JOSIE LUCILLE SMITH
Ms. Josie Lucille Smith, 60, formerly of Rock Hill, S.C., died Sunday, April 22, 2001, in Panama City, Fla. Ms. Smith was manager of Alvins' Magic Mountain on Panama City Beach. Funeral service will be held Wednesday, April 25, at 2 p.m., with Greene Funeral Home Downtown Chapel officiating.
RUTH MILDRED TAYLOR
Mrs. Ruth Mildred Taylor, age 65, of Panama City, Fla., died Sunday, April 22, 2001, at her residence. She was a native and lifelong resident of Panama City and a homemaker. Mrs. Taylor is survived by her husband of 48 years, Moses Taylor of Panama City, Fla.; two daughters, Glennette Hargrove and her husband Larry of Greensboro, N.C., and Carol Thornton of Panama City, Fla.; one son, James Taylor and his wife Pam of Daphne, Ala.; five sisters, Ezella Buxton and her husband Sydney of Panama City, Fla., Katherine Thomason and her husband Tommy of Crawfordville, Fla.; Dorothy Sellers, Dale McKenzie and Frances Terry, all of Panama City, Fla.; three brothers, Ronnie Pitts of Brooksville, Fla., Hulon Pitts of Wausau, Fla., and Emory Pitts of Panama City, Fla.; eight grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, April 25, 2001, at Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. George Cooper and the Rev. Earl Peacock officiating. Interment will follow at Evergreen Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends at the funeral home today, April 24, 2001, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Bay County Council on Aging, 1116 Frankford Ave., Panama City, FL 32401, or Hospice of Emerald Coast, 2929 State 77, Panama City, FL 32405.
Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home
ROSIE MAE THORN
Mrs. Rosie Mae Thorn, age 86, died Saturday, April 21, 2001, in Opp Nursing Facility following an extended illness. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today, April 24, 2001, in the chapel of Pittman Funeral Home in Samson, Ala., with the Rev. Elbert Smith officiating. Burial will follow in Travelers Rest Cemetery
with Pittman Funeral Home of Samson directing. Visitation was Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. in the funeral home. Mrs. Thorn was born Sept. 5, 1914, in Geneva County, Ala. She was a daughter of the late William Frank and Lena Churchwell Wise. She worked in the seafood industry and for Brooks Peanut Company of Samson. Mrs. Thorn was preceded in death by her husband, Aaron Thorn (February 1964); a great-grandson, Brandon Jeanette (1982); and four brothers. She is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Dorothy and James E. (Hoss) Gardner of Pikeville, N.C., Lena and Robert Earl Flowers of Panama City; two sons and daughters-in-law, Gale A. and Kathleen Thorn of Kinston, Ala., Wayne and Shirlon Thorn of Coffee Springs, Ala.; one sister, Mary Strickland of Samson. Serving as pallbearers will be her grandchildren, Ronald, Wade, Jody, Chris and Todd Thorn, Carlo and Tammy Gardner, and Robbie Flowers. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be her great-grandchildren, Robbie Flowers II and Sarah Flowers, Justin and Christy Gardner, Derek and Kaylie Hill, Andrew Thorn, Tosha and Joanie Williamson.
Pittman Funeral Home
Samson, Ala. 36477
OTIS BROOKS THORNTON
Col.Otis Brooks Thornton, USAF, retired, of St. Joe Beach, Fla., passed away quietly in his sleep Tuesday morning, April 17, 2001, at Gulf Pines Hospital. Col. Thornton, 84, succumbed after a lengthy battle with the cumulative effects of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Col. Thornton is survived by his son, John of St. Joe Beach; his grandson, Mathew; other grandchildren, great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Graveside funeral services will be held at 11 a.m EDT, Thursday, April 26, 2001, at Holly Hill Cemetery
with full military honors provided by Tyndall Air Force Base Honor Guard. Interment will follow.
Comforter Funeral Home
Port St. Joe, Fla. 32456
JAMES ARTHUR WALTON
Mr. James Arthur Walton, 55, of Panama City, died Thursday, April 19, in a local nursing center. Graveside services for Mr. Walton will be held today, April 24, at 11 a.m. in the Hillside Cemetery
with the Rev. Preston Grimes Sr. officiating. Interment will follow.
Battle Memorial Funeral Home
Panama City, Fla. 32401
NANCY GWENDOLYN WEBB
Nancy Gwendolyn (Gwen) Webb, 56, of Ruffin, N.C., died Wednesday, April 18, 2001, at Moses Cone Memorial Hospital. The funeral was held at 2 p.m. on Friday, April 20, 2001, at Lambeth-Troxler Funeral Service Chapel, Greensboro, N.C., with the Rev. Dan Hipply presiding and the Rev. and friend Jimmy Turner leading the family in prayer. The burial followed in Lakeview Memorial Park in the Garden of Everlasting Life. A native of Panama City, Fla., Mrs. Webb was born on Dec. 4, 1944, to the late Theodore Willard Gaffney and Doris Jeanette Peaden Gaffney. She was a member of St. Andrew Baptist Church of Panama City until she was transferred to Kernersville, N.C., in 2000, where she was a member of First Christian Church. Mrs. Webb graduated from Gulf Coast Community College receiving a degree as a registered nurse. She was a patient advocate, spending her career as an RN in Home Health Care and Nursing Home Centers. Mrs. Webb was a loving and devoted Christian, daughter, mother and grandmother. She found peace and joy spreading and learning the Gospel word of Jesus Christ, she is now in his loving care, Lord, thy will be done. She is survived by her mother, Doris Jeanette Gaffney, of Panama City; daughter Stacey Renee Phillips of Panama City Beach; son, Michael Ray McGlamery of Ruffin, N.C.; granddaughters, Ashley Jeanette and Lindsey Meagen Staley of Staley, N.C., and sister, Tommi Jean Faulk of Panama City Beach. Memorial contributions may be made in honor of Mrs. Webb to assist others and their families suffering with disabilities to Bay County Council on Aging, 1116 Frankford Ave., Panama City, FL 32401.
JOHNNIE MAE ZELICHOWSKI
Mrs. Johnnie Mae Zelichowski, age 75, of 520 N. Gay Ave., Panama City, Fla., died Sunday, April 22, 2001, at a local nursing facility. She was a lifelong resident of the area and a homemaker. Mrs. Zelichowski enjoyed fishing and the outdoors. She was Pentecostal by faith, a member of the AM VETS No. 2298, VFW of Parker, Moose Lodge and the NCO Wives Club. Mrs. Zelichowski is survived by her sons, Rick L. Newton and Jeannie of Biloxi, Miss., and Frank A. Newton of Panama City, Fla.; a daughter, Rita K. Montgomery of Albuquerque, N.M.; grandsons, Rick Newton, Johnny Newton, Dustin Montgomery, Justin Z. Montgomery, Gene Montgomery and Raymond Montgomery; granddaughters, Rickquel Enock and Kara Montgomery; a great-granddaughter, Ashland Enock; nephews, Frank Kinney and John Miro; and nieces, Dorothy Hysmith, Jan Baker and Joey Turner. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, April 25, 2001, at Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Morris Denman officiating. Interment will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Cemetery. Asked to serve as active pallbearers are David Kinney, Doug Kinney, Brian Fowler, John Miro, and Chip Racette. The family will receive friends at the funeral home today, April 24, 2001, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. The family will also be receiving friends at the home of Troy and Vicky Markham, 802 Russ Lake Drive, Springfield, Fla.
Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home
CLEAIR ELSIE ANDERSON GRAY
Cleair Elsie Anderson Gray, of 138 Palm Harbor Blvd., Panama City Beach, died Monday, April 23, 2001, in her home. She was born on Feb. 22, 1934, in Pelham, Ga. She was preceded in death by her husband, James Harrison Gray Sr. She is survived by a son, Michael Ranger and his wife, Nancy; three grandchildren, Jeremy, Aaron and Sarah, all of Rockford, Ill.; six sisters, Linda, Marie, Olie, Shirley, Louise and Virginia; and two brothers, Raymond and Amos. Funeral services will be held on Friday at 2 p.m. in Wilson Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Scott Tyman officiating. Graveside services will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. EDT in Crown Hill Cemetery, Albany, Ga. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday.
Wilson Funeral Home
Panama City, Fla.
TOMMY CLARENCE SMITH
Funeral services for Mr. Tommy Clarence Smith, 47, of 1802 Flowers Ave., Apt. B-103, who died Saturday, April 21, 2001, in a local hospital, will be held on Thursday, April 26, at 1 p.m. at Jesus Only Tabernacle Church with Elder Willie Bright officiating. Interment will follow in Redwood Cemetery. The body will lie in state at the church one hour prior to service. He accepted Christ at an early age and united with Jesus Only Tabernacle Church. He was employed with North American Van Lines. He leaves to cherish his memories a fiancee, Wenta Hutchins of Panama City; a brother, Willie Smith Jr. of Florida; sister, Nell Smith of Panama City; four nephews, Michael, Bernard, Antonio and Jeffery Smith, all of Panama City; three nieces, Pamela D. Smith, Lara (Frank) Boston and Karen Willis, all of Panama City; six uncles, Lee (Annie D.) Mathews of Dothan, Ala., Connie Mathews of Los Angeles, the Rev. Jesse F. (Gussie) Mathews of Blountstown, Jabo (Verdel) Smith, Earl (Cora) Smith and Thearthur Moore, all of Panama City; eight aunts, Mary Emma (Bonnie) Fenn of Brundidge, Ala., Ruby L. Jiles of Rochester, N.Y., Josie (Wiley C.) McClain, Hazel Mathews, Annie Curry all of Quincy, Fla., Eva Mae Smith, Alice Smith and Willie S. (Robert) Nobles, all of Panama City; a great-aunt, Essie Bryant; and a host of other relatives. The family will receive friends at the home of Nell Smith, 1612 Fairland Ave. Visitation hours will be from 4 to 7 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Thursday.
Gainer Funeral Home, Inc.
Panama City, Fla. 32405
VELVA HOWARD STRAVINSKI
Mrs. Velva Howard Stravinski, age 85, of Panama City, Fla., died Monday, April 23, 2001, at Bay Medical Center in Panama City. Mrs. Stravinski was born in Laurel Hill, Fla., on Aug. 13, 1915, to Daniel H. and Dicy A. Moore Howard and had been a lifetime resident of the Northwest Florida area. She had been a member of a senior citizens group in Freeport, Fla., and was a loving mother and grandmother Mrs. Stravinski will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her, She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Stravinski. Survivors include her two sons and daughters in law, Fred L. and Nancy Peacock of Pensacola and George H. and Bobbie Peacock of Panama City, Fla.; six grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Maudine Howard of Crestview, Fla. A time of visitation will be conducted from Whitehurst Funeral Home on Thursday, April 26, from noon to 1 p.m. Funeral services will be conducted from Chapel of Whitehurst Funeral Home on Thursday, April 26, at 1 p.m. with the Rev. Fran Picker officiatlng. Interment will follow the service in Magnolia Cemetery
in Laurel Hill, Fla. Arrangements and services are under the direction of Whitehurst Funeral Home, 436 West James Lee Blvd., Crestview, Fla.
Whitehurst Funeral Home
Crestview, Fla. 32536
ARTHUR M. BURINGTON
Mr. Arthur M. Burington, 95, of Panama City, Fla., died Tuesday, April 24, 2001, in a local hospital. Born in Columbus, Ohio, he moved here in 1974 from Smithville, Ohio. He was an elementary school principal at Creston Lee Elementary until he retired. He was also a member of Forest Park Methodist Church. Mr. Burington is survived by two sons, Steven H. Burington of Oregon and Kenneth C. Burington and wife Ann of Cleveland, Ohio; 10 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be conducted on Friday, April 27, at 2 p.m. in Southerland Family Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Ken Taylor officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home one hour prior to the funeral service.
Southerland Family Funeral Homes
Panama City, Fla. 32405
BERTHA PIPPIN DAUPHIN
Bertha went home to be with God on April 24, 2001, in Heartland of Brooksville, Fla., after a lengthy illness. She was born on Dec. 15, 1911, at White Oak Creek Washington County, Fla. Bertha moved to Clearwater, Fla., in December 1949. She moved to Panama City in September 1980. Bertha had been a resident of Hernando County since May 1993. Bertha was preceded in death by her loving husband, John Norman; five brothers, R.E. Pippin of Graceville, Willie Pippin of Cantonment, Fla., Alex Pippin of Panama City, Fred Pippin of Panama City and Tom Pippin of Panama City; two sisters, Vera Burke of Panama City and Gladys Owens of Panama City; one infant great-granddaughter of Panama City. Bertha is survived by four daughters, Bertha Pauline (Roscoe) Hall of Panama City, Helen E. Myers of Panama City, Zelma D. Dotson of Spring Hill, Fla., and Inez D. (T.J.) Owens of Panama City; nine grandsons, five granddaughters, 12 great-grandsons, 10 great-granddaughters, one great-great-grandson and one great-great-granddaughter; four brothers, Ross Pippin of Lynn Haven, Cecil Ray Pippin of Port St. Joe, Johnnie B. Pippin of Cedar Grove and Roy Pippin of Chipley; two sisters, Evie Dee Rogers of Chipley and Viney Haddock of Callaway, Fla. The immediate family will receive other family members and friends today, April 26, from 6 to 8 p.m. Services will be held on Friday, April 27, at 10 a.m. at Southerland Funeral Home. Burial will be at Piney Grove Cemetery, Chipley following the services. Burial will be at Piney Grove Cemetery, Chipley, Fla., following the services.
Southerland Family Funeral Homes
Panama City, Fla. 32405
JAMES C. FLORY SR.
In loving memory of James C. Flory Sr. of Panama City Beach, Fla., formerly of Sauk Village, Ill., and Champaign, Ill., died March 29, 2001, in Florida. Memorial services are April 28 at Deer Creek Christian Church, 425 Exchange St., University Park, Ill. 60466 with memorial fellowship at noon and 2 p.m. services.
FRANCES LINDSEY GAY
Frances Lindsey Gay, 60, of Port St. Joe, passed away Wednesday, April 25, 2001, at her home following an extended illness. A native of Sumatra, she was a longtime resident of Port St. Joe, and grew up in Wewahitchka. She was a graduate of Wewahitchka High School and a retired secretary with St. Joe Paper Company. Survivors include one daughter, Sandra Gay Scott; one grandson, Travis Wright; and one granddaughter, Alexandra Scott, all of Port St. Joe; one brother and sister-in-law, Hugh and Sondra Lindsey of Wewahitchka; her mother-in-law, Mrs. Gracie Gay of Oak Grove; and two nephews and one niece. She is preceded in death by her parents, W.C. and Jeanette Lindsey, and her daughter, Cynthia Gay. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. EDT on Friday, April 27, at Oak Grove Assembly of God Church, conducted by the Rev. David Fernandez. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a favorite charity, The American Cancer Society or The Oak Grove Assembly of God Benevolent Fund.
Comforter Funeral Home
Port St. Joe, Fla. 32456
CLEAIR ELSIE ANDERSON GRAY
Cleair Elsie Anderson Gray, of 138 Palm Harbor Blvd., Panama City Beach, died Monday, April 23, 2001, in her home. She was born Feb. 22, 1934, in Pelham, Ga. She was preceded in death by her husband, James Harrison Gray Sr. She is survived by a son, Michael Ranger and his wife, Nancy; three grandchildren, Jeremy, Aaron and Sarah, all of Rockford, Ill., six sisters, Linda, Marie, Olie, Shirley, Louise and Virginia; and two brothers, Raymond and Amos. Funeral services will be held Friday at 2 p.m. in Wilson Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Scott Tyman officiating. Graveside services will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. EDT in Crown Hill Cemetery, Albany, Ga. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6 to 8 p.m. today. Those desiring to may make a contribution to the memorial fund of Seventh Day Adventist Church.
Wilson Funeral Home
Panama City, Fla.
