Archives
 By  Staff Reports Published 
2:45 am Monday, August 6, 2001

OBITUARIES FOR MONDAY, AUG. 6, 2001

By Staff
WILLIAM ARTHUR JOHNSON
QUITMAN Services for William Arthur Johnson will be held Tuesday, August 7, 2001, at 11 a.m. at Wright's Funeral Home chapel, with the Rev. Gary McInnis officiating. Burial will be in Harmony Cemetery, with Wright's Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Johnson, 73, of Quitman, died Sunday, August 5, 2001, at H.C. Watkins Hospital.
Survivors include his wife, Bobbie Johnson of Quitman; a son, Ricky Johnson of Gulf Shores, Ala.; five daughters, Gloria Johnson and Gracie Lavender, both of Atmore, Ala., Sharon Ready of Spanish Fort, Ala., Clara Johnson of Gulf Shores, and Linda Hans of Daphne, Ala.; two stepsons, Mike Farragut and Nick Farragut, both of Sevierville, Tenn.; a stepdaughter, Sherry Rolen of Pigeon Forge, Tenn.; 15 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held today from 5 to 9 p.m. at Wright's Funeral Home.
LESTER DAVID JONES
Driver and Florist Owner
Services for Lester David Jones will be held Tuesday, August 7, 2001, at 11:30 a.m. at Barham Funeral Home chapel, with the Revs. Jimmy Sanders and Cliff Pace, and Dr. Reid Whittington officiating. Burial will be in New Hope Baptist Church Cemetery with Barham Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Jones, 48, of Meridian, died Friday, August 3, 2001, in Mobile, Ala. He was employed by Allied Systems Trucking Co., and had been employed by ICG Railroad for 10 years and Meridian Coca-Cola for 10 years. He was a member of New Hope Baptist Church and was active in baseball, basketball and band. He had received many ribbons and trophies during his school years. He was very active in the Clarkdale Volunteer Fire Department and was chief for several years. He was an honored professional in the National Registry of Who's Who. He and his wife, Renee, owned Jones Flowers and Gifts/Balloons Galore.
Survivors include his wife, Renee Taylor Jones, of Meridian; a daughter, Stacy Burt, and her husband, Robby; a son, Ricky Jones, and his wife, Elizabeth; a grandchild, Robert Burt; and his parents, Kenneth and Bonnie Jones.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Mike Jones.
Pallbearers will be Sonny Sodoma, Steve Sodoma, Michael Sodoma, Todd Mathis, Willie Arledge, and Jimmy Coleman.
Visitation will be held today from 5 to 8 p.m. at Barham Funeral Home.
ESTHER PIERCE THOMPSON
Retired operator
SHUQUALAK Services for Esther Pierce Thompson will be held Tuesday, August 7, 2001, at 2 p.m. at Cockrell Funeral Home chapel, with the Rev. Fred Gerber officiating. Burial will be in Shuqualak Cemetery with Cockrell Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Thompson, 86, of Pinetucky Community, died Saturday, August 4, 2001, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center. She was a retired operator and a member of Shuqualak Methodist Church.
She was preceded in death by her parents, James L. and Minnie Jestal Hill Pierce.
Visitation will be held Tuesday from 1 to 2 p.m. at Cockrell Funeral Home.
NEVA SMITH
Arrangements were incomplete at Stephens Funeral Home for Neva Smith, 71, of Chunky, who died Monday, August 6, 2001, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center.
TIKIYAH SHACOLE KENNEDY
Arrangements were incomplete at Clark's Memorial Funeral Home for TiKiyah ShaCole Kennedy, infant, of Heidelberg, who died Sunday, August 5, 2001, at Rush Foundation Hospital.

Also on Franklin County Times
Text message signaled return to state
High School Sports, Main, Red Bay Tigers, ...
AHSAA NW REGIONAL FINAL RED BAY 64, COLD SPRINGS 52
David Glovach For the FCT 
February 25, 2026
HANCEVILLE — It was a simple text message, one sent by a mom of a former player. It was a six-year-old picture of Red Bay huddled together outside Leg...
An emotional loss for senior Fisher
Belgreen Bulldogs, High School Sports, Main, ...
COLD SPRINGS 45, BELGREEN 42
David Glovach For the FCT 
February 25, 2026
HANCEVILLE — Their hands found their faces quickly — something, anything, to absorb the tears. It only worked so well. “It’s hard,” Makenna Fisher sai...
Court asked to halt lot sales
Franklin County, Main, News, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
February 25, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Franklin County commissioners are seeking a court order to halt future sales of lots for the Lightning Ridge subdivision. Colbert Count...
Tellish named Rural Teacher of the Year
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
February 25, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Middle school teacher Carley Andrews Tellish has been named the 2026 Spezzini Rural Teacher of the Year, an honor that recognizes one K...
Students compete in annual beef cook-off
News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
February 25, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE -- The annual Franklin County Cattlemen’s beef cookoff took place recently at Triple H Barn with students from Russellville, Red Bay, Bel...
Garden club revisits Lewis and Clark expedition
Columnists, Opinion
HERE AND NOW
February 25, 2026
As the 250th celebration of the United States approaches, members of the Cultura Garden club have been revisiting American history through a series of...
Medicare Advantage must be funded
Columnists, Opinion
February 25, 2026
In a few short months, policymakers will decide the financial fate of the Medicare Advantage program and its millions of members. While the program is...
Guntersville ends season for RHS girls basketball
High School Sports, Russellville Golden Tigers, Sports
Brannon King For the FCT 
February 25, 2026
The memorable and successful 2025-26 girls basketball season came to an end for the Russellville Golden Tigers at the AHSAA Class 5A Northwest Regiona...

Leave a Reply

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