Obituaries for week of April 7, 2025

Published 1:38 pm Tuesday, April 8, 2025

Margaret Maxine Thompson Smith
East Brewton

Mrs. Margaret Maxine Thompson Smith, 72, of Hart Street in East Brewton, passed away Saturday, April 5, 2025 in a local nursing facility after a brief illness.
She was a native and life long resident of Brewton. Mrs. Smith was of the Church of God faith, a long time employee of Sheltex, and at different convenience stores. She loved her family, listening to music, and cooking.
She is survived by a brother, Danny Thompson; sisters, Cindy Thompson Keith and Deborah (Russell) Padgett; a brother-in-law, Tommy Garrett; nephews, Weston (Kelsey) Garrett and Micha Garrett; a special friend, Sarah (Manning Minchew) Pate; a number of cousins; and a number of great-nieces and great-nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Durl and Lucille Sellers Thompson; her husband, Ronnie Smith; and a sister, Sue Garrett.
Visistion is scheduled for today, Wednesday, April 9, 2025 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.
Funeral services are scheduled for today, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at 2 p.m. at Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev Michael Cosey officiating. Interment will follow in Green Acres Cemetery in Brewton.
Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Grace Odell Robinson
Castleberry

Mrs. Grace Odell Robinson, 100, passed away peacefully at her home on April 5, 2025.
Mrs. Grace Robinson was born in Baldwin County. She has lived in Castleberry for more than 60 years coming from Mobile.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Chester and Mary Richerson; her husband, Otis Robinson; one daughter, Mary Robinson; and two sons, James Robinson and Ricky Robinson.
Mrs. Robinson is survived by sons, Norman Robinson of Castleberry, and Steve (Helen) Robinson of Castleberry; daughters, Irene Driskell of Mississippi, Jeanette Duda of Mobile, Linda (Michael) McDonald of Mobile, Sue (Ralph) McDonald of Daphne and Judy (Stanley) Smelly of Lowndsboro; 21 grandchildren; a number of great-grandchildren and great-great-granchildren; a host of nieces and nephews and other family members; long time caregivers, Joy Adams of Castleberry and Jonathan Robinson.
Funeral services for Mrs. Robinson will be held on Saturday, April 12, 2205, at 11:30 a.m. from the chapel of Craver’s Funeral Home in Brewton with Bro. Reo Pugh officiating. Interment will follow at Cedar Creek Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Saturday, April 12, 2025, from 10:30 a.m. until service time at the chapel of Craver’s Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Brian Robinson, Jeremy Smelly, Timothy Robinson, Chris Jones, Michael Duda, and Jonathan Robinson.
Craver’s Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Willard Hamilton Minchew
Brewton

Willard Hamilton Minchew, Jr., age 78, of Brewton, Alabama passed away on Thursday March 27, 2025, in a Pensacola, Fla., hospital.
Mr. Minchew was born in Brewton, to Willard Hamilton Minchew, Sr. and Ruby Lee Minchew on September 13, 1946.
He attended W. S. Neal School, Jefferson Davis State Community College, and Larkins Business School. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He worked for 40 years in the garment industry. He loved spending time with his family and friends. He enjoyed the outdoors fishing, hunting, and gardening. He was one of Jehovah’s Witnesses and enjoyed talking to other people about the Bible’s truths in his ministry.
He is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Betty Jean Minchew, whom he was married to for 56 years; two sons, Gregory Keith (Melissa) Minchew of Metairie, La., and Thomas Hamilton (Lisa) Minchew of Chattanooga, Tenn.; two granddaughters, Samantha Leigh Minchew and Katie Madison Minchew; two brothers-in-law, Rodney Hawkins and Kenny McDonald; a sister-in-law, Gail Fuqua; and a number of nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Willard Hamilton Minchew, Sr. and Ruby Lee Minchew; a granddaughter, Elana Paige Minchew; two brothers, Hubert and Odell Minchew; four sisters, Lillie Mae Blackwell, Mazel Meadows, Ruby Hutcheson and Bonnie Smith.
Memorial Services for Willard Hamilton Minchew, Jr. will be held at the Brewton Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses on Foshee Roard in Brewton on Saturday April 19, 2025, at 2:00 p.m.

Rex Arnold Amerson
East Brewton

Mr. Rex Arnold Amerson, 76, of Shipp Street in East Brewton, passed away Thursday, April 3, 2025 at a local hospital after a brief illness.
He was a native of Century, Fla., a former resident of Jay, Fla., and a long time resident of East Brewton. Mr. Amerson was of the Baptist faith, a U.S. Army Veteran, and was a retired chemical mixer from Monsanto with 30 years of service. He enjoyed his family, food, and was an avid Atlanta Braves fan.
He is survived by his wife, Kathy Carroll Amerson of East Brewton; two sons, Steven Cook of Mobile and Shaun Cookie of Pensacola, Fla.; a daughter, Christine (Donald) Jernigan of Brewton; two sisters, Linda Reider of Milton, Fla., and Ann Roberts of California; a brother-in-law, Dewayne (Deb) Carroll; four grandchildren, Aaron Jernigan, Christine Cook, Destiny Cook and Tristin Cook; seven great-grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, April 8, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. Tim Floyd officiating Interment followed in Odom Cemetery in Brewton.
Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Wayne E. Crutchfield
Tuskeegee

Mr. Wayne Eugene Crutchfield of Tuskegee, passed away at his residence on Monday, March 31, 2025, at the age of 51.
He was a native of Conecuh County, where he grew up and started school. Wayne graduated from W.S. Neal High School and joined the United States Air Force.
Wayne was preceded in death by his father, Brooks Raymond (Ray) Crutchfield, Jr.; adopted father of 45 years, Allen L. Pettis; paternal grandparents, Brooks Raymond and Madie Irene Crutchfield; and maternal grandparents, John Thomas and Lillie O’Dell Castillow.
Wayne was raised in Oak Grove Holiness Church. After years in service, he held many jobs including Smurfit-Stone, painting, automotive mechanic, construction, and the VA office in Tuskegee.
He loved helping people and fellow veterans. He struggled with past life choices, but thank God, he had turned his life in the right direction. He loved the outdoors, gardening, and fishing with his fur babies, Shotgun and Yeti.
Funeral services were held Saturday, April 5, 2025, at Jeffcoat Memorial Funeral Home in Tallassee, with the Rev. Paul Michael Cooper officiating.
Survivors include: his mother, Ruth Castillow Crutchfield Pettis of Castleberry; sons, Waylon Brooks (Joanna) Crutchfield of Tuskegee, Tyler Crutchfield of Tuskegee, Dillian (Courtney) Crutchfield of Atmore, Brett Crutchfield of Flomaton; brothers, Christopher A. Pettis of Castleberry, Sammy (Regina) Pettis of Castleberry, Aaron (Emily) Pettis of Brewton, Johnny (Rosa) Crutchfield of Pensacola, Fla.; his sister, Connie Pettis (Michael Newby) of McCall; grandchildren, Isabelle Crutchfield, Analisa Crutchfield (on the way), Kamden Crutchfield and Amelia Kate (Millie) Crutchfield.
Wayne loved his children and grandchildren very much. He had many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, other family members, and a special friend, Ms. Cathi Rodgers. He will be missed.