Obituaries for Nov. 8, 2017 edition

Published 4:48 pm Tuesday, November 7, 2017

CHARLES DOUGLAS ANDREWS

Century, Fla.

Charles Douglas Andrews, 83, of Century, Fla., passed away on Mon., Nov. 6, 2017, at Century Health & Rehabilitation Center in Century.

Visitation will be held on Thurs., Nov. 9, at Flomaton Funeral Home Chapel from 6 to 8 p.m.

Funeral services will be held on Fri., Nov. 10, at Flomaton Funeral Home Chapel at 3 p.m. with interment following in McCurdy Cemetery in Century with Flomaton Funeral Home directing.

He was born in Jay, Fla., and was a lifetime member of the Century community where he owned and operated several businesses including Century Bait Shop.  He worked at Container Corporation in Brewton as a machine tender. He was an avid gardener and fisherman.

He was of the Baptist faith and was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Myrtle Campbell Andrews, and his granddaughter, Stephanie.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Mary Andrews of Century; children, Sandra (Tommy) Greenwell of Molino, Fla., Anne (Kenny) Powell of Flomaton, Steven Douglas (Sandra) Andrews of Jay and John David Andrews of Pensacola, Fla.; sister, Linda Sue (Douglas) McGhee of Spanish Fort; seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Josh Greenwell, Jeremy Greenwell, Jacob Coleman, Brian McGhee, Ben McCurdy and Luke Brown.

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

VERBIE LEE REENORA BYRD

Brewton

Verbie Lee Reenora Byrd, 67, passed away on Tues., Oct. 31, 2017 at her Brewton residence.

Funeral services were held on Sat., Nov. 4, at 2 p,m. from the chapel of Craver’s Funeral Home with the Rev. Wayne Owens officiating.  Interment followed in Zion Hill Cemetery.
She was a native and life long resident of the Brewton area.  She was a graduate of W.S. Neal High School and was a homemaker. She enjoyed fishing, kayaking, and having yard sales.  She was a member of East Brewton Pentecostal Holiness Church.

She was preceded in death by her son, Luke Junior McDaniel III.
She is survived by four daughters, Jane (Paul) Hastings, Melba Joyce Byrd, June (Doug) Payne, all of East Brewton, and Angel McDaniel of Brewton; three sisters, Maxine Legaspi, Eva Nazario, and Patricia Humphreys, all of Pensacola, Fla.; and seven grandchildren, Travis Hastings, Brandon Bonam, Melba LeeAnn Jerkins, Lacey Denise Jerkins, Julie Ann Payne, LaJune Payne and Destiny Cruise Payne.
Share your memoires and condolences with the family at craversfh.com.

BRYON F. STRENGTH

Pineview

Byron F. Strength, 94, passed away on Fri., Nov. 3, 2017, at his home in the Pineview Community in Escambia County.
Funeral services were held on Mon., Nov. 6, at 11a.m. at Craver’s Funeral Home, Brewton with the Rev. James Peacock officiating. Burial followed at the Pineview Cemetery.
He was born July 22, 1923, in Escambia County to B.F. “Frank” and Mary Moye Strength, and he had five siblings. He married Christine Morris on Feb. 4, 1948.  They have two daughters.
He attended school at Pineview Elementary and Flomaton High School.  He graduated in 1942.  He attended Auburn University for one session and then was needed back home to help on the family farm.
He worked with the Veteran’s Farm Trainee Program from 1947 to 1951, assisting World War II veterans with transitioning into agricultural occupations.  He worked with the ASCS as a field reporter, and served a three-year term as a Farmers Home Administration Committeeman.  He also served as an Escambia County ASC committeeman for several years, ending his service in 1997.
He was a lifetime farmer and gardener in the Pineview Community providing fresh homegrown vegetables to family and friends, with the help of his wife Christine.  He was a member of the Pineview Pentecostal Holiness Church and served as an adult Sunday school teacher for several years.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 69 years, Christine M. Strength; daughters, Linda (Charles) Godwin and Theresa (Jerry) Bell; four grandchildren, Tim (Melody) Godwin, Gordon (JoLynn) Godwin, Seth (Angie) Bell and Whitney Bell; six great-grandchildren, Richard (Rachel) Godwin, Ryan Woods, Nolin Godwin, Cooper Bell, Owen Bell and Amelia Bell; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, B.F. “Frank” and Mary M. Strength, and siblings, William “Buster” Strength, Edith Strength, Ruth Olene (Albert S. “Buddy”) Cooper, Grace (Gordon) Kyser, and Dr. Ralph Delphin (Ellen) Strength.
Active pallbearers were Seth Bell, Tim Godwin, Gordon Godwin, Bud Morris, David Morris and Jimmy Johnson.
Honorary pallbearers were Don Chance, Robert Godwin, Hollis George and Wayne Lisenby.
Share your memoires and condolences with the family at craversfh.com.

DOROTHY JEAN NELSON MILLS

Jay, Fla.

Dorothy Jean Nelson Mills, 82, of Booker Lane, Jay, Fla., passed away on Sun., Nov. 5, 2017 in a Century, Fla., nursing facility after a brief illness.

Visitation will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Fri., Nov. 10, at Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. Interment will be held in Sellersville Cemetery in Sellersville, Fla., with Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Brewton directing.

She was a native of McLellan, Fla., and a life long resident of Jay. She was a member of the Ebenezer Assembly of God Church and a homemaker. She enjoyed reading and gardening.

Survivors include her three sons, Robert Barlow of Tuscaloosa, Steve Barlow of Auburn and Michael (Cathy) Mills of Cantonment, Fla.; two daughters, Kay (Terry) Maughon of Molino, Fla., and Lori Nelson of Daytona, Fla.; 10 grandchildren; and 12 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jerry Mills; son, Sherwin Barlow, and daughter, Karen Barlow Jones.

Condolences may be sent and obituaries can be read at williamsmemorialchapel.com.

LEM ALLEN BENJAMIN

Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Lem Allen Benjamin, 69, of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., formerly of Brewton, passed away on Oct. 24, 2017.

Funeral services were held on Tues., Oct. 31, at 11 a.m. at Presley-Fluker Brewton Chapel with the Rev. Danny Benjamin and the Rev. Michael Anthony officiating. Interment followed in the Sandy Grove Baptist Church Cemetery in Evergreen.

He was born on Nov. 7, 1947, to the late Simmie and Romain Bradley Benjamin in Conecuh County. He attended school at Boykin and Southern Normal. In 1968, he was drafted into the U.S. Army where he fought in the Vietnam War.

After serving his country, he moved to Ft. Lauderdale, where he worked in construction for 32 years.

He was preceded in death by his loving parents; his brother, Elmore Benjamin, and his sister, Mattie Mae Benjamin Mobley.

Benjamin leaves to cherish his precious memory, his only son, Mitchell (Latonya) M. Benjamin of Raeford, North Carolina; two granddaughters, Ciara D. Benjamin of Fayetteville, North Carolina, and Devia M. Stroud of Raeford, North Carolina; his only grandson, Devion M. Benjamin of Raeford, North Carolina; sisters, Goldia Alexander, Inez Benjamin, Hazel Williams, Johnnie Walton, Tina (Larry) Fraser and Cynthia Benjamin; brothers, Simmie (Rosie) Benjamin and Randall (Cathy) Benjamin; aunts, Janie Avant, Mattie Maddox and Addie Benjamin; two very special nephews and caretakers, Anthony Alexander and Eric Mobley (whome he affectionately called Chuck) and a grand host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.