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December 10, 2002
ORA DEE BENJAMIN
LANSING, Mich. — Funeral service for Ora Dee Benjamin was Saturday at Gorsline Funeral Home in Lansing, Mich.
Mrs. Benjamin died Dec. 2. She was a member of Lilly Hill Baptist Church and sang in the senior choir for a number of years. She was a junior choir conductor and was a soloist.
She is survived by one son, Parnell (Tracy) Benjamin of Chicago, Ill.; two grandchildren; three brothers, Joseph Benjamin of Talladega and Clarence and Truman Benjamin of Birmingham; seven sisters, Pearlie Tanner, Josie Benjamin, Vista Benjamin and Wendell Calhoun of Talladega, Willie Mildred Grant of Andalusia and Claudia Jackson and Barbara Berry of Canton, Ohio; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
In lieu of flowers, cards may be sent to Gorsline Funeral Home, 900 East Michigan Avenue, Lansing, Mich., 48912.
Gorsline Funeral Home directed the service.
DAVIS BRYANT
SYLACAUGA — Funeral service for Davis Bryant, 76, will be Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Radney-Smith Funeral Home chapel in Sylacauga with the Rev. Jack Morgan officiating. Burial will be in Rocky Mt. Baptist Cemetery
in Clay County.
Mr. Bryant died Dec. 8.
He is survived by his wife, Alice F. Bryant of Sylacauga; three sons, Davis (Jeffrey) Bryant, Jeremy Glenn Bryant and Jason Allen Bryant of Sylacauga; one daughter, Jennifer F. Barnett of Sylacauga; two grandchildren, Denise Barnett and Jessica Barnett; two stepgrandchildren, Katelin and Kayla; and one sister, Essie Mae McDaniel of Sylacauga.
Pallbearers will be Ronnie Barnett, Ricky Haywood, Raymond Bryant, Mike Bryant, Jerry Morris and Cecil Barnett.
Radney-Smith Funeral Home in Sylacauga will direct the service.
ANNIE CASTLEBERRY
TALLADEGA — Annie Castleberry, 80, of 212 Savory St., died Dec. 9 at Citizens BMC.
Funeral arrangements will be announced by Terry's Metropolitan Mortuary.
CLEVELAND GARRETT
ALPINE — Cleveland Garrett, 83, died Dec. 9 at his residence.
Funeral arrangements will be announced by Sims Funeral Service.
MARY GARRETT
TALLADEGA — Mary Garrett, 81, of 110 Long St., died Dec. 8 at 1605 Taylors Mill Road (Mimosa).
Funeral arrangements will be announced by Terry's Metropolitan Mortuary.
BRACK GILLIAM
TALLADEGA — Talladega residents, especially the hearing impaired community, is mourning the loss of Brack Gilliam, 62, following a fatal car accident Saturday afternoon.
Funeral service for Mr. Gilliam, of Talladega, will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Usrey Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Ronald Snyder officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Mr. Gilliam died Dec. 7 at his residence. A longtime instructor for Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind's E.H. Gentry Technical Facility, he will be remembered as a "loyal and dedicated AIDB employee, an advocate for deaf people throughout Talladega and Alabama, and skilled in a number of different areas," according to an institute press release issued Monday.
"Brack Gilliam did an exemplary job teaching adult clients to operate printing equipment, to live independently, and to enjoy their lives," AIDB Interim President Ken Thompson said. "Though he retired a couple of years ago, he remained a vital part of the AIDB family, and we are deeply saddened by his death."
Former E.H. Gentry Administrator Dan Kearley remembered Gilliam's care for the students he worked with, and his patience in communicating with hearing people.
"(The students) came first," Kearley said in the press release. "He was an advocate for the students there, and he put their needs above all others. He was very patient with people learning sign language, and always willing to help each of us. If there was anything he could do to improve the training and communications skills of the deaf, he would do it."
Kearley added that Gilliam was instrumental in having telecommunications devices for the deaf installed for emergency workers throughout Talladega, particularly at the Police Department and emergency room of Citizens Baptist Medical Center.
"There was nothing Brack could not do," Kearley said. "Teaching, printing, counseling students, working on automobiles, whatever it was, Brack was capable of doing it. He was a true friend. We've suffered a huge loss."
Mr. Gilliam was a graduate of Alabama School for the Deaf in Talladega and attended Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. He worked as a printer at the Anniston Star, The Daily Home, and the Washington Star, and eventually retired from E.H Gentry after a 27 year career there. During that time he worked as both a teacher and production manager in the printing department. He was a member of Bemiston Baptist Church, ASD Alumni Association, and the Alabama Association for the Deaf. He served three terms as president of the last organization.
Born April 3, 1940, he was preceded in death by his parents, Rillious and Clemmie Frances Phillips Gilliam, and a brother Farrell Gilliam.
He is survived by three sons, Brack Gilliam Jr. and Sammy Gilliam of Talladega and Danny L. Gilliam of Pell City; two brothers and their wives, F. Buford and Judith M. Gilliam and Joe N. and Edna A. Gilliam of Talladega; one sister and her husband, Faye G. and Robert Eason of Talladega; four grandchildren; three nephews; and five nieces.
Pallbearers will be Johnny Finch, John Garrett, John Davis, Charles Chappell, Butch Roebuck and Rann Gordon.
Visitation will be Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home, and one hour prior to the service.
Usrey Funeral Home will direct the service.
JAMES HESTER
BALTIMORE, Md. — James Hester, 57, of 1315 Gittings Avenue, formerly of Talladega, died Dec. 6 at his residence.
Funeral arrangements will be announced by Terry's Metropolitan Mortuary.
ESTER B. WILSON HIGGINS
TALLADEGA — Funeral service for Ester B. Wilson Higgins, 85, of 1570 Lawler Circle, will be Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Africa Missionary Baptist Church with the Rev. William Threatt and the Rev. Johnny Twymon officiating. Burial will be in Lawler Cemetery.
Mrs. Higgins died Dec. 5 at St. Clair Regional Medical Center. She united with Corinth Baptist Church, fellowshipped with Africa Missionary Baptist Church and was formerly employed by the Stephens family, Preston family and the Toby Deese family. She was preceded in death by her husband, Will Higgins Sr.; her parents, Bennie Wilson and Annie Bell Cook Wilson; and four brothers, Vester Lee Wilson, James Woodrow Wilson, William (W.M.) Wilson and Lovell Wilson.
She is survived by two daughters, Peggy Jones and Wanda Elston of Talladega; one son, Will Higgins Jr. of Talladega; three sisters, Annie B. McGhee, Bennie Lee Garrett and Pauline McGhee of Talladega; six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Nephews will serve as pallbearers.
Honorary pallbearers will be Brian Higgins, Tyrone Twymon, Bertram Higgins, Terry Higgins and Elton Ashley.
Terry's Metropolitan Mortuary will direct the service.
JOHN D. MORGAN
HARPERSVILLE — Funeral service for John D. Morgan, 85, will be Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Curtis and Son Funeral Home Childersburg chapel. Burial will be in Harpersville Cemetery.
Mr. Morgan died Dec. 9 at Talladega Health Care Center.
He is survived by his special friend, Edna J. Odom of Harpersville; one stepdaughter, Patricia Gardner of Harpersville; four grandchildren; and two nephews, Tommy and Phillip Keel.
The family will receive friends Tuesday from 5:30 until 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Curtis and Son Funeral Home Childersburg Chapel will direct the service.
JAMES BRITTON WEATHERS
EASTABOGA — Funeral service for James Britton Weathers, 41, will be Thursday at 1 p.m. at Talladega Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Harvey Bowlin Sr. and Belma Winningham officiating. Burial will be in Midway Memory Gardens.
Mr. Weathers died Dec. 7 at University Hospital. He was a native of Phenix City and had lived many years in Calhoun County. He was a veteran of the United States Army and was a construction worker. He was a member of Antioch Baptist Church.
He is survived by two sons, James Weathers and Edward David Weathers of Toledo, Ohio; his father, Edward Weathers of Talladega; one sister, Trudy Hayes of Eastaboga; one brother, Edward Dawson Weathers of Eastaboga; and one grandchild.
Pallbearers will be Barry Winningham, Darrell Swan, Billy Dexter Hayes, Lynn Howard, Kenny Hearn and Phillip Calhoun.
Members of Talladega Rescue Squad will serve as honorary pallbearers.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home Wednesday from 6 until 9 p.m.
Talladega Funeral Home will direct the service.
VIRGINIA KAY WEBBER
TALLADEGA — Funeral service for Virginia Kay Webber, 81, will be Tuesday at 1 p.m. at Usrey Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Bryan Camp, the Rev. Billy Evans and the Rev. Martin Murray officiating. Burial will be in Pine Hill Memorial Park.
Mrs. Webber died Dec. 8 at Clay County Hospital. She was a native of LaGrange, Ga., and lived in Talladega County most of her life. She was a faithful member of Chandler Springs Baptist Church where she taught Sunday school, was church treasurer and secretary and sang in the choir. She had been employed by Palm Beach and Industries for the Blind. She was preceded in death by a son, Stanley Webber.
She is survived by her husband, Claud Webber of Talladega; daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Cecil Hubbard of Talladega; three grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; one sister, Sara Ensley of Cropwell; and one brother and sister-in-law, Thomas and Susie Rich of Prattville.
Pallbearers will be Steven Hubbard, Joel McMath, Joey Boyd, Tim Mitchell, Pete Cox and Douglas Rich.
Usrey Funeral Home will direct the service.
