its highest price in over a decade.
“Natural gas prices have nearly tripled, but we are continually looking for ways to keep costs down for our members,” said Ryan Campbell, EREC’s CEO. “We are able to cut certain costs and divert projects to a later date to help weather the storm.”
The cooperative said now that the cost of natural gas is decreasing, EREC is keeping their promise to pass the savings on to members and lower the cost of electricity.
“As a not-for-profit cooperative, we always work to provide reliable electric service at an affordable price,” said Campbell.
EREC serves about 10,000 members in northern Escambia and Santa Rosa counties with 1,800 miles of energized line.
Pictured: EREC’s Walnut Hill Office. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Showers Likely Through Saturday, Turning Cooler By Sunday
February 10, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Friday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 60. North wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Friday Night: Showers likely. Cloudy, with a low around 47. North wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Saturday: Showers likely. Cloudy, with a high near 51. North wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 57. Northwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 34. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 64. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 41. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming east after midnight.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 70.
Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63.
Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. Breezy.