Obituaries for Feb. 2, 2007

Published 12:00 am Friday, February 2, 2007

Mrs. Fannie Allen

Mrs. Fannie Allen, age 86, of Demopolis, Alabama passed January 25, 2007 at Woodhaven Manor Nursing Home, Demopolis, Alabama.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 3, 2007 at 12:00 noon at the Eastern Star Baptist Church, Demopolis, Alabama.

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The Rev. Terry Gosa will officiate.

Interment will follow in Memorial Cemetery, Demopolis, Alabama. The remains will repose at the church on Saturday beginning at 11 a.m.

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

Mr. Charles Braxton Sr.

Mr. Charles Braxton ,Sr., age 56, of Demopolis, Alabama passed January 24, 2007 at Bryan Whitfield Hospital.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 3, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. at the Birdine AME Zion Church, Forkland, Alabama. The Rev. Stephen Hixie will officiate. Interment will follow in the adjoining cemetery.

The remains will lie in state at the church on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m.

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

Mr. Coley A. Chestnut

Mr. Coley A. Chestnut, age 85, of Selma, AL died on January 29, 2007 at Vaughan Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 3, 2007 at 12:00 noon at Tabernacle Baptist Church with Rodney T. Morton officiating. Burial will follow in Pineview Memory Gardens with Miller Funeral Service directing.

Survivors include: his wife, Helen L. Chestnut; two sons, Rev. Coley C. Chestnut (Tonya) and Sherman L. Chestnut; five daughters, Winona Peoples (Ronald), Gwen Carrington (Kirk), Jessica Chestnut, Lorene Floyd (Kennie) all of Montgomery, AL and Beverly Jarvis (Tracy) of Covington, LA; seventeen grandchildren, five great grandchildren, four sons-in-laws, one daughter-in-law, and a host of loving cousins and friends.

Pallbearers will be Antonio Chestnut, Benji Hood, Adrian Smith, Bernard Peoples, Kirk Carrington, Jr., and Anthony Stutts. Honorary pallbearers will be Ronald Peoples, Kirk Carrington, Sr., Kennie Floyd and Tracy Jarvis.

The family will receive friends on Friday, February 2, 2007 at Miller’s Funeral Home from 6 to 7 p.m.

Donald Gordie

Donald Gordie, age 51, of Jones, AL died on January 29, 2007. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 3, 2007 at 2 p.m. at Springhill Baptist Church with Rev. Charles Franklin officiating.

Burial will follow in Springhill Cemetery with Lewis Brothers Funeral Home directing.

Herman Henry Burkhardt

Herman Henry Burkhardt, age 88, died Wednesday January 31, 2007 at home. Graveside services will be 11:00 A.M. Saturday, February 3, 2007 at New Live Oak Cemetery with Dr. Cecil Williamson officiating.

Mr. Burkhardt is survived by his wife Maxine Burkhardt of Selma, sons, Charles Henry (Charlotte) Burkhardt of Birmingham, Robert Knight (Deanna) Burkhardt of Kennesaw, GA, daughter, Susan Kay Burkhardt (Bob) Seitz of Lilburn, GA, six grandchildren, Chad and Heather Burkhardt of Dayton, OH, Katy Burkhardt of Birmingham, Jonathan and April Burkhardt of Dallas, GA, Michael and Cristal Burkhardt of Dallas, GA, Brian and Sarah Burkhardt of Temple, GA, and Taylor Seitz of Lilburn, GA, three great-grandchildren, Chase and Hannah Burkhardt of Dayton, OH, and Austin Burkhardt of Dallas, GA. Mr. Burkhardt was a veteran of World War II serving with the US Navy and an Elder at Crescent Hill Presbyterian Church.

Active pallbearers will be grandsons, Chad Burkhardt, Jonathan Burkhardt, Michael Burkhardt, Brian Burkhardt, Taylor Seitz and John Presley.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial donations to Crescent Hill Presbyterian Church, 100 Crescent Hill Drive, Selma, AL, 36701. The family will receive friends from 6 – 8 p.m. Friday at Lawrence Funeral Home.

Mr. Jim Edward Pettway

Mr. Jim Edward Pettway, age 38, of Safford, Alabama died on January 28, 2007 at his residence.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 3, 2007 at 12:00 noon at Christian Light, Alberta with the Rev. Nathaniel Parker officiating. Burial will follow at Aimwell Church, Safford with Miller Funeral Service directing.

Survivors include: spouse, Natasha Pettway; mother, Dorothy E. Pettway; five children, Kayleb Etheridge, Rodrecius Weatherspoon, Zykia Pettway, Jim Pettway, Jr., and Jakayla Pettway; two brothers, John (Doretha) Pettway and Earnest (Sonya) Pettway; two sisters, Shirley Hollis and Irene (Jack) Pettway; aunts, Irene (Herbert) Small and Lucy E. Pettway; uncle, Calvin (Judy) Etheridge; and devoted nieces, Porsche Jackson, Carneshia Jackson and Jequita Pettway.

Earnest Roland

Earnest Roland, age 40, of Selma, Alabama died on January 23, 2007 at his home. Funeral services will be held on February 3, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. at Summer Grove Baptist Church with Willie Jackson officiating.

Burial in the church cemetery with Lewis Brothers Funeral Home directing.

Theodore Norris

Theodore Norris, 89, formerly of Stone Mt., GA, passed January 28, 2007 at Vaughan Regional Medical Center in Selma. Funeral services are scheduled for Friday, February 2, 2007 at 3 p.m. from the chapel of J.H. Williams & Sons Funeral Home with Rev. Lee Goodwin officiating. Burial will be on Saturday, February 3, 2007 at Melwood Cemetery in Stone Mt., GA with J.H. Williams & Sons Funeral Home directing.

He was born on August 2, 1917 in Rehoboth, Wilcox County, Alabama, the seventh child of Julia Thomas and Robert Norris.

He grew up on Green Street in Selma and was next to the youngest child in a large, close-knit family of 23 children.

Theodore was a career U.S. Army Veteran attaining the rank of 1st Lieutenant. He served in WWII in France and Germany and n the Korean War where he earned the Bronze Star.

He retired from the military in 1965 and enjoyed his second career with the New York City Transit Authority from which he retired in 1982.

He was married for 54 years to the late Pearl Leona White of Kingston, Jamaica and Detroit, MI.

They lived in St. Albans, Queens, NY for 34 years before moving to Stone Mt., GA after retirement. They had three daughters.

Theodore is survived by daughters, Brenda Smothers of Selma, AL, Velma Norris of Decatur, GA, and Theodora Norris of Lithonia, GA; two grandchildren, Val Dorah Smothers of Selma and D. Joseph Smothers (Donna) of Detroit, MI; one great granddaughter, Zoe Pearl Smothers of Detroit; one sister-in-law, Evelyn Norris of Los Angeles, CA; a special nice, Eugenia Kirkpatrick (101 yrs old) of Peekskill, NY; and nieces and nephews, John Richard Anderson (Ruth), Donald Norris and Kathleen Hawthorne all of Chicago, IL, LeRoy Anderson (Sherry) of Tucson, AZ, Josie Russell of Birmingham, AL, Julius Kimbrough (Lynette) of New Orleans, LA, Theodore Kimbrough of Montgomery, AL, Constance Rozier (Isaac) of Mobile, AL, Dena Norris, Robert Norris (Delphine) and Inez Norris all of Detroit, MI, Constance Norris and Carolyn Norris both of Los Angeles, CA; a beloved godchild, Grant Warner of Rockville, MD; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Elbert Smith Sr.

Elbert Smith, Sr., age 73, of Selma, AL died on January 26, 2007 at Lighthouse Convalescent Home. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, February 3, 2007 at 1 p.m. at East Salem Baptist Church with W. J. Brown officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery with Lewis Brothers Funeral Home directing.

Survivors include: two sons, Edward Smith and Stephany Smith; four daughters, Florida Smith, Brenda Smith, Shirley Bryant, and Wanda Smith; two brothers, Richard smith and Mitchell Smith; one sister, Annie L. Griffin; 15 grandchildren, and 11 great grandchildren.

Mary Walls

Mary Walls, age 91, of Alberta died on January 27, 2007 at a local nursing home. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 3, 2007 at 12:00 noon at Free Will Church of God in Christ with Elder Frederick Jones officiating. Burial will follow in Highland Memorial Garden with Lewis Brothers Funeral Home directing.

Mr. Wiley Wilson

Mr. Wiley Wilson, age 55, of Boligee, Alabama passed January 24, 2007 at U.A.B. Hospital, Birmingham, Alabama. Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 3, 2007 at 12:30 p.m. at the Mr. Zoar Baptist Church, Boligee, Alabama. Rev. Arthur Coleman will officiate.

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