Obituaries

Obituaries, week of November 15, 2020

Harold “Tonto” Lawrence McGhee

Mr. Harold “Tonto” Lawrence McGhee, age 49, of Range, Ala. passed away Friday, November 6, 2020 in a local hospital after a brief illness. He was a native of Atmore, Ala. and a long- time resident of Range. He was a Tribal member of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, attended the Escambia County School system, and was a former employee of the Poarch Police and Flomaton Police Departments. He was an avid Alabama Fan and enjoyed building art.

He was in death by his parents- Otis and Dorothy Cain McGhee; sister, Kathy Fuqua and brother, Tanner Few.
Mr. McGhee is survived by his fiancé, Elisa Brown of Range; son, Dakota McGhee of Flomaton;
two daughters, Brandy (Cole) Anstite of Jacksonville, Fla. and Onnajoy McGhee of Range;
two step-sons, Nick Brown and Justin Brown; children, Cody McGhee and Emily Brown;
four brothers, Burns (Sharon) Elliott, Johnny Ray (Shirley) Elliott and Bubba McGhee, all of Brewton, Ala. and Chris (Denise) Johnson of Cherokee, Ala.; four sisters, Pat (Calvin) Williams,
Renee Frazier, Mary Ann McGhee, all of Brewton, Ala. and Rose McGhee of Atmore;
one grandchild, Archie Anstite.
Friends were received Wednesday, November 11, 2020 from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m. at Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home

Funeral Services were held Wednesday, November 11, 2020 at 2 p.m. at Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Eddie Hammac officiating. Interment followed in New Home Cemetery in Atmore.

Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home in charge of all arrangement. Brewton, Ala.

William Van Cooey

Mr. William Van Cooey, age 71, of Atmore, Ala., passed away Sunday, November 8, 2020. He was born in Pensacola, Fla. to the late William and Vera Braxton Cooey. He was the owner of Pensacola Savage Company. 

He was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Laurie Cooey and his siblings, June Cooey and Mark Cooey. 

Mr. Cooey is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Malone Cooey; his daughter, Ashley (David) Grant of Chumuckla, Fla.; his brothers, Kirk (Kim) Cooey of Silverhill, Ala. and Rick Cooey of Westville, Fla.; his sister, Jane (Tommy) Bullock of Pensacola, Fla. and his grandchildren, Kennedy Grant and Reid Grant. 

Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home in charge of all arrangements.

James Rayford Boatwright, Sr.

Boatwright

Mr. James Rayford Boatwright, Sr., age 77, known as “Country Bumkin” on the CB Radio, passed away Tuesday, November 10, 2020 at his home. He was born in Baldwin County, Ala. to the late Amos and Johnnie Mae (Buck) Boatwright.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Amos and Johnnie Mae Boatwright; three sisters, Debra Ann Boatwright, Barbara Sue Eddins and Donna Kay Boatwright; one brother, Amos Boatwright, Jr. and one son, Donald Ray Boatwright. 

Mr. Boatwright is survived by his wife of fifty-six years, Shirley Boatwright; three sons, Kenny (Melissa) Boatwright of Monroeville, Ala., Jimmy (Angela) Boatwright of Canoe, Ala. and Dewayne (Angela) Boatwright of Nokomis, Ala.; one daughter, April Boatwright of Atmore; grandchildren, Kasey (Kyle) Atkins, Kelli (Eliseo) Boatwright, Tyler (Brittany) Boatwright, Kimberly Boatwright, Foster (Haiden) Countryman, Logan Boatwright, Dakota (Kendra) Boatwright, Madelyn Boatwright, Grant Boatwright, Anna Boatwright, Jacob Boutwell and Micah Boatwright; his great-grandchildren, Isaiah, Gabby, Zayne, McKynlie, Ian, Kannon, Ensley and Rhett; three sisters, Melba Jean (John) Perkins of Northport, Ala.; Toni Faye (Jimmy) Morrow of Atmore and Janice Boatwright of Frisco City, Ala; one brother-in-law, Billy Joe Eddins of Freeport, Ill. and numerous nieces and nephews. 

Funeral services were held Friday, November 13, 2020 at 2 p.m. at  Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Allen Chase and Bro. Ricky Tedder officiating. Interment followed at Oak Hill Cemetery. 

Active pallbearers were Tyler Boatwright, Logan Boatwright, Foster Countryman, Dakota Boatwright, Grant Boatwright and Kyle Atkins. 

Honorary pallbearers were Jacob Boutwell, Eliseo Choncoa and Micah Roo. 

The family did receive friends Friday, November 13, 2020 from 1p.m. until service time at 2:00 p.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home. 

For the safety of you and others, please practice social distancing requirements, though wearing a facial mask is strongly encouraged. 

Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.

Marcia Lorraine Lambeth

Mrs. Marcia Lorraine Lambeth, age 71, passed away Wednesday, November 11, 2020 in Century, Fla. She was a native of Tennessee, former resident of Mobile, Ala. and Brewton, Ala. and had resided in Flomaton, Ala. since 1969. She liked to cook, loved spending time with her grandbabies and singing. She was a retired Bookkeeper/Secretary, former employee of Vanity Fair. She was a member of the Moyeville Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband of thirty-one years, Big Jim Lambeth. 

Mrs. Lambeth is survived by one son, Daniel (Amy) Lambeth of Flomaton; three brothers, Jimmy (Rhonda) Thurman of Mo., Sam York of Mobile and Johnny (Beth) York of Houston, Texas; one sister, Melanie (Donald) Johnson of Bay Minette, Ala.; two grandchildren, Madison Lambeth and Silas Lambeth, both of Flomaton and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. 

Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 14, 2020 at 2 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Josh Long officiating. Burial will follow at Traveler’s Rest Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Saturday, November 14, 2020 from 12:30 p.m. until service time at 2 p.m. at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be Wallace Byrd, Leonard Purvis, Terry Boutwell, John Johnson, Ray Flores and Randall White.

Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC in charge of all arrangements, Atmore, Ala.

Elizabeth Ann Moss McCullough

McCullough

Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Moss McCullough, age 78, of Pensacola, Fla., passed away Saturday, November 14, 2020.  She was born in Mobile, Ala. to the late Allan Moss and Lena Murile Gates Boatwright. She was a member of Smyrna Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Andrew Hill McCullough and her son-in-law, Jonothan “John” Geist.

Mrs. McCullough is survived by her daughter, Andrea McCullough Geist of Pensacola; her sons, Andrew Hill “Buddy” (Geraldine) McCullough, Jr. of Byram, Miss. and Fletcher Allan McCullough of Pensacola; her sister, Hattie Watson of Semmes, Ala.; her grandchildren, Nickolas (April) McCullough, Miya Geist (Jason) McLellan, Savannah McCullough, Taylor McCullough, Terri Geist (Kirk) D’Spain, Prisilla Geist (BJ) Herring, Georgianna Geist, Kristopher Robertson, Kristy Robertson, Rachel (Christian) Grissom and Logan Thomason; her great-grandchildren, Paisley McCullough, Jarren Tripepi, Conner Tripepi, Jade McLellan, Presli D’Spain, Kyara Maldonado, Tayler Herring, Cheyenne Hollis, Braylee Hollis, Jaylynn Hollis, Katlin Robertson, Kaylea Robertson, Kenley Grissom and Nolan Grissom; her special friend, Tiffany Rutherford and her special caregiver through TLC, Mary Fountain.

Funeral service will be held Saturday, November 21, 2020 at noon at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Bill Adams, Sr. officiating. Interment will follow at McCullough Cemetery in McCullough, Ala.

Active pallbearers will be Andrew “Buddy” McCullough, Jr., Raymond Countryman, Nick McCullough, Jason McLellan, Ken Hilton and Adrian Hilton.

For the safety of you and others, please practice social distancing requirements, though wearing a facial mask is strongly encouraged.

Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home in charge of all arrangements.

Paul Henry Dickerson Jr.

Dickerson

Paul Henry Dickerson Jr., age 73, of Atmore, Ala., passed away Thursday, December 5, 2020. He was born in Dothan, Ala. and grew up in Rutledge, Ala. He was a 1965 graduate of Luverne High School where he played football and played the trumpet in the band. He attended Alabama Christian and the University of South Alabama where he earned a B.A. in English, a M.S. in Education and M.Th. in Theology. He was a member of the Church of Christ ministering to congregations in Blackmon, Fla., Brewton, Flomaton, and Atmore, Ala. for over thirty years. He taught English and was a high school Guidance Counselor at Flomaton and Escambia County High Schools. He refereed football and was an avid photographer. He enjoyed fishing and drag racing.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul H. Dickerson Sr and M. Gertrude Dickerson; and his niece Jennifer Faulk.
Mr. Dickerson is survived by his wife of thirty-seven years, Ruth Joyner, having married December 31, 1982; his three daughters and one son, Mandy and David Green, Leila Airhart, Paul Dickerson, and Sarah and Marcus Caraway; five grandchildren, Marion Green, Zoey Green, Brennan Dickerson, Grayson Dickerson, and Layton Dickerson; his sister Barbra and Billy Helms.

Funeral services will be held Friday, November 13, 2020 at 2 p.m. at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Paul Stewart Dickerson, Bro. Jeff Helms and Youth Minister Greg Faulk officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery.
The family will receive friends Friday, November 13, 2020 from 1 p.m. until service time at 2 p.m. at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Scott Grissett, Brandon Turner, David Green, Michael Dean, Gabe Vines and Cliff Joyner.

In lieu of flowers the family request memorials be made to the American Parkinson Association at P.O. Box 61420 Staten Island, NY 10306. 

Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC in charge of all arrangements, Atmore, Ala.

Robert C. Leslie, Jr.

Mr. Robert C. Leslie, Jr., age 67, of Atmore, Ala., passed away Wednesday, October 28, 2020. He was born to the late Robert C. Leslie, Sr. and Minnie Leslie in Atmore. He attendee Escambia County Training School and was considered a jack of all trades.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Robert Leslie and brother, Authur Leslie.

Mr. Leslie is survived by five children, Eric Barron of Minn., Brandy Willis, Derrick (Lakeena) Barron and Lakiesha McTeer, and Brandy Barron mother of his children, all of Atlanta, Ga., Franklin Shaun (Jeanell) Barron of Atmore; four sisters, Minnie Fantroy, Doris Bright, Robin Kidd and Diane Leslie; one aunt, Lula Montgomery of Atmore; six grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Graveside services were held Saturday, November 7, 2020 at 2 p.m. at Fairview Cemetery with Dr. Bernard Bishop Presiding and Minister Rodney Bright, Eulogist.

Pallbearers and floral attendants were family and friends.

Christian Memorial Funeral Home in charge of all arrangements.

Mary William Shoemaker

Mrs. Mary William Shoemaker, age 72, of Bay Minette, Ala., passed away Friday, October 30, 2020. She was born in Vredenburgh, Ala., to the late Ellabell Tolbert Daniels and Alexander Packer, Sr. She was a faithful member of Douglasville Church of Christ, Bay Minette. Her favorite gospel selection was “It could have been me.”

She was preceded in death by her father; husband of forty-two years, Clarence Shoemaker, sr.; daughter Anita Shoemaker and son, Clarence Shoemaker, Jr.

Mrs. Shoemaker is survived by her bonus child, Anita Shoemaker; four children, Rosco (Debra) Shoemaker, Leonard Shoemaker, Tyrone (Tasha) Shoemaker and Jeremy Shoemaker, all of Atmore, Ala.; sisters, Ruby Henderson, Judy (Charles) Tolbert Brown, Elouise Tolbert, Regina Bolar, all of Atmore, Annie (Jerry) Crook of Bay Minette, Perlie Taylor of Silas, Ala., Cynthia Thompson and Sylvia Packer, both of Sacramento, Calif. and Catherine Packer of Mobile, Ala.; brothers, Charles (Annie Mae) Williams, Jimmy “Bo” Tolbert, Jr. and Eddie Tolbert, all of Atmore, Michael Tolbert and Ricky (Lisa) Tolbert, both of Ft. Myers, Fla. and Alexander Packer, Jr. of Sacramento, Calif.; step-mother, Beatrice Packer; host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, other relatives and friends

Graveside services were held Saturday, November 7, 2020 at 1 a.m. at Stallworth Cemetery with Pastor Anthony Orr, of Douglasville Church, Bay Minette, Officiating.

Pallbearers and floral attendants were her family and friends.

Christian Memorial Funeral Home in charge of all arrangements.

Olanthia Morgan

Olanthia Morgan of Evergreen, Ala., passed away Monday, November 9, 2020 at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, Fla.

Graveside services will be held Saturday, October 11, 2020 at 11 a.m. at Westside Cemetery.

Christian Memorial Funeral Home in charge of all arrangements.

Sandra Riley

Sandra Riley, of Brewton, Ala., passed away Wednesday, November 11, 2020 at Baptist Hospital in Pensacola, Fla.

Memorial services will be held Thursday, November 19, 2020 at 11 a.m. at John Fisher Community Center, Brewton.

Christian Memorial Funeral Home in charge of all arrangements.

Sammie Andrew, Jr.

Sammie Andrew, Jr. of Repton, Ala. passed away Tuesday, November 17, 2020 at his home.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time but will be announced later by Christian Memorial Funeral Home.

Christian Memorial Funeral Home in charge of all arrangements.

Frank Johnson, Jr.

Mr. Frank Johnson, Jr., age 81, of Atmore, Ala., passed away Thursday, November 5ded

2020. He was born to the late Frank Johnson Sr. and Annie Mae Johnson (Madear). Relocating in New York he attending high school in Brooklyn and received his higher education at New York School of Announcing and Speech in radio broadcasting. He began his legacy as D.J. Frankie Jay, a talented broadcasting professional with over 50 years of progressive experience.

He was preceded in death by his father and mother; sister, Shirley Ann Hutcherson; brother, Charles Johnson; daughter, Sharron Brown and niece, Shameeka Johnson.

Mr. Johnson is survived by his wife ad Sweetie Betty Jean Johnson and his children all raised together; previous wife, Georgia Johnson of Clear Water, Fla.; their children, Deborah Hunt (Johnny) of Atmore, Evelyn Davis (Randoll) of Hempstead, N.Y., Gregory Johnson (Tabitha) of Wilkes-Barre, Penn.; children, Kim Johnson (Sean) of Wilkes-Barre, Dawn Billups (Eric) of Queens, N.Y. and Lakisha Bartholomew (Kenny) of Atmore; children and grandchildren; other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 14, 2020 at lla.m.at Christian Memorial Funeral Home with Apostle Wayne Marshall Officiating Eulogist. Interment will follow at Stallworth Cemetery.

Pallbearers and floral attendants will be his family and friends.

Christian Memorial Funeral Home in charge of all arrangements.