Funeral services for Mr. Melvin A. Bailey, age 75, were held Saturday, July 19,
2008, at 11 a.m., in the chapel of Kilgroe Funeral Home in Pell City. The Rev.
Gordon Lee, pastor of Coosa Valley Church officiated. Music was provided by Jim
Adams. Burial followed in Fayette Memorial Gardens.
Mr. Bailey was a loving husband, a beloved father and a well thought of person
by family members and many friends. He was born Oct. 30, 1932, in Langdale, in
Chambers County. He was a 1951 graduate of Valley High School in Langdale. Upon
graduation, he entered the U.S. Navy on Aug. 3, 1951, serving four years in
California and Japan. After discharge from the Navy, he enrolled in Alabama
Polytechnic Institute (Auburn University), receiving a BS in business
administration, with a major in accounting in Sept. 1958.
Employed with Alabama Telephone Company in Fayette in Sept. 1958 as office
manager, junior accountant, which began a 34 year career in communications.
While living in Fayette, he was a member of the First Methodist Church, serving
on the board, elected president of the Fayette Business Association after
serving two years as secretary, president of Fayette Civitan Club in 1964 and a
member of Fayette Country Club. Upon the Alabama Telephone Company merger with
Continental Telephone (later Contel), he served in various other management
positions outside of accounting in the Southeastern Region, including positions
of District Commercial Manager, Public Affairs Coordinator for the State of
Alabama, retiring as Personnel Manager in 1992.
An avid golfer in his younger years, his years after retirement were spent
enjoying land travel and cruising to such places as Alaska, Hawaii, Nova
Scotia, Europe and the Caribbean.
He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Kathleen; two sons, Doug (Ann Marie)
Bailey of Columbus, Ohio; Jim Bailey of Birmingham; the mother of his two sons,
Betty Bailey of Fayette; three nieces and one nephew.
Honorary pallbearers were former staff and employees of Contel Alabama, Delbert
Glenn, L.W. Darden, Everett Hocutt, Eugene Morris, George Sobolowski, Bill
McGinnis, Lane Golden, Jonathan Spann, P.M. Hartley, Jr., Rayburn Howard, Pete
Harkness, Jerry Burns, Dr. Barry Collins, Dr. Brian Snoddy and Dr. Stan
Lockridge.Active pallbearers were Jim Tyra, Harold Willingham, Michael Poe,
Mike Poe, Ron Hunsucker and Harold Holly.
Kilgroe Funeral Home of Pell City directed.
Funeral services for Mr. Freddie Chambless, age 64, of the Blooming Grove
Community, were held Thursday, July 17, 2008, at 2 p.m., from Blooming Grove
Baptist Church. Bro. Garnett Brown officiated. Burial followed in the adjoining
cemetery.
Mr. Chambless was born Nov. 6, 1943, to Fletcher and Lillie Chambless. He died
Monday, July 14 at Fayette Medical Center.
He was employed at Fayette Cotton Mill for 40 years. He also worked at Lawrence
Farm and Lumber and Grande Portal. He loved gardening and working outdoors. He
especially enjoyed riding his grandchildren on the golf cart.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sisters, Nannie Lou
Tidwell, Mary Ann and Hester Chambless; and brothers, Charlie and Hubert
Chambless.
Survivors include his wife, Willine Chambless; sons, Gene and Tim Chambless;
sisters, Hassie Porter and Ruby Fulmer; grandchildren, Katie, Ethan and Isaac
Chambless; and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.
Honorary pallbearers were Dr. Christian, Dr. Hill, Dr. Tucker, Dr. Hinton, Dr.
Powers, all former employees of Fayette Cotton Mill, Lawrence Farm and Lumber
and Grande Portal.Active pallbearers were James Porter, Mark Tidwell, Edward
Gilpin, Robert McCaleb, Ray Selman, Tim Mask, Don Randolph, Mark Clark and
Roger Colburn.
Nelson Funeral Home of Fayette directed.
Funeral services for Mrs. Martha Coats, age 69, of Fayette, were held Friday,
July 18, 2008, at 2 p.m., from Nelson Funeral Home Chapel. Kevin Beard and Dr.
Jon Sanford officiated. Burial followed in Bethel Church of Christ Cemetery, in
Vernon.
Mrs. Coats was born March 15, 1939, to W.B. and Hettie Jones McIntosh. She died
Wednesday, July 16 at Fayette Medical Center.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Robert
Coats; sisters, Gerthal Dean Akers, Edna Earl Norris, Wynell Stokes and Kathryn
McCaleb.
Survivors include one son, Robert David Coats of Bogalusa, La.; brothers, T.J.
McIntosh of Northport and Bill McIntosh of Shreveport, La.; two grandchildren,
Joshua David Coats and Emily Quinn Shaw; one great-grandchild, Holley Sara
Grace Shaw; and several nieces and nephews.
Honorary pallbearers were Larry Robertson, Tommy Hill and Jeremy Howton.Active
pallbearers were Bert Meherg, Larry Akers, Johnny Stokes, Arlen Norris, Dwayne
McIntosh, Ronald McIntosh, Phillip Rushing and Frankie Lowery.
Nelson Funeral Home of Fayette directed.
Funeral services for Mrs. Beulah Mae Cannon Collins, age 96, of Fayette, were
held Monday, July 21, 2008, at 2 p.m., from Nelson Funeral Home Chapel. Michael
Miller officiated. Burial followed in Macedonia (Gumbud) Cemetery.
Mrs. Collins was born Sept. 30, 1911. She died Friday, July 18 at Heritage
Health Care in Tuscaloosa.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Tom and Pearl Cannon; husband, Joe
Collins; son, Billy Ralph Collins; granddaughter, Dayna Collins Bagwell;
sister, Flora Bell Cannon; and brothers, Truman, John and Bill Cannon.
Survivors include one daughter, Bette J. (Joe) Dobbs of Tuscaloosa; son, Thomas
F. (Lou) Collins of Fayette; special sister-in-law, Lathey Cannon; eight
grandchildren, Matt (Ashley) Dobbs, Thomas F.
“Chip” Collins, Jr., Chris (Teresa) Dobbs, Russell (Stacey) Collins, Betsy Dobbs, Tina
Collins, Deidre Collins and Amy Pierson; 14 great-grandchildren; and six
great-great-grandchildren.
Honorary pallbearers were nurses and staff on station four of Heritage Health
Care, Southern Care Hospice, Dr. Harold Breitling, Pathfinder Sunday School
Class of First United Methodist Church in Fayette. Active pallbearers were Chip
Collins, Russell Collins, Christopher Dobbs, Chad Musgrove, Joe Musgrove, Marc
Musgrove and Casey Dobbs.
Nelson Funeral Home of Fayette directed.
Funeral services for Mr. S.L. Hall, age 87, of Berry, were held Tuesday, July
22, 2008, at 2 p.m., from Pleasant Hill Community Church. Bro. Bobby Pendley
officiated. Burial followed in the adjoining cemetery.
Mr. Hall was born Aug. 31, 1920, in Berry to Belina Marvin Hall and Winnie Ann
Nelson Hall. He died Thursday, July 17 at the Glen Haven Nursing Home in
Northport.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He was a retired trucker and farmer.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Gladys Dunn;
and four brothers, James Edwin
“Boy” Hall, Melbert Lecil “Bud” Hall, Ray Hall and Johnny Hall.
Honorary pallbearers were Glen Haven Nursing Home and Magnolia Lane Staff.
Active pallbearers were James Pinion, Ray Pinion, Ryan Pinion, Donald Hall,
Shannon Smith and Jay Rice.
Norwood Chapel of Fayette directed.
Graveside services for Mrs. Floy M. Ingle, age 89, will be held Thursday, July
24, 2008, at 11 a.m., from Siloam Baptist Church in Winfield. Pastor Delbert
Preuninger will officiate.
Mrs. Ingle died July 8, of sarcoma, surrounded by her family in Anchorage,
Alaska.
She was a native of Winfield, but resided in Talladega most of her life. She was
a member of Southwood Presbyterian Church and retired from the Alabama Power
Company. She attended Winfield High School, graduated from Berry College in
Berry, Ga., and obtained her masters degree from The University of Alabama in
home economics. She worked in the Y-12 plant in Oak Ridge, Tenn., as a lab
analyst for two years during World War II.
She was preceded in death by her parents, William L. and Chessie T. May;
husband, James H. Ingle; brothers, Arlie and Lomax May; and sister, Julia
White.
Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Debbie and Donavin O’Brien; granddaughters Hannah and Haley O’Brien, all of Anchorage; brothers, Rueben May of Fayette, Glenn May of Lacey
Springs, Morris May of College Station, Texas, Voncille Humber of Winfield; and
special granddaughters, Tyler and Tara Snyder of Talladega.
Miles Funeral Home of Winfield provided local arrangements.
Mr. Arthur H. “Buddy” Lawley, age 74, of Fayette, died Friday, July 18, 2008, in Fayette County.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, July 24 at 2 p.m., from Norwood Chapel.
Burial will follow in the Brotherton-Lawley Family Cemetery with full military
honors. Family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at Norwood
Chapel. Complete arrangements were not available at press time and will be
submitted later.
Norwood Chapel of Fayette directing.
Funeral services for Mr. Bedford E. “Junior” Meadows, age 48, of Bankston, were held Tuesday, July 22, 2008, at 2 p.m. from
Nelson Funeral Home Chapel. Burial followed in Oak Grove Methodist Church
Cemetery. Bro. E.J. Lowery and Bro. Edward Thomas officiated.
Mr. Meadows was born May 17, 1960, to Bedford Earl Meadows and Dorothy E.
Chandler Meadows. He died Friday, July 18 at DCH Regional Medical Center.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Survivors include his girlfriend, Angela Moore of Bankston; three sons, Chris
Meadows of Hamilton, Scott (Tina) Meadows of Bankston, and Jonathan Meadows of
Carbon Hill; sister, Elizabeth Barnes of Bankston; two brothers, James Arnold
Meadows of Bankston and William Corkerin of Fayette; and three grandchildren.
Pallbearers were Dale and Al Ledlow, Gene Dann, Larry Holeman, David Fry and
Larry Spencer.
Nelson Funeral Home of Fayette directed.
Funeral services for Mr. Glenn Porter Tilley, age 86, of Winfield, were held
Monday, July 14, 2008, at 11 a.m., from the McGraw Memorial Chapel of Miles
Funeral Home. Tim Meherg and Steve Lawrence were the officiating ministers.
Burial followed in the Harmony Grove Cemetery.
Mr. Tilley was born April 17, 1922, in Fayette County to Everett Bone Tilley and
Martha Florence Porter Tilley. He died Saturday, July 12 at DCH Regional
Medical Center in Tuscaloosa.
He was a lifelong resident of White Springs Community. He retired from Trice
Timer Company in Fayette and was previously employed at Dobbs Brothers Timber
Co. in Fayette. He was a member of Harmony Grove Baptist Church.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, James
Arthur Tilley and William
“Bill” Tilley.
Survivors include his wife of 68 years, Mary Lou Webster Tilley of Winfield; one
daughter, Glenda Lou Tilley (Robert) Bull of Winfield; one granddaughter,
Cassandra Darnell Bull (Mike) Renfroe of Winfield; two great-grandchildren,
LaVette Dawn Renfroe (Darrin) DeLoach and James Glendon Renfroe; three
great-great-grandchildren, Lunden Kendrick DeLoach, Caden Davis DeLoach and
Anna-Brooke DeLoach; one brother, Everett Bravell Tilley of Winfield; one
sister, Julia Eloise Tilley Potts of Oiken, S.C.; one aunt, Vivian Mills of
Winfield; nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Pallbearers were Jim, Chuck, Bill, Brett and Blake Tilley, Randy and Clinton
Websters, Jr. and Butch Real.
Miles Funeral Home of Winfield directed.
Funeral services for Mr. Joseph Dean Watkins, age 72, of Kennedy, were held
Monday, July 21, 2008, at 2 p.m., at Dowdle Funeral Home Chapel. Bro. James
Walden officiated. Burial followed in Wesley Chapel Cemetery in Lamar County.
Mr. Watkins was born Sept. 3, 1935, in Fayette County. He died Friday, July 18
at his residence.
He worked for United Technologies in Columbus for 44 years. He was also a member
of Mount Harmony Baptist Church.
He was preceded in death by his father, William Earnest Watkins; his mother,
Julie Ann Galloway; and daughter, Peggy Nell Graham.
Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Ruby Locke Watkins; daughter, Janie
Watkins; son, Eddie Watkins; sister, Dorothy Watkins Vice; and four
grandchildren, Chad Wilson, Israel Bland, Melanie (Mark) Wheat and Nathan
Graham; great-grandchildren, Jagger Wilson and Hunter Bland.
Honorary pallbearers were Dr. H.E. Breitling, Dr. David Hinton and Dr. Melody
Graham, Cancer Clinic staff, Hospice of Fayette Medical Center, Pat Gray, Kathy
Odom and Kim Monroe.
Dowdle Funeral Home of Millport directed.
Graveside services for Mrs. Zelna Meadows Westbrook, age 86, of Fayette, were
held Sunday, July 20, 2008, at 2 p.m., at the Fayette City Cemetery. The Rev.
David Cullison officiated.
Mrs. Westbrook was born Jan. 4, 1922, in Fayette to William Rufus Skelton and
Wilma Myrtle Patton Skelton. She died Friday, July 18 at the Heritage Health
Care Center in Tuscaloosa.
She was a member of Southside Baptist Church. She worked for 33 years in various
garment plants in Fayette and retired in 1990.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Ervin
Meadows; two daughters, Willa Dean Watkins and Janice Sue Akins; and one
brother, Willard Skelton.
Survivors include two sons, James Donald Meadows and William Rufus Meadows, both
of Fayette; two sisters, Willie Jean Cannon of Decatur and O.Z. McCoy of
Heiman, Tenn.; one brother, L.B. Skelton of Fayette; six grandchildren; 10
great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
Pallbearers were James, Jeff, and Scott Meadows, David and Christopher Watkins
and Junior Smith.
Norwood Chapel Funeral Home of Fayette directed.
Funeral services for Mr. Jack Whitley, age 90, of Fayette, were held Friday,
July 18, 2008, at 11 a.m. from Nelson Funeral Home Chapel.
Bro. Ron Collett officiated. Burial followed in Oak Grove Methodist Church
Cemetery.
Mr. Whitley was born Jan. 18, 1918, to H.C. and Ella Williamson Whitley. He died
Wednesday, July 16 at Fayette Medical Center.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by sisters, Leo Stocks,
Theo Spiller, Lilian Woods, Nellie Whitley and Verna Watkins; and brothers,
Finley, Lee, Zell and Allen Whitley.
Survivors include his wife, Rosa Lee Brasher Whitley of Fayette; and sisters,
Othelia Whitley and Avis Stoker, both of Fayette.
Honorary pallbearers were Vick and Deborah Selman, members of Oak Grove United
Methodist Church, Bud Morrison, Cecil Odom, Milford Whitson, Dr. Charles Nolen,
Dr. Jon Sanford, Dr. Fred Yerby and the nursing staff of Fayette Medical
Center. Active pallbearers were Gallard Stoker, Herbert Kizzire, Joe, Dan, E.C.
and Ted Whitley.
Nelson Funeral Home of Fayette directed.
3_art8201946.png)
