Louise C. Simmons

Louise C. Simmons, 74, died Saturday, July 31, 2004, at a local hospital.

Services are at 12 noon Friday, August 6, at Good Hope Baptist Church in Pleasant Hill, with Pastor John Ward and the Rev Jimmie Coleman officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery with J.H. Williams and Sons Funeral Home directing.

Survivors include a devoted and dedicated husband, Fred Simmons Sr.; six sons, Percy (Demmie) Wright, Jimmie (Bernice) Coleman, Fred (Ruth) Simmons Jr. Wilbert Simmons, Robert Simmons of Selma and Lyndon (Angie) Simmons of Rochester, N.Y.; two daughters, Essie Coleman of New York and Glenda Simmons of Selma; one brother, Willie Edward Walton of Mobile; one sister, Catherine Walton of Selma; a special grandson, (whom she raised) McArthur Coleman of Virginia Beach, Va.; 30 grandchildren; and a host of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by two sisters, Mattie Lee Hollis and Annie Mae Fitts, three brothers, Willie “Rod” Walton, Glen Walton and Marion “Bud” Walton.

Mrs. Simmons was born on April 4, 1930, to Ziffy and Marion Walton. She accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized at Good Hope Baptist Church. She later renewed her faith in God and on Sept. 21, 1985, joined Temple Gate Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Selma. She never wavered in her attempts to win souls for Christ.

She will be missed by all of her family and loved ones.

Dr. Marion Lawrence Crawford

Dr. Marion Lawrence Crawford, 84, of Marion, died Monday, August 2, 2004, at his home.

Services are at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, August 5, at Marion United Methodist Church with the Rev. James L. Waters Jr. officiating. Burial will follow in New Live Oak Cemetery in Selma, with Kirk Funeral Homes Marion Chapel directing.

Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Gloria Huey Crawford; son, George Lawrence Crawford both of Marion; daughter, Shirley Crawford Dorrough and husband Judge Richard Dorrough; granddaughter, Carolyn Elizabeth Dorrough East and husband Christopher Ryan East; grandson, Bernell Lawrence Dorrough; great-granddaughter, Catherine Crawford East all of Montgomery; brother, David Lamar Crawford of Marion Junction.

Active pallbearers are Laird Love, Michael Davis, William A. McCurdy, John Roy Barnes, William E. Powell IV, Dr. Bruce Hutchinson, John Cecil Crawford and William P. Guerard III.

Honorary pallbearers are Bill Kendricks, Kirtley W. Brown, Ronald L. Robertson, Dr. Doug Hallbrooks, Max Eiland Jr., Roy J. Crawford, Dr. Lewis Hall McCurdy, David McCurdy, James M.

Barnes Jr., Dr. Billy Powell and Dr. Donald M. Russell Jr.

Family visitation will be held at the church on Thursday one hour prior to the service.

Dr. Crawford was born on Feb. 3, 1920, in Morgan Springs, to Roy Judson Crawford and Margaret “Maggie” Christenberry Crawford.

He attended Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now Auburn University), graduating as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1942. While at Auburn, he was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho agricultural fraternity. Following graduation, he practiced veterinary medicine for several years in Lake Charles, La., and Mobile, before returning in 1946 to Perry County, where he continued his practice that spanned 34 years, and resumed active management of his cattle and timber operations in west central Alabama.

Dr. Crawford served in numerous leadership roles in veterinary and livestock organizations, including serving as president of both the Alabama Veterinary Medical Association and the Alabama and Alabama Angus Association. He was a lifetime director and honorary vice-president of the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association and was a lifetime alumni director of Xi Chapter, Alpha Gamma Rho, whose recreation building is dedicated in his honor.

His efforts to improve the status of Alabama’s livestock industry were recognized by his election to the Alabama Livestock Hall of Fame. He was also elected to the Alabama Agricultural Hall of Honor, awarded the T. Whit Athey Jr. Memorial Leadership Award, and selected as one of Alpha Gamma Rho’s Brothers of the Century, recognizing the “best of the best” of members in the fraternity’s first 100 years.

He was a member of Marion United Methodist Church, which he served for many years as a lay delegate to the Annual Conference and in other capacities.

Porter Ester Harrison

Porter Ester Harrison, 94, of Centreville, died Tuesday, August 3, at a healthcare facility.

Graveside services are at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 5, at Pineland Memorial Cemetery with the Rev. Charles Teague officiating and Rockco’s Funeral Home, Inc. directing.

Survivors include one daughter-in-law, Nancy Kelly; three grandchildren, Jennice Jent, Terri Wright and Kathy McAtee; two great-grandchildren, Collin McAtee and Noah Sikes-Wright.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Leslie E. Harrison and one son, Porter Harrison Jr.

Active pallbearers are Billy Howard Bolding, Ed Brown, Bobby Cooper, Charles Harrison, Bill Hamm, Scott Thompson, Lee Williams and Ovid Merchant.

Mr. Harrison was a member of Randolph Baptist Church.

Col. Robert G. Stewart (Ret.)

Col. Robert G. Stewart (Ret.), 68, of Fairburn, Ga., (formerly of Marion), died Saturday, July 31, 2004, in Atlanta, Ga.

Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, August 6, at Marion United Methodist Church with Kirk Funeral Homes Marion Chapel directing.