Archives
 By  Staff Reports Published 
1:03 am Friday, November 17, 2000

OBITUARIES FOR FRIDAY, NOV. 17, 2000

By Staff
EFFIE L. GILL
UNION Services for Effie L. Gill will be held today at 11 a.m. at Lucern Church of God, with the Rev. Howell Thrash officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery with Stephens Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Gill, 88, of Newton, formerly of Union, died Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2000, in Newton.
Survivors include a sister, Felderia Henry of Union; five nephews, Victor L. Gordon and P.J. Henry, both of Union, Harold Breedlove of Philadelphia, Riley Sistrunk of Union and Sam Henry of Meridian; and several great-great-nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be Victor L. Gordon, Harold Breedlove, Riley Sistrunk, Sam Henry and P.J. Henry.
Visitation will be today one hour prior to the service at the church.
BONNIE J.KERSH
Homemaker
Services for Bonnie J. Kersh will be held today at 11 a.m. at Newell Chapel CME Church with the Rev. Eugene Dixon officiating. Burial will be in St. Luke Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery in Poterville with Enterprise Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Kersh, 70, of Meridian, died Sunday, Nov. 12, 2000, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center.
Survivors include two brothers, Walter Blanks of San Jose, Calif., and John Lewis Blanks of Poterville; three sisters, Virgie Mae Blanks, Ollie Thompson and Ornice Blanks all of Meridian; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her husband, George Kersh and her parents.
EVA MCGEE PERMENTER
Retired O.B. Nurse
Graveside services for Eva McGee Permenter will be held today at 2 p.m. in Forest Lawn Cemetery, with the Rev. Ralph Henson officiating. Barham Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Permenter, 64, of Meridian, died Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2000, at Guardian Angel Hospice.
Survivors include a son, Calvin Permenter Jr. of Kansas City, Mo.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Calvin Permenter Sr. and her mother, Daisy Rogers McGee.
Visitation will be today one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
FREDRICK B. DAVIS
Real estate sales
Services for Fredrick B. Davis will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Stephens Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. Toby Lofton officiating. Burial will be in Hopewell Baptist Cemetery.
Mr. Davis, 74, of Collinsville, died Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2000, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center.
He was a friend to all who knew him and he never met a stranger. He loved his children and grandchildren. He loved to play dominoes and he loved all sports including West Lauderdale boys baseball and girls softball. He also loved to garden and to fish.
Survivors include his wife, Fay McDonald Davis; a son, Danny Fredrick Davis, of McCalla, Ala.; two daughters and sons-in-law, Vicki and Rickie Harp of Cottondale, Ala., and Sandi and Mark Wolf of Panama City, Fla.; two step sons, Mel and Frankie Hodges, of Collinsville; a step daughter, Cathy Miles of Banner Elk, N.C.; two brothers, Jimmy Davis of Greensboro, Ala., and Dock Davis of Collinsville; a sister, Helen Ethridge; five grandchildren, Jami Hosmer of Cottondale, Ala., Jana Genery of Brookwood, Ala., Kaysea Lindsey of Panama City, Fla., Brandi and Danielle Davis both of McCalla; 13 step-grandchildren and 5 step-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his first wife of 43 years, Winna Thaggard Davis.
Pallbearers will be Bernie Herrington, Hal Herrington, Jim Ethridge, Jerry McCoy, William Ethridge, Dane Ethridge, Marty Thaggard and Jimmy Davis.
Honorary pallbearers will be William and Lonese Ethridge, M.O. and Nell Martin, Jo and Howard Blackwell, Lakeview community residents, Robinhood Lakes residents and Martin Community Friends.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
ELLA GRAY JONES MCKENZIE
Homemaker
QUITMAN Services for Ella Gray Jones McKenzie will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. at Mt. Gilead Missionary Baptist Church, with the Rev. Dennis Mack officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Gilead Cemetery with Turner Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. McKenzie, 70, of Quitman, died Sunday, Nov. 12, 2000, at the University of Alabama Medical Center in Birmingham.
Survivors include her husband, Jim McKenzie; her children, Willie George McKenzie and his wife, Dora, of New Castle, Del., Robert James McKenzie and his wife, Nora, of Quitman, Jimmy Ray McKenzie and his wife, Nylon, of Detroit, Martha Evelyn Prince of Clinton, Thelma Jean Hearns of Stonewall, Dortha Dean Williams of Vicksburg, Johnny Jim McKenzie of Quitman, Larry Wayne McKenzie and his wife, Sonya, Jo Ann Price and her husband, William, of Quitman, Claude Eugene McKenzie and his wife, Gay, of Quitman, Edward Lavon McKenzie of Muskegon, Mich., Bobby Jo McKenzie and his wife, Justine, of Norristown, Pa., and David Earl McKenzie of Quitman; a stepson John Henry Raing and his wife, Nellie, of Quitman; four sisters, Daisy Jackson of Orville, Ala., Lula Mae Austin, Janie Cameron of Quitman and Annie Kelley and her husband Stafford of Meridian; 52 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren, and several nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and acquaintances.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Stella Carter Jones and Ishman Jones, and a son Roy Lee McKenzie.

Also on Franklin County Times
Text message signaled return to state
High School Sports, Main, Red Bay Tigers, ...
AHSAA NW REGIONAL FINAL RED BAY 64, COLD SPRINGS 52
David Glovach For the FCT 
February 25, 2026
HANCEVILLE — It was a simple text message, one sent by a mom of a former player. It was a six-year-old picture of Red Bay huddled together outside Leg...
An emotional loss for senior Fisher
Belgreen Bulldogs, High School Sports, Main, ...
COLD SPRINGS 45, BELGREEN 42
David Glovach For the FCT 
February 25, 2026
HANCEVILLE — Their hands found their faces quickly — something, anything, to absorb the tears. It only worked so well. “It’s hard,” Makenna Fisher sai...
Court asked to halt lot sales
Franklin County, Main, News, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
February 25, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Franklin County commissioners are seeking a court order to halt future sales of lots for the Lightning Ridge subdivision. Colbert Count...
Tellish named Rural Teacher of the Year
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
February 25, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Middle school teacher Carley Andrews Tellish has been named the 2026 Spezzini Rural Teacher of the Year, an honor that recognizes one K...
Students compete in annual beef cook-off
News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
February 25, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE -- The annual Franklin County Cattlemen’s beef cookoff took place recently at Triple H Barn with students from Russellville, Red Bay, Bel...
Garden club revisits Lewis and Clark expedition
Columnists, Opinion
HERE AND NOW
February 25, 2026
As the 250th celebration of the United States approaches, members of the Cultura Garden club have been revisiting American history through a series of...
Medicare Advantage must be funded
Columnists, Opinion
February 25, 2026
In a few short months, policymakers will decide the financial fate of the Medicare Advantage program and its millions of members. While the program is...
Guntersville ends season for RHS girls basketball
High School Sports, Russellville Golden Tigers, Sports
Brannon King For the FCT 
February 25, 2026
The memorable and successful 2025-26 girls basketball season came to an end for the Russellville Golden Tigers at the AHSAA Class 5A Northwest Regiona...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *