By Staff
December 13, 2008
Martha Brown Martinez, a devoted and beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, friend and mentor, died Saturday, Dec. 13, 2008, at her home in Russellville, Ala., at the age of 73.
She had suffered several years with Alzheimer's and a rare form of neuropathy. Recently, she had fallen and broke her hip. She was at home with her husband, Joe, when she passed away.
The visitation will be 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Spry Memorial Chapel on Wednesday, Dec. 17. Funeral services will be Thursday, Dec. 18 in the chapel with Bro. Joe Lenox officiating. nterment will be in Knights of Pythias Cemetery.
She was born in Russellville on June 27, 1935. After graduating from Russellville High School, she attended St. Vincent School of Nursing in Birmingham, where she received her RN degree.
After earning her nursing degree, she worked for several hospitals in the north Alabama area. In her young career, she joined the U.S. Air Force as a First Lt. and served in Vietnam from 1967 to 1969 as an AirEvac flight nurse with the 57th Air Evac Squadron, transporting wounded service men and women to military hospitals to all parts of the world.
It was during this time that she met her future husband, Abraham (Joe) Martinez, who was also in the Air Force and had recently completed his tour in DaNang, Vietnam, and was re-assigned to Japan, where his 8-year-old son, Sam, joined his father.
When Martha's plane carrying the wounded would land at the air force base in Yakota, Japan, where Joe was stationed, Joe would stand on the tarmac awaiting her arrival with two dozen roses, a practice that he continued throughout every anniversary of their 40 years of marriage. After meeting Joe's son, Sam, she fell in love with Sam just as much as with Joe, and their family was born. Joe and Martha married May 8, 1968. She completed her three-year commitment to the Air Force, earned captain status in the Air Force Reserves and became mother to Sam and Rita.
Upon her return to the U.S., she continued working as a nurse and returned to the University of North Alabama, where she earned a bachelor's degree in social work. She served as the associate director of nursing at Northwest-Shoals Community College. While at Northwest, she also served as cheerleader sponsor. She also completed a labor of love by spending five years researching and publishing the Brown family tree, which is available at the Russellville Public Library.
Martha was proud of her service to her country and lived a full life. She lived in and visited numerous countries, including the Philippines, Japan, Germany, France and Mexico. However, Russellville was always her home and she returned to raise her family.
She was a faithful member of Calvary Baptist Church. She was also a life member of the Disabled American Veterans and served as treasurer and deputy commander of Chapter 10 in Russellville.
Martha touched the lives of many through her career in nursing and education. She will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved her.
Martha is survived by her husband, Abraham Joe Martinez of Russellville; son, Sam Martinez of Michigan; daughter, Rita Dison and husband Jesse of Alaska; grandchildren, Fred Martinez of New Orleans, Christopher Martinez of Sheffield, Jessica Dison and Jeffrey Dison, both of Alaska; two great-grandchildren; sister, Margaret Boyles; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Bessie Brown; and her brothers, Fred Jackson Brown and Raymond Elton Brown.
Members of the family will serve as pallbearers.
Spry Memorial Chapel assisted the family.
Dortha L. Johnson
December 14, 2008
Dortha L. Duncan Johnson, 78, of Russellville, Ala., passed away Sunday, Dec. 14, 2008, at Russellville Hospital.
Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18 at Spry Memorial Chapel. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19 at Spry Memorial Chapel with Bro. Dwayne Satterwhite officiating. Interment will be in Duncan Creek Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Freddy Duncan, Tommy Duncan, Keith Duncan, Kevin Duncan and Troy Duncan. The honorary pallbearer will be Jackie Goins.
She was preceded in death by her sons, Belton R. Duncan and Tony W. Duncan; parents, Archie and Etta Moore; grandson, Gordon Glen Duncan; sisters, Florence Bolton, Mammie Cady and Glayds Chandler; brothers, Bill Moore, Clinton Moore, Clayton Moore and Archie Moore.
She is survived by her husband, Robert Johnson; sons, Gordon G. Duncan and wife Charlotte of West Salem, Ohio, Thomas L. Duncan and wife Amy of Russellville and Reggie E. Duncan of Russellville; step-sons, Wayne A. Jackson and wife Becky, Earl D. Johnson and wife Betty and Frank D. Johnson and wife Deborah, all of Logan, Ohio; brother, Ruben Moore and wife Velma Lee of Frankfort; 21 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews.
Spry Memorial Chapel assisted the family. To sign the register book and to offer private condolences to the family, go to www.sprymemorialchapel.com.
Reba Mae Humphrey
December 13, 2008
Reba Mae Humphrey, 74, of Red Bay, Ala., departed this life Saturday, Dec. 13, 2008, at Red Bay Hospital. She confessed a hope in Christ at an early age and united with Spruell Chapel United Methodist Church in Smithville, Miss. She renewed her vows and commitment to God in 1998 and was an active member of Belmont Temple Church of God in Christ in Belmont, Miss.
She was born May 10, 1934, to the late Robert and Lillie Bell Nunn of Monroe County, Ala. On Jan. 11, 1958, she united in marriage to Benjamin Humphrey of Red Bay.
Funeral services will be Wednesday, Dec. 17 at 1 p.m. at Piney Grove Missionary Baptist Church with Pastor Alondes Guyton and Pastor John Smith officiating. Burial will be in Humphrey Family Cemetery.
She leaves to cherish her memory: son, Gilbert Glenn Humphrey of Fulton, Miss., daughters, Vickie Cannon of Red Bay, Cloti Humphrey of Hamilton and Marie Humphrey of Denver, Colo.; granddaughters, Debra Humphrey and Maliaka Humphrey, both of Red Bay; grandson, Zachary Humphrey of Red Bay; great-grandchildren, Dmitri Humphrey and Elijah Whitfield, both of Red Bay; precious friend and loving adopted son, Vinson E. Whitfield of Fulton, Miss.; sisters-in-law, Azzie Lee Martin of Red Bay, Dessie Martin of Tishomingo, Miss., Magnolia Northington of Seattle, Wash., Cenola Nunn of Smithville, Miss., and Lois Humphrey of Corinth, Miss.; brother-in-law, Phil Alcorn of Northridge, Ca.; and a host of nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Benjamin Humphrey; and daughters-in-law, Burnett Humphrey and Kathy Humphrey.
Pallbearers will be Anthony Hackman, Larry Smith, Frankie Smith, Eric Martin, Nathan Martin and Olie Cannon.
Deaton Funeral Home in Red Bay assisted the family.
Phillip Daniel Watson
December 13, 2008
Phillip Daniel "Lucky" "Red" Watson, 34, of Red Bay, Ala., passed away Saturday, Dec. 13, 2008, at Red Bay Hospital.
He was born June 4, 1974, in Detroit, Mich., to Dale and Sheila. He was a member of Vina First Baptist Church and was a truck driver for 12 years.
Funeral services were Tuesday, Dec. 16 at Deaton Funeral Home Chapel in Red Bay with Bro. Jerry Swimmer. Interment was in Shottsville Cemetery.
He was preceded in death by his special grandmother, Lurla Belle Watson; grandfather, Vernon Lee Watson; grandmother, Beatrice Pigg; and grandfather, Travis Pigg; and cousin, Stacey Watson.
He is survived by his father, Dale Watson of Vina; mother, Sheila Abbott and husband Ronald of Detroit, Mich.; son, Matthew Watson of Vina; sister, Tilena Watson of Vina; wife, Jennifer Watson and her daughter Lexie Massey of Vina; uncles, Homer Watson and wife Bonnie of Muscle Shoals, Harold Watson and wife Judy and Michael Watson and wife Shirley; aunt, Shirley Emerson and husband Wilson; nine first cousins; nephew, Corey Toney of Vina; and niece, Bethany Toney of Vina.
Pallbearers were Kevin Watson, Tim Cantrell, Dewayne Emerson, Glen Griffith, Channing Haithcock, Steven Watson, Brian Upton and Wade Inman.
Deaton Funeral Home assisted the family.
Hazel McCollum
December 12, 2008
Hazel McCollum, 98, of Russellville, Ala., passed away Friday, Dec. 12, 2008, at Sunbridge Nursing Home in Muscle Shoals.
Funeral services were Monday, Dec. 15 at Spry Memorial Chapel in Russellville with Rev. Johnny Fike officiating. Interment was in Gargis Cemetery.
She was preceded in death by her husband, M.W. McCollum; sons, Millard Ray McCollum, Charlie Lee McCollum; daughter-in-law, Jane McCollum; son-in-law, Wendell Dwight Ashley; grandson, Dale Fike; great-grandchildren, Christopher Lee Tippet, Jimmy Fisher, Rhonda Lynn Fisher; and great-great grandchild, Jackson Wayne Fisher.
She is survived by her daughters, Evelyn Bolton and husband William of Russellville, Nadine Ashley of Moulton and Effie Fike and husband James of Town Creek; son, Robert Marlos McCollum and wife Priscilla of Moulton; sisters, Amyzona Mason of Zephia Hills, Fla., and Marie Woodley of Muscle Shoals; brothers, Earnest Vandiver of Leighton and J.D. Vandiver of Lakeland, Fla.; 12 grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews.
Spry Memorial Chapel assisted the family. To sign the register book and to offer private condolences to the family, go to www.sprymemorialchapel.com.
Bernice Weatherford
December 11, 2008
Bernice Shewbart Weatherford, 85, of Vina, Ala. passed away Thursday, Dec. 11, 2008, at ECM Hospital after and extended illness. She was a native of Franklin County, a homemaker and a member of the Halltown Methodist Church for forty years.
Funeral services were Dec. 13 with Bro. Rex Manasco officiating. Burial followed in the Halltown Cemetery.
She is survived by one son, Johnnie Weatherford and wife, Rebecca of Red Bay; a daughter, Judy Austin and husband, Steve of Florence, Ala.; one grandson, John Weatherford of Starkville, Miss.; granddaughters-in-law, Britney Weatherford and Misty Weatherford; great-grandsons, Haze Landon Weatherford and Joshua Lee Weatherford all of Red Bay; three nieces, Marjorie Morris, Betty Moore and Joyce Henson; two nephews, James McKinney and Charles Hardin; and a special cousin, Jane Williams.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 42 years, John Raymond Weatherford; her parents, Roscoe and Mackie Mitchell Shewbart; brother, Elton Shewbart; sisters with whom she shared a very special bond, Florence McKinney, Nettie Weatherbee and Oneice Hardin; a granddaughter, Jennifer and a grandson, Joshua Weatherford.
Pallbearers were Charles Hardin, James McKinney, James Neil Thompson, Charles Berry, Bobby Nelson and Billy Joe Williams. Honorary pallbearers will be Haze Landon Weatherford and Joshua Lee Weatherford.