Mr. David Safford

March 9, 1931 – January 3, 2007

David Safford, 75, of Huntsville died on Wednesday.

Mr. Safford is survived by four children, Roshanda Safford Autrey, Murna Safford, Darryl Moore and Jackie; nine grandchildren; thirteen brothers and sisters; Carrie P. Smiley, Sadie M. Mitchell, George Safford, Bessie M. Clark (Isiah) all of Selma, AL; Henry Safford (Corine), Mexia, TX; Mary E. Crumpton, Houston Safford, Minter, AL; Ethel Wilson, Jerome Safford, Israel Safford (Mary) all of Sardis, AL; James Safford of Florida; Geraldine Safford, Eather Moore (Horace) both of Huntsville, AL and step sister Lula B. Reese of Sardis, AL and step brother Willie Jones of Florida.

Funeral Services for Mr. Safford will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday from the Good Hope Baptist Church in Sardis, AL with Reverend Curtis Jackson officiating.

Interment will be in Good Hope Cemetery with Nelms Memorial Funeral Home handling the services.

The remains of Mr. Safford will be in the church one hour prior to funeral time.

Kathryn Dyke Hicks

Former longtime Selma resident Kathryn Dyke Hicks, 91, died January 3, 2007 in Fort Pierce, Florida, where she had lived since 1987.

Services will be Friday, Jan. 5, at 10 a.m. in Fairlawn Baptist Church, Fort Pierce, with the Rev. Van Sowerby officiating. Burial will be in White City Cemetery, Haisley Funeral Home directing.

Mrs. Hicks was educated in Selma Public Schools, graduating from Selma High. She attended Judson College, Marion, and the University of Tennessee. During the 1950s and ’60s she owned and operated Hicks Business School in Selma.

She was an active member of First Presbyterian Church and the Selma Pilot Club.

Preceding her in death were her mother and father, Inez and Elmer Dyke Sr. of Selma; her husband Pervis Hick of Selma and later Fort Pierce; her brother William Wayne “Bill” Dyke of Selma and Macon, Georgia; and her sister Mary Maude Dyke Byrnes of Palo Alto, California.

Her survivors are a brother, Henry Elmer Dyke Jr. of Hendersonville, N.C.; two daughters, Lynda (husband Mike) Oostdyk of Fort Pierce, and Mary Kay (husband Joe) Wetherington of Valdosta, Georgia; three grandchildren, Andy (wife Amy) Halstead of Jackson, Mississippi, Mike (wife Becky) Oostdyk of Orlando, Florida; and three great-grandchildren, Sierra, Braden and Drew Camden Halstead, also of Jackson.

Memorial gifts may be made to a charity of choice.

Ms. Johnnie

Mae Norfleet

Ms. Johnnie Mae Norfleet, age 53, of Marion, AL died on January 3, 2007 at her home.

Funeral services will be announced at a later date by Miller Funeral Service.

Jimmy Lee

‘Sang’ Gordon, II

Funeral services will be held at the Church of Christ in Prayer on Saturday, January 6, 2007 at 1:00 p.m. Interment will follow in Fairlawn Cemetery in Selma, Alabama. Elder Jimmy Lee Gordon, III officiating.

The late Mr. Jimmy Lee “Sang” Gordon, II was born to the late Mr. Jimmy Lee, Sr. and Mrs. Bessie Watkins- Gordon in Campbell, Alabama on May 31, 1937.

He was educated in the Campbell Public School System and was a member of the Campbell A.M.E. Church until the family moved to Selma.

He confessed hope in Christ in 1959 and received the Holy Ghost under the leadership of the late Bishop Mattie Moss Ramsey and was a member of the Church of Christ in Prayer.

On October 17, 1959 he married the love of his life, Mrs. Ethel Mae Williams and to this union 9 children were born. Two preceded him in death (Margaret and Calvin the First).

Jimmy was employed in the construction industry for over 30 years until his health failed him.

He departed this life on Friday, December 29, 2006 a Vaughan Regional Medical Center.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 47 years, Mrs. Ethel Mae Gordon; five sons, Gary and Calvin, both of Selma, Alabama, Elder Jimmie, Jr. of Columbus, Georgia, Jerry L. (Latonya) of Valdosta, Georgia and Marvin B. of Mobile, Alabama; three daughters, Kay Gordon-Parker (Roland) and Patsy Jean both of Selma, Alabama, and Dorothy Steele-Williams (Anthony) of Cleveland, Ohio; one sister Bessie Gordon-Ross of Selma; five brothers, Earnest (Ella), Elder Melvin (Inez), and Ledell all of Selma, Alabama, Willie (Pamela) of St. Paul, Minnesota, and Eugene Woods (Le Dora) of Montgomery, Alabama; one aunt, Mrs. Ella Mae Turner of Prichard, Alabama; two brothers-in-laws, Jim Steele and James Steele (Rosie); on sister-in-law, Mrs. Ola Bell Curry (L.C.) all of Selma, Alabama; twenty-two grandchildren, six great grandchildren, three special family friends (Wanda, Camilla, and Deborah) and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Harold C. Marten

Harold C. Marten, age 86, passed away Wednesday, January 3, 2007 in a local hospital.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Wilma Marten; daughter, Carolyn (Phillip) Graham; sister, Anita Marten; grandchildren, Kristi and James Graham.

Visitation will be held on Friday, January 5, 2007 from 1:00 to 2:00 P. M.

Funeral services will be at 2:00 P. M. in the Chapel of Selma Funeral Home, with Rev. Robert Bayne officiating and Selma Funeral Home, directing.

Interment will be in Pineview Memory Gardens.

Fannye Oliver

Fannye Oliver was born to Atlieze Peeples on April 23, 1929 in Selma, AL and was reared by her beloved aunt, Hattie Peeples in Burnsville, AL where she was member of Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church, but later changed her membership to Brown Chapel AME, Selma.

She departed this life on December 31, 2006 and was preceded in death by her mother, brother and aunt.

Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, January 6, 2007 at Brown Chapel AME Church with Rev. James Jackson officiating and Lewis Brothers Funeral Home directing. Interment will be in Fairlawn Memory Gardens.

She leaves to mourn: her loving husband, Paul W. Oliver, Sr.; six sons, Paul, Jr. (Sequita), Timothy, Richard (Rebecca), Jonathan (Barbara), Cedric (Helen) and Kenneth (Chelsea); two daughters, Betty Oliver and Mary (Michael) Palmer; eleven grandchildren, Richard, Jr. (Allison), Jonathan, Jr. (Katrina), Paula, Rory, Kendric, Latasha, Latrya, Shequavia, Erica, Brandi and Kenneth, Jr.; three great grandchildren, Naomi, Jonasia and Ja’nygal. Three brothers-in-laws, Joseph Oliver, Nathaniel Oliver and Henry Adger; three sisters-in-laws, Ruth Oliver, Annie Andrews, and Bessie Caldwell; special nieces, Doris Wheeler, Renee Wilson and Mary Bogan; four special cousins, Ella Mae Perkins, Wence Perkins, Amanda Perkins and Daryl Perkins and a host of other relatives and friends.

Pallbearers will be her sons and grandsons, Paul W. Oliver, Jr., Richard Peeples, Sr., Jonathan E. Oliver, Sr., Cedric W. Oliver, Kenneth P. Oliver, Sr. and Jonathan E. Oliver, Jr.

Treva Henninger Cooper

Treva Henninger Cooper, age 89, of Montgomery died Thursday, January 04, 2007.

Graveside services will be held at 3:30 p.m. Friday, January 5, 2007 at Pineview Memory Gardens Cemetery with Lawrence Funeral Home directing. Family visitation will be Friday, January 5, 2007 from 2:30-3:30 p.m. at Lawrence Funeral Home.

Mrs. Cooper is survived by her son- Richard H. (Mary) Henninger, Jr. of Millbrook; granddaughters- Kristine (Philip) Mantel of Montgomery and Lisa Henninger of Millbrook; great granddaughter- Mary Pruitt Mantel of Montgomery; sisters- Maxine Givens of Aurora, KY and Betty Hagen of Owensboro, KY; sister-in-law, Janet DeWeese of Louisville, KY; step daughters, Betty (Charlie) Longshore of Clanton, Cathy (Jim) Golden of Milton, FL and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in by her husband- Richard H. Henninger, Sr.; husband, Arthur Leon Cooper; brother, Lindol DeWeese; sister, Virginia Bratcher.

Mrs. Bessie L. Tubbs

Mrs. Bessie L. Tubbs, age 70, of Marion, AL died on December 30, 2006 in Marion, AL.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 6, 2007 at 1:00 p.m. at Marion Baptist Academy with Rev. Carlton Phillips officiating. Burial will follow in Daniel Cemetery in Sprott, AL with Miller Funeral Service.

Survivors include: her husband, Mr. Benjamin Tubbs; six sons, Allen (Jeanette) Leverette, John Leverette, Arthur (Lisa) Leverette, Robert (Gail) Leverette, Willie (Sabrina) Leverette and Richard (Jackie) Leverette; five daughters, Willietta (Ronnie) Roberson, Louise (John) Moore, Linda Hogue, Florence (Joe) Parker, and Mary L. Leverette; two brothers, Eddie (Annie) Rutledge of Brent, AL and Hosea (Barbara) Rutledge of Marion, AL; thirty-two grandchildren, sixteen great grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Pallbearers will be her grandsons.

Bobbie Lee Carter

Bobbie Lee Carter, age 60, of Dallas County died on December 29, 2006.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 6, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. at Ellwood Community Church with Rev. Rodney T. Morton officiating. Burial will follow in Pineview Memory Gardens with Lewis Brothers Funeral Home directing.

Survivors include: one daughter, Ann L. (James) Tolbert; two brothers, Jerry (Maple) Smith and Guss (Roberta) Smith, Jr.; four sisters, Mandy Clark, Frances (Jerry) Allison, Judy Bell Smith, and Pennsylvania (Sammy) Garrett; three grandchildren; one sister-in-law, Essie Mae Smith and a host of nieces and nephews.

Ms. Rosie L. Franklin

Ms. Rosie L. Franklin, age 85, of Safford, AL died on December 26, 2006 at her residence.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 6, 2007 at 12:00 noon at Christian Light (Alberta) with Rev. C. L. Franklin officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery with Miller Funeral Service directing.

Survivors include: four sons, King (Mary) Franklin, Freddy (Barbara) McGuire, Bruce (Lois) McGuire, Johnny (Saundra) Franklin; one daughter, Dessie Franklin Horton; twelve grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, one sister-in-law and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Mr. Percy Herring

Mr. Percy Herring, age 65, of Perry County, AL died on January 3, 2007 at DCH Hospital.

Funeral services will be announced at a later date by Miller Funeral Service.

Mr. James Reese

Mr. James Reese, age 60, of Selma, AL died on January 3, 2007 at Jackson Hospital.

Funeral services will be announced at a later date by Miller Funeral Service.

Mrs. Mattie L. Moorer

Mrs. Mattie L. Moorer, age 91, of Hayneville, AL died on December 30, 2006 at her residence.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 6, 2007 at 1:00 p.m. at Shiloh Baptist Church in Gordonville, AL with Rev. Lionel Davis, Sr. officiating.

Burial will follow in the church cemetery with Miller Funeral Service directing.

Survivors include: two sons, George Hardy and Hiwatha Burke (Hartford, CT); two daughters, Mildred Moorer and Connie (James) Martin; seven grandchildren, five great grandchildren, and one son-in-law. Her extended family includes: one nephew, three grandchildren and two great grandchildren and a host of close relatives and friends.

Estella Dennis

Estella Dennis, age 103, of Safford, AL died on January 3,2007 at home.

Funeral services will be announced at a later date by Lewis Brothers Funeral Home.

Ms. Sylvester Burgess Boyd

Ms. Sylvester Burgess Boyd, age 93, of Sardis, AL died on December 30, 2006.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 6, 2007 at 1:00 p.m. at Gain Chapel AME with Rev. Dave A. Grant officiating. Burial will follow in Little Zion Cemetery with Miller Funeral Service directing.

Survivors include: two daughters, Elizabeth Tate and Eula Barnes; one sister, Annie Daudley; four grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, two great-great grandchildren, one son-in-law and two nieces.

She was preceded in death by her son, Joe Byrd and one son-in-law.

Pallbearers will be grandsons and friends.