Julia Rose Fillingim
June 21, 2013
Julia Rose Fillingim passed away June 8, 2013. She was was born October 5, 1923 in Staten Island, NY to Michale and Amelia Vigliotti, who prededed her in death, along with two sisters preceding her, Louise Russo of Las Vegas, NV and Terry Vigliotti of New Jersey. Also preceding her was Bert Fillingim, who had been her spouse in their early years. She is survived by one son, Howard Fillingim (Lynn), plus one brother, Molio Vigliotti, of New Jersey. Her parents migrated here from Naples, Italy, before the children were born.
She loved taking walks in the evening and working in her yard with her flowers. Julia worked at Tate High School lunch room in the late 50’s and early 60’s. Later she went to work for Vanity Fair Mills in Milton where she retired as an inspector. She was of Apostolic Pentecostal faith and loved her Lord, church and home very much. She also leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews, whom she cared about, plus one sister-in-law, Elsie Fillingim, whom she spent a lot of time with. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to hospice or Southern Oaks, whom we thank for their kindness and care, will be appreciated, or to her church. Memorial services will be Saturday, June 22 at 11 a.m. at Calvary Apostolic Tabernacle, on Hwy 29, Molino, next to Fran’s Diner. Pastor Rusty Knowles will be officiating the services.
Geraldine Wroten Schaeffer
June 21, 2013
Geraldine Wroten Schaeffer, born August 29, 1925, passed away June 18, 2013, at the age of 87 after a prolonged illness. Gerry was born in Houston, Arkansas, to Sybil and Elton Wroten, married Carroll N. Schaeffer on November 26, 1946, and lived in Memphis until moving to Pensacola in 1976. She and Carroll owned and operated the Corner Grocery at the corner of Pine Forest Road and Nine Mile Road for many years until retiring to Molino. Eventually she and Carroll returned to Pensacola where she resided until her death.
She was preceded in death by her only granddaughter, Jessica Parker Joseph, her husband of 62 years, Carroll, and Brothers Elton Jr., Joe and Jay Wroten. She is survived by her two daughters, Jacquelin Schaeffer Parker (Mike), Pensacola, and Nancy Schaeffer Kaeser (Juerg), Stadel, Switzerland, her brothers George Wroten of Dyess, Arkansas, and Scott Wroten of Hurricane, Utah, two great grandsons, John Michael Joseph, 13, and Jackson Tyler Joseph, 8, who reside in Pensacola with their father Shawn Joseph.
Gerry was an avid reader and gardener, active in her church and aqua sports until the last few years of her life.
Visitation will be held at Faith Chapel North on Friday, June 21, 2013, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. with services at 5:00 p.m. As Gerry arranged for cremation, her remains will be buried in Bethlehem Cemetery in Memphisnext to her husband Carroll at a date to be determined later.
Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Covenant Hospice, 5041 N. 12th Avenue, Pensacola, FL 32504.
Faith Chapel North, 1000 Hwy 29 S., Cantonment, FL is in charge of arrangements.
Ethel Brown Strength
June 20, 2013
Ethel Brown Strength passed away at her home in Atmore on Tuesday, June 19, 2013. She was born on March 5, 1921 in Mineola in Monroe County, AL and was a lifelong resident of Alabama except for a brief period when she lived near Fort Bragg, N.C. during World War II. She was the ninth and youngest child born to John Wesley and Susie Lucinda (Chaudron) Brown.
During her marriage to her first husband, Fred N. Strength, which ended in divorce, three daughters were born to them, Bernice, Barbara Sue, and Montez.
Mrs. Strength first moved to Atmore with her daughter, Barbara Sue, during World War II. Her first employer in Atmore was Bristow’s Drug Store in 1946. She was later employed for many years by Goodwill Manufacturing Company (the Ribbon Mill) on North Main Street working there from about the time it first opened until it closed. She retired fromVanity Fair Mills.
Since the spring of 1956, she was a faithful member of Brooks Memorial Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents, two daughters, Bernice and Montez, who died in
infancy, all of her brothers and sisters and their spouses, Dewey Brown (Rether), Della Whatley (Ira), Clarence Brown (Ruth), Ike Brown (Ethel), Walter Brown (Opal), Ernest Brown (Edna), Agnes Johnson (Ernest), and Fred Brown (Gladys), and her husbands, John Henry Pugh, and Leon Elijah Strength.
She is survived by her daughter, Barbara Sue Strength Post and husband, J. Wayne Post, in Helena, Montana; two grandsons, Mitchell W. Post of Ignacio, Colorado, and J. Alan Post and his wife, Sarah, and their three children, Brandon, Elizabeth, and Alexandria, and two great-great-grandchildren, all of Billings, Montana; granddaughter, Shannon Leigh Post of Talkeetna, Alaska; stepdaughter, Anne Strength McGuigan (James) and her daughter, Jennifer Allen Blanton (John) and their two sons, Aaron and Kyle of Atmore; stepson, Tim Strength, of Pace and his daughter, Alicia Strength of North Carolina; and numerous nieces and nephews, other relatives, and friends.
Services will be held Saturday, June 22, 2013, at Brooks Memorial Baptist Church in Atmore. Visitation will begin at 12 p.m. and continue until the service time at 2 p.m.
Honorary pallbearers are Mrs. Strength’s Ladies Sunday School Class.
Active pallbearers are Alan Post, Tim Strength, Vernon Brown, Ed Brown, Hubert Brown, and Aubrey Till.
Mrs. Strength will be buried at Oak Hill Cemetery.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in handling funeral services.
David R. Mathis
June 20, 2013
David R. Mathis (Pops), age 66, entered into Heaven on June 18, 2013, after a courageous battle against cancer. He was born June 26, 1946, to Ernest and Blanche Mathis in Milton, Florida. He attended “The Church” under Pastors Scott and Melissa Evans. Pops spent the majority of his adulthood in Pensacola and Jay. He graduated from Escambia High and Pensacola Junior College. After a brief service in the Navy Reserves, he was employed at Chemstrand/Monsanto/Solutia and retired after 37 years, where he was given numerous awards.
However, Pops real loves were his family, coaching baseball, and fishing. He volunteered and coached numerous baseball and All-star teams in West Pensacola, Brent, Flomaton, and Jay ballparks for numerous years. When he wasn’t coaching, you could find him fishing at any of the local piers with family and friends. Pops was an amazing, devoted, and loving husband, father, grandfather, and coach. His family was his life. He and his wife, Pam were not only devoted to their own boys, but opened their home to several others that needed a place until they could get on their feet. Pops also provided love and guidance to numerous children that needed a father figure. His heart was so big that he could love many as his own.
David was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Blanche Mathis; brother, Joseph E. Mathis; and in-laws, Ralph and Jean Zinn.
He is survived by his “rock” and wife of 37 years, Pamela S. Mathis; sons Jimmie R. Colley II (Jennifer), David W. Mathis (Wendi), and Matthew W. Mathis (Misty); 13 grandchildren, Jimmie (Monk), Josh, Alex, Amber, Samantha, Hunter Alan, Kyrsten, Hunter Keith, Sara, Madison, Elisha, Mason, and Isaiah; sister, Barbara Thomas (Robert); brother, Jackie Mathis (Liz); brother-in-law, Ralph M. Zinn (Angie); sister-in-laws, Katie Mathis, Barbara Donohoe (Michael), and Cynthia Sublett (Chuck); aunts, Jeanette Flagler (Howard), and Virginia Stryker; extended children Scott and Melissa Evans and children, Randy and Mary Nelson and daughters, Anne Parker and children and numerous other kids, nephews, and nieces.
Pallbearers will be Jimmie R. Colley III (Monk), Joshua S. Shelton, Hunter A. Colley, Joseph Mathis, Robert Thomas, and Nathan Thomas.
Honorary pallbearers will be T. Alexander Hatfield, John Hawthorne, Bradley Jackson, and Randy Nelson.
A visitation will be held on Friday, June 21, 2013, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. at Jay Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 22, 2013, at 11 a.m. at Jay Funeral Home with Pastor Jimmie Ray Colley II officiating services. Burial will follow at Little Flock Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery.
Jay Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Lee Robertson Hayles
June 20, 2013
Mr. Lee Robertson Hayles, 69, passed away on Tuesday, June 18, 2013, in Bay Minette.
Mr. Hayles was a native and former resident of Uriah and has resided in Bay Minette for the past 15 years. Mr. Hayles was preceded in death by his parents, Marvin and Myrtle Hayles and one sister, Mary Ann Moye.
He is survived by one daughter, Patricia Jane Hayles of Pace; two brothers, Henry (Donna) Hayles of Leeds, AL and Marvin Hayles Jr. of Bay Minette; two sisters, Pat (Barney) Singleton of Atmore, and Myrtle Jean (Marion) Trawick of Atmore.
Funeral services will be Friday, June 21, 2013, at 3 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Glenn Weber officiating.
Burial will follow at the Uriah Cemetery.
Visitation will be Friday, June 21, 2013 from 2 p.m. until funeral time at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Ricky Upton, Luther Upton, Robert Zuniger, Ed Hayles, Tommy Hayles, Robbie Hayles, Tommy Ashcraft and Tarrell Singleton.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, is in charge of all arrangements.
John Kimbrough
June 16, 2013
John Kimbrough, 68, of McDavid was called home suddenly on Wednesday, June 12, 2013.
John was united with the New Regeneration Holiness Church under the leadership of the late Chief Apostle Cleveland L. Salter.
He was a well known master carpenter in Century and the surrounding area.
His father, mother and one brother preceded him in death.
He leaves to cherish his memory a devoted and loving wife, Addie M. Kimbrough of McDavid; one son, Johnathon (Kendra) Kimbrough of Allentown; one step-son, Aubrey Odom, Jr. of Hinesville, GA; one grandson, Lucas Kimbrough of Chumuckla; three brothers, Billy (Paula) and Jimmy (Elaine) Kimbrough, both of Chumuckla and Atwood (Sandra) Kimbrough of Milton; two sisters, Carol (Floyd) Griffin and Bonnie Holt, both of Baker; two brothers-in-law, Frank (Charlotte) Johnson of Raeford, NC and Christopher (Lisa) Johnson of Nashville, TN; four sisters-in-law, Gwen Odom, Angela Johnson and Sandra (Juan) Andrews, all of Pensacola and Tammy Wright of Atmore; mother-in-law, Pastor Lucille Taylor of San Diego; special cousins, C.R. Cook and Mildred Salter; and family and a host of nieces, nephews, loved ones and the entire New Regeneration Holiness Church.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, June 17, 2013, at the Century Agriculture Building, located at 111 West Highway 4 Century with Pastor Shirley Coleman officiating.
Mayberry Funeral Home is in charge of the service.
Billy Glen Thomas
June 16, 2013
Mr. Billy Glen Thomas, 61, passed away on Sunday, June 16, 2013, in Perdido.
Mr. Thomas was a native of Bay Minette and a resident of Perdido for most of his life. Mr. Thomas was an avid deer, coon hunter and fisherman. He loved the outdoors, horseman and dogs.
He is survived by wife, Elaine Thomas of Perdido; five sons, Billy Randall Thomas of Olla, LA, Tommy Glen Thomas of Bay Minette, Al Clifton Thomas of Greenville, AL, Marion Shane Thomas of Olla, LA and Phillip Bradley Thomas of Rome, GA; two daughters, Daphne Deason of Houston, TX and Hannah Dean of Mobile; one sister, Betty Perry of Bay Minette; eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Wednesday, June 19, 2013, at 2 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Sis. Helen Stewart and Rev. Joe Welch officiating.
Burial will follow at the Bryars-McGill Cemetery.
Visitation will be Tuesday, June 19, 2013, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Bill Hadley, Danny Hadley, Randy Hadley, Danny “Boy” Hadley, Larry Williams and Monty Wilson.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC, is in charge of all arrangements.
Everett Lewis “Buck” Jarman
June 14, 2013
Everett Lewis “Buck” Jarman, 74, of Atmore, passed away Thursday, June 13, 2013 in,Pensacola. He was born on April 19, 1939, in Mobile to the late Clinton L. and Leona Laurendine Jarman. He was a commercial truck driver and served in the United States Marine Corp. He was an avid University of Alabama football fan.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Ms. Bonnie Jarman; brother, Thomas Clinton Jarman; and sister, Lavenia Davis.
He is survived by his son, Les (Leslie) Jarman of Foley; two daughters, Roxie (Harold) Pearson of Atmore and Diana Hirota of Mesa, AZ; three sisters, Charlene (Dennis) Wagahoff of Indianapolis, IN, Sara (Red) Crawford of Tucson, AZ and Carolyn (Lewis) Lang of Portland, OR; three grandchildren, Brianna Pearson, Kyleigh Macks, and Tyler Jarman.
Funeral services will be Monday, June 17, 2013, at 10 a.m. from the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Alan Harp officiating. Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Seth Smith, Jonathon Frost, Dennis Wagahoff, Billy Aaron, Les Jarman and Harold Pearson.
Family will receive friends, Sunday, June 16, 2013, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home, Inc is in charge of all arrangements.
Thelma Phillips
June 14, 2013
Thelma Phillips of Berrydale passed away peacefully on June 11, 2013.
Thelma was a life long resident of Berrydale and grew up with many brothers and sisters on her parent’s farm. She learned the value of work at a young age as the entire family picked cotton and peanuts by hand, long before the use of mechanized farming equipment became widespread.
She met her childhood sweetheart Howard, while they both attended Fidelis School in the 1940’s. They married on April 26, 1946, and celebrated many wonderful years together until his death in 2009. She began working at the Chemstrand plant which later became the Monsanto Corporation. Her husband, a firm believer in education, convinced her to attend Troy Teacher’s College in Alabama while he continued to work. She lived in the dormitory but always tried to commute back home to Berrydale every weekend.
Thelma graduated from Troy with a Bachelors degree in education and began teaching in Harold school located in Harold, Florida for a short time. Later she transferred to Fidelis School where she taught fifth grade for more than 20 years. Often she taught generations of the same family over the years. One of her greatest joys in life was teaching students and she never failed to remember everyone. When Fidelis was closed she transferred to Jay and taught for 2 years until her retirement in 1987.
She enjoyed many happy years in retirement and spent time with her family and friends but never forgot her students. Often times many would drop by her house years after leaving Fidelis to visit. She also loved to crochet and made many afghans and hats which she donated to the Sacred Heart Cancer Center.
Thelma was preceded in death by her parents, Alva and Bertie Phillips; her husband Howard Phillips; an infant son, Laney Howard Phillips; sisters, Louise Freels and Catherine Davis; and brother, Neal Phillips.
She is survived by her son Michael (Rosie) Phillips; sister, Rochelle (Wayne) Brown; and brothers, William E. Phillips, Cecil (Margaret) Phillips, Joe Phillips and Lloyd Phillips.
A visitation will be held on Thursday, June 13, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Jay Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, June 14, at Jay Funeral Home with Pastor Donald Endress officiating services. Burial will follow at Pine Grove Cemetery.
The family would like thank the entire staff at Specialty select hospital; most especially the ICU nurses Wendy, Stacy and Josh who were so kind and provided not only expert care for Thelma but also provided encouragement to the family during this difficult time.
Joyce Marie Watkins
June 14, 2013
Mrs. Joyce Marie Watkins, 70, passed away on Wednesday, June 12, 2013, in Atmore.
Mrs. Watkins was a native of Goodway, AL and a resident of Atmore for most of her life. Mrs. Watkins was a long time employee at Buy-Rite Drugs. She attended the Presley Street Baptist Church. Her parents, Ned & Ida Mae Womack; two brothers, Raymond Womack and R.B. Womack; and one sister, Ella V. Page precede her in death.
Survivors include her husband, Gary Watkins of Atmore; two daughters, Brenda Smith of Fairhope and Sonya (Rob) Ellis of Atmore; and one grandchild, Rachel (Rob) Lindell of Bay Minette.
Funeral services will be Sunday, June 16, 2013, at 2 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Mike Grindle officiating.
Burial will follow at the Serenity Garden Cemetery.
Visitation will be Saturday, June 15, 2013, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Rob Lindell, Heron Pete, Jerry Page, Jimmy Womack, Phillip Watkins and Cecil Ellis.
Contributions can be made to the Presley Street Baptist Church Memorial Fund or The Escambia County Humane Society.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC, is in charge of all arrangements.