Elder Bright Norfleet

Elder Bright Norfleet, 61, of Uniontown, died Friday, May 16, 2003, at his home.

He is survived by his devoted wife of 32 years, Molly Ann Jones-Norfleet; two sons, Bright III, of Uniontown and Norman of Baton Rouge, LA; twelve daughters, Angela (Stanley) Green, Gloria, Tracy, Misty, W’yddear, Priscilla, Cassandra of Uniontown, Anita of Demopolis, Patricia (Everett) Wright, Kristy (Earnest) Calloway of Birmingham, Mary Norfleet and Leatha (Jerry) Jones of Worcester, Massachusetts; four brothers, Sherman (Trina), Roosevelt (Mary Alice), Marshall, William Henry and Earnest Jones, both of Uniontown; two sisters, Mary Judith Norfleet of Uniontown, and Luedella Carter of Mobile; a mother-in-law, Laura Jones; three sisters-in-law Amelia Brown, Rosie Jones and Gertrude Jones; two brothers-in-law, Cameron Jones and Moses Jones; eighteen grandchildren; one great grand; a devoted friend, Theodore Banks of Uniontown; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends, including the Saint Mary Primitive Baptist Church membership at large.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and two brothers; Winston and Alesia Norfleet.

Elder Norfleet, the pastor of the St. Mary Primitive Baptist Church in Uniontown, was the fourth of nine children born to the late Bright and Ida Bell Evans Norfleet of Greensboro on Jan. 2, 1942.

He confessed his personal faith in God and made a commitment to Jesus Christ as His Saviour at a young age and united with the First Colored Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Rev. Ed Bradley. He served his church faithfully as a member and a deacon until he received the Divine Call of God to preach the Gospel. He was ordained to preach God’s word on June 14, 1985. After accepting his pastorate at a Primitive Baptist Church, he later moved his membership to the St. Peter Primitive Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Rev. J.J. Washington.

He received his early educational training in the public schools of Hale and Perry counties. He continued his studies in the school of theology at Selma University.

Fulfilling his obedience to God’s will in 1985, Elder Norfleet heeded the Master’s Call to the Ministry. During his ministerial career, he was blessed to serve as a Pastor at the Saint Mary Primitive Baptist Church in Uniontown; Associate Pastor, the First Colored Missionary Baptist Church, Uniontown, Alabama (served many years under the leaderships of the late Rev. Ed Bradley and Rev. Love Joy Ray) and as Interim Pastor, the Saint Matthew Baptist Church, Dayton, Alabama (served for approximately one year). He preached at many churches, too numerous to name. He spent his most valuable time visiting the sick, planting gardens, carpentry, cutting lawns and helping others.

Elder Norfleet led his congregation through many successful building programs, won souls for Christ and baptized many. Above all, Elder Norfleet was anointed with the gift of preaching and teaching the word of God.

Larry Smith Jr.

Larry Smith Jr., of Selma, died Tuesday, May 20, 2003, at his home.

Services are at 12 noon, Saturday, May 24, at Queen of Peace Church with the Father Carroll Plourde officiating. Burial will follow in Fairlawn Memory Gardens Cemetery with Lewis Brothers Funeral Home directing.

Survivors include his wife, Elvira R. Smith; parents, Millie Ford Smith and Larry Smith Jr.; two sons, Patrick (Tawana), David (Gloria); daughters, Carolyn (Herman), April, Freda and Phyllis (Charles); brother, Alfred (Mary); two sisters, Lucy (Matthew) and Betty; 19 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; two sons-in-law; two daughters-in-law; two brothers-in-law; and seven sisters-in-law.

Active pallbearers are members of family.

Bennie Smith

Bennie ‘Uncle Ben&uot; Smith, of Selma, died Sunday, May 18, 2003, at a Birmingham hospital.

Services are at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 24, at Lilly Grove Baptist Church in Burnsville, with the Rev. Michael Thomson officiating. Burial will follow in the churchyard cemetery with Miller Funeral Home directing.

Survivors include his wife, Ruth Smith; five sons, Johnny Lewis, Lee Jackson, Tony Jackson, Michael Jackson and Ricky Lewis; three daughters, Linda Jackson, Nancy Lewis and Cherry Suttles all of Selma; two daughters-in-law, Lula Mae Lewis and Kimberly Jackson; six sisters, Paralee Burke, Lillie Mae (Joe) Norwood, Roberta (Guss) Smith, Corine Holmes and Georgia McGuire all of Selma and Ethel Smith of Cleveland, Ohio; three brothers, Rev. Adoulph (Altha) Smith, Lemuel Smith all of Selma and Isaac Smith of Montgomery; three sisters-in-law; one brother-in-law; 19 grandchildren; one aunt, Cornelia Reese; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Jesse Underwood

Jesse Underwood, 87, of Dallas County, died Tuesday, May 20, 2003, at a health car facility.

Graveside services are at 11 a.m. Monday, May 26, at Elmwood Cemetery with Elder. James

Bailey III, officiating and Lewis Brothers Funeral Home directing.

Survivors include two sons, John L. Underwood of Compton, Calif., and James Hancock of Virginia City, Va.; daughter, Willie Mae Lamar of Selma; special friend, Mattie Hicks; a host of grandchildren great grandchildren; one daughter-in-law; a host of nieces and nephew; and cousin and, John, Roscoe and Wilbur Underwood of Clanton, and Macon Underwood of Clifwood, N.J.

Emma McConnell

Emma McConnell, 69, of Selma, died Tuesday, May 20, 2003, at a local hospital.

Funeral arrangements will be announced later by Miller Funeral.

Roosevelt Woods

Roosevelt Woods, 80, of Tyler, died Thursday, May 22, 2003, at a local hospital.

Funeral arrangements will be announced later Miller Funeral Home.

Ben Smith

Ben Smith, 59, of Selma, died Monday, May 19, 2003, at a healthcare facility.

Services are at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 24, at Lilly Grove Baptist Church with the Rev. Michael Thompson officiating. Burial will follow in the churchyard cemetery with Miller Funeral Home directing.

Georgia B. Ivory

Georgia B. Ivory, 83, of Demopolis, died Tuesday, May 20, 2003, at a Birmingham hospital.

Services are at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 24, at Morning Star Baptist Church, Demopolis, with the Rev. E.C. Clemons officiating. Burial will follow in Freehope Cemetery in Boligee, with Larkin and Scott Funeral Home directing.

The body will lie in state at the church on Saturday, beginning at 11 a.m.

Eleanor Croom-Ware

Eleanor Croom-Ware, 79, of Demopolis, died Thursday, May 15, 2003, at a Tuscaloosa hospital.

Services are at 12 noon Saturday, May 24, at Eastern Star Baptist Church, Demopolis, with the Rev. Carlton Hogue officiating. Burial will follow in Memorial Cemetery with Larkin and Scott Funeral Home directing.

The body will lie in state at the church on Saturday, beginning at 11 a.m.

Frank J. Friday

Frank J. Friday, of Selma, died Thursday, May 22, 2003, at a local hospital

Services are at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 24, at Westwood Baptist Church with the Rev. Randy Tanner and the Rev. Winston Brooks officiating. Burial will follow in New Live Oak Cemetery with Lawrence Funeral Home directing.

Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Frances P. Friday; son, Peter Lee of Cheltenham, England; grandsons, Nicholas and Mark Lee of Cheltenham, England; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Active pallbearers are Michael Fondren, Butch Barnes, Russell Stevens, Zaron Craig, Jimmy Hobbie and James M. Powell.

Honorary pallbearers are members of the Westwood Baptist Church Ready Class ad Dr. Julio Delgado.

Family visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. on Friday at Lawrence Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggest donations be made to the Westwood Baptist Church Building Fund.

Mary Christine Smith

Mary Christine Smith, 42, of Lowndes County, died Tuesday, May 20, 2003.

Services are at 3 p.m. Saturday, May 24, at Friendship Baptist Church with the Rev. George Davis officiating. Burial will follow in Hayneville Cemetery with Bell Funeral Home directing.

Survivors include one son, Jarrell Smith; mother, Alice Mae Smith; two brothers, Bennie Smith Jr. and Jebree M. Smith; one niece, Erica J. Smith; two nephews, Benjamin J. Smth and Marquez T. Holmes; grandmother, Martha Ann Davis; and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins and other relatives and friends.

Steve Owens

Steve Owens, 40, of Tyler, died Friday, May 16, 2003.

Services are at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 24, at Bougahoma Baptist Church with the Rev. C. J. Nicholson officiating. Burial will follow in Shiloh Churchyard Cemetery with Bell Funeral Home directing.

Survivors include a devoted wife, Denise Owens; daughter, Waltina of Alabama; one stepdaughter, Gwendolyn of Detroit, Mich.; one stepson, Micheal of Detroit, Mich; six sisters, Lucile (Abraham), Patricia (Willie C.), Mary (Jerome) all of Detroit, Mich., Winnie of Anniston, Rosie and Leola of Mosses; four brothers, Willie (Dee) of Detroit, Mich., William, John and Eddie all of Alabama; mother and father-in-law, Marion (Henry) Lane of Detroit, Mich.; three brothers-in-law, Marvin, Henry (Carla), and Craig all of Detroit, Mich.; two sisters-in-law, Gloria (Jollie) and Peggy (Henry) all of Detroit, Mich.; two grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and close friends, Augustus Wade Johnson and Larry Hester.

Mary Lee Moorer Bell

Mary Lee Moorer Bell, 53, of Montgomery, died Saturday, May 17, 2003.

Services are at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 24, at Mt. Zion AME Church, 455 Jeff Davis Ave, Montgomery, with the Rev. Charlie Moorer officiating. Burial will follow in Alabama Heritage Cemetery with Bell Funeral Home directing.

Survivors include her husband, Eddie L. Bell of Montgomery; mother, Fannie M. Moorer of Mt. Williang; three sisters, Linda (Bruce) Jones of Pensacola, Fla., Tisha (Charles) Dickerson of Irmo, S.C. and Pearlie (Clyde) Cross of Montgomery; four brothers, John D. and Charlie C. (Della) Moore of Columbus, Ohio, Harrison (Willie Lee) Moorer and Samuel (Earlene) Moorer of Mt. Willing; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other relative and friends.