David Roland Brooks

Flomaton

David Roland Brooks, 64, of Holt Street in Flomaton, passed away Sat., June 3, 2017, in a local hospital after a brief illness.

Visitation will be held from 10 until 11 a.m. on Sat., June 17, at Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home in Brewton. Memorial Services will follow at 11 a.m. at Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home with speaker Jim Bryant officiating and Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home directing.

He was a native of Birmingham and a long time resident of Flomaton. He was of the Methodist faith, a 1970 graduate of Flomaton High School, a U.S. National Guard veteran, a former radio announcer from WEBJ, and a former bingo caller. He worked in security at Wind Creek Casino for more than 20 years.

He is survived by his sister, Carole Ann (Jim) Bryant of Flomaton; two step-children, James Benefield and Skylar Benefield; nephew, Willie Ben (Therese) Downs of Castleberry; and sister-in-law, Joan Downs of Brewton.

He was preceded in death by parents, Chester Roland and Elizabeth Nall Brooks Downs; stepfather, Bill Downs; brother, Willie Downs; and common law wife, Kelley Benefield.

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

James Franklin Holland Sr.

Brewton

James Franklin Holland, Sr., 87, of Alexander Drive in Brewton, passed away Mon., June 12, 2017, in a local hospital after a brief illness.

Visitation will be held Thurs., June 15, from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. at Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.

Funeral Services are scheduled to follow at 3 p.m. at Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. John Finklea officiating. Interment will follow in Green Acres Cemetery Brewton, with Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home directing.

He was a native of Atkinson County, Ga., a former resident of Fernandina Beach, Fla., and a long time resident of Brewton. He was a member of the Brewton First Baptist Church. He was active in the Masonic Lodge, past master of the Brewton lodge, was a 33 degree Scottish Rite Mason, and a member of the Abba Shrine Temple in Mobile.

He was employed by Container Corporation of America in Fernandina Beach, Fla., being transferred to Brewton in 1957 and retiring as a general superintendent in September 1988 after 39 years of service.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, June Smith Holland; son, James F. (Carol) Holland, both of Brewton; two brothers, Nerle E. (Grace), and Burnell (Betty Jo) Holland, both of Fernandina Beach, Fla.; sister, Evelyn Holland Shaw of Bainbridge, Ga.; three grandchildren, Jimmy Holland, Patrick (Misty) Holland and Jennifer L. Holland; and seven great grandchildren, Camberlyn, Kassidy, Jessica, Alexander, Costes, Starr and Taylor.

He is preceded in death by parents, V. and Maybelle Kilgore Holland; son, Jeffrey L. Holland; brother, W.D. Holland; and sister, Lottie Holland Ford.

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

Billy Uriah Albertson

Brewton

Billy Uriah Albertson, 81, of Scott Street in Brewton, passed away Thurs., June 8, 2017, in a local hospital after a brief illness.

Funeral services were held Sat., June 10, at 2 p.m. at Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. Mike Henderson officiating. Interment with military honors followed in Green Acres Cemetery in Brewton, with Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Brewton directing.

He was a native and long time resident of Brewton, and a former resident of Gulfport, Miss. He was a member of the Cedar Hill Baptist Church and a graduate of W.S. Neal High School. He was a master mason and Shriner. He was a retired U.S. Army veteran with more than 20 years of service.

He is survived by his son, Michael (Regina) Albertson of Brewton; brother, Bruce Albertson of Wisconsin; sisters, Angel Lee Durden of South Carolina, and Elizabeth Scott of Brewton; two grandchildren, Nikki Cunningham of Sunflower, and Windi Potter of Oklahoma; and five great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by parents, Frank James and Betty Reeves Albertson; and brother, Frank James Albertson, Jr.

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

Gladys Burrell Smith Salter

Brewton

Gladys Burrell Smith Salter, 87, of Woodmere Drive in Brewton, passed away Fri., June 9, 2017, at a local hospital after a brief illness.

Graveside services were held for Mon., June 12, at 1:30 p.m. at Union Cemetery with the Rev. Cleveland Brown officiating. Interment followed in Union Cemetery in Brewton with Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Brewton directing.

She was a native of Mexia, and resident of Monroe County, before moving to Brewton. She retired from Vanity Fair, was an owner/operator of the original Oaks Cafe, and of the Methodist faith.

She is survived by daughter, Cheryl (Bob) Najor of Brewton; sister, Betty Burch of Lenox; brother, Melvin Smith of Thomasville; grandson, Lew Najor of Brewton; great grandchildren, Alex (Ethan) Najor Gatwood, Jake Najor and Kate Najor; two great great grandchildren, Grayson and Payton; and numerous nephews and nieces.

She was preceded in death by parents, Ben and Vena Smith; and husband, Charlie W. Salter.

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

Willie H. Williamson

Brewton

Willie H. Williamson, 92, made his final journey to rest on the other side with his Lord and Savior on June 10, 2017.

Funeral services were held on Tues., June 13, at 1 p.m. from the chapel of Craver’s Funeral Home with Bro. James Peacock officiating. Interment followed in Pineview Cemetery.

Pallbearers were Jerry Bell, Brian Chavers, Hunter Barlow, Johnny Chavers, Wayne Lisenby and Walter Johnston.

He was a life-long resident of the Pineview community and was a long-standing member of the Pineview Pentecostal Holiness Church. He retired from the T.R. Miller Mill Company. In his younger years he enjoyed  farming, hunting and fishing.  He was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Hazel Christine Williamson; a son, Phillip Wayne Williamson; and a daughter, Donna Faye Williamson.

He is survived by four daughters, Diane Harbin, Shirley Gafford, Sylvia (Johnny) Chavers and Angela Christine Williamson; three brothers, Cletus Williamson, Barney Williamson and Bobby James Williamson; four grandchildren, Brian (Andrea) Chavers, Gina (Walter) Johnston, Alicia Crutchfield and Michele (Daniel) Hendricks; 10 great-grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Pineview Cemetery Fund c/o Alene Welch 1634 Old Foshee Road, Brewton, AL, 36426.

Share your memories and condolences with the family at craversfh.com.

Magnolia ‘Janie’ Beamon Lewis

Brewton

Magnolia ‘Janie’ Beamon Lewis, 90, passed away on Mon., June 5, 2017.

Funeral services were held Sat., June 10, at 2:30 p.m. at Baptist Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Brewton with the Rev. Eric T. Andrews officiating. Interment followed at Springhill Cemetery in Brewton with Presley-Fluker Funeral Directors directing.

She was born on March 8, 1927 to Abraham ‘Wink’ Beamon and Eugenia Pullum Beamon in Brewton. She was a well known member and actively worked on different boards and missionary organizations at Baptist Hill Missionary Baptist Church. At the age of 18, she married John Arthur Lewis Sr. To this union seven children were born. She worked tirelessly as a beautician until 2016.

Later in life as her children were getting older, Jefferson Davis Community College opened in Brewton. It was there she attended and earned her GED, and enrolled in music classes, which awakened her love for playing the piano and organ. She continued taking music under private teachers traveling to Pensacola, Fla., and other places.

She passed on her Anointing; her love of music, to her loved ones, with many generations of musicians and more to come. She loved people of all races and ages, but more so she loved the Lord.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brothers, Abraham Jr., and David; sisters, Cora, Nellie, Annie Ruth and Betty; and granddaughters, Vivian Lewis and Jennifer Washington.

She leaves to cherish her memory brothers, Embery (Grace) Beamon of Mount Vernon; adopted brothers, Ronnie Beamon and Lonnie Beamon of Las Vegas, Nev.; sister, Lillie Pearl (Avon) Hall of Highland, Calif.; sister-in-laws, E’Lois Johnson of Chicago, Ill., Altha Woods, Frances Stokes, Alice Foney of Chicago, Ill., and Shirley (Frank) Brown of Pensacola, Fla.; children, Loretta Thomas of Montgomery, John (Bernice) Lewis of Brewton, Linda (Winfred) Shipman of Pensacola, Fla., Wilhelmina Lewis of Robertsdale, Sandra (Hileary) Culliver of Atmore, Barbara Curry of Brewton, and Kenneth Lewis of Crestview, Fla.; 25 grandchildren; 62 great-grandchildren; and 11 great-great-grandchildren.