Archives
 By  Staff Reports Published 
9:13 pm Saturday, February 3, 2001

OBITUARIES FOR SATURDAY, FEB. 3, 2001

By Staff
ODESSA REYNOLDS
Homemaker
Graveside services for Odessa Reynolds will be held today at 1 p.m. at Magnolia Cemetery with the Rev. Thomas Woods officiating. James F. Webb Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Reynolds, 82, of Meridian, died Thursday, Feb. 1, 2001, at Beverly Healthcare-Broadmoor. She was a member of Arrowwood Baptist Church.
Survivors include two sisters, Oneida B. Craig of Las Vegas and Geneva Wilder of Meridian.
WILLIE THOMAS SR.
Laborer
DEKALB Services for Willie Thomas Sr. will be held today at 11 a.m. at Mt. Sinai Baptist Church in Preston with the Rev. Melvin Rush officiating. Burial will be in Smutly Cemetery in Preston with E.E. McDonald Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Thomas, 78, of Chicago, died Thursday, Jan. 25, 2001, at Hines VA Hospital in Chicago.
Survivors include two daughters, Maruice Hallbak and her husband, Jeremiah, of Fitzgerald, Ga. and June Williams of Plant City, Fla.; seven sons, John Love of Chicago, Willie Thomas Jr. of Sao Paulo, Brazil, Charles Thomas of Chicago, Andre Thomas and his wife, Vera, of Mint Hill, N.C., Jerry Thomas of Louisville, Ky., Johnnie Thomas and Mario Thomas, both of Chicago; 20 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife and his parents.
Visitation will be today from 10-11 a.m. at the church.
WILLIAM D. CLARK
Retired from the highway department
Graveside services for William D. "Billy" Clark will be held today at 11 a.m. at Mt. Horeb Baptist Church Cemetery with the Revs. Nick Holden and Roy Dabbs officiating. Barham Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Clark, 76, of Meridian, died Friday, Feb. 2, 2001, at Guardian Angel Hospice. He was a member of Mt. Horeb Baptist Church and a veteran of the U.S. Marines.
Survivors include a daughter, Ramona Napp and her husband, Jessie, of Meridian; a sister, Marilyn Dunn and her husband, John, of Meridian; two grandchildren, Karen Napp and A.J. Napp, both of Meridian; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia Jenkins Clark.
FRANKIE CLAY
Retired employee of Lockheed Martin
Services for Frankie Clay will be held today at 2 p.m. at James F. Webb Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Nick Holden officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Horbe Baptist Church Cemetery.
Mr. Clay, 56, of Meridian, died Friday, Feb. 2, 2001, in his home. He retired from Lockheed and Martin after 25 years. He was a member of Mt. Horeb Baptist Church, Shriners Probost Guard Unit, York Rite and Scottish Rite. He was a musician and a song writer.
Survivors include his wife, Brenda Clay of Meridian, a daughter, Lora Genevieve Griffith of Meridian, two uncles, David Milsted of Gulfport and Wayne Milsted of Jackson; a niece, Cassandra Reece of Meridian; a granddaughter, Ashley Garrett of Meridian; and two great nieces, Alexis Reece and Chloe Reece, both of Meridian.
Pallbearers will be the Probost Guard Unit of the Shriners, Jerry Skelton, Tommy Smith, Gary Riddle, Henry Thompson, Paul Thompson and Roy Alexander.
SHELBA J. PARKER
Shipping clerk for Roy Tex
Graveside services for Shelba J. Parker will be held Monday at 10 a.m. at Demopolis Memorial Gardens with the Rev. Steve Winstead officiating. Barham Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Ms. Parker, 63, of Meridian, died Thursday, Feb. 1, 2001 at Guardian Angel Hospice.
Survivors include two sons, Gary "Snuffy" Smith and George Kirby Smith Jr., both of Meridian, a brother, Wilben Ray McGee, of Forkland, Ala. two sisters, Dale Little of Linden, Ala. and Faye of Pensacola, Fla.; and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be Sunday from 2-4 p.m. at the funeral home.
W.C. MATTHEWS
Retired U.S. Air Force and civil service at NAS Meridian
Services for W.C. Matthews will be held Monday at 11:30 a.m. at Barham Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Jeff Hancock and Jim Williams officiating. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery.
Mr. Matthews, 79, of Meridian, died Friday, Feb. 2, 2001, in Meridian. He was a member of First Church of God and served in the U.S. Air Force.
Survivors include his wife, Dorothy Nell King Matthews of Meridian; a sister, Blanche Cheek of Calif.; and three god-children, Leanna Baldner, Logan Satterfield and Olivia Satterfield.
Visitation will be held Sunday from 5-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
EDMOND SHUMAKE
SEBASTOPOL Services for Edmond Shumake will be held Monday at 1 p.m. at Conehatta gymnasium. Burial will be in Macedonia Baptist Church Cemetery with Milling Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Shumake, 68, of Walnut Grove died Friday, Feb. 2, 2001, at Lackey Memorial Hospital.
RUBY S. JAMES
Arrangements were incomplete at James F. Webb Funeral Home for Ruby S. James, 92, who died Thursday, Feb. 1, 2001, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center.

Also on Franklin County Times
City OKs ‘Women of True Grit’ agreement
A: Main, Franklin County, News, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 29, 2026
REDBAY–The city council has approved a $12,000 agreement with Hand in Hand Entertainment and Promotions for a one-year “Edie Hand: Women of True Grit”...
Fire training center addition triples size
A: Main, Franklin County, News, ...
Bernie Delinski For the FCT 
July 29, 2026
Firefighters from throughout northwest Alabama use the fire rescue training center in Florence to test their skills in realistic drills, participate i...
Allred named state tourism director
News, Z - News Main
July 29, 2026
MONTGOMERY — Gov. Kay Ivey has announced the retirement of Alabama Tourism Director Lee Sentell, appointing Glenda Allred in his place. Former Gov. Bo...
Colbert shelter pays off building loan
News, Z - News Main
By Addi Broadfoot For the FCT 
July 29, 2026
TUSCUMBIA — Nearly 30 years after the Colbert County Animal Shelter borrowed money to build its current facility, the shelter has officially paid off ...
We must recommit to principles of freedom
Columnists, Opinion
July 29, 2026
Alabama’s commemoration of America’s 250th birthday was never intended to be confined to a single event, institution, or location. From the beginning,...
Fairy tale villains face day in court
Columnists, Opinion
HERE AND NOW
July 29, 2026
Once upon a time, the stories told only one side. Now it’s your turn to hear the evidence. As you step inside the courtroom, you’ll see some of your f...
Shoals area under an extreme heat warning today
Z - News Main
By Kevin Taylor For the Franklin County Times 
July 28, 2026
FLORENCE — The Shoals area will be under an extreme heat warning today until 7 p.m., according to the National Weather Service in Huntsville. Today’s ...
Meeting on Flock cameras is Aug. 17
Main, News, Red Bay
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 22, 2026
RED BAY — City councilmembers voted July 15 to table a proposed policy governing the city’s Flock Safety automated license plate reader (LPR) system. ...

Leave a Reply

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