Obituaries for the June 2 edition of The Luverne Journal
Published 3:40 pm Thursday, June 2, 2016
Dollie Murl Reeves Owens
Dollie Murl Reeves Owens, 91, a resident of Luverne, Ala., passed away on Wednesday, May 25. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 27, at Pleasant Home Baptist Church with Rev. Johnny Jones officiating. Interment followed in Pleasant Home Cemetery with Turner Funeral Home of Luverne directing. Owens was preceded in death by her husband, Oneal Owens; son, Kenneth Owens; parents, Sam and Myrtle Reeves; brother, Olin Reeves; and sister, Gladys Boswell. She is survived by her daughter, Clemmie (Jim) Williams; daughter-in-law, Anniece Owens; three grandchildren, Kenny Wayne (Stephanie) Owens, Becky (Justin) Vann and Cortney (Eden) Ward; six great-grandchildren, Hunter and Haley Owens, Jack and Owen Vann and Olivia and Neal Ward; three brothers, Thurman (Doris) Reeves, Bobby (Bettie) Reeves and Billy (Agnes) Reeves; and two sisters, Doris Boswell and Connie Hayes. Active pallbearers were Hunter Owens, Joseph Davis, Chris Reeves, Jamie Edwards, Bobbie Reeves and Scottie Hayes.
Nellie Ruth Owens Deavers Williamson
Nellie Ruth Owens Deavers Williamson, 88, a resident of Brantley, Ala., passed away on Wednesday, May 25. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 28, from the Chapel of Turner Funeral Home with Rev. Tim Meadows officiating. Interment followed in Faith Hill Cemetery with Turner Funeral Home of Luverne directing. Williamson was preceded in death by her husbands, Lister H. Deavers and Benson Williamson; infant grandson, Brian J. Deavers; parents, Coley and Minnie Bell Owens; two sisters, Merle Bell and Opal Sexton; and brother, Clyde Owens. She is survived by her son, Kenneth B. (Karen) Deavers; two grandsons, Michael B. (Robin) Deavers and Matthew W. Deavers; two great-grandchildren, Anna C. Deavers and Adam B. Deavers; two sisters, Ersie Bell Mosley and Myrtle Cauthen; and two brothers, Hense Owens and Nelson Owens. Active pallbearers were Michael Deavers, Matthew Deavers, Adam Davis, Matthew Davis, Malcolm Butts and Sammy Hogg. Adam Deavers was an honorary pallbearer. The family wishes to express love and appreciation to the staff at Lake Haven Assisted Living and special caregivers. Any memorial donations may be made to the Faith Hill Cemetery, c/o Helen Swanner, 557 Centenary Road, Rutledge, Alabama 36071.
Jack Daniel Faulk
Jack Daniel Faulk, 78, a resident of Glenwood, Ala., passed away on Friday, May 27. Funeral services for Faulk were held at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 30, from the Chapel of Turner Funeral Home with Rev. Bobby Weeks and Kenneth Hudgens officiating. Interment followed in Providence Cemetery in Glenwood, Ala., with Turner Funeral Home of Luverne directing. Faulk was preceded in death by his wife, Peggy Horn Faulk; son, James Daniel “Dick” Faulk; parents, Alexander and Mattie Ward Faulk; three sisters, Blanche Brown, Sue Toddhunter and Nann Faulk; and four brothers, S.E. Faulk, Alec Faulk, Pete Faulk Wolfe and Henry Faulk. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Lois Marie and Bob Bledsoe; four grandchildren, Victoria, Keith (Lydia), Justin (Heather) and Joshua Bledsoe; two great-grandchildren, Zoei and Silas Bledsoe; longtime dear friend, Verdie Holmes; and many nephews, nieces and wonderful, cherished friends. Active pallbearers were Newton Holmes, Hannis Holmes, Henry Holmes, Aubrey Wolfe, Anthony Wolfe and Jimmy Baggett.
Odis O. Best
Odis O. Best, 86, a resident of Montgomery, Ala., passed away on Friday, May 27. A graveside service was held for Best at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, May 31, in New Ebenezer Cemetery in Lapine, Ala. with Rev. William Leverette officiating and Turner Funeral Home of Luverne directing. Best was a veteran of the United States Army and served his country during the Korean Conflict. He was also a former American Legion Commander and member of the State Veterans’ Board. Best was preceded in death by his parents, Hillary and Vinee Thomas Best; sister, Louise Stough; and brother, Glen Best. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Margaret Adams Best; two sons, Michael (Zully) Best and Mickey (Bonnie) Best; grandson, Mitchell Best; brother, Lloyd J. Best; and a number of loving nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Active pallbearers were Hubert Peden, Steven Broadway, Mitchell Best, Ricky McElwayne, Stanley Gardner and Paul Best.
Gordon Thomas Holmes, Jr.
Gordon Thomas Holmes, Jr., a resident of Glenwood, Ala., passed away on Sunday, May 29. Holmes was preceded in death by his parents, Gordon T. Holmes, Sr. and Letha Little Holmes, and brother, William “Billy” Washington Holmes. He is survived by his nephew, William Washington (Jean) Holmes, II; great-niece, Martha Anne Holmes; and cousins, Henry Holmes, Hannis Holmes, Verdie Holmes, Newton Holmes, Janice Holmes and Reba Motes. The family will hold a private memorial service at a later date.
James Thomas Atkinson
James Thomas Atkinson, 86, a resident of Luverne, Ala., passed away on Monday, May 30. Funeral services for Mr. Atkinson were held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, June 2, from the Chapel of Turner Funeral Home with Rev. Johnny Jones officiating. Interment followed in Siloam Cemetery in Rutledge, Ala. with Turner Funeral Home of Luverne directing. Atkinson was preceded in death by his wife, Opal Atkinson; daughter, Patricia Atkinson Thomas; parents, Pete and Esther Staggers Atkinson; sister, Jeanette Pouncey; and brother, Walter Ray “Red” Atkinson. He is survived by his son, Donald (Sheila) Atkinson; granddaughter, April Atkinson; grandson, Scott Thomas; and three sisters, Jewel Blake, Agnes Tebbetts and Lois Jean Kirkland. Active pallbearers were Willie Lee Burgans, Robert McGough, Randy McGough, George Browder, Ricky Bradley, Mike Bradley and Justin Bradley.
Pamela Jean Johnson
Pamela Jean Johnson, 47, a resident of Midway, Ga., passed away on Friday, May 27, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. Pamela grew up in Warner Robins, Ga., and lived on Colonel’s Island for the past nine years. She worked at Flemington Veterinary Clinic, and she was active in animal rescue, especially saving pit bulls and pit bull mixes. Her love of animals and young people was her well-known passion. She is survived by her husband of 22 years, Eddie Johnson; three children, Tobe Killgo of Trion, Ga. and Tristan Johnson and Caleb Johnson, both of Midway; mother, Alexandria “Zan” Upshaw of Midway; father, Chris Upshaw of Brunswick, Ga., and many other loving family members. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, June 3, at Carter Funeral Home Bryan Chapel. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday from 12:30 p.m. until service time. Carter Funeral Home Bryan Chapel is in charge of the arrangements, and online condolences may be made at www.carterbryanchapel.com.
Henry Lamar Chandler
Henry Lamar Chandler, age 62, of Brantley, Ala. passed away, Monday, May 30, in Brantley, Ala. Memorial services will be announced at a later time. Lamar was known mostly as “Hotdog”. He was a police officer in the town of Brantley for over 35 years and served as police chief for over 15 years. He had a passion for motorcycles and R/C planes. He was a member of the Rose Hill Aviators. Lamar was very well respected and loved by many. Chandler was preceded in death by his parents, Lester Chandler and Laura Jeanett Bodiford and a brother Lloyd Chandler.
Survivors include his daughters, Laura Chandler, Brantley, Ala. and Megan Chandler, Luverne, Ala.; three grandchildren, Zadie K. Chandler- Burgans, Khloe B. Chandler- Burgans and Myles Chandler; “brother”, Charles Miller (Phala); close friends, Ricky and Virginia Compton; and special caregiver, Angela Holloway. You may sign the register book or send condolences to the family at our website: www.searcyfuneralhome.com.