John Thomas Reading, Sr.
December 27, 2019
John Thomas Reading, Sr., age 89, was born in Camden, Arkansas, on October 10, 1930 to the late Thomas and Clara Belle Reading. He passed away in Pensacola, Florida on December 26, 2019.
John began his life in poverty, which caused him to lead a humble life, never forgetting his roots.
He felt an early calling to serve his country so he joined the Navy, underage, at 14. He then further honored his service by joining the Army Air Corps/Air Force. After fulfilling his beginning dream, he gratefully used the GI Bill from the military to attend and graduate pharmacy school from Samford University. While a student there, he used art as an outlet and had some of his artwork he created displayed at the Birmingham Museum of Art. He owned the Cantonment Pharmacy for 43 years and he loved all of his customers dearly.
For John, life was just one adventure after another. His interests varied from owning several Harley and Indian motorcycles, collecting Colt firearms to owning several airplanes. He was a pilot, an expert on Civil War history, the best advice giver, the teller of the tallest tales, the author of ten novels, a huge animal lover and one of the funniest people you ever met. When someone met John, they were guaranteed to have him put a smile on their face. He was loved dearly and will be greatly missed.
John is preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Clara Belle Reading; sisters, Flora Jane, Clara Marie, Mabel Ellen and Darlene; and brother, James Thomas.
Frank “Jun Jun” Pleasant, Jr.
December 27, 2019
Wille Frank “Jun Jun” Pleasant Jr., transitioned from his earthly home to his eternal home on Wednesday, December 18, 2019. Willie was a native of Pensacola, FL, and a resident of Moss Point, MS, for the past two years. He was an entrepreneur who loved being outdoors within nature as a fisherman.
Willie is preceded in death by his parents, Willie Frank Pleasant, Sr., and Mae Francis Coats-Baggett, both of Pensacola, FL; his sister, Alexia Rochelle Baggett of Pensacola, FL; and an uncle, Raymond Coats of Moss Point, MS.
Wille leaves to cherish his loving memories: his sisters, Lucretia C. Coats of Pascagoula, MS and La Maysha Pleasant of Gulfport, MS; his nieces, Crenishal M. Thompson of Pascagoula, MS, Cierra S. Thompson of Pascagoula, MS, and Amiah E. Pleasant of Gulfport, MS; his nephews, Christon S. Thompson of Moss Point, MS, Warren M. Heterington III and Marquiston D. Sherrod, both of Gulfport, MS, and Neveahn J. Broadnax of Pascagoula, MS; his aunts, Elaine Coats-Cotton of Pensacola, FL, Brenda Coats of Biloxi, MS, Michelle Coats of Columbus, GA, Faye Pleasant and Shelia Renee Pleasant, both of Pensacola, FL; his step-aunt, Ethel Berryman of Pascagoula, MS; his uncles, Eric Coats of Moss Point, MS, Abe Pleasant and Sam Pleasant, both of Pensacola, FL; and grandparents, Iva Dean and Roy Coats, both of Moss Point, MS; along with a host of cousins and special friends that will miss him dearly.
Homegoing Celebration will be held Saturday 28, 2019, at noon atOlivet Missionary Baptist Church, 5925 Frederick St., Moss Point, MS 39563. Entrusted to Guardian Angels Funeral Home, 2034 Old Mobile Ave, Pascagoula, MS 39563.
Josephine Strickland
December 27, 2019
Josephine Strickland, 89 of Canoe, AL passed away Thursday, December 19, 2019, in Atmore, AL. She was a retired teacher with Escambia County High School, born on October 27, 1930, in Elmore County, AL, to the late William L. and Linda Marie Calloway Strickland. She was a graduate of the University of Alabama and a member of Sardis Baptist Church.
She is preceded in death by her parents, two brothers and one sister.
Survivors are her son, Malcolm (Sheryl) Harrelson of Perdido, AL; grandchildren Jessica Bossard and Tonya Loftis.
Graveside services will be Saturday December 28, 2019 at 12 Noon in Weogufka First Baptist Church Cemetery at Weogufka, AL, with Bro. Malcolm Harrelson officiating. Interment will follow in Weogufka First Baptist Cemetery.
Family will receive friends Friday December 27, 2019, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home from 5-7 p.m.
Audregene “Audrey” Barnes
December 27, 2019
Audregene “Audrey” Barnes, 84 of Atmore, AL, passed away December 21, 2019, in Mobile, AL. She was born in Dunbar, P.A. on April 17, 2019 to the late James and Margaret Linko Miller. She served in the United States Air Force and was a retired secretary and member of the First Baptist Church of Atmore. She is preceded in death by her parents and her son Doug Barnes.
She is survived by her son Jim (Rebecca) Barnes of Mobile, AL; a sister Donna Buzzelli of Cleveland, OH and two nieces Linda Wasilewski and Gloria Buzelli.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, December 28, 2019, at 10:30 a.m. from the First Baptist Church of Atmore with Rev. Arnold Hendrix officiating.
Family will receive friends Saturday December 28, 2019, at the First Baptist
Ira Randolph “Randy” Welch
December 27, 2019
Mr. Ira Randolph “Randy” Welch, age 85, passed away on Sunday, December 22, 2019 at a health care facility in Pensacola, FL.
Mr. Welch was born in Escambia County, AL and was a graduate of Flomaton High School. He retired after 24 years of service from the U.S. Air Force. During his time in the Air Force, Randy lived in Ft. Walton, New York, Oklahoma, France, Korea, Vietnam and the Philippines. He received many medals and awards for his outstanding service to his country.
After retiring from the Air Force he lived in Ft Walton for many years. Later he lived in Pensacola before moving to Flomaton. He spent the last several months at Country Place Senior Living in Brewton where he loved the people and the food
He enjoyed fishing and hunting. He was an expert at making campfires for the evening deer tales that he shared with his brother, cousins and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ray and Lillie Mae Welch; his wife, Faye G. Welch; sons, Roy L. Welch and Donnie Ray Welch; daughters, Wanda Faye Welch and Theresa Ann Welch.
He is survived by a brother, Horace “Cliff” (Linda) Welch of Winter Haven, FL; and a niece, Vicki Welch of Winter Haven, FL; and numerous other family members.
Funeral services will be held on Sunday, December 29, 2019 at 2 p.m. from the chapel of Flomaton Funeral Home with Bro. James Peacock officiating. Interment, with full military honors, will follow in Pineview Cemetery.
Visitation will be held at Flomaton Funeral Home on Sunday from 1:30 p.m. until service time at 2 p.m..
Dorothy C. “Dot” Killiam
December 27, 2019
Mrs. Dorothy C. “Dot” Killiam passed away December 20, 2019 in Century, FL. She was born in Atmore, AL, on February 12, 1931, to the late Willie Eugene and Hattie Belle English Cunningham. She was a retired secretary from the National Wildlife Federation.
She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Atmore. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband : Robert Paul Killiam,a brother Thomas “Tommy” Cunningham; sisters Etta Luveda Shanks, Marvdeen “Deanie” Barrow and Myrtice Voncile Madison.
She is survived by her nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, great great nieces, great great nephews, family and friends.
Services will be Saturday, Dec. 28,2019 at 12:30PM at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel, with Bro. Jason Handley officiating. Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Active Pallbearers are, Russell Underhill, Hunter McKinley, Mike Barrow, Eddie Dunsford , Greg Legerton, and Kaiden McGhee. Honorary Pallbearers are, Larry Shanks and Lloyd Barrow.
Family will receive friends, Saturday December 28, 2019 at Johnson-Quimby Funeral from 11:30 a.m. until service time at 12:20 p.m.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Vitas Hospice and the American Heart Association.
Curtis James Knowles
December 27, 2019
Mr. Curtis James Knowles, age 67, passed away Thursday, December 26, 2019 in Brewton, Alabama.
Mr. Knowles was a native of Century, FL, former resident of Lafayette, LA and had resided in Flomaton, AL for the past 35 years. He retired from the oil field as a Tool Pusher with over 30 years of service. He was a member of the 1st Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ of Flomaton, AL. He is preceded is in death by his parents, Willie James and Fannie Estelle Knowles; two daughters, Kendall Grace Knowles and Carrie Elaine Knowles and two sisters, Bobbie Jean Knowles and Barbara Lord.
He is survived by wife of 8 years, Angela Renee Knowles of Flomaton, AL; two sons, Kenneth “Ken” (Hallie) Knowles of Pace, FL and Bradley Knowles of Pace, FL; one sister, Shirley Petty of Flomaton, AL; six grandchildren, Drew, Sierra, Shawn, Shanelle, Briana and Tyler; six great grandchildren, Charles, Chasye, Breadon, Greysin, Marshall and Oliver and other relatives and many friends.
Funeral services will be held Sunday, December 29, 2019 at 2:00 PM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel with Bro. Jimmy Colley and Bro. Farron Wilson officiating.
Burial will follow at the Little Escambia Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Sunday, December 29, 2019 from 1:00 PM until service time at 2:00 PM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Shawn Knowles, Levi Landsverk, Vince Lord, Danny Lord, Jamie Boutwell and Anthony Boutwell.
Roberta Janette Adkins
December 26, 2019
Roberta Janette Adkins, 80, of Jay, Florida, passed away December 22, 2019. She was born April 1, 1939 in Maryville, Missouri to Robert James and Elsa Marie Muller.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Charles Melvin Adkins, and sisters, Virginia Seiple and Jean Winter. Roberta has gone to heaven to be with them again and to finally meet her dad who died two months before she was born.
She is survived by her daughter, Sherry Lynn McMahon (Charles) Ellis and son, James (Myunghee) Adkins. Stepchildren, Reno (Beverly) Adkins, Debbie (David) Johnson, Ryan (Debra) Adkins, and 9 Grandchildren, and 12 Great Grandchildren.
Roberta was a long resident of Berrydale and member of Berrydale Baptist Church. She truly enjoyed cooking, baking, vacuuming, writing letters and cards, taking care of her cat, flowers, and plants. Also, she liked working outside and spending time visiting and talking with family and friends.
Funeral services will be held Sunday, December 29, 2019 at 3 pm Berrydale Baptist Church, Brother Robert Gandy officiating. Burial will follow in the cemetery. A visitation will be held from 2 to 3 pm.
Pallbearers are James Adkins, Ryan Adkins, RJ Adkins, Jeremy Adkins, Timothy Adkins, and Christian Adkins
Bessie Kahanek Lee
December 24, 2019
Mrs. Bessie Kahanek Lee, age 98 of Century, FL, passed away Tuesday, December 17, 2019, in Brewton, Alabama.
Mrs. Lee was born on September 9, 1921, in Wallis, TX to parents, Joseph J. and Frances Kahanek. She grew up in Wallis, TX and graduated from Wallis High School. She then went on to become a Rosie the Riveter during WWII. She married Wilford J. Lee on December 23, 1944, in Corpus Christi, TX. She was a member of the NARFE and the Byrneville Methodist Church. She is preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Frances Kahanek; husband, Wilford John Lee; three brothers, Robert Kahanek, Joe Kahanek and Henry Kahanek; three sisters, Frances Bartay, Alice Magee and Julia Kahanek; and granddaughter, Katherine “Katie” Lee.
She is survived by one son, John Robert Lee of Century, FL; one daughter, Janet (Todd) Shultz of Brewton, AL; two sisters, Ann Webb of Arizona and Lillian Boryla of Ohio; three grandchildren, Rebecca Shultz, Justin Shultz and Jacob Shultz; five great-grandchildren, Brandon Lowe, Daylon Brown, Isabelle Barber, Jasmine Barber and Michaela Barber; and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
Funeral services were held Sunday, December 22, 2019, at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Bo Bell officiating.
Burial was at the Byrneville Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Steve Turner, Curtis Moye, Jeremy Pridgen, Jason Barber, John Lee and Kenneth Jernigan.
Honorary pallbearers were Jerry Doran and Gene Findley.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Nina Lee Puckett
December 24, 2019
Ms. Nina Lee Puckett, age 79, passed away Friday, December 20, 2019, at her Flomaton residence.
Ms. Puckett was born in Selma, AL and had been a lifelong resident of Flomaton. She had worked has a plant supervisor at Jim Walter Doors for a number of years. She enjoyed hunting and fishing, and spending time with her family and friends. She was of the Baptist faith.
Ms. Puckett was preceded in death by her son, Rodney Lord.
She is survived by close friends, Teresa Smith of Flomaton, Shirley Lambeth of Flomaton, and Stan and Stephanie Smith of Gainesville, GA; grandchildren, Kristina Williams of East Brewton, AL, Haley and Dusty Boutwell of Flomaton, AL, Whitney and Cody Overby of Gainesville, GA; and her baby, Chase Smith of Gainesville, GA; and nine great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held on Monday, December 23, 2019, from the chapel of Flomaton Funeral Home with Pastor Jerry Morris officiating.
Interment was at Little Escambia Baptist Church Cemetery.