Obituaries for the week of July 23

Published 6:00 am Wednesday, July 25, 2018

Mr. Cecil Daniel Williamson, 82, of Harold Street, East Brewton, Alabama passed away Friday, July 13, 2018 in a Pensacola, Fla., hospital after a brief illness. He was a native and life long resident of Escambia County, Ala. Mr. Williamson was of the Protestant faith, and the former owner/operator of Sonny’s Service Center for 37 years. He enjoyed cattle farming, hunting, fishing, and was a lifetime member of the Alabama Cattleman’s Association.

He is survived by, his wife Faye McDonald Williamson of East Brewton; three sons, Danny (Stephanie) Williamson of Mobile, Craig (Cindy) Williamson of Brewton, Todd (Linda) Williamson of Brewton; brother, Durwood Williamson Baker, Fla., sisters, Ann Schoeneman of Milton Fla., Peggy Smith of Brewton; five grandchildren, Brian Williamson, Aaron Williamson, Spencer Williamson, Logan Williamson, Faith Williamson; five great grandchildren, Landan Barrentine, Addy Barrentine, James Williamson, Alivia Williamson and Loggins Williamson.

Funeral Services were held July 16, 2018 at 2 p.m. at Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. Mike Brasher officiating. Interment will follow in Green Acres Cemetery Brewton, with Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Brewton, Alabama directing.

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Mr. Robert Lewis Jernigan, 66, of Kirkland Road passed away Wednesday July 11, 2018 at his residence after a brief illness. He was a native and life-long resident of Brewton. Mr. Jernigan was a member of the Alco Baptist Church, a 1970 graduate of W.S. Neal High School, a graduate of Ed Raid Technical School, a U.S Army Veteran, and owned and operated Jernigan Construction. He loved his grandchildren, and enjoyed fishing and camping.

He is survived by his wife Kathy Lowery Jernigan of Brewton; two sons, Lee (Felicia) Jernigan of Brewton, Paul (Kylle) Jernigan of Birmingham; one brother, Tommy (Sharon) Jernigan of Brewton; two sisters, Mary (Jack) Cain and Pat Parker of Brewton; six grandchildren, Rider Jernigan, Cole Jernigan, John Robert Jernigan, Brooks Jernigan, Jude Jernigan and Collins Jernigan.

Funeral Services were held July 14, 2018 at 2 p.m. at Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Lee Jernigan officiating. Interment will follow in Zion Hill Cemetery Brewton with Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Brewton directing.

Otho Roy Batte Jr , also known as “Tiger” to family and friends, departed this earthly life after a lengthy illness on July 3, 2018 at Covenant Care in West Florida Hospital in Pensacola. He was born on Nov. 9, 1965 in Biloxi, MS and was a resident of Diamondhead, before moving to Brewton in 2008. He was formerly employed by Nissan North America and Lowe’s. “Tiger” was preceded in death by his father Otho Roy Batte Sr of Spinola, mother Barbara Batte of Gulfport, sister Betty Cabrera of Hampton, great nephew Matthew Croyl and nephew James Thorndyke of Florida. He is survived by his wife Linda Cash Batte and nephew Meki Cash of Brewton, sisters Sara Davis and Judy Thorndyke (Ken) of Panama City Beach, Fla., Patricia Walker (Jerry) of Elgin, S.C., many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. He was of the Christian faith and was a member of Little Escambia Baptist Church, Flomaton and attended New Beginnings Worship Center in Brewton. Internment will be at Woodlawn United Methodist Church in Panama City Beach, Fla., with a private Memorial at a later date.

Mr. Charles “Bubba” Edward Crawford, 82, of Franklin Avenue Brewton, passed away Friday, July 20, 2018 at his residence after a brief illness. He was a native and life-long resident of Brewton. Mr. Crawford was a member of the Brewton First United Methodist Church, a graduate of T.R. Miller High School, a graduate of the University of Auburn with an Industrial Engineering Degree, a U.S. Army Veteran, and was retired from Jefferson Smurfitt with 36 years of service. He was an avid hunter and fisherman.

He is survived by his wife Susan Parker of Brewton; a daughter, Robin Hammac of Medical Lake, Wash.; Nephew, Jules Crawford; Sister-in-law, Barbara Rackley of Fredericksburg, Va.; brother-in-laws, Ernie Parker of Avalon Beach, Fla. and Charles Parker of Jacksonville, Fla., three grand children, Josh Hammac of Medical Lake, Wash., Dennis Hammac and Denise Godwin of Medical Lake, Wash. and ten great grand children.

He was preceded in death by his parents Sam and Ruby Odom Crawford and his brother Julian Samuel Crawford.

Visitation will be held today, July 25, 2018 from 10 a.m., until 11 a.m. at Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Brewton.

Funeral Services are scheduled for today July 25, 2018 at 11 a.m. at Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. Frank Scott and Speaker Mike Edwards officiating. Interment will follow in Union Cemetery in Brewton, with Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Brewton directing.

 

Mr. Clinton Edwards, 80, of Castleberry passed away Friday, July 20, 2018 at his residence. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 24, 2018 at Cope-Keahey Funeral Home Chapel in Evergreen with Pastor Russ McDonald officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to services at the Chapel. Interment will follow in Hartwood Cemetery in Range with military honors.

Survivors include son, Vince (Angel) Edwards of Mobile; brothers, Leon (Carol) Edwards of Silver City,N.M. ; Sam Edwards of Pensacola; Glen (Mary) Edwards of Mobile; sister, Louise Clark of Mobile; grandchildren, Blake Edwards, Grace Edwards and Rickey Raynor.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Lola Edwards and daughter, Jennifer G. Edwards, both in 2012. Mr. Edwards was the son of the late Martin Fletcher Edwards and Mary Bell Baggett Edwards. He was a U. S. Navy veteran and worked as a safety control officer in the environmental industry until his retirement.

 

Oakland Lee Ard was born Sept. 17, 1925 in Geneva County near Samson.  He passed away on July 20, 2018. The second of four children of William Lee Ard and Pinkey Elender Aplin Ard, he attended Reese School, Hacoda School, and Samson High School in Geneva County, and Gaskin School in Walton County, Fla.  While still in school, he was drafted into the United States Army, along with his older brother Dalton, in December 1943. He joined the 2nd Armored Infantry Division, 41st Armored Infantry Regiment on Aug. 30, 1944, and engaged in combat in France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany until Thanksgiving Day 1944 when severe frostbite removed him from the battlefield.  His military service at Ft. Knox, Ky. with honorable discharge on May 10, 1946.

Afterward, Oakland resumed school, spent two years farming, and then found employment in the paper industry, where he would remain until his retirement.  That career began at St. Joe Paper Company, in Port St. Joe, Fla., where he met and married Marian Elizabeth Watts in May 1952. In January 1953, he was employed by St. Regis Paper Company, which took the couple to Jacksonville, Fla.  In September 1957, the couple moved to Jay, Fla., when Oakland was accepted for a job at Container Corp. of America’s newly opened Brewton paper mill. He retired from Jefferson-Smurfit in 1996 at the age of 71. After the death of Marian in 2005, Oakland and Jackie Stewart were married in March 2007.

Oakland contributed to his community through his involvement in a variety of civic organizations, business associations, and his church, Jay First Baptist Church.  Those include: Board of Directors of Jay Hospital, State Housing Initiative Program (SHIP) Board Member, Santa Rosa County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Jay Chamber of Commerce, Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Department Interview Committee, ARC Santa Rosa Board of Directors, and as a Take Stock In Children mentor.  He served as a Councilman for the Town of Jay. Throughout his career in the paper industry, he served his co-workers as president of two union locals, one of which he was a founding member, and as founding member and officer of two credit unions. An avid gardener, he enjoyed fishing, raising cattle, and hay farming throughout his retirement years.

Several honors were bestowed on Oakland in 2004, in recognition of his volunteer efforts, including: Northwest Florida Area Agency on Aging 2004 Older American’s Month Award, Santa Rosa County Chamber of Commerce 2004 Volunteer of the Year, American Legion Post #121 Service to America Certificate of Recognition, Town of Jay Proclamation recognizing Santa Rosa County Volunteer of the Year, Santa Rosa County Commission resolution declaring May 13, 2004, as “Oakland Ard Day”, and by Extensions of Remarks by Hon. Jeff Miller, honoring Oakland Ard in the congressional record.  He received the Santa Rosa Chamber’s Presidents Award in 1993 and the Hall of Fame Award in 2007.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 53 years, Marian, his older brother Henry Dalton Ard, and younger brother Herman Ray Ard.  Oakland is survived by his wife Jackie, sister Versie Ard, sons Freddy (Vesta) and Ronnie (Bonnie), Jackie’s daughters Marian Stewart-Griffin (Glenn) and Julie Stewart, grandchildren Taylor Ard (Amanda), Brandon Ard, Dalton Ard (Kelly), Jeffrey Ard, Jacob Gilliam, Lee Gilliam, Twig Griffin, and Stone Griffin; great-grandchildren Hailey Ann, Caleb, Eisley, and Aplin Ard.

Visitation was held Sunday, July 22, 2018 at Jay First Baptist Church from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Service was held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, July 23, 2018 also at the church. There will be a viewing also on Monday at 4 p.m., with a graveside burial to follow at 5 p.m. at Eight Mile Cemetery in Samson.

Trahan Family Funeral Home of Milton is in charge of arrangements.

 

Patricia Ann Pebbles (nee Hutton) passed away on Thursday, July 19, in Pensacola, Florida. She was 87. Born on Nov. 4, 1930, in Indianapolis, Indiana, Mrs. Pebbles was the second of five children. In 1950, she married Gordon Pebbles, Sr., and they had five children. Over the course of her long life, she lived in Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina and, finally, Brewton, where she lived from 1995 until her death.
Mrs. Pebbles was a working mother. She spent the final 10 years of her working life as a legal secretary for the Legal Aid Society in Indianapolis. She was an avid reader and bridge player. She will be remembered by her family and friends as a loving and caring mother and an independent spirit, a strong woman who had weathered the Great Depression and carried into her future, and that of her children, a formidable sense of purpose, an ardent belief in the value of a higher education, a no-nonsense work ethic and an up-from-the-bootstraps approach to life. Mrs. Pebbles was a member of the First Baptist Church of Brewton.
She is survived by her five children, Vicki Carlisle of Franklin, Tenn., Kathy Stacey of Prattville, Darryl Pebbles of Indianapolis, Gordon Pebbles of Hanover, Ind. and Beth Billy of Brewton. She was very proud of her 11 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will was held Monday morning July 23, 2018 from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. at Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home Brewton.

Funeral Services are scheduled for Monday morning July 23, 2018 at 11:00 A.M. at Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Cavin Cawthon officiating. Interment will follow in Union Cemetery Brewton, with Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Brewton directing.

Elder Charlie Leroy Jones was born to the parentage of Mr. Charlie and Susie Jones in Nichburg, on April 24, 1934. He was the oldest of 11 children.

Elder Jones received his early education from the Evergreen School System and continued his learning on his own during his adult life.

Elder Jones confessed and accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior at the age of 18. He joined Brewton Church of God In Christ where he received his minister’s license. He continued to spread the Word of God throughout the community. On July 16, 2006 he received his Elder’s license from Rudolph Temple Holiness Church of God Inc.

On Nov. 3, 1956 he was united in holy matrimony to the late Margaret Harris Jones. To this union 10 children were born; one son, Murtis Jones preceded him in death.

Charlie leaves to cherish his memories, four sons, Charlie “Gene” Jones, Curtis (Mary) Jones, both of Brewton, Clarence (Annie) Jones of Burnt Corn, and Kenneth (Robin) Jones of Knoxville Tenn., ; five daughters, Sheila Kiser of Killeen, Texas., Janice (Willie) Chatinan of Oxford, Kimberly (Vernon) Harris of Atlanta, Susan Jones of Brewton, and Connie (Peter) Darrington of Brewton,; three brothers, Moses (Mary), Tommie, and Ervin Jones and three sisters, Catherine Connors, Georgine (James) Wells and Viola Jenkins. He also leaves a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, one devoted aunt, Hattie Boyd and dedicated caregiver, Mary Lee.

The interment was at Pinky Grove Cemetery, Brewton with Presley-Fluker directing. The Rev. Dr. Willie J. Blue, Pastor. Superintendent W.R. Ellison, officiating. Rev. Kenneth D. Jones, Sr. Eulogist. The service was held Sat. July 21, 2018 at Second Saint Siloam Missionary Baptist Church Brewton.

 

Johnny Levon Lovelace was born to David James and Ethel Lee Lovelace Sr. in Brewton. He attended Booker T. Washington School system and T.R. Miller High School. He was enlisted in the United States Army in 1975 and honorably discharged in 1979.

He was a member of Second Shady Grove Baptist Church. He was employed with Container Corporation of America as papermaker until retirement and managed the family-owned business known as “Bears Ben.” He enjoyed fishing, cooking and being the life of the party.

On the evening of July 14, he slept away into his sweet transition from time to eternity at the Hillview Terrace Nursing Facility in Montgomery, AL. He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter, Ashley; brothers, George and Dennis; uncles, aunts and one nephew.

Survivors are his children, Renee (Art) Brown, Mario Lovelace, Tamara Lovelace and Candice Stevens; grandchildren: Brittany, Tyquis, Amarion, Tyeserion, Jhrisoky, Montez and Maleah; brothers, David James (Linda) Lovelace Jr. and Tony (Carmen) Lovelace; one great grandchild, Carter; aunts: Viola, Gloria, Gert and Berniece and one uncle, John Douglas and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

 

Mrs. Betty Lucille Palmer, 76, passed away on Sunday, July 22, 2018 in Pace, Fla. Mrs. Palmer was born in Portsmouth, Ohio and had been a resident of Milton for the past 20 years, and had lived previously in Bradley. She had worked as an LPN for the Department of Corrections for a number of years. She enjoyed taking massage therapy classes, and was a member of True Worship Assembly of God.

Mrs. Palmer was preceded in death by her first husband, Joe Carl Palmer; a grandson, Tyler Palmer; stepson, Matthew Douglas; and two step-grandsons, Ryan and Jordan Douglas.

She is survived by her husband, Jimmie Ray Douglas of Milton,; four sons, Joey (Flora Jean) Palmer of Milton, Shawn (Sheila) Palmer of Wing, Shannon (Denise) Palmer of Milton, and Adam (Bobbie) Palmer of Jay,; three daughters, Kimberly Ates of Jay, Candala (Doug) Whitley of Pace, and Charity (Benjamin) Covan of Brewton,; 25 grandchildren and 28 great grand children.

Funeral services will be held on today, July 25, at 10 a.m. at the True Worship Assembly of God Church. Following the service will be a service at Bradley Assembly of God Church at 1 p.m. with Rev. Adam Peterson officiating at both services. Interment will follow in Bradley Cemetery.

Visitation was held at the True Worship Assembly of God Church on Tuesday from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.

Pallbearers will be: Dalton Ates, Scott Palmer, Daniel Palmer, Dustin Palmer, Joshua Land, Dakoda Land, Johnathan Palmer, and Colton Morris.