Obituaries for the Wed., April 23, 2014, edition
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Ernest Leon “Ernie” Hanks
Lenox
Ernest Leon “Ernie” Hanks, 83, of Swampy Acres in Lenox, passed away Friday morning, April 18, 2014, at his residence after an extended illness.
Funeral services were held Sat., April 19, at 10 a.m., at the Springhill United Methodist Church with Dr. Thomas Lane Butts and the Rev. Jean Spikes officiating. Interment followed in Springhill Cemetery with Craver’s Funeral Home of Brewton directing.
He was a native and life-long resident of Lenox and was a retired senior master sergeant in the United States Air Force Reserve with 25 years of service. He was a member of the American Legion Post No. 0061 in Monroeville, the diabetic support group at Monroe County Hospital and chairman of the men’s prayer breakfast at the Springhill United Methodist Church of which he as a member. He was also active in the Alabama Tombigbee Regional Commission.
He is survived by his wife, Angelina Carbonara Hanks; three sons, Butch (Linda) Hanks, Randy (Ree) Hanks and Donnie Hanks, all of Lenox; daughter, Marguerite (Gerry) Watson of Bermuda, Ala.; two brothers; Jerry (Marsha) Hanks of Dadeville and Harold Hanks of Lenox; sister, Mary (Dr. Don Huber) Huber of Huntsville; eight grandchildren, Michael Hanks, Marty Hanks, Alex Watson, Brittany Hanks, Buchanan Watson, Hunter Hanks, Justina Bowen and Dusty Hanks; four great-grandchildren, Tyler Hanks, Blair Hanks, Coleman Hanks and Sophia Bowen; sister-in-law, Louise Hanks of Lufkin, Texas; and brother-in-law, Bob Bowen of Huntsville.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Claude and Ethel Sims Hanks; brother, Max Hanks; and sister, Claudine Bowen.
Pallbearers were Michael Hanks, Marty Hanks, Buchanan Hanks, Hunter Hanks, Dusty Hanks and Tyler Hanks.
In lieu of flowers, the family asked that contributions be made to Springhill United Methodist Church.
To share your memories and condolences with the family at craversfh.com.
Bobbie Louise Caldwell Parkinson
Brewton
Bobbie Louise Caldwell Parkinson, 77, of Old Highway 31 in Brewton, died Saturday evening, April 19, 2014, at Century Care Center after an extended illness.
A native of Lanett and a former resident of Tallasee, before moving to Brewton two-and-a-half years ago, she was a retired manager with the Loachapoka Water Authority and was a member of the Catawba Springs Baptist Church.
Visitation was held on Tues., April 22, at 10 a.m., at Craver’s Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral services followed at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Jeff Edwards officiating. Interment also follow in Catawba Springs Cemetery with Craver’s Funeral Home of Brewton directing.
She is survived by two sons, James E. (Teri) Parkinson of Brewton and Stanley W. (Peggy) Parkinson of Andalusia; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren
She was preceded in death by her husband, James Wilkinson Parkinson.
Ruby Lee O’Farrell
Brewton
Ruby Lee O’Farrell, 103, of Brewton, passed away on Tues., April 15, 2014, at a local nursing facility.
Funeral services were held on Thurs., April 17, and began with a 10 a.m. period of visitation, followed by an 11 a.m. service with the Rev. Fred White officiating and Craver’s Funeral Home of Brewton directing. Interment followed in Weaver’s Cemetery of Brewton.
She was a native of Brewton and a lifetime member of the Brewton community. She was a homemaker of the Pentecostal faith and a member of Pilgrim’s Chapel.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Frank O’Farrell; son, Edward O’Farrell; daughter, Lola O’Farrell; great-granddaughter, Amelia Pugh; brothers, William Barrow and Lawrence Barrow; and sisters, Wilner Findley and Nancy Jane Barrow.
She is survived by her daughters, Gloria Nell Clifton and Evelyn Stowers, both of Brewton; sisters, Hazel Redinger of Cumberland, Md., and Allie Hart and Vaudean Watson, both of Brewton; granddaughter, Corrie (Randy) Pittman; grandsons, Elton (Jean) Stowers, Ronald (Dianne) Stowers, Mark (Julie) Clifton and Richard (Trina) Blackburn; great-grandsons, Zac Clifton, Matthew Colvin, Spec. Blake Colvin, Patrick Stowers and Heath Pittman; two great-great granddaughters; and four great-great-grandsons.
Pallbearers were Chris Cain, Anthony Cain, Bill Watson, Billy Barrow, Hurston Barnes and Buford Lowery.
Aurelius McMillian
Brewton
Aurelius McMillian, 84, died on Sat., April 12, 2014.
Funeral services were held on Fri., April 18, at 11 a.m., at Baptist Hill Missionary Church in Brewton with the Rev. E.T. Andrews officiating. Interment followed in the church cemetery.
He was born on March 10, 1930, to the late Allie McMillian in Monroe County. He ushered for many years; was a member of Masonic Lodge No. 943; and served in the U.S. Air Force. He retired from South Central Bell Telephone Co. after 20 years.
He leaves to cherish his memories a devoted wife, Lula McMillian; sister, Maggie McMillian; two sons; one grandson; one brother-in-law; and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
Laura DeFrancisco
Derby, Conn.
Maria Laura (Guidetti) DeFranciso of Derby, Conn., entered into rest after a brief illness on Thurs., April 10, 2014.
She was born in Sardinia, Italy, the daughter of Natale and Mercedes Guidetti. She immigrated to Connecticut in 1948. She graduated from the University of Cagliari with a degree in fine arts and spoke several languages.
She is survived by two sons, John (Nancy) DeFranciso and Dr. Robert (Sandy) DeFrancisco of Brewton; six grandchildren, Jessica (Joseph) Schryver of Seymour, Conn., Jennifer DeFrancisco of Debry, Conn., and Taylor, Brooke, Tanner and Grant DeFrancisco of Brewton; a brother, Guido; and sisters, Luisa and Roseanna, all of Caliari, Italy.
A mass of Christian burial was held on Mon., April 14, at 11:30 a.m., at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Derby. Interment followed at St. Peter’s Cemetery.
Contributions may be made to Storms Ambulance Corp or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
To leave online condolences for the family, visit adzimafh.com.
Ruthie Merel Allen
Brewton
Ruthie Merel Allen, a native of Jay, Fla., former resident of Foley, and current Brewton resident, died Sun., April 13, 2014. She was 80.
A memorial service was held at 7 p.m., on Fri., April 18, at Joy Tabernacle in Foley, with cremation arrangements handled by Pine Rest Funeral Home of Foley.
She is survived by her daughter, Janet (Noel) Vallecillo; grandsons, Anthony Vallecillo and Chris Dickson, all of Foley, and Marcus Dickson of Elberta; and granddaughter, Chrisitin Dickson of Mobile.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James Henry Allen.
Thomas “Tommy” Alan Hulse
Broken Arrow, Okla.
Thomas “Tommy” Alan Hulse, 52, of Broken Arrow, Okla., died on Mon., April 14, 2014, at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Okla.
Graveside services with military honors were held at 11 a.m., Thurs., April 17, at the National Cemetery in Fort Gibson, Okla., under the direction of Hayhurst Funeral Home.
Born on Sept. 23, 1961, in Pensacola, Fla., the son of Richard Paul and Sara Elizabeth (Lester) Hulse, he was a 1980 graduate of Union High School in Tulsa, Okla., after attending school at W.S. Neal and T.R. Miller.
He earned a master’s degree in occupational health and safety from Columbia Southern University in Orange Beach. He entered the United States Navy on April 1, 1987, and was honorably discharged on May 19, 1989. He was employed by SMG Management, working as a stationary engineer for the B.O.K. Center in Tulsa, Okla.
He enjoyed refurbishing motorcycles and cars. He also enjoyed electronics and computers. His greatest joy in life came from his daughter and the Alabama Crimson Tide. He attended the Church of Christ and Cedar Ridge Christian Church in Broken Arrow.
He is survived by his daughter, Jamie Hulse of Pryor, Okla.; brother, Robert and wife Cathy Hulse of Brewton; sister, Cheryl (Byron) Standridge of Trinity, Ala.; and several cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
To leave a memory or a word of encouragement to the family, visit hayhurstfuneralhome.com.