Stephen John “Johnny” Gibbs
December 14, 2023
Stephen John “Johnny” Gibbs, 82 of Atmore, AL. passed away December 12, 2023 in Atmore. He was born to the late Buford A. and Evelyn Moring Gibbs on June 4, 1941 in Atmore.
He is preceded in death by his parents, infant brother, his sisters Marcia Chambers, Sherry Morris, and Brenda Wade.
An Atmore Native, and graduate of the Escambia County High School Class of 1960, everyone knew and adored Johnny Gibbs. He was a friend and inspiration to all, and someone everyone knew they could count on. One of the hardest working men, dubbed the nickname “John Henry,” if anyone needed something done, help with a project, or just honest advice, they knew who to look to. In his early days, he was the owner and operator of Gibbs Timber Company, Inc. Thereafter, everyone knew they could find him helping his wife Julia at Buster’s Restaurant. Hardworking, honest, inspirational, and strong, he was a steadfast friend and confidant to everyone who knew him. Whether it be at Buster’s giving out suckers, coaching his grandchildren’s little league games, “fooling with the horses,” or helping a stranger change their tire, you could always count on Johnny to be there with a smile on his face, helping hand, and joke in mind. No matter the circumstances, he was someone to rely on and someone people looked forward to seeing and talking to. He also was a Scout Master for many years. An Army veteran, he served in the United States Army and the Army National Guard for many years, and was also a member of the Carney Masonic Lodge #549 in Atmore, AL and Abba Shrine in Mobile, AL., a Master Mason and member of The Scottish Rite of Freemasonry (32nd°). While he was very involved in his community and passionate about his many different endeavors throughout his life, his greatest love was his family, friends, and community. For him, it was an honor to be a person so many turned to for comfort, and a joy to be such a beloved member of his community. Whether it was “Dad” “Coach” “Friend” “Brother” “Sir” “Papa Johnny” and “Johnny,” he was always there with a listening ear, helping hand, and smile.
He is survived by his wife of 32 years Julia Gibbs of Atmore, AL; son Steven J. (Sandy) Gibbs of Spanish Fort, AL. Two daughters, Stephanie (Ashley) Boothe of Fairhope, AL; Sarah Frances Thompson of Atmore, AL and his sister Girdielene
(Shine) Snyder of Mexia, AL. Grandchildren Jacob Gibbs, Jared Gibbs, Thomas(Allison Harris) Boothe, Ann-Margaret Boothe, Buster Thompson, Julia-Katheryn Thompson and many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
Funeral services and military honors will be held on Saturday December 16, 2023 at 11:00 at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Debora Bishop and Rev. Arnold Hendrix officiating.
Honorary pallbearers will be Barry Wells, Jacob Gibbs, Jared Gibbs, Thomas Boothe, and Buster Thompson.
Visitation will be held at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home on December 16 from 10:00 – 11:00.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Atmore Boy Scouts Troop 26, C/O Tony Gibbs 5750 Pelt Road, Walnut Hill, FL 32568 or Shriners Children’s Hospital.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements
Herbert Eugene “Gene” Bailey
December 12, 2023
Herbert Eugene “Gene” Bailey, 78, of Pensacola, FL, passed away on December 8, 2023.
Gene was born on July 4, 1945 in Fort Walton Beach, FL to Dorothy and Hubert “Bill” Bailey. He recently retired after 27 years of combined military service.
Gene worked as a butcher, provided meals for his fellow veterans, and operated many concessions throughout the city. He was known as “Mean Gene,” and he took pride in his famous “Mean Gene” burgers. Gene rooted for the Florida State Seminoles and the Kansas City Chiefs, enjoyed traveling with his wife of 54 years, and spending time with his daughters and animals.
Gene is preceded in death by his parents; brothers Steven Bailey and Allen Bailey; sister Rosetta Blauser.
Survivors include his loving wife Sherry Bailey; daughters Jennifer Trawick (partner Alicia Trawick) and Jamie Bailey-White (Ricky White); sister Carol Palmer; and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held at 1 pm until a memorial service at 2 pm Saturday, December 16, 2023, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home on Beverly Parkway.
A committal service will be held at Barrancas National Cemetery on Tuesday, December 19, 2023 at 1:30 pm. Anyone in attendance is requested to arrive at Faith Chapel at 12:30 pm to join the funeral procession.
The family would like to thank the many nurses for their vigilant and tender care.
Georgetta Penland Dixon
December 12, 2023
Georgetta Penland Dixon, 81, of Cantonment, Florida, passed away Thursday, December 7, 2023. Georgetta was born November 2, 1942 in Highlands, North Carolina to James N. Penland and Mozelle Chastain Penland. She married Joe F. Dixon, August 7, 1962 in West Palm Beach, Florida. They were happily married for 49 years. Georgetta worked for nearly 30 years for the State of Florida as a benefit recovery specialist.
Georgetta enjoyed spending time with her son, Jeff and wife, Melody, her grandchildren, Jennifer and Wesley, and her great grandchildren, Madison, Hudson, and Lillian. She was an avid reader, and fan of races at Five Flags Speedway and NASCAR Racing.
Georgetta is preceded in death by her husband, Joe F. Dixon; mother, Mozelle Burrell; step-father, Shirley Burrell; and her father, James N. Penland.
She is survived by her son, Jeffrey S. Dixon (Melody) of Tallahassee, Florida; grandchildren, Jennifer Dixon and Wesley Dixon; great-grandchildren, Madison, Hudson, and Lillian; sister, Elaine Tilson of Highlands, North Carolina; and her nephew and nieces, David, Gabriel, and Jessica.
Visitation services for Georgetta Penland Dixon will be held at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, Saturday, December 16, 2023 from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m.
She will be laid to rest with her husband, Joe F. Dixon at Barrancas National Cemetery at a later date.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, 1000 South Highway 29, Cantonment, is entrusted with arrangements.
Ronald Eugene Hopkins
December 12, 2023
Ronnie is preceded in death by his parents, Rollie and Mary Hopkins; and his brother, Buddy Hopkins.
He is survived by his wife, Brenda Hopkins; son, Greg Hopkins (Kristy); daughter, Bridget Burkett (Chris); sister, Alice McCurdy (Henry); and grandchildren, Haylee, Peyton, Anna, Briana, and Gillian.
Memorial services for Ronnie Hopkins will be held Thursday, December 14, 2023 at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North. The family will receive friends for visitation from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.
Memorial services will begin at 6:00 p.m. with Brother Mike Skipper officiating.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, 1000 South Highway 29, Cantonment, is entrusted with arrangements. You may express condolences online at www.fcfhs.com.
To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Ronald Eugene Hopkins please visit our Sympathy Store.
Peggy Pal Yates Latty
December 11, 2023
Peggy Pal Yates Latty, 89, of Stanton, Texas, passed away on December 08, 2023.
Visitation will be held on December 15, 2023, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Flomaton Funeral Home Chapel. The funeral service will take place on December 15, 2023, at 11:00 AM at Flomaton Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow on December 15, 2023, at Little Escambia Baptist Church Cemetery.
Tommie Lee Oliver
December 9, 2023
Tommie Lee Oliver, 92, was born on April 16, 1931 in Atmore, Alabama, and passed away on December 2, 2023 at Chester County Hospital in West Chester, Pennsylvania.
Visitation will be held on December 11, 2023 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Shiloh Presbyterian Church located at 42 S. Fifth St. in Oxford. The Home Going Service will follow at 11:00 AM at the same location. Interment will take place at Oxford Cemetery.
Tommie Lee Oliver attended George Washington Carver High School of Century, FL.
Tommie Lee Oliver worked for Chester County Hospital.
John Herman McDonald
December 9, 2023
John Herman McDonald, 85, of Cantonment, Florida passed away December 4, 2023. He was born in Cantonment, Florida June 16, 1938, to John William and Nettie Phillips McDonald. He was a Paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne in the Army. He retired with approximately 25 years of service from the Escambia County Road Department in 1984.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Nettie McDonald; spouse, Dorothy McDonald; brothers, Wilmer McDonald, Wilburn McDonald, Carl McDonald, and Elvin McDonald; sisters, Mary Brooks and Dorothy Diemer; great grandson, Kolby Sconiers.
He is survived by his son, Franklin (Martha) McDonald; daughters, Jeannie (James) Murphy, Tammy (Buddy) Register, Sheryl Franks; grandchildren, Heather Surber, Brandi Gill, Darryl Crooke, Julie Asaro, Jessica Sconiers, Bubba Register, Aaron Crooke, Caleb Murphy, Susan Fullerton, Kim Hoffman, Thomas Crooke, and Kristie Gulsby; a host of great grandchildren – too many to count; Sisters, Marie Powell, Bertha Comans, Vera Volovecky, and Vivian Lambeth; and brother Charlie McDonald.
Pallbearers will be Darryl Crooke, Bubba Register, Aaron Crooke, Thomas Crooke, Caleb Murphy, Jason Asaro, Nick Sconiers, Josh Hoffman and Ryan Fullerton. Honorary pallbearers will be his great grandsons.
Herman was reunited in passing with his loving wife, Dorothy of 59 years. He was proud of his family. His grandchildren made his world go around; they were the light of his days. He was always willing to lend a helping hand where needed. Throughout the years he helped many people. He was always busy doing something whether it was working in his yard, woodworking in his shop, or working on his 1965 Chevrolet.
Pensacola Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements. Visitation for family and friends will be Monday, December 11, 2023, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Funeral services will be at 1:00 p.m with Doctor Will Stone officiating. Graveside Military Honors will follow.
The family would like to say a special thanks to Ascension Medical group at Sacred Heart (Tori Shay Ghigliotty & Makayla) as well as HCA Florida West Hospital ICU & Neurology Department for their devoted care and support during our time of need.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in John’s memory to the 1st Baptist Church of Cantonment.
Jewel Smith Chandler
December 8, 2023
Jewel Smith Chandler, age 78, of Flomaton, AL passed away on December 6, 2023. She was born on November 27, 1945 in Bratt, FL to Daniel Smith and Daisy Little. She was a longtime member of Atmore Baptist Temple and enjoyed camp meetings in the summer
months. Jewel was a lot of fun, always laughing and enjoyed playing pranks. She loved to travel out west and to the mountains. In earlier years, she cherished motorcycle trips with her husband and cherished her family.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Daniel Smith and Daisy Little Bray; her brother, Billy Smith and her stepson, Terry Chandler.
She is survived by her husband, Joe Chandler; her son, Joey (Angel) Lister; her daughters, Michelle Hammonds and Alisa (Kenny) Pierce; her brothers, Leroy (Judy) Smith, Dean (Beth) Smith and Allen (Debbie) Smith; her sisters, Gladys Davis, Erma Davis and Melba
(Marion) Bartlett; her stepdaughter, Tonya (Tim) Lee; her stepson, Tim (Melanie) Chandler; twelve grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Monday, December 11, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Doug Odom and Bro. Glenn Johnson officiating. Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery in Atmore, AL.
Visitation will be held Monday, December 11, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home in Atmore, AL.
Jerry O. Fischer, Jr.
December 8, 2023
Jerry O. Fischer, Jr., age 61, lost his short battle with pancreatic cancer on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, in Pensacola, Florida.
Jerry and Elena Fischer welcomed their firstborn son on June 19, 1962, in Pensacola, Florida. He was a resident of Century, Florida, for over thirty years, graduating from Century High School in 1980. He loved playing sports, particularly baseball and football, and proudly represented the Century Blackcats in Black & Gold. After high school, Jerry played baseball at Faulkner State College on scholarship for two years. Jerry went on to work in various industries. He started in the oil fields as an insulator; worked in the family business, Photo By Fischer; employed as a Counselor at Hurricane Island Outward Bound, and finally landed with American General/AIG as an insurance agent.
Jerry is the husband of Ramona Fischer for almost thirty-two years; the father of Anna Lundy, Leah Surrette, and Jason Fischer; and Papa Fish to grandchildren Griffin and June Lundy. Jerry retired on disability in 2009 and was a happy man tending to his yard and trailing vincas; watching the deer, birds, and squirrels in the backyard; patrolling the Escambia River and gravel lakes for the best time to catch shellcracker; playing lively games of cornhole with close buddies; and passionately collecting and talking about old bottles. Grandchildren, Griffin and June added a brand-new layer of fun to Jerry’s life, and he enjoyed sharing his love of nature with them and taking them for rides on his zero-turn mower. The last fourteen years are what he calls his “bonus years” after beating colon cancer in 2007, 2008, and again in 2009.
Competition of any kind was right up his alley, which made him a natural when it came time to coach little league baseball at Northwest Escambia ballpark and help coach football at Ernest Ward Middle School. Later he enjoyed participating in the Northview Quarterback Club where he had an opportunity to serve as club President, and also earned Volunteer of the Year for Escambia County School District. He thrived on helping young boys develop their athletic potential, learn about team sports, and have fun doing it!
Jerry was preceded in death by his sweet mother, Maria Elena Sale Fischer.
He is survived by his father, Jerry Orson Fischer, Sr.; wife, Ramona Elizabeth Leonard Fischer; daughters, Anna (Caleb) Lundy, Leah (Payden) Surrette; son, Jason Fischer; grandchildren, Griffin and June Lundy; brother, Jeff (Junia) Fischer; sister, Julie (Chuck) Thornton; and constant companion, Bennett, his dog.
Funeral services will be held Monday, December 11, 2023, at Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church in Bogia, Florida, with visitation at 11:00 AM, and service at 12:00 PM. Interment will follow at Pleasant Hill Church in Century, Florida. Pastor Nathan Brown and Pastor Grant Norris will be officiating.
“Go-‘head!” and “Later, Babe!”
If you wish to make a donation in Jerrys honor, we support www.pilotsforchrist.com and www.pancan.org.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, 1000 South Highway 29, Cantonment, is entrusted with arrangements.
Janice Ann Amerson Weemes
December 8, 2023
Janice Ann Amerson Weemes, age 82, passed away on December 3, 2023. She was born on January 17, 1941 in Mobile, AL to Horace E. Amerson and Fannie Wiggins Amerson. Ann was the heart of her family, always with a smile on her face and would give anything to anybody. She loved smiley faces. Ann was a retired Certified Nursing Assistant and volunteered for 13 years at Atmore Hospital as an Auxiliary “Pink Lady”. She attended Atmore Assembly of God. She also was a member of Silver Sneakers and enjoyed the
S.A.I.L Center.
She is preceded in death by her parents; her step-daughter, Judy Griffin; her brothers, Jimmy Amerson, Elyan Amerson, and Curtis Amerson; her sister, Betty Brown. She is survived by her step-sons: Glen Wells, Mike Wells, Greg Wells and Clyde Wells; her
step-daughters: Elaine Nelson, Glenda Haskins and Janice Johnson; her aunt, Mary Hall; her uncle, James Wiggins; her nephews: Al Amerson, Randy Hall, Danny Amerson, Curtis Alan Amerson, Scott Amerson and Alex Amerson; her nieces: Wanda Hall, Lisa Fisher and
Leah Williams. Also, numerous step grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren along with many great and great-great nieces and nephews. Graveside services will be held Saturday, December 9, 2023 at 11:30 a.m. at Godwin
Cemetery in Bratt, FL with Bro. Ken Johnson officiating. Interment will follow in Godwin Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Brad Williams, Dylan Amerson, Kyle Wilson, Matthew Amerson, David Amerson, Jason Amerson and Hunter McDonald. Visitation will be held Saturday, December 9, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home in Atmore, AL.