Archives
 By  Staff Reports Published 
1:35 pm Saturday, January 6, 2001

OBITUARIES FOR FRIDAY, JAN. 6, 2001

By Staff
THOMAS FRANK BROWN
Retired pilot
RIDGELAND Graveside services for Thomas Frank Brown were held Friday at 2 p.m. at Memorial Park Cemetery. Wright &Ferguson Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Brown, 80, of Madison, died Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2001, in Hinds County. He was a native of Lauderdale County. He was a graduate of Meridian High School and Meridian Junior College. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the 8th Air Force. He attended Air Force Flight School, Air Force Base Supply School and the Air Force Command and Staff School. Mr. Brown was a pilot on 30 combat missions over Germany, earning two Distinguished Flying Crosses and five Air Medals. He helped organize the Jackson Mississippi Air National Guard Unit in 1953 and was commander from that time until his retirement in 1962. He then became the chief pilot for the Aviation Department of Masonite Corp. He retired in 1982. He was a life member of Good Sam Recreational Vehicle Club, serving various positions as chapter president and assistant state director. He was also a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Twin Lakes Baptist Church and the Good Sam Recreational Club.
Survivors include his stepson, Ben A. Cunningham of Pocahontas; a sister, Jesse Willard B. Stringer of Anchorage, Alaska; a brother, Joseph Wyatt Brown of Meridian; and a number of grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
THOMAS J. BREWER
U.S. Navy veteran
Services for Thomas J. Brewer will be held today at 10 a.m. at Barham Funeral Home chapel with the Revs. Cook and Jerry Bishop officiating. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery.
Mr. Brewer, 74, of Meridian, died Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2001 at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center. He served 25 years in the U.S. Navy. He served in World War II, the Korean Conflict and Vietnam. He spent one year in operation Deep Freeze in the Antarctic. He was a member of the Fleet Reserve.
Survivors include his wife, Faye Brewer of Meridian; a daughter, Sharon Prichett of Lauderdale; two sisters, Oma Wyatt of Whitesboro, Texas and Anna Davidson of Gainesville, Texas; a sister-in-law, Claudia Brewer; a brother-in-law, J.O. Hopkins of Sanger, Texas; three grandchildren, Lisa Benefield of Marion, Michelle Fleming of Bailey and Tammy Caldwell and her husband, Johnnie, of Virginia Beach, Va.; five great-grandchildren, Justin Pritchett, Brittany Benefield, Rachel Hartford, Corey Fleming, and Hailey Tibbets.
He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Pearl Brewer; two brothers, Floyd Brewer and J.D. Brewer; two sisters, Esterlee Lyon and Eunice Bridges.
DAVID H. DUNCAN JR.
Retired mechanic
PHILADELPHIA Services for David H. Duncan Jr. will be held today at 11 a.m. at Holy Rosary Catholic Church with Fathers David Hamm and Raphael Toner officiating. Burial will be in Tucker Cemetery with full military honors. McClain-Hays Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Duncan, 79, of Philadelphia, died Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2001, in his home. He was a native and long time resident of the Tucker community of Neshoba County. He formerly lived in Meridian. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army serving in World War II. He was president of Tucker Fire Department. He was a member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church, the VFW, DAV and Knights of Columbus, Council No. 802 in Meridian.
Survivors include his wife, Eva B. Duncan of Philadelphia; a son, Clyde A. Duncan of Jackson; two sisters, Ethel V. Johnson of Sudbury, Mass. and Mary E. Dover of Meridian; a brother, Van A. Duncan Sr. of Meridian; three sisters-in-law, Tina Hicks of Philadelphia, Melba Jean Swords of Columbus, Ga. and June Divine, and her husband Bob of Lamar, Mo.; a grandson, David Andrew Duncan of Jackson; and a number of nieces and nephews.
The family requests memorials be made to Tucker Fire Department, the Holy Rosary Catholic Church or charity of choice.
Pallbearers will be Knights of Columbus Meridian Council No. 802 members: David Koch, Mack White, John Maloney, Tom Zettler, Bob Leo, Richard Fleming, Joe Gomez and Bill Webster.
Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Tucker Fire Department.
ELIZABETH STENNIS MARTIN
Retired teacher
VICKSBURG Graveside services for Elizabeth Stennis Martin will be held today at 11 a.m. at Masonic Cemetery in Newton. Glenwood Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Martin, 86, of Vicksburg, died Thursday, Jan. 4, 2001, at Vicksburg Medical Center. She was born in Kemper County, raised in Newton and was a resident of Vicksburg for the past 62 years. She was a retired school teacher for the Vicksburg City schools. She was employed by the U.S. government in Oak Ridge, Tenn., during World War II. She was a member of the Crawford St. United Methodist Church of Vicksburg.
Survivors include a stepson, Burkett Martin Jr. of Vicksburg; a stepdaughter, Ann Dewell of New Orleans; two sisters, Doris S. Breaden of Columbus and Mildred S. Rochelle of Atlanta.
J.T. SMITH
Monument engraver
UNION Services for J.T. Smith will be held today at 11 a.m. at Hebron Baptist Church with the Revs. Roger Laird and J.E. Sharp officiating. Burial will be in Hebron Baptist Church Cemetery with Milling Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Smith, 77, of Union, died Thursday, Jan. 4, 2001, at Riley Hospital in Meridian. He was a World War II Navy veteran. He was a member of Hebron Baptist Church and of Newton County American Legion.
Survivors include his wife, Jerry Smith of Union; five sons, Ronny Smith of Banner, Tommy Smith and Mike Smith, both of Little Rock, and Neil Smith and Robert Smith, both of Union; two brothers, Raymon Smith of Roswell, N.M., and Myrl Smith of Little Rock; and five grandsons.
CALVIN LEWIS
Real estate manager
Services for Calvin Lewis will be held today at 11 a.m. at Clark's Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. S.M. Thompson officiating. Burial will be in Meridian Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mr. Lewis, 38, of Atlanta, died Saturday, Dec. 30, 2000, at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta.
Survivors include a daughter, Amber Lewis of Atlanta; his mother, Lillie Mae Lewis of Meridian; three sisters, Virginia Naylor and her husband, Ernest, Linda D. Naylor, and Willie May Leggett, all of Meridian; five brothers, Ele Gene Hudson and his wife, Maria, of Meridian, Terry L. Lewis and Donald L. Lewis and his wife, Crystal, all of Atlanta, Warren L. Lewis of San Diego and Darrick Lewis of Cuba, Ala.; and his grandmother, Annie Bell Hudson of Meridian.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Barbara Ann Lewis.

Also on Franklin County Times
Franklin D-1 commission race heads to runoff
Franklin County, News, Z - News Main
By Brady Petree For the FCT 
May 20, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Residents of District 1 will have to wait a little longer to learn who their representative on the Franklin County Commission will be a...
Clark wins Franklin coroner’s race
Franklin County, News, Russellville, ...
Addi Broadfoot For the FCT 
May 20, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Jeff Clark defeated incumbent Charles Adcox in the Republican primary for Franklin County coroner Tuesday night, winning 75.25% of the ...
Oliver secures fifth term as Franklin County Sheriff
News, Russellville, Z - News Main
By Brady Petree For the FCT 
May 20, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Incumbent Franklin County Sheriff Shannon Oliver will remain in office for at least four more years after he overwhelmingly won re-elec...
CPR training among department services
Main, News, Russellville, ...
Bernie Delinski For the FCT 
May 20, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — City firefighters are trying to get the word out to the public about a variety of free services they offer, including CPR classes and b...
Lighting project to begin soon
Main, News, Red Bay, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
May 20, 2026
RED BAY — Mayor Mike Shewbart said construction on a lighting project along the Alabama Highway 24/Corridor V entrance is expected to begin soon. The ...
Foster care shortage forcing children out of county
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
May 20, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — A shortage of foster homes in Franklin County is forcing children to be placed in homes throughout Alabama, increasing travel demands o...
THS rocketry team finishes 54th in nationals
News, Russellville, Z - News Main
th in nationals THS rocketry team finishes 54
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
May 20, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — The Tharptown High School rocketry team finished 54th at the 2026 American Rocketry Challenge national finals on Saturday in The Plains...
Delta Kappa Gamma honors educators
Columnists, News
HERE AND NOW
May 20, 2026
As retired educators gathered for the Delta Kappa Gamma Alpha Upsilon Chapter spring banquet at First Highlands Church of Christ in Russellville, memo...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *