Steve Griffin

Steve Griffin, 80, died Sunday, November 30, 2003, at a local hospital.

Services are at 1 p.m. Saturday, December 6, at East Salem Church with the Rev. W.J. Brown officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery with Lewis Brothers Funeral Home directing.

Survivors include his wife, Rosie P. Griffin; seven sons; 10 daughters; two sisters; 40 grandchildren; 43 great-grandchildren; seven sons-in-law; seven daughters-in-law; 70 nieces; and eight nieces.

Anna Lee Gillis

Anna Lee Gillis, 88, of Selma, died Sunday, November 30, 2003, at a local hospital.

Graveside services are at 11 a.m. Wednesday, December 3, at New Live Oak Cemetery with Dr. John Fain officiating and Lawrence Funeral Home directing.

Survivors include her loving and devoted caretaker, Josephine Williams of Selma; one nephew, Bob (Carol) Cumby of North Carolina; two nieces-in-law, Bernice A. Pitts and Carol Gillis both of Selma; one sister-in-law, Beverly Puryear of Birmingham.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Leon “Pop” Gillis.

Mrs. Gillis, worked at Selma Water Works for over 27 years.

Joseph W. McNeel Jr.

Joseph W. McNeel Jr., 74, of Century, Fla., formerly of Selma, died Saturday November 29, 2003, in Pensacola, Fla.

Services are at 11 a.m. Tuesday, December 2, at Century United Methodist Church with the Rev. Janet K. Lee officiating. Burial will follow at 12 noon at Oak Hill Cemetery in Atmore, with Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel directing.

Survivors include his wife, Patricia Bray McNeel, of Century; a daughter, JoAnne McNeel (Mark) Key of Tuscaloosa; a son, Joseph W. McNeel III (Kate) of Montrose; and four grandchildren, Andrew and Stella Key and Morgan and Alex McNeel; and his sister, Gladys McNeel Daniel of Luverne. Mr. McNeel, was a graduate of Albert G. Parish High School in Selma, and of Auburn University, Auburn.

Visitation will be from 10-11a.m. Tuesday, at the church.

The family requests memorial contributions be made to Century United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 245, Century, FL 32535

Karl Savary Elebash Jr.

Karl Savary Elebash Jr., 83, died Sunday, November 30, 2003, at DCH Regional Medical Center.

Private burial will be followed by a memorial service at Christ Episcopal Church Tuesday at 11 a.m. Tuscaloosa Memorial Chapel is directing.

Mr. Elebash was the son of Karl Savary and Maude Smith Elebash.

Survivors include his wife, Camille Maxwell Elebash; a daughter Camille Elebash-Hill and her husband, William Ingle Hill; three sons, Karl Savary Elebash, III, and his wife Deborah, Frederick Maxwell Elebash, and his wife, Tammy, and Searcy LeGrand Elebash and his wife Jennifer. He is also survived by eight grandchildren, Camille Elebash Hill, Maxwell Ingle Hill, Karl Savary Elebash, IV, Kathleen Elizabeth Elebash, Augusta Louise Elebash, Wiley Maxwell Elebash, Vivian LeGrand Elebash, and Searcy Anderson Elebash.

Mr. Elebash graduated from Tuscaloosa High School and earned a business degree from The University of Alabama. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army Air Forces as an intelligence officer with the 370th Fighter Squadron, 359th Fighter Group, 8th Air Force, receiving an honorable discharge in November 1945.

He began his journalism career as a reporter for The Tuscaloosa News, after which he became editorial page editor of the Mobile Press-Register (now The Mobile Register). During the 1950s he became a reporter for the Wall Street Journal covering the growing electronic industry. He moved back to Tuscaloosa in 1957. Establishing the Graphic, a weekly newspaper where he served as editor and publisher for 22 years, winning recognition for general excellence and editorial writing from the Alabama Press Association.

In 1971 he was elected president of the APA and served during its centennial year.

Mr. Elebash was a long time member of the Exchange Club.

The family suggests memorials may be made to the Christ Episcopal Church Building fund.

Robert L. Lowery

Robert L. Lowery, 81, of Selma, died Sunday, November 30, 2003 at a local hospital.

Services are at 2 p.m. Wednesday, December 3, at the Chapel of Lawrence Funeral Home with the Rev. Al Finch officiating. Burial will follow in Pineview Memory Gardens Cemetery with Lawrence Funeral Home directing.

Survivors include a son, Robert L. (Jane) Lowery of Missouri; daughter, Sheila Ferrell of Selma; grandchildren, Russell David Lowery, Robert Taylor Lowery, Erica Gia (Joshua Wayne) Schambeau and Emily K. Ferrell.

Active pallbearers are United States Air Force Honor Guard.

Family visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home.

“Photo” saved in Maxine’s scan

Alfred John Piasecki

Alfred John Piasecki, 75, of Minter, died Saturday, November 29, 2003, at his home.

Graveside services are at 10 a.m. Tuesday, December 2, 2003, at Pineview Memory Gardens Cemetery with the Rev. Calvin Strickland officiating and Lawrence Funeral Home directing.

Survivors include sisters, Adela Piasecki and Laura Piasecki.

He was preceded in death by his father, Anthoni and mother, Veronica Piasecki, a brother, Henry Piasecki and a sister, Gertrude Piasecki,

Honorary pallbearers are Dr. William Lightfoot, Tad Lightfoot, Scott Swanson, Joe Smith Sr. and Stephen Colburn and Charles Duckett.

Mildred Evadna Hayden

Mildred Evadna Hayden, 97, of Anniston, died Sunday, November 30, 2003.

Graveside services are at 11 a.m. Wednesday, December 3, at New Live Oak Cemetery with the Rev. David Rice of First Presbyterian Church in Anniston officiating and Lawrence Funeral Home directing.

Survivors include nephew, George William Hayden; nieces, Alys Marion Hayden and Diana Sue Hayden.

She was preceded in death by her parents, William Walter Hayden and Mattie Wilson Hayden, her sister Evelyn Hayden Kincey, and brothers, William Leon Hayden and Aubrey Wilson Hayden.

Family visitation will be from 7-8 p.m. on Tuesday, at Lawrence Funeral Home.

Miss Hayden died at her niece’s house in Anniston after a lengthy illness. She was an employee of Isodore Kayser and Company in Selma for 60 years. She will be remembered for her love of cooking, hats, the Atlanta Braves and her family.

Catherine Bullard Bearden

Catherine Bullard Bearden, 60, of Dadeville, died Monday, December 1, 2003, at a Opelika hospital.

Services are at 11 a.m. Thursday, December 4, at Plantersville Christian Church with the Rev. James Cullins of Alexander City officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery with Lawrence Funeral Home directing.

Survivors include her husband, Billy C. Bearden of Dadeville; Son, Dale Johnson of Titusville, Fla.; daughter, Debie Bross of Tampa, Fla.; stepsons, Dr. Casey Bearden of Nashville, Tenn., and Cyrus Bearden of Lacone; sisters, Jackie Simpson of Plantersville and Peggy Woods of Sterling, Va.; seven grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Active pallbearers are larry Carroll, Chris Carroll, Allen Bearden, Bobby Bearden, Bobby O’Neal and Kenneth Carroll.

Honorary pallbearers are Rex Evans, B.J. Szafran and Bill Tweat.

Family visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, at Lawrence Funeral Home.