By Staff
January 26, 2009
Oker Steven Hardy, 95, of Russellville, Ala., passed away Monday, Jan. 26, 2009.
He was a member of New Hope United Methodist Church. He was a World War II U.S. Army veteran and served his country in the Battle of the Bulge, Ardennes Rhineland and Central Europe. He was a recipient of the Good Conduct Medal, American Service Medal, WWII Victory Medal, European African Medal and Eastern Service Medal with three bronze stars.
The visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28 at Akins Funeral Home in Russellville. The 3 p.m. funeral service will be Thursday, Jan. 29 at the funeral home chapel with Bro. James Anderton. Military honors and interment will be in Oak Grove Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Dale Garrison, Donnie Baker, Michael Hester, Kevin Hester, Fletcher Hardy and Tim Hardy.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn Hardy; parents; Sam and Mattie Hardy; brothers, Fletcher, Fred, JD and Berlin Hardy; sisters, Lettie Duboise and Lena Posey Sullivan.
He is survived by his daughter, Carolyn Grissom; son, Gary and wife Sandy Benefield; brothers, Sammie Hardy and Nathan Hardy; grandchildren, Wendy Hester and husband Mike, Sherry Isbell and husband Jeff, Marshia Hardy and husband Tim, Steven Benefield and wife Angie, Tammy Benefield, Cory Grissom, Benny Grissom and Melissa Beasley and husband Jeff; great-grandchildren, Dustin Skidmore, Kevin Hester, Cassandra Hester, Joseph Hester, Lauren Isbell, Gary Isbell, Hannah Isbell, Rachel Burrell, Fletcher Hardy, Nora Hardy, Saul Hardy, Audrey Benefield, Becky Benefield, Andy Lee Benefield, Nathan Benefield, Samantha Benefield, Emily Gunty and Catlin Gunty; and several nieces and nephews.
The family extends special thanks to Nobie Hardy.
Dorothy Dolan
January 25, 2009
Dorothy Mae Pierce Dolan, 77, of Russellville, Ala., passed away Sunday, Jan. 25, 2009, at her residence surrounded by family.
She was a member of Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church and Mountain Top Homemakers Club and owner of D &D Christmas Tree Farm, where she was affectionately known as the "Christmas Tree Lady."
The funeral service was Tuesday, Jan. 27 at Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church with Bro. Carl James officiating. Interment was in East Franklin Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Andy Dolan, Gary Gunderman, Brad Bolton, Brian Bradberry, Phillip Gay and David Patterson.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Homer and Katie Pierce, and grandchildren, Kerry and Kevin Patterson.
She is survived by her children, Doris Patterson and husband Richard of Cullman, Gary Dolan and wife Charlotte of Phil Campbell and Wally Dolan and wife Shelia of Hampton, Va.; siblings, Mildred Saint, Helen Champion, Marvolene Fleming, Billy Pierce and Donald Pierce; grandchildren, Andy Dolan and wife Kristi, Amy Gunderman and husband Gary, Julie Bolton and husband Brad, Jill Bradberry and husband Brian, Jenny Gay and husband Phillip and David Patterson and wife Brooke; great-grandchildren, River and Pierce Dolan, Leah, Anna Beth and Lara Gunderman, Brooklyn, Bailey and Brady Bolton, Will, Katie and Reid Bradberry, Carter, Preston and Grayson Gay, Henry Patterson and soon-to-be twins, Grace and Grant Patterson; special friends, Anthony and Chiquita Baker; and 24 nieces and nephews.
The family extends special thanks to Southern Care Hospice, Rose Ann Knight, Ann Mills, Melanie Smith, and Ruby Sheffield and to the members of the Oak Grove community for all their prayers, support and visits.
Akins Funeral Home assisted the family.
Maggie L. Frederick
January 25, 2009
Maggie L. Frederick, 94, passed away Jan. 25, 2009, following a lengthy illness.
She lived most of her life in Franklin County and was a homemaker in the finest sense of the word. Her love of family, her church and her flowers were defining qualities of her life.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28 at Pinkard Funeral Home in Russellville. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service with burial at Franklin Memory Gardens. Rev. Jerry Rea, pastor of Woodmont Baptist Church in Florence, will conduct the service. Special music will be provided by Mrs. Frederick's great-granddaughter, Kari-Kay Harp.
The pallbearers will be her grandsons.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Peggy Ledbetter; her husband, Aldrich Clinton Frederick; and son-in-law, Joe Wheeler Harrison.
She is survived by her daughters, Carolyn Peggy Pirkle and husband Tommy of Florence, JoAnne Harrison of Russellville and Barbara Day and husband Lyle of Bloomington, Ill.; grandchildren, Jania Harp and husband Ted, Debbye Hibbett and husband Chip, Tommy Pirkle and husband Pam, Abbie Soltwedel and husband Jerry, Kerry Day and wife Stacy, Mike Harrison and wife Donna, Lori Fenemor and husband Dave; 17 great-grandchildren; two great-great granddaughters; sister, Bertha Ross Williams; and brothers, Marcellus and Burdette Ledbetter.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Prayer Garden or Personal Ministry Funds at Woodmont Baptist Church, 2001 Darby Drive, Florence, Alabama 35630.
The family would like to express gratitude to the Station Six staff of Mitchell-Hollingsworth Nursing Home for their care and kindness during the nine years Mrs. Frederick was there. They are also grateful to those at Woodmont Baptist
Church, who were her faithful friends during this time.
Cathy Aaron Dawson
January 25, 2009
Cathy Aaron Dawson, 43, of Phil Campbell, Ala., passed away on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2009, at ECM Hospital in Florence.
The visitation will be from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29 at Spry Memorial Chapel in Russellville. The funeral service will follow in the chapel with Bro. Terry Bard officiating. Interment will be in Spruce Pine Cemetery.
She was preceded in death by her parents, J.F. and Ella Jean Aaron.
She is survived by her son, Cedric Dawson; daughter, Tama Dawson; brother, Johnny Aaron; sister, Betty Little; three nieces; and one nephew.
Pallbearers will be Randy White, Raymond Brewer, Brent Little, Michael Bond, Jamie Brewer and Jason Terry.
Virginia Irene Maddox
January 24, 2009
PFC Virginia Irene (Bard) Maddox was born December 29, 1921, in Johnstown, Penn., attended schools there, worked at Bard's Confectionary, and worked for Western Union as a telephone operator in Washington D.C.
She enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Women Reserve during World War II on January 31, 1944. She married Technical Sgt. George W. Maddox Sr. Dec.1, 1944 at Camp LeJeune, N.C., and they moved to Charleston, W.Va.
She passed away Saturday, Jan. 24, 2009, at Lakeland Community Hospital in Haleyville, Ala.
She is survived by her sons, George W. Maddox Jr. of Titusville, Fla., and Timothy A. Maddox of Haleyville; daughter, Vicki L. McCauley of Sandyville, W.Va.; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, George W. Maddox Sr., and son, Ronald W. Maddox.
Burial will be at Tyler Mountain Memory Gardens in Charleston, W.Va., at a later date.
Pinkard Funeral Home in Haleyville assisted the family.
Effie Dean Isom
January 24, 2009
Effie Dean Isom, 79, of Hodges, Ala., passed to the arms of her Lord and Savior on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2009, with her loving family at her side.
She was a native of Franklin County and a member of Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Hodges.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Cullen Isom, and her parents, John and Dollie Stephenson
She is survived by her companion, Lacey the cat, and several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
The family received friends Sunday, Jan. 25 at Pinkard Funeral Home in Russellville. They also received friends Monday, Jan. 26 at Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Hodges. The funeral service was Monday with Rev. James Nichols officiating. Burial was in the adjoining cemetery.