Bro. Kenneth Ray Akers

By Staff
January 13, 2007
Bro. Kenneth Ray Akers, age 69, of Russellville, passed away Saturday, January 13, 2007, at Russellville Hospital.
Bro. Akers was a native of Marion County but had lived inn Franklin County for the past 32 years. He was a member of Victory Free Will Baptist Church, Russellville, a deacon at the church, and a licensed Baptist preacher. He was the owner of Akers Cabinet Shop. He was preceded in death by his parents, Camual Ray and Ethel Lee Ballard Akers.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. on Monday, January 15, 2007, at Pinkard Funeral Home Chapel in Russellville with Bro. Ray Phillips officiating. Interment was in Mountain View Baptist Church Cemetery in Phil Campbell.
Pallbearers were Billy Akers, Josh Willis, Bennie Ballard, Don Gentry, Zack Motes and Jon Clemons. Eugene Harmon was on honorary bearer.
Bro. Akers is survived by his wife, Agnes Louise Akers; six children, Vicki Murray and husband Arrie, of Russellville, Kenny Akers and wife Shelia, of Muscle Shoals, Lorri Kimbrough and husband Mark, of Phil Campbell, Greg Akers and wife Carol Ann, of Florence, Shane Akers and wife Angel, of Tuscumbia, and Kristie McAfee and husband Daniel, of Spruce Pine; two sisters, Kathrine Atchison of Maylene, AL, and Louise Kochvich and husband Frank, of Chicago, IL; thirteen grandchildren, Todd Hill, Billy Akers, Molly Edmondson, Cindy Akers, Ashley Kimbrough, Hannah Akers, Patrick Akers, Heather Clemons, Jon Clemons, Breanna Watson, Victoria Watson, Tiffany Fuller and Slater Fuller; ten great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Pinkard Funeral Home assisted the family.
Helen Edwards Blankenship
January 15, 2007
Helen Edwards Blankenship, age 52, of Town Creek, passed away Monday, January 15, 2007.
Mrs. Blankenship was preceded in death by her parents, J.B. and Betty Fisher Edwards; and a sister, Brenda Gail Edwards.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. today at Bethlehem Baptist Church with Bro. Carl Gaston and Bro. Edward LouAllen officiating. Interment will be in Bethlehem Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Larry Joe Blankenship, Andrew Edwards, Chris Edwards, Kenny White, Josh Blankenship and Nic Poss.
Mrs. Blankenship is survived by her husband, Tommy Blankenship; two sons, Greg Blankenship of Town Creek and Gary Jones and wife Judy, of Florence, TX; two daughters, Dawn White and husband Kenny, of Russellville, and Betty Jean Brazael and husband Hank, of Temple, TX; four brothers, Joe Edwards and wife Donna, Terry Edwards and wife Pat, Danny Edwards and wife Sodonia, and Darryel Edwards, all of Russellville; a sister, Shelia Waldrop and husband Gary, of Russellville; eleven grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and a host of nieces and nephews.
Spry Chapel assisted the family.
Mary Betty Britton
January 14, 2007
Mary Betty Britton, age 75, of Russellville, passed away Sunday, January 14, 2007.
Mrs. Britton was preceded in death by her parents, Author and Ola Cooper DeVaney; a brother, Rayburn DeVaney; and two sisters, Emma Sue DeVaney and Glenna Maxine Lawler.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today at Spry Memorial Chapel. Interment will be in Belgreen Cemetery.
Mrs. Britton is survived by her husband, Robert Hoyt Britton, Sr.; two sons, Robert Hoyt Britton, Jr. and wife Teresa, of Sadalia, MO, and Donnie Ray Britton and wife Rebecca, of Newbury Park, CA; a sister, Eron Lawler of Muscle Shoals; six grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and a host of nieces and nephews.
Spry Chapel assisted the family.
Patricia Johnson
January 14, 2007
Patricia "June" Johnson, age 57, of Rockford, IL, passed away Sunday, January 14, 2007, in her home after a courageous battle with cancer.
Born November 19, 1949, in Russellville, she was the daughter of Dee and Christine Wilson. She was a loving and giving person who is loved greatly and will be sincerely missed. She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Betty Jo Brantley; and an aunt, Susie Hauger.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, January 18, 2007, inside Sunset Funeral Home in Rockford, IL, with visitation one hour prior to service time. Interment will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens.
Mrs. Johnson is survived by her husband, Donald; two daughters, Christy (Chad) Ciochetti and Tricia (Holly) Johnson; three grandchildren, Angelina, Christian and Zander; and her sister, Syble Hall.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in care of the family. Tributes may be shared with the family at www.mem.com.
Bradley Scott McCollister
January 14, 2007
Bradley Scott McCollister, age 29, of Russellville, passed away Sunday, January 14, 2007.
He was preceded in death by his father, Clarence Ted McCollister.
Funeral services were held at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 16, 2007, at Spry Memorial Chapel with Bro. Jim Lumpkin officiating. Interment was in Franklin Memory Gardens.
He is survived by two daughters, Destiny and Emma McCollister of Russellville; his mother, Linda Moore McCollister of Russellville; two sisters, LaDonna King and husband John, of Russellville, and Kelley Hooper and husband Dale, of Orlando; two nieces, Anna and Lydia DeVaney; and three nephews, Alex Hooper, Joshua DeVaney and Christian King.
Spry Chapel assisted the family.
Katie Earlene Pennington
January 13, 2007
Katie Earlene Pennington, age 87, of Russellville, passed away Saturday, January 13, 2007.
Mrs. Pennington was preceded in death by her parents, E.C. and Ruth Gilbert; two brothers, E.C. Gilbert, Jr. and J.W. Gilbert; and three sisters, Edna Tyler, Era McPherson and Elsie Pennington.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, January 16, 2007, at Spry Memorial Chapel with Bro. William Henry Pennington, Jr., Bro. William Henry Pennington III, and Bro. Eddie Caskey officiating. Interment was in Colbert Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers were Mike Pennington, Shane Hunt, Jason Hunt, Donnie Pennington, Dax Pennington, Neil Dobbins and Jack Dobbins.
Mrs. Pennington is survived by her husband, William Henry Pennington, Sr.; two sons, William Henry Pennington, Jr. and wife Marilyn, of Athens, and Donald Leroy Pennington and wife Rena, of Littleville; three daughters, Marsha Joyce Hunt and husband Mike, of Nashville, Wanda Dobbins and husband Dallas, of Birmingham, and Kaye McDonald and husband Ronald, of Montgomery; two brothers, Carl Gilbert and wife Opal, and Kenneth Gilbert; two sisters, Sandra Pace and Gail Hammond and husband Bob; fourteen grandchildren; thirteen great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews.
Spry Chapel assisted the family.
Willodean Stidham
January 14, 2007
Willodean Stidham, age 82, of Red Bay, passed away Sunday, January 14, 2007, at Care Center of Red Bay.
Mrs. Stidham was born June 19, 1924, in Marion County to Walter and Flarry Holland Clanton. She was retired as a seamstress from Wrangler after 22 years. She was a member of Grace Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Earnestine Parker and Burma Gist; and two brothers, Elbert Clanton and Gene Clanton.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, January 16, 2007, at Deaton Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Bobby Amos officiating. Interment was in Ebenezer Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Jason Davis, Derek Jackson, Harold Massey, Darrell Humphres, Jay Humphres and Don Humphres.
Mrs. Stidham is survived by two daughters, Ronda Baggett and husband Roger, of Hamilton, and Geraldine Creekmore of Red Bay; one sister, Nellie Elrod and husband Charles, of Fulton, MS; one brother, Elmus Clanton of Vina; three grandchildren, Christy Wells, Brad Baggett, and Brent Baggett; three great-grandchildren, Levi, Cole and Fancee Wells; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Deaton Funeral Home assisted the family.