Robert M. Pearce

Col. Robert M. Pearce died September 27, 2005, at Bethany House Hospice in Auburn, Ala. He was born to Mary McIntyre Pearce and William Bodley Pearce in Louisville, Ky. On Nov. 18, 1919.

Col. Pearce was a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. (June 1944) where he lettered on the Army football team. Eight days after graduation he married Betsey Yow Pearce of High Point, North Carolina.

During his 30 year career in the military, Col. Pearce served with a French Company in St. Nazaire France during World War II. After World War II, he received a MS in aeronautical engineering from NYU. He was subsequently assigned to the nuclear bomb project at White Sands, NM. He was instrumental to the development of the Redstone Rocket at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama where he later was Project Manager for the Pershing Missile and Director of Research and Development. When Col. Pearce retired in 1974, he was the Acting Deputy Commander of the United States Army Missile Command at Redstone Arsenal. In addition to his work on rockets and missiles, Col. Pearce was on the team that negotiated the turnover of Okinawa back to Japan. Two of his more interesting assignments included naming the first monkeys in space (Alpha and Baker) at a White House conference and serving as the military escort for the governor of Kentucky during John Kennedy’s inauguration.

Col. Pearce is preceded in death by his son, Robert McIntyre Pearce Jr. He is survived by his wife Betsy Yow Pearce, daughter Perry Elizabeth Pearce, her husband Douglas Arthur Benton of Ono Island, Ala. His son David Yow Pearce of Browns, Ala. And his wife Fran Weissinger Pearce, his grandchildren, Major and Mrs. David Alan Reeder Jr. of Atlanta, Mr. and Mrs. David (Lynn) Yow Pearce Jr. of Browns, Ala. and Mr. and Mrs. William (Beth) Weissinger Pearce, of Selma and his great-great grandchildren, Jackson David Pearce and Mary Ashlyn Pearce.

Services will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28, at Holy Trinity Church in Auburn, followed by a visitation. Internment will be at Arlington National Cemetery.

Samuel E. Hayes

Samuel E. Hayes, 85 years old, of Maplesville, Alabama, died Monday, September 26, 2005, at a Chilton County hospital.

He was born July 5, 1920, in Chilton Co., Alabama, He was the son of the late Jessie Hayes and the late Mabell Edwards Hayes.

Surviving are four daughters, Mrs. Johnnie Faye (Wesley) Gaudy of MaplesVille, AL, Mrs. Barbara (Cecil) Sims of Selma AL, Mrs. Connie (Coy) Smith of Maplesville, AL, and Mrs. Nelda (Steve) Frith of Lawley, AL; sister, Mrs. Jessie Mae (Ed) Spigner of Maplesville, AL; 13 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mrs. Marie Hayes and two great-grandsons.

Friends will be received 5-8, Wednesday, September 28, at Martin Funeral Home Chapel, Clanton, Alabama.

Services will be held at Pilgram Rest Baptist Church, Thursday, September 29, 2005 at 2:00 PM, with Rev. Bo DeLoach and Rev. Joey Green officiating. Interment will follow in the Pilgrim Rest Cemetery, Maplesville, Alabama.

Charlie Everette Hicks

Charlie Everette Hicks, age 66, a native of Marion, Al, and a resident of Pine Hill, AL passed away Tuesday, September 27, 2005, at his home.

He was a retired bridge tender with Burlington Northern Railroad and a member of the Pine Hill Chapel of Apostolic Faith.

Visitation will be held at O’Bryant Chapel Funeral Home in Thomasville, AL Wednesday, September 28. 2005 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Funeral services will be held at Pine Hill Chapel of Apostolic Faith on Thursday, September 29, 2005 at 10:00 AM with Rev. Mike Brenning and Rev. Jim Arnall officiating. Burial will be at Pine Hill Cemetery, in Pine Hill, AL with O’Bryant Chapel Funeral Home directing.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara Jean Hicks of Pine Hill, Al; sons, Tim Hicks and Keith (Cindy) Hicks both of Pine Hill, Al; daughter, Gloria (Mitch) Emmons of Dadeville, AL; brothers, Billy Hicks and Joe Hicks of Pine Hill, Ray Hicks of Massachusetts and Cecil Hicks of Selma; sisters, Eula Mae Browning and Carolyn Vick both of Pine Hill, AL; grandchildren, Lindsey Emmons of Auburn, Kelsey Hicks and Layne Hicks both of Pine Hill, AL.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to South Care Hospice, Inc., 179 -B Jackson Street, Grove Hill, AL 36451.

Ruby Irene

Hicks Lovelady

Ruby Irene Hicks Lovelady, 69, of Calera, AL, died Monday, September 26, 2005, at a nursing home in Hoover, AL.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, September 28, 2005, at First United Methodist Church of Montevallo.

Burial will follow in Heiberger United Methodist Church Cemetery at 1:30 p.m. with Kirk Funeral Homes Marion Chapel directing.

Family visitation will be one hour prior to service at First United Methodist Church in Montevallo.

Jannie White Matthews

Jannie White Matthews, 76, of Gallion, Alabama passed on Thursday, September 22, 2005, at her home.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, September 29, 2005, at John the Baptist Church, Gallion, AL, with the Rev. Gerome Burrell officiating.

Interment will follow in the adjoining cemetery.

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