Jeanette Armstrong Betts
Jeanette Armstrong Betts went home on Friday, June 22, 2007. After a long and hard fault battle with illness she died at Providence Hospital in Mobile. Going home services will be held at Monroe Beulah Baptist Church on Jimmy Hinson Road on June 29 at 1 p.m. The family will welcome viewing prior to services at the church from noon until 1.
In lieu of flowers, the family relays her request of donations in care of Monroe Beulah Baptist Church for cemetery upkeep.
William Henry Dawson
Johnson Funeral Home, Monroeville
William Henry Dawson, 75, of Excel died Monday, June 25, 2007 at his home.
Dawson was a lifelong resident of Excel and had been a farmer most all of his life.
Survivors include his wife, Betty Dawson of Excel; one daughter, Rhonda (David) Chandler of Excel and one sister, Sandra (Bob) Chandler of Excel.
Services were held June 26 at 10 a.m. at the Chapel of Johnson Funeral Home with Rev. James Moore, Rev. Randy Davis and Rev. Kenneth Johnson officiating. Burial followed in Excel Cemetery.
Donations may be made to the American Heart Association or the Alabama Kidney Foundation.
Billy Michael Gregson
Monroe Chapel, Monroeville
Billy Michael Gregson, 43, of Uriah died Friday, June 22, 2007 in Mobile.
Gregson was a native of Memphis, Tenn. and had resided in Monroe County for the past 29 years. He was a member of the Baptist Church.
He was preceded in death by his father, Willie Leslie Gregson.
Survivors include his mother, Isla Pearl Gregson of Uriah; one brother, Ricky Lee Gregson of Sugar Hill; four sisters, Brenda Holder, Shelia Koffinas and Sue White, all of Frisco City and Ann Brooks of Empire, La.
Services were held June 27 at Monroe Chapel with Rev. Mark McCullough officiating. Burial followed in Poplar Springs Cemetery in Uriah.
Mary Lee “Tut” James
Penn’s Funeral Home, Monroeville
Mary Lee James, 66, of Vredenburgh died Monday, June 25, 2007 at Englewood Nursing Home.
James was a native of Vredenburgh and a lifelong resident of Monroe County. She was a member of Pine Flat Baptist Church in Hybart where she was matron member and member of the choir.
Survivors include three sons, Carl James and Mack James, both of Buena Vista and Anthony Undra James of Vredenburgh; two daughters, Julia James Richardson of Monroeville and Sharon Spencer of Wainwright; three brothers, Bennie James and Sampson James, both of Vredenburgh and Henry Kennedy of New York; two sisters, Ruth Ann Spencer of Hybart and Rosie McQuietter of Vredenburgh; 19 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
A public visitation will be held at Penn’s Funeral Home June 29 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Services will be held June 30 at 11 a.m. at Pine Flat Baptist Church in Hybart with Rev. Jessie Simmons officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
H.B. Preyer Sr.
Penn’s Funeral Home, Monroeville
H.B. Preyer Sr., 78, of Vredenburgh died Wednesday, June 27, 2007 at his home.
Funeral services are incomplete at this time. For complete arrangements call Penn’s Funeral Home at 251-575-4265.
Annie Pearl Caraway Thompson
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home, Inc., Atmore
Annie Pearl Caraway Thompson, 65, of Walnut Hill, Fla. died Wednesday, June 20, 2007 in Pensacola, Fla.
Thompson was a homemaker born in Escambia County, Fla.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Willard Thompson.
Survivors include one son, Wendell Thompson of Walnut Hill; one daughter, Joyce (Randall) Jaye of Monroeville; one brother, Donald “Gus” Caraway of Mobile and five grandchildren.
Graveside services were held June 23 at 10 a.m. in Pine Barren Cemetery with Rev. Bubba Rolin officiating.
Owen Locke Lear “Tommy” Thompson
Daniels Family Funeral Services, Albuquerque, N.M.
Owen Locke Lear “Tommy” Thompson, 79, died Tuesday, June 19, 2007 after suffering an accident.
Thompson grew up during the Depression working a variety of jobs to help out. He joined the military serving in the occupation forces in Japan. He left the army and attended Troy State University before being called back to active duty at the start of the Korean War. Through success
in aptitude testing and training programs he advanced through the enlisted ranks to become a Special Agent of Military Intelligence and earn an officer’s commission. He served in Korea and Vietnam, and commanded the Military Intelligence units in New York and Vermont before retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1970. After retiring from the military, he began working in real estate, specializing in vacant land, and built his company, Tommy Thompson Realty. He was also active in the ballooning community, working as a crew chief for a number of pilots and serving on the board of the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta for many years.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Frances Starnes Thompson, and two brothers, Otto A. Thompson and William O. Thompson, both of Monroeville.
Survivors include his son, Blake A. Thompson of Colorado.
A memorial service was held June 27 at 1 p.m. at Asbury Methodist Church in Albuquerque, N.M.
The family requests that those wishing to send a memorial make a donation to the American Cancer Association or the Alzheimer's Foundation of America in lieu of flowers.
Gloria Jean Banks
Jones Unity Funeral Home, Monroeville
Gloria Jean Banks, 53, of Frisco City died July 2, 2007.
Banks was a native and lifelong resident of Monroe County. She had been a special needs aide at Monroe County High School for 12 years and had recently started as a dispatcher for the Monroeville Police Department. She had retired from Vanity Fair after 24 years. She was a member of Shiloh Baptist Church in Frisco City where she was a member of the choir, missionary board and was a pastor’s aid. She was also a member of the Independent Voters League, ADC, NEA and the Quarterback Club at Frisco City.
Survivors include her husband, Herman Banks Sr.; one son, Petty Officer Herman Banks Jr. of Mayport, Fla.; one daughter, Lakea Nicole Banks of Frisco City and two sisters, Blanche Stallworth of Gainesville, Ga. and Patricia Martin of Monroeville.
Funeral services will be held July 8 at 4 p.m. at Shiloh Baptist Church in Frisco City with Rev. Sandy McQueen officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Jeanette Armstrong Betts
Jones Unity Funeral Home, Monroeville
Jeanette Armstrong Betts, 78, died Friday, June 22, 2007 at Providence Hospital in Mobile.
Betts was born in Drewry.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Alex and Gertrude Armstrong; her husband, Willie D. Betts and two daughters, Voncile Betts and Mae A. Alexander.
Survivors include five sons, Willie C. (Gloria), Rayford (Caldonia), Maurice, Kenneth (Connie) and David (Tonia); eight daughters, Barbara Bradley, Gertrude (Walter) Odom, Linda Ellis, Jeraldine (Lonzie) Green, Brenda (Andrew) Rudolph, Betty Roberson, Diahann (Raymond) Broughton and Patricia (Glenn) Watson; one sister, Josephine Armstrong; three brothers-in-law; three sisters-in-law; 41 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; and many great-great-grandchildren.
Services were held June 29 at 1 p.m. at Monroe Beulah Baptist Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family relays her request of donations in care of Monroe Beulah Baptist Church for cemetery upkeep.
Earl Lee Fountain
Jones Unity Funeral Home, Monroeville
Earl Lee Fountain, 75, of Monroeville died June 27, 2007 at Englewood Nursing Home.
Fountain was a native of Monroe County and was a pulpwood worker for Steadham Logging Company.
Survivors include two sons, Edgar Fountain of Fort Walton Beach, Fla. and Elbert McClain of Moss Point, Miss.; two daughters, Trina Fountain of Crestview, Fla. and Beverly Fountain of Fort Walton Beach; three brothers, Eddie Booker of Pensacola, Fla., James Robert Odom of Clarksville, Tenn. and Leon Booker of Monroeville; two sisters, Marquerite White and Mattie Mason, both of Peterman; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Services were held June 30 at 11 a.m. at Jones Funeral Home Chapel in Monroeville with Rev. Lark officiating. Burial followed in Amity Church Cemetery in Peterman.
Rev. Montez Green
Blount and Curry Funeral Home, Tampa, Fla.
Rev. Montez Green, 94, died Sunday, July 1, 2007
Green attended Florida Bible Institute in Temple Terrace, Taylor University in Upland, Ind. and graduated from Trinity College, now located in Trinity, Fla., with a BA degree. She pastored in Eagle Lake, Fla., Chicago, Ill. and she has been Senior Pastor of Faith Tabernacle of South Tampa, Inc. for the past 58 years.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Phillip Green.
Survivors include her daughter, Norma Montez (Donald) Lambertson; two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held July 5 at 11 a.m. at Faith Tabernacle of South Tampa, Inc.
Allen Lee Sr.
Jones Unity Funeral Home, Monroeville
Allen Lee Sr., 70, of Frisco City died July 1, 2007 at Monroe County Hospital.
Lee was a native and lifelong resident of Monroe County.
Survivors include his wife, Essie Bell Lee of Frisco City; eight sons, Willie Thomas, Allen Lee Jr. and Michael Lee, all of Frisco City, Curtis Lee of Bryan, Texas, Gregory Lee and Sylvester Lee, both of Monroeville, Sterling Lee of Pensacola, Fla. and Tromaine Banks of Brewton; five daughters, Dorothy Bullard and Minister Annie Kidd, both of Monroeville, Rolenia Wiggins of Gulfport, Miss., Mary Smith of Tallahassee, Fla. and Brenda Kirksey of Frisco City; seven brothers; Robert Earl Lee of Monroeville, Lawrence Lee of Pensacola, Charles Lee and Willie C. Lee, both of Mexia, Samuel Lee of Washington, D.C., and Jim Lee of Indianapolis, Ind.; two sisters, Myrtle V. McGinnis of Frisco City and Mary Frye of Monroeville; 35 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held July 7 at 2 p.m. at Lily Baptist Church in Frisco City with Rev. Matthew Davis officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Lloyd Devon Patrick
Jones Unity Funeral Home, Monroeville
Lloyd Devon Patrick, 39, of Limestone died July 3, 2007.
Patrick was a native of Monroeville. He was a 1986 graduate of Monroe County High School. He attended Alabama Southern Community College (Patrick Henry) for two years and Faulkner University in Montgomery. He was a die house machine operator for Vanity Fair and a member of Limestone Baptist Church.
Survivors include his mother, Geraldine Patrick of Monroeville; a grandmother, Victoria Stallworth of Monroeville; a great-grandmother, Caldonia Penn of Monroeville; two sons; Donte’ Patrick of Tampa, Fla. and Lloyd Patrick of Monroeville; one daughter, Shantrell Patrick of Monroeville; two brothers, Victor Patrick of Monroeville and William Patrick of Burnt Corn and five sisters, Jessie Patrick, Carrie Patrick, Cynthia Richardson, Shelia Kidd and Tameka Nord, all of Monroeville.
A visitation will be held July 6 after 12 noon at Jones Unity Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held July 7 at 10 a.m. at Limestone Baptist Church with Rev. O.D. Culliver officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Dixie Smith
Jones Unity Funeral Home, Monroeville
Dixie Smith, 95, of Beatrice died July 3, 2007 at Monroe County Hospital.
Smith was a native of Monroe County. She was a homemaker and a member of Morning Star Baptist Church in Beatrice. She was also a RSVP volunteer.
Survivors include five sons, Mack (Cora) Stallworth of Evergreen, Joe Stallworth of Cincinnati, Ohio, John (Ellen) Smith and William (Sherley) Smith, both of Beatrice and Nathaniel Smith of Stone Mountain, Ga.; four daughters, Lonnie (James) Stanton of Beatrice, Bettye (Charles) Wiggins of Mobile, Emma (Barney) Odams of Pensacola, Fla. and Wanda (Julius) Morrow of Beatrice; one brother, Climnine Stallworth of Cincinnati; 24 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held July 6 from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. at Jones Unity Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held July 7 at 11 a.m. at Morning Star Baptist Church in Beatrice with Rev. Robert Davis officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Franklin D. Smith
Johnson Funeral Home, Monroeville
Franklin D. Smith, 73, of Monroeville died July 2, 2007 at Monroe County Hospital.
Smith was a lifelong resident of Monroe County and had worked as a machinist for Vanity Fair Mills. He attended Southside Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Frances Smith of Monroeville; one son, Chris Foley of Houston, Texas; four daughters, Kathy Reid of Mexia, Peggy Owens of Excel, Lisa Sheffield of Charlotte, N.C. and Cherry Hurry of Repton; one brother, John Smith of Pensacola, Fla.; four sisters, Lizzie Mae Ward of Megargel, Eulene Matteson and Lucille Lynch, both of Atmore and Rosie Jean Williams of Elberta; 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Services were held July 4 at 10 a.m. in the chapel of Johnson Funeral Home with Rev. Buddy Williams, officiating. Burial will follow in Hillcrest Cemetery in Monroeville.
Donations may be made to the St. Jude Children’s Hospital or the Gulf Coast Cancer Center.
