Steven Ernest Joy
Mr. Steven Ernest Joy, age 67, passed away Tuesday, May 9, 2023 in Atmore, Ala. He was born in Dover, N. H. He raised his family in Mobile, Ala. before moving back to Atmore later in life. He was a member of Unity Non-Denominational Church of Mobile. While his technical trade was in welding, his passion was being a musician playing bass guitar in Mobile and surrounding areas playing gigs.
He enjoyed spending time with his family- often referring to himself affectionately as “Mr. Mom.” He enjoyed playing and listening to all different kinds of music especially classic rock, and in particular “The Beatles.” He was also an avid chess player and taught his children the game and later adults in a chess club he founded at the Atmore nursing home.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Dorothy Styron Bowden and one brother, Brian Lyndon Joy.
Mr. Joy is survived by his father, Stanley Joy, of Silverhill, Ala.; four sons, Nathaniel Everette Joy and Alexander Stephen Joy, Dillon Zachary Joy all of Mobile, Ala., Benjamin Harrison (Jayleen) Joy of Miramar, Fla.; one daughter, Chelsea Lenore Jo of Mobile; four grandchildren, and other relatives.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 1 p.m. at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home, LLC.
The family will receive friends Saturday, May 20, 2023 from Noon until service time at 1 p.m. at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home, LLC.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home LLC. in charge of all arrangements. Atmore, Ala.
Shelly Ann Brazwell
Ms. Shelly Ann Brazwell, age 50, passed away Tuesday, May 9, 2023, in Diamondhead, MS. She resided in Atmore, Ala.; in her younger years before moving to Mississippi. She enjoyed reading, arts and crafts, coloring, and crocheting. She enjoyed going to the Smoky Mountains, and she loved animals.
She was preceded in death by her loved ones, Ernest (Myrlene) Godwin, and Garry Godwin.
Ms. Brazwell is survived by her mother, Deborah (David) Ronzone, of Bratt, Fla.; one daughter, Kelsi Brazwell, of Atmore; two brothers, Larry Wayne Free and Greg (Aubrey) Free, both of Texas; one uncle, Larry (Becky) Godwin of Atmore; special friend, Ray Billeaud, and other relatives.
Graveside service was held Friday, May 12, 2023 at 11:30 a.m. at Godwin Cemetery with speaker, David Ronzone. Burial followed at Godwin Cemetery.
The family received friends Friday, May12, 2023 from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. at Petty- Eastside Chapel Funeral Home, LLC.
Pallbearers were Elliot Classen, Sammy Lee, Greg Vaughn, and Greg Free.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC. in charge of all arrangements. Atmore, Ala.
Joe Lewis Pierce
Joe Lewis Pierce was born 1 September 1938 in Atmore, Alabama. He died at home in Atmore on 8 May 2023, after a prolonged illness. He was the ninth of eleven children born to Joseph Pierce and Carlee Rabb Pierce. Joe was married to Doratha Rodgers on 12 July 1963 in Finchburg, Alabama. Joe and Doratha have two children. The oldest is Rachel Meek, a Lieutenant Colonel, US Air Force (Retired). Rachel is married to Jay Meek. The youngest is Isaac Pierce, a Lieutenant Colonel, US Army. Isaac is married to Christi Shelton and they have a daughter named Rachel.
Joe’s family of eleven children included: Madgalene (1925-2013); Zedia (1928-1981); Jim (1930-2017); Sallie Mae (1932-1933 Twin); Annie Mae (1932-1933 Twin); Chester (1933-2019); Solomon (Living); George (1937-2014); Marie (1940-2023); Gladys (Living).
The Pierce family gratefully thanks all the hospice workers, family, and friends who helped in countless ways throughout Joe’s illness. The funeral will be handled by Petty Funeral Home in Atmore. Funeral services will be at the funeral home chapel at 1200 on Friday, 19 May 2023. The viewing hour will be at 1100. Interment will follow at the Pierce, Montgomery, Rabb Cemetery on Atmosphere Road.
Patricia Caraway Renfro
Patricia Caraway Renfro went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday, May 13, 2023. She was born January 25, 1945 to the late Sadie and William Caraway of McCullough, AL. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a sister and brother-in-law, Betty and Bill Moore; brothers and sisters-in-law, James and Doris Caraway, and Henderson and Louise Caraway; nephews, Larry Caraway and Eugene Caraway, and great nephew and niece, Jason Caraway and Michelle Caraway all of McCullough, AL. She was a resident of Dothan for 53 years. She was a talented artist, floral designer and interior decorator. She had a gift for making things look beautiful. She was a member of First Baptist Church where she enjoyed teaching four-year-old Sunday school, decorating the library window, and attending many bible studies.
She was preceded in death by her husband of almost 60 years, Bob Renfro; two daughters, Libby (Darnell) Davidson and Jamie (Todd) Weeks; grandchildren, Tyler (Kaitlyn) Hall, Cody (Hannah) Hall, John Todd and Cooper Weeks, and great grands, Lilli, Marlee and Wyatt Hall, and Waylon Hall.
The family received friends at the Renfro home Tuesday, May 16, 2023 from 2 until 6 p.m.
Graveside services will be held Wednesday, May 17, 2023 a t 1 p.m. at Judson Baptist Creek Indian Cemetery in Atmore, AL with her great nephew, Reverend Jeremy Jones officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church of Dothan Library fund.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Dorothy Ann Avera
Dorothy Ann Avera, 85, of McDonough, Ga. passed away Friday, May 12, 2023, in McDonough. She was born to Eddie Boe Harwell Avera and Leota Myrtle (Fuller) Avera in New Site, Ala. She lived in Mobile, Ala. in 1952. She graduated from Vigor High School in 1956, moved to Nokomis, Ala. She attended writing class at Jeff Davis College. She was a homemaker for many years. Dorothy loved family celebrations, the holidays, and was an excellent cook. She also was a very skilled seamstress and made clothing for her daughters and mother. She loved her daughters, grandchildren, and great grandson very much. She loved studying the Bible and has many journal notebooks from her studies. She had a very close relationship with God.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Eddie Boe Harwell Avera and Leota Myrtle (Fuller) Avera; the father of their children, Gordon Gwinn Hall; her daughter, Deborah Kay (Hall) Craven; her great-grand daughter, Scarlet Kay Kilcrease; her sister, Sharon Nell Avera and her brother, Donald Avera.
Mrs. Avera is survived by her two daughters, Gená Hall Day of Decatur, Ga. and Gwenlynn Hall-Curry (Mike Curry) of McDonough; three grandchildren, Katie (Craven) Sogn-Lane, Chrissy Curry, and Michael Curry; and one great-grandson, Elijah Kilcrease.
Funeral service were held Tuesday, May 16, 2023 at 12 Noon at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Greg Sellers officiating. Interment will follow in Nokomis Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family received friends Tuesday, May 16, 2023 from 11 a.m. until service time at Noon at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
John Willie White, Jr.
Mr. John Willie White, Jr; age 80, passed away Sunday, May 14, 2023, at his home in Century, Fla. He was born in Wallace, Ala. and resided most of his life in Century. He was a member of Beulah Chapel Assembly of God Church. He retired from Container Corporation with many years of service; a Tree Surgeon for many years, and drove a log for several years.
He enjoyed spending time with his family and grandchildren. He believed in God, family, and hard work. He served as a deacon at Beulah Chapel Assembly of God Church for over 20 years. He enjoyed taking his wife, Mary Ann to the Smoky Mountains. He also enjoyed tinkering on small engines. He was an avid Alabama Football Fan. His passion was cleaning and manicuring the cemetery at Beulah Chapel Cemetery.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John Willie (Lillian Scott) White, Sr; wife, Mary Ann White and one sister, Eula B. Sullivan.
Mr. White is survived by his one son, John Mathew White (Amanda Gifford) of McDavid; two daughters, Teri Angela White of Century and Kimberly Ann (Craig) Burkett of Byrneville, Fla.; three brothers, Bob (Ronnie) White of Bay Minette, Ala., Whitey (Shirley) White and Ander (Linda) White, all of Century; five grandchildren, Daniel Kelley, Trent White, Jill Steadham, Jonathan Burkett, David Burkett, and a special friend and caretaker Shelia Lee.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, May 18, 2023, at 11 a.m. at Beulah Chapel Assembly of God Church with Rev. Tim Floyd and Rev. Eric Bryan officiating. Burial will follow at Beulah Chapel Cemetery.
The family will receive friends Thursday, May 18, 2023 from 10 a.m. until service time at 11 a.m. at Beulah Chapel Assembly of God Church.
Pallbearers will be Daniel Kelley, Trent White, Johnathan Burkett, David Burkett, Jeffery Steadham, and Zach Carter.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home, LLC. in charge of all arrangements. Atmore, Ala.
Betty Jean Hall
Ms. Betty Jean Hall, age 79, passed away Sunday, May 14, 2023, in Jay, Fla. She has resided most of her life in Bratt, Fla. She was a member of Bratt Baptist Church. She was self-employed as a cosmetologist for many years. She enjoyed spending time with her family, going to church and singing. Her beauty shop was her life and her customers were like her family. She was an avid reader. She enjoyed going to Gatlinburg, and she loved her dogs.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Jacob Ezra (Algy Mae Flowers) Gilley; two brothers, James Gilley and Charles Gilley.
Ms. Hall is survived by her two sisters, Yvonne Aden and Sharron Murell, both of Bratt; sister-in law, Rose Gilley of Bratt; five nieces, Melissa Chavers, Dea Edwards, Crystal Calvert, Kimberly Murphy, Theresa Kirk; two nephews, J J Aden, Eric Gilley; numerous great-nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Graveside service will be held Wednesday, May 17, 2023 at Noon at Godwin Cemetery. Burial will follow at Godwin Cemetery.
The family will receive friends Wednesday, May 17, 2023 from 10 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. at Petty- Eastside Chapel Funeral Home, LLC.
Pallbearers will be Frank Murphy, Hunter Chavers, Shelby Godwin, and Maegan Godwin.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home, LLC. in charge of all arrangements. Atmore, Ala.