Jennings Murray “Jay” Byrd

Montgomery

Jennings Murray (“Jay”) Byrd, 94, departed this life on Sat., Dec. 2, 2017, at his home in Montgomery. He is survived by his wife, Margaret Lanning Wright Byrd; five children and their spouses, Robert L. Byrd (Sally), James M. Byrd (Mary), Lisbeth Byrd Jackson (Lewis), Knoxye Wright Williams (Danny), and James Myles Wright (Debra); eight grandchildren, Stephen Byrd (Michelle), Sarah Byrd, Elizabeth Byrd, Haas Byrd, Anne Jackson Turner, Gregory Jackson, Lanning St. George (Josh) and Jennings Wright (Kelli); and four great-grandchildren, Ashley Byrd, Boaz Byrd, Enoch Byrd, and Haas Turner.  He was predeceased by his brothers Joseph Lowe Byrd, Jr., James Donald Byrd, and Johnnie Bryars Byrd and his sister Elizabeth Ann Byrd Arnold.

A memorial service will be held at Whitfield UMC on Dec. 16, 2017, at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the MACOA Meals on Wheels Program. A special thanks to our family friend, Gayle Todd, and to Answered Prayer Home Care and his wonderful caregivers Brenda Miles, Rolanda Wilson, and Amanda Caldwell.

Byrd was born in Brewton, the son of Joseph Lowe Byrd and Annie Ruth Bryars Byrd. He attended Brewton Elementary School and T. R. Miller High School, where he was a varsity baseball player for four years. He served in the U.S. Army from January 1943 through December 1945, participating in the invasion of Iwo Jima and other battles in the Pacific and receiving the Bronze Star Medal. From 1946 to 1949 he was a student at the University of Alabama, where he played on the varsity baseball team and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Advertising and Selling. Returning to Brewton, he played professional baseball with the Brewton Millers of the Alabama State League, taught school, and was Brewton City Clerk before entering the life insurance business as a salesman with Equitable of New York attaining membership in the company’s Million Dollar Round Table.

In 1949 he married Mary Lisbeth Haas of Mobile. He and his family moved to Montgomery in 1962, where he continued to represent Equitable Life Insurance (now AXA). After his first marriage ended in 1981, he married Margaret Ann (“Peggy”) Lanning Wright, a Montgomery resident and native of Birmingham.

Mr. Byrd was an active member of Whitfield Memorial United Methodist Church, serving as an usher and on the administrative board. He was known especially for his many years of visiting and assisting church members who were homebound or in nursing facilities.  He was also a member of the Capital City Kiwanis Club, which awarded him the Pearson “Doc” Burke Memorial Award for Outstanding Service in 1989-90. The Montgomery Area Council on Aging (MACOA) recognized him as a Senior of Achievement in 2005.

Voncile Morris Fountain

Brewton

On Tues., Dec. 5, 2017, Voncile Fountain went to be with Our Lord.

Funeral services will be held at Williams Funeral Home on Fri., Dec. 8, with visitation from 12:30-2 p.m., followed by a funeral at 2 p.m. at Williams Memorial Chapel. Officiating the service will be Parker Johnson, Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Brewton and Rob Oats, Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Dothan. Interment will be held in Union Cemetery with Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home directing.

She was a beloved wife, mother and grandmother who cared for and deeply loved her family and friends. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, a 1960 Graduate of T.R. Miller High School, a member of the Red Hat Society, a volunteer at the D.W. McMillan Hospital Gift Shop. She lived on this earth for 75 wonderful years and now resides in Heaven for all eternity.

She leaves behind a legacy of love, laughter, and elegant flair that her family and friends will remember always. We will miss you, “Bonnie”, ”Mom” and “Meme”, as she was affectionally known by her family and friends. Our love forever, your family!

She is survived by her husband, Wilbur Coleman Fountain, who has been by her side through thick and thin for 57 years. She leaves behind two sons, Rodney Coleman Fountain and his wife Kathy Lynne of Montevallo, and John Robert Fountain and his wife Sarah Anne of Pollard. Her surviving grandchildren include Cody Fountain, and his wife Lindsey of Brewton, AL, Jordyn Fountain, granddaughter, Abby and Grandson Brady Hamer step grandchildren, all from Montevallo. Mary Margaret, 10, Harper Lee, 8, and Skipman John Fountain, 5, all from Pollard.

She is preceded in death by her mother Jackie Loree Wright and her Step Father, Chief Petty Officer Tommy Wright.

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

Porcia Leah Godwin Pettis

Wallace

Porcia Leah Godwin Pettis, 94, of Wallace, passed away Sat., Dec. 9, 2017 at her residence after an extended illness.

Funeral services will be held Mon., Dec. 11, 2017 at 11 a.m. from the chapel of Craver’s Funeral Home with the Rev. James Peacock officiating.  Private internment will follow in the Hanberry Cemetery, Hwy 41 Brewton with Craver’s Funeral Home Inc. directing.
Visitation will be held Mon., Dec. 11, 2017 from 10 a.m. until service time at 11 a.m. at Craver’s Funeral Home Inc.
She was a native and lifelong resident of Escambia County and a life-time  member of Pineview Pentecostal Holiness Church. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and homemaker. She, along with her husband, owned and operated Pettis Pole & Logging Company for many years.
She is survived by her son, Thomas M. Pettis and wife Shannon of Wallace; her daughter, Elizabeth Smith and husband Buck of Wallace; five grandsons, Samuel Tyson (Julie) Smith, Russell Todd (Jennifer) Smith, Thomas Michael, (Chasity) Pettis, Skylar Brittingham and Aaron Brittingham; six great grandchildren, Haley Pettis, Ashlyn Pettis, Anderson Smith, Emma Smith, Gracie Smith and Eli Smith; four sisters, Delray Dewberry of Brewton, Juanita Parker of Brewton, Johnnie White of Flomaton, Delores Baggett of Molino, Fla.; one brother, Robert (Glennie) Godwin of Brewton.
She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 73 years, Mr. Claney Mack Pettis.
Kindly omit flowers and make contributions to the Hanberry Cemetery Fund, 120 Wallace Road Brewton.
Please share your memories and condolences with the family at www.craversfh.com

Jewell Hammonds

Century

Mrs. Jewell Hammonds, 76, of Century, Fla., passed away on Thurs., Dec. 7, 2017 at West Florida Hospital in Pensacola..

She was born in Tipton, Ga. and had been a life-long resident of the Century community. She worked as a seamstress for Vanity Fair for 30 plus years.  She was a member of Happy Valley Holiness Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Joe J. and Mary Alice Keigans Kearce; one grandson, Joshua Nathaniel; and one great-granddaughter, Angel Kate Cooper.

She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Carl Hammonds; sons, Larry (Dorie) Hammonds and Michael (Selema) Hammonds, both of Century, Fla., Tim Hammonds of Byrneville, Fla.; one daughter, Penny (Michael) Cooper of Lenox; a special friend, Alan Ruland of Pensacola; ten grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren; and numerous other family members and friends.

Funeral services were held on Sun., Dec. 10, 2017 at Happy Valley Holiness Church with Bro. Raymond Wiggins and Bro. Nathaniel Roach officiating.

Pallbearers were Alan Ruland, Jeremy Johnson, Rodger Gomez, Michael Hammond, Chad Johnson, Kevin Cooper, Chris Hammond, Matthew Hammond.

Please share your memories and condolences with the family at www. flomatonfh.com.

Flomaton Funeral Home directing.

Eula Mae Bradley Powell

Brewton

Eula Mae Bradley Powell, 105, passed away on Fri., Nov. 17, 2017.

Funeral services were held Nov. 25 at 10:30 a.m. at Baptist Hill Missionary Baptist Church with Pastor Eric Andrews officiating. The burial was held at Pollard Cemetery. Presley Fluker directing.

She was a resident of Brewton. She accepted Christ early in her life and united with Baptist Hill Missionary Baptist Church and remained a faithful member. She attended Southern Normal School.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Will Harris Coleman; one son, Willie Coleman; one grandson, Marcus Coleman; and her second husband, Rube Powell.

Her survivors are one son, Walter (Misty) Coleman; one daughter, Helen Coleman Barton, both of Brewton; two grandchildren, Candance Coleman of Atlanta and Derrick Jones of Mobile; seven great-grandchildren, a host of cousins, relatives and friends; and her extended family, the Rube Powell family and the Baptist Hill Church family.