Erma Wood Lay
Services for Erma Wood Lay, 84, of Crane Hill, will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2001 at Moss Service Chapel, the Revs. Frank Wood and Jimmy Lay officiating, with burial in Liberty Cemetery in Winston County. Moss Service Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Mrs. Lay died Monday, July 30, at her residence. She was born May 14, 1917, to Millard and Armenda Self Wood. She was a homemaker. She was preceded in death by her parents. Survivors include her husband, Lesley Lay of Crane Hill; a son, Loyd Ruben Barron Jr. of Woodstock, Ga.; two stepsons, James Lay of McDonough, Ga. and Gerald Lay of Arley; two daughters, Hilda Fields of Gulf Shores and Nina Williams of Florence; a stepdaughter, Barbara Barlow of Stockbridge, Ga.; four brothers, John Milton Wood of Prattville, Alton Wood of Birmingham, Carlton Wood of Carbon Hill, and Franklin Wood of West Point; four sisters, Mae Derson of Addison, Lorene Burson of Leeds, Charlene Steuart and Betty Williams, both of Curry; 15 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren. Memorial contributions can be made to Hospice of Cullman County or a charity of choice. Visitation was Tuesday.

Douglas B. Vance
Services for Douglas B. Vance, 61, of Bremen, will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2001 at Cullman Heritage Chapel, Pastor Barbara Trussel officiating, with burial in the adjoining cemetery. Cullman Heritage Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Vance died Monday, July 30, at his residence. He was born Oct. 29, 1939, in Jefferson County to James B. and Ester M. Price Vance.. He was a member of the Navy. He was preceded in death by his parents. Survivors include his wife, Hilda Smith Vance of Bremen; two daughters, Lorie Vance and Lisa Vance Knight, both of Bremen; three sisters, Delores Price, Virginia Vance and Norma Vance, all of Cullman; and five grandchildren, Michael Douglas McClellan, Nina Knight, Rudy Knight, Summer Knight and Ashley Knight, all of Bremen. Visitation was Tuesday.

Sussie Mae Holcombe
Services for Sussie Mae Holcombe, 93, of Cullman, will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2001 at Williams-McCracken Chapel, Elders Donnie McPherson and Kevin Martin officiating, with burial in Pilgrim’s Rest Cemetery in Holly Pond. Williams-McCracken Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Mrs. Holcombe died Monday, July 30, at Hanceville Nursing Home. She was born April 8, 1908, to William Garfield and Annie Belle House Gilley. She was a homemaker and a member of Mt. Vernon Church for over 50 years. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, William C. Holcombe; four children, Dalton and Wayne Holcombe, Christine Reid and Inez Holcombe; three sisters, Ressie Young, Hester Gilley and Florence Travis; and one brother, Roy Gilley. Survivors include three sons, J.C. (Polly) Holcombe and Martin (Gerl) Holcombe, both of Cullman, and Billy Joe (Fay) Holcombe of Guntersville; five daughters, Lillian (Odie) Johnson, Ann (Douglas) Hart, both of Cullman, Betty Mitchell and Joan Holcombe, both of Arab, and Peggy (Paul) Summerford of Hartselle; two brothers, Wiley (Sarah) Gilley and Feltus (Lucille) Gilley, both of Cullman; 23 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; eight great-great-grandchildren; and special friend, Evelena Thomas. Pallbearers will be the grandsons. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Cullman County or a charity of choice. Visitation was Tuesday.

Albert Benjamin Laney
Services for Albert Benjamin Laney, 88, of Cullman, will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 2, 2001 at Williams-McCracken Chapel, Lynn Perkins officiating, with burial in Mt. Carmel Cemetery. Williams-McCracken Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Laney died Tuesday, July 31 at Cullman Regional Medical Center. He was born Arpil 4, 1913 in Cullman to Will and Annie Wilemon Laney. He was a farmer. He was preceded in death by his parents. Survivors include a son, Ralph G. (Janice) Laney Sr.; a granddaughter, Jennifer (Tony) Lambert of Holly Pond; a grandson, Glen Laney Jr. of Cullman; three great-grandchildren, Jake Lambert, Michael Lambert and Caleb Lambert, all of Holly Pond; and a sister, Clara Hales of Nashville, Tenn.. Visitation is from 6 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Dewey E. Stewart
Services for Dewey E. Stewart, 69, of Aiken, S.C., will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 2, 2001 at George Funeral Homes, the Rev. Brancie Stephens officiating, with burial in Southlawn Cemetery in Aiken. George Funeral Homes is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Stewart died Monday, July 30, at St. Joseph’s Hospice in Augusta, Ga. He was born in Cullman to Hugh L. and Georgia L. Glasscock Stewart. He was the owner and operator of New Ellenton Country Club. He served in the Air Force for 22 years and retired as a master sergeant after serving as a recruiter in the Biloxi-Gulfport area. He was a club pro/superintendent for many golf courses in Mississippi. He was also a member of the Gulfport VFW and the Goldsboro, N.C., Masonic Lodge. Survivors include his wife, Dianne Lee Stewart of New Ellenton; a son, Dyke A. Stewart of St. Louis, Mo.; a stepson, Phillip K. Dearman of New Ellenton; a daughter, Dawn Stewart Bissell of Corpus Christi, Texas; a brother, Rex Stewart of Gardendale; and eight grandchildren, Kimberly Dearman, Zachery Dearman, Chris Stewart, David Stewart, Chance Stewart, Cody Stewart, Stewart Bissell and Emily Bissell. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or a charity of choice. Visitation is from 6 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.

James D. Henry
James D. Henry, 86, of Crane Hill died Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2001 at his residence. Hanceville Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. He was born Feb. 12, 1915 in Vinemont. He was a truck driver and a veteran of the U.S. Army. He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Effie Henry. Survivors include his wife, Norma Tubbs Henry of Crane Hill; three sons, Billy Henry and Jim (Judy) Henry Jr., both of Birmingham, and Jerry (Jan) Henry of Michigan; two daughters, Sherry (Ray) Mize of Gulf Shores and Judy Whitehead of Cullman; and a brother, Ezra Henry of Crane Hill.

Melinda Wright
Graveside services for Melinda Wright, 57, of Pelham will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 3, 2001 at East Point Cumberland Presbyterian Cemetery. Cullman Heritage Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Mrs. Wright died Monday, July 30 at her residence. She was born Feb. 7, 1944 in Cullman. She was a hairdresser and a student of John Sach’s art school. She was preceded in death by her father, R.C. Reynolds; her daughter, Kimberly Whalen; and her son, Donald “Bubba” Gospodareck. Survivors include her mother, Blanch Warren of Cullman; two daughters, Gina (Tod) Hilts and Angela Cole both of Colombia, S.C.; five brothers, Ross Reynolds and Stanley Reynolds, both of Birmingham, David Reynolds of Pell City, Stephen Reynolds and Gregory Reynolds, both of Cullman; a sister, Brenda Brown of Nashville, Tenn.; and a grandson, Tommy Whalen of Biloxi, Miss. Visitation is from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the funeral home.

Susie Roper Bennefield
Services for Susie Roper Bennefield, 76, of Joppa will be at 4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 2, 2001 at Williams-McCracken Chapel, Ronald Earwood officiating, with burial in Hebron Church of Christ Cemetery. Cullman Heritage Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Mrs. Benefield died Tuesday, July 31 at Cullman Regional Medical Center. She was born Feb. 19, 1925 in Alabama. She was a homemaker. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ben H. and Millie Mashburn Johns; two husbands, William A. Roper and Odell Bennefield; a son, Raymond Roper; a brother, Guy Johns; two sisters, Wilodean Brewer and Agnes Hawkins. Survivors include 10 children, Marie Roberts and Roger Bennefield, both of Joppa, John Roper, Dorothy Reaves and Pauline Rusk, all of Birmingham, Wendell Roper of Pensacola, Fla., Arnisteen Clark of Jonesboro, Ga., Louise Bailey of Cullman, Jeannie Richey of Trussville, and Lynn Buchanan of Centre; and four brothers, Pierce Johns of West Point, Benny Johns of Russelville, Delton Johns of Etheredge, Tenn. and Dewey Johns of Leoma, Tenn.; one sister, Mazene Campbell of Flint, Mich.; 12 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. Visitation was Wednesday.

Delilah Miller
Services for Delilah Miller, 46, of Falkville will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 3, 2001 at Peck Funeral Chapel, the Rev. Roger Hood officiating, with burial in Ebenezer Freewill Baptist Church Cemetery. The body will lie in state one hour prior to the service. Peck Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. She died Tuesday, July 31 at Hartselle Medical Center. He was born Jan. 31, 1955 in Morgan County to Jessie R. and Opal B. Brown Miller. She was a cook and a private sitter. Survivors include a brother, Gary Miller; and a sister, Susan Brown, both of Falkville. Pallbearers will be Andy Brown, Larry Brown, Mack Koditak, Greg Miller, Jason Miller and Jeff Miller. Visitation is from 6 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Chris Gilham
Services for Chris Gilham, 20, of Hanceville will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 2, 2001 at Moss Roebuck Chapel, with burial in Sunrise Memory Cemetery in Birmingham. Roebuck Chapel Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Gilham died Monday, July 30. Survivors include his parents, Howard and Debbie Gilham; a sister, Leigh Ann (Joe) Stroud of Cullman; a niece, Trinity Stroud; a nephew, Dakota Stroud; and his grandparents, Wayne and Norma Carroll, Elvada Layton, and Herb Bryant.

John W. ‘Bill’ Hampton
Services for John W. “Bill” Hampton, 72, of Hartselle will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 3, 2001 at First Baptist Church of Hartselle, Drs. Jimmy Dean and Milan Dekich officiating, with burial in Hartselle Memory Gardens. Peck Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Hampton died Wednesday, Aug. 1 at his residence. He was born Aug. 17, 1928 in Morgan County to James Toxie and Nell Dixie Breedlove Hampton. He was self-employed as co-owner of Hampton Brothers Construction for 40 years, co-owner of Morgan County Concrete for 22 years, former owner of Hampton Hauling and was a member of King’s Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his father, James Toxie Hampton; and his mother, Nell Dixie Johnson. Survivors include a wife, Joan W. Hampton of Hartselle; three sons, Will Hampton and Jonathan Hampton, both of Hartselle, and Chris McLemore of Brent; three daughters, Jenny Thompson of Hartselle, Leatha Stripling of Decatur and Ginney Patrick of Montgomery; a brother, James E. Hampton of Hartselle; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Pallbearers will be Paul Garrison, Jim Hampton, fred Hembree, Dean Johnson, Randy Maner, Malcom Sybert, Gary W. Wright, and Wendell Wright. Pallbearers will be Andy Brown, Larry Brown, Mack Koditak, Greg Miller, Jason Miller and Jeff Miller. Visitation was Thursday.

Susie Roper Bennefield
Services for Susie Roper Bennefield, 76, of Joppa were Thursday, Aug. 2, 2001 at Williams-McCracken Chapel, Ronald Earwood officiating, with burial in Hebron Church of Christ Cemetery. Williams-McCracken Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Mrs. Bennefield died Tuesday, July 31 at Cullman Regional Medical Center. She was born Feb. 19, 1925 in Alabama. She was a homemaker. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ben H. and Millie Mashburn Johns; two husbands, William A. Roper and Odell Bennefield; a son, Raymond Roper; a brother, Guy Johns; two sisters, Wilodean Brewer and Agnes Hawkins. Survivors include 10 children, Marie Roberts and Roger Bennefield, both of Joppa, John Roper, Dorothy Reeves and Pauline Rusk, all of Birmingham, Wendell Roper of Pensacola, Fla., Arnestine Clark of Jonesboro, Ga., Louise Bailey of Cullman, Jeannie Floyd of Trussville, and Lynn Buchanan of Centre; and four brothers, Pierce Johns of West Point, Benny Johns of Russelville, Delton Johns of Etheredge, Tenn. and Dewey Johns of Leoma, Tenn.; one sister, Mazene Campbell of Flint, Mich.; 12 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Visitation was Wednesday.

James Ray Crumbley
Graveside services for James Ray Crumbley, 35, of Hanceville will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 4, 2001 at Riverside Cemetery, Doug Pitts officiating. Williams-McCracken Funeral Home in in charge of arrangements. Mr. Crumbley died Thursday, Aug. 2 at Woodland Medical Center. He was born April 7, 1966 in Arab to Jessie and Lessie Mae Hudson Crumbley. He was preceded in death by a brother, David Lee Hudson. Survivors include his parents; two brothers, Jerry Lynn Duke of Cullman and Ricky Duke of Hanceville; and a sister, Linda Bell of Hanceville. Visitation is from 6 to 9 p.m. today.

Mabrey N. Blackmon
Services for Mabrey N. Blackmon, 94, of Hanceville will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 4, 2001 at Bethlehem West Missionary Baptist Church, the Rev. Tim Aris and Wayne Williams officiating, with burial in the adjoining cemetery. The body will lie in state on hour prior to the service. Cullman Heritage Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Blackmon died Aug. 2 at Hanceville Nursing Home. He was born Oct. 7, 1906 in Georgia to William and Tinnie Irene Nix Blackmon. He was a carpenter. He was preceded in death by his parents; and his wife, Gertrude Blackmon. He was survived by nine nieces and five nephews. Visitation will be from 4 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Cecil Hayes
Services for Cecil Hayes, 71, of Holly Pond will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 4, 2001 at Zion Grove Baptist Church, the Revs. Carter Bannister and Brad Hadley officiating, with burial in Union Grove Cemetery. Holly Pond Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Hayes died Thursday, Aug. 2, at Pleasant Grove Nursing Home of Birmingham. He was born Jan. 12, 1930 in Cullman to Bud and Ethel White Hayes. He was a retired machinist at Nicholson File and was a member of Zion Grove Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his parents; and his wife, Shirley Dease Hayes. Survivors include two sons, Rick Hayes of Huntsville and Keith Hayes of Holly Pond; two daughters, Cynthis Hayes and Pam (Greg) Hudson, both of Holly Pond; three brothers, Raymond Hayes of Holly Pond, G.W. Hayes of Berlin, and Justin Hayes of Cullman; a sister, Frances Dale of Cullman; and three grandchildren, Chris Hayes, Braylee Hayes and Brooke Hudson.

Nancy Jo Sims Lindsey
Services for Nancy Jo Sims Lindsey, 59, of Decatur will be at 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 5, 2001 at First United Methodist Church of Hartselle, the Revs. W.G. Henry, Bill Cole and Harold Thompson officiating, with burial in Hartselle City Cemetery. Peck Funeral Home of Hartselle is in charge of arrangements. She died Aug. 3 at her home. She was born Sept. 14, 1941, in Tennessee, the daughter of the late George (G.D.) Daniel and Irene Gurley Sims. She was a member of Hartselle First United Methodist Church and had worked with her husband in various businesses over the years. She is survived by her husband, Bill Lindsey Jr. of Decatur; three daughters, Laura Jo Lindsey and Dinah Dobbs, both of Hartselle, and Meg Harrell of Madison; a brother, George W. Sims of Navarre, Fla.; and three grandchildren. Pallbearers will be Howard Belser, Darrell Codding, Ike Groover, Charles Hardy, Lee Hartselle, Max Jones, Larry Lemons and Bill Camp. The body will lie in state one hour before services. Memorials may be made to Hospice of the Valley, Box 2745, Decatur, Ala. 35602 or to the Hartselle First United Methodist Church.

Henry Grady Maddux
Henry Grady Maddux, 77, of Ft. Myers, Fla., formerly of Cullman, died July 3, 2001, in Fort Myers. Mr. Maddux was born March 28, 1924 in Cullman. He was preceded in death by his parents, William C. and Mary Eva Knight Maddux; his wife, Bonnie; and three sisters, Mildred Townson, Florence Emily Maddux and Ruthie Mae Lloyd. Survivors include two sisters, Isabel Lynn of Cold Springs and Joyce Downs of Cullman; two brothers, William Luther Maddux and Raymond Wray Maddux, both of Cullman.

Melvin Adrain Stewart
Services for Melvin Adrain Stewart, 71, of Vinemont will be at 2 p.m. Monday, Aug. 6, 2001, at Baldwin Heights Baptist Church, the Rev. Steve Rodgers officiating, with burial in Spring Hill Cemetery. Cullman Heritage Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. He died Aug. 3 at Shoals Hospital. He was born March 26, 1930, in Cullman. He was a retired machinist for Ford Motor Co. Mr. Stewart was preceded in death by his parents, Dee and Addie Johnson Stewart; and brothers Troy Stewart, Elsie Stewart and Jessie Clyde Stewart. Survivors include his wife, Sarah Montez Blair Stewart of Cullman; sons Danny Ray (Sherri) Stewart of Cullman and Kenny Wade (Darlene) Stewart of Harpersville; a daughter, Patricia Robin Stewart (Dennis) McDougal of Russellville; a brother, Truman L. Stewart of Cullman; a sister, Ruth Nabors of Montgomery; grandchildren Jason (Alea) McDougal, Stephanie (John) Smith, Sherry McDougal, Dustin Stewart and Shannon Stewart; great-grandchildren Hannah McDougal, Shelby Smith and Sydney McDougal; stepgrandchildren Aaron Smith, Ryan Smith, Jennifer Walker and Eric Walker. The body will lie in state one hour prior to the service. Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Jeremy Ray Ball
Services for Jeremy Ray Ball, 21, of Addison will be at 1 p.m. Monday, Aug. 6, 2001, at Addison Church of God, Sammy Parker officiating, with burial in the adjoining cemetery. Nichols Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. He died Aug. 3 in an automobile accident in Gadsden. He is survived by his wife, Tracee Ball; a son, Caleb Ball of Addison; parents Raymond Jackson Ball Jr. and Phyllis Ball of Houston, Ala.; three sisters, Angela Smith of Addison, Donna Ball of Houston, Ala., and Jennifer Crow of Moreland; grandmother Thelma Minyard of Moulton.

Hazel Frances Eason
Services for Hazel Frances Eason, 69, of Cullman will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2001 at Cullman Heritage Chapel, the Rev. Charles Johnson officiating, with burial in Spring Hill Cemetery. Cullman Heritage Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Mrs. Eason died Sunday, Aug. 5 at UAB Hospital. She was born Aug. 29, 1931 in Birmingham. She was preceded in death by her father, William F. Bowman and sister, Georgia Lee Decker. Survivors include her husband, James Basil Eason of Cullman; her mother, Lou Etta Hathaway Bowman of Birmingham; two sons, James B. (Becky) Eason Jr. of Cullman and Billy (Charlotte) Eason of Falkville; a daughter, Frances (Don) Makemson of Cullman; two brothers, William H. Bowman of Birmingham and Harvey J. Bowman of Anniston; three sisters, Lou Etta Bagwell of Jackson’s Gap, Margaret Martin of Melbourne, Fla. and Bertha “Jody” Cody of Birmingham; six grandchildren, Jeremy Eason, Andrew Eason, Colin Eason, Blake Eason, Stephanie Goza and Hilary Eason; two stepgrandchildren, Alicia Makemson and Nathan Makemson; and one great-grandchild, Whitney Eason. Visitation was Monday.

William Shirel Mitchell
Services for William Shirel Mitchell, 64, of Cullman will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2001 at Moss Service Chapel, with burial in Cullman City Cemetery. Moss Service Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Mitchell died Sunday, Aug. 5 at Woodland Medical Center. He was born July 30, 1937 to William Lon and Nodie McGriff Mitchell. He was a payroll clerk. He was preceded in death by his parents; his two sisters, Zelma Edwards and Iva Lee “Boots” Dunlap; and his brother, Henry Mitchell. Survivors include his wife, Mary Bates Mitchell of Cullman; a brother, John T. Mitchell of Hanceville; and four sisters, Virginia (Orvin) Whited and Eris (Zertis) Jones, both of Cullman, Melba (John) Mosley of Memphis, Tenn. and Julia (Raymond) Parker of McCalla. Visitation is at 6 p.m today.

Ethel Marie Hooper
Services for Ethel Marie Hooper, 63, of Cullman will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2001 at Union Grove Presbyterian Church, Kenneth Adams, Brad Hadley and Dewayne Kelly officiating, with burial in the adjoining cemetery. The body will lie in state one hour prior to the service. Williams-McCracken Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Mrs. Hooper died Sunday, Aug. 5 at Cullman Regional Medical Center. She was born March 30, 1938 in Cullman to William S. and Gracie Adell Olinger Hooper. She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Talmadge and Eugene Hooper; two sisters, Nelly Hyatt and Gertrude Bryant. Survivors include four brothers, P.T. Hooper, Robert Hooper, Dalton Hooper and Larry Hooper, all of Cullman; and two sisters, Iva Lee Arrington of Cullman and Carolyn Sue Thompson of Fairview. Visitation was Monday.