Gail Fillingim
September 23, 2011
Gail Fillingim, age 95 of Enon, died Thursday September 22, 2011, in Pensacola.
She was a retired teacher, born in Nettleboro, AL, on July 23, 1916, to the late Joseph and Corrie Lambert Morris.
Mrs. Fillingim lived in Clark County, AL, until she was three years old, then moved with her family to Mobile. At age 15, her family moved to Bay Springs, FL, where they ran a community store.
After graduating from Ernest Ward High School in 1934, she attended Florida State College for Women (FSU) and the University of Florida. She returned to Escambia County and began her teaching career that spanned 40 years. She also taught part of that time in Liberty County, FL. She loved to teach and was proud to know that she was in some small way making a difference in children’s lives. She helped mentor and shape the futures of many of the area students, many of whom are now leaders in our community. She was a member of the Later Day Saints Church and was a Relief Society Teacher for many years.
She is preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, R.T. “Tommie” Fillingim and two sisters, Mildred Morris and Hortense Huffmaster.
Mrs. Fillingim is survived by one daughter, Susan Purvis and husband, Gary of Atmore; two grandchildren, Gary Wayne Purvis and wife, Monica of Blountstown, FL, Sharon Delmar and husband, Mark of Atmore; three great-grandchildren, Nick Delmar, Brandon Purvis and Colton Purvis; special niece, Mitzi (James) Windham; special nephews, Don (Mary) Huffmaster, Eric Fillingim; and a host of cousins.
Services will be Sunday, September 25, 2011, at 2:30 p.m. from Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel in Atmore with Rev. Jim Reese and Bro. Lloyd Albritton officiating.. Interment will follow in Enon Baptist Church Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Chester “Butch” Watson, Wendell Hall, Wayne “Sambo” Garrett, James Windham, Rodney Fillingim and Wayne Fillingim. Honorary pallbearers will be Joe Belleu, Bernice Robbins, Yvonne Obren, Elaine Levan, Mary Lee Garrett, Phil Lucas, Ellen Settle and Dave Fillingim.
Family will receive friends Sunday, September 25, 2011, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home from 1:30 p.m. until service time.
The family would like to thank Sabal House Assisted Living Facility for their compassionate care. Flowers will be accepted but donations can be made to Covenant Hospice.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Kathy Watford Gaffney
September 23, 2011
Kathy Watford Gaffney, 58 of Atmore died Thursday, September 22, 2011, in Pensacola. She was a bookkeeper with Poarch Band of Creek Indians. She was born in Atmore to the late Carl William and Audrey Sims Watford on June 20, 1953.
Survivors include her husband, James Gaffney, Sr.; one son, James M. Gaffney of Atmore; two daughters, Karie Sawyer of Atmore and Jeanifer Long of Mobile; two brothers, Billy Watford of Atmore and David Watford of Georgia and six grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Tuesday, September 27, 2011, at 2 p.m. from Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel in Atmore with Rev. Mike Grindle and Rev. Don Davis officiating. Interment will follow in Huxford Community of Christ Church Cemetery.
Family will receive friends Monday evening September 26, 2011, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home from 6-8 p.m.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home, Inc is in charge of all arrangements.
Mary Joyner Grissett
September 23, 2011
Mary Elizabeth Joyner Grissett, 61, a lifelong resident of Atmore, died Wednesday, September 21 in Pensacola.
Mrs. Grissett , a graduate of Escambia County High School and the University of Alabama, was a devoted educator, community leader, and volunteer with a passion for education. After 25 years of teaching with the Escambia County School System, she retired and then taught English and literature for two years at Escambia Academy. She was a founder of the Academic All-Star Program and named Atmore Citizen of the Year in 1991. Mrs. Grissett was an active member of Atmore First United Methodist Church, a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, board member of Atmore Public Library, a founding member of the Escambia County Friends of Education and a director of HIPPY Atmore.
Mrs. Grissett was preceded in death by her father and mother, W.S. (Buster) and Sarah Joyner, and her father-in-law, William (Bill) E. Grissett.
Mrs. Grissett is survived by her mother-in-law, Mary O. Grissett (Bill) of Brewton; her husband, William; daughter, Amy Dean (Michael) of Atmore; son Scott (Lindy) of Pensacola; grandchildren Caitlan, Mary Joyner, Will and Lane; brother Bob Joyner (Rhonda) of Merritt Island, Florida; sister Sissy Birindelli (Joe) of Fairhope, Alabama; brother W.S. (BB) Joyner (Susan) of Franklin, Tennessee; sister Ruth Dickerson (Paul) of Atmore; and sister Julia Gibbs of Atmore.
Visitation will be at Johnson-Quimby Friday, September 23 from 5-8 p.m. The funeral service will be Saturday, September 24 at 10 a.m. at Atmore First United Methodist Church.
Pallbearers are David Brantley, Jimmy Crook, Mike Helton, Jim Johnson, Bob Jones, Tommy Moore, Randy Nichols and Joe Webb.
Honorary pall bearers include Mitch Jones, Jane Corman, Carol Crook, Gabby Dortch, Susan Jansen, Julie Johnson, Betty Jones, Bonnie Latino, Jan Marsh, Bess Maxwell, Toni McMurphy, Laurie Moore, Susan Moorehead, Emily Pollard, Mary Bess Powell, Mary Reece, Diane Rose, Libby Schrader, Janet Shirley, Susan Smith, Marie Strohl, Ida Swift and Shirley West.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to Atmore First United Methodist Church, 311 South Pensacola Avenue, Atmore, AL 36502; Atmore Public Library, 700 East Church Street, Atmore, AL 36502; or Escambia County Friends of Education (Friends of Education of Escambia County Inc) P.O. Box 186, Atmore, AL 36502.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home in Atmore is in charge of all arrangements.
“Buck” Willie LC Davis
September 23, 2011
“Buck” Willie LC Davis, age 69, of Cantonment passed away Monday, September 19, 2011. MSgt. Davis was born July 24, 1942, in Prattville AL, to the late Willie McKinnley Davis and Iva Lois Davis. He lived in the Pensacola area for the past 25 years and was a member of East Brent Baptist Church. He retired from the United States Army in 1986 after 25 years of service. He is a veteran of the Vietnam War and was awarded the Bronze Star. While in the Army he also earned his B.S. degree in business.
He is survived by his wife, Angelika; son, Anthony; daughter, Susan; grandchildren, Amelia, Kevin, Alexis and his two sisters and a brother.
Visitation will be held on Monday, September 26, 2011, at 11 a.m. with funeral services beginning at noon at East Brent Baptist Church. Dr. Dale Patterson will officiate. Burial will follow at 1:15 p.m. at Barrancas National Cemetery with full military honors.
Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Patricia Ann Blackwell
September 23, 2011
Mrs. Patricia Ann Blackwell, 67 of Flomaton, passed away on September 20, 2011, at her home. She was a native of Dallas, TX, and had been a member of the Flomaton and Century communities for 50 years.
During her working years, she worked at D.W. McMillan Hospital in Brewton as a LPN nurse. She was a member of Osaka Freewill Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her husbands, Homer Douglas Blair and C.L. ‘Nick’ Blackwell.
Mrs. Blackwell is survived by her children, Michael Douglas Blair and fiance’, Paula Martin of Delta, AL, Jesse Allen (Mary) Blair of Flomaton, Jimmy Don (Amanda) Blair of Delta, AL, Samuel Lee (Lisa) Blair of Bladensburg, IA, Patricia Diane (Larry) Little of Flomaton,and Cynthia Renee (Clifton) Buchanan of Castleberry, AL; 17 grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, September 24, 2011, graveside at the Flomaton Cemetery at 10 a.m. with the Rev. Clifton Buchanan officiating.
Flomaton Funeral Home directing.
Ricky Dale Perry
September 23, 2011
Ricky Dale Perry, age 46, of Cantonment, passed away September 19, 2011. He was born October 18, 1964, in Milton to Trudy Perry.
Ricky was a life long resident and worked in construction with Four Star Drywall in Pensacola. He loved fishing, Florida State football, his family and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his father, Ronnie Madron, Sr; his maternal grandmother, Eva Frances Perry; and his fraternal grandmother, Marie Madron.
Survivors include his mother, Trudy Perry Madron; his wife, Jennifer Brigman; a son, Clifton Wayne Perry; two daughters, Samantha Kay and Rikki Ann Perry; two step-children, Britney Harrell and Dakota Brooks, all of Cantonment; two brothers, Lance (Terri) Rawson of Milton and Ronnie Madron of Cantonment; a sister, Ronda (Dale) Kittrell of Cantonment; several nieces and nephews that he loved dearly; three aunts, Betty Weekley of GA, Louise Tuck of TX and Ruby (Jesse) Holmes of Pensacola; and an uncle, Jerry Waldroup of TN.
Memorial services will be Saturday September 24, 2011m, at 5 p.m. at the Chapel of National Cremation & Burial Society. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 4 p.m.M until the service hour. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
National Cremation & Burial Society of Milton has charge of the arrangements.
John Thomas “Tommy” Oglesby
September 23, 2011
John Thomas (Tommy) Oglesby, age 66, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, September 22, 2011. He was born in Pensacola on February 11, 1945, and was a graduate of Jay High School. He was retired from J. D. Johnson Heating and Air.
Tommy was preceded in death by his father, Clarence Oglesby and his brother-in-law, Jimmy C. Foley.
He leaves behind his devoted wife of 36 years, Shirley; two sons, John (“Randy”) Oglesby and David Oglesby (Melissa); one daughter, Karen Ann Hall (Dave), all of Pensacola; his mother, Kathryn O. Thomas; and one sister, Linda O. Foley. He also leaves behind six grandchildren, Anna, John, Monica (Thomas), Dalton, Payton and Courtney; two great grandchildren, Kurtis and Annabella; and many friends and family.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, September 24, 2011, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, 1000 Hwy 29, Cantonment. Pastor Brian Farley will be officiating. Interment will follow at Eastern Gate Cemetery.
Visitation for family and friends will be at the funeral home beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Pallbearers will be Tommy Hennessey, Joey Mann, Farron Simpson, Mike Farley, Jack Boatner, John Oglesby, and Dalton Oglesby.
Honorary pallbearers will be Doug Patterson, Ray Smith, Marcus Vickers, and Howard Jones.
Robert Earl White
September 22, 2011
Mr. Robert Earl White, age 68 of Jernigan Road in Brewton, passed away Tuesday evening September 20, 2011, in a Century health care facility after an extended illness.
Mr. White was a native and life long resident of Brewton and was of the Holiness faith.
He is survived by a brother, James White of Century; uncle, Bill Crowley of Century; and an aunt, Hazel Crowley of Century.
Graveside funeral services will be held on Friday, September 23, 2011, at Catawba Cemetery with Rev. Greg Stone officiating.
Visitation will be held on Thursday at Craver’s Funeral Home from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.
Debra “Debbie” Pitts
September 20, 2011
Mrs. Debra “Debbie” Pitts, age 57, passed away on September 17, 2011, after a battle with brain cancer. She was surrounded by her loving family.
Mrs. Pitts is survived by her husband, Greg Pitts; father, Jay Tharp; mother-in-law, Genelda (Don) Page; father-in-law Woodrow (Carol) Pitts; her children Tammy (Steve) Barton, Stacy (Josh) Ray, Danny Alltop; step-children Brad and Heather, and nine grandchildren. She is also survived by her brothers Dale (Mary) Tharp and Richard (Patricia) Tharp; brother-in-laws Ken (Sherri) and Eric (Kelly) Pitts and many nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Pitts was preceded in death by her mother Margie Tharp.
She was retired from Escambia County School District after 20 years of service at Ransom Middle School as a secretary and cheerleading and swimming coach. She was an active supporter of Relay for Life.
Many remember her as a cheerleader at Brent, majorette at Woodham, cheer coach and mentor in the community and youth group leader at Gonzalez Baptist Church. She also loved to travel and camp with her husband and her family.
The family will receive friends and relatives from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday, September 20, 2011, at Faith Chapel North on Highway 29. Funeral services will be held at noon Wednesday, September 21, 2011, at Faith Chapel North. Interment will follow at Pensacola Memorial Gardens.
Active pallbearers will be Alex Gillespie, John Bivens, Dale Tharp, Richard Tharp, Ken Pitts, and Eric Pitts.
Special thanks to Dr. Thomas Tan, Woodlands Medical Group, and the staff at West Florida Hospital ER and ICU.
Grady Leon Holt
September 20, 2011
Mr. Grady Leon Holt age 87 of Flomaton, AL passed away on September 19, 2011, at a local hospital.
Mr. Holt was a lifetime member of the Flomaton community where he attended Flomaton First Baptist Church and worked as a contractor building homes. He was a veteran of the United States Army and served as Flomaton’s mayor for two terms and as councilman for three years.
He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Grace Ellis Holt; son, Jerry L.(Peggy) Holt of Grove Hill; daughter, Evelyn (Hugh) Anderson of Navarre; brothers, Waymon Holt of Flomaton and Krafton P. Holt of Pensacola; sister, Doris Carden of Flomaton; five grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday evening, September 20, 2011, from 6 until 8 p.m at the Flomaton Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, September 21, at 11 a.m. at Flomaton Funeral Home with Dr. Jerry Keese and Rev. Dustin Stockstill officiating. Interment will follow in Flomaton Cemetery.