Obituaries

Obituaries, week of November 24, 2024

Hilary Langford                      

Mrs. Hilary Langford, age 71, of Stapleton, Ala., passed away Tuesday, November 19, 2024. She was born to Bill and Grace Jones. She was a generous and kind person who gave to many charities. She enjoyed reading the Bible each day. 

Mrs. Langford is survived by her husband of fifty-two years, Paul Langford and they had a son named Jay. She also had six brothers and two sisters.

Graveside services were held Friday, November 22, 2024 at 2:30 p.m. at Oak Hill Cemetery in Atmore, Ala. with Bro. Tim Hawsey officiating. Interment followed in Oak Hill Cemetery.

Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home in charge of all arrangements.

Virgil Moody, Jr.

Mr. Virgil “P” Moody, Jr., age 76. Of Brewton, Ala., passed away Saturday, November 2, 2024. He was born in Bulloch County, Ga. to Virgil and Juanita Moody. He was educated in Claxton High School and at seventeen left school and entered the U.S. Army serving in the Vietnam War, receiving injuries. After relocating to Brewton, Ala. He worked for the City of Brewton and retired from there… He was a great father. He taught his son how to become a man ad how not to depend on anyone to do anything for you, but to learn skills by yourself.

He was preceded in death by his wife of thirty-three years, Francine Moody; both parents; sister, Sarah Carolyn Bingham and brother, Alexander Tony Moody.

Mr. Moody is survived by a son, Stephen (Rose) Cato of Centerville, Ga., one daughter, Kimberly (Tony) Brown of  Atlanta, Ga.; four grandchildren, Christopher Kristephen, Karmaiya of Ga. and KeDarrius of Montgomery, Ala.; two great-grands, Kaeden and Knorth of Ga.; two sisters, Aurelia Malloy of Jersey City, New Jersey and Jenise Clark of Rahway, New Jersey; two brothers, James (Janice) Moody of Claxton, Ga. and Kelvin (Mary Ann) Wallace of Springfield, Ga.; one sister-in-law, Carol Diaz of Ocala, Fla., one brother-in-law, Ray Mosley of Lake City, Fla.; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends; a very devoted friend and neighbor, Walter Nearor.

Funeral services were held Saturday, November 16, 2024 at Noon at Baptist Hill Missionary Baptist Church with Pastor Marius J. Beckham, Sr., officiating with Minister Donald Mixon, Eulogist. Interment followed in Baptist Hill Cemetery, Brewton, Ala.

Pallbearers were Christopher Booker, Kristephen Cato, KeDarrius Jenkins and Adrian Monroe

Flower bearers were family and friends.

Christian Memorial Funeral Home in charge of all arrangements.

Minnie R. Franklin Smith

Mrs. Minnie R. Franklin Smith, age 85, of Brewton, Ala., passed away Wednesday, November 6, 2024 at West Gate Village Nursing Facility, Brewton, Ala. She was born in Conecuh County, Ala. to the late Locius and Alice Franklin. She graduated from Southern Normal School. She was a faithful member of Church of God in Christ in Brewton. She served as secretary, Sunday school teacher and was the First Lady and Church Mother.

She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers; one sister and one great-granddaughter.

Mother Minnie Smith is survived by her devoted husband of sixty plus years, Eddie L. Smith of Brewton; three daughters, Jennifer Woods of Brewton, Kim (Jimmy) Searcy of Enterprise, Ala. and Jackie Smith of Tampa, Fla.; three sons, Eddie (Trarsha) Smith and Paul (Angie) Smith all of Birmingham, Ala. and Chris (Crystal) Smith of Brewton; one sister, Daisy Ammons of Pensacola, Fla.; twenty-one grandchildren; twenty-five great-grandchildren; seven grand-pets and a host of nieces, nephews other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held Saturday, November 16, 2024 at 2 p.m. at Christ Kingdom Ministry Center with Bishop Herman Bradley, Pastor and Elder W.R. Hughes, Eulogist. Interment followed in Baptist Hill Cemetery.

Pallbearers were her grandsons.

Flower bearers were her granddaughter.

Christian Memorial Funeral Home in charge of all arrangements.

Billy Gene 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 wife of seventy-two years, Mary Jean Stanton; 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 received 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 were held at the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel, 1322 S. Main Atmore Saturday, November 16, 2024 at 2 p.m. with his son-in-law, Rev. Steven Whitmore officiating. Interment followed 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.

Albert Franklin Singleton

Mr. Albert Franklin Singleton, age, 85 of Robinsonville, Ala. passed away Friday, November 22, 2024 in Atmore, Ala. He was born in Huxford, Ala. to Lewis and Sudie Singleton. He was a longtime member of Robinsonville Baptist Church.  He was a farmer for much of his life. He was a member of the Alabama Forestry Commission – EA Hauss Nursery for over fifteen years.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Carolyn Singleton; son, Perry Singleton and his granddaughter, Holly Mack Jenkins.

Mr. Singleton is survived by his daughter, Renee Mack of McCullough, Ala; brother, Barney (Pat) Singleton of Atmore; sister, Laura Weaver of Canoe, Ala.; grandchild, Dustin Mack; one great-grandchild, Addie Jenkins and grandson-in-law, Brett Jenkins.

Funeral services will be held Monday, November 25, 2024 at 2 p.m. at Robinsonville Baptist Church with High Priest Beth Linam officiating. Interment will follow in Robinsonville Baptist Church Cemetery.

Active pallbearers will be Bobby Wooten, Tony Wooten, David Womack, Kevin Holland, Rodney Helton and Jackie Helton.  

Honorary pallbearers will be Garrie Singleton, Chris Singleton and Mike Helton.

The family will receive friends Monday, November 25, 2024 from 1 p.m. until service time at 2 p.m. at Robinsonville Baptist Church.

Johnson- Quimby Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Heath Austin Baker

Mr. Heath Austin Baker, age 55, of Atmore, Ala., passed away Wednesday, November 20, 2024.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time but will be announced later by

Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home, Atmore, Ala.

Donald Barron Whittington

Mr. Donald Barron Whittington, age 87, of Pine Grove, Ala. passed way Friday, November 22, 2024 at Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, Fla. He was born in Lottie, Ala. to Casey Claude and Lilly Mae Whittington, He was retired from Scott Paper Company, Mobile, Ala. He served in the United States Air Force in France.
He was preceded in death by his wife of fifty-nine years, Helene M. Whittington; his parents; one sister, Shirley Amos; one brother, Roy Whittington and two great- grandchildren.
Mr. Whittington is survived by two sons, Christian “Billy” Gerard (Shirley) Whittington of Talladega, Ala. and William David (Elaine) Whittington of Pine Grove; one daughter, Debbie (Andy) Wasdin of Pine Grove; seven grandchildren; twenty-two great-grandchildren and one on the way.
Graveside and burial service will be held Tuesday, November 26, 2024 at New Home Cemetery in Lottie with military honors.
The family will receive friends Tuesday, November 26, 2024 from 12:30 p.m. until 1:30 p.m. at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC.
Pallbearers will be Casey Whittington, Chase Whittington, David Whittington, Adam Wasdin, Eric Aldridge and Heath Bryars.
Honorary pallbearers will be all his boys from Java J’s Coffee Club.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC. Atmore, AL. is in charge of all arrangements

John Maynard Koehn

Mr. John Maynard Koehn, age 80, of Brooksville, Miss., passed away Thursday November 14, 2024 in Oakwood Manor after suffering two strokes. He was born in Turlock, Calif. to John B. and Susan Regher Koehn. He attended school in the Merced County School District completing the ninth grade, having been taken out of school many times to help on the farm. He answered the call of the Lord at the age of thirteen and was baptized into the Church of God in Christ Mennonite in Winton, California, He remained faithful to these vows until the Lord called Him Home.

He was a farmer all his life starting out in Greeley, Colo. together with his brother-in-law, Orlan Koehn fourteen years. He then moved to Walnut Hill, Fla. and bought a farm in Canoe, Ala.  He had a love for singing and would often ask us to sing together as a family, becoming a Sunday school chorister at 16, and a song leader for many years. He also enjoyed leading the Bible school singing.  He and his siblings did a lot of singing together and later he was part of a quartet in Walnut Hill.

Mr. Koehn is survived by his loving wife of fifty-six years, Brooxene, of Oakwood Manor, Brooksville; four children, Mike and Sharla, Eraina and Chad Nickel, Eric and Jamie, all of Walnut Hill, and Jennifer of Stapleton, Ga.; eleven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; siblings, Bill and Viola Koehn, Jane Giesbrecht, Grace and Orlin Koehn, Cornelia and Calvin Smith, Cynthia and Les Koehn, Faith and Bruce Farkas; sister-in-law, Jackie Koehn;

He was preceded in death by his parents; step-mother, Katherine Martens Koehn; one older brother and one brother-in-law; special farming friend, Wiley Farrar from Canoe, Ala.  

Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, November 20, 2024 at 10 a.m. at Southern Harbor Mennonite Church in Davisville, Fla.  Interment will follow in Walnut Hill Memorial Gardens in Walnut Hill, Fla.

The family will receive friends Tuesday, November 19, 2024 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.

Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home in charge of all arrangements.