JONATHON EVAN CARPENTER

Jonathon Evan Carpenter, 14, of Red Level, died Sun., May 8, 2011, in a Crestview, Fla., hospital.

Funeral services will be held on Fri., May 13, at 3 p.m. from the Foreman Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Robert Canant officiating. Interment will follow in the Old Bethesda Cemetery.

Visitation will be tonight at 5:30 at Foreman Funeral Home.

Survivors include his father, Anthony (Sara Beth) Carpenter; his mother Deena (Steve) Padgett; his sister, Sadie Nicole Carpenter, all of Andalusia; his three brothers, David Colton Carpenter of Andalusia and Hunter Ray Carpenter and Steven Caleb Padgett, both of Red Level; his paternal grandparents, James and Shirley Carpenter; his maternal grandmother, Teresa (Manford) Sanders; and maternal great-grandmother, Voncile Garrett, all of Andalusia.

Pallbearers will be Michael Garrett, Casey Colvin, Terry Gantt, Russell Messick, Seth Stewart and Rick Wunsh.

Those unable to attend may sign the online guest registry at foremanfuneralhome.com.

MICHAEL LEVI NEAL

Michael Levi Neal, 15, of Red Level, died Mon., May 9, 2011, in a Pensacola, Fla., hospital.

Funeral services will be held on Fri., May 13, at 1 p.m. from the Red Level High School stadium with the Rev. Dennis Knowles and the Rev. Dennis Moss officiating. Interment will follow in the Old Bethesda Cemetery.

Visitation will be tonight at 5:30 at Foreman Funeral Home.

He is survived by his parents, Michael and Donna Neal of Red Level; his sisters, Kristy (David) Crowder of Shelbyville, Tenn., Tori (Jamie) England of Woodberry, Tenn., Brittany (Kyle) Skipper and Kelly Caine, both of Red Level; his brothers, Lamar (Wendy) Caine of Andalusia and Jonathon Caine of Red Level; his nieces, Alexis Riner, Zoie England, Kallie Crowder, Kiley Caine and Madelyn Skipper; his nephews, Anthony Davenport and Brock Skipper; his paternal grandparents, Terry and Sylvia Neal of Andalusia; and his maternal grandparents, Margaret Huckabaa and Thermon and Barbara Douglas, all of Red Level.

Pallbearers will be Cory Scott, Wayne Milton, Eric Conner, Dylan Conner, Matthew Stokes, Kip Whatley, Andrew Stokes and Mark Grantham.

Those unable to attend may sign the online guest registry at foremanfuneralhome.com.

LOUISE MEADOWS DICKENS

Louise Meadows Dickens, 79, of Andalusia, passed away Tues., May 10, 2011, at her residence after a lengthy illness.

A celebration of her home going, and especially her music ministry, will be held at 2 p.m., Sat., May 14, at Keahey Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Billy Boles officiating.

The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at Keahey Funeral Home and one hour prior to services at the chapel.

Interment will follow in Andalusia Memorial Cemetery with Keahey Funeral Home directing.

She was employed with United Telephone as a records clerk for a number of years. She was an accomplished musician – dually talented as a pianist and vocalist. With her husband, she served on an evangelism team traveling across the United States and frequenting the states of New Mexico, Colorado, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and all the southern states.

Survivors include her husband of 58 years, Marlin D. Dickens of Andalusia; sister-in-law, Celeste Meadows of Pensacola, Fla.; numerous nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews and great-great-nieces and nephews, as well as two special great nieces, Lori Meadows of Jacksonville, Fla., and Kim Trammel of Panama City, Fla.

Serving as pallbearers will be her nephews.

To sign the guestbook for this family, visit keaheyfuneralhome.com.

GRACIE ETHEL VOYDELL PATE

Gracie Ethel Voydell Pate, 85, of Andalusia, died Wed., May 11, 2011, in a local nursing home.

Funeral services will be held on Fri., May 13, at 10 a.m. from the Foreman Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will be in the Brooklyn Baptist Church Cemetery. The Rev. Dennis Knowles will officiate.

Visitation will be at Foreman’s one hour prior to the service.

She is survived by her son, Jimmy Pate of Andalusia; a stepson, Conrad Pate of Brooklyn; a daughter, Judy Ward of Belleville; eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and a brother, John Shaver of Birmingham.

Those unable to attend may sign the online guest registry at foremanfuneralhome.com.

VIRGINIA HENRY

Virginia Henry, 75, of Andalusia, passed away Wed., May 11, 2011, in the Andalusia hospital.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Sat., May 14, at Andalusia Full Gospel Tabernacle with the Rev. John Hunt officiating and Keahey Funeral Home directing.

The family will receive friends Friday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Survivors include her brother, Ray Julian (Ellie) Taylor of Newport News, Va.; three sisters, Helen Maxine (Jimmy) Wambles of Andalusia, Gloria Jean (David) Morrantez of Destin, Fla., and Bobbie Katherine (Bill) Rogers of Andalusia; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Henry; son, Gary Leonard Henry; daughter, Vickie Joe Henry; and parents, Buster Julian Taylor, and Myrtie Cadelia Whatley Taylor.

To sign the guestbook for this family, visit keaheyfuneralhome.com.

MRS. ‘AVON’ NELLIE CROLEY POPE SIMMONS

Mrs. “Avon” Nellie Croley Pope Simmons, 94, of Andalusia, passed away Sun., May 8, 2011, in Huntsville, where she had resided for the past few years to be near her daughter.

Funeral services were held Wed., May 11, at Keahey Funeral Home Chapel. Eulogies were given by her special friends, Alan Cotton, John Croft and Kym Keahey. Harmonica music was performed by Tripp Bass. Interment followed in Stone Lake Gardens Cemetery with Keahey Funeral Home directing.

Mrs. “Avon” Nellie, as her name well implied, was Andalusia’s face for Avon for more than 53 years. During the 1980s, she worked part time for the City of Andalusia’s Welcome Committee, delivering gift certificates from local merchants to newcomers of Andalusia. In her friendly spirit, she was continually cultivating more and more Avon customers.

Mrs. Nellie was a friend to anyone she met and a top sales lady for the Avon Company for many, many years. Throughout the years, she was recognized for her sales achievements, among some of her more prestigious accolades, she was named: Avon Best of the Best, No. 1 in Sales Increase; Avon Best of the Best, No. 1 in Sales Volume; Avon District Achievement Award, No. 1 in Total Sales; Avon Sales Excellent Award, Spirit of Avon Award Team Leader Award, Avon Honor Society Awards; and the Avon Miss Alvee Award, named for the first Avon representative, Mrs. Alvee. The Miss Alvee Award was one of the most prestigious awards for club members. This award was presented to sales agents who portrayed exceptional pride, dedication, purpose, spirit and strength – all qualities which well describe Mrs. Avon Nellie.

Mrs. Nellie won trips to Jamaica and Hawaii and other resort locations, which she and her best friend, Bea Miller, enjoyed together.

Survivors include her daughter, Felicia Ann Pope of Huntsville; a special friend, Sherry Ammons of Huntsville; nieces, Janice Gardner and Johnette Day, both of Oxford, Phyllis Day of Pell City, Linda Herron of Hayden, Ala., and Dot Sexton; nephews, John Croley of Mobile, Robert Croley of Greenville and William Sims of Georgianna; and a large host of friends.

Serving as pallbearers were Randy Keahey, R.J. Keahey, Chris Cotton, Harold Carpenter, Johnny Croft and Dennis Bond.

MRS. VERLA MAE ELMORE

Mrs. Verla Mae Elmore, 91, of Andalusia, died on Tues., May 10, 2011, in a local hospital.

Funeral services will be held today, Thurs., May 12, at 11 a.m. from the Foreman Funeral Home with the Rev. Monroe Sasser officiating and interment following in the Goodhope Cemetery.

Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Lamar and Genell Elmore; her daughter and son-in-law, Jo and Donnie Sasser, all of Andalusia; 11 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Ruth Dickerson of Highland Home and Thelma Whatley of Pace, Fla.

Pallbearers will be Jimmy Eiland, Lance Eiland, Greg White, Joe Fuller and Tommy Sutton and Johnny Dickerson.

JOHN D. STOKES

John D. Stokes, 94, of Andalusia, died Tues., May 10, 2011, in a local hospital.

Funeral services will be held today, Thurs., May 12, at 2 p.m. from the Cedar Grove Church of Christ. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Minister Larry Turman and Fred Segrest will officiate.

Mr. Stokes is survived by two daughters and their husbands, Crystell and Jimmy Prestwood of Andalusia and Gail and Fred Segrest of Meridianville, Ala.; four grandchildren, Debra (Larry) Turman, Lynn (Steve) Newton, Fredrick “Ricky” (Lara Beth) Segrest and Millie Segrest; six great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Pallbearers will be Ricky Segrest, Tro Turman, Seth Newton, Heath Newton, Reid Newton, Will Newton, and Robert Lee Holley. Honorary pallbearers will be Elders of Cedar Grove Church of Christ, Roy Wilson and Billy Stokes.

Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Child Haven Orphan Home in Cullman.

DR. ROBERT R. DANIEL SR., M.D.

Dr. Robert R. Daniel Sr., M.D., 79, a resident of Montgomery, passed away on Fri., May 6, 2011.

Funeral services were held Tues., May 10, at 11 a.m. in the Chapel of Alabama Heritage Funeral Home, officiated by the Rev. Jackie Slaughter. Entombment immediately followed at the Alabama Heritage Garden Mausoleum.

He was preceded in death by his spouse of 23 years, Alease H. (Sandy) Daniel, who had served for many years as the administrator of the Andalusia Hospital.

He is survived by his children, Robert “Chap” and Chantal Daniel, Lawrence “Tag” Daniel, Walter “Kit” Daniel, Jennifer Daniel Campbell and Nancy and Keith Brechtelsbauer. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Amy Daniel, David Richardson, Melissa Richardson, Ian Brechtelsbauer and Erich Brechtelsbauer.

He was a lifetime member of the American Medical Association and member of Capitol Heights United Methodist Church of Montgomery. He practiced medicine in Andalusia for many years and was a member of the First United Methodist Church. He was a proud U.S. Army veteran.

The family suggests that memorial donations be made to the First United Methodist Church of Andalusia. Condolences and memorials may be left at www.alabamaheritagefh.com.

COL. (Ret.) JOHN HAYES MADDOX

Col. (Ret.) John Hayes Maddox Sr., who was born Aug. 20, 1921, to John Matthew and Katie Belle Nichols Maddox of Andalusia, passed into paradise from his home in Mobile on May 4, 2011.

He grew up in Andalusia. At an early age, he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior and was a charter member of Liberty Home Baptist Church. He played football at Andalusia High School, graduated in 1939 and won a football scholarship to Alabama Polytechnic Institute, now Auburn University. While attending Auburn, he met and married the love of his life, “Ruthie,” the former Ruth Prentiss of Montgomery. They were married 63 years and have three children.

He left Auburn early to serve his country in WWII. In September 1943, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in the U.S. Army and saw action in Germany, France and Austria. After the war, he returned to Auburn and completed his bachelor’s degree.

Throughout their lives, the couple’s love for music and dance was surpassed only by their love for Auburn. In 1948 he returned to active duty and remained a career Army officer until his retirement in 1973. His military career took him to Ft. Benning, Ga., Korea (during the Korean Conflict), Ft. Sill, Okla., Ft. Leavenworth, Kan., Upper Heyford RAFB, England, Keesler AFB in Biloxi, Miss., two tours in Germany and two tours at the Pentagon. His last assignment was in Mobile, where he was the first professor of military science at the University of South Alabama.

From 1973 until 1982, Col. Maddox was in business with his brother, Kenneth R. Maddox at R&S Materials in Montgomery. In 1982 he joined the University of South Alabama’s administration, where he served in the office of the executive director of operations and facilities until his retirement in 1992.

Col. Maddox was a long-standing member of Kiwanis. He served as president of the West Mobile Kiwanis Club in 1984 and as Alabama’s Kiwanis governor in 1991 and 1992. At the end of his term, he and Mrs. Maddox both received the prestigious Hixson Award for distinguished service. He was a 32nd degree Mason and a member of: Blue Lodge, Montgomery, Scottish Rite Mason, Columbus, Ga., and Mobile York Rite Masonic Bodies. He was a life member of Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity, Auburn University Alumni Association and Auburn University Letterman’s Club. He was a member of Dauphin Way Baptist Church for 33 years. He was instrumental in the success and growth of the Boys and Girls Club of Mobile and was an active member of their board of directors for many years. He was the director of military affairs for the Mobile Chamber of Commerce, a member of MOAA, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Artillery Hall of Fame and a recipient of numerous military medals, campaign ribbons and badges.

John Maddox loved his God, his family and his country. He was a patriot, an officer and a gentleman and exemplified the definition of the “Greatest Generation.” As a dynamic leader, decision maker and communicator, he was able to encourage and motivate others by word and example. Each challenge he encountered was stamped “mission accomplished.” He was a “man’s man,” but always displayed the kind and caring character of his humble Christian upbringing and family values.

Like his father, he never met a stranger. Consequently, he rarely went anywhere without seeing someone he knew or who knew him with his trademark Stetson hat. Because John Maddox lived, the world is a better place.

The family thanked Dr. Alton James and his staff and the staff of Odyssey Hospice for their empathetic responses to their father’s every need, as well as his caregivers who have loved and cared for “Papa John” like their own father. Their kindness, compassion and Christian ministry to him will always be remembered.

Col. Maddox is preceded in death by his wife, Ruth Maddox; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Maddox; a sister, Mrs. Sally Ballard Edison (Wallace), and a brother, Mr. Glen Maddox (Treva).

Survivors include his three children, Kay (Bill) Kendrick of Foley, John H. (Kathy) Maddox Jr. of Nashville, Valerie (Pat) Patterson of Mobile; nine grandchildren, John (Donna) Kendrick, Taylor (Angela) Kendrick, Heather (Lloyd) White, Crystal (Randie) Grantham, Joy (Jason) Spruell, John H.(Jessica) Maddox III , Sabrina (Mark) Yarema, Christina (Shawn) Campfield, Chad (Brooke) Patterson; 15 great-grandchildren, Noah Kendrick, Bethany and Jonathan Kendrick, Catherine, William, Julia and Mitchell Grantham, Nathan and London Spruell, Heather Brielle Maddox, Dylan Yarema, Clayton and Cameron Shaw, Peerce and Mia-Tilar Patterson; two sisters, Mrs. Margaret (Grey) Edwards of Holly Hills, N.C., and Mrs. Emma Jean (Curtis) Peacock of Auburn; three brothers, Mr. James B. (Barbara) Maddox of Valdosta, Ga., Mr. Kenneth R. (Joann) Maddox of Wetumpka and Mr. William R. Maddox of Valdosta, Ga.; two sister-in-laws, Mrs. Sarah (Clyde Jr.) Fain of Montgomery and Mrs. Mary Louise (Bill) Matthews of Beaumont, Texas; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family.

Visitation and services will be held Sat., May 14, at Liberty Home Baptist Church in Andalusia. Visitation will begin at 1:30 p.m. with funeral services immediately following at 3 p.m.

Col. Maddox’s grandson, the Rev. Taylor W. Kendrick will conduct services. The pianist will be his granddaughter, Crystal Maddox Grantham, and the soloist will be his nephew, John Winston Edwards. Interment will follow at Andalusia Memorial Cemetery with military honors.

Pallbearers will be John Kendrick, John Maddox III, Chad Patterson, Bill Maddox, Grey Edwards Jr., Randie Grantham and Lloyd White Jr.

Flowers may be sent or donations given to Liberty Home Baptist Church, 22595 Alabama Highway 55, Andalusia, AL 36420.

Condolences may be offered online at radneyfuneralhome-mobile.com.