Obituaries

Obituaries, week of June 26, 2024

Ardis Rolin
Mr. Ardis Rolin, age 87, of Atmore, Ala., passed away Friday, June 14, 2024.  He was born in Atmore to Woodrow Rolin and Estelle McGhee Rolin.  He loved his family and his church.  He was a lifelong member of New Home United Pentecostal Church and a proud member of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.  He was a pulpwood driver and an avid fisherman and gardener.  
He was preceded in death by his parents; his siblings, Clarence Leon Rolin, Pedrow Rolin and Charlene Weaver.

Mr. Rolin is survived by his spouse of sixty-five years, Hazel Rackard Rolin of Atmore; his children, Rhonda (Todd) Linam of Nokomis, Ala., Susan Rolin and Felicia “Lisa” Parker, both of Atmore and Edward “Eddie” Rolin of Pensacola, Fla.; his siblings, Ralph Pearson and Stella Rutherford, both of Poarch, Marvin (Kim) Rolin of Mich., Carl Rolin of Milton, Fla., Eloise Hall of Nokomis, Joyce (Daniel) Philyaw of Huxford, Ala. and Ethel Walker of Atmore; his grandchildren: Brittany Linam, Caleb Linam, Ethan Linam and Riley Parker and his nine great- grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 22, 2024 at 10 a.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Steve Breceda and Bro. Dustin Hall officiating. Interment will follow in New Home Cemetery in Poarch.

Active pallbearers will be Kendall McGhee, Chet McGhee, Jason Rackard, Randall Daniel, Jared Lee Carlton and Jeremy McGhee.

Honorary pallbearers will be Anthony Hall, Josh Baggett, Ronnie Jay, Clayton Coon, Dave Rolin, Alan Manning, Jake Carlton, Larry Flurnoy, Jeremy Rackard and Jonathan Rackard

The family will receive friends Friday, June 21, 2024 from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.

Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home in charge of all arrangements.

Rita Wiggins Nichols
Mrs. Rita Wiggins Nichols, age 74, passed away Tuesday, June 18, 2024, in Atmore, Ala. She was born in Century Fla. and has resided most of her life in McDavid, Fla. before moving to Atmore the past eighteen years. She enjoyed bowling, boating and overall, the outdoors. She loved spending time with her family, traveling to the mountains, Graceland and going on cruises. She really liked to cook for family and friends, watch General Hospital, and Alabama football.

She was preceded by her parents, Clifton (Doris) Wiggins; two brothers, Jerry Wiggins and David Wiggins.
Mrs. Nichols is survived by her one son, Allen Walston of Atmore; one daughter, Deborah (David) Arrington, of Flomaton, Ala.; one brother, Donnie Wiggins of McDavid; three, grandchildren, Austin Arrington, Logan Walston, Madison Launius; three great-grandchildren, Jake Walston, Harper Walston, Sawyer Walston and two great-grandchildren on the way, Lucy Launius, Charlotte Arrington, other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held Friday, June 21, 2024 at 10 a.m. at Petty- Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC. with Rev. Michael Wiggins officiating. Burial will follow at Beulah Chapel Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Thursday, June 20, 2024 from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC.

Pallbearers will be Logan Walston, Austin Arrington, Houston Launius, Doug Darby, Sammy Lee, and Gary Wiggins.

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

Ronald Clark Roddenberry

Mr. Ronald Clark Roddenberry, age 56, passed away Friday, June 14, 2024 in Atmore, Ala. He resided in Milton, Fla. most of his life and the past seventeen years in Atmore. He was a member of Friendly Holiness Church. He loved spending time with his family and sitting around telling stories of his childhood. In his past-time he enjoyed collecting antiques, he also liked sitting back watching a good western, landscaping and yard work. He was very instrumental and loved spreading “Bulletin Alert Prison Ministry”.

He was preceded in death by his father, Jerry Lynn Roddenberry.

Mr. Roddenberry is survived by his mother, Diane Burleson Roddenberry; his loving wife of thirty-five years, Tonya Roddenberry of Atmore; two sons, Christopher Roddenberry of Atmore, Adam (Leanna) Morris of Pace, Fla.; one daughter, Awita Morris of Atmore; one brother, Michael Roddenberry of Pensacola, Fla.; one sister, Pam (Johnny) Edlund of Cantonment, Fla.; four grandchildren, Christopher Roddenberry, Jr., Logan Morris, Natalie Morris, Kiley Blankenship, other relatives and friends.
Funeral service will be held Monday, June 24, 2024, at 11 a.m. at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC. with Bro. Ray Ward officiating.

The family will receive friends Monday, June 24, 2024, from 10 until service time at 11 a.m. at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC.

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

Elnora Jordan

Elnora Jordan, native of Atmore, Ala. and resident of Minneapolis, Minn., passed away Monday, June 17, 2024.

Graveside services will be held Thursday, June 27, 2024 at 1 p.m. at Fairview Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Wednesday, June 26, 2024 from 2 until 4 p.m. at Christian Memorial Funeral Home Chapel.

Christian Memorial Funeral Home in charge of all arrangements.

Carolyn J. Brown

Carolyn J. Brown of Atmore, Ala., passed away Sunday, June 23, 2024 in Mobile Infirmary.

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

J. Francis Sofie

Sofie

Rev. J. Francis Sofie OP, who humbly served as a priest of the Archdiocese of Mobile for thirty years, died Saturday, June 22, following a prolonged battle with cancer.
Fr. Sofie first served as parochial vicar at St. Ignatius Parish in Mobile, Ala. then followed as campus minister at St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Auburn, pastor of Holy Redeemer Parish in Eufaula, Ala., pastor at St. Michael the Archangel Parish, pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Mobile, chaplain at McGill-Toolen Catholic High School in Mobile, pastor at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Mobile, pastor of St. Peter Parish in Montgomery, Ala. and pastor of St. Robert Bellarmine Parish in Atmore, Ala.
He was most recently in residence at St. Dominic Parish in Mobile.
Before his ordination, he graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in Religious Studies and a double minor in Philosophy and History. He attended the University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome for the beginning of his theological education and earned his Master of Divinity from St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia, with a Master of Arts in Systematic Theology. Fr. Sofie was ordained to the sacred priesthood on June 10, 1994, at the Cathedral in Mobile.
In May 2021, a longtime dream of Fr. Sofie’s was realized when he was received into the Priestly Fraternity of St. Dominic, becoming a “Diocesan Dominican” and a son of St. Dominic. He received the religious name of Vincent, from St. Vincent Ferrer, a renowned Dominican preacher and miracle worker.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Carolyn Sofie.

Fr. Sofie is survived by three sisters, Cecilia (Tom) Sofie-Wyatt, Patti (Angelo) Eleftheriou and Kathy (Roger) Krebs; three nephews, John Rogers (Samantha) Krebs, Richard (Elizabeth) Krebs and Stephen Eleftheriou; many other relatives and friends.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, June 27, 2024 at 11 a.m. at the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Mobile.

The family will receive friends Thursday June 27, 2024 at 9 a.m.

Evening Prayer from the Office of the Dead will also be celebrated Wednesday, June 26, from 5:30 to 6 p.m. at the Cathedral.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Dominican Nuns of Marbury, 143 County Road 20 East, Marbury, Alabama 36501.

Gola Mae Dailey 

Dailey

Mrs. Gola Mae Dailey, age 86, of Atmore, Ala. passed away Thursday, June 20, 2024. She was a native of Monroe County and a long-time resident of Atmore. She was a 1957 graduate of Escambia County Training School. She worked over twenty-five years as an administrative assistant at Monsanto Chemical Plant in Pensacola, Fla. She was a faithful and devoted member of Gaines Chapel AME Church where she served as a Steward, Missionary, member of the Senior Choir, and worked on the Kitchen Committee. She also served on the City of Atmore Planning Board. In her enjoyment in life she enjoyed shopping, baking, going to church, and flowers. She had infinite love for her family.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Betty and Dorita; four brothers, Robert, Walter, Aquilla, Jr. and Charles.

Mrs. Dailey is survived by her husband of sixty-four years, Min. McKinley Dailey of Atmore; two daughters, Celynn (Edgar) McCarty and Harriett Denese Dailey all of Atmore; two sons, Kenneth (Tina) Dailey of Upper Marlboro, Md. and Harvey (Pam) Dailey of Copperas Cove, Texas; nine grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren.

The family will receive friends Friday, June 28, 2024 from 2 – 6 p.m. at the funeral home.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 29, 2024 at 11 a.m. at Gaines Chapel AME Church with Rev. Cleitis Walker, Sr., Pastor and Officiant. Interment will follow in Fairview Cemetery.

Turner Funeral Chapel in charge of all arrangements.

LC “Bobo” Arnold

Mr. LC “Bobo” Arnold of Atmore, Ala., passed away Thursday, June 20, 2024 at William F. Green Veterans Home, Bay Minette, Ala. He was a native of Atmore and had lived in Detroit, Mich. many years working for GM and for the city of Detroit Water and Sewer. He was a 1968 graduate of Escambia County Training School. He served in the U.S. Army. He confessed Christ and was a preacher. He was a fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers (football) and the Detroit Pistons (basketball). He also enjoyed grilling.

He was preceded in death by his wife; parents; four of his daughter; two of his sisters and a brother.

Mr. Arnold is survived by one daughter, Latoya Williams of Detroit; three  sons,  Lorenzo and Lawrence Arnold both of Atmore and Lashawn Arnold of Detroit; and four sisters, Hattie Curry, Earnestine Arnold, Mary Arnold, all of Atmore and Annie Moore of Charlotte, N.C.; eleven grandchildren and four great- grandchildren.

The family will receive friends Friday, June 28, 2024 from 2 – 6 p.m. at the funeral home.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 29, 2024 at 1 p.m. at Empowerment Tabernacle Christian Center with Bishop Darryl North, Overseer-officiating.

Inhumation will be in Stallworth Cemetery where he will be given honors for his patriotic service to his country by the U.S. Army.

Turner Funeral Chapel in charge of all arrangements.

William Watson, Jr. 

Watson

Funeral services for Mr. William Watson, Jr. of Boston, Mass., formerly of Atmore, Ala. were held Saturday, June 22, 2024 at 11 a. m. at Zion Star AME Zion Church, with Rev. Jean Archie, Pastor, officiating. Interment followed in Fairview Cemetery.

Turner Funeral Chapel in charge of all arrangements.

Bernard Thomas, Sr.   

Thomas

Funeral services for Mr. Bernard Thomas, Sr., of Atmore, Ala., (Freemanville Community), were held Saturday, June 22, 2024 at 2 p. m, at Mt. Gilead Baptist Church with Rev. Gregory Sanders, Pastor, officiating. Interment followed in Fairview Cemetery.

Turner Funeral Chapel in charge of all arrangements.