In this edition, one will find obituaries for Grace Shell, Virginia Abston, Edward Andrews, James Nast, JoAnn Marshall and Mary Duplantis.

EDWARD EARL ANDREWS

Fairhope

Edward Earl Andrews, 90, of Fairhope, Alabama died Sunday, June 1, 2014 at home due to an extended illness. Andrews was born near Brooklyn  on February 25, 1924 and graduated from Damascus High School in 1943 where he played on the basketball team.

Andrews was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Sallie Andrews, his sister Corinne, brothers Marvin and Dennis Andrews and a son, Dudley Andrews. He is survived by his wife Laura Jernigan Andrews, of Fairhope, his daughter Julia Ann Andrews of Tiger, Georgia, a step-son Rev. Milton Gibson (Beth) of Slidell, LA, two grandchildren, Elizabeth Ann Wilson (Jon) Daphne, Milton J. Gibson (Marina) of Birmingham, and two great grandchildren, Jakob and Cole Wilson of Daphne.

Andrews served in the US Marine Corp during WWII and was in the first wave that went ashore in Iwo Jima where he was awarded the Purple Heart. Cpl. Andrews was also involved in the occupation of Japan. After the war, Andrews entered Auburn University where he received his Bachelors degree and spent a number of years in Marketing Management with Southern Bell in Atlanta, where he retired in 1982. Andrews received his Commission in the Air Force reserve shortly after graduating from Auburn and retired in 1984 at the rank of Major. Of his military service, he was most proud of being one of the survivors of Iwo Jima and a US Marine.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 14 at Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home at 2 p.m. with a reception to follow. Interment will be in Union Cemetery in Brewton, with Williams Memorial Chapel officiating. In lieu of flowers the family would prefer any memorials to be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P. O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675, or online at www.woundedwarriorproject.org.

Condolences may be sent and obituaries can be read at williamsmemorialchapel.com

 

 

Grace Imogene Harold Shell, age 90, of Simmons Street East Brewton, passed away Wednesday morning June 4, 2014 at a local hospital after a brief illness. She was a native and life long resident of East Brewton. Shell was a member of the Cedar Hill Methodist Church, a 1942 Graduate of W.S. Neal High School, and a retired Bookkeeper from Harold’s Mill and Robbins McGowin.

Survivors include one son, Joey (Gwynne) of East Brewton; one daughter, Charlotte (Dwain) Alverson of Brewton; one daughter-in-law, Mary Beth Shell of Brewton; one half sister, Henri Lynn Dantzler of Brewton; five grandchildren, Jonathan (Holly) Alverson, Adam (Melissa) Alverson, Hilary (Reo) Kirkland, William Shell, Dalton Shell; four great-grandchildren, Shel Alverson, Canon Alverson, Reo Joseph Kirkland, and Walker Brewer; one step-granddaughter Ann Warrick; Special Caregivers- Evelyn Brazile, Celia Brazile, and Pam Watson.

Shell was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence James Shell; son Johnny Shell, five brothers and one sister.

Visitation was held Friday, June 6, 2014 at the Cedar Hill Methodist Church in East Brewton. Funeral Services were held Friday, June 6, 2014 at the Cedar Hill Methodist Church with Rev. Jean Spikes and Brother Bill Wade officiating. Interment followed in Fort Crawford Cemetery in East Brewton with Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home directing.

Condolences may be sent and obituaries can be read At williamsmemorialchapel.com.

 

 

Ellen Virginia “Pee Wee” Newby Abston, age 57, of Buddy Lake Road in Brewton, passed away Wednesday, June 4, 2014, in a Pensacola, Fla. hospital after a brief illness. She was a native and life long resident of Escambia County, Alabama.

Abston was of the Baptist Faith, a 1975 graduate of W.S. Neal High School, a former employee of Judy Bond, and a homemaker.

She is survived by her husband, James Abston of Brewton; one daughter, Misty Hultz of Brewton; two brothers, Jerry Newby of East Brewton and Johnny (Tonya) Newby of Petal, Miss. She was preceded in death by her son, Kenneth Wayne Hultz, Jr.; and a brother, David Newby.

Visitation was held Thursday, June 5, 2014 from 6 until 8 p.m. at Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home in Brewton.

Funeral Services were held Friday, June 6, 2014 at 2 p.m. at Williams Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Jerry Elmore officiating. Internment followed at Union Cemetery in Brewton with Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home directing.

Condolences may be sent and obituaries can be read At williamsmemorialchapel.com.

 

 

James Calvin Kast, age 72, of Pierce Lane in Castleberry, passed away early Saturday morning May 24, 2014 at his residence after an extended illness. Kast was a native of Century, Fla. and life-long resident of Castleberry. He was a logger and a member of the Vines & Branches Church.

He is survived by four sons; James Richard Kast of Repton; Jerry (Angie) Kast of Castleberry; Terry (Angie) Kast of Evergreen; James Rivers of Tuscaloosa; one Daughter, Jennifer (Terry) Hayhurst of Benson, MN; one brother, Donnie Kast of Evergreen; two sisters, Carolyn Laster of Castleberry; Ernestine Caffey of Orange Beach; 12 grandchildren; and five Great Grandchildren

Kast was preceded in death by his daughter, Pam Williams and a brother, Buford Kast.

Visitation will be Sunday evening May 25, 2014 from 6 until 8 p.m. at Craver’s Funeral Home Inc.

Funeral services for James Calvin Kast were held Monday afternoon May 26, 2014 at 2 p.m. at Craver’s Funeral Home Inc. with Rev. Jason Blackwell officiating. Interment followed in New Hopewell Cemetery in Castleberry with Cravers Funeral Home Inc. of Brewton directin.

Please share your memories and condolences with the family at www.craversfh.com

 

 

Mary Catherine ‘Cathy’ Jerkins Duplantis

Houma, La.

 

Mary Catherine “Cathy” Jerkins Duplantis, 58, died Tuesday, June 10, 2014 at her home in Houma, La. She was a native of Fairhope and a long-time resident of Brewton. She was a member of the Class of 1974 at W.S. Neal High School in East Brewton.

She is survived by her husband, Errol Duplantis of Houma; two sons, Tracy (Tracy Lynn) Duplantis and Chris (Amy) Wilson; two daughters, Sandra (Jamie) Poe and Jessica (Shane) Foret; four sisters, Gwendolyn Jerkins, Karen Blackburn, Patricia Underwood and Cheryl Stewart; one brother, Craig Jerkins; and 11 grandchildren, Brooke, Zack, Shelby, Blake, Cameron, Brody, Jaylin, Colby, Caiden, Colton and Landon.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Carey and Martha Jerkins.

Visitation will be held Friday, June 13 from 9 to 11 a.m. at Samart Funeral Home of Houma with religious services to follow at 11 a.m.

 

Jo Ann Jackson Marshall

Brewton

 

Jo Ann Jackson Marshall, born to Edmond and Carrie Samuel Jackson in Brewton, died Saturday, May 31, 2014.

Jo Ann attended Southern Normal and graduated as the high school valedictorian. She then attended Hope College in Michigan and Tuskegee and then to the University of Maryland.

She would go on and retire from the Maryland State Department of Social Services after 30 years of service.

She is survived by her husband of 37 years, Dr. Grealy Marshall; a daughter, Anika Sherrell Marshall; a son, Kenja Da’Reyl Marshall; two grandsons, Jared Marshall and Christian Marshall; a newphew and a nice, Jonathan Emmanuel Newton and Carmen Newton; one godson, Dr. Kevin Brown; three sisters, Dorothy Underwood (Frankline deceased); Patsy Jackson; and Janice (Ronald) Woods; two brothers, Samuel Edmond Jackson (Minnie); and Rev. Larry Jackson (Aundria); brother-in-law Philander Leon Newton (Eileen deceased); an aunt Mary (Willie) Ewings; uncles Clinton (Bessie) Samuel, Jr.,  Tellis Samuel, Thomas Samuel; in-laws Eunice Marshall (George) Johnson; Juanita Marshall (Joel) Brown; Lillis (Alroy deceased) Marshall; Merome (Mae) Marshall; Andrew Marshall; Hubert (Gloria) Marshall; Aunt  Ivory Smith, and a hosts of nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.

Services were held Saturday, June 7, 2014 at 11 a.m. at Greater Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in Brewton. Rev. Bruce Brown, interim pastor officiated along with Rev. Robert Strong, and Rev. Larry Jackson. Internment followed at Second Bethlehem Baptist Church Cemetery in Brewton with Presley-Fluker Funeral Home directing.