Archives
 By  Staff Reports Published 
10:36 pm Monday, April 23, 2001

OBITUARIES FOR MONDAY, APRIL 23, 2001

By Staff
EMMA RENE COODY CHAPMAN
GILBERTOWN, Ala. Services for Emma Rene Coody Chapman will be held today at 2 p.m. at Phillips Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Douglas Chapman officiating. Burial will be in Gilbertown Cemetery.
Mrs. Chapman, 83, of Gilbertown, died Saturday, April 21, 2001, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center.
Survivors include four sons, the Rev. Ray Chapman of Toxey, Randall Chapman and his wife, Angela, Wendall Chapman and his wife, Pam, and Tony Chapman and his wife, Mary, all of Gilbertown; four daughters, Faye Hudson and her husband, James, of Coffeeville, Ala, Joyce Turner and her husband, David, of Needham, Lynette Daniels and her husband, Paul, of Gilbertown, and Shelia Bonner and her husband, David, of Toxey; 22 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and nine step-grandchildren.
ESTHER MAE GIBBON
Homemaker
NEWTON Services for Esther Mae Gibbon will be held today at 2 p.m. at James F. Webb Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Larry Laird officiating. Burial will be in Oakland Baptist Church Cemetery.
Mrs. Gibbon, 86, of Whitfield, formerly of Chunky, died Saturday, April 21, 2001, at Jaquith Nursing Home in Whitfield.
Survivors include two daughters, Alfreda Laird and her husband, R.S., of Chunky, Jane Thrasher and her husband, Butch, of Brandon; a grandson, Jeffery Laird of Chunky; three granddaughters, Deborah White of Little Rock, Jean Laird of Chunky and Toni Thrasher of Brandon; five great-grandchildren, Vicky and David White of Little Rock and Lauren, Megan and Taylor Laird of Decatur.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Jesse C. Gibbon and her parents, K.E. and Ellie Rea Chisholm Smith.
Pallbearers will be David White, Andy White, Chester Wells, Dale Alexander, Pat Wells, Clinton Carpenter, Phillip Carpenter, Hailey Snowden and Byron Alexander.
MARY B. PENDERGRASS
Homemaker
MACON Services for Mary B. Pendergrass will be held Tuesday at 10 a.m. at Soule Harbor Pentecostal Church in Shuqualak with the Revs. Gerald Butler and Darren Chester officiating. Burial will be in Butler Cemetery with Cockrell Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Pendergrass, 87, of Shuqualak, died Friday, April 20, 2001, at Noxubee General Hospital.
Survivors include a daughter, Bernice Foster of Manassas, Va.; four sons, Aubry Pendergrass of Van Cleave, Glenn Pendergrass of Shuqualak, Jerry Pendergrass of Ocean Springs and Roy Pendergrass of Jackson; a sister, Rachel Weaver of Shuqualak; 22 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by her husband, David Pendergrass and two sons, Paul and J.D. Pendergrass.
Visitation will be today from 7-9 p.m. at the church.
ANN STEVISON
Graveside services for Ann Stevison will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Forest Lawn Cemetery with the Revs. Roger Doyle and Jerry Whitener officiating. Barham Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Ms. Stevison, 54, of Meridian, died Sunday, April 22, 2001, at Guardian Angel Hospice. She was a member of Bridge Builders Fellowship Church and participated in Special Olympics.
Survivors include her mother, Robbie Lee Stevison of Meridian; four sisters, Fay Barousse and Marilyn Coates, both of Meridian, Judy West and Karilyn Baker, both of Birmingham, Ala.; two brothers, Steve Stevison and Michael Stevison, both of Meridian; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her father, Daniel Charles Stevison.
The family requests memorials be made to Mississippi Special Olympics.
WALTER HENRY TISDALE
Retired farmer
NEWTON Services for Walter Henry Tisdale will be held Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Hebron Baptist Church with the Rev. Roger Laird officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery with James F. Webb Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Tisdale, 78, of Little Rock, died Sunday, April 22, 2001, in his home. He was a member of Hebron Baptist Church. Mr. Tisdale served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and the Korean Conflict.
Survivors include his wife, Connie Ruth Tisdale of Little Rock; two daughters, Carolyn Freeman of Collinsville and Ann Turman of Newton; a son, Billy Laird of Little Rock; a sister, Elizabeth Swanner of Decatur; three brothers, Thomas Tisdale and Raymond Tisdale, both of Oklahoma City, and Billy Joe Tisdale of Meridian; nine grandchildren, Roger Reeves, Randy Reeves and Rita Murphy, all of Meridian, Margaret Mott, Kavin Laird and Deborah Steele, all of Little Rock, Steven Freeman of Collinsville and Gwen and Bryan Turman of Newton; and five great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Mittie McMullan Tisdale; a son, Billy Clay Reeves; and two brothers, Clarence and Eugene Tisdale.
Pallbearers will be Billy Chaney, Bennie Chaney, Ricky Chaney, Sonny Tisdale, Lamar Swanner and Jimmy Swanner.
Visitation will be today from 5-9 p.m. at the funeral home and 30 minutes prior to the service.
DOUGLAS D. CALVERT
Professional baker
Services for Douglas D. Calvert will be held Saturday at noon at Pine Grove Church with the Rev. Curtis Dyer officiating. Burial will be in Pine Grove Cemetery in the Martin Community. Barham Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Calvert, 57, of Marion, died Saturday, April 21, 2001, at Rush Foundation Hospital.
Visitation will be Friday from 5-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
IRMA GARRETT
Arrangements were incomplete at Stephens Funeral Home for Irma Garrett of Meridian who died Sunday, April 22, 2001, at Queen City Nursing Home.

Also on Franklin County Times
Russellville hopes to weather Boaz storm
High School Sports, Russellville Golden Tigers, Sports
Griffin Traylor 
November 6, 2025
Russellville coach Dustin Goodwin, after called on to be a meteorologist for much of the week, can now focus on football. The Golden Tigers (6-4) will...
Eye of the Tigers: After turnaround season, Red Bay has more goals in mind
High School Sports, Red Bay Tigers, Sports
After turnaround season, Red Bay has more goals in mind
David Glovach For the FCT 
November 6, 2025
RED BAY — The final whistle called them over well after the sun had set behind the hill and visiting bleachers. Long after the lights had been turned ...
Dog owner goes to trial for manslaughter
Main, News, Russellville
Kevin Taylor For the FCT 
November 5, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE — The trial of a Red Bay woman who was charged with two counts of manslaughter after her dogs allegedly attacked and killed two people in...
Police chief’s brother retires
Main, News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
November 5, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE — Brothers Chris and Joe Hargett worked side by side in law enforcement for more than two decades. Now, as Captain Joe Hargett retires fr...
City leaders sworn in for a new term
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
November 5, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE — City leaders and community members gathered Sunday at city hall for the swearing-in ceremony for the new city council members, whose te...
Safeplace walk renews focus on domestic violence awareness
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
November 5, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE — SafePlace brought its Domestic Violence Awareness Walk back to Franklin County for the first time in nearly two decades. SafePlace Exec...
RHS showcases its pumpkin creativity
News, Records, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
November 5, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE — Russellville High School’s second annual Pumpkin Palooza filled the old main building hallway with themed pumpkin displays created by e...
GFWC holds North District fall meeting
Columnists, Opinion
HERE AND NOW
November 5, 2025
By Susie Hovater Malone Columnist DOUBLE SPRINGS — Fellowship, service and community spirit filled the air as members of GFWC Alabama’s North District...

Leave a Reply

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