Obituaries for the week of April 18

Published 7:06 pm Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Leslie Paul Blackburn

Brewton

Leslie Paul Blackburn, 86, of McGougin Road passed away Thurs., April 12, 2018 in Frisco City. He was a native and long time resident of Brewton, and was a member of the Pilgrim Chapel Holiness Church. He served in the National Guard, Air Force, Army, and Navel Air, and was a retired bleach plant operator from Container Corporation with 33 years of service. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping and playing the harmonica, fiddle, and guitar.
He is survived by a son, Michael (Kathy) Blackburn of Atmore; three daughters, Paula Faye Hall and Linda Ann (Tommy) McCall, both of Atmore and Patricia Jo (Allen) Burr of Frisco City; one stepson, Joe Edwards of Brewton; two stepdaughters, Gertrude Wesson of Wetumpka, and Leola Tew of Notasulga, a brother, Delmas Blackburn of Brewton; 14 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Fri. 13, at 2 p.m. at Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Fred White and Rev. Earl Harrison officiating. Burial followed with military honors at Weaver Cemetery with Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home directing.

Burns “Bull” Elliott Blackwell

Brewton

Burns “Bull” Elliott Blackwell, 80, of Wallace Road, Brewton, Alabama passed away Thursday April 12, 2018 at his residence after a brief illness. He was a native and life long resident of Brewton, Alabama. Mr. Blackwell was of the Christian faith, a graduate of W.S. Neal High School, a retired truck driver, and was employed with the Escambia County Sheriffs Department working in the court house.
He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Alama Jean Miller Blackwell; five sons, Jeff (Peggy) Booker, Joey (Christina Booker and Mike (Lisa) Booker, all of Brewton, Chris (Cindy) Booker of Belleville and James Blackwell of Jay, Fla.; two brothers, Billy Waybe (Kay) Blackwell and Bernard Blackwell, both of Brewton; six grandchildren, Brandy Barrentine, Malary Salter, Joseph Booker, Kristen Booker, Michael Booker and Jessica Booker; and two great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a grandson, Randy Booker; and two brothers, Buck Blackwell and Burl Blackwell. 
Visitation was held Sunday, April 15,  from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home. 
Funeral services were held Mon., April 16, at 2 p.m. at Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Russ McDonald officiating. Burial followed at Bethel  Cemetery, Brewton, with Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home directing.

Edd “Bo” Thompson

Brewton

Edd “Bo” Thompson Jr., 81, of Travis Road, Brewton, passed away Wed., April 11, 2018 at his residence after a brief illness. He was a native of the Roberts, community and a life long resident of Brewton. He was a U.S Army veteran, and a retired machine operator from the logging industry.
He is survived by his wife, Wanda Day of Brewton; a daughter, Roselynne (Tony) Lawen of Greenville, S.C.; a brother, Bobby Thompson of Brewton; two sisters, Doris Bullock and Eloise Agerton, both of Brewton; two grandchildren, Clarissa Lawen and Lydia Lawen; and a number of nieces and nephews. 
He was preceded in death by two daughters, Sherry Thompson and  Barbara Lynn Floyd; three brothers, Billy Thompson, Elmer Thompson and Richard Thompson and a sister, Juanita Partin.
Visitation was held Sat. morning April 14, from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. at Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.

Funeral services were held Sat.. April 14 at 11 a.m. at Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Bill Thompson, Bro. Doug Greer and Rev. Ernie Calhoun officiating. Burial followed in Travis Cemetery, Brewton, with Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home directing.

Lillie Mae Ryals McRae

Brewton

Lillie Mae Ryals McRae, 96, of Zion Hill Road Brewton, passed away Sat., April 14, 2018 at her residence after a brief illness. She was a native of Lenox, and a long time resident of Brewton. She was a member of the Hartwood United Methodist Church, a worthy matron of the Brewton Eastern Star chapter 442, and retired from Judy Bond with 27 years of service.
She is survived by three sons, 
Pat (Marie) McRae, Jerrell (Debbie) McRae and Jerry (Margaret) McRae, all of Brewton; three daughters, Pam HowellJanice Craft and Julia Thompson, all of Brewton; 14 grandchildren; 26 great, grandchildren and five great, great, grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James P. McRae; two daughters, Dorothy Wardrop and Judith Hamrac; four grandchildren, Luther McRae, Harold Craft, Michael Tucker and Gary Tucker; and one great, grandchild,  Alan Pickens.
Visitation was held Mon., April 16, from 6 p.m..until 8 p.m. at Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.

Funeral services were held Tues., morning April 17, at 11 a.m. at Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. George Weaver and Rev. Doug Darby officiating. Interment followed in Hartwood Cemetery, in Range, with Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home directing.

Geraldine Chancery Lowery

Brewton

Geraldine Chancery Lowery,72, of Brewton, passed away on Fri., April 13, 2018 at her home.

She was a native of Escambia County, and was a lifetime member of he Flomaton and Brewton communities. During her working years, she worked at Vanity Fair Mills as a seamstress.

She is survived by her husband, Tyrone Lowery of Brewton; a daughter, Tammy Wells of Tennessee; brothers, William Earl Chancery of Flomaton and Leonard Glenn Chancery of Arkansas; a sister, Pat Myrick of Arkansas; five grandchildren and four great, grandchildren.

Visitation was held on Mon., April 16,  at Flomaton Funeral Home Chapel from 6 to 8 p.m.

Funeral services were held on Tues., April 17, at Flomaton Funeral Home Chapel at 11 a.m with Rev. Mike Hutto officiating.

Interment followed in Moyeville Cemetery, Flomaton with Flomaton Funeral Home directing.

James Harold Strength Sr.

Flomaton

James Harold Strength Sr., 86, born April 16, 1931, a long time resident of Flomaton, AL passed away at home on April 12, 2018.

He was number three of four boys born to Radford William and Lillie Mae Strength. He was preceded in death by his son, James Jr., his parents, and all three brothers, Fredrick, Winfred, and Ray. He is survived by his wife of 26 years,  Judy, four step-children, Doug Patterson (Sue) of Cantonment, Fla., Frank Smyer (Judy) of Pace, Fla., Pam Patterson of Milton, Fla. and Paula Smith (Hubert) of Molino, Fla.; seven grandchildren; seven great, grandchildren; a special niece; nephews and extended family; Flo and Gerald Cofield, Susan and Stuart Diamond,  Copeland and Pamela Crisson.

After graduation from Flomaton High School and resigning from a one mule, two acre cotton farm, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and spent a tour in Europe serving in oommunication operations. Upon returning home, he attended a trade school while working in Nashville, Tenn. When the Korean War ceased, his employment was terminated. He returned to Flomaton and reenlisted in the U.S. Air Force.  He attended school in airborne radio maintenance and served a tour in the far East.  Upon the tour completion, he returned state side to serve his final active military duty. He accepted work at Brookley Air Force Base in Mobile, as a communications maintenance installations. He retired in 1982 and became very active in the community. He was a member of Little Escambia Baptist Church.

Visitation was held on Mon., April 16, 2018 at Flomaton Funeral Home Chapel beginning at 1 p.m. until a 2 p.m. service with Dr. Larry Patterson officiating.

Interment followed in Flomaton Cemetery, Flomaton, with Flomaton Funeral Home directing.

Pallbearers were Jimmy Johnson, James Nix, Paul Peadon, Doug Miller, Frank Smyer and Payton Williams.

The family wishes to thank Hospice Comfort Care and the community.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Growing in Faith Fund at Little Escambia Baptist Church.