Obituaries for Wed., Feb. 22, 2017, edition

Published 6:00 pm Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Mary E. McCorvey

Brewton

Mary E. McCorvey, 95, passed away Feb. 13, 2017.

Funeral services were held Sat., Feb. 18 at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah Witnesses.

She was born on July 14, 1921, in Evergreen to the late Liston and Lela Crosby Salter. She was raised in the community of Greenstreet and later moved to Evergreen. She was one of 13 children. Her six sisters are Ella (Tote) Oakley, Dora Wilson, Jane Grace, Corrie Ingram, Ester Thompson and Sue Salter. Her six brothers are Dick Salter, Austin Salter, Liston Salter Jr., John Walker Salterm George Salter and Robert Salter. All are now deceased except one sister, Ester Thompson of Slidell, La.; and two brothers, Robert (Mary) Salter of Pensacola, Fla., and George Salter of Kileen, Texas.

She moved to Brewton to find work. In Brewton, is where she met and married the love of her life Allen McCorvey. They were married 45 years until his death in 1991. To this union they had four children, Charles Elliot, Mary Ann, Sylvester (Evelyn, and Allen Jr. (Emmely). She has seven grandchildren and one grandchild that is deceased. She also has 10 great-grandchildren.

Her love for the bible was instilled in her by her parents. In the early 1940s, she started studying and was baptized in 1954 as one of Jehovah Witnesses. She was known for being in the Bible education work throughout Brewton, Flomaton and Century. She was able to aid many people to a knowledge and understanding of the Bible. We look forward to seeing her again in the resurrection that she spoke to so many about.

Willie Earvin McCants

Brewton

Funeral services were held on Sat., Feb. 18,  at 11 a.m. at Baptist Hill Missionary Baptist Church with Pastor Eric T. Andrews officiating and Presley-Fluker Funeral Directors directing. Interment followed at Baptist Hill Cemetery.

Willie Ervin McCants was born Oct.3, 1949 in Brewton to Leona (Sewell) McCants and Ervin McCants. He confessed Christ and united with the Baptist Hill Missionary Baptist Church at an early age. Baptist Hill Missionary Baptist Church was where he remained until he was called from labor to reward. Daddy departed this life at D.W. McMillan Memorial Hospital on Sun., Feb. 12, 2017.

He attended Southern Normal School and graduated with the Class of 1968. Having one of the best jump shots around, he continued his love of basketball on the court at Jefferson Davis Community College. On Aug. 16, 1969 he married his beloved friend, Toretha Burks. He was employed with Georgia Pacific for nearly 48 years.

In passing, he leaves to cherish his memories a devoted loving wife and friend, Toretha Burks McCants; five sons, Willie Ervin McCants II, Ashlion McCants, Christopher Hubbert, Jerome McCants and Timothy Barton; three daughters, LaToskia McCants, Kamaryn Leona McCants and Janika Hubbard. He also leaves nine grandchildren; one great grandchild; one niece, Bernice A. McCants; two nephews, Johnathan Revels Jr., and Jerell Revels of California; and a host of other relatives and friends.

One daughter, Tomeka McCants, preceded him in death, as well as his mother and father and sister, Doretha McCants. 

He was well known and greatly loved by his community. He was a lover of sports; both playing, in his younger years, and an avid observer and coach. Singing was a passion of his, as he joined the Brewton Male Chorus. He loved dancing.

He loved talking with everyone (never met a stranger). He was a great friend to all. He always spoke his mind and stood up for what he believed in and those he believed in. He was a loving husband and father; a very hard worker and didn’t believe in missing a day unless absolutely necessary.

He was very loyal and dedicated to all he loved. He was a very well dressed gentleman; even when going to work. But most of all none will forget his million-dollar smile. When he smiled at you it would warm your heart. He has departed this earth, but never in the hearts of the many who knew and loved him. He will be loved and missed always.

Dorothy ‘Dot’ Jean Trawick Bates

Pollard

Dot Bates, born Dorothy Jean Trawick on April 3, 1939, passed peacefully into heaven on Sun., Feb. 12, 2017.

Friend and Pastor Frank Jenkins conducted a small farewell service for the family at The Lighthouse Church in Tallapoosa, Ga., on Thurs., Feb. 16, at 2pm. 

She was born to Annie Mae and Steåphen Trawick. She was raised by Annie Mae and Lyda Byrd in Pollard.

She is survived by her husband, Clyde Bates; four daughters, Cynthia Brackin, Denise Presley, Lisa Flores, and Jessica Bates; two sisters; Anne Laura Phillips, Dell Trawick; and one brother; Lamar Byrd.

The family would like to express heartfelt thanks to the many wonderful people at Carrollton Nursing and Rehabilitation, in Carrollton, Ga., who have provided such loving care for Mom during the past three years; and to Hightower Funeral Home in Bremen, Ga., for their kindness and loving care.

“Rest in peace Mama.  We look forward to seeing you once again when we are all called to join you and our Lord in heaven.  And we rest in the hope that you are full of joy and in good company at the feet of Jesus.”

Robert Lloyd Burch

Robertsdale

Robert Lloyd Burch, 72, of Robertsdale, passed away early Mon., Feb. 13, 2017, in a Robertsdale health care facility after an extended illness.

Graveside services were held Thurs., Feb. 16, at 2 p.m. at Weaver Cemetery with Bro. J. Heath Wilson officiating and Craver’s Funeral Home Inc. of Brewton directing.

He was a native of Pensacola, and former resident of Tampa before moving to Robertsdale five years ago. He was retired from Gulf Coast Fire and Safety Company as a  fire protection engineer and was of the Pentecostal faith.  He was a United States Army veteran.

He is survived by sons, Christopher (Tarah) Burch of Colorado Springs, Co., and Dennie Lloyd Jernigan of Mobile; sisters, Betty Wiley of Keizer, Ore., and Ellie Oliver of Torrance, Calif.; and six grandchildren.

Share your memories and condolences with the family at craversfh.com.

Thomas Franklin Raines

Brewton

Thomas Franklin “Tom” Raines, 60, passed away Sat, Feb. 18, 2017 in Repton.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thurs., Feb. 23, at Oak Grove Holiness Church with Bro. Raymond Wiggins and Bro. Jeff Harris officiating. Interment will follow in the Oak Grove Holiness Church Cemetery with Craver’s Funeral Home directing.

Visitation will be held on Thursday at Oak Grove Holiness Church from 10 a.m. until service time at 11 a.m.

Pallbearers will be Ronnie Fountain, Wesley Fountain, Sam Fountain, Nick Kennel, Chase Blackmon and Jason Dees.

He was born in Brewton, and had been a life-long resident of Repton. He worked as a logger and a mechanic and was of the Holiness faith.  He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Charlie and Nola Raines; and a brother, Gaston Raines.

He is survived by a son, William Russell Raines of Repton; a daughter, Shantell Raines of Illinois; four sisters, Sylvia Evans, Jeanell (Ronnie) Fountain and Karen (Nick) Kennel, all of Repton, and Deborah (Buddy) Blackmon of Range; and three grandchildren.

Share your memories and condolences with the family at craversfh.com.

Blanche Cole

Brewton

Blanche Cole, 92, passed away Mon., Feb. 20, 2017, at her Brewton residence.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Wed., Feb. 22, from the chapel of Craver’s Funeral Home with the Rev. Lee Cadenhead officiating. Interment will follow at Fort Crawford Cemetery.

Visitation will be held at Craver’s Funeral Home today, from 1 p.m. until service time at 2 p.m.

Pallbearers are Stanley Alford, Mike Cole, Rusty Andrews, Ricky Andrews, Tommy Cole and Joey Shell.

She was a native and life-long resident of Escambia County. She worked as a plytwist operator at Monsanto during her working years. She was a member of Ridge Road Baptist Church. 

She was preceded in death by her father and mother, Stokes and Gladys Mae Alford; her husband, Zera Cole; sisters, Inez Hewitt and Myrtle Cole; brothers, Russell Alford, and Johnny Wayne Alford.

She is survived by a son, Frank Cole of East Brewton; daughter, Karen (John) Ward of Brewton; two brothers, Ed “Doot” Alford of Brewton, and Haynes (Patsy) Alford of Moulton; one sister, Mildred Blocker of Pace, Fla.; two grandchildren, Leanne (Kevin) Wilson, and Troy Ward; and a special niece, Alene (O’Neal) Varner of Brewton.

Share your memories and condolences with the family at craversfh.com.