HAMRICK, Mr. Charles A., 86, a resident of Selma, Ala., died September 12, 2009. Graveside services were held Monday, September 14, 2009 at 2 p.m. at Liberty Baptist Cemetery with Rev. Randy Sexton and Rev. Ronald Page officiating. Mr. Hamrick is survived by his wife, Doris Hamrick, Orrville, Ala., daughters Virginia (Mack) Jayroe, Greenville, and Cathy (Ed) Spears, Deatsville; 7 grandchildren and 6 great- grandchildren.

PRICE, Mrs. Sybil Gaynell Best, 70, a resident Elba, Alabama, died Sunday, September 20, 2009. Funeral services were held at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 23, 2009 from Zoar Holiness Church with Rev. Pat Jones and Rev. John Isiacs officiating. Interment followed in Zoar Cemetery with Turner Funeral Home of Luverne directing. Mrs. Price was preceded in death by her husband, Alpha Leon Price; her grandson, Gary Gentry; and her parents, Chester and Merle Tillery Best. She is survived by eight children, Barbara (Gerald) White, Gary Price, Michal (Wendy) Price, Winona Gentry, Bobby (Patricia) Price, Jason (Sherry) Price, Sharon (Lee) Gideon, and Karen (Mike) Latham; 20 grandchildren; 18 great- grandchildren; two sisters, Wendy (Bill) Williamson and Barbara Sue (Bill) Lowery; and four brothers, Chester Best, Jr., Burl (Eunice) Best, Randall (Margie) Best, and Stanley Best. Pallbearers were David Wicker, Larry Wicker, Michael Best, Steven Williamson, Johnny Price, Johnny Hutto, Tommy Hutto, and Daniel Pridgeon.

MELVIN WILSON DAVIS

Melvin Wilson Davis, 91, retired Professor Emeritus of Mathematics at Delta State University, died September 19, 2009, in Mobile, Alabama. He was born in Brantley, Ala., September 16, 1918. He graduated from Luverne High School in 1936, and attended Vanderbilt University on a Walter O. Palmer Scholarship where he received a B.E. in Chemical Engineering. Later he attended Troy State University, and then received an M.A. in Math from Peabody College, followed by a Doctorate of Education degree from the University of Alabama.

Wilson served in the Army prior to Pearl Harbor, but later reached the rank of Lt. in the Navy. He began his teaching career at the high school level in Alabama and worked at the University of Alabama before becoming the second member of the Math Department at Delta State College, retiring from Delta State University, Cleveland, Miss., after 28 years.

He was a charter member of St. Luke United Methodist Church, in Cleveland, Miss., holding a variety of positions. His carpentry work is evidenced in many items that he helped build for the church. He enjoyed the Exchange Club in which he held different offices through the years. His hobbies were carpentry work and gardening, from which he shared many vegetables with friends in the community. For many years he was active in Habitat for Humanity, including supervising construction of one home in Cleveland.

He is survived by his wife of over 68 years, Margaret Eloise Morton Davis, Children include Margaret Ann Carlson (Norm) of Houston, Texas, Charles Wilson Davis (Carolyn) of Brandon, Miss., (Barbara) Joyce Reed (Harold) of Mobile, Ala., (Carol) Elaine Aertker (Walter) of Kernersville, N. C.

Grandchildren are Drs. Beth C. Montigue (Tre), of Irving, Texas, Wendy D. Warren (Mark) of Brandon, Miss., David R. Carlson (Lauren), of Nashville, Tenn., Charles Brian Davis (Mandy) of Warrior, Ala., Angela M. Reed, of McKinney, Texas, Andrew W. Reed (Paula) of Houston, Texas, John C. Aertker, Lydia G. Aertker, and Emily C. Aertker of Kernersville, N.C.; three great-granddaughters are Lauren Elizabeth Montigue, and Lindsey Margaret Montigue of Irving, Texas, and Lauren Rose Davis of Warrior, Ala. He is also survived by his sister, Katherine Davis Evans of Luverne, Ala.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ida Mae Gibson Davis and Melvin Franklin Davis of Luverne. Memorials may be made to St. Luke United Methodist Church of Cleveland, Miss., or to the Eloise and Wilson Davis Scholarship Fund at Delta State University, or to Luverne United Methodist Church Building Fund or to one’s favorite charity.

A memorial service will be held at St. Luke United Methodist Church in Cleveland, Miss., at a later date.