Emma Glen O’Farrell Parker
January 13, 2016
Emma Glen O’Farrell Parker, our sweet mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and devoted friend, went home to be with Jesus on January 12, 2016, at the age of 82. She was a sweet, kind, gentle and beautiful person both inside and out, so full of love for her family, friends and her precious Lord and Savior. We are so thankful to know that she is rejoicing in the arms of God.
Our mother lived a full life with three children, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She was born and raised in Bratt. She raised her girls in Atmore.
She moved to Montgomery where she worked for Parisian for 25 years, a job she loved so very much. She centered her life around Frazer Church and her large group of close friends. She was a talented artist, who loved painting with her dear-devoted, life-long friend Martha Bell.
Our mother was preceded in death by her parents, Talton and Gadis O’Farrell; her first love and husband, Tommy White; brother, Buford O’Farrell; and sister Eloise O’Farrell.
Survivors include Judy A. (Lynn) Wetmore, Paula K. (O’Neal) Green and Shari E. (Dave) Reinhard; grandchildren, Jennifer K. (Wes) Adams, April J. (Mark) Terry, Meredith A. (Brannan) Reaves, Morgan A. Green, Nathan T. (Maggie) Reinhard and Adam D. Reinhard; great-grandchildren, Catie Martin, Colby Smith, Raegan Terry and Emma Reinhard; and her very special friend and paint-buddy, Martha M. Bell.
A special thanks to all the caregivers at Angels for the Elderly and the staff of Hospice of Montgomery for all the love, compassion and special care they gave her.
There will be a gathering of friends at the home of Paula and O’Neal Green on Thursday, January 14, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m.
A graveside service will be held on Friday, January 15, 2016, at 10 a.m. at Oakhill Cemetery in Atmore.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is directing.
Edwin Morse Diller
January 13, 2016
Edwin Morse Diller, 94, of Walnut Hill, passed away January 12, 2016, in Atmore. He was born on November 7, 1921, to the late Harvey and Rachel Johnson Diller in Ithaca, Michigan. He is preceded in death by a infant daughter; two brothers; and four sisters.
He farmed for over 40 years where he earned the Outstanding Farm Family of 1970 award, the Certificate of Merit award for Outstanding Accomplishment in Soil Conservation in 1996 Perdido River Soil Conservation District, the Distinguished Service award for 10 years service with the Perdido River Soil Conservation District and was the first to market wheat in commercial quantities in Atmore.
He loved serving the Lord and was an Elder at Liberty Church in Pensacola; a Gideon and active member of the First Assembly of God in Atmore. He truly loved his family.
He was an avid traveler, fishermen and scuba diver.
He is survived by his wife, Helen Loewen Diller of Walnut Hill; one son, Kelvin (Connie) Diller of Walnut Hill; two daughters, Sharon (Richard) Keesler of Walnut Hill and Carrol (Darrell) Liechty of Pensacola; his much beloved nine grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 16, 2016, at 11 a.m. from the First Assembly of God in Atmore with Rev. Don Davis officiating.
Burial will follow in Walnut Hill Baptist Church Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Clint Keesler, David Liechty, Jonathan Liechty, Michael Diller, Joshua Fulford and Will Douglas.
Visitation will be held Saturday, January 16, 2016, from 10 a.m. until service time at the First Assembly of God in Atmore.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Betty Jean Sessions Klacsmann
January 13, 2016
Miss Betty Jean Sessions Klacsmann, 75, of Jay, passed away peacefully surrounded by her sister, nieces and nephew on Wednesday, December 23, 2015, at West Florida Regional Medical Center in Pensacola after an extended illness.
Miss Klacsmann was born October 26,1940, in Jay, to the late J.C. and Oma Lisa (Simmons) Sessions. One of nine children, she was a graduate of Jay High School and went to work for Lockheed Missile and Space Corporation at NASA in the late 60s where she worked with her husband in Mission Control at the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral during the height of the U.S. Space Program. She was on duty the morning of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster January 28, 1986. The loss of the Challenger crew affected her deeply, as NASA was like a family to her. She and her husband also owned Data Processing Techniques and Services Corporation in Cocoa Beach, FL for many years.
Betty was an extremely creative and resourceful person. A very private person, she was a strikingly beautiful woman who declined a modeling career to serve her country. She had a love of sports cars, handmade quilts and a soft spot in her heart for Doberman Pinschers.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bruce E. Klacsmann; sisters, Dorothy Peters and Annette Pangburn; and two brothers, Joseph Edward Sessions and Donald Ray Sessions.
Betty is survived by her sister, Valeria Blackmon of Pensacola; three brothers, Riley Truman (Evelyn) Sessions of Gretna, LA, James Clinton (Grace) Sessions, Jr. of East Brewton and Clarence Ray (Virginia) Sessions of Jay; numerous nieces and nephews; and her beloved Doberman, Heidi.
The family expresses their grateful appreciation to the nurses and staff of the Intensive Care Unit at West Florida Regional Medical Center.
A private family memorial service was held Monday, December 28, 2015.
Interment was in the Cora Baptist Church Community Cemetery in Jay.
Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Jay Funeral Home.
Nathan Lavoid Lowry
January 11, 2016
Mr. Nathan Lavoid Lowry, age 75, passed away Saturday, January 9, 2016, in Atmore.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, January 12, 2016 at 11 a.m. at Petty Eastside Chapel.
Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until service time.
Burial will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Velma Alice Martin Amos
January 11, 2016
Mrs. Velma Alice Martin Amos, 72, passed away on Saturday, January 11, 2016, in Bay Minette.
Mrs. Amos was a native and lifelong resident of Atmore. Mrs. Amos was retired from Vanity Fair with 48 years of service. She was a member of the Poarch Creek Band of Indians, active member of the VFW Auxiliary and the Breast Cancer Awareness Organization. She was a member of the St. Anna’s Episcopal Church of Poarch. She is preceded in death by her husband, Paul Jackson Amos (Ret. USN, Korean and Desert Storm); her mother, Elsie Martin Holland; sister, Helen Price; and brother, Lee Van Martin.
Survivors include her three sons, Paul Lynn (Paula) Amos of Prince Fredrick, MD, John Christopher Amos of Pensacola and Michael William Amos of Atmore; one daughter, Cindy Amos (Winston) Byrd of Atmore; three brothers, Otha (Marie) Martin of Atmore, Douglas (Shelby) Martin of Zion, IL and J.T. Holland of Atmore; two sisters, Jeanette (Kenneth) Beck of Atmore and Jean Ardis of Lottie; nine grandchildren, Jacob, Heather, Sarah, Joey, Karlee, Kyle, Landry, Brodie and Layla; four great-grandchildren, Micah, Kayleigh, Jayden and Marlee; and good friend, Gerri Bell of Lottie.
Funeral services will be Wednesday, January 13, 2016, at 2 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Father Gary Baldwin officiating.
Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery.
Visitation will be Tuesday, January 12, 2016, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Jake Thomas, Kyle Amos, Melvin Byrd, Douglas Mitchell, Dustin Lindsey and Joseph Murphy.
Honorary pallbearers will be Buford Rolin, Eddie Tullis, Martin Meckel, Jamie Thomas Sr., Gravis Sells, David Kirby and Josh Thomas.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Jessie Lomax Fryar, Sr.
January 11, 2016
Jessie Lomax Fryar, Sr. of Pensacola, passed away on Friday, January 8, 2016. Jessie was born on February 6, 1925, in Andalusia to the late Arthur and Maggie Fryar.
He is preceded in death by his loving wife of 47 years, Virginia Ruth Fryar; beloved grandson, Jacob Adam Washinger; brothers, Arthur, Vaughn, and Roy Fryar; and sister Evelyn.
Those left to cherish his memory are his son, Max (Becky) Fryar; daughter, Patricia (Jon) Washinger; and three grandchildren, Lucy Washinger, Christopher Fryar, and Brandon Fryar.
Jessie is a veteran, having served in the United States Navy during World War II. He will be remembered most for his love of sharing stories, his great sense of humor, and his ability to fix and repair everything. He was always the “go-to man” in the family and around the neighborhood.
Visitation will be held at Faith Chapel South, 100 Beverly Parkway, on Tuesday, January 12, 2016, at 11:30 a.m., followed by funeral services at 12 p.m.
Interment will follow at Bayview Memorial Park.
The family would like to thank the entire staff at Bayside Manor for their compassion, empathy, and diligence to provide an incomparable level of care. Thanks also to Emerald Coast Hospice nurses for all your love, kindness, and special care. We feel so blessed to have had such special people take care of Jessie.
Beverly Joyce Wiggins
January 11, 2016
Beverly “Joyce” Wiggins, 54, of Pensacola, passed away on Saturday, January 9, 2016. Joyce was born on January 14, 1961, in Wyatt, Missouri. She was the daughter of the late William Don Johnson and Alice Benton. She is also preceded in death by her brothers, William Don Johnson Jr. and Gary Don Johnson.
She is survived by her two loving children, Jamie Thurman (Terry) and Jacob (Lauren) Tanton; three beautiful granddaughters, Payton, Berkley, and Blair, who she absolutely adored; sisters, Sharon (Donald) Holley, Gail (Lamar) Roach, and Shawna Benton; brothers, Randy Johnson, J.R. (Shawna) Benton, and Todd Benton; and loving extended family and cherished friends who made her life complete.
Joyce had a contagious smile and an entertaining sense of humor. Throughout her life she maintained a loving demeanor that won the hearts of many, who are even now being moved by the stories of her constant nurturing love. Her signature gift of smiling and laughter will never be forgotten.
The family will receive friends on Tuesday, January 12, 2016, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Faith Chapel North in Cantonment. A funeral service celebrating her life will be held Wednesday, January 13, 2016, at 1 p.m. at Faith Chapel North with graveside services to follow at Eastern Gate.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of arrangements.
Kathy Wilson Black
January 7, 2016
Mrs. Kathy Wilson Black, 49, passed away on Monday, January 4, 2016, in Gainesville.
Mrs. Black was a native of Century, former long time resident of Byrneville, and a resident of Flomaton for the past 25 years. Mrs. Black was an avid animal lover, kind loving person, gardener; and she loved to hunt and the outdoors. She was member of the Byrneville Methodist Church. She is preceded in death by her brother, James Michael Wilson; and sister, Teresa Marie Jordan.
She is survived by her parents, James and Barbara Wilson of Byrneville; one daughter, Jessica Ellen Gregg of Burlington, NJ; two sisters, Sharon Denise Odom of Century and Barbara Ellen Beck of Lake Mary; and two grandchildren, Payton Thomas and Brooklyn Smith.
Funeral services will be Saturday, January 9, 2016, at 11 a.m. at the Byrneville United Methodist with Bro. Jesse Bohannon officiating.
Burial will be at the Byrneville Cemetery.
Visitation will be Saturday, January 9, 2016, from 10 a.m. until service time at the Byrneville United Methodist Church.
Pallbearers will be Raybon Knowles, Bobby Holland, Robert Smith, Aaron Sutton, Dusty Carnley and Buster Nalls.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Evelyn P. Watts
January 7, 2016
Evelyn P. Watts, age 85 of Munson, passed away on January 5, 2016. She was a member of Whitfield Pentecostal Fellowship Church. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great grandmother. Evelyn loved the Lord.
She was preceded in death by her parents, William Thomas Pierce and Martha Jane Blackmon; siblings, Mary, George, Johnnie, Clyde, Ruth, Rubin, Lillie and twin brother, Melvin.
She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Clarence Eugene Watts; children, Larry (Dorothy) Watts, Terry “Bo” (Shelia) Watts, Teresa Raines, David Watts and Betty (James) Davis; special grandson she raised, Larry Watts Jr.; 17 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, January 8, 2016, at 11 a.m. at Whitfield Pentecostal Fellowship Church with Bro. Joe Gilman officiating.
Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Kevin, Little Ed, Casey, Jacob, Ben, James W., Dave, and Billy.
Honorary pallbearers will be the women of Whitfield Church.
Jay Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Helen Lavader Cook Willams
January 7, 2016
Helen Lavader Cook Williams went home to be with her beloved David on January 5th 2016. Helen was born September 10, 1925 near Vernon, Florida to John Thomas and Minnie Lee Cook. She attended Vernon School through the eighth grade and helped raise her brothers and sisters at the family farm until the age of 18. She moved from Vernon to Panama City to work in a shirt factory on Highway 98 and lived in a house with Ms. Johnson which was across the street from her future brother and sister-in-law Gene and Myrtle Williams. She met her future husband, David, on one of his visits to his brother Gene’s house.
David and Helen were married on May 10, 1951, in Jackson County, Mississippi and lived in the Panama City area for a year. In 1952 David and Helen moved to the Cantonment area and lived with Uncle John and Aunt Jencie Williams while they both went to work for Chemstrand Corporation. They moved to the Brownsdale Florida area in early 1954 and lived in Clate Diamonds house which was located near the intersection of Ebenezer Church Road and Highway 197. David and Helen’s first child, Larry Michael, was born in 1954 and soon after they purchased a piece of property from Elmer Simmons and started construction of a new home at the intersection of Range Road and Highway 197. Their second child, Roger, was born about the time the house was completed in 1956. Helen quit her job at Chemstrand and became a full time housewife so she could raise her two sons. Helen loved to sew and made several quilts for the family throughout the years until she developed Carpal Tunnel syndrome. In 1970 she went to work for Mrs. Diamond at the Dollar General Store that was located where NAPA Auto Parts are now. After a couple of years, she went to work for Mrs. Spencer at the 5 and 10 store that was located where the Jay Historical Society is now. She attended Cora Baptist Church for over 50 years and was their oldest member. Because of her declining health, she moved in with her son Roger from 2010 until 2015 and during the past year, she was a resident at the Terrace and spent her last month at Century Health and Rehab.
She was preceded in death by her husband, David Williams; parents, John Thomas and Minnie Lee Cook; stepmother, Liza Jane Cook; sisters, Dorothy, Minnie Lee Cook, and Adel Earwood; brothers, Johnny, James Earl, and John Cook and ten nieces and nephews.
She is survived by her sons, Larry (Sue) and Roger (Linda) Williams; grandson, Jeremy Williams; granddaughters, Becky (Ronnie) Moore and Lisa Moore; great-grandsons, Billy, Brian, Brenan Dykes and Damian Williams; great-granddaughter, Brooke Williams; three great-great grandchildren; two brothers, Thomas and Jimmy (Jewel) Cook; two sisters, Martha (Doc) Williams and Lunell (Dave) Hefner and several nieces and nephews.
A visitation will be held on Friday, January 8, 2016 from 1-2 pm at Cora Baptist Church. Funeral services will begin at 2 p.m. with Brother LaDon Hall officiating.
Burial will follow at Cora Baptist Church Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Roger Dobson, Leon Jackson, Jerry McGee, Frank Rowell, Merlin Edwards and Mickey Diamond.
The family would like to thank the staff at Century Health and Rehab for the care given to Helen through the past month and the staff of the Terrace for the care given throughout the past year.
Jay Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.