Donald W. Reid
January 24, 2023
Donald W. Reid (Bob) was called home on Sunday, January 22, 2023. Bob is a native of Byrneville, Florida where he has lived all his life.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Donald (Totsie) Reid, his beautiful wife of 54 years, Katherine Reid, sister-in law, Pearl McCurdy, three brother-in laws, Jerry Johnson, Wilson Johnson, Clayton Armstrong, and one nephew, Dwayne McCurdy.
He is survived by his son, Keith (LaJuana) Reid of Byrneville, FL; four grandchildren, Tori (Joe) Brown, of Jay, FL; Blake (Morgan) Reid, of Jay, FL; Michael (Elizabeth) Jacobs, of Wiley, TX; Melissa (Cody) Warrick, of Gun Barrell City, TX; one great-grandson, Asher Brown, four brothers- in law, Donnie (Linda) Johnson, of Flomaton, AL; Charlie (Biscuit) Johnson, of Flomaton, AL; Ronnie (Brenda) Johnson, of Flomaton, AL; sister-in law, Bettie Armstrong, of Pace, FL; and countless other family members, and friends.
The family would like to give a very special thanks, to Ms. Irene Graves for her unconditional love and support over the past year. She has been such a blessing to our entire family and we are eternally grateful that God lead us to her. We couldn’t have picked another “Ms. Irene” even if Kat were to have picked her for us! Also, a very special thanks to Vitas Hospice and Wanda and Staff at The Terrace.
Funeral service will be held Wednesday, January 25, 2023, at 11:00 AM at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home, LLC. with Pastor, Paul Armstrong and Michael Johnson officiating.
Burial will follow at Byrneville Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, January 25, 2023, from 10:00 AM until service time at 11:00 AM at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home, LLC.
Pallbearers will be Steven Johnson, Bart Johnson, Travis Johnson, Danny Dixon, Cory Johnson, and Steve Turner.
Stan Shimmin
January 19, 2023
Stan Shimmin, age 77 of Pensacola, Florida, went home to be with the Lord on January 16, 2023. Stan spent his career in ministry as an illustrator with Abeka and as an art instructor at Pensacola Christian College. His works of art and calligraphy glorified his Savior and brought joy to his friends and family. His grandchildren were the highlight of his life and they will always remember playing with Grumpa. He loved landscaping, hiking with family, and woodworking. He was especially known for his handcrafted walking sticks.
He is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Dee Shimmin, his father, Paul Shimmin, and his mother Faye Shimmin. He is survived by his four children, Raylene Cochran (Scott), Randi Jones (Michael), Marty Shimmin (Valerie), and Meggan Grosnick (Erik); grandchildren, Kenneth Cochran, Justin Jones, Lauren Cochran, Camden Jones, Gavin Jones, Carstan Cochran, Jaden Shimmin, Gabriel Shimmin, Samantha Grosnick, Elaina Shimmin, Logan Shimmin, Addisyn Grosnick, Taylen Grosnick; great grandchildren, Lilly Jones, Ezzeriah Jones; sisters, Paula Shimmin, Fern Shimmin, Verna Atkinson (Robert), and Rita Shown (Rod).
A private interment ceremony will be held for family.
Althea Pauline Eicher Dyck
January 19, 2023
Althea Pauline Eicher Dyck was the fourth child born to Leland and Hannah Johnson Eicher on
January 10, 1927, in rural Gratiot County, Michigan. She passed away at the Oakwood Retirement
Community in Brooksville, Mississippi on January 17, 2023, just a week after her ninety-sixth
birthday.
She started school in Michigan, then moved with her family at age eight to Summerdale, Alabama
where she finished her formal elementary education. She felt the call to salvation and on confession
of faith was baptized into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite. She was faithful to her vows
until the end. On April 16, 1950, she was united in marriage to Ben Dyck at Walnut Hill, Florida.
They made their home in Hesston, Kansas where they farmed for an occupation. In August of 1957,
they moved to Walnut Hill, Florida where they took up pioneer farming and then became involved
in dairying. Mom enjoyed teaching Bible School in the summer and volunteering as a “Pink Lady”
at the local hospital and nursing home. She also enjoyed the church sewing circle and being on the
food committee. She loved the art of quilting, and we remember her giving many quilts away to
family and friends.
Mom and Dad were blessed with three sons and two daughters. In 1996, our dad was diagnosed
with a brain tumor and soon passed away, leaving mom lonely. However, she was so grateful she
could live together with her daughter Shirley for many years. Through the trials of her later life the
Bible story of the woman who touched the hem of Jesus’ garment was so special to mom. She
expressed that she felt the need to reach out and touch Him many times. She moved to the
Oakwood Retirement Community in June of 2020. Her serenity in facing the challenges of her
failing health and limited independence was an inspiration to many. She appreciated the friendship,
love, and care of the Oakwood family.
Left to cherish loving memories are her children: Judy and Terry Harms of Murray, Kentucky;
Carl and Becky Dyck of Bowersville, Georgia; Shirley Dyck of Bowersville, Georgia; Waldo and
Janalie Dyck of Lakeville, Ohio; thirteen grandchildren, thirty-nine great grandchildren, and one
great great grandchild; special friends: Henry and Polly Hiebert and family of Molino, Florida;
Phil and Sondra Giesbrecht and family of Macon, Mississippi; two sisters: Eunice Smith and Imo
and Wilbert Peters both of Brooksville, Mississippi; three brothers: William and Lois Eicher,
Wallace and Judy Eicher, and Wendell and Mary Eicher, all of Walnut Hill, Florida; sisters-in-law:
Dolly Eicher of Brooksville, Mississippi and Loretta Dyck of Bonners Ferry, Idaho; one brother-in-
law Bob Mininger of Moundridge, Kansas. She was predeceased by her husband Ben; one son,
Michael Dyck; one grandson, Justin Dyck; one great-granddaughter, Betsy Dyck; two brothers,
two sisters, five sisters-in-law, and seven brothers-in-law.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 21, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. at Walnut Hill Mennonite
Church with Minister Brian Decker, Minister Joseph Dyck and Minister Jamie Wedel officiating.
Interment will follow in Walnut Hill Memorial Gardens Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Arlen Penner, Ben Lehman, Chelson Dyck, Tye Jantz, Turi Rodriques,
Sheldon Toews, Henry Hiebert, Nolan Koehn, Arlin Koehn, Mike Dyck and Jevan Dyck.
Visitation will be held Friday, January 20, 2023 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Walnut Hill
Mennonite Church.
David Dale Kalb
January 19, 2023
age 66, passed away on January 15, 2023 at his residence. He was born on November 1,1956 in Cleveland, Ohio to David Francis and Bonnie Lou Kalb. He was married to Natalie Kalb for 48 years. He had a career in the military for 20 years. He was a member of Hillcrest Baptist Church and had a passion for children’s ministry.
He was preceded in death by his parents, David Francis and Bonnie Lou Kalb; brother, Michael Anthony Kalb.
He is survived by his wife, Natalie Kalb; sons, Michael A. (Danette)Kalb, David J. Rachel) Kalb; grandchildren Jacob (Meaghan) Kalb, Natalie Kalb, McKayla Kalb, Levi Kalb, Joseph Kalb, Isabella Kalb; sister, Jackie (Donald) Joseph; brother, Larry (Maribeth) Kalb.
Memorial service will be Saturday, January 28, 2023 at 11:00am at Hillcrest Baptist Church. Fellowship will follow at 12:00pm in the Heritage Hall.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, 1000 South Highway 29, Cantonment, is entrusted with arrangements.
Amy Jo Lambeth
January 18, 2023
Mrs. Lambeth enjoyed spending time with family and friends. She loved taking pictures at the football games, and loved going fishing. She enjoyed cooking and traveling especially to New Orleans and Lafayette, LA.
She is survived by her father, John (George Ann) Johnson, of Walnut Hill, FL; mother, Ruth Martin, of Lawton, OK; husband, Dan Lambeth, of Flomaton, AL; one son, Silas Jackson Lambeth, of Flomaton, AL; one daughter, Madison Jewel Lambeth, of Flomaton, AL; one brother, Bradley Ross, of Albuquerque, NM; one sister, Sarah (Eli) Miller, of Molino, FL; special friend, Kelly Dove, other relatives, and friends.
Funeral service will be held Saturday, January 21, 2022, at 12:30 PM at Petty- Eastside Chapel Funeral Home, LLC with Rev. Josh Long officiating.
Burial will follow at Travelers Rest Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Saturday, January 21, 2023, from 11:30 AM until service time at 12:30 PM at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home, LLC.
Pallbearers will be Rusty Carden, Eli Himes, Ronnie Dove, Danny Taylor, Donnie Branch, and Ray Flores.
Honorary pallbearers will be Coach Ferron, Coach O’Neal, Flomaton Hurricane Junior Football Team, Joey Hasty, Wallace Byrd, David Strength, and Terry Boutwell.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home, LLC. is in charge of all arrangements.
Opal L. (Cornelia) Hatcher
January 18, 2023
Opal L. (Cornelia) Hatcher, 86, of Cantonment, Florida, passed away on Monday, January 16, 2023, after a short illness.
She was born in Sneads, Florida on January 18, 1936, daughter of the late Percy and Blanche Lanier, and sister of her late brother William Lanier. She is survived by her daughter Janice Hardin and her husband Kerry, son Larry Hatcher and his wife Karen, and Allen Hatcher and his wife Yolanda. She is also survived by eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces and nephews. Opal graduated from Sneads High School (Florida) where she was a cheerleader and then graduated as Salutatorian of her class. She met her future husband, Charles K. Hatcher, at a basketball game and married in October 1953; they were married for 45 years until his death in 1998. She soon thereafter attended and graduated from Montgomery Business College. They moved from Chattahoochee, Florida to Pensacola in 1957 and both began work at Chemstrand. She also worked in administration at the firm of Cabiness, Hiles, and McCloud and later had a long administrative career at Pensacola Junior College in the IT and Data Processing Department.
Charles and Opal built their first home in Ensley, Florida in 1960 and later built a new home in Cantonment. Opal was a very family-oriented lady; her family’s well-being always came first to her. She loved her husband and children dearly and was never more content than on those occasions when they could all be together. In addition to her family, she loved music and working in her yard and garden, but what she loved most was taking care of others. She could not bear to see anyone suffer and was tireless in her efforts to assist and heal. Her efforts in taking care of both her parents, her brother and her husband, when they were in ill health, were remarkable and set a standard for love and sacrifice that few will ever match.
She also loved to laugh, and her children discovered in her later years that she had much more humor within her than was ever suspected. She began exhibiting a degree of quick wit and humor they had never witnessed and this has left them with many fond and delightful memories of her latter days. Opal was a faithful member of the Pensacola Boulevard Church of Christ and later attended the Gateway Church of Christ. She was not “preachy” and she taught others primarily how she lived her life and how she treated others. She was an exemplary model of what a mother and wife should be. She laughed heartily in the good times, worked hard and long in times of difficulty, and seldom if ever, complained. She was a light in the world for many people and will be sorely missed. Pallbearers will be Justin Hatcher, Stan Oliver, Burt Goodman, Justin Hardy, Patrick Bradley, Austin
Smith.
A funeral service will be held at Faith Chapel Funeral Home-North on Friday, January 20. Visitation will be from 2 pm to 3:30 pm with the funeral service to follow immediately. Opal will be buried on Saturday at Pensacola Memorial Gardens at 2:00 pm and all family and friends are welcome to attend.
Nancy Patricia James
January 17, 2023
Nancy Patricia James, nee Hicks, of Pensacola, Fl, passed away on January 8, 2023, just one day short of her 84th birthday.
She was born in Greensboro, AL to Stanley and Grace Hicks, one of nine children. They all predecease her. She was the last “Hicks”.
Over Spring Break in 1956, she was visiting the Gulf Coast and met a handsome NAVY Flight Mechanic, Dale Buddy James, in the surf of Pensacola Beach. They were married a year later. This marriage lasted 65 years with Nancy following Bud from coast-to-coast and to the Orient.
She was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1961 and remained faithful to her religion until her death.
Nancy was admired for her beauty, wit, keeping a lovely home, and being devoted to her pets.
She is survived by her husband, Bud James, her daughters, Janice (Steve) Kline and Kaylynne “Dede” McClellan. She has 4 granddaughters, Tiffany (Bill) Whyte, Tehra (Landon) Walker, Kathleen Chambers, and Anjolie Kline, great grandson Brayden Walker, great daughters Emmalyn Whyte, Elizabeth Whyte, and Ella Walker.
A Memorial Service will be held at Faith Chapel North on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023 at 11:00am.
The Service will be live-streamed.
James L. M. Berry
January 17, 2023
James L. M. Berry entered into eternal patrol on December 16, 2022, as submariners do when they leave their earthly life, into the life God has promised us. James was a loving father to his 3 daughters Nichelle (Nic), Stephanie, and Barbara (Renee). James was a good friend to all who knew him. He was always willing to help out anyone in need. James was a Volkswagen enthusiast and a longtime member of Rare Air Volkswagen Club. He held weekly engine building classes in his garage which he very much enjoyed. James also collected various 1967 Volkswagens; a bug, single and double cab trucks, and a Karmann Ghia, as well as a “New diesel” VW. James was a man of many talents. He sang and played multiple instruments; drums, piano, violin, and the accordion. James loved Dixieland Jazz and had been a member of multiple bands over the years. James won many trophies in Navy talent shows. He was a proud U. S. Navy Submariner and loved sharing his experiences like how subs worked, as well as, all of the places he had visited during his career. James thoroughly enjoyed using some of the foreign languages he had picked up over the years, especially German, Spanish, Tagalog, and Hawaiian Pidgin. While serving in the Navy in Hawaii, James took up flying, and obtained his private pilot certification. James was a model train collector. He was given his first train at a very young age which started his love for trains. He still runs that train on a track suspended in his home today. As well as collecting and enjoying his own trains over the years, James was involved in the Foley Railroad Museum where he volunteered every week. James enjoyed building models of planes and boats. He was meticulous with details and the authenticity of each project.
James grew up in LaCrosse, Wisconsin with his parents Leo and Edith Berry and his three sisters, Bonnie Hesse (Gary), Sharon Fundum, and Susan McGuire. James joined the Navy after high school and served 26 years; 15 of them being “submerged” on submarines. James retired from the military and landed in Pensacola, Florida as he didn’t want any part of dealing with winter snow. James went to work at The Endoscopy Center of Pensacola and The Imaging Center as a valued employee.
James was preceded in death by his parents, Leo and Edith Berry; his daughter, Stephanie Ware; and brothers- in- law, Carl McGuire and Dale Fundum.
James is survived by his daughters, Nichelle “Nic” Smith and Barbara “Renee” Ware; sisters, Bonnie (Gary) Hesse, Sharon Fundum and Susan McGuire; five granddaughters; four grandsons; twin great granddaughter and grandson; and his special Best Buddy, Matthew. James will be missed dearly by his family, close friends and all those that knew him. James was an active member of The Subvets, volunteered at the Drum in Mobile, Alabama at Battleship Park where he enjoyed giving tours and shining brass on the sub. James attended St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Pensacola, Florida for many years.
Donations can be made on James’ behalf to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
Deborah Kay Lee
January 16, 2023
Ms. Deborah Kay Lee, age 67, passed away peacefully, Sunday, January 15, 2023, in Century, FL. with family at her bedside She resided most of her life in Bratt, FL. She was a member of Unity Baptist Church.
Ms. Lee enjoyed spending time with her family. She loved to travel, and enjoyed baking cakes, and sewing. She loved to sit down and watch Hallmark Movies.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Mr. Carthell Alderman and Ms. Betty Mullins, one son, Shane Lee, two sisters, Lillian Ard, Susan Alderman, and one brother, Jimmy Alderman.
She is survived by her one son, Robert (Debra) Findlay, of Gulf Breeze, FL; four daughters, Mary Amber (Joel) Broadhead, of Bratt, FL; Sheena (Jacob) Carach, of Bratt, FL; Karissa (Willie) Knight, of Walnut Hill, FL; Heather (Michael) Couillard, of Pace, FL; thirteen grandchildren, Skye Lee (Cody) Parham, Lexi Broadhead (Keyshawn Breedlove), Somer (Christian) Coleman, A.J. Broadhead, Naudia Carach, Zach Carach, Aiden Broadhead, Tyler Carach, Peyton Lee, Landon Lee, Willie Knight IV, Lilliana Couillard, Remington Knight, two great-grandchildren, Cason Coleman, August Parham, and other relatives.
Funeral service will be Friday, January 20, 2023 at 11:00 AM at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home, LLC with Rev. Josh Long officiating.
Burial will follow at Godwin Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Thursday, January 19, 2023 from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home, LLC.
Pallbearers will be A.J. Broadhead, Aiden Broadhead, Zach Carach, Tyler Carach, Joel Broadhead, and Jake Carach.
Honorary pallbearers will be Michael Couillard, and Willie Knight III, and Landon Lee.
Patricia Faye Billingsley
January 16, 2023
Mrs. Patricia Faye Billingsley, age 57, passed away, Thursday, January 12, 2023, in Atmore, AL. She was a lifelong resident of Flomaton, AL. She attended the Gospel Light Temple for many years.
Mrs. Billingsley loved spending time with her family. She enjoyed listening to music, and dancing. She was very artistic, loved to draw and loved making beaded jewelry. She enjoyed going to the mountains, and the creek. She always opened her home up to anyone in need and enjoyed taking care of many babies over the years.
Mrs. Billingsley is preceded in death by her parents, James McLain and Betty Hall McLain, two brothers, Kenneth Dewayne McLain, Donnie Lee McLain, grandparents, Jesse Lambert, and Allen Sutton.
She is survived by her aunts, Kathy (Raymond) Rolin, of Atmore, AL; Mary (Scott) Hardin, of Pensacola, FL; one step-daughter, Carrie Coleman, of Brewton, AL; half-sister, Vanessa Tillman, of McDavid, FL; step-mother, Patsy McLain, of McDavid, FL; a special friend, Maegen Ferrera, and other relatives.
Funeral service will be held Wednesday, January 18, 2023 at 1:00 PM at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home, LLC. with Bro. Clarence Rolin and Bro. Raymond Rolin officiating.
Burial will follow at Pollard Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, January 18, 2023 from 12:00 PM until service time at 1:00 PM at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home, LLC.
Pallbearers will be Matt Lee, Jeffery Lambeth, Johnathan Watson, Eduardo Rosales, Jared Anderson, and Justin Anderson.