Obituaries for Wed., April 19, 2017, edition
Published 4:35 pm Tuesday, April 18, 2017
Martha Gross King
Conecuh County
Martha Gross King, 84, passed away on Thurs., April 13, 2017 in Brewton.
Funeral services will be held Fri., April 21, at 2 p.m. at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Brewton with Charles A. Lee officiating and Presley-Fluker Funeral Home directing.
She was born on July 25, 1932, in Conecuh County to the late Willie S. and Ida Gross. She dedicated her life to Jehovah and symbolized her dedication by water baptism on Oct. 19, 1972.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Walter King; six brothers, Willie B., Albert, Robert James, James L., Willie S. Jr., and Ezekiel Gross; and two sisters, Ida Pearl Willis Mitchell and Annie Stephen.
She is survived by nine children, Diane King Hampton of Detroit, Mich., Walter Levon King Jr. (Alma) of the Philippines; Lenora King Ballard (Clarence) of Brewton, Wanda King Lee (Charles) of Robersdale, Jerry King (Judy) of Brewton, Bobby King of San Leandro, Calif., Henry King and Christopher King, both of Brewton, and Darrin King (Teresa) of Huntsville; one sister, Dorothy Gross Stallworth (Manson) of Akron, Ohio; and a host of grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
The King family wishes to express sincere appreciation for everyone’s loving kindness and expressions of sympathy during this most difficult time.
Agnes Fuqua Roberts
Youngstown, Fla.
Agnes Fuqua Roberts, 96, of Youngstown, Fla., passed away Tues., April 11, 2017, in a Panama City, Fla., nursing facility after a brief illness.
Funeral services were held April 14, at 1 p.m. at Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. Larry Cunningham officiating. Interment followed in Elim Cemetery in Brewton with Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home directing.
She was a native of Escambia County, a former resident of Fort Walton, Fla., before moving to Youngstown. She was of the Baptist faith, a member of the Crestview American Legion and a homemaker.
She is survived by two sons, Lloyd Calhoun of Crestview, Fla., and Jerry Calhoun of Atlanta; daughter, Yvoynne Bates of White Springs, Fla.; two brothers, Edgar (Ruth) Fuqua of Youngstown, Fla., and Franklin Fuqua of Fairhope; three sisters, Bernice Baker of Hawthorne, Fla., Donnie Kelley of Panama City, Fla., and Jeweldean Cunningham of Baker, Fla.; and a number of grandchildren and great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by son, Leon Calhoun; brother, Glen Fuqua; and sister, Comer Jordan.
Condolences may be sent and obituaries can be read at williamsmemorialchapel.com.
Charles Kenneth Arrant
East Brewton
Charles Kenneth Arrant, 72, of Mantel Street of East Brewton, passed away early Friday morning, April 14, 2017, in a local nursing facility after a brief illness.
Funeral services were held Mon., April 17, at 2 p.m. at Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. Keith Lisenby and the Rev. Rob Arrant officiating. Interment followed in Elim Cemetery Roberts Community in Brewton, with Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home directing.
He was a native of Century, Fla., and a life long resident of Escambia County. He was a member of the Alco Baptist Church, a 1963 graduate of Flomaton High School, and a former employee of T.R. Miller Mill and QPS Construction. He enjoyed fishing.
He is survived by a son, Bob (Cindy) Arrant of East Brewton; daughter, Lisa (Lee) Hall of Flomaton; two brothers, Don (Saralene) Arrant of Brewton, and Harold (Betty) Arrant of Pace, Fla.; sister, Linda (Jim) Burkett of Flomaton; and three grandchildren, Ryan Hendrick, Rob Arrant and Megan Hall.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Mozelle Pittman Arrant.
Condolences may be sent and obituaries can be read at williamsmemorialchapel.com.
Elizabeth Iona Rigby Ellis
Brewton
Elizabeth Iona Rigby Ellis, 95, passed away peacefully with her loving daughters by her side on Thurs., April 13, 2017.
Graveside services were held Sat., April 15, at 10 a.m. at Fort Crawford Cemetery with Bro. Bernie Raines officiating and Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home directing.
She was known for her strength, love of God, her beautiful gardens and her delicious meals. She will be deeply missed. She remained happy and kind to her daughters, Betty, Debbie, and Angela, and their families. Her spirit will live on in the hearts of those that truly loved her.
She was born Dec. 7, 1921, to William and Edith Rigby in Canoe. She was a spirited young lady from the beginning, getting into trouble one day coming home from school, accepting a ride on a motor scooter from a young lad, whilst wearing a dress, no less.
She was the eldest daughter of two sisters, the late Ruth Rigby Jackson of Flomaton and Carolyn Rigby Hassebrock of Cantonment, Fla., and two brothers, the William Rigby of Sacramento, Calif., and Leon Rigby of St. Petersburg, Fla.
Her brother William was in the Army. He had a buddy named L.J. Ellis. Together they walked into the 5 & Dime Elmore’s store where she worked in downtown Atmore.
She and L.J. were married on April 3, 1941. They had five children. The three daughters are Betty Ann Ellis Fagundes of LaGrange, Ga., Deborah Kay Ellis Griffin of Roswell, Ga., and Angela Sharon Ellis Moore of Pensacola Beach, Fla.
The couple was instrumental in the development of Cedar Hill Baptist Church in East Brewton, where they both devotedly served and worshiped. She served as superintendent of Sunday School, on many advisory boards, and many pulpit committees. She was also a Sunday school teacher for years.
She and L.J. loved to have the church over on Wednesdays and Sundays after services. She would lay out a beautiful spread of delicious food served on her finest china. She frequently provided transportation to many people who didn’t have a way to get to church or whose parents didn’t normally go to church.
Some 30 years after the fact, a grown man timidly came up to Elizabeth, and quietly told her with tears in his eyes, “If you hadn’t kept picking me up every Sunday, I wouldn’t be a Christian today. Thank you.”
She and L.J. had an accounting firm together. They worked side-by-side, ledger-by-ledger. And when it was time to say goodbye to that segment of their life, they continued to work hard together on their rental properties and their own home.
Her one and only Love passed away Dec. 2, 1996. They were married 54 years. She never remarried. She remained in their home, the one he built, until she turned 89.
She is survived by her daughters and their husbands, Betty Ellis and Joe Fagundes, Debbie Ellis and Steve Griffin, Angela Ellis and Peter Moore; sister, Carolyn (Johnny) Hassebrock; grandchildren, Joseph III (Deanna) Fagundes, David (Beth) Fagundes, Meghan Conklin, Stephanie Griffin, Carmen Ellis (Bruce) Patterson, Karen Ellis (Terry) Bodie, Daniel, Jr. ( Stacy) Ellis, Katie Ellis ( Chris ) Mixon, and Kyle (Megan) Ellis; great grandchildren, Christopher Jackson, Benjamin Patterson, Jillian Patterson, Richard Jackson, Jackson Fagundes, Elizabeth Fagundes, Jon Thomas Fagundes, David Keith Fagundes Jr., Joseph Fagundes IV, and Madeline Anne Ellis; and two great-great grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by one grandchild, Jonathan Gagundes.
Archie Dewitt Agerton
East Brewton
Archie Dewitt Agerton, 82, passed away Tues., April 11, 2017, at the Brewton hospital.
Funeral services were held on Thurs., April 13, at 3 p.m. from the chapel of Craver’s Funeral Home with the Rev. Thomas White and Bro. J. Heath Wilson officiating. Interment followed in Fort Crawford Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Doug Agerton, Michael Agerton, Henry Hooks, Jerry Grissett, Bobby Frazier and Joe Fuqua.
He was a native and life-long resident of East Brewton. He worked as a hairdresser for a number of years, and was a member of Cedar Hill Baptist Church.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Hortense Bethea Agerton; two brothers, Bill Agerton, and Bobby Agerton; and two sisters, Beatrice Scruggs, and Mary Lou Holland.
He is survived by one brother and sister-in-law, James “Jimmy” Agerton and Elouise Agerton of Brewton; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Share your memories and condolences with the family at craversfh.com.
Esther Davidson Cain
Brewton
Esther Davidson Cain, 82, passed away Fri., April 14, at a Brewton health care facility, following a long illness.
Funeral services were held at Appleton Free Will Baptist Church on Mon., April 17, at 11 a.m. with Pastors Ronald Hall and Herman Bradley officiating. Interment followed in Cooper Cemetery with Craver’s Funeral Home directing.
She was a 57 year resident of the Appleton Community, and had lived her entire adult life in the Brewton area. She was born in Perdue Hill, and grew up in the Excel community. She worked at the Box Division of T.R. Miller Mill Company, and retired from Vanity Fair in Monroeville.
She was a charter member of the Appleton Free Will Baptist Church where she taught Sunday school for many years and also worked in the hospitality ministry of the church.
She is preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, Coy Lee Cain; daughter, Wanda Sharmon Johnson; and twin sister, Hester Cooper.
She is survived by her son, Wayne Cain of Brewton; two grandchildren, Amber (Dr. William) Roy of Daphne, and Kami Heiob of Cincinnati, Ohio; three great-grandchildren, Alex Cain of Daphne, and Jakob and Taylor Heiob of Cincinnati, Ohio; two sisters, Rosetta (Alfred) Turberville, and Jeanette Blackmon, both of Monroeville; and many nieces, nephews and other family members.
The family would like to express their sincere thanks for the kind and compassionate service given to their mom by the entire staff at West Gate Village. They would also like to express their sincere appreciation to all the staff at Comfort Care Hospice. “The nursing staff and hospice staff went far beyond what service alone required. We thank you all.”
Share your memories and condolences with the family at craversfh.com.
James Terry Crawford Sr.
Brewton
James Terry Crawford Sr., 79, passed away Sat., April 15, 2017 at his Brewton residence.
Graveside funeral services were held at May Creek Cemetery on Tues., April 18, at 2 p.m. with Pastor Tom Stone of Grace Worship Center in Montgomery officating where “You matter to God and to Grace Worship Center” and Craver’s Funeral Home directing.
Pallbearers were William Clarence Reynolds, Brent Miller, Thomas Emmons, Daryl Coleman, Kenny Hultz and Colby Langham.
Honorary pallbearers were Johnny Hutchins and Keith Hutchins.
He was a life-long resident of Brewton. He was a graduate of W.S. Neal High School and was salutatorian in 1956. He attended Larkins Business School in Brewton, and participated in correspondence courses through the American Institute of Banking, and completed various courses at Jefferson Davis Junior College. He worked for a number of years at First National Bank of Brewton before accepting a position as Vice-President at First National Bank of Jay. He owned Crawford Farms, taking over from his father the farm that was started by his grandfather, W.H. Crawford. He enjoyed raising cattle, horses and pigs. He pastored Word Of Life for 10 years, and attended May Creek United Methodist Church.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred Terry Crawford and Minnie Lee Wiggins Crawford; sister, Dorthy Crawford Mantle; and brother, Raymond Lamr Crawford.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Jane Dean Crawford of Brewton; one son, Jim Crawford of Brewton; one daughter, Gina Crawford (William Clarence) Reynolds of Columbus, Ga.; two grandchildren, Jennie Nicole Crawford of Brewton, and Amanda Renee (Brent) Miller of Evergreen; one great-granddaughter, Makynlee A. Miller; and two nieces, Annette Mantle of Brewton, and Wanda McCurdy of Brewton.
Share your memories and condolences with the family at craversfh.com.
James Allen ‘Jimmy’ Hanes
Mobile
James Allen “Jimmy” Hanes, 74, passed away Sat., April 15, 2017, in a Mobile nursing facility.
A memorial service was held on Tues., April 18, at 10 a.m. from the chapel of Craver’s Funeral Home with Sister Mary Martin, and Bro. J. Heath Wilson officiating.
He was born in Grayson County, Texas, and had been living in Mobile for the past 27 years. He was a veteran, having served in both the U.S. Army and the National Guard, and worked as a salesman in the beverage industry. He was preceded in death by his wife, Sarah Pugh Hanes; and a step-son, Tony Tagudar.
He is survived by three sons, Russell (Dermys Aguero Arias) Hanes of Jacksonville, Fla., Bill (Kristi) Hanes of Atlanta, GA, Jerry (Kris) Hanes of Atlanta, GA; step-son, Jeff Tagudar of Mobile; two daughters, Pam Morris of Denison, Texas, and Tracy (Pueblo) Gutierrez of Nashville, Tenn.; two step-daughters, Melody (Wade) Wilcox of Castleberry; and Nina (John) Stokes of Robertsdale; 19 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the National Veterans Foundation 5777 West Century Blvd. Suite 350, Los Angeles, CA, 90045. To contact the foundation, call (310) 642-0255.
Share your memories and condolences with the family at craversfh.com.