Douglas C. Newton
Reverend Dr. Douglas C. Newton, age 85, passed away Tuesday, December 28, 2021 at his home after a long illness. He was born in Dothan, Ala. After high school graduation, he went to Asbury College. After graduating from Candler School of Theology at Emory University with his Masters of Divinity, he returned to the Alabama West Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church where he served faithfully for the next sixty-four years. He found joy in people, in their stories, in living life alongside them.
Dr. Newman is survived by his children, Allen Newton (Stephanie) and Michelle Murray
(Mark); grandchildren, Christopher Murray (Bridget) and Riley Newton (Mary Katherine), Sarah Kate and David Newton; great-grandchildren, Emerson and Harper; brother-in-law, Seth W. Granberry Jr. (Sally) and many nieces and nephews.
The family will be holding a private graveside ceremony but invites you to leave your memories and stories of Dr. Doug below. If you’d like to honor Doug’s memory with a monetary gift, donations may be sent to: Choctaw Beach United Methodist Church, 479 Live Oak Street, Freeport, FL, 32439, or Asbury Seminary Foundation, Att: Jo Ann Roberts 3027 Fellowship Lane Pace, FL 32571.
There will be a Celebration of Life service at Crosspoint in Niceville sometime the first part of March. A final date and time will be announced.
Heritage Gardens Funeral Home and Cemetery in charge of all arrangements. 2201 Partin Dr. N, Niceville, Fla. 32578
Dorothy Jean “Dot” Morrison Smith
Mrs. Dorothy Jean “Dot” Morrison Smith, age 87, of Bay Minette, Ala., passed away Sunday, January 2, 2022 at her residence. She was born in Loree, Ala. She was a retired operator at Southland Phone Company in Atmore, Ala. She was member of Southside Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her parents, William Warner and Panda Booker Morrison; her husband, Vernon Smith and siblings, Christine Morton, Bill Morrison, Robert Morrison, Dale Morrison and Frances Harper.
Mrs. Smith is survived by her daughter, Terri Faith (Theresa) Smith of Pensacola, Fla.; two sisters, Mattie Peavy of Monroeville, Ala. and Lois White of Bay Minette; one brother, Woody Morrison of Mobile, Ala..
Funeral services will be held Friday, January 7, 2022 at 10 a.m. at the chapel of Norris Funeral Home with Reverend Jason Hughes officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery in Atmore.
The family will receive friends Friday, January 7, 2022 from 9 a.m. until the 10 a.m. service at Norris Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions be made to Southside Baptist Church, P.O. Box 418, Bay Minette, AL 36507.
Norris Funeral Home in charge of all arrangements. Bay Minette, Ala.
Mary Walker Wise Amerson
Mrs. Mary Walker Wise Amerson, age 60, of Jay, Fla., passed away Tuesday, December 28, 2021. She had a brief, but difficult battle with lung cancer. She was born to James (Sonny) and Patricia in Atmore, Ala. She was an alumna of Ernest Ward High School in Walnut Hill, Fla.
She was a dedicated mother, raising two children. Being a mother was one of the most important parts of her life, a role that gave her much pride and joy. We were lucky to have her as the head of the family and her presence will be missed deeply.
She was predeceased by her father, Sonny.
Mrs. Amerson is survived by her husband, Curtis; her mother, Patricia; brother, James (Beau); two daughters, Ariel and Maranda; grandchildren, Alice and Leon, as well as many other friends and family.
No services will take place, as Mary requested, but we do appreciate your love and support during this challenging time. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to VITAS Community Connection.
Trahan Family Funeral Home in charge of all arrangements. Pensacola, Fla.
Donald Lee Bullard
Mr. Donald Lee Bullard, age 80, of Atmore, Ala., passed away Wednesday, January 5, 2022. He was born in Pensacola, Fla. to Oscar and Alline McGill Bullard. He worked in the Oil Industry as a Drilling and Operations Consultant. Prior to working in the oil industry, he owned Bullard Ambulance Service in Milton, Fla. and got his love for cars working at West Florida Paint and Body. In addition to a love for cars – including his own drag car called the Pony Express – he loved hunting, fishing, boating, being with his kids, grandkids, and great grandkids. He loved to cook/entertain, laugh and have a good time with all his friends and family.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his first son, Donald Carey Bullard and his sister, Virginia Hobbs.
Mr. Bullard is survived by his wife, Sharron Bell Bullard; his son, Randy (Diana) Bullard of MO; his daughters, Lisa (Lee) Lane of Jay, Fla., Tina (Juan) Gonzalez of Pensacola, D.J. (Tony) Zasowski of Plano, Texas and Dondi (Matt) Schneider of St. Petersburg, Fla.; his step-son, Corey (Ashleigh) Loop of Jacksonville, Fla.; his brother, Henry (Anita) Bullard of Cantonment, Fla.; his sisters, Estherline Rhea of Century, Fla., Estelle (Dennis) Leibold of Jacksonville and Doris Boswell of Cantonment; his grandkids, Brian, Brittany, Nicole, Eddie, Trevor, Kevin, Esmee, Jack and Beau; his great-grandkids, Jett, Chase, Leah, Lexie, Tate, Cole, Aiden, Tatum, Caiden, Willow, Jaxon and Maelyn along with many family and friends.
Funeral services will be held Friday, January 7, 2022 at 2 p.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Thurl Pearson officiating. Interment will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Kenny Bullard, Jamie Bullard, Kevin Bullard, Brian Lane and Travis Smith.
The family will receive friends Friday, January 7, 2022 from 1 p.m. until service time at 2p.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home in charge of all arrangements.
Judy Gail Bonds Hillman
Mrs. Judy Gail Bonds Hillman, age 74, of Brewton, Ala., passed away Sunday, January 2, 2022 at Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, Fla. She was born in Tuscaloosa, Ala. She loved working in her flower gardens, cooking and her pets.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Hoyt and Nell Bonds.
Mrs. Hillman is survived by her loving husband of eight and a half years, Charles Hillman, of Brewton; one daughter, Victoria (Derrick) Stewart, of Flomaton, Ala.; three step-daughters, JoAnna Paroby and Kate Hillman both of Pensacola and Chrissie Heilmann, of Denver, Colo.; two sisters, Susan (Roger) Adkinson, of Flomaton and Cindy (John) Coleman, of Northport, Ala.; two grandchildren, Morgan (Zach) Ingram, Shannon (Andrew) Weaver; two great-grandchildren, Presley and Harper Ingram, nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
Funeral services were held Thursday, January 6, 2022 at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church, Flomaton with Rev. Jake Bondurant and Rev. Parker Johnson officiating. Burial followed at Flomaton Cemetery.
The family received friends Thursday, January 6, 2022, from 1 p.m. until service time at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church Flomaton.
Pallbearers were Derrick Stewart, Zach Ingram, Andrew Weaver, Jerry Burt, Stevie Pugh, and Colby Pugh.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home, LLC. in charge of all arrangements. Atmore, Ala.
Linda Karen Adams Hall
Mrs. Linda Karen Adams Hall, age 64, passed away Sunday, January 2, 2022 in Mobile, Ala. She has lived most of her life in Atmore, Ala. She was a proud member of Poarch Band of Creek Indians, Fretwell Tabernacle Church, and Hvsosv Tallhvssee in Poarch, Ala.
She valued her time she got to spend with her family and taking care of grandchildren. She enjoyed dancing, sewing, going to the creek, and styling hair. She loved native traditions, and always helped the people in need.
She was preceded in death by her father, Carl Ben Adams; one grandmother, Linnie Presley Hayes and Bill Hayes; two brothers, Michael Wayne Adams, William Carl Adams, and one sister, Linda Gail Weaver.
Mrs. Hall is survived by her mother, Margaret Milstid, of Atmore, Ala.; six sons, Christopher (Jennifer) Adams, of Meridianville, Ala., Tommy (Kelly) Smith and Albert Countryman, all of Poarch, Ala., Michael Smith, of Flomaton, Ala., Adam Countryman and Jason Countryman, both of Frisco City, Ala.; two daughters, Jenni Hall, of Frisco City and Jessica Hall, both of Atmore; one brother, David (Marissa) Adams, of Atmore; three sisters, Brenda (John) Stephens, of Uriah, Ala., Deborah Helton and Michelle (Judd) Mason, both of Atmore; twenty-nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; her companion, Travis Hall; many nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Funeral services will be held Friday, January 7, 2022 at Friendly Holiness Church at 2 p.m. with Sis. Helen Stewart and Bro. Ray Ward officiating. Burial will follow at Judson Creek Indian Cemetery.
The family will receive friends Thursday, January 6, 2022 from 6 p.m. until service time Friday, January 7, 2022 at Friendly Holiness Church.
Pallbearers will be Ron Marshall, Brad Adams, Kyle Adams, Joshua Milstid, John Stephens, and Anthony Peebles.
Honorary pallbearers will be Billy Kroll, Ronnie McGhee, Jimmy Smith, William Bailey, and Roger Scott.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home, LLC. in charge of all arrangements. Atmore, Ala.
Colvin Lamar Murph
Mr. Colvin Lamar Murph, age 75, of Bay Minette, Ala., passed away Friday, January 7, 2022 at his residence. He was born in Atmore, Ala. He was the Market Manager at Winn-Dixie in Bay Minette, Ala. with over thirty years of service, and then worked at The Fresh Market in Mobile, Ala. until his retirement. He worked tirelessly to provide for his family, and he was extremely proud of his children and grandchildren. He was a member of Judson Baptist Church in Atmore, Ala.
He was preceded in death by his father, Connie Lamar Murph, Sr.; his mother, Doris Barrington Murph Hall; beloved son-in-law Arnie Forrester; siblings, Rodney Hall, LaNell Murph Cook, Shirley Diane Hall Rushing and Becky Hall Holloway.
Mr. Murph is survived by his wife of fifty-three years, Faye Livingston Murph of Bay Minette; four children, Craig L. Murph of Atmore, Lynn Forrester of Columbia, Ala., Donna (Jared) Parker of Wilmer, Ala. and Amy Murph of Bay Minette; his grandchildren, Daniel, Faith, Reese, and Paige Forrester, Chassity and Caleb Parker and Kaitlyn Parker (Dakota) Mayer, who is expecting the first great-grandchild; five sisters, Carolyn Dees of Robertsdale, Ala. Nancy Roach of Davisville, Fla., Bettye (Ken) Hodges of Pensacola, Fla. and Sarah (Mike) Ward of Mobile, Ala. and Rita Whatley of Atmore.
Graveside services, honoring the date of his father’s birth, will be held Wednesday, January 12, 2022, at 11:30 a.m. at Oak Hill Cemetery in Atmore with Bro. Otis Thames officiating. Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Beulah Mae Cotton
Mrs. Beulah Mae Cotton, age 59, of Atmore, Ala., passed away Sunday, January 9, 2022. She was born and raised in Pensacola, Fla. and later moved to Atmore.She was the owner of Beulah’s Country Kitchen at T & W Flea Market for many years. She never met a stranger. To know her was to love her.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Alvin and Orline Grissett; her husband, Franklin (Red) Cotton; her granddaughter, Ja’Lani (Minnie) Giles; two brothers, Donnie and Paul Ray and her sister, Gloria.
Mrs. Cotton is survived by her sons, Thomas (TW) Cotton of Pensacola and Matthew (Kelley) Cotton of Atmore; her daughter, Ashley Cotton of Atmore; her brother, David Grissett of Pensacola; her sister, Hazel (Ben) Harper of Laurel Hill, Fla. and nine precious grandchildren.
Graveside services will be held Friday, January 14, 2022 at 12:30 p.m. at Oak Hill Cemetery in Atmore. Interment will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery.
The family will receive friends Friday, January 14, 2022 from 11 a.m. until Noon at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home in charge of all arrangements.
Rayvan Frye
Mr. Rayvan Frye, age70, of Atmore, Ala., passed away Sunday, January 9, 2022 in Atmore.
A native of Atmore, he attended Escambia Co. Training School. He was a retired employee from the City of Atmore with over forty-two years of service.
Funeral service will be held Saturday, January 15, 2022 at 1 p.m. at Empowerment Tabernacle Christian Center with Bishop Darryl North, Pastor, officiating. Inhumation will follow in Fairview Cemetery.
The family will receive friends Friday, January 14, 2022 from 2 until 5 p.m. at the funeral home.
Turner Funeral Chapel in charge of all arrangements.
Robert Spears
Mr. Robert Spears, of Brewton, Ala., passed away Monday, January 10, 2022 at West Florida Hospital, Pensacola, Fla.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time but will be announced by Christian Memorial Funeral Home.
James L. Straughn, Jr.
Mr. James L. Straughn, Jr., of Evergreen, Ala., passed away January 4, 2022 at D.W. McMillan Hospital.
Graveside services will be held Friday, January 14, 2022 at 1 p.m. at Sandy Grave Church cemetery.
Christian Memorial Funeral Home in charge of all arrangements.
Sharon Diane Spivey
Ms. Sharon Diane Spivey, age 68, of Century, Fla., passed away Saturday, January 8, 2022 in Mobile, Ala. She valued her time she spent with her family. She enjoyed fishing, dancing, watching Alabama Football, and Nascar Racing.
She was preceded in death by her mother and father, John Etheridge and Annie Mae (Wiggins) Bell; one brother, Akron Lindsey and three sisters; Mary Lois Lindsey, Helen Wilson, and Pearl Wilson.
Ms. Spivey is survived by her two sons, Casey Townson (Dusty Wooten) and Bryan (Kim) McGhee, all of Atmore, Ala.; one God Child, Haley Odom; one daughter, Angela (Mark) McGowin of Grand Bay, Ala.; one brother; Winston (Joan) Lindsey of Brewton, Ala.; two sisters, Judy (Bo) Franklin and Jackie (Willie Jo) Holmes, all of Brewton; special sister, Pam Payne; twelve grandchildren, Madison, Anna, Cameron, Brylynn, Braeden, T.J., Maci, Jacob, Casey, Maxwell, Kaylea, Dakota; five great-grandchildren, Harper, Berkleigh, Cason, Aubrey, and Rylee and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, January 12, 2022, at 2 p.m. at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home LLC with Rev. Farron Wilson officiating. Burial will follow at Godwin Cemetery.
The family will receive friends Wednesday, January 12, 2022 from 1p.m.until service time at 2 p.m. at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home LLC.
Pallbearers will be Greg Odom, Brandon Burkett, Bradley Baker, Cameron McCall, Ronnie Boone, and Dustin Rabon.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC. in charge of all arrangements. Atmore, Ala.