Obituaries

Obituaries, week of November 22, 2020

Dorothy Lee Rhoades

Rhoades

Mrs. Dorothy Lee Rhoades, age 85, passed away Sunday, November 15, 2020 in Bridgeport, Ala. She was born in Uriah, Ala. to the late James Frank Qualls and Alda Mae Whidbee.  She retired with over 50 years of service as a seamstress with Vanity Fair. She was a member of Mennonite Christian Fellowship.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Early David Rhoades; five brothers and three sisters.

Mrs. Rhoades is survived by her sons, Johnnie D. (Wanda) Rhoades of Bridgeport and Thomas W. Rhoades of Evergreen, Ala.; her daughter, Brenda Faye (Randy) Jeter of LaGrange, Ga.; her sister, Frances Lucille Cain of Atmore, Ala.; seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

A private burial will be held at Judson Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family will have a private memorial service at a later date.

In honor of Mrs. Dorothy Lee Rhoades, donations can be made to Atmore Christian School.

Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home in charge of all arrangements.

Helen Joann Johnson

Mrs. Helen Joann Johnson, age 73, passed away Wednesday, November 18, 2020 at her home in Flomaton, Ala. She was a native of Pollard, Ala. and had resided in Flomaton for most of her life. She was a long-time nurse at Abernethy Hospital, a traveling nurse, home health care nurse and was of the Baptist faith.

She was preceded in death by her parents, JB and Helen Stephens; husband, Leon Johnson and son, Kenneth Johnson.

Mrs. Johnson is survived by one son, Richard Johnson of Flomaton; one daughter-in-law, Tonya Johnson of Flomaton; two brothers, John (Brenda) Stephens of Uriah, Ala. and Joseph Ivey of Brewton, Ala.; five sisters, Myrtle (Floyd) Hill and Frieda (Comer) Johnson, both of Flomaton,  Linda (George) Stokes of Castleberry, Ala., Ellen Greer of Dallas, Texas and Pam Zorin of Leesburg, Fla.; six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

A memorial will be held at a later date.

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

Jack E. Merchant

Merchant

Mr. Jack E. Merchant, age 73, passed away Thursday, November 19, 2020 at his home in Bluff Springs, Fla. He was a native and life-long resident of Bluff Springs. He was retired from Johnson Sand and Gravel with over twenty years of service; was a Little League Baseball and Football Coach for many years, loved working with kids; and was a member of the Tabernacle Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Grace Merchant; one sister, JoAnn Merchant; six brothers, William, Richard, Nathan, Jerry, Steve and Larry Merchant and his second mother, Evelyn Johnson. 

Mr. Merchant is survived by his wife of fifty-one years, Linda Faye Merchant of Bluff Springs; three sons, Billy (Wendy) Merchant of Century, Fla., George Richard (Jennifer) Merchant of Flomaton, Ala. and Kevin (Renee) Merchant of Bluff Springs; one brother, John (Gloria) Merchant of Modesto, Calif.; one sister, Linda Ingram of Ozark, Ala.; ten grandchildren, Miranda, Brittany, Darrin, Cheyanne, Mallory, Kelli, Hannah, Tyler, Jaycee and Molly; four great-grandchildren, Mason, Walker, Easton and Sawyer and numerous, nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. 

Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 21, 2020 at 2 p.m. at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Ben Piatt officiating. Burial will follow at Pleasant Hill Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Saturday, November 21, 2020 from 12:30 p.m. until service time at 2 p.m. at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be Darrin Merchant, Eric Merchant, B.J. Johnson, Willie Johnson, Jr., Milstead and Dennis Mathis.

Honorary pallbearers will be Thomas Adams, Kevin Andrews and Thomas Slaughter.

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

Richard Gene Gardner, Sr.

Mr. Richard Gene Gardner, Sr., age 62, passed away Thursday, November 19, 2020 in Mobile, Ala. He was a native of Mobile, Ala. and had resided in Theodore, Ala. for most of his life. He was an employee with USA Car Wash for twelve years.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Sallie Gardner; two brothers, Bobby Gardner and David Gardner and one sister, Cindy Mount.

Mr. Gardner is survived by his wife, Belinda Justice Gardner of Theodore; one son, Richard Gardner, Jr.; three brothers, Wesley (Brenda) Gardner and Ralph (Carla) Gardner, all of Atmore, Ala. and George (Shari) Gardner of Theodore; one grandchild, Ari Grimes of Ardmore, Okla.

Memorial service will be held at a later date.

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

Frazier Janey Howie Swift

Mrs. Frazier Janey Howie Swift, age 64, of Lillian, Ala., passed away Friday, November 20, 2020. She was born New Orleans, La. She was crowned Bicentennial Queen of Fiesta of Five Flags 1976. She received her Bachelor’s in Elementary Education from the University of South Alabama, where she became a sister of the Kappa Delta Sorority. She was an active member of Merry Makers in Pensacola Fla. She leaves a legacy of a strong, smart and beautiful soul. Her love for her family was pure and will forever run deep within their hearts.
Mrs. Swift is survived by her husband, David D. Swift Sr.; parents, Frazier and Doug Howie, brother, Thomas O’Ferrall Howie, Sr.; two step-children, Ida Ross Hicks (Brad) and David D. Swift, Jr. (Laurie); five grandchildren and two nephews, Griffith Howie and Thomas Howie, Jr.
A private family service will be held at The Church of the Advent, Lillian, Ala.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Church of the Advent or any favorite charity.

Carlton Prescott Sharpless

Sharpless

Mr. Carlton Prescott Sharpless, age 94, passed away Sunday, November 22, 2020.  He was born in Atmore, Ala. to the late Jackson Lafayette and Thelma Viola Bratcher Sharpless. He served in The United States Army. 

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Audene Mothershed Sharpless; his sisters, Waldine Sharpless Argroves and Joyce Sharpless Hogg. 

Mr. Sharpless is survived by his wife, Virginia Weaver Mills Sharpless; his son, Phillip (Sandy) Sharpless of Hattiesburg, Miss.; his daughter, Connie Sharpless of Pensacola, Fla.; his brothers, Jack (Betty) Sharpless of Robinsonville, Ala. and Ronnie (Margaret) Sharpless of Gautier, Miss.; his sisters, Carolyn Sharpless Smith of Atmore, Lynn Sharpless Fralick of Walnut Hill, Fla. and Brenda Sharpless (David) Cruce of Loganville, Ga. and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. 

Funeral service will be held Saturday, November 28, 2020 at 11a.m. at Brooks Memorial Baptist Church with Dr. Dale Patterson and Dr. Tim Tew officiating.  Interment will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery in Atmore. 

Active pallbearers will be Phillip Sharpless, Jr., Glenn Sharpless, Larry Sharpless, Allen Sharpless, Andrew Sharpless and Kevin Fralick. 

The family will receive friends Saturday, November 28, 2020 from 10 a.m. until service time at 11 a.m. at Brooks Memorial Baptist Church. 

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.

Margaret Elizabeth Johnson

Johnson

Mrs. Margaret Elizabeth Johnson, age 91, a resident of Nokomis, Ala., passed away Sunday, November 22, 2020 at Oakwood Center for Living in Bay Minette, Ala. She was born in Reform, Ala. She retired from Vanity Fair and was a member of Perdido Baptist Church in Perdido, Ala. where she taught Sunday school and sang in the choir for many years. She was a member of Eastern Star Chapter Perdido Lodge serving in numerous positions.  

She was preceded in death by her parents, Laura Mae Wiggins and Stephen B. Hubbard, Sr.; her husband, Wade Johnson; her sister, Sally Tucker and her brother, Stephen Buck Hubbard, Jr. 

Mrs. Johnson is survived by her brother, Wayne (Linda) Hubbard of Nokomis; her nephew, Todd (Samantha) Hubbard of Nokomis; her great-niece, Taylor Hubbard and great-nephew, Brayden Hubbard both of Huntsville, Ala.; numerous nieces, nephews and many other relatives and friends. 

Graveside service will be held Friday, November 27, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. at Sullivan Cemetery in Nokomis. 

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.

Myra Andrews Gross

Mrs. Myra Andrews Gross, age 76, passed away Monday, November 23, 2020 in Atmore, Ala.
She was a native of Fairhope, Ala., former resident of Sneads, Fla. and had resided in Atmore for the past eighteen years. She was seamstress with Vanity Fair, stocker with the Bay Minette Walmart and was known as the Cedar Bird House Lady. She was affiliated with the Springs of Life Church.

She was preceded in death by her daughter, Andra Blizzard.
Mrs. Gross is survived by her four sisters, Bobbie Jordan of Robertsdale, Ala., Shirley Babe Rod of Dothan, Ala., Marie McNair of Orlando, Fla. and Marcella (Ronnie) Ross of Atmore; three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Graveside services will be held Friday, November 27, 2020 at 2 p.m. at Belforest Community Cemetery with Sis. Wanda Hadley officiating.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC in charge of all arrangements, Atmore, Ala.

Harrel Junior Brooks

Brooks

Mr. Harrel Junior Brooks, age 76, passed away Monday, November 23, 2020, at his home in Bay Minette, Ala. He was born in Semirah Springs, Ala. and had resided in Bay Minette for the past twenty-three years. He loved his family and neighbors and was of the Holiness Faith. He was retired from the Baldwin County Highway Department with twenty years of service as an equipment operator.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James Lamar and Lillian L. Brooks; son, Harrell Eugene Brooks; four sisters, Lillian Aline Hadley, Laura J. Johnson, Flora L. Hadley and Mattie S. Johnson and three brothers, William Lamar Brooks, James Edward Brooks and George S. Brooks.
Mr. Brooks is survived by his wife of fifty-six years, Ann Brooks of Bay Minette; two sons, Gary C. Brooks of Texas and Michael Allen Brooks of Washington, DC; one daughter, Hailey Anniece Brooks of Bay Minette; two sisters, Mary K. Hadley of Fish River, Ala. and Tina Elaine Stringfellow of Pearl, Miss.; five grandchildren, Deviney Smith, Stephen Robinson, Brandon Kelly, Michael Brooks and Madilyn Walker; four great-grandchildren, Ryan Snider, Katelyn Smith, Elijah Snider and Ali Robinson and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, November 25, 2020 at 2:30 p.m. at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Earl Crook officiating. Burial will follow at the Pine Barren Cemetery.
The family will receive friends Wednesday, November 25, 2020 from 1 p.m. until service time at 2:30 p.m. at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Shawn Wilson, Anthony Hadley, Barry Stewart, Johnathan Boyington, Nick Chadwick and Bailey Emmons.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC in charge of all arrangements. Atmore, Ala.

Joyce Marie North

North

Ms. Joyce Marie North, age 77, of Atmore, Ala., passed away Saturday, November 21, 2020 at her home. She was born in Atmore to Willie and Bessie Lee Clark. She was a 1960 graduate of Escambia County Training School. She had been a member of Greater Mt. Triumph Baptist Church since her youth. She was retired from Escambia County Board of Education where she worked as Assistant Manager in the cafeteria at Rachel Patterson Elementary School until her retirement. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, James North, Sr.; her parents; two sisters, Thelma Ray and Pollie Clark; three brothers, Willie Arthur Clark, Fred Clark, Sr., and Larry Clark.

Ms. North is survived by eight daughters, Vickie North, Janice North, LaTonya North, Latonya North, Keshia Curry, Brenda Brown, Tieka North, all of Atmore, Kendra Clark of Evergreen, Ala. and Janice Primm of Baltimore, Md.; three sons, James (Annice) North, Jr., Vincent (Tina) North, all of Virginia Beach, Va. and Kenneth Clark of Evergreen, Ala.; three sisters, Easterlean Clark of Hartford, Conn., Lillian Kate Curry of South Bay, Fla. and Linda Clark of Atmore; a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

The family will receive friends Friday, November 27, 2020 from 2 – 5 p.m. at Turner Funeral home.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 28, 2020 at 2 p.m. at Empowerment Tabernacle Christian Center – Peachtree Street, Atmore with Bishop Darryl North, Pastor, officiating. Interment will follow in Fairview Cemetery.

   *Facial masks are mandatory to enter funeral home for viewing and the church for the funeral service.

Turner Funeral Chapel in charge of all arrangements.

Richard Jones

Mr. Richard Jones, age 52, of Atmore, Ala., formerly of Macon, Miss., passed away Sunday, November 22, 2020 at Atmore Community Hospital. 

Funeral services are incomplete at this time and will be directed by Turner Funeral Chapel.

Jacob Oryan Bailey

Bailey

Mr. Jacob Oryan Bailey, age 34, passed away Friday, November 20, 2020 in Atmore, Ala. He was a native and life-long resident of Atmore. He was a member of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians where he was an active member of HVOSSV TVLLVHVSSE (Ceremonial Grounds). He was a carpenter, farmer, and a spiritual person. He was a PowWow dancer in grass dance and traditional. He was an avid outdoorsman, loved to hunt and fish.

He was preceded in death by his paternal grandmother, Verlie Bailey; maternal grandfather, Eugene Blackwelder; maternal grandmother, Marie McAnally; uncle, Jerry Bailey and cousin, Joey McGhee.
Mr. Bailey is survived by his wife of ten years, Liesl O. Bailey of Atmore; one son, Elijah William Bailey of Atmore; two daughters, Kadence Marie Bailey and Poarcha Estehulwe Bailey , both of Atmore; parents, Cheryl and William Bailey, Sr. of Atmore; mother-in-law, Nancy Olkjer of Pensacola, Fla.; his beloved Pinky Bailey; one brother, Billy (Cheyanne) Bailey of Walnut Hill, Fla.; nieces and nephews, Kyiah Bailey, Sophia Bailey and Carson Bailey and countless aunts and uncles, Robin and Larry, Kathy and Joe, Cecelia and Rodney, Mackey and Russell, Ruth, Sabrina and David, Donna, Sonja and Rusty, Gary and Christine, David McGhee.
Funeral services will be held Friday, November 27, 2020 at 10 a.m. at Restoration Poarch

Community Church with Bro. Jerry Sanchez officiating. Burial will follow at New Home Cemetery.
The family will receive friends Thursday, November 26, 2020 from 6 p.m. until service time at 10 a.m. at Restoration Poarch Community Church.
Pallbearers will be Carson Bailey, Timmy Bailey, Timmy Barber, Thomas Banda, Burle Wiggins, Sr., and Chance Baggett.
Honorary pallbearers will be Boone McGhee, Slick Corey, Trent Rayborn, Bo Slate, Chad Godwin, Stoney Dawes, Issac Bernal, Bubba O’Barr, Paul Bell, Cedo Coon, Stephen Ledkins and Larry Bailey, Jr.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC in charge of all arrangements, Atmore, Ala.