L.C. Craig

L.C. Craig ascended upon this earth as one of thirteen children to Robert Sr. and Ada Craig on December 7, 1929 in Selma, Alabama.

Both parents preceded him in death. He attended Selma’s Public School, and in 1950 he moved to Detroit, Michigan where he worked for Ford Motor Company.

He confessed Christ at an early age where he was a member of Sandridge Baptist Church.

He also served as a Deacon at Joy Road Baptist Church. L.C. entered the Army AVS TC September 19, 1951, serving three years in the Army, fighting in the Korean War, CPL Craig was Honorably discharged in 1953 with KSM w/4 BCS, UNSM, NDSM, and 2 o/S Bars. He joined Greater Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church in 1956; he worshipped God and enjoyed singing old gospel hymns with the Mighty Voices of Thunder.

With an absence he returned home to “Greater Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church.”

In 1956 he married Margaret Bailey who preceded him in death. Three children were born under this union. In 1976 he married Minnie L. Dunn who also preceded him in death.

He was a member of the Masons Lodge. Most notable known for working hard all his life; dedicated to his work, he retired from General Motors only to continue working on cars (his passion).

L.C. was a man for the right and simple way of life. A believer of God, his doors and hands were always open to everybody. No matter what conversation he would have with you, you could be sure he’d say “Have Mercy Lord or Have Mercy Jesus.”

Sitting on the porch … waiting for his chance to come, saying “Everything will alright after while Of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.”

His change came after a while, Friday, July 21, 2006.

He’s alright now. He leaves to cherish his memories, his children, Sylvester Sr. (Rosline) Smith, Norma (Vernon) Hopson, Rosalyn (Malcolm) Simpson, Anthony and Aaron Craig. Four brothers, Robert & Thounda Craig (Willie Dean), Wilson Craig (Pearl) and Melvin Craig. Two brothers-in-law, Robert (Eloise) and David McCall (Mae Lois). Four sisters-in-law, Naomi Craig, Maybell Henry, Alfreda Landrum and Susie Belser (Fred). Step-children, Lerandro Craig and Nicole (Vershawn) Kirsey. Ten grandchildren, ten great grandchildren and one great great grandchild, two step children, twelve step grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Mr. Richard Milton, Jr.

Mr. Richard Milton, Jr., age 82, of Boston, MA, formerly of Selma, died on July 29, 2006 in Boston. Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday, August 5, 2006 at 1:00 p.m. at New Shady Grove M.P. Church with Rev. Edward Dale officiating. Burial will follow in Shiloh Cemetery, Sardis, AL with Miller Funeral Service directing.

Survivors include: wife, Dorothy Milton; sons, Clarence, Jeffery, Raymond, and Marvin Milton; daughters, Margaret William, Betty Allen, Delores Martin, and Flora A. Milton; four brothers, three sisters, twenty-one grandchildren, ten great grandchildren, and a host of nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Baptist Foundation of Alabama.

Amanda W. Ellis

Amanda W. Ellis, age 92, died on Sunday, July 30, 2006. Funeral services will be held on Sunday, August 6, 2006 at 12:00 noon at Good Hope Baptist Church, Pleasant Hill, Alabama. Visitation will be Saturday, August 5, 2006 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. at J.H. Williams & Sons Funeral Home.She leaves to cherish her memory a loving and devoted daughter, JoAnn Purifoy Hurt and grandson, Jason Robert Hurt of Selma, AL. She was married to the late Lewis Miles Ellis. Also surviving are three sisters, Gladys W. Smiley, Gloria Walton of Selma and Claudia (West) Brazil of Mobile, AL, two steep daughters, Gerldine Ellis of Selma and Lorraine Brasil of Birmingham, AL. Nieces and nephews; Marie, Madline “Pat” and Erskine Mitchell, Joseph and Shirley Walton of Selma, Marion Elaine Lewis of Gasden, AL, Mattie Nixon of Mobile, AL and Bertha Smiley of Chicago, IL. Loyal cousins, Emma C. Walton.

She was mother to many but her special God children are Vicki Collins and Jeffery Collins of Gerogia, Charles Fikes of New York, Rev. and Mrs. Oliver Jennings of Maryland, and Col. and Mrs. Fred Jones of Virginia.

Mrs. Ellis was a Master Cook and served in many places including Tim’s Cafe’, Miller & Company Guest House and retired from Selma Head Start.

Deacon & Master Sgt. John L. Harris, Sr.

Deacon & Master Sgt. John L. Harris, Sr., age 62, of Lauderdale, Mississippi passed away on July 27, 2006 at University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi.

Funeral services with Full Military Honors will be held on Saturday, august 5, 2006 at 12:00 noon at the Oak Grove Baptist Church in York, Alabama with Rev. Pearce Jenkins officiating.

Interment will follow in the adjoining cemetery.

The remains will repose at the church on Saturday beginning at 11:00 a.m. Masonic Hour and Family Jour will be held Friday night from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Oak Grove Baptist Church in York, Alabama. Larkin & Scott Funeral Directors of Demopolis, Alabama entrusted with arrangements.

Rev. Lester P. Stone

Rev. Lester P. Stone, age 88, of Montgomery, Ala., died on August 2, 2006. Funeral services will be held on Friday, August 4, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. from Leak Memory Chapel with Dr. Earl Hall officiating. Burial will follow at 1:00 p.m. from Pineview Memorial Gardens in Selma, AL.

Survivors include: his daughter, Ruth Porter (Donald), White Plains, NY; two grandchildren, Deborah Melillo and Christopher Porter; two great grandchildren, Bryan Gray and Deanna Melillo; one brother, Eugene Stone; two sisters, Merle Goldsberry and Helen Chafin. He was pre-deceased by one brother, Boy Stone, and his wife, Ada Maire Rogers Stone, who died in October 2004.

Rev. Stone had been an ordained Baptist minister for 60 years. Together with Mrs. Stone, they served numerous pastorates across the U.S. including church planting in the Northwest and Northeast U.S. with the Southern Baptist Home Mission Board. After retiring in 1981, Rev. and Mrs. Stone served in several volunteer assignments with the Home Mission Board. Locally, he had served as pastor of Northside, West End and Shady Grove Baptist Churches in the Selma area. He was a member of Heritage Baptist Church in Montgomery.

Rev. Dr. Ralph E. LeSure

Rev.

Dr. Ralph E. LeSure, age 85, of Selma died on July 27, 2006 at home. Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday, August 5, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. at Calvary Missionary Baptist Church with Rev. Dr. Walter Vasser officiating. Burial will follow in Fairlawn Memory Gardens with Miller Funeral Service directing.

Survivors include: son, Willie Howard (Ernestine) LeSure of Dayton, OH; daughters, Lottie Deloris Harris of Akron, OH, Doris LeSure (Clarence) Young of Selma, AL, Dora L. LeSure, Rosa LeSure Shannon of Montgomery, AL and Minister Elouise LeSure Rasberry; brother, William Howard LeSure of Detroit, MI. Eleven grandchildren, fourteen great grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Pallbearers will be grandsons and friends of Dr. LeSure.

Mr. Booker T. Smith

Mr. Booker T. Smith, age 84, of Selma died on July 27, 2006 in Selma. Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday, August 5, 2006 at 1:00 p.m. at East Salem Baptist Church with Rev. W.J. Brown officiating. Burial will follow in East Salem Cemetery with Miller Funeral Service directing.

Survivors include: wife, Willie Lee Smith; one daughter, Betty Jean (Raymond) Shannon of Selma, AL; one sister, Myra Lee Sanders, Los Angeles, CA; ten grandchildren, a host of great grandchildren, one son-in-law, three sisters-in-law, and four nieces.

Pallbearers will be Booker Ray Shannon, Isaac D. Shannon, Willie C. Shannon, Raymond E. Shannon, Henry Smith, Jr. and Willie F. Williams.

Ms. Queenie M. Tolbert

Ms. Queenie M. Tolbert, age 50, of Orrville died on August 1, 2006 at her home. Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday, August 5, 2006 at 1:00 p.m. at St. Mary Baptist Church in Orrville, AL with J.M. McQueen officiating. Burial will follow in St. Mary Cemetery with Miller Funeral Service directing.

Survivors include: four sons, Eric Tolbert Demorio (Stephanie) Tolbert, Melvin (Shalaleta) Tolbert and Marvin Tolbert; one daughter, Ashley Tolbert; seven brothers, Levi (Mary Ann) Tolbert, Bill (Dora) Keith, Sam (Mae Beartha) Hatchers, D.C. (Christine) Tolbert, Julius Tolbert, Lee Earnest (Annetta) Tolbert, and James (Azzleaeleane) Tolbert; six sisters, Hannah (John) Gibson, Angela Leverett, Lula Parris, Earnestine (Onnis) Scott, Channie (Wydell) Gibson, and Mary (Robert Lee) Sheffield, and eight grandchildren, three daughters-in-law, four brothers-in-law, six sisters-in-law, twenty-eight nieces and twenty-six nephews. Also surviving is Carolyn Tucker and Essie Tucker.

Pallbearers will be nephews and friends.

Mr. Oliver Crenshaw

Mr. Oliver Crenshaw, age 74, of Bellamy, Alabama passed away on July 29, 2006 at his home.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 5, 2006 at 2:00 p.m. at the Lloyd Chapel Baptist Church in Forkland, Alabama. Rev. Clayborn May will officiate.

Interment with military honors will follow in the adjoining cemetery. Larkin & Scott Funeral Directors of Demopolis, Alabama entrusted with arrangements.

Robert Otis ‘Big O’

Weeden, Jr.

Robert Otis “Big O” Weeden, Jr., age 48, of Selma, AL passed away August 1, 2006. Funeral services will be Friday, August 4, 2006, 2:00 p.m. at Selma Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Kenny Hatcher officiating and Selma Funeral Home directing.

Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at 1:00 p.m.

Interment will be in Pineview Memory Gardens.

He is survived by his father, R. O. Weeden, Sr.; two sisters, Sue (David) Moore and Jan (David) Hulsey; and nieces and nephews, Dawn Minor, Krystal Sanders, Jessica Barrett, Nikki Foster, Matthew Moore, Jacob and Madison Hulsey, Dustin, Keela and Adarious Minor, Chelsea and Lindsea Sanders and Elizabeth Barrett.

He was preceded is death by his mother, Mildred Weeden and a sister Judy Wilson.

Pallbearers will be Buddy Hagaman, Bobby Smith, Allen Weeden, Cliff Weeden, Wayne Weeden and Lee Jackson.

Honorary pallbearers will be Matthew Moore, Billy Barrett, Jacob Hulsey and Kevin Foster.

Mrs. Pearlicia Williams

Mrs. Pearlicia Williams, age 34, of Marion Junction died on August 2, 2006 at her home. Funeral services and survivors will be announced at later date by Miller Funeral Service.