Josie Johnson Caldwell

Josie Johnson Caldwell, a resident of Selma, passed Oct. 13 at her home. Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday Oct. 20, 2007, at 1 p.m. from Clinton Chapel AME Zion church. Burial will follow in Fairlawn Memory Garden with J.H. Williams & Sons Funeral Home directing.

Mrs. Caldwell was an active steward of St. Paul CME Church serving on the Usher Board and as past-president of the Missionary Board.

She was a graduate of Alabama A&M University, and after 30 years, she retired as a teacher in the Selma Public School System.

Her family was most important and the center of her life. She loved everyone dearly and was very active in the lives of her children and grandchildren.

Survivors include three children; Jacquelyn Caldwell-Phillips, Janniece Caldwell (Olondo) Moore and James Caldwell, II; grandchildren Olondo Moore, Jr., Eboni Moore, Erikka Caldwell, James Caldwell, III, Christopher Caldwell and Devin Caldwell; great-grandchild Talia Moore; five siblings, Stella Williamson (David), Barbara Jean Caffey, Brenda Myles, Jimmy Walters (Valerie), and Arthur James Cheese; one godson, Marvin Smiley, plus numerous aunt, uncles, nephews, nieces, and other relatives and friends.

Mrs. Caldwell was preceded in death by her husband James Caldwell Sr., parents Robert and Beatrice Craig Johnson, and sisters Cora Brown and Shellie Howard.

Active pallbearers will be members of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.

The family will receive friends on Friday, Oct. 19, 2007, from 6 to 7 p.m. at J.H. Williams & Sons Funeral Home.

William E. Byrd

William E. Byrd, age 79, of Plantersville, Ala. passed away Oct. 15, 2007.

Surviving are his wife, Irene Byrd; sons, David (Debbie) Byrd of Autaugaville, Ala., Billy Byrd and Ricky (Sabrina) Byrd both of Plantersville, Ala.; daughters, Sherry Hogan of Plantersville, Ala., Teresa (Steven) Olah of Pass Christian, Miss., and Tammy (Charlie) Thompson of Concord, Ga.; sisters, Ruth Hughes, Mitzy Jameson, Myrtle Myers and Helen Shead; 19 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Graveside services will be Friday, Oct. 19, 2007, in Pineview Memory Gardens at 10 a.m. with Selma Funeral Home directing.

Visitation will be Thursday, October 18, 2007, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be a Military Honor Guard.

Please visit http://www.selmafuneralhome.com/&

to make on line condolences to the family.

Mrs. Vashti Clara Ransom

Mrs. Vashti Clara Ransom, affectionately known as ” Nonnie,” was born March 18, 1914, in Mobile, Ala. She died Oct. 7, 2007. She was the forth eldest of 11 children born to U. B. and Mary Johnson Rogers.

Funeral services were held on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2007, at 11 a.m.

Pilgrim Baptist Church, Saint Paul, Minn. Officiating was the Rev. Charles L. Gill Jr. Arrangements directed by Bradshaw Funeral Home. Interment: Fort Snelling National Cemetery.

Pallbearers were Anthony Dubose, Ira Dubose,

Jr., Ellias Porter, Terence Porter, Thomas Rogers, Uzziel Rogers IV.

Honorary Pallbearers were Deacon Andrew McGlory,

and Deacon Ray Collins.

Vashti was preceded in death by her husband, Major Samuel L. Ransom, parents

U.B. and Mary Johnson Rogers, brother, Uzziel Rogers II, sisters Annie Mary Sheppard, Ernestine Rogers, Josephine Rogers, Esther Walters, Rozene Rogers, and Ruth Porter DuBose, and surrogate daughters , Daphne M. Porter and Gloria Taylor-James.

She is survived by three sisters, Henrietta Rogers, Atlanta, Ga.; Virginia LaMarr, Queens, N.Y; A devoted sister; Naomi Randolph, Selma, Ala. and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.

Vashti was baptized at an early age. She was a member of Tabernacle Baptist Church in Selma, Ala. She relocated to St.Paul, Minnesota and joined with Pilgrim Baptist Church July 12, 1944. She was a member of the Chancel Choir and she participated in the Jolly Seniors Group. She received recognition which included Mother of the Year and 50 Years Plus Member of Pilgrim. Vashti loved and served the Lord with all of her heart.

Vashti received her early education in Alabama School Systems. She attended Edward Waters College and Alabama State Teacher’s College. She graduated with a degree in education. She taught in Boligee, Ala., and Greene County. After her teaching career, Vashti held various jobs until she earned her operators license and became one of the first black business owners in St. Paul. ‘Ransom’s Beauty Nook’ was opened in the 1950’s and located on University Avenue. There Vashti created decades of hair styles for women, children and men. Years later Vashti moved her business into her home where she continued to style hair until she was no longer physically able.

Vashti was surrogate mother and friend to many. She raised her nieces, Daphne Porter and Gloria Taylor-James. She helped to rear three generations of family members.

Vashti will be greatly missed by all. Her peaceful spirit shall remain comforting to all that she ever met.

Acknowledgements: The family of Vashti Clara Ransom would like to thank our friends and community members who supported us. We especially thank the staff and participants at the Wilder Senior Program, the Rev. Charles. L. Gill,

the Rev. Fred Bacon, the Deacons of Pilgrim Baptist Church, and the staff of Pilgrim Baptist Church.Obituary for Oct. 9, 2007

Dorothy Thomas Little

Dorothy Thomas Little, age 79, died Oct. 5, 2007, after a long illness of Parkinson’s disease.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, James B. Little, son, Malcolm Eugene Little, and one daughter, Linda Joyce Little.

Survivors include three daughters, Nancy L. Phillips (Steve), Dorothy Jean Adams, Susan Faye Lyles (Scott), four sons, William James Little (Lou), James B. Little (Barbara), John Weldon Little (Ronna) and Bruce Wayne Little (Lisa).She is also survived by a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She was loved and will be greatly missed. The family would like to give a special thanks to all the great nurses and friends that touched Granny’s life, and especially her granddaughter, Elizabeth.

Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. Oct. 8, 2007, at New Live Oak Cemetery officiated by Steve Phillips and directed by Lawrence Brown-Service Funeral Home.

Russell Gunter Travis

Russell Gunter Travis, age 79, of Tyler, Ala. died Sunday, Oct. 7, 2007, at UAB Hospital.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Charlie Monroe and Lorene Gunter Travis; sisters, Polly T. Hammond, Eunice T. Henry and wives, Nan Webb Travis and Geraldine Ford Travis and granddaughter, Summer Bandstra.

Survivors include his spouse, Jonnie L. Travis; one son, Rusty

(Debby) Travis of Valley Grande; four daughters, Barbara (David) Griffith of Valley Grande, Nancy Travis of Selma, Patricia (Russell) Johnson of Milton, Fla. and Vicki (David) Bandstra of Elba; brother, Bill (Carolyn) Travis of Montgomery; seven grandchildren, Grant (Julie) Griffith, Scott (Amanda) Callaway, Nan Callaway, Amanda (Chris) Ross, Rachael Griffith, Webb Travis and Megan Travis; three great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was a life-long member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

He was an elder for 40 years and served in various capacities until the church closed in February 2006.

He was presently a member of Sister Springs Baptist Church.

He was retired from the Air Force and the Veteran’s Service Administration.

He was a member of Gideon’s International for over 30 years and served on the state and local cabinets.

Pallbearers will be Webb Travis, Grant Griffith, Scott Callaway, Chris Ross, Justin Sumerlin and Larry Ruff.

Funeral services will be Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2007, at 10 a.m. at Selma Funeral Home with the Rev. Robert Bayne and the Rev. Russell Morrow officiating and Selma Funeral Home directing.

Interment will be in Pineview Memory Gardens. Visitation will be Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2007, from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Gideon’s International, P. O. Box 212, Selma, AL

36702, or Sister Springs Baptist Church, Tyler, AL

36785.

Please visit http://www.selmafuneralhome.com/& to make online condolences to the family.

Thomas Herman

Warbington

Thomas Herman Warbington, age 75, of Selma, died Monday, Oct. 8, 2007, at a local hospital.

Memorial services will be announced at a later date.

Mr. Warbington is survived by his brother, James Martin Warbington of Selma, and sisters, Ann Foster of Marion, and Barbara Jean Coopender of Denton, Texas.

Edris Donovan Jones

Edris Donovan Jones, widow of Roger ap C. Jones, died Monday, Oct. 8 at home after a lengthy illness.

Her funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 10 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church with the Revs. Polk Van Zandt and Joseph Knight officiating.

Burial will be in New Live Oak Cemetery with Lawrence Funeral Home directing.

A complete obituary will be published Wednesday.