Obituaries

Obituaries, week of November 20, 2024

Marie Horn Smith 

Smith

Mrs. Marie Horn Smith, age 86, of Hurtsboro, Ala. passed away after a long illness Sunday, November 10, 2024. She was born to the late Ethel and Miles Horn of Wawbeek, Ala. She was a graduate of Escambia County High School and Samford University. She was the Maid of Cotton for Escambia County, Ala.; directed the choir at Sardis Baptist Church and was very involved in Escambia County 4-H; was a past president of the volunteer Red Cross and earned the title of Master Gardener. She and her husband, enjoyed camping and cooking for family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ethel Adkinson Horn and Leslie Miles Horn and her grandson, Will Hitchcock.

Mrs. Smith is survived by her husband of sixty-three years, D. Max Smith of Hurtsboro; her daughter, Anita Marie (Paul) Hitchcock of Gulf Breeze, Fla.; her grandchildren, Mary Miles (Shane) Banachowski of Greensboro, N.C., Jack Hitchcock of Washington, D.C,, Kate Hitchcock of Charlotte, N.C.; great- grandson, Cooper Daniel Banachowski of Greensboro; twin sister, Mary (Suthern) Sims of Macon, Ga. and her younger sister, Claire (Joe) Webb of Fairhope, Ala.; nieces and nephews, Suzanne Sims, David Sims, Jennifer (Mark) Jones, Joey (Michelle) Webb, Connie (Mike) Weaver; brother-in-law, Mike (Janice) Smith, Brian (Rita) Smith and Ben (Becca) Smith; many more great nieces, nephews and cousins.

A graveside service for the family will be held at Sardis Baptist Church Cemetery in Wawbeek at 11 a.m. Saturday, November 16, 2024 with Rev. Tim Hawsey officiating.  Interment will follow in Sardis Baptist Church Cemetery.

Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home in charge of all arrangements.

Billy Gene Holt 

Holt

Mr. Billy Gene Holt, age 95, of Century, Fla., passed away Tuesday, November 12, 2024 at VITAS Healthcare West Florida Hospital, Pensacola, Fla. 

He was born to Lois Lorenza Holt and Laura Albertha “Bertha” White Holt. He was a 1947 graduate of Flomaton High School. He accepted the Lord as his Savior in his early twenty’s. He served as a Deacon for many years and was a member of Century First Baptist Church at the time of his death. He was a man of strong conviction. He loved life, his devoted wife and his family. He was a very generous man and appreciated all that others did for him. He enjoyed fishing, making people smile and had a knack of getting people to love him. In his later years his favorite saying was, “It’s later than you think.”

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, James and Herman Holt; two sisters, Frances Turner and Martha Ann Godwin and two great-granddaughters, Tomi Faith Holt and Karsyn Faith Yeager.

Mr. Holt is survived by his three sons, William (Elaine) Holt of Crescent City, Fla.,, Tommy (Sandy) Holt of Atmore, Ala., Robert “Bobby” (Susan) Holt of Navarre, Fla.; two daughters, Esther Ruth Holt (Steve) Whitmore of Greenville, S.C., Mary Ellen Holt (Rob) Wess of Greer, S.C.; one brother-in-law, Ronald Godwin; twelve grandchildren, Sonja DeLong (Mike) Hernandez, Christopher Williams, Holly Holt (Jupe) Etheridge, Carolyn Holt (Beau) McHenry, Wayne (Amy) Holt, Leigh Ann Holt (Doug) Yeager, Paula Holt (Ryan) Bristow Scott, (Laura) Whitmore, James (Joanna) Whitmore, Michelle Wess (Jerid) Jones of Taylors, S.C., Michael (Tamara) Wess of Raliegh, N.C., and Matthew (Sarah) Wess; thirty-five great-grandchildren, Harrison, Anna and Brooklin Hernandez, Joey Williams, Will, Mary Bailey and Owen Etheridge; William Thomas and Morgan McHenry, Matti, Maci (Connor Roberts) and Miley Holt, Carleigh (Kolby Peyregne) and Connor Yeager, Chesley (Chase Goalen), Abigail, Emileigh and Lauren Bristow, Katie, Brenton, Jane and Luke Whitmore, Wesley Whitmore; Makenna, Michael, Molly, Maddie, Mark, Megan, Macie and Max Jones, Reagan and Olivia Wess, Elizabeth and Isabella Wess; one great-great-grandchild, Kyndal Goalen;  numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family will receive friends Saturday, November 16, 2024 from 1 p.m. until service time at 2 p.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home in Atmore, Ala.

Funeral services will be held at the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel, 1322 S. Main Atmore on November 16, 2024 at 2 p.m. His son-in-law, Rev. Steven Whitmore will be officiating. Interment will follow in Flomaton Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Flomaton Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund in care of Melissa Johnson, AmeriFirst Bank, P.O. Box 601 Flomaton, AL 36441.

Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home in charge of all arrangements.

Gary Ray Gibson

Gibson

Mr. Gary Ray Gibson, age 67, of Poarch, Ala., passed away Wednesday, November 13, 2024. He was born to the late O.D. and Ruby Gibson of Walnut Hill, Fla.  He was a graduate of Ernest Ward High School and a member of the Poarch Creek Indians. He was an avid cook and baker who loved to do for others. He enjoyed taking care of flowers and spent most of his days laughing and living life to the fullest. Friends and loved ones could spend hours listening to his stories. The life of the party, never met a stranger.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, Otis Gibson, Leo Gibson, Peggy Gibson Fowler and Linda Gibson Hickman.  

Mr. Gibson is survived by six brothers and sisters, Billy (Sue) Gibson of Pace, Fla., Leon Gibson of McCullough, Ala., Audrey (Joe) Ward of Pensacola, Fla., Nola Burnham of DeFuniak Springs, Fla., Julia Foster of McCullough, Ala, and Joyce Neuss of Huntsville, Ala.; sister-in-law, Janice Gibson of Caldwell, Ohio; special life-long friends, Lorene Rolin and Lynn McGraw Fillingim along with numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, November 19, 2024 at 11 a.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Alton Lister officiating. Interment will follow in Walnut Hill Baptist Church Cemetery.

Active pallbearers will be Ted Malone, Michael McGhee, Billy Rolin, Johnathan Rolin, Rave Jackson and Riley Mitchell, Malcolm Mitchell and Gilbert Hadley.

The family will receive friends held Monday, November 18, 2024 from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.

Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home in charge of all arrangements

John Howard McGhee

Mr. John Howard McGhee, age 74, of Atmore, Ala. passed away Thursday, November 14, 2024 in Pensacola, Fla. He was born to Ebb and Jewel Willene Parton McGhee. He was a proud member of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. While serving in the United States Army, he was in the 82nd Airborne Division and the 101st Airborne Division where he was a paratrooper and graduated from the intensive SERE course at Fort Bragg. He lived more intensely than anyone. He was a motorcycle enthusiast, artist and enjoyed restoring vehicles.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Jonathon Derek Perry; his daughter, Lecie Jo McGhee and his siblings, Tommy Earl McGhee, Bobby Lee McGhee, Preston “Pete” McGhee and Christine McGhee Parker.

Mr. McGhee is survived by his wife, Linda Johnson Hons of Atmore; his sons, Zachary (Lauren) McGhee of Simpsonville, S.C. and Jacob (Allison) McGhee of Daphne, Ala.; their mother, Sandra McGhee; his sisters, Betty McGhee (Curtis) Peacock of Poarch, Ala. and Angela McGhee Devilbiss of Perdido, Ala.; one grandchild, Veronica, who is on the way.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, November 21, 2024 at 2 p.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel.  Interment will follow in New Home Cemetery in Poarch, Ala.

The family will receive friends Wednesday, November 20, 2024 from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Poarch Community Church in Headapeada, Ala.

Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home in charge of all arrangements.

Carolyn Rolin Dortch

Mrs. Carolyn Rolin Dortch, age 61, of Poarch, Ala. passed away Sunday, November 17, 2024. She was born in Atmore, Ala. to Jack Dempsey and Eunice Presley Rolin. She was a proud member of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. She also was a member of Rabun New Testament Church.  

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Mrs. Rolin is survived by her husband of forty-two years, Paul Edward Dortch; her three children, Randall Rolin, Nathaniel (Heidi) Dortch and Jessica Dortch; nine grandchildren, Madyson Moye, Lukas Moye, Benjamin Moye, Adaline Dortch, Bentley Dortch, Aryonna Dortch, Bailey Knighten, Brodie Rolin and Autumn Rolin; her brothers, Bubba (Brenda) Rolin, Don Wayne Rolin, Ronnie (Margie) Rolin, Melvin (Marty) Rolin and Paul Daniel Rolin; her sisters, Vera Ramer, Sheila (Jacky) Odom and Lisa (Jerry) Walker with a host of family and friends.

Graveside services will be held Wednesday, November 20, 2024 at 2:30 p.m. at New Home Cemetery in Poarch, Ala. with Bro. Bubba Rolin and Bro. Kevin Rackard officiating. Interment will follow in New Home Cemetery.

Active pallbearers will be Lukas Moye, Benjamin Moye, Brodie Rolin, Bentley Dortch, Chris Emmons, Bill Walker, Jacob Rackard, Cameron Murphy and Bo Ramer.

Honorary pallbearers will be Doug Purvis, Audie Coleman, Jimmy Reynolds and Willie Faye Thomas.

Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home in charge of all arrangements.

Anna Hoover Weber

Weber

Mrs. Anna Hoover Weber, aged 100, passed away peacefully Thursday, November 17, 2024 in Atmore, Ala. She was born in Farmersville, Pa. to Joseph and Mary (Sensenig) Hoover. She was a member of Grace Fellowship and was a beloved grandmother to the entire church. She and her family lived in Pennsylvania 18 years and relocated to the Poarch community where she served in various ministries dedicated to her family, church and community. She opened her home for meals to neighbors, travelers and people in need that came to her door. Later she became an accomplished Scrabble players with her family and a circle of friends. Her life was a testament of faithfulness and resilience.

She was preceded in death by her husband of sixty-five, Martin M. Weber; a son, Leon Weber (Susan); five brothers, Ellis, Willis, Allen, Paul and Elmer Hoover; two great-grandchildren, Quinn Weber and Kyle Yoder.

Mrs. Weber is survived by her children, James Weber (Ruth) and Mary Jane (Calvin) Schrock. all of Atmore, Ruth Ann (Alvin) Yoder of Dublin, Ohio, Velma Schrock (Arlin) of Cleveland, Tenn., Joyce Suter (Robert) of Pandora, Ohio, and Philip Weber (Twila) of Irwin, Ohio; She was a cherished grandmother to nineteen grandchildren, forty-four great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. She also leaves behind two sisters, Alma Eberly and Thelma Wenger, both of Penn. 

Funeral services will be held Friday, November 22, 2024 at 10 a.m. at Grace Fellowship Church in Atmore with Pastors Gene King and Phil Weber officiating. Interment will follow in Freemanville Community Cemetery in Freemanville, Ala.

Pallbearers will be Sonya Miller, Jason Weber, Judy King, Sheldon Yoder, Chad Schrock, Juli Yoder and Amanda Miller

The family will receive friends Thursday, November 21, 2024 from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Grace Fellowship Church in Atmore.

Memorial gifts may be given to We Care Program, 3493 AL-21, Atmore, AL 36502.

Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home in charge of all arrangements