ANNIE SMITH
Mrs. Annie Smith, 77, of Ebro, Fla., died Nov. 12, 1999, in a Fort Walton Beach Medical Center. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. (CST) today, Nov. 16 at Oak Grove Baptist Church in Ebro, Fla., with the Rev. Billy Marshall officiating. Interment will follow in the St. Luke Memorial Garden Cemetery
in Vernon, Fla., with Cooper Funeral Home of Chipley, Fla., directing. The remains will lie in state at the church two hours prior to the service.
Cooper Funeral Home
Chipley, Fla. 32428
AMBER ROSE VICKERS
Infant Amber Rose Vickers, of Port St. Joe, Fla., passed away Sunday, Nov. 14, 1999, in Pensacola, Fla. Amber is survived by her parents, Tommy and Sabrina Vickers of Port St. Joe; maternal grandparents, Debby Faulkner of Rock Hill, S.C. and John Faulkner of Jackson, Tenn.; paternal grandparents, Donn and Gail Miles of Port St. Joe; great-maternal grandparents, David and Melba Maness of Port St. Joe; great-paternal grandparents, Ethel Lewis of Port St. Joe, and Homer and Jeannette Hall of Port St. Joe; great-great-maternal grandfather, Willard Maness of Henderson, Tenn; two brothers, Allen Vickers and Jamie Vickers both of Wewahitchka, Fla.; six uncles, four aunts, and many cousins, great uncles and aunts. Funeral services for Amber will be conducted today, Nov. 16 at 2 p.m. EST in Highland View Church of God with Pastor Tim Bailey officiating and Pastor David Nichols assisting. Interment will follow in Holly Hill Cemetery. The following gentlemen will serve as active pallbearers: Chris Carr, Joe Nugent, Shawn Butler and Joey Brock.
Gilmore-Southerland Funeral Home
AARON Z. BESSANT
Aaron Z. Bessant, Lt. Col. U.S.A.F., Ret., 81, Panama City Beach, Fla., died Tuesday, Nov. 16, 1999, in Bay Medical Center. Born in Spring Hill, Ala., he moved here in 1974 from Shreveport. La., after serving 30 years with Strategic Air Command. Mr. Bessant was the past Mayor of Panama City Beach, founded the Indian Summer Seafood Festival and served as its chairman for 19 years. He also served as president of Beach Optimist Club. He was recognized as an outstanding civic leader and volunteer. Mr. Bessant is survived by his wife Marion Bessant of Panama City Beach; one son, Charles H. Bessant of Washington , DC; two daughters: Sara Edgerton and husband Robert of Chesapeake, Va., Elizabeth Shoeneman and Robert of Lawrenceville, Fla.; four grandchildren: Michael Edgerton, Ragan Edgerton, Aaron Shoeneman and Colin Schoenemen. The family will receive friends at Gulf Beach Presbyterian Church at 5:30 p.m., Thursday evening, Nov. 18. A memorial service will follow at 7 p.m. with the Rev. Kenneth Churchill officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Beach Optimist Scholorship Fund, P.O. Box 9259, Panama City Beach, Fla. 32417 or Gulf Beach Presbyterian Church in memory of Mr. Bessant.
Southerland Family Funeral Homes
Panama City, Fla. 32405
EMMA BARR BLUDSWORTH
Mrs. Emma Barr Bludsworth, 87, of 203 Foxfire Drive, Dothan, Ala., passed away Tuesday, Nov. 16, 1999, at Southeast Alabama Medical Center. Graveside services will be held Thursday, 10 a.m., Nov. 18 at Selma Baptist Church Cemetery
in Dothan with the Rev. Jeff Mann officiating. The family will have a private visitation from 6 to 8 p.m. today, Nov. 17 at the funeral home. Mrs. Bludsworth was born Nov. 6, 1912, in Pike County, Ala., the daughter of William Barr and Alice Rotten Barr. She was retired from the Civil Service at the Naval Base in Panama City, working over 30 years in the Personnel Department. Mrs. Bludsworth was a member of Selma Baptist Church. Mrs. Bludsworth was preceded in death by her sister, Fannie Lee Andrews and a brother, J.D. Barr. Survivors include her husband, Charles Bludsworth of Dothan; daughter, Alice Tyner and husband Williams of Dothan; granddaughter, Renee Landa of Reno, Nev.; grandson, William Gregory Tyner of San Francisco, Calif.; great-grandsons: David Landa and Trevor Landa of Reno, Nev.; several nieces and nephews. Asked to served as pallbearers were: James Barr, Dick Barr, Duran Barr, Herbert Barr, Bert Barr and Don Steele. The family suggested that in lieu of flowers that memorial contributions be made to Wiregrass Hospital, Inc., P.O. Drawer 2127, Dothan, Ala. 36302.
Kent-Thorton Funeral Home
Dothan, Ala. 36301
BUFORD D. "SONNY" BLACKMAN
Mr. Buford D. "Sonny" Blackman, of 3607 T St., Panama City, Fla, died Sunday, Nov. 14, 1999, at his home. He is survived by two daughters: Resa Blackman and Terri Marshall; three sons: Stuart and Scott Blackman, and Danny Suggs; three sisters: Bobbie Curtis, Jeri Hough, and Brenda Cushing; three brothers: H. M. "Winky" Blackman and Larry and Kran Blackman; and numerous grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 18, 1999, at the Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow at Round Lake Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home, today, Nov. 17 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home
Panama City, Fla. 32405
ELSIE PARKER CHAPMAN
Elsie Parker Chapman, 88, formerly of 1221 Grace Ave., Panama City, died Saturday, Nov. 13, 1999 in a local nursing home. She was a lifelong resident of Panama City and was a member of the First United Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Roy Emerson Chapman and a sister, Pearl Scott. She is survived by a sister, Mary Hazel Parker of Brandon, Fla.; and a niece, Mary Herndon of Lake City, Fla. Graveside funeral services will be held today at 11 a.m. in Greenwood Cemetery
with Dr. Doug Newton officiating.
Wilson Funeral Home
Panama City, Fla.
MICHAEL W. HOWELL
Michael W. "Muscle Mike" Howell, age 37, of 114 Rowe Avenue, died Saturday, Nov. 13, 1999. He was a lifelong resident of the area and a 1980 graduate of Rutherford High School. He was an avid water enthusiast and Captain/Pirate of his vessel The Stoned Crow. He is survived by his wife, Teri Howell; son, Drake Howell; parents, Lee and Sandra Howell; sisters: Linda Smith and her husband Steve of Orlando, and Sandy Thompson of Daytona Beach; nieces: Stephanie Gifford of Tampa and Stacy Gifford of Arlington, Ky.; nephews: Shane and Austin Smith of Orlando and numerous family and friends. Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 18 at Howard Carlisle Baptist Church, 835 S. Berthe Ave., Callaway. In lieu of flowers donations to Panama City Marine Institute.
TOMMY LAWTON SMITH, SR.
Mr. Tommy Lawton Smith, Sr., age 65, of 2217 E. 7th St., Panama City, Fla., died Sunday, Nov. 14, 1999, at his home. He had been a resident of the area for 35 years, coming here Screben, Ga. Mr. Smith served his country in the U. S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict. He was a mechanic for Cook-Whitehead Ford Co. and was Baptist by faith. Mr. Smith is survived by his wife, Patricia Smith of Panama City, Fla.; daughters: Virginia Barrentine and her husband Larry of Tallahassee, Fla., and Linda Creel and her husband Clarence of Houston, Texas ; sons: Stephen Smith of Houston, Texas , Keith Porter of Panama City, Fla., Robert Smith and his wife Lisa of Norfolk, Va., and Tommy L. Smith Jr. and his wife Sherri of Panama City, Fla.; sisters: Teresa Bowen of Oregon and Lois Tutle of Ray City, Ga.; brothers: Laurece Smith of Screben, Ga., Donny Smith of Seattle, Wash., and Ronnie Smith of Brunswick, Ga.; 10 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 6 p.m., today, Nov. 17 at Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. R. C. Warren officiating. Asked to serve as honorary pallbearers are: Donnie Roberson, Colin Hutchinson, Claude Hutchinson, Skipper Hutchinson, Jimmy Ray Hutchinson, and Buck Hutchinson.
Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home
BUFORD DALTON 'SONNY' BLACKMAN
Mr. Buford Dalton "Sonny" Blackman, age 56, of 3607 T St., Panama City, Fla., died Sunday, Nov. 14, 1999 at his home. He was self-employed as an electrical engineer for Quality Electric. Mr. Blackman was a graduate of Cottondale High School. He was the co-captain of his high school basketball team, captain of the high school football team, all american high school quarterback in 1961 and led the football team to the Lions Bowl in 1961, all conference football 1960-1961, as well as many other sports awards and records at Cottondale High School that haven't been broken yet. He was also a member of the Beta Club, and Valedictorian of the Senior Class of 1961. Mr. Blackman graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering. He made numerous contributions to the city of the Cedar Grove. He also donated 13 acres at 15th St. and Spring Ave. to be named in loving memory of B.D. "Sonny" Blackman for a city park, who worked for and loved children. He is survived by two daughters, Risa Blackman of Miami, Fla., and Terri Marshall of Wewahitchka, Fla.; three sons: Stuart Blackman of Miami, Fla., Scott Blackman of Canton, Ga., and Danny Suggs; three sisters: Bobbie Curtis of Gainesville, Fla., Jeri Hough of Melrose, Fla., and Brenda Cushing of Panama City, Fla.; three brothers: H.M. "Winky" Blackman of Waleska, Ga., Larry Blackman of Panama City, Fla., and Kran Blackman of Cartersville, Ga.; and numerous grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. today, Nov. 18 at Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Bruce Benedict officiating. Interment will follow at Round Lake Cemetery. Asked to serve as active pallbearers are: David Furgerson, George Gay, Danny Tharpe, Chucky Anderson, Shane Blackman and Scott Blackman. Honorary pallbearer will include Luke Miller.
Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home
Panama City, Fla. 32405
JAMES F. BROOKSHIRE
Mr. James F. Brookshire, age 62, of Panama City, Fla., died Wednesday, Nov. 17, 1999 at a local hospital. He was a native of Georgia. Mr. Brookshire is survived by a son, Kevin Franklin Brookshire of Cheyenne, Wyoming; three sisters: Lois Ferguson of Cartersville, Ga., Mary Wills of Kennesaw, Ga., and Raenell Ketcham of Pierre, S.D.; and numerous nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Lung Association, 4300 Bayou Blvd., Suite No. 2, Pensacola, FL 32503.
Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home
Panama City, Fla. 32405
GREGORY LOUIS ESTES
Gregory Louis Estes, 32, of Apalachicola, Fla., died on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 1999 in Chipley, Fla. A native and lifelong resident of Apalachicola, Greg was a commercial fisherman and had also worked in the construction industry. He was Holiness by faith. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Altha Mae Riley Finch and James Thomas Vickery, and also by his paternal grandfather, Chelsea Lewis Estes. Greg is survived by his parents, Robert and Gloria Estes of Apalachicola; three brothers: Robbie Estes and Kenny Estes, both of Apalachicola, and Jimmy Estes of Tallahassee; two sisters, Marie Hendels of Apalachicola and Charlotte Crosby of Sumatra, Fla.; his grandmother, Henrietta Eva Polous Estes of Apalachicola; and his step-grandfather, D.C. "Boise" Finch of Wassau, Fla. Visitation will be held 5 to 8 p.m. EST, today, Nov. 18 at Kelley Funeral Home in Apalachicola. The Estes family will also receive friends on Friday afternoon, Nov. 19 at their home, 1007 Bluff Road, Apalachicola, Fla. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. EST Saturday, Nov. 20 at Living Waters Assembly of God Church in Apalachicola. Interment will follow in Magnolia Cemtery in Apalachicola.
Kelley Funeral Home
Apalachicola, Fla. 32320
