John Jacob “Opie” Shipman, II

John Shipman, II, age 32, died Sunday, April 8, 2007.

Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, April 12, 2007 at Northside Baptist Church with Dr. Kenny Hatcher and Rev. Johnny Williamson officiating and Lawrence Funeral Home directing. Burial will follow in the Marion Junction Methodist Cemetery.

Visitation will be Wednesday, April 11, 2007 from 6-8 at Lawrence Funeral Home.

Survivors include his sons, John Jacob Shipman, III and Nicholas Payton; parents, Gary and Debra Shipman, Sr.; brother, Gary (Pam) Shipman, Jr.; sister, Sheri (Kyser) Smith; grandparents, Rev. John (Waulene) Shipman and Pauline Trowbridge; nephews, Joseph Williams, Chase Shipman and Slade Singleton; nieces, Mary Singleton, Morgan Williams and Gracie-Taylor Smith.

Pallbearers will be Percy Ealum, Dinky Webster, Chris Elam, Dan Ferguson, ChuckRobertson, Jamie Rush, Daryl Kendricks, Ron Dockery and John Damoth.

Ernest A. Befford

1SG Ernest A. Befford, age 71, of Marion, AL passed away Thursday, April 5, 2007.

Surviving are his wife, Mary I. Befford; his daughter, Mary C. Befford; and his grandchildren, Albert Befford and Elizabeth Bell and her husband Dustin.

Funeral services will be Sunday, April 15, 2007 at 1:00 p.m. in the chapel at Marion Military Institute with Col. James Waters officiating.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.

Interment will be in the Garden Hills Cemetery in Opelika, Alabama at 5:00 p.m.

1SG Befford was a family man devoted to his wife, daughter and grandchildren.

He not only had devotion to his family, but also the many cadets who he had mentored throughout the years.

He served his country in the Korean conflict where he was one of six survivors of the first attack on Pork Chop Hill.

Later he served as a Drill Instructor at Fort Polk, Louisiana for nine years.

He obtained the rank of 1SG at the age of 26 in non-war time.

He then served twice in Vietnam and completed his military service at Fort Richardson, Alaska.

Continuing his career, he and his wife traveled to Marion, Ala. where he spent seventeen years mentoring students at Marion Military Institute as a Tac Officer.

Throughout his career, 1SG Befford touched many lives amongst his cadets and friends.

He will not only be remembered as a well-decorated soldier, but as a devout family man and role model to all lives he has touched.

Selma Funeral Home is serving the family of Ernest Befford.

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Frances Nichols Jackson

Frances N. Jackson, age 85, of Marion Junction died Sunday, April 8, 2007.

Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, April 11, 2007 at New Live Oak Cemetery with the Rev. Mike Chandler officiating and Lawrence Funeral Home directing.

Visitation will be Tuesday, April 10, 2007 from 6:30- 8:30 p.m.

She was preceded in death by her parents Roy Nichols and Ethel Holley Nichols of Selma, her husband; Robert Pryor and a son; Robert Earl Jackson.

Survivors include two daughters; Leona ( Harold) Curtis and Mary Gibson of Marion Junction, grandchildren; Robert & Roger Dunkin of Marion Junction, Don ( Robin) Perry and Sherry ( Johnny) Raybon of Selma, Gail Lakin of Buckeye AZ, Joan Hill of Pensacola, FL.; great grandchildren Jerry Poe, Chris (Misty) Poe, AJ Poe and Joey Raybon of Selma, Leigh Perry & Chelsea Perry of Selma, Donald H Perry,III, Delores Perry of AZ, Connie Dunkin of Ocean Springs and Brandi Dunkin of Antlers, OK. Great Great Grandchildren; Dawson Sanders and Conorr Dunkin.

The family would like to thank Cahaba Hospice nurses Jo Gibson and Barb for all their concern and attention during mama’s illness and the Hospice Volunteers.

Thanks to Charlotte & Emma from Hospice, mama’s sitters; Corrine Beal & Rebecca Kimbrough, also Marselia.

Pallbearers will be Robert Dunkin, Don Perry, Roger Dunkin, Jerry Poe, Chris Poe, AJ Poe, Joey Raybon and Damon Rowe.

James “Jimmy” H. Burnside

James H. Burnside age 59, passed away on Sunday, April 8, 2007 at his home.

Graveside services will be 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 at Pineview Memory Gardens Cemetery with Bro. Mason Harris officiating and Lawrence Brown-Service Funeral Home directing.

Family visitation will be on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Lawrence Funeral Home.

Mr. Burnside is survived by his wife – Susie G. Burnside; sons – Jimbo Burnside (Bobbie), Chris Palmer (Melinda); daughters – Mandy Curry (Brian), Christy Palmer, Vicky Burnside, Shelly Sasser; sisters- Shelia Burnside, Debra Kay Mott; grandchildren – Dylan Curry, Gavin Burnside, Kristiana Sasser, Kaylin Sasser, Tiffany Chappelle, Landon Moore, Lucas Gilliam and Madison Gilliam.

Pallbearers will be Steven Neighbors, Tommy Swindal, Bobby Bridges, Jerry Smith, Jack Burnside and Jesse Harris.

Honorary pallbearers will be Bob Phillips and the employees of Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company.

The family requests donations be made to Cahaba Hospice.

Father James Ryan

Father James Ryan, age 84, of Selma, AL died on April 2, 2007 at his residence.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. at Queen of Peace with Father Carrol officiating. Burial will follow in Fairlawn Cemetery with Miller Funeral Service directing.

Bessie Elouise Bell

Bessie Elouise Bell, age 89, of Safford died Sunday April 8, 2007 at a local nursing home.

Graveside services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 11, 2007 with Rev. Tom Stacy officiating and Lawrence Brown-Service Funeral Home directing.

She was preceded in death by her husband; John A. Bell and daughter; Joan E. Bell, she is survived by her son; Ronald Bell, Daughters; Marjorie Ann Smith, Patsy Callaway, Helen Phillips and Christy Turberville, sister; Sara Hasler, 13 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Mark Smith, Ricky Callaway, Morgan Bell, Brett Bell, Steve Johnson and Patten Bradford.