Obituaries, week of December 15, 2021

Vernon Spence

Mr. Vernon Spence, age 79, of Geneva, Ala., passed away Monday, December 6, 2021, at his home. He was born in Escambia County, Fla.to the late Ransom C. and Evelyn English Spence. He was a 1959 graduate of Ernest Ward High School where he played basketball and held a record for the most points scored in a game, 58, for over forty years. He and his family moved to Geneva in 1973 when he took a position with Benson Wholesale, which later became Fleming Foods. He continued to work for Fleming Foods in Management in the Health and Beauty Aids Division until his retirement in 1998. He was a faithful member of the First Baptist Church of Geneva where he taught Sunday school and was awarded the esteem honor of Deacon Emeritus. He was a member of the Porch Band of Creek Indians in Atmore, Ala. He loved sports and enjoyed fishing, dove and quail hunting, Alabama football, and Freddy Fender.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Betty Hare; and granddaughter, Ayla Perez.

Funeral service will be held Saturday, December 11, 2021, at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church, Geneva, with Dr. Edwin Scott officiating. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Saturday, December 11, 2021 at 12:30 p.m. until the start of the service at the church.

Mr. Spence is survived by his loving and faithful wife of sixty years, Linda Pope Spence; one son, Darryl (Ann) Spence of Enterprise, Ala.; three daughters, Tonya (Ernie) Roney, Teresa (Ivan) Perez, and Tammy (Keith) Owen, all of Geneva; two sisters, Inez Freeman, Walnut Hill, Fla. and Carolyn (Ervin) Thortis, McDavid, Fla.; one brother, James (Jessie) Spence, Atmore, Ala.; thirteen grandchildren, Brandon (Christie) Spence and Brooke (Brandon) Hurst, all of Dothan, Ala.; Shawna (Morgan) Kelley, Norfolk, Va., Tori Kelley and Avery (Jackie) Perez, all of Enterprise, Ala., Drew (Ally) Roney, Ty (Bryttany) Owen and Cody (Taylor) Shoemaker, all of Geneva, Dustin (Connie) Roney, Samson, Ala., Jamison (Madeline) Roney, of Tallahassee, Fla, Addyson Perez, of Mobile, Ala.; Devin Shoemaker, Coffee Springs, Ala., Katie Owen, Opp, Ala., and seventeen great-grandchildren; also survived by many special in-laws, nieces, and nephews.

Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Drew Roney, Brandon Spence, Dustin Roney (Honorary), Devin Shoemaker, Cody Shoemaker, Avery Perez and Jamison Roney.

Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions made to First Baptist Church, 309 S. Commerce Street, Geneva, AL 36340.

Warren~Holloway~Ward Funeral Home (334) 684-9999 in charge of arrangements. Geneva, Ala.

Thelma Evers Marshall

Mrs. Thelma Evers Marshall, age 94, of Canoe, Ala. passed away at her home on December 12, 2021. She was born on November 2, 1927 to Louis and Nellie Daw Evers.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, John Henry Marshall; her daughter, Betty Watson; her brother, Earl Evers and her sister, Vivian Fountain.

Mrs. Marshall is survived by her son, Ronnie Marshall (Renee) of Canoe; her daughters, Carolyn Cross (Bill) of Mobile, Ala., Shirley Hardin (Don) and Johnnie McCann (Bud), all of Cuba, Cuba, Ala.; and her brother, Wilbur Evers (Lois) of Bay Minette, Ala.; her sister, Pearl Falls of O’Brien, Fla.; seven grandchildren, Amy Hill (Russ), John Henry Watson (John), Julie Peck (Don), Angel Cruise, Jessica Bonner (Sam), Martha Gray (Bo), and Erin Hadley (Mitchell); thirteen great-grandchildren, Courtney Crutchfield (Dillian), Sky Cruise, Luke Cheramie, Brock Bonner, Luke Hill, Olivia Peck, Addie Beth Gray, Ember Henry, Scarlett Bonner, Cayson Henry-Hadley, Jude Hill, Marshall Gray, and Lily Peck.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 18, 2021 at 11 a.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow at Canoe Freewill Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Saturday, December 18, 2021 from 10 a.m. until service time at 11 a.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.

Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home in charge of all arrangements.

Gereana Wiggins-Stargell

Ms. Gereana Wiggins-Stargell, age 80, of Dayton, Ohio, formerly of Atmore, Ala., Passed away Sunday, December 5, 2021. A native of Camden, Ala., she was a resident of Dayton for many years and had resided in Atmore in her early life. She was a loving and caring person, she enjoyed traveling, cooking, shopping, and spending time with her family. She was a member of Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church in Dayton where she served as a dietary aid. She was a member of the socialite Club and had been employed at General Motors in Dayton for fifteen years.

She was preceded in death by one son, Willie Charles Wiggins; her parents, D.L. and Mary Howard – Riley; three brothers, Willie Lee Riley, R. L. Riley, and Mide Riley; two sisters, Roberta Riley and Alberta Riley.

Ms. Wiggins-Stargell is survived by her daughter, Cathy Ann (Willie “Bill”) Wiggins-Finklea of Frisco City, Ala.; three sons, Perry (Londa) Wiggins of Fla., Calvin Wiggins, Sr. and Charles (Andrea) Wiggins all of Dayton; fifteen grandchildren; thirty-five great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild; three sisters, Betty Riley-Grimes of Dayton, Pearlie Mae Riley – Hall, and Liza Riley-Wilson; three brothers, Ervin Lee Riley, Ray Charles (Lasqueta) Riley and Terry (Dorothy Ann) Riley all of Atmore; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, special friends, Delores Dancy, Margaret Israel and Celestine of Dayton, Ruth Hall of Ga., Rev. and Mrs. Monroe Nora Tucker, Annie Mae Johnson – Augustus, and Linda Jackson, all of Atmore, and other friends.

The family will receive friends Friday, December 17, 2021 from 2 – 5 p.m. at the funeral home.

Graveside service will be held Saturday, December 18, 2021 at Noon at Fairview Cemetery with Rev. Monroe Tucker, Jr., Pastor, Mt. Olive Baptist Church (Robinsonville Community) – Atmore, officiating.

Face masks are required and social distancing implemented.

Turner Funeral Chapel in charge of all arrangements.

Phillip Dashawn Smith

Mr. Phillip Dashawn Smith, age 39, of Pensacola, Fla., passed away Tuesday, December 7, 2021 at Jay Hospital in Jay, Fla. A native of Atmore, Ala. he had been a resident of Pensacola for many years. He owned Phillip’s Lawn Care Service in Pensacola.

Mr. Smith is survived by his mother, Dororhy Jean Smith of Pensacola; his father, Jerry Johnson; two daughters, Zy’Kiraya Smith and Phallon Smith, both of Pensacola; four sons, Phillip Smith, Mekhi Smith, Malik Smith, all of Pensacola, FL, and Caysen Smith of Century, Fla.; one brother, Lacil D. Smith of Pensacola; two grandchildren.

The family will receive friends Friday, December 17, 2021 from 2 – 5 p.m. at the funeral home.

Face masks are required and social distancing implemented.

Funeral service will be Saturday, December 18, 2021 at 2 p.m. at Empowerment Tabernacle Christian Center, 514 Peachtree Street, Atmore with Bishop Darryl North, Pastor, officiating. Interment will follow in Fairview Cemetery.

Turner Funeral Chapel in charge of all arrangements.

Crystal Tyann Montgomery

Miss Crystal Tyann Montgomery, age 33, of Atmore, Ala., passed away Friday, December 10, 2021 at UAB Hospital in Birmingham, Ala. A native of Atmore, she was a 2007 graduate of Escambia County High School. She enjoyed cooking, baking, and traveling. She was an Alabama fan. She had worked at Creek Travel Plaza and Walmart. At her death, she worked in Bay Minette at a manufacturing company.

Miss Montgomery is survived by her loving mother, Angelia Montgomery and her father, Eugene Edwards; two brothers, Anterrio Montgomery and Bobby Montgomery all of Atmore; a host of other family and friends.

The family will receive friends Friday, December 17, 2021 from 2 – 5 p.m. at the funeral home.

Facial mask are required and social distancing implemented.

Funeral service will be held Saturday, December 18, 2021 at 11 a/m. at Empowerment Tabernacle Christian Center, 514 Peachtree Street, Atmore with Bishop Darryl North, Pastor, officiating. Interment will follow in Fairview Cemetery.

Turner Funeral Chapel in charge of all arrangements.

Shancca Luckey

Shancca Luckey, of Brewton, Ala, passed away Wednesday, December 8, 2021 at her residence.