Hoke Lamar Smith

Hoke Lamar Smith, 90, a resident of Rutledge, Alabama, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 7.  A graveside service was held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 9, in Rutledge Cemetery with Rev. Bob Yawn officiating and Turner Funeral Home of Luverne directing.  Mr. Smith served in the Pacific Theater during World War II with the United States Navy.  He also attended the University of Alabama, and was a member of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity. Mr. Smith was preceded in death by his parents, Hoke and Patty Morgan Smith. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Josie M. Smith; three children, Wyndol (Lamar) Smith, JoAnne (Chris) Whetstone and Tyease (Jack) Holmes; five grandchildren, Teysa Holmes (Michael) Money, Rayni Holmes, Loyce (Christy) Petrey, Julie Petrey and Grey Bowen; four great-grandchildren; and a brother, Charles Morgan Smith.  Active pallbearers were Allen Currie, Jonathan Bagents, Tony Beck, Tony Brook, Ken Williams and Will Money.

Robert Purser “R.P.” Coggins

Robert Purser “R.P.” Coggins, Jr., 93, a resident of Luverne, Alabama, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 7.  A graveside service was held at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 11, in Luverne Emmaus Cemetery with Minister Charles Sipper officiating and Turner Funeral Home of Luverne directing.  Mr. Coggins served in the Pacific Theater during World War II with the United States Army.  He was preceded in death by his parents, R.P. and Eva Helms Coggins; sister, Francis Coggins Holiday; and brother, Jimmy Coggins.  Mr. Coggins is survived by his wife of 71 years, Mary Christine Franklin Coggins; four sons, Ronald W. Coggins, David E. (Dianne) Coggins, Clark (Debi) Coggins and Terry W. (Michael) Coggins; six grandchildren, Mark (Melissa) Coggins, Jason (Laura) Coggins, Tracy Coggins Holzman, Summer Coggins (Lee) Oswalt, Joshua (Janie) Coggins and Andrew (Kery) Coggins; 12 great-grandchildren, Ian and Sean Coggins, Jackson Clark and Connor Holzman, Emily, Jackson Bradley and Lucas Oswalt, Ava and Will Coggins and Tucker, Carter and Everly Coggins; and three sisters, Sarah Coggins Isbell, Mary Coggins Capps and Ramona Coggins (Glen) Porter. Active pallbearers were Mark Coggins, Jason Coggins, Joshua Coggins, Andrew Coggins, Alan Coggins and Larry Coggins. Members of the Luverne Volunteer Fire Department served as honorary pallbearers.

Eleanor Mitchell Dixon

Eleanor Mitchell Dixon, 101, a resident of Prattville, Alabama, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 10. Funeral services for Mrs. Dixon will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 17, from the Chapel of Turner Funeral Home of Luverne with Dr. Royce W. Ballard delivering the eulogy.  A private family interment will follow in Greenwood Cemetery in Montgomery with Turner Funeral Home directing.  Mrs. Dixon was preceded in death by her husband, Charles O. “Dick” Dixon; parents, William S. and Velma Welch Mitchell; three brothers, Rufus Mitchell, Bruce Mitchell and Frank Mitchell; five sisters, Lois M. Cauthen, Nora M. Beall, Ina M. Hughes, Bessie Lou Ellison and Margaret Ballard Archie; and four nephews, Warren Cauthen, Tommy Hughes, Maurice Ballard and Kenneth W. Ballard.  She is survived by two nieces, Virginia B. (Dave) Martinelli and Wanza C. (Jim) Lewis; and six nephews, Dr. William A. (Sue) Beall, Wiley M. (JoAnn) Cauthen, Dr. Royce W. (Katy) Ballard, Ronnie Hughes, John (Belinda) Hughes and Don Hughes. The family of Mrs. Dixon would like to thank the staff and caregivers at both Crowne Health Care and Amedisys Hospice for their excellent, loving care.  They request that any memorial donations may be made to Sweetwater Primitive Baptist Church.  The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Saturday from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.