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December 14, 2002
CORINE CASTLEBERRY ESTELL
TALLADEGA — Funeral service for Corine Castleberry Estell, 85, of 300 Savory St., will be Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at Peace Missionary Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. Rochelle J. Hall officiating. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Mrs. Estell died Dec. 11 at Northeast Alabama Regional Medical Center. She was preceded in death by her husband, Roosevelt Estell Sr.; her parents, Willie and Bertha Savory Castleberry; sisters, Lula C. Millender, Minnie C. Oden and Dora C. Scott and brothers, Frank Castleberry and Willie Arthur Castleberry. She was a member of Peace Missionary Baptist Church where she was president of the Willing Workers Club.
She is survived by daughters, Minerva Gray of Springfield, Ohio, Bertha Pope, Lucille Keith, Martha P. (James) Hill, Annette Pope and Yvonne E. (Ira) McElderry, all of Talladega; sons, Roy (Shirley) Estell of McDonough, Ga., and Ray Estell and Roosevelt (Chekelia) Estell Jr., both of Talladega; 24 grandchildren; 45 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home Saturday from 6 until 7 p.m.
The body may be viewed at the church for one hour before the service.
Grandsons will serve as pallbearers.
Memorial contributions may be made to the "Corine Castleberry Estell Endowed Scholarship" at Talladega College in Talladega.
Terry's Metropolitan Mortuary will direct the service.
MARY OLIVIA
MITCHELL GARRETT
TALLADEGA — Funeral service for Mary Olivia Mitchell Garrett, of 110 Long St., will be Saturday at noon at Mt. Canaan Baptist Church with the Rev. Horace L. Patterson Sr. officiating. Burial will be in Westview Cemetery.
Mrs. Garrett died Dec. 8. She was a member of Mt. Canaan Baptist Church where she was president of the Missionary Society and was a Sunday school teacher. She was "Mother of the Year" at Mt. Canaan in 1995 and was a volunteer at Samaritan House. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ray Garrett Sr.; and her parents, Cleveland Mitchell and Ollie Thomas Mitchell.
She is survived by three daughters, Mary A. Carter of Anderson, Ind., Deneen Draper of Talladega and Michele Cherry of Copperas Cove, Texas; one son, Roy Garrett Jr. of Talladega; two sisters, Clevie Mitchell of Akron, Ohio and Lillian Scott of Potomac, Md.; nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Kevin Carter, Korey Carter, Juan Turner, Terrance Stamps, Kasey Garrett and Johnny Clark.
Honorary pallbearer will be Archie Wesley.
The body may be viewed at the church for one hour before the service.
Terry's Metropolitan Mortuary will direct the service.
EVELYN SMITH ARMBRESTER
MUNFORD — Graveside service for Evelyn Smith Armbrester, 84, will be Saturday at noon in Bethlehem Cemetery
with the Rev. Tom Graham officiating.
Mrs. Armbrester died Dec. 12 at her residence. She was a native and lifelong resident of Talladega County and was a member of Bethlehem United Methodist Church. She was retired from Citizens BMC and AIDB. She was preceded in death by a brother, Elton Smith of Munford. She was lovingly cared for by special friends, Dorothy Truss and Ive Davis.
She is survived by four daughters, Nancy Jo McElroy of Weaver, Carolyn Haynes of Munford, Suzanne Alverson of Talladega and Rebecca A. Ingram of Munford; one son, Michael Armbrester of Atlanta, Ga.; two brothers, Clarence L. Smith of Munford and Wilmer L. Smith of Port Charlotte, Fla.; 14 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
The Brotherhood of Bethlehem United Methodist Church will serve as pallbearers.
The family will receive friends at Bethlehem United Methodist Church after the graveside service.
Memorials may be made to Bethlehem United Methodist Church.
Usrey Funeral Home will direct the service.
EVA MARGARET DENNIS
TALLADEGA — Funeral service for Eva Margaret Dennis, 82, will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church with the Rev. Ralph Jernigan and Dr. Rob Paul officiating. Burial will be in Pine Hill Memorial Park in Talladega.
Mrs. Dennis died Dec. 12 at her residence. She was a native of Harrison, Ga., and was a graduate of Georgia State College for Women where she received a B.S. in Education. After teaching in Georgia, she moved to Alabama where she taught in the Talladega County School System. She was an active member of the Argus Club and served as chairwoman of Operation Santa Claus for the North Talladega County Mental Health Association for years. She was an active member of First Baptist Church where she taught Sunday school in the children's department.
She is survived by her husband, Rudolph Dennis of Talladega; two daughters, Catherine Wyker and husband Bill of Decatur and Ann Booth and husband Keith of Houston, Texas; two sons, Larry Dennis and wife Pam of Birmingham and Danny Dennis of Talladega; and seven grandchildren, Elizabeth Dennis, Will, Adam and Ben Wyker and Margaret, Will and Anna Booth.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the I Love My Church Fund or the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering at First Baptist Church.
The family will receive friends Saturday from 4 to 6 p.m. at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be Will Wyker, Adam Wyker, Ben Wyker, Will Booth, Richard Dennis and Allen Dennis.
Honorary pallbearers will be Hubert Hubbard, Dr. George Ricker, Pearino Gaither, John Locklin, Joe Davis, Jack Hethcox, Julian Newman, Hugh Wiggins, Dan Munroe, Benton Cogburn, Bob Searcy, Frank Thomas and members of the Adult 5 Sunday School Class at First Baptist Church.
Usrey Funeral Home will direct the service.
CLARENCE HUTCHINS SR.
ALEXANDER CITY — Funeral service for Clarence Hutchins Sr. will be Sunday at noon at Haven United Methodist Church with the Rev. O.H. Buckley officiating. Burial will be in Armour's Memorial Gardens.
Mr. Hutchins died Dec. 11 at Russell Medical Center. He was born Sept. 10, 1924, in Tallapoosa County. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mary Ella Jones and Reuben Hutchins.
He is survived by his wife, Rosa Mae Harrell Hutchins of Alexander City; one daughter, Victoria A. Wyckoff of Moreno Valley, Calif.; one son, Clarence Hutchins Jr. of Palm Springs, Calif.; one sister, Margaret Milner of Alexander City; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Armour's Memorial Funeral Home in Alexander City will direct the service.
FRANCES MARTIN
CULLMAN — Frances Martin died Dec. 13 in Cullman.
Funeral arrangements will be announced by Usrey Funeral Home.
AUDREY INGABORG REINELT OWENS
ALEXANDER CITY — Funeral service for Audrey Ingaborg Reinelt Owens, 91, formerly of Ashland, will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Benefield Funeral Home chapel in Ashland with Pete Mathews and Frank Martin officiating. Burial will be in Ashland City Cemetery.
Mrs. Owens died Dec. 12 at Russell Hospital in Alexander City. She was a native of San Francisco, Calif., married Rhett G. Owens and moved back to Clay County in 1928, where she had lived most of her life. She retired from Clay County Hospital where she had worked as house keeping supervisor for more than 15 years, had lived the last 14 1/2 years in Alexander City and was a member of Equality Methodist Church in Equality. She was preceded in death by her husband, Rhett G. Owens and her parents, Burtram Rudolph and Annie Marie Olson Reinelt.
She is survived by two daughters, Kate Ann Owens White of North Augusta, S.C., and Edith Owens Bradley of Alexander City; five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Frank Martin, Bradley Martin, Austin Martin, Rhett Bradley, Si Brantley, Harold K. White, George Sanders and Randy Tate.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the First United Methodist Church of Ashland.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home until service time.
Benefield Funeral Home of Ashland will direct the service.
GEORGE SARGENT
CHILDERSBURG — George Sargent died Dec. 13 at Brown Nursing Home in Alexander City.
Funeral arrangements will be announced by Curtis and Son Funeral Home.
FANNIE MAE SMITH
TALLADEGA — Graveside service for Fannie Mae Smith, 89, will be Saturday at 2 p.m. in Liberty Methodist Church Cemetery
in Hackneyville with the Rev. Jeff Bright officiating.
Mrs. Smith died Dec. 12 at Citizens BMC. She was preceded in death by her husband, O.L. Smith and a granddaughter, Sherry Smith Taft. She was a native of Clay County and had lived many years in Talladega County. She was retired from Bemis Company and was a Methodist by faith.
She is survived by one daughter, Ann Esslinger of Lexington, S.C.; one son, Max L. Smith of Talladega; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Talladega Funeral Home will direct the service.
DOROTHY WARREN SONGER
TRUSSVILLE — Funeral service for Dorothy Warren Songer, 62, will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Clearview Baptist Church, 5271 Old Springville Road, with Dr. Paul Moore and Pastor Bill Bigham officiating. Burial will be in Forest Hill Cemetery.
Mrs. Songer died Dec. 12. She was a member of Clearview Baptist Church where she served on numerous committees and was a faithful member of the choir. She was a 1958 graduate of Tarrant High School and lived in Tarrant most of her life. She was a recipient of the American Cancer Society 2002 Life Inspiration Award. She was preceded in death by her father, John Vance Warren; her mother, Vera W. Moore and her stepfather, Hollis Moore.
She is survived by her husband of 44 years, Ray Songer; son, John Songer of Trussville; brother, John Warren of Orange Park, Fla.; two grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends at the church Saturday from noon until 2 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in her name to the Living Flag Mission at Clearview Baptist Church.
Ridout's Trussville Chapel will direct the service.
WILLIS WHATLEY
TALLADEGA — Talladega Municipal Court Clerk Magistrate Willis Sherman Whatley Jr., 61, died Thursday at Baptist Montclair in Birmingham.
Funeral service for Whatley will be Dec. 15 at 3 p.m. at Usrey Funeral Home chapel with Dr. George Ricker and the Rev. John Love officiating. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Mr. Whatley was a native and lifelong resident of Talladega. In addition to being municipal court clerk magistrate, he had been a circuit court bailiff, a lieutenant with the Talladega Police Department and a vocational barbering instructor for the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind.
Talladega City Councilman Dr. Horace Patterson said his first thought on hearing of Whatley's passing was "that his departure leaves a void in city government and in this community that will not easily be filled. He was a professional by absolutely every possible definition of that word.
"He matched deep compassion with competency," Patterson continued. "He saw people on what must have seemed like the worst day of their lives, and he was always able to reach out to them with justice tempered by mercy. Those who knew him will never forget the lessons he taught us about shouldering adversity with poise and faith. He was a wonderful man in a very difficult job, and he was able to shoulder tremendous responsibility."
Council president Travis Ford said Mr. Whatley would be "sorely missed. My deepest sympathy goes out to his family, and my gratitude goes out to him for his years of service to the people of Talladega and in his years working in the judicial system."
Talladega Municipal Judge Hank Fannin also had high praise for Whatley.
"He was kind of a lifelong friend," Fannin said Thursday. "I've probably known him for 40 years all together, and I've worked with him in the court office for 14 years. He was one of the top magistrates in the state and was recognized as such by the state Administrative Office of Courts. He was always conscientious, always trying to help whoever came through. He will be greatly missed.
"As the city judge, I'm the titular head of the court office," Fannin said. "But Mr. Whatley was always easy to work with, and he always ran his office properly and legally. He was as honest as the day is long, and he knew how to stand his ground.
"He was instrumental in getting a computer system installed in the court office at a time when the city was way behind little towns like Lincoln and Ashland in that regard. It took him years, but it finally got done due to his efforts. We might still be using pen and paper in that office today if it wasn't for him.
He always stood up for the people and for the court office," Fannin added. "I never knew anyone to come through the court office that did not find him to be fair and honest. He helped people make payment arrangements for the fines, he ran a good work program, and he was a good family man. I can't say a bad word about him."
Whatley was also a member of First Baptist Church and a member of the Talladega Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police. He had
He is survived by one daughter, Melinda W. Griffin of Talladega; one son, Willis Whatley III of Talladega; and one grandson, Hayden D. Haynes.
Pallbearers will be Judge Hank Fannin, Buddy Suddeth, Lyn Smith, Robert Whatley, Doug Griffin, Tommy Fite and Tom Fite.
Honorary pallbearers will be Glen Trammell, Lee Chappell, Red Brown, Bob Rushen, Joe Brantley, Jimmy Hurst, Donald Hubbard, Tom Uwanawich, Sam Grice, Talladega High School Class of 1959, and members of the Talladega and Sylacauga police departments.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home Saturday from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m.
Usrey Funeral Home will direct the service.
LOUISE WYCKOFF
ALEXANDER CITY — Louise Wyckoff died Dec. 13 at Russell Medical Center.
Funeral arrangements will be announced by Wright's Funeral Home.
REV. JIMMY G. YOUNGBLOOD
CROPWELL — Funeral service for the Rev. Jimmy G. Youngblood, 64, will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at Kilgroe Funeral Home chapel in Pell City with the Rev. Jimmy Smith, the Rev. Len Blanchard and the Rev. J.D. Wales officiating. Burial will be in St. Clair Memorial Gardens.
The Rev. Youngblood died Dec. 12. He was born in Wattsville, was a 1956 graduate of Pell City High School where he was known as Trippie. Following his graduation from high school, he served in the U.S. Navy. In 1961 he married Betty Williams. He was called to the ministry in 1963 and has served as a minister for the past 40 years. The Rev. Youngblood has served several Freewill Baptist churches in the Central Part of Alabama and presently was serving at the Freedom Freewill Baptist Church in Hueytown.
He recently retired from Liberty National Life Insurance Company with 17 years of service. He was the Honor agent in his class with Liberty National in 1983. He also made the Liberty National Torch Club 10 1/2 times during his 17 year career. He was an avid Alabama fan. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph Albert Sr. and Ann Youngblood and brothers, Billy Murphy, Ralph Albert Youngblood Jr. and Kenneth Ray Youngblood.
He is survived by his wife, Betty Youngblood; two sons, Alan Glenn Youngblood of Cropwell and Timothy Mark Youngblood of Pell City; daughter, Melinda Anne Graham and husband Theo Jr. of Pell City; six grandchildren, Maria Ferguson, Ronie Ferguson, Zach Hickman, Andrew Youngblood, John Youngblood and Holly Graham; two brothers, Charlie Murphy of Birmingham and Joe Thomas Youngblood and wife Suzette of Pell City and one sister, Mildred L. (Dot) Smith of Pell City.
The family will receive friends Saturday at the funeral home from 6 until 9 p.m.
Pallbearers will be Phillip Hare, Claxton Alexander, Carl Blankenship, Mike Harris, Jerry Burns and Ren Wheeler.
Kilgroe Funeral Home in Pell City will direct the service.
