Archives
 By  Staff Reports Published 
7:07 pm Monday, July 14, 2003

Obituaries for Monday, July 14, 2003

By Staff
Retired
Services for James Melvin Swain will be held Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Toomsuba Baptist Church with the Revs. Ben James and Jay Cook officiating. Burial will be in Toomsuba Cemetery. James F. Webb Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Swain, 88, of Toomsuba, died Saturday, July 12, 2003, in his home. He was a retired railroad inspector after more than 37 years and a Mason.
He was a member of Toomsuba Baptist Church and served as a teacher, Sunday school superintendent and chairman of the deacons.
He served on numerous church committees and was a Christian who loved the Lord and actively witnessed to others about the importance of salvation, prayer, tithing and living in God's will.
He was loved and respected as a father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was a retired farmer and an avid hunter and fisherman all his life. He enjoyed many years of traveling and camping after he retired. He was a member of E.J. Knox Masonic Lodge for many years, a veteran of the U.S. Army and the Civilian Conservation Corps.
Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Mary E. Swain; children, Tommy Swain and his wife, Wanda, and Linda Stokes and her husband, Ken, all of Toomsuba, and Keith Swain and his wife, Cheryl, of Madison; grandchildren, Diana and Billy Shelton, Staci and Jerry Holt, Ami and Scott Rawson, Brandi and Dennis Deavers, and Kellie Swain, all of Toomsuba, Aaron Swain of Clinton, Jennifer Swain and Katie Swain, both of Madison, and Debbie and Kevin Bishop of Dalewood; great-grandchildren, James Shelton, Adam Shelton, Lindsay Holt, Mary Beth Holt, Rebekah Holt, Rachel Shelton, Zach Shelton, Dee and Makenna Deavers, Brandon and Corey Bishop.
He was preceded in death by his parents, James All Swain and Mary Donner Swain; and a son, Larry Swain.
Pallbearers will be Billy Shelton, Jerry Holt, Scott Rawson, Aaron Swain, Dennis Deavers, Kevin Bishop, James Allen Coulliette and Bobby Barrett.
Honorary pallbearers will be deacons of Toomsuba Baptist Church.
Visitation will be today 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Homemaker
NEWTON Services for Dorothy Lorene Estes will be held today at 2 p.m. at James F. Webb Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Jackie Strebeck officiating. Burial will be in Sand Springs Cemetery in Hickory.
Mrs. Estes, 68, of Hickory, died Saturday, July 12, 2003, in her home. She was a member of Sand Springs Baptist Church.
Survivors include her sons, Mike Estes of Louisville, Texas, and James Estes of Hickory; a sister, Inez McVey of Fort Worth, Texas; a brother, Jim McNeil and his wife, Darlene, of Fort Worth; and two grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Adrian Estes; and her parents, Elvin L. and Lorene Hurst McNeil.
Pallbearers will be Jackie Gentry, Timmy Gentry, James Gillis, Jimmy Coker, Lewis Coker and Freddie Gentry.
Honorary pallbearers will be Paul Jones and Andy Hodges.
Retired dairy farmer
NEWTON Services for Charles Terrell "Bully" McMullan will be held Tuesday at 10 a.m. at Clarke-Venable Baptist Church with the Revs. Gus Merritt and Stan Buckley officiating. Burial will be in Decatur Cemetery. Barham Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. McMullan, 84, of Decatur, died Saturday, July 12, 2003, in Decatur. He was a member of Clarke-Venable Baptist Church and will be missed by many loving family members and special friends. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and served in World War II.
Survivors include his daughters, Charleece Gipson of Huntsville, Ala., and Bonnie Walker of Decatur; sons, Doyle McMullan, Terry McMullan and Kenny McMullan, all of Decatur; sisters, Ruby Burrow of Gainesville, Fla., and Lois Kline of Newport Richey, Fla.; brothers, Henry McMullan of Clear Springs, Md., and Homer McMullan of Decatur; grandchildren, Terri Bonner and her husband, Greg, of Madison, Ala., Todd Gipson and his wife, Tina, of Huntsville, Stephen McMullan and his wife, Eileen, of Forest, Tem McMullan and his wife, Stephanie, of Decatur, Ken and Leigh McMullan of Louisville, Emilie and Jeff Smith of Decatur, Hazel Leann and Dennis Sullivan of Decatur, Dustin McMullan of Hattiesburg, Matt Walker, Mae and Neil Thornton, Blake McMullan and Mark Walker, all of Decatur; 17 great-grandchildren, Callie and Caroline Bonner of Madison, Ala., Kaylin, Paige and John Todd, and Abigail Gipson, of Huntsville, Ethan and Alana McMullan of Forest, Cody and Charlie McMullan of Decatur, Kenley and Trey McMullan of Louisville, and Tanner and Braden Smith, Jonathan, Andrew and Hannah Sullivan, all of Decatur; nine nieces, five nephews several great-nieces and great-nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Emma Mae Thompson McMullan; a sister, Sally Ruth Lee; and his parents, Homer and Pearl Smith McMullan.
Memorials may be made to Clarke-Venable Memorial Baptist Church Building Fund or Hospice Foundation, 1614 23rd Ave., Meridian, MS or Gideon International.
Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Todd Gipson, Stephen McMullan, Tem McMullan, Ken McMullan, Dustin McMullan, Matt Walker, Blake McMullan and Mark Walker.
Visitation will be today 5 p.m.-9 p.m. at the funeral home.

Also on Franklin County Times
2 pieces of turnout gear lost during fire
Main, News, Phil Campbell
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
December 24, 2025
PHIL CAMPBELL — Two turnout jackets were damaged during a Thanksgiving Day structure fire while firefighters were conducting an interior attack. Fire ...
Council to renew fines and notices
Main, News, Phil Campbell
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
December 24, 2025
PHIL CAMPBELL — Enforcement actions for a group of deteriorating downtown buildings will resume after council members voted Dec. 16 in favor of the ac...
Public donations make baby box possible
Main, News, Russellville, ...
Alyssa Sutherland For the FCT 
December 24, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE — City Council members have approved the purchase of a Safe Haven Baby Box using funds donated for that purpose. Two different families, ...
EMS train for K-9 emergency treatment
Franklin County, Main, News, ...
By Brady Petree For the FCT 
December 24, 2025
FLORENCE – Franklin County Sheriff’s Deputy Jaret Yancey and his K-9 officer Mateo have only been together for a few months, but the pair have already...
West Elementary hosts ‘Polar Express’ celebration
News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
December 24, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE -- West Elementary School marked the Christmas season with a series of activities centered on music, generosity and long-standing holiday...
Innovate Alabama critical to state’s economic future
Columnists, Opinion
December 24, 2025
Alabama has long been recognized for its success in industrial and manufacturing recruitment. Our state offers aggressive incentives and support to at...
Cultura Garden Club celebrates Christmas
Columnists, Opinion
HERE AND NOW
December 24, 2025
By Susie Hovater Malone Columnist Christmas for Cultura Garden Club members this year meant gathering around a table, sharing food made with care and ...
THS assistant principal gets championship ring
News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
December 24, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE — Tharptown High School’s faculty surprised Assistant Principal Sherry Parker with a championship ring recognizing her role on the 1981 V...

Leave a Reply

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