Pastor Ulysses Ceasar Ratcliffe Sr.

Pastor Ulysses Ceasar Ratcliffe Sr., 67, of Selma, died Monday, July 11, 2005, at a rehab facility in Birmingham, AL.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 16, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1900 Marie Foster St., with the Rev. Steven Washington officiating. Burial will follow in Arlington Cemetery, Arlington, AL with Lewis Brothers Funeral Home directing.

Survivors include a devoted friend, Mable McBride; mother, Lonia Ratcliffe; two sons, Ulysses (Carol) Ratcliffe Jr. of Birmingham, AL and Jeremiah (Kenya) Ratcliffe of Tuscaloosa; two daughters, Terissa (Michael) Dudley of Ft. Sill, Okla., and Angela Dudley of Tuscaloosa; five brothers, John (Carolyn) Ratcliffe Sr. of Selma, Samuel (Chris) Ratcliffe, Essitt (Rachael) Ratcliffe all of Birmingham, William (Prestine) Ratcliffe of Columbus, Ga., and Kermit (Bertha) Ratcliffe of Milwaukee, Wis.; two sisters, Willie Mae (Johnnie) Abrams of Pine Hill, AL and Clarissa (Ernest) Murphy of Selma, AL; 10 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and a host of nephews, nieces, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, William Ratcliffe Sr.

Mr. Ratcliffe was a graduate of Concordia College (formerly Lutheran Academy), a graduate of Selma University with a degree in Theology. Mr. Ratcliffe served with the Selma Police Department for several years. He later served and retired from the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department from 1988-2002. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Selma, AL until his calling to become a pastor. He ministered in Arlington and Thomasville, AL.

Ulysses Ratcliffe was not only a mentor, advisor and genuine friend to anyone young or old but, he was also our father (PaPa).

Earline Coats

Earline Coats, 78, of Forkland, AL, passed Sunday, July 10, 2005. At a Tuscaloosa hospital.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, July 15, 2005, at Birdine AME Zion Church, Forkland, AL, with the Rev. Perry Phillips pastor and the Rev. Dr. Thomas E. Gilmore officiating. Interment will follow in the adjoining cemetery.

The body will lie in state at the church on Friday beginning at 12:30 p.m.

Public viewing will be held Thursday, from 2-7 p.m. at the funeral home.

Larkin & Scott Funeral Directors of Demopolis, Alabama entrusted with the arrangements.

Corene Wilson

Corene Wilson, 78, of Selma, AL, died Thursday, July 2, 2005, at a local hospital.

Services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 16, at New Bethany Baptist Church with the Rev. Carl Johnson officiating. Burial will follow in the churchyard cemetery with Miller Funeral Home directing.

Survivors include five sons, Johnny Wilson Jr. (Lula) of Selma, AL, Perry L. Wilson of Detroit, Mich., Lee A. Wilson (Elaine) of Birmingham, AL, Lawrence Wilson (Emma) of Louisville, Ky., and Allen J. Wilson; four daughters, Lillian Henderson (Emanuel), Etta Safford and Delores Harrison of Selma, AL and Annie P. Reese (James) of Hinesville, Ga.; two sisters, Bertha L. King of Birmingham, AL and Katie Wilson of Sardis, AL; 15 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; two sons-in-law; three daughters-in-law; two brothers-in-law; two sisters-in-law; and many nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Active pallbearers will be the Deacons.

Azile L. Williams

Azile L. Williams, 82, of Selma, died Friday, July 8, 2005, at a local hospital.

Services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, July 14, 2005, at Faith Tabernacle Christian Center with Pastor Betty Jemison and Elder Dave Fulford officiating.

Burial will follow in Elmwood Cemetery with J.H. Williams and Sons Funeral Home directing.

Survivors include one son, Dave (Quincia) Fulford Jr. of Selma; one brother, Ezekiel (Ora Dell) Fulford of Selma; one sister-in-law, Carolyn Fulford of Selma; special son, Kelvin Morgan; eight grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Active pallbearers are family and friends.

Mrs. Williams was born Oct. 14, 1922 to the late Henry and Ida Mae Hatcher Fulford.

She was preceded in death by two sisters, and five brothers.

She received her education n the Lily Grove Church School. She

confessed Christ and joined Temple Gate SDA Church, later joining Faith Tabernacle Christian Center where she remained faithful until her death.