Archives
 By  Staff Reports Published 
4:12 am Thursday, May 22, 2003

Obituaries for Thursday, May 22, 2003

By Staff
J.C. Penney Company employee
Services for Polly Hooks will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at Mt. Olive Baptist Church on 49th Avenue with the Rev. Dr. Zachary Operton officiating. Burial will be in Okatibee Cemetery. Berry and Gardner Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Hooks, 49, of Meridian, died Friday, May 16, 2003, at the University Medical Center in Jackson. She graduated from the Meridian Public Schools and attended Neely Business College and Meridian Junior College now Meridian Community College. She worked as the personnel and training manager for more than 27 years at J.C. Penney.
She accepted Christ as her personal savior and was baptized into the fellowship of Okatibee Missionary Baptist Church. She later joined Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband, Bobby L. Hooks; son, Kevin T. Dubose; daughter, Brittany L. Hooks; sisters, Gloria Hardy of Yonkers, N.Y., Holly Dubose-Conley of Birmingham, Ala. and Wilhemina Bloodsaw of Walnut Grove; a brother-in-law, Malcolm Hardy of Yonkers, N.Y. an uncle, Charlie Dubose; aunts, Evia Whitlock of Meridian, and Everlina Burns and her husband, Jimmy, of Chicago; and several nieces, nephews, cousins, adopted mother, Ruth Jackson and special friends, Alice Manuel, Mary Ann Wade, Eunice Dillard, Tijuana Griffin, and Pamela Smith; a godson, JaCaleb Smith, and neighbors and her J.C. Penney employees family.
Visitation will be Friday, 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. at the funeral home.
Retired cook at Rush Foundation Hospital
Services for Annie Matt Johnson Morton will be held today at 11 a.m. at Enterprise Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Jimmy Johnson officiating. Burial will be in Good Hope Cemetery in Russell.
Mrs. Morton, 88, of Meridian, died Sunday, May 18, 2003, at Riley Hospital.
Survivors include her son, Cecil Morton Jr. and his wife, Dinah, of Meridian; three grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Cecil Morton Sr.; her parents and 18 brothers and sisters.
Lauderdale County employee
Services for William Ray Abston will be held Friday at 10 a.m. at James F. Webb Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Sundra Girard and Melvin Boles officiating. Burial will be in Archusa Cemetery.
Mr. Abston, 71, of Meridian, died Wednesday, May 21, 2003.
Survivors include his wife, Alma Cooper Abston; a daughter, Penny Thrash and her husband, David; grandchildren, Wesley Thrash, Joshua Thrash, Brittney Thrash; great-grandchildren, Michael Kade Thrash, Michael Scott Wood Jr.; and a brother, Thomas Abston and his wife, Willodean.
Visitation will be today 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Homemaker
Services for Faye Ellen Harper will be held Friday at 10 a.m. at Barham Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Travis McManus and Frank Dodson officiating. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery.
Mrs. Harper, 58, of Dalewood, died Wednesday, May 21, 2003, in her home.
Survivors include her husband, Talmadge Harper of Dalewood; daughters, Tina Thompson of Panama City, Fla., Karen Odom and her husband Greg Kelso, and Tracy White and her husband, Thomas, all of Dalewood; step-father, Bill Jackson of Dalewood; brother, David Jackson of Meridian; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Stella Marie Jackson, her father, Mennon Whittington and a brother, Bobby Eugene Whittington.
Pallbearers will be James Stanton, Eric Odom, Jeremy Odom, Jamie Stanton, Thomas White, and Brad Whittington.
Visitation will be today 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Also on Franklin County Times
Vina man may have his bond revoked after messaging a minor
Franklin County, News, Z - News Main
By Kevin Taylor For FCT 
July 30, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — A Vina man, who was arrested and charged in 2024 with electronic solicitation of a child, could have his bond revoked after allegedly t...
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...
July Fest features food, fun and fireworks
News
By María Camp maria.camp@franklincountyimes.com 
July 29, 2026
VINA — Community members gathered Saturday at the Vina Fire Department for the annual July Fest, enjoying food, vendors, a car show, musical performan...

Leave a Reply

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