Mary Vaughn Simpson
July 28, 2015
Our mother was born November 7, 1923, in Molino. She passed to her heavenly home on July 27, 2015, surrounded by her loving family at her home. She was a lifelong member of the Telephone Pioneers of America.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Bernice and William Vaughn; son, Billy L. Simpson; three sisters, Bette Luth, Leslie Geranson, and Emma Ruth Churchill; and one brother, Melvin Vaughn.
Mom is survived by two sons, Michael (Shirley) Ghiorso and Fred (Diane) Ghiorso; two daughters, Kim (James) Freeman and Peggy (Michael) Smith; and two brothers, Roderick (Virginia) Vaughn and Luther Vaughn.
Visitation will be held Thursday, July 30, 2015, beginning at 10 a.m. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North with burial to follow in Crabtree Church Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Kasie Helpzkidz (www.khkidz.org).
Pallbearers will be James Freeman II, Tim Freeman, and Gregory Monroe.
Honorary pallbearers will be the Escambia County Sheriff Traffic Unit.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of arrangements.
Christine Jones Harris
July 27, 2015
Christine Jones Harris entered into God’s arms on Sunday, July 19, 2015. She was born in Biloxi, MS on May 5, 1962. She was 53 years old.
Chris attended Tate High School in Gonzales, FL, graduated from Northview High School in Dothan, AL and from Wallace Community College in Dothan. She attended University of Alabama at Birmingham. She was a retired legal secretary/paralegal, spending most of her career in Baton Rouge, LA.
Chris was a loyal, loving daughter, sister and mother. She enjoyed spending time with her aunts, uncles, cousins and many friends. She loved reminiscing with her caregivers about her family and she could make them laugh and would remind them to “Live, Love, Laugh”. They weren’t just words to her; it was a choice and a way of life. She was very organized and could complete a task while others were still thinking about it.
Chris was always thinking of others and unselfishly putting them before herself. Even when she was so ill, she was always concerned about others; yet she left you no doubt just how she felt and what she thought about things. She enjoyed crocheting baby blankets, afghans, hats and scarves and giving them to friends and family. She was an awesome cook, enjoyed morning walks on the beach and could put a puzzle together in record time. Chris could accomplish anything she attempted and met every challenge with determination and courage. She was always determined to see everything to its completion. This and her enduring spiritual strength proved to be her greatest qualities as she courageously battled cancer for eight challenging years. She always had a smile and a loving, generous heart for everyone she met or knew. She always saw the good in everyone.
Chris was preceded in death by her father, Morris C. Jones of Pensacola; maternal grandparents, Doyce and Eniz Davis, Biloxi, MS; paternal grandparents, Aaron and Hazel Jones of Pensacola; uncles, Donald Davis, Robert Davis and James Davis all of Biloxi, MS.
Chris is survived by her son, Mark C. Harris of Baton Rouge, LA; mother, Ida A. Hoover, Biloxi; brother and sister-in-law, Michael and Jean Jones of Grayson, GA; niece and nephew, Erin and Nicholas Jones of Grayson; uncle and his wife, John (JT) and Dee Davis of Biloxi; cousins, Vikki Davis Kershaw, Beth Bigner, Monica Davis, John Davis, and Theresa Rotz; and innumerable loving relatives and friends.
Chris’s family expresses their heartfelt gratitude to everyone at West Gate Village and her hospice team from Comfort Care for their continual unselfish care they so lovingly gave her from their hearts.
A Memorial Celebration of Chris’s life will be held on Saturday, August 1, 2015, at Faith Chapel North in Cantonment. Visitation will be 11 a.m. until 12 p.m. Services will begin at 12 p.m.
Interment will immediately follow at Whitmire Cemetery in Pensacola.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Comfort Care of Brewton, 215 Belleville Avenue, Brewton, AL 36426 or to West Gate Village, 100 Pineview Street, Brewton, AL 36426
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of arrangements.
Lois “Voncile” Stewart
July 27, 2015
On Wednesday, July 22, 2015, Voncile went to be with the love of her life Randolph.
She was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Randolph Stewart; son, Lloyd Stewart; parents, Joe and Birdie McCrory; two sisters; and five brothers.
Voncile is survived by four daughters, Lois (Tommy) Crutchfield, Essie (Walter) Boswell, Linda Armentor, and Liz (Tommy) Graham; two sons, Robert Stewart and Lee (Rose) Stewart; nine grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
Funeral services were held Saturday, July 25, 2015, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North with Rev. Frankie Godsey officiating.
Burial was in Pugh’s Chapel Cemetery in Molino.
John Gregory Bowman
July 27, 2015
John Gregory Bowman (Greg) of Molino, passed away on July 23, 2015, at 57 years young. He was born in Jacksonville, North Carolina to John and Louise Bowman of Molino. Greg enjoyed the outdoors whether he was in the woods hunting with his daddy, on the beach fishing or surfing, or on the river fishing. He was an avid Alabama fan. Greg enjoyed a long career as a welder. He loved his son, Jacob, from the moment he was born until the day he went to be with the Lord.
He is preceded in death by his father John R. Bowman.
He is survived by his mother, Louise Bowman; his twin sister, Gwen Bowman; his younger sister, Donna Moore; his son, Jacob Smith; his nephews, Brandon Moore and Braden Moore; and his furbaby, JR.
A graveside memorial service will be held on Tuesday, July 28, 2015, at 10 a.m. at Pensacola Memorial Gardens.
His uncle, Jackson McNabb, will deliver the eulogy.
Trahan Family Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Judson Dean
July 27, 2015
Mr. Judson Dean, age 91, passed away on Saturday, July 25, 2015, at his Flomaton residence.
Mr. Dean was born in Evergreen, Alabama and had been a resident of Flomaton since 1947, coming from Atmore. He was a veteran of World War II, having served in the U.S. Army. He owned and operated the Western Auto store in Flomaton for a number of years. Mr. Dean was a long time member of Flomaton First Baptist church, and was preceded in death by his wife, Elaine Dean.
He is survived by two sons, Wayne Allen (Gay Dyees-Dean) of Atlanta, GA, and Larry Eugene (Debora) Dean of Pensacola; close friends and care takers, Kathy Chumley and BriannaC olter, both of Flomaton; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, July 28, 2015 at 9 a.m. from the chapel of Flomaton Funeral Home with Rev. Dustin Stockstill officiating.
Private interment will take place at Flomaton Cemetery.
Edith Imogene “Jean” Purvis
July 27, 2015
Jean was born February 6, 1939, in Excel, Alabama to Charles R. and Ida M. Jordan. She went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on July 25, 2015, surrounded by her loving family. Jean was the sunshine of our family. She loved working in the yard and grew beautiful flowers. She was a great cook and loved to sew and paint ceramics. She was loved by all who knew her and always greeted you with a smile. She was a member of Highland Baptist Church in Molino.
Jean was preceded in death by her parents; infant daughter, Gina Renae; two brothers; and two sisters.
Jean is survived by Charles Purvis, her loving husband of fifty seven years; her children, Debbi (Gregory) Jinright, Tracy (James) Patterson, Amy (Jeff) Lathan, and Alan (Michele) Purvis; two brothers, Fred (Bertha) Jordan and Jerald (Judy) Jordan; one sister, Joyce Blanton; 12 grandchildren; Emily Williams, Miranda (Ben) Sevcik, Rachel, Hannah, Nathan and Andrew Patterson, Madelyn, Mallory and Morgan Lathan, Justin, Layne and Logan Purvis; six great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North on Tuesday, July 28, 2015, from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.
Funeral services will be held at Highland Baptist Church at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, July 29, 2015.
Interment will be at Eastern Gate Cemetery on Nine Mile Road at 11:30 a.m.
Pallbearers will be Justin, Layne and Logan Purvis, Nathan Patterson, Ben Sevcik and Rodney Middleton.
Our family would like to extend a special thanks to Covenant Hospice for their love and care.
In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to Covenant Hospice, 2001 N. Palafox Street, Pensacola, FL 32501, online at www.choosecovenant.org/hospice or to the Alzheimer’s Association P.O. Box 9601, Washington, DC 20090-6011 or www.alz.org.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of arrangements.
Virginia McKelvain
July 27, 2015
All of Heaven is celebrating the arrival of another precious saint of God! Mary Virginia Steadham McKelvain passed away after a brief illness in Escambia County, Florida on July 24, 2015. She was born on July 9, 1935 and turned 80 years old just a few days before her passing. Ms. Virginia was a lifelong resident of Jay and a member of Cornerstone Christian Church of Jay.
Many loved ones are in Heaven to greet her, but most importantly she is face to face with the one she wanted to see the most; her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She is literally in His arms with no more suffering, pain, hardship or disease of any kind.
Ms. Virginia was preceded in death by her father, Henry Clyde (Bub) Steadham; her mother, Lucile Enfinger Steadham; two brothers, Clyde Steadham and Winston Steadham; son-in-law, Raymond Diamond Jr.; and her baby boy, Mark Eugene Griswold, whom she never got to see here on earth.
She leaves behind her children, Mary Opal Branch (T-Don), Cynthia Darlene Marshall (Doyle) and Lucinda Ann Diamond; her grandchildren, Chasity Reid (Randy Sims), Amber Deese (David), Mary Laura Boutwell (Blake), Heath Marshall (Molly) and Andrew Diamond as well as her great-grandchildren, Tori and Blake Reid, Sawyer, Cooper and Carrington Deese and Grant Marshall. Her living brothers and sisters are, Barbara Levins (Hubert) of Cantonment, Charles Steadham (Myra) of Atmore, Carl Steadham (Flo) of Bay Minette, Annie Ruth Kelley (Tink) of Jay, Dorothy Owens (Tommy) of Jay, Lillian Ward (Roy) of Jay, Amelia Steadham of Jay; a sister-in-law, Linda Steadham of Flomaton; and two special nieces, Deanna Rutherford and Leslie Borders; along with many other nieces and nephews.
All who knew Ms. Virginia loved her. She was a package full of sweetness. She tenderly and deeply loved her family and friends and showed much kindness to all of her acquaintances.
She adored her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren who affectionately called her Momma, Grandma and Mimi. Besides living for the Lord, they were her reasons for waking up each morning and putting one foot in front of the other. She not only helped to raise them and other family members, she was also a mother figure to many others not related to her. She instilled morals of family love, hard work, stewardship and the love of Jesus in each of them. Ms. Virginia will be an example for years to come for all of her family to pattern their lives after.
Our loss is Heaven’s gain. Ms. Virginia will be greatly missed by all those she left behind. However, God promises us if we turn our lives to Him and serve Him as she did, we will be reunited with her one glorious, triumphant day in Heaven!
Funeral services will be held at Cornerstone Christian Church at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, July 28, 2015, with burial following at Elizabeth Chapel Cemetery in Chumuckla. Pastors Frederick Barrow and Bobby Carnley will be officiating.
Active pallbearers will be Ms. Virginia’s grandchildren, great-grandchildren, Jeff Kelley and Terry Kelley.
Honorary pallbearers will be her nieces and nephews.
Eastside Chapel in Atmore is in charge of the arrangements.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to Jay Hospital and Dr. Jeff Kelley, Baptist Hospital and Select Specialty Hospital. They also want to send heartfelt thanks for all of the calls, texts and prayers from many of their family and friends.
Fred Harold Allen, Sr.
July 26, 2015
Fred Harold Allen, Sr., age 83, of Cantonment, passed away at home on Thursday, July 23, 2015. He was born October 5, 1931 in Mobile. After graduating from Murphy High School in Mobile in 1949, he worked his way through college, earning a degree in chemical engineering from The Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now Auburn University) in 1955. While still in school, Fred joined the National Guard and was activated to serve in the Korean War.
He married Patsy Templin, also of Mobile, in 1956 and they moved to Pensacola after he accepted a job with the Monsanto Corporation in 1957. Fred and Pat were wonderful parents to their three children, Fred Jr., Keary, and Rachel and their foster child, Ronnie Gattis. Church and family were very important to Fred. While living in Molino, the family was active at Aldersgate United Methodist. In later years, after moving to the Cantonment area, Fred enjoyed many years of involvement at Gonzalez United Methodist Church. He retired in 1996 after working 39 years at Monsanto as a project engineer. He was a wonderful father to his children and he will be sorely missed.
Preceding him in death were his wife, Pat Allen; his parents, Charles Frederick Allen, Sr. and Fannie Jerusa Orso Allen; his older brother, Charles Frederick Allen, Jr.; and his foster son, Ronnie Gattis.
Survivors include his children, Fred Allen, Jr. and his wife Paula, Keary Allen and his wife Sheila, and Rachel Terry and her husband Greg; seven grandchildren, Aaron Allen, Maranda Shelton, Brittany Harris, Stephen Terry, Katy Terry, Ben Terry, and Ashley Allen; great-grandchildren. Bailey Allen, Brooklynn Allen, Blake Allen, Amelia Shelton, Enzel Shelton, Scarlet Harris, and Irelynn Harris; his brothers, Noel Allen and Connie Allen; and his sister, Dorothy Williams.
A memorial service will be held Monday, July 27, 2015, at 10 a.m. at Faith Chapel.
Internment will be at Gonzalez United Church Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Gonzalez United Methodist Church.
Della Godwin
July 24, 2015
Mrs. Della Godwin, 103, passed away on Thursday, July 23, 2015, in Century.
Mrs. Godwin was a native of Jay and a resident of Century for most of her life. Mrs. Godwin worked (retired) at St. Regis Paper Company in the Bag Plant Department and she worked as a babysitter. She is preceded in death by her parents, W.D. & Annie Griffis; husband, William L. Godwin; son, William S. Godwin; seven brothers and two sisters.
Survivors include her son, Ronnie (Jeanne) Griffis of Mississippi; two sisters, Veda Mae Welch of Pineview and Jean Clark of Bluff Springs ; six grandchildren; four great grandchildren and special nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be Sunday, July 26, 2015, at 2 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. James Peacock officiating.
Burial will follow at the Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Jay.
Visitation will be Saturday, July 25, 2015, from 6-9 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
James “Jimbo” Martin
July 22, 2015
James “Jimbo” Martin, age 62, of Jay, passed away on July 15, 2015. He was a people person and never met a stranger. He was a loving father, grandfather, brother, and a friend to those that knew him. He will be missed.
He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Bernice Martin.
Jimbo is survived by his children, Jason (Melissa) Martin, Josh Martin and Jenifer (Eddy) Higginbothem; five grandchildren, Dusten Martin, Kaelyn Martin, Ceanna Martin, Robby Higginbothem and Nichole Martin; and one brother, Mark (Lynda) Martin.
A visitation will be held on Saturday, July 25, 2015 from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m. at Jay Funeral Home.
Funeral services will begin at 2 pm.
Burial will be at Cobbtown Community Cemetery.
Jay Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.