Obituaries

May 12, 2019

Lula Mae Helms, age 85, of Selma, AL, passed away May 12, 2019 in Venice, FL. She was preceded in death by her parents, Melvin and Pearl Newsome and two brothers, Bill Newsom and William (Dean) Newsome. Surviving are her husband, Ollie Helms; children, Robin Helms, Dannie (Wanda) Helms and Kenneth (Karen) Helms; brother, G. B. Newsome; sisters, Tory June...

May 12, 2019

Virginia Quay Burns Johnson passed away on May 12, 2019. She was born on March 29, 1935 in Drew, Mississippi.

Mrs. Johnson was a gracious and devoted Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Sister, and Friend. She loved the Lord greatly and was also a faithful member of Selma Church of God.

She was preceded in death by...

May 12, 2019

Lula Mae Helms, age 85, of Selma, AL, passed away May 12, 2019 in Venice, FL. She was preceded in death by her parents, Melvin and Pearl Newsome and two brothers, Bill Newsom and William (Dean) Newsome. Surviving are her husband, Ollie Helms; children, Robin Helms, Dannie (Wanda) Helms and Kenneth (Karen) Helms; brother, G. B. Newsome; sisters, Tory June...

May 10, 2019

Karen Sue McElhaney, loving mother and wife of Selma, Alabama, passed away Friday, May 10, 2019 at the age of 65. She is survived by her husband, Mark McElhaney, son, Marc McElhaney, brother Mark Peterson (Janet), brother Buddy Karody, and many nieces and nephews. Karen moved to Selma in 1984. She soon met her husband and they were married for...

May 9, 2019

Robert Charles “Mickey” Blackwell, 85, of Lowndesboro died at his home Thursday, May 9, 2019.

He was preceded in death by his father, William F. Blackwell; mother, Lily M. Blackwell; brothers, Julius Blackwell, Tom Blackwell and William F. Blackwell, Jr. and sister, Ida Nell Johnson.

Mr. Blackwell served in the United States Navy during The...

May 6, 2019

Curtis Lee Rose, age 60, of Northport, AL, passed away Monday, May 6, 2019.

Services will be at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, May 9, 2019 at Lawrence Brown-Service Funeral Home with Rev. Tim Tyndoll officiating. Burial will follow at New Live Oak Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday from 10 –11 a.m. at the funeral home.

May 6, 2019

Irene Catherine (Back) Parker

In the early morning of May 6, 2019, Irene passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Gloria Barr, at the age of 97. She was born September 22, 1921 to Susanne Melanie Kosch and Jean Pierre Back in Mamer, Luxembourg.  She came to America as a war bride and moved around...

May 5, 2019

James Houston Boatwright Junior passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 5, 2019 at age 85.  He was born  March 15, 1934 in Birmingham, Alabama to the late James Houston Boatwright Senior and Ella Neely Boatwright. After the death of his father in 1935, he and his mother moved to the Neely Family Farm near Orrville, Alabama. James graduated from...

May 4, 2019

Vivian Sims Driggers Taylor went peacefully into the arms of her Lord and Savior on May 4, 2019 at the age of 94, surrounded by her loving family. She was born December 27, 1924 to the late Charles Hartwell Sims and Pearl Powell Sims.

Vivian was a resident of Selma since 1928, having moved from Pine Hill,...

May 2, 2019

Deborah Ann Frith Sanders passed away May 2, 2019 . She was born January 16, 1959 to the late Calvin and Norma Frith.

She is survived by her husband, Terry Sanders; daughter, Leigh Sanders Henry (Shane); son, Michael Sanders; grandchildren, Gavin Henry, Ansley Henry, Scott Sanders, and Haley Sanders; sister, Geneva Frith; brother, Gordon Frith (Laura); numerous...

May 2, 2019

Dorothy Edna Hearon passed away on May 2, 2019 at the age of 79.

Graveside services will be 2:00 a.m. Sunday, May 5, 2019 at New Live Oak Cemetery with Dr. Ed Eaton officiating and Lawrence Brown-Service Funeral Home directing.

She is preceded by her parents, Sidney and Virginia Turner; sisters,...

May 1, 2019

Marie Drinkard Luker passed away May 1, 2019 at the age of 98. She was born September 5, 1920 to the late Florence and Leolia Drinkard.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert R. Luker and granddaughter, Victoria Luker.

She is survived by her children, Robert T. (Debby) Luker, Jr., Benita (William) Wood...

Apr 28, 2019

Anne Farrior Porter, age 93, of Selma passed away on April 28, 2019. She was preceded in death by her husband of 40 years, Rufus Waldro Porter.

Born August 26, 1925,she was the daughter of the late William Dickson and Jewell Espy Farrior of Hayneville, and is survived by her three children - Elizabeth Porter Rivers (Scoop),...

Apr 28, 2019

Jacqueline Marie Cochran McNeal passed away April 28, 2019, at the age of 73. She was born January 30, 1946 to the late Jefferson Burel Cochran, Jr. and Myrtle Buxton Cochran.

She is preceded in death by her sister, Mary Elizabeth Cochran Taylor.

She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Thomas Gerald McNeill;...

Apr 26, 2019

Betty Lou Burnett Gaines, age 100, passed away peacefully on April 26, 2019, at Canterbury Court in Atlanta, Georgia.

She was born in Zanesville, Ohio on December 22, 1918, the daughter of Nelle Bowen Burnett and Jacob Cornelius Burnett. She grew up in Columbus, Ohio and attended North High School where she graduated in 1935. As a...

Apr 25, 2019

Minnie Lee Anderson, age 86, of Deatsville, AL, passed away April 25, 2019. She was preceded in death by her husband, Winston E. Anderson; parents, Charles Wilmot and Mazie Ella Davis and siblings, Helen Tucker, Vernon Davis, Everett Davis, Clifford Davis and Harold Davis. She is survived by her children, Wilmot Anderson and Connie Sue Harris; grandchildren, Mary (Adam) Buel,...

Apr 25, 2019

Minnie Lee Anderson, age 86, of Deatsville, AL, passed away April 25, 2019. She was preceded in death by her husband, Winston E. Anderson; parents, Charles Wilmot and Mazie Ella Davis and siblings, Helen Tucker, Vernon Davis, Everett Davis, Clifford Davis and Harold Davis. She is survived by her children, Wilmot Anderson and Connie Sue Harris; grandchildren, Mary (Adam) Buel,...

Apr 25, 2019

James Charles Utsey, age 83, of Selma, AL, passed away April 25, 2019. He was preceded in death by his wife, Sue Ann "SuSu" Utsey, parents, Randolph Malcolm and Nell Hutchinson Utsey and brother, Jerry Lamar Utsey. Surviving are his children, Chuck (Tara) Utsey, Brad (Courtney) Utsey, Sid Utsey and Bo, and Christy Utsey; brother, Malcolm Utsey; and grandchildren, Chase,...

Apr 25, 2019

James Charles Utsey, age 83, of Selma, AL, passed away April 25, 2019. He was preceded in death by his wife, Sue Ann "SuSu" Utsey, parents, Randolph Malcolm and Nell Hutchinson Utsey and brother, Jerry Lamar Utsey. Surviving are his children, Chuck (Tara) Utsey, Brad (Courtney) Utsey, Sid Utsey and Bo, and Christy Utsey; brother, Malcolm Utsey; and grandchildren, Chase,...

Apr 25, 2019

Terry Rush, age 36, of Plantersville, AL, passed away April 25, 2019. He was preceded in death by father, William Rush; paternal grandfather, Rother Foy Rush and great-grandmother, Berta Hopkins Rush. He is survived by his wife, Jennifer Rush; children, Haley Nicole Rush and Clara Estelle Rush; mother, Lisa (Barry) Surrett; brother, Reid Surrett; paternal grandmother, Bettye Hicks Tanner; maternal...