Jean Holmes Buchanon

BUCHANAN, Mrs. Jean Holmes, 77, a resident of Metairie, LA and formerly of Luverne died Monday January 11, 2010. Funeral services were Thursday January 14, 2010 at the Chapel of Turner Funeral Home.

Interment followed in Providence Cemetery with Turner Funeral Home of Luverne directing. Mrs. Buchanan is preceded in death by two sons, Gary J. McCormick and Brian K. Buchanan; one grandson, D.J. Buchanan; her parents, Oliver Wendell and Annie Holmes; and a sister, Margie Bodiford.

Survivors include three children, James N. McCormick, Ann McCormick Ruiz and Vincent O. Buchanan; eleven grandchildren, Brent McCormick, Stacy Klein, Richelle Melerine, Tina Rhinehart, Melissa Landry, Dane Ruiz, Nicole Buchanan, Adam Buchanan, Katarina Buchanan, Karley Buchanan and Harley Buchanan; seven great grandchildren; a sister, Ruth H. Dukes; and four brothers, Shelby Holmes, Clinton Holmes, Mickey Holmes and Donnie Holmes. The family received friends at the funeral home Thursday from 12:30pm until service time.

Dorothy Kathlyn (Kitty) Johnson Folmar

Dorothy Kathlyn (Kitty) Johnson Folmar of  Goshen, Al. died  Sunday, January 17, 2010  at her home.

Mrs. Kathlyn Folmar is survived by her  daughters, Joyce Folmar of  Goshen and Alice F.  Kelley of Valley, AL. her son Roy (Shelia) Folmar of Goshen, a brother Clemmie J. Johnson of Goshen, three grandchildren Lisa  Kelley of Auburn, AL. and Andrew Folmar and Rachel Folmar both of Goshen and  the University of Alabama, sisters-in-law Velma F. Hightower of Luverne, Peggy  B. Johnson of Little Rock, AK. and Ouida M. Johnson  of Goshen, brother-in-law William  Erastus “Bill” Folmar of Winter  Park, FL. a special cousin and fellow family historian  Neil O. Myers of Aiken, SC., and many nieces, nephews, other cousins and  friends.

Born August 21,  1924 in Pike  County, AL. Mrs. Folmar was the  daughter of the late John Irvin Johnson Sr. and Rubye Mae Myers Johnson of  Henderson,  AL.   

She married Henry Wilbert “Bert” Folmar of  Goshen, and they established their  home and farm together at Goshen Hill, near the town of  Goshen, when he returned from  Naval service in WWII.

She was a devoted wife and mother, a homemaker, a vegetable gardener and preserver, and a helper of Bert  with farm chores. Known affectionately over the years a “Kitty” by family and  friends, she loved and enjoyed her grandchildren, piecing and quilting quilts,  cooking, garment and craft sewing, reading, flowers, her longtime companion  and faithful dog “Beau” and her cats.

She was a good pianist and loved playing  and listening to Baptist hymns.   She was a member of the Joquin  Baptist Church in her younger adult years,  and then later united with Goshen  Baptist  Church.

She was well known as a genealogist, and people from near and far came  to her door to share research notes and learn from her.

Having no computer  until her later years, she did most all her research by personal visits, phone  and the  U.S.  mail.  She had a strong interest  in the preservation of family history and treasures from the past.  

She was involved in family research  for herself and many others and authored five books of her own ancestry and  that of her husband.  In recent  years, she donated some of her files to the Troy Public Library for use by  other researchers.

She spent hours copying inscriptions from tombstones and catalogued  many cemeteries in a wide area in South  Alabama. This was inspired by her observation of deplorable  conditions in cemeteries, where tombstones were crumbling from age or had been  knocked down or broken.

She prepared her “Collection of Alabama Bible Records  from Pike and Other Counties” after finding that so many family Bible records  had been lost, burned, and thrown away.   “These in my book will be available at the library….”, she said.  As a member of the Pike County  Historical and Genealogical Society for many years, she copied a number of  County records and gave them to the Society for publication.

She had been a member of the  Pike  County chapters of Daughters of the  American Revolution, United Daughters of the Confederacy, and Daughters of the  American Colonists.  She had  participated in the Pike County Creative Writers and contributed to its  publications and had served as a volunteer at the Pioneer Museum of Alabama in  Troy. She served on the Pike  County Heritage Book Committee in 2000-2001.

Mrs. Folmar was preceded in death by her husband Henry Wilbert Folmar,  their oldest daughter Dorothy Ann Folmar, two brothers John Irvin Johnson Jr.  and Clyde Myers Johnson, her sisters Rosa J. Lott, Bertie-B J. Law, and Willie  Mae J. Hill, and a brother George Dalton Johnson.

The family received friends a Dillard Funeral Home in  Troy on Tuesday, January 19, 2010 from  5:00 pm until 7:00 pm. Funeral services were held at 10:00 am  Wednesday, January 20, 2010 from the chapel of Dillard Funeral Home in Troy  with Reverends Orris Sanders and Mack King  officiating pallbearers will be Tommy Horn, Brandon Nicholson Truman Johnson  Forrest Lee, Malon Johnson and Elva Flowers Jr.  Burial followed in the family lot at  Elam  Cemetery near  Goshen.

Flowers will be accepted, and memorials may be made to the Troy Public  Library.

Robbie “Bobbie” Williams Gaines

GAINES, Mrs. Robbie “Bobbie” Williams, 77, a resident of Montgomery died Wednesday January 13, 2010 in Talladega after an extended illness. Funeral services were held at 11 am Monday January 18, 2010 at the Chapel of Turner with Rev. Nick Gaines officiating. Interment followed in the Luverne Emmaus Cemetery with Turner Funeral Home of Luverne directing.

Mrs. Gaine’s son, Pat, recently preceded her in death. Although she wasn’t aware of his death while on earth, we find comfort knowing they are now together celebrating on the streets of gold.

Survivors include her husband of 56 years, Q.P. Gaines; one daughter and son-in-law, Lynn and Clay Towery; a daughter-in-law, Wanda Gaines; three grandchildren, Justin Gaines, Kyle Towery and Alex Towery; and a host of nieces and nephews. Active pallbearers were Dan Williams, David Williams, George Sewell, Charles Evans, Jimmy McGuff, Bob Gaines, Billy Jarrett and Johnny Mount.

Jeanette Teague Giddens

GIDDENS, Jeanette Teague, 77, a resident of Luverne, AL died Sunday, January 17,2010. Funeral services were held at 10 AM Tuesday, January 19, 2010 from the chapel of Turner Funeral Home with the Rev. Allen Stephenson officiating.  Interment followed in the Rock Hill Cemetery with Tuner Funeral Home directing.  Mrs. Giddens was preceded in death by her husband, Wiley Gemes Giddens. 

She is survived by three daughters, Twyla(Harold) Smith, Tanja(Parker) Bowen, and Teena(Donnie) Tatum; 9 grandchildren; 5 great grandchildren; one sister, Cumi(Herman) Pierce; and one brother, Marlyn(Ethel) Teague. Active pallbearers were Sandy Smith, Seyth Smith, Jonathan Bowen, Jason Bowen, Aaron Skipper, and Randell Pierce.

June Akin Jones

JONES, Mrs. June Akin, 65, a resident of Brantley, AL died Sunday, January 17, 2010.  Funeral services were held at 11 AM Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at the Brantley United Methodist Church with the Rev. Michael Precht officiating. Interment followed in Brantley Cemetery with Turner Funeral Home of Luverne directing.  Mrs. Jones is preceded in death by her father, John A. Akin and her brother John Akin, II. 

She is survived by her husband of 42 years, Roland H. Jones; one son and daughter-in-law, Roland L. and Tonya M. Jones; two grandchildren Olivia Jones and Carson Jones; mother, Mary B. Akin; one sister, Kathy E. Uptagrafft.  Active pallbearers were Henry Windham, Rodney Hall, Jared Hall, Wayne Jones, Benjamin Jones, Kevin Kennedy, Tommy Mathews and Anthony Eiland. In lieu of flowers the family request donation to Brantley United Methodist Church or Crenshaw Christian Academy.

Charles R. McCullough

MCCULLOUGH, Mr. Charles R., 82, a resident of Highland Home died Tuesday January 12, 2010. Graveside services were Friday January 15, 2010 at the Petrey Cemetery with Rev. Joe Leverette and Rev. William Leverette officiating and Turner Funeral Home of Luverne directing.

Mr. McCullough is preceded in death by his wife, Grace W. McCullough; a daughter, Wanda McCullough; parents, William and Anna McCullough; and a brother, Fred McCullough. He is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Wayne and Wanda McCullough.

The family received friends at the funeral home Thursday from 6pm until 8pm. Active pallbearers were Raymond Trotter, Jimmy Massey, David Griffin, Knox Vaughn, Wally Lacey and Ben Norman.

Odell Cates Perry

PERRY, Odell Cates, age 89, a resident of Greenville, Al. died Monday, January 18, 2010. Graveside services will be held Friday, January 22, 2010 at 1 PM EST, 12 Noon CST in The Lakewood Cemetery, Lakeview, GA. with Reverend Joel Snell Officiating.  Interment will follow in the Lakewood Cemetery with Harrison Funeral Home of Greenville, Al. directing.

A visitation was held Wednesday Jan.20, 2010 from 6 PM until 8 PM at the funeral home.

Survivors include : two sons :

James Perry – Ring Gold, GA.,

Phillip Perry – Phoenix, AZ.; one sister: Audrey McGough – Honoraville, Al.; three grandchildren, one great-grandchild and numerous nieces and nephews.

Voncille J. Shirley

SHIRLEY, Mrs. Voncille J., 81, a resident of Luverne, AL died Tuesday, January 12, 2010.  Funeral services were held on Friday, January 15, 2010 at 11 AM at South Luverne Baptist Church with Rev. Mike Green officiating. 

Interment followed in the Joquin cemetery with Turner Funeral Home of Luverne directing. 

Mrs. Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, Aubrey L. Shirley; her son, Kenny L. Shirley; three sisters, Ella Mae McKenzie, Lucille Morrow, and Hazel Hodge; and three brothers, William Johnson, Wilbert “Doc” Johnson, and Jim Johnson. 

She is survived by four daughters, Deborah S. (Dennis) Anderson, Silvalane S. Vinson, Amelia S. (Ricky) Whiddon, and Francine S. (Robbie) Styron; eleven grandchildren, Jimmy L. Ballard, Jason Barron, Patrick D. Layton, Jr., Amanda Layton Roberts, Daniel T. Brown, Ryan K. Brown, Anna B. Whiddon, Abby L. Whiddon, Mieke S. Sipper, Monica Shirley, and Matthew L. Shirley; seven great grandchildren, Gauge Ballard, Taylor Ballard, Sydney Ballard, Nikki Sipper, Tristan Jordan, Matthew K. Shirley, and Madeline Sims; one sister, Lennie Mae Moses. 

Active pallbearers were Larry Shirley, Gary Shirley, Doyle Turner, Donald Moses, Scott Johnson, and Shannon McKenzie.  Grandsons served as honorary pallbearers. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the South Luverne Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 246, Luverne, AL 36049, or to The American Cancer Society.

Gregory Allen Stevens

STEVENS, Mr. Gregory Allen, 50, a resident of Brantley died Wednesday January 13, 2010.

Mr. Stevens was preceded in death by his parents, Linzy and Mary Stevens, Sr. and a brother, Linzy P. Stevens, Jr.

Survivors include two children, Allen (Marketta) Stevens and Tiffany Stevens; ex-wife, Renee Stevens; seven sisters, Pat Rankin, Jenny Rader, Sue Nance, Helen Bush, Teresa Dillon, Robin Newman and Vicki Deere; a brother, Roger Stevens; and a number of nieces, nephews and cousins.

A memorial service will be scheduled by the family at a later date.