Archives
 By  Staff Reports Published 
10:51 pm Saturday, January 5, 2002

SYLVIA GRESSETT GRAY

By Staff
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. Memorial services for Sylvia Gressett Gray will be held in New Rochelle on Monday. Lloyd Maxcy &Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Gray was born in Meridian, Miss., on Sept. 1, 1930. She had been a resident of New Rochelle since 1961. She died Thursday, Jan. 3, 2002.
Mrs. Gray grew up in Meridian and received her associate's degree from Clark Memorial College. She received her bachelor's degree from Grand Canyon College and her master's from Arizona State University.
After moving to New York she continued her education at Hunter College, Boston University and Redding University in England. She taught school, was a reading specialist, reading coordinator, acting principal and coordinator of the gifted and talented at Eastchester Public Schools in New York for 29 years. She retired in 1990. Mrs. Gray was also an educator for the College of New Rochelle and a mentor to many.
Survivors include four children, Karen Jennewein, Byron Gray, Davis Gray and Donald Gray and seven grandchildren; a brother, Fred Gressett Jr. of Meridian; two sisters, Opal Dills of Vancleave and Kathleen Fontaine of Pensacola, Fla.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Fred Gressett Sr. and Annie Boswell Gressett.
There are no words to express for how she will be missed by her family and friends. She was "Nana" to us all. She will be in our hearts and souls always. We love you mom and may you finally rest in peace.
The family requests memorials be made to the American Cancer Society.
EVELYN SHOEMAKE
SEBASTOPOL Services for Evelyn Shoemake will be held Tuesday at 2 p.m. at the Bogue Homa Baptist Church with the Rev. Emmett Denson officiating. Burial will be in the church's cemetery with Milling Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Shoemake, 38, of Forest, died Friday, Jan. 4, 2002 at her home.
Survivors include her husband, Norman Shoemake, her mother, Nelda Jean Shoemake, her two daughters, Veronica Sue and Wilhelmina Shoemake, and a son, Geronime Shoemake, all of Forest; a brother, Gerald Isom of Conehatta; two sisters, Barbarella Ann Jim of Philadelphia; and Lorianna Lynell Shoemake of Forest; and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Visitation will be today after 9 a.m. at Hoye Pace Road in Conehatta.
JOE HAGWOOD
Market manager for Winn-Dixie
Arrangements were incomplete at Barham Funeral Home for Joe Hagwood, 47, of Causeyville, who died Thursday, Jan. 3, 2002, in his home.
ERNEST J. MCLEMORE
Arrangements were incomplete at Berry &Gardner Funeral Home for Ernest J. McLemore, 73, of Meridian, who died Friday, Jan. 4, 2002 at Riley Hospital.

Also on Franklin County Times
Rural hospitals face challenges: New state tax credit could help
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 28, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Franklin County’s two hospitals face the same financial pressures confronting rural health care across Alabama even as they remain esse...
Phil Campbell gets ‘clean opinion’ on audit
Main, News, Phil Campbell, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 28, 2026
PHIL CAMPBELL — Certified public accountant Don Wallace told town council members on Jan. 20 there were no problems with this year’s audit. “This is w...
MLK’s legacy: Blueprint we must follow
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 28, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Rev. Bennie “B.J.” Bonner stood before an audience gathered Jan. 19 for the Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration March and described ho...
Elementary students begin Super Citizen program
News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 28, 2026
Second and third graders from West Elementary and Russellville Elementary began Liberty Learning Foundation’s Super Citizen program during an event ki...
Book Lovers Study Club explores tea’s role in history
Columnists, News, Opinion
HERE AND NOW
January 28, 2026
Our Book Lovers Study Club’s January meeting highlighted both the Boston Tea Party boycott of English tea and the traditions of afternoon tea. One of ...
Moving from excuses to action in 1 year
Columnists, Opinion
January 28, 2026
In just 12 months, the Trump administration has delivered real results that Americans can see in their daily lives by restoring law and order at our b...
Higgins hired as RHS football coach
High School Sports, Russellville Golden Tigers, Sports
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 28, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Darrell Higgins has been hired as the new head football coach at Russellville High School. His hiring was announced Saturday following ...
Seal retires from CB&S after 31 years
News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 28, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Following a 31-year career at CB&S Bank, Beverly Seal is now retired and looking forward to what comes next. While she’s still explorin...

Leave a Reply

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