Susan Fillingim Purvis
May 31, 2018
Susan Fillingim Purvis, age 70, passed peacefully May 30, 2018, after enduring a short illness and a 41-year battle with rheumatoid arthritis. Born in Atmore, AL, she grew up in the Bay Springs, FL, community where her family owned and operated Morris’ General Store. Susan married Gary Purvis on June 19, 1964, and together they own and operate Sugarfoot Farms in Northwest Florida. She loved nothing more than spending time with her family and friends and entertaining them in the home she and Gary built together. No one was a stranger in her home, everyone was always welcome. Susan attended Ernest Ward High School and Pensacola Junior College. When she wasn’t home taking care of the household she was out on the family farm.
Mrs. Purvis was preceded in death by her parents Robert T. “Tommie” and Gail Morris Fillingim. She is a survived by her husband of 54 years Gary R. Purvis; a son Gary Wayne Purvis (Monica) of Blountstown, FL, and a daughter Sharon Delmar (Mark) of Atmore, AL; three grandsons, Nick Delmar of Pensacola, FL, Brandon Purvis, and Colton Purvis both of Blountstown, FL; mother-in-law Bernice Purvis of Bratt, FL; brother-in-law Mike Purvis (Cathy) of Blountstown, FL; nephew Brad Purvis (Nicole) and niece Ashley Purvis all of Blountstown, FL; and many special family and friends.
Pallbearers are Nick Delmar, Rodney Fillingim, Wayne Fillingim, Brad Purvis, Brandon Purvis and Colton Purvis.
Honorary pallbearers are Lloyd Albritton, Billy Bryan, Wendell Hall, Wendell Rigby, Merrill Traylor and Billy Ray Williams.
Visitation will be held this Friday, June 1, 2018, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home, Atmore, AL.
A celebration of life will be held Saturday, June 2, 2018, at 2 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, Atmore, AL, and will be officiated by Rev. Brennan Peacock.
Internment will follow at Enon Baptist Church in Enon, FL.
George W. Harley
May 30, 2018
George W. Harley went to be with the Lord on Memorial Day, May 28, 2018. He was born in Aiken, SC on January 23, 1925.
George was drafted into the Army upon graduation from Pensacola High School and trained in Abilene, Texas. During World War II, he was sent to the South Pacific and the China Burma India Theater where he served 3 years as a Medical Tech in the Medical Detachment for the 142nd, General Hospital.
He retired from Woodman Life Insurance in 1986. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and traveling these United States as well as abroad. He was a faithful member of Olive Baptist Church where he served as a Deacon. He was a member of the Sub West Rotary Club for over 40 years and was honored with the Paul Harris Award for his contributions.
George is preceded in death by his parents, Clara and Thomas R. Harley, Sr.; brothers, Thomas R. Harley, Jr. and William “Bill” Harley; and sisters, Margaret Fielder and Clara Cannon.
He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Lou Harley; son and spouse, Larry and Pat Harley; daughter and spouse, Brenda and Ben Ryle; three grandsons, Brian (Jamie) Harley, Phillip (Julie) Ryle, and Daniel (Joy) Ryle; six great granddaughters; two great grandsons; and two sisters, Evelyn (Bob) Davidson and Dot (Veiga) DaCunha.
Funeral services will be held at 11AM on Thursday, May 31, 2018 at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North with Dr. Ted Traylor and Dr. Jerry Passmore officiating. The family will receive friends at 10AM prior to services.
A private burial will be held in Barrancas National Cemetery, NAS Pensacola, FL.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the “Ministry Village” at Olive Baptist Church.
Mildred Louise Croley
May 30, 2018
Mrs. Mildred Louise Croley, age 89, passed away on Saturday, May 26, 2018 in Century, Florida.
Mrs. Croley was a native and life long resident of Century, FL. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great great grandmother. She was a member of the Tabernacle Baptist Church. She is preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Raymond Floyd Croley; one son, Ricky Croley; one daughter, Dorothy Sims and her parents, Bart and Carrie Hobbs.
She is survived by her daughter, Kathy Croley (Terry) Bush of Flomaton, AL; eleven grandchildren, Greg Sims, Tina Therrell, Josh Sims, Wes Sims, Chris Croley, Bryan Croley, Amy Croley, Stephanie Gilmore, Mindy Adkinson, Tad Bush and Daniel Lischbrook; thirty-two great grandchildren and many great great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, May 30, 2018 at 2:00 PM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel with Rev. Fred Stallworth officiating.
Burial will follow at the Flomaton Cemetery.
Visitation will be Tuesday, May 29, 2018 from 6:00 PM until service time at 2:00 PM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Tad Bush, Greg Sims, Josh Sims, Wes Sims, Chris Croley and Bryan Croley.
Honorary Pallbearers will be Jeremy Sims, Dak Sims, Will Eubanks, John Eubanks, Lane Sims, Nathan Therrell and Caleb Therrell.
Bobby George Boatwright
May 29, 2018
On May 27, 2018, Bobby George Boatwright went to be with the Lord at age 77, after a short battle with cancer.
He is preceded in death by his two sons, one stepson, mom, dad, two brothers, and one sister. He is survived by his wife Mary Hill of 29 years, son Micheal (Darlene), brother Billy, stepson Dewey (Vicki), stepdaughter Melinda (Mike), and nine grandchildren. Bobby was born on August 14, 1940. He attended JM Tate and went on to serve his country in the Army. Bobby later founded his own business, Sunrise Steel Erections in 1989, becoming one of the prominent steel erectors in Northwest Florida. Like his business, he was made of Iron, but had a kind heart. Some of Bobby’s joys included hunting and fishing, frying mullet for his family, and feeding his “youngin”(dog Rocky). If you couldn’t find him at a job site, throwing his cast net, or in a hunting stand, you would surely find him roaming the tables at the flea market. Bobby will dearly be missed, as he was an important person in so many lives.
The family will receive friends from 10AM to 11AM on Wednesday, May 30, 2018 at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North. Funeral services will be held at 11AM with Pastor Carl Shiver officiating.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to one of Bobby’s employee’s daughter who is battling cancer. (Karol Rubio: 7117 SW Archer Road Lot 89, Gainesville, FL. 32608)
Steve Randal Smith
May 27, 2018
Steve Randal Smith was born April 24, 1946, and lived 71 years, 11 months and 10 days until a 17-year battle with cancer ended his life on March 14, 2018.
Randal is survived by his wife Suzanne; children Randal (Ginjer) and Lisa Bauer (Mike); grandchildren Brittany M., Brittany W., Mallory, Matthew, Bailee, Rilee, Jayme and Destiny; along with their mother Sarah Owen and a devoted brother John (Dale) and their children and cousins and friends.
Randal joined the USAF in 1968, after many tours settled in Biloxi, MS, until his retirement, then moved back to Pensacola. Randal enjoyed his family and researching genealogy during these years.
Randal was laid to rest with a private family graveside at Highland Baptist Church on March 24, 2018. A Remembrance Day will be observed on June 3, 2018, from 2-4 p.m. at the Molino Community Center.
Sylvia Smith Hart
May 25, 2018
Sylvia Smith Hart, age 77 passed away May 23, 2018 .The Daphne resident was a native of Canoe, Alabama. She was employed for more than 36 years by the Press-Register in Mobile, where she worked variously as a reporter, copy editor and page designer. During her years as a reporter, she received a number of certificates and plaques of appreciation from local, regional and state organizations for news coverage in the fields of health, religion and education. Among those were the Press Club of Mobile, 1980; Alabama Eye and Tissue Bank, 1991; Medical Association of the State of Alabama, 1971, 1986 and 1990; Alabama Public Health Association, 1992; Alabama State Nurses’ Association, 1987; Mobile County Nurses’ Society, 1986; Mobile Mental Health Center, 1970; Mobile County Chapter of American Red Cross, 1985 and 1986; Alabama Baptist State Convention, 1974; Conference of Downtown Churches of Mobile, 1983; Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church of Mobile, 1983; Right to Read Effort of the Catholic Diocese of Mobile, circa 1970s; Mobile Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa educators association, 1977; Alabama Interdenominational Seminary, Mobile, 1982.
Hart received a bachelor of arts degree with a double major in journalism and English from Samford University in Birmingham in 1962. She attended Canoe Public Elementary School, whose building continues as a site for education in the community as part of the private Escambia Academy. She also attended Escambia County High School in Atmore.
Hart is predeceased by her parents, King and Olvena Smith, who owned a farm in Canoe. She is survived by her two brothers and their wives, J. Michael Smith and wife Janice Turner Smith of Canoe and D. Max Smith and wife Marie Horn Smith of Hurtsboro, Alabama. Her survivors also include nephew Ben Smith and wife Becca of Canoe, nephew Brian Smith and wife Rita of Birmingham; and niece Anita Marie Hitchcock and husband Paul of Gulf Breeze, Florida. As requested by Hart, her great-nieces and great-nephews are honorary pallbearers. They are Sam and Will Smith of Canoe; Bailey Smith of Birmingham; and Mary Miles, Kate and Jack Hitchcock of Gulf Breeze.
A graveside service will be held 11 AM Saturday, May 26, 2018 at Sardis Baptist Church Cemetery in the community of Wawbeek, AL. The address is 124 Sardis Church Road, Atmore, Alabama.
Hart’s request was that contributions be made to a charity of your choice or to the American Cancer Society, PO. Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123; phone:
1-800-227-2345; online: cancer.org.
Linda Williams Acker
May 25, 2018
69, of Pensacola slipped away peacefully to be with the Lord Sunday morning, May 20, 2018 at home in the arms of her family. Mrs. Acker was born in Ironwood, MI on September 21, 061948. She was raised in Robbinsville, NC and moved to Pensacola during her junior high years. A graduate of Pensacola Junior College, she was a secretary in the medical field, and member and very active soul winner in East Brent Baptist Church. She touched the lives of many.
Preceding Linda in death are her mother, Marjorie Burns Edeker; father, Archie F. Weaver; stepfather, Clay Gormley; son, Warren L Williams, Jr. and former husband, Warren L Williams, Sr. Survivors include her husband of 28 years, Richard “Rick” Acker; daughter, Kristy Quinata (Robert); granddaughter, Kathryn Aaron; grandson, Justin Quinata; stepson, Christopher Acker (Amy); step granddaughter, Summer Acker; step grandson, Lukas Acker; half-sister, Sheila Keever (Marshall); half-brother, Joey Venable (Donna) and four great grandchildren. The family wishes to thank the professional and caring members of her
transition teams: Specialty Health and Rehab, STAT Home Health Care, and Regency Hospice.
Visitation will be held at Pensacola Memorial Gardens Funeral Home on Wednesday, May 30, 2018 from 10:30am until services beginning at 11:30am. Brother Dale Patterson will officiate. Pall bearers will be members of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team, with honorary pallbearers being members of Linda’s Sunday School Class. Interment will be at Barrancas National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers the family request memorial donations be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation at jdrf.org.
Betty Spence Hare
May 23, 2018
Betty Spence Hare, 71 of Walnut Hill, FL, passed away Monday, May 21, 2018, in Pensacola, FL. She was a homemaker, born on December 5, 1946, in Escambia County, FL to the late Ranson C. and Evelyn English Spence. She was a member of the New Life Assembly of God Church.
She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Argent “Rabbit” Hare, and a sister, Dorothy Spence.
Survivors include three sons: Jeff (Jennifer) Hare of Dry Springs, FL, James (Regina) Hare of Walnut Hill, FL, and Joseph (Brehia) Hare of Bay Minette, AL; two brothers, Vernon (Linda) Spence of Geneva, AL and James W. (Jessie) Spence of Little Rock, AL; two sisters, Inez Freeman of Walnut Hill, FL and Carolyn (Ervin) Thortis of Christian Home, FL; eight grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
Services were held Wednesday, May 23, 2018, at noon from Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Ricky Tedder officiating.
Interment was in Dry Springs Cemetery.
Active and honorary pallbearers were her nephews.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
William D. (Bill) Robbins
May 19, 2018
William D. (Bill) Robbins was the son of Joe and Mae Robbins of Walnut Hill, Florida. He was born on December 2,1926. He went to be with his Lord on May 17, 2018. He was 91 years old. He served his country in the Navy and later in the Air Force. On retirement from the military, he went to work with civil service working with sheet metal fabrication.
He was married to Ramona Yosin Robbins and raised 4 children. He became a widower in 1975. He later married Bernice Lucas Robbins. He became a widower in 2015.
He is survived by a daughter, Ramona Anne Robbins Gay (Charles) of Walnut Hill and a son Michael Joseph Robbins, Pace, Florida; by his grandsons Nathan Robbins (Jenny) of Yokosuka, Japan, Kurt Robbins of Walnut Hill and Michael Gay (Brittaney) of Walnut Hill and a granddaughter Tina Parr of North Carolina; four great granddaughters: Brianna Gay, Ella Robbins, Lily Mae Robbins and Destiny Hensley; three great grandsons: Alexander Gay, Tyler Hensley and Daniel Lunsford. He is survived by a niece who was raised like a sister to him. Arlene Delafosse. He is survived by many nieces and nephews, etc.
He is predeceased by his parents, three sisters: Mary Magdalene Robbins, Louree Battaglia, and Charline Warrick and three brothers: Alton Robbins, Theodore Robbins, and Harrell Robbins; a son, Bill Robbins, Jr. and a daughter Peggy Robbins Parr and a granddaughter, Tammy Michelle Gay.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday May 21, 2018, at Faith Chapel North in Cantonment, Florida with Rev. Ted Bridges officiating. Burial will follow services at Walnut Hill cemetery. Pall bearers will be his grandsons Kurt Robbins and Michael Gay and nephews Alan Robbins, Matt Robbins, Phillip Robbins and Greg Robbins.
Lula Mae Colbert Parker
May 19, 2018
Lula Mae Colbert Parker, 84 of Atmore, AL, passed away Thursday May 17, 2018 in Atmore. She was born on October 13, 1933 in Monroe County, AL, to the late Wesley B. Arlie Shipp Hayles. She was a retired draw twist operator at Masland Carpets. She is preceded in death by her parents; first husband David Colbert and her second husband William “Bill” Parker; son Curtis David Colbert and a sister Lisa Freeman and a brother Eubie B. Hayles.
She is survived by her two sons Cecil Wayne (Belinda) Colbert of Davisville, AL. and James Wesley (Lisa) Colbert of Atmore, AL. Two brothers Ed (Frances) Hayles of Poarch, AL. and Tommy (Janice) Hayles of Atmore, AL. Two grandchildren Linda (Kevin) Jones and Haley (Dempsey) Rolin. Seven great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.
Graveside services will held Saturday, May 19, 2018 at 2:30 PM from Serenity Gardens Cemetery with Bro. Ricky Tedder officiating. Active pallbearers will be Nick Boutwell, David Boutwell, Jonathan Boutwell, Kevin Jones, Dempsey Rolin, and Robbie Hayles.
Visitation will be held Friday, May 18, 2018 from 6pm until 8pm from the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.