Willie Ocile Bearden

Willie Ocile Bearden was born to the late Willie B. and Lillian Friday Bearden on May 19, 1921, in the Panhandle of North Dallas-Perry County area.

His life’s journey on earth ended May 25, 2007.

He served in the United States Army during World War II and was deployed to Japan with the Eight

Army, “C” Troop of the 5th Calvary Regiment.

He earned the Asiatic-Pacific Theater ribbon with one star for Luzon, the Philippine’s Liberation ribbon with one star and the Combat Infantryman’s Badge.

Upon his return home to Plantersville, Ala., he became a noted farmer who diversified his operations to include cattle farming and truck farming.

He initiated several new truck farming techniques for the area, including the use of irrigation systems for the crops.

He is well known throughout the Southeast for pioneering the nursery and greenhouse industry.

He established the

W. O. Bearden Nursery & Greenhouses in the Plantersville community in the year of 1948.

He was a member of the Alabama and American Nurseryman’s Association.

He was an avid sportsman and after retirement enjoyed raising quail and bird dogs.

He served as a deacon of the First Baptist Church of Plantersville and shared his love of music as a faithful member of the church choir.

He is survived by his devoted wife of sixty-seven years, Lula Dee Rush Bearden; two sons, Col. (retired) Billy Charles

(Ester) Bearden of Lincoln, Ala., and Bobby Allen (Marilou) Bearden and one daughter, Cynthia (Randy) Tyus both of Plantersville, Ala.

“Pappaw,” as he was fondly known, leaves to cherish his memory, four grandsons, Casey, Cyrus and Allen Bearden and Clint Tyus; one granddaughter, Renee (Bryan) Ousley; seven great-grandchildren, Alena, Allen, Emily, Hannah and Peyton Bearden and Hallie and Hunter Ousley.

Other survivors include one brother, Joseph Hayward (Edna) Bearden of Valley Grande, Ala.; five sisters, Elise Latham of Bessemer, Ala., Nell (Noodie) Carroll of Plantersville, Ala., Louise Ozbolt, Clara Baskin and Shirley (Clyde) Kendrick all of Trussville, Ala.

“Uncle Ocile” will be remembered by a number of nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Sunday, May 27, 2007, at 2 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Plantersville, Ala., with Rev. Earl Watson officiating and Selma Funeral Home directing.

Graveside services will follow in the Christian Cemetery, Plantersville, Ala.

Visitation will be Saturday, May 26, 2007, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Selma Funeral Home in Valley Grande, Ala.

Grandsons, Casey, Cyrus and Allen Bearden, Clint Tyus, Bryan Ousley (husband of his granddaughter, Renee Tyus) and Jim Draime will serve as pallbearers.

Honorary servers will be the Deacons of First Baptist Church.

Special thanks are extended to the doctors, nurses and assistants at the Montgomery Cancer Center of Selma, Ala., and the nurses and caretakers of Cahaba Hospice Center of Selma, Ala.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the American Cancer Society, Cahaba Hospice Center of Selma or the

Plantersville Baptist Church.

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Huelard Lee Grover

Huelard Lee Grover, 76, of Clanton, Ala., passed away Sunday, May 20, 2007 at Shelby County Medical Center.

Funeral services will be held Sunday, May 27 at Martin’s Funeral Home in Clanton at 1 pm.

Visitation will be held prior to funeral from 12 pm to 1 pm.

He was employed for many years at Bush Hog in Selma and Wal-Mart in Clanton, Ala.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Clara May Grover; parents, George and Lily Grover; brother, Wilton Grover; sisters, Wilda Arthur and Marie Sims.

Survivors include stepdaughter, Evelyn Vice; stepson Billy Smitherman; sisters, Lillian Maureen Elbert of Prattville, Ala., Lurleen Radford of Prattville, Ala., Dora Ernest of Panama City, Fla., Millie (Tommie Joe) Fulford of Jones, Ala., Edna Lenoir of Maplesville, Ala.; brothers, James (Inez) Grover of Selma, Paul (Cindy) Grover of Florence, Ala.; special friend, Clara Edwards of Verbena, Ala.; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Cammie Ruth Sherrer

Cammie Ruth Sherrer age 87, passed away Saturday, May 26, 2007.

Surviving are her sons, Morris Lipham, and his wife Fannie, Ronald T. Lipham; her daughter Janice Sanchez; brothers, A. G. Smith, Ben Smith, Thomas Smith, Al Smith and Otis Smith; sisters, Marie Adams and Julia Jatko.

Also surviving her are her grandchildren; Robert and Ronnie Lipham Jr., Bianca Jones, Shelia Lathan, Melanie Ethridge, and Jesus Sanchez, II.

Preceding her in death were her husband, Onroe Sherrer; brother Jim Smith and sister, Dorothy Pharis.

The family will receive friends Monday at the funeral home from 6 – 8 p.m.

Graveside services will be conducted Tuesday May 29, 2007, at 2 p.m. in the Plantersville Christian Cemetery.

Serving as pallbearers will be Robert Lipham, Ronnie Lipham, Jr., Charlie Lipham, Nick Lathan, Wayne Stone and Alvin Duncan.

Selma Funeral Home is serving the family of Ms. Sherrer.

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Venice Vena Dunkin

Venice Vena Dunkin, 82, of Maplesville died Friday, May 25, 2007, at Vaughan Regional Medical Center, Selma.

She was born on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 1924, in Chilton County, Ala., daughter of the late Benjamin Chism and the late Annie Hicks Chism.

She was a substitute teacher.

Surviving are her three sons: LaDon (Pat) Dunkin of Huntsville, Jeff (Joann) Dunkin of Maplesville and Greg (Peggy) Dunkin of Stanton; two daughters, Karen (Bill) Morrison of Maplesville and Carol (Ronald) Lenoir of Maplesvile; brother Howard Chism of Stanton; two sisters, Frances Snodgrass and Ruth Cameron, both of Selma; 12 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Warren H. Dunkin, and grandson, Christopher Robin Dunkin.

Friends will be received from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, May 27, 2007, at Martin Funeral Home in Clanton.

Services will be held Monday, May 28, 2007, at 2 p.m. at graveside with the Rev. Johnny Jones officiating.

Interment will follow in Plantersville Methodist Cemetery in Plantersville.

Martin Funeral Home directing (www.martinfuneralhomeinc.com).

Mary Joy Townsend Hester

Mary Joy Townsend Hester, 72, of Montgomery died on May 26, 2007, at her home after a lengthy illness.

She was born in Birmingham in 1934, the daughter of Mack and Bess Townsend.

She is survived by her husband of 50 years, Marvin Hester Jr.; two daughters, Heidi Hester Lee (Robert) of Montgomery and Heather Hester Sasser (Steve) of Decatur; six grandchildren, Caroline Lee, Gibbs Lee, Williams Sasser, Matthew Sasser, Andrew Sasser and Phillip Sasser.

She is also survived by her three brothers, Mack Townsend, Don Townsend and Jack Townsend; and one sister, Vicki Holcomb, all of Birmingham.

She was well named, a Joy to all.

The family will receive friends Monday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at the home of Robert and Heidi Lee.

A memorial service will be held at Young Meadows Presbyterian Church, 5780 Vaughn Road, on Tuesday, May 29, 2007, at 11 a.m. with Dr. Jim Simoneau and Dr. Dana Waters officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorials be made to Young Meadows Presbyterian Church Building Fund or the Cancer Wellness Foundation.

Arrangements by Leak Memory Chapel.