Billie W. Sioma, age 58, of Sylvania Township, Ohio, passed away on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 at Hospice of Northwest Ohio Inpatient Unit of Toledo, Ohio.

She was born in Selma, Alabama on July 2, 1947 to Ernest Willie and Lucille (Sims) Walker.

Billie married Donald Sioma on December 30th, 1967.

She held several managerial positions in the health care field until they moved to Toledo in 1988.

She then began her career as a realtor in 1994 working with Welles Bowen, Cavalear, Home Source Realty and Sulpher Springs.

Billie was a member of the Million Dollar Club in 2003 and 2004.

She was a member of the Toledo Board of Realtors and the OAR and the NAR.

Billie is survived by her husband, Donald; sisters, Martha Chandler (J.T.) and Betty Ferguson; many nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Frances Walker.

Visitation will be on Monday at the Dillard Funeral Home in Troy from 9 to

10 a.m.

Graveside services will be held at Elam Cemetery in Pike County at 10:30 a.m. with the Rev. David Motes officiating.

Memorial contributions may be given to the American Cancer Society or Hospice of Northwest Ohio, 30,000 River Rd., Perrysburg, OH 43551.

On-line condolences may be sent to www.walkerfuneralhomes.com

Ruby Irene Bearden Harris Bedgood

Ruby Irene Bearden Harris Bedgood of Selma died Saturday, June 10, 2006 at home.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, June 12, 2006 at Plantersville Baptist Church with Dr. Kenny Hatcher officiating and Lawrence Brown-Service Funeral Home directing. Burial will follow at Plantersville Christian Cemetery.

Mrs. Bedgood is survived by her son, Horace Lee (Sylvia) Payton of Opelika, daughters, Esther (Mac) Jones of Selma, Paulette (Jack) Robertson of Selma, Neil (Wendell) Parnell of Plantersville, Katie (Larry) Wilkins of Morris, AL, 25 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren, and 1 great great-grandchild. She is also survived by her sisters, Mavis Brand of Montevallo, Frances Maxine Bearden of Panama City, FL, half-brother, Billy Bearden of Birmingham, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be her grandsons. Honorary Pallbearers are Deacons of Northside Baptist Church.

Family will receive friends Sunday, June 11, 2006 from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

William Herman Norris

William Herman Norris, age 78, of Selma, AL passed away Friday, June 9, 2006.

Funeral services will be Monday, June 12, 2006, 10:30 a.m. at Selma Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Alan Yarbrough officiating and Selma Funeral Home directing.

Interment will be in New Live Oak Cemetery.

Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at 9:30 a.m.

He is survived by one son, Ricky Norris of Prattville, AL; one daughter, Elaine (Wayne) Fulford of Valley Grande, AL; three sisters, Annie Mae Exline, Peggy Havens and Nell Suitt;

six grandchildren, William Tate Rogers, William Patrick Norris, Aimee Sue Rogers, Brandy Norris Leib, Douglas Wayne Fulford and Jessica LeAnn Norris; seven great grandchildren, Alexandra Michelle Smith, Christian Elaine Rogers, Katarina Brooke Fulford, Norris Hayden Frith, Kayleigh Norris, Corbin Leib and Britt Leib.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Kathryn Norris.

Pallbearers will be Jeff Gargus, Mark Lane, Steve Lane, Allen Lane, Greg Lane, and Rodney Lane.

Honorary pallbearers will be Lawrence Watkins, Lee Holladay and Gene Lane.

John Lee Bethel, Sr.

John Lee Bethel, Sr. passed away peacefully on June 1, 2006 after a lengthy illness.

He was born on Oct. 20, 1943 in Autauga County, Alabama. He resided mostly in Selma, Alabama throughout his life, with the exception of the last year in Jacksonville, FL. He loved to hunt and fish on the Alabama River.

He leaves to mourn his demise: sons, John Lee Bethel, Jr. of Clio, AL and John Johnson (Hazel) of Hartford, Conn.; daughters, Mrs. Lesia A. McGee (Rufus) of Jacksonville, FL and Yvette Bethel of Selma, AL; sisters, Mrs. Sarah Hall of Valley Grande, AL, Mamie Gaines of Selma, AL, Louise Jones (Reggie) of Bluefield, Virginia and Marie Bethel of Bronx, NY; many loving grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Special thanks to Community Hospice of Northeast Florida who helped make John’s final days dignified and comfortable

~”Remember me with smile and laughter for that is how I will remember you all”~

Sister Martha Effinger

Sister Martha Effinger, age 92, formerly of Selma, AL, passed away on Sunday, June 4, 2006 in Riverside, CA.

Funeral services will be held in California on Tuesday, June 13, 2006.

Sister Effinger moved to Riverside, CA in 2004 to live with her son Mr. James Effinger, his wife, and grandchildren. Before leaving Selma, Sister Effinger was a member of Union Grove Primitive Baptist Church where Elder Ocie L. Acoff is pastor. She was a Sunday School teacher and a mother of the church for many years.

Sister Effinger still has a number of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends here in Selma.

Sister Effinger was loved by many and will be missed by them all.