Obits for Wed., April 22, edition

Published 5:00 am Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Ella ‘Frances’ Weaver Goolsby
East Brewton

Ella “Frances” Weaver Goolsby, 85, of Eby Street in East Brewton, passed away Fri., April 17, 2015, at a Century, Fla., nursing home after an extended illness.
She was a native and life long resident of Escambia County. She was a former Walmart greeter and a homemaker and of the Baptist faith.
She is survived by three sons, Michael (Mary Jean) Goolsby of East Brewton, William (Cherri) Goolsby of East Brewton and Tony Goolsby of New Iberia, La.; one daughter, Betty (Paul) Thompson of Brewton; 10 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband Griffin C. Goolsby
Services were held on Mon., April 20, at 11 a.m. at Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. John Kemp and the Rev. Woody Jackson officiating.
Interment followed at Weaver Cemetery in Brewton with Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Brewton directing.
Condolences may be sent and obituaries can be read at williamsmemorialchapel.com.

Edward Keith Smith
Tuscaloosa

Edward Keith Smith, 51, of Hwy. 82 in Tuscaloosa, passed away Tues., April 7, 2015, in Tuscaloosa.
He was a native and long time resident of Escambia County before moving to Tuscaloosa. He was a 1982 graduate of W.S. Neal High School and attended Jefferson Davis Community College. He earned his electrical engineering degree from the University of Alabama.
He and business partner Bobby Ellis were owners of E & S Petroleum Services Inc. in Tuscaloosa.
He is survived by his mother, Peggy Smith of Brewton; his wife, Robin Behnke Smith of Tuscaloosa; one sister, Darlene (Marcus) Chavers of Brewton; one niece, Rebecca Chavers; one nephew, Zachary (Lauren) Boatwright, all of Brewton; one step-son, Tolbert (Angela) Locke; one step-grandson, John Henry; and one great-niece, Kairi Boatwright.
Graveside services were held on Fri., April 17, at 2 p.m. at the Zion Hill Cemetery with Elder Tommy Jernigan and Elder Sharon Jernigan officiating.
Interment followed in Zion Hill Cemetery in Brewton with Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Brewton directing.
Condolences may be sent and obituaries can be read at williamsmemorialchapel.com.

Johnny Ray Newby
Petal, Miss.

Johnny Ray Newby, 55, of Candelabra Street in Petal, Miss., passed away Monday April 13, 2015, in a Gulfport, Miss., hospice facility after an extended illness.
He was a native and long time resident of Brewton before moving to Mississippi. He was a member of the Hattiesburg First Baptist Church and was employed with the Brewton Police Department, Escambia County Sheriff’s Department and the Drug Task Force 21st Judicial Circuit for many years. After moving to Mississippi, he was employed as a car salesman at Ryan Chevrolet.
He is survived by his wife Tonya Deese Newby; one son, Jonathan Newby, both of Petal, Miss.; one brother, Jerry Newby of East Brewton; and two step-brothers Terry Chisum and Larry Chisum, both of Brewton.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Roy Lee and Easter Virginia Herrington Newby; brother, David Newby; and sister, Virginia Newby Abston.
Funeral services were held on Sat., April 18, at 2 p.m. at Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. Brad Roberts officiating.
Interment followed in Union Cemetery in Brewton with Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Brewton directing.
Condolences may be sent and obituaries can be read at williamsmemorialchapel.com.

Natalie Danielle Grimes McCall
Brewton

Natalie Danielle Grimes McCall, 25, of Lynbrook Drive in Brewton, passed away Sat., April 11, 2015, from injuries sustained in a automobile accident.
She was a native of Montgomery and a life long resident of Escambia County. She was of the Assembly of God faith, attended W.S. Neal School and was a homemaker.
She is survived by her father, Michael Grimes; mother, Georgia (Chad) Murphy; daughter, Bailey Jorja Alynda McCall; son, Levi William Steadman; brother, Brewer Murphy, all of Brewton; one sister, Hillary Christina (Brandon) Rose of Gulf Breeze, Fla.; one half-sister, Christian Grimes of Berrydale, Fla.; paternal grandmother, Lydia Grimes of Brewton; maternal grandfather, Philip (Suellen) of Wisconsin; and paternal grandmother, Sharon Murphy.
She was preceded in death by her paternal grandfather, Jim Grimes; maternal great-grandparents, William E. and Georgia Maxine Royce; and paternal grandfather, Paul Murphy.
Funeral services were held on Fri., April 17, at 2 p.m. at the Rock Creek Assembly of God Church with the Rev. David Earl Elliott officiating.
Interment followed in Rock Creek Assembly of God Church Cemetery in the Rock Creek Community of Brewton, with Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Brewton directing.
Condolences may be sent and obituaries can be read at williamsmemorialchapel.com.

Emma Ruth Mahone Billy
Brewton

Emma Ruth Mahone Billy died at her home on April 19 after a brief illness. She was 87.
She was born in Luverne, on June 16, 1927, the younger daughter of Paul Mack and Inez Searcy Mahone.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 62 years, Joseph Alfred Billy; her sister, Bessie Thomas; and one grandson, Matthew Hutton Billy.
She graduated from T.R. Miller High School and worked for South Central Bell for many years as well as Mack’s Transfer Company, a family-owned business. She was an active member of First Baptist Church of Brewton and was a renowned cook and hostess. She enjoyed a close knit circle of lifelong friends from whom she drew great joy.
Mrs. Billy is survived by her sons, Alan Mack Billy and Stephen Mahone Billy and his wife Beth; and three grandchildren, Joseph Allen Billy, Stephen Searcy Billy and Laurel Elizabeth Billy.
Visitation will be held today from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. with funeral services set for 1 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Brewton and will be directed by Williams Funeral Chapel. The Reverends John Finklea and Jack Fitts will conduct the service. Interment will follow in Union Cemetery Brewton, Alabama with
Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Brewton directing. Memorials may be made to the Matthew Hutton Billy Memorial Scholarship Fund, Jefferson Davis Community College, P. O. Box 958, Brewton, AL, 36427.
Condolences may be sent and obituaries can be read at williamsmemorialchapel.com.

Clayton R. Fuqua, Sr.
Lebanon, Tenn.

Clayton Fuqua, Sr., passed away on Mon., April 20, 2015, at age 84.
Fuqua was the son of the late E.B. Fuqua and Emmie L. Fuqua, both deceased of Brewton. Also preceding him in death are brother Ed and Calvin Fuqua, and sister Lola Fuqua.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Goldie E. Gregory Fuqua and four sons, Ray Jr. (Gail) Fuqua, Terry (Kathy) Fuqua, James (Kim) Fuqua, and Ralph Fuqua, all of Lebanon Tenn.; five granddaughters; one grandson; 11 great-grandchildren; and his sister Katie Wilson of Brewton.
He was retired from Textron and the Tennessee National Guard Company B. He was a member of the Church of Christ that meets at Hickory Ridge in Lebanon, Tenn. He was a native of Brewton AL and a Korean Era War Vet. His remains will be cremated and no services will be held.
Sellars Funeral Home, Lebanon Tenn., is in charge of arrangements.

Robert Ni’gel Johnson
Brewton

Robert Ni’gel Johnson was born on Dec. 4, 1962 in Brewton to Willa Jean and Horace Johnson. He departed this life Mon., April 13, 2015.
He attended the public schools of Albion, Mich. He loved gospel music and attending church. He was an active member of Pentecostal Temple Ministries in Pensacola, Fla., with Bishop John D. Young as pastor.
He leaves to cherish his memories a loving mother and father, Horace and Willa Jean Johnson of Albion, Mich.; four aunts, Jeannette (Robert) Smiley, Margaret Riley, (Earlene Johnson) all of Albion, Mich., and Zella Atwood of Pensacola, Fla.; six uncles, Gary Caldwell, Jesse (Lisa) Culliver, both of Jackson, Mich., Alfonza Caldwell of New Rochelle, N.Y., Frank Culliver of Toledo, Ohio, Hillary (Sandra) Culliver of Atmore and Charlie Johnson of Brewton; and a host of cousins and friends.
Services were held Sat., April 18, at 11 a.m. at Second Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church in Brewton with the Rev. Cartez Hall serving as pastor and officiator and Bishop John D. Young, Sr., serving as eulogist.
Interment followed at Second Bethlehem Baptist Church Cemetery in Brewton with Presley-Fluker Funeral directors directing.

Isaac Poker Richardson
Brewton

On Sun., April 12, 2015, Isaac Poker Richardson departed this life at Southern Regional Hospital in Riverdale, Ga. He was born in Brewton on February 24, 1931 to the late Ira Richardson and Clara Lee Thompson. He was preceded in death by two siblings, Bernice Murry and James Humphrey. He was also preceded in death by a nephew, James Harris.
At an early age, he united with Second Saint Siloam Missionary Baptist Church and later moved with his family to Birmingham where he completed high school and joined the U.S. Army. After serving in the U.S. Army, he returned to Birmingham and attended a technical called to obtain certification in radio and television repair. Upon obtaining his certification he took a job and moved to Buffalo, N.Y., for approximately 25 years. In his retirement, he moved back to Brewton and reunited with Second Saint Siloam Missionary Church until his health failed. Then, because of his ill health, he made a heartfelt decision to moved to Georgia with his cousins.
He leaves to cherish his memories, a sister-in-law, Mary A. Humphrey; one niece, Monica (Robert) Duncan; four great nieces, Brittany M. Duncan, Brooke A. Duncan, Sheniqua Harris, and Latonca Harris; seven devoted cousins, Alma, Wynetta, and Michelle, all of Jonesboro, Ga., Burl (Hattie) Hall, Jr., of Wetumpka, Charles (Rose) Hall of Wichita Fall, Texas, Johnny F. (Jennifer) Hall and Patrice E. (Curtis) Dees, both of Brewton; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Services were held Sat., April 18, at 2:30 p.m. at Second Saint Siloam Missionary Baptist Church with the Rev. Willie J. Blue servicing and pastor and officiator.
Internment followed at Baptist Hill Cemetery in Brewton with Presley-Fluker Funeral Directors directing.