Archives
 By  Staff Reports Published 
9:13 pm Saturday, February 3, 2001

OBITUARIES FOR SATURDAY, FEB. 3, 2001

By Staff
ODESSA REYNOLDS
Homemaker
Graveside services for Odessa Reynolds will be held today at 1 p.m. at Magnolia Cemetery with the Rev. Thomas Woods officiating. James F. Webb Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Reynolds, 82, of Meridian, died Thursday, Feb. 1, 2001, at Beverly Healthcare-Broadmoor. She was a member of Arrowwood Baptist Church.
Survivors include two sisters, Oneida B. Craig of Las Vegas and Geneva Wilder of Meridian.
WILLIE THOMAS SR.
Laborer
DEKALB Services for Willie Thomas Sr. will be held today at 11 a.m. at Mt. Sinai Baptist Church in Preston with the Rev. Melvin Rush officiating. Burial will be in Smutly Cemetery in Preston with E.E. McDonald Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Thomas, 78, of Chicago, died Thursday, Jan. 25, 2001, at Hines VA Hospital in Chicago.
Survivors include two daughters, Maruice Hallbak and her husband, Jeremiah, of Fitzgerald, Ga. and June Williams of Plant City, Fla.; seven sons, John Love of Chicago, Willie Thomas Jr. of Sao Paulo, Brazil, Charles Thomas of Chicago, Andre Thomas and his wife, Vera, of Mint Hill, N.C., Jerry Thomas of Louisville, Ky., Johnnie Thomas and Mario Thomas, both of Chicago; 20 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife and his parents.
Visitation will be today from 10-11 a.m. at the church.
WILLIAM D. CLARK
Retired from the highway department
Graveside services for William D. "Billy" Clark will be held today at 11 a.m. at Mt. Horeb Baptist Church Cemetery with the Revs. Nick Holden and Roy Dabbs officiating. Barham Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Clark, 76, of Meridian, died Friday, Feb. 2, 2001, at Guardian Angel Hospice. He was a member of Mt. Horeb Baptist Church and a veteran of the U.S. Marines.
Survivors include a daughter, Ramona Napp and her husband, Jessie, of Meridian; a sister, Marilyn Dunn and her husband, John, of Meridian; two grandchildren, Karen Napp and A.J. Napp, both of Meridian; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia Jenkins Clark.
FRANKIE CLAY
Retired employee of Lockheed Martin
Services for Frankie Clay will be held today at 2 p.m. at James F. Webb Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Nick Holden officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Horbe Baptist Church Cemetery.
Mr. Clay, 56, of Meridian, died Friday, Feb. 2, 2001, in his home. He retired from Lockheed and Martin after 25 years. He was a member of Mt. Horeb Baptist Church, Shriners Probost Guard Unit, York Rite and Scottish Rite. He was a musician and a song writer.
Survivors include his wife, Brenda Clay of Meridian, a daughter, Lora Genevieve Griffith of Meridian, two uncles, David Milsted of Gulfport and Wayne Milsted of Jackson; a niece, Cassandra Reece of Meridian; a granddaughter, Ashley Garrett of Meridian; and two great nieces, Alexis Reece and Chloe Reece, both of Meridian.
Pallbearers will be the Probost Guard Unit of the Shriners, Jerry Skelton, Tommy Smith, Gary Riddle, Henry Thompson, Paul Thompson and Roy Alexander.
SHELBA J. PARKER
Shipping clerk for Roy Tex
Graveside services for Shelba J. Parker will be held Monday at 10 a.m. at Demopolis Memorial Gardens with the Rev. Steve Winstead officiating. Barham Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Ms. Parker, 63, of Meridian, died Thursday, Feb. 1, 2001 at Guardian Angel Hospice.
Survivors include two sons, Gary "Snuffy" Smith and George Kirby Smith Jr., both of Meridian, a brother, Wilben Ray McGee, of Forkland, Ala. two sisters, Dale Little of Linden, Ala. and Faye of Pensacola, Fla.; and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be Sunday from 2-4 p.m. at the funeral home.
W.C. MATTHEWS
Retired U.S. Air Force and civil service at NAS Meridian
Services for W.C. Matthews will be held Monday at 11:30 a.m. at Barham Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Jeff Hancock and Jim Williams officiating. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery.
Mr. Matthews, 79, of Meridian, died Friday, Feb. 2, 2001, in Meridian. He was a member of First Church of God and served in the U.S. Air Force.
Survivors include his wife, Dorothy Nell King Matthews of Meridian; a sister, Blanche Cheek of Calif.; and three god-children, Leanna Baldner, Logan Satterfield and Olivia Satterfield.
Visitation will be held Sunday from 5-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
EDMOND SHUMAKE
SEBASTOPOL Services for Edmond Shumake will be held Monday at 1 p.m. at Conehatta gymnasium. Burial will be in Macedonia Baptist Church Cemetery with Milling Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Shumake, 68, of Walnut Grove died Friday, Feb. 2, 2001, at Lackey Memorial Hospital.
RUBY S. JAMES
Arrangements were incomplete at James F. Webb Funeral Home for Ruby S. James, 92, who died Thursday, Feb. 1, 2001, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center.

Also on Franklin County Times
Freeze warnings issued for parts of north Alabama
Franklin County, News, Z - News Main
Griffin Traylor 
March 16, 2026
HUNTSVILLE — The National Weather Service has issued a freeze warning for portions of north central, northeast, and northwest Alabama. The first warni...
Officials report minimal storm damage across the county
Franklin County, News, Phil Campbell, ...
By Addi Broadfoot For the FCT 
March 16, 2026
FRANKLIN COUNTY — Storms that moved through Franklin County Sunday night caused only minor damage across the area, according to local officials and em...
Franklin County Anglers place in Lake Holt tournament
Franklin County, News, Sports
Maria Camp camp@frankllncountytimes.com 
March 13, 2026
Miguel Willingham and Ben Wilkins placed eighth on the senior side with 8.53 lbs. Si Hill and Titus Nix place in the top 25 on the senior side with 5....
Housing authority PILOT is waived
Main, News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
March 11, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — City councilmembers recently voted to waive a payment in lieu of taxes, often called PILOT, from the Russellville Housing Authority. Pu...
Playground safety concerns are addressed
Main, News, Russellville, ...
By Addi Broadfoot For the FCT 
March 11, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — City officials say steps are being taken to improve safety at the playground in City Lake Park after parents raised concerns about dama...
Petition: Accountability sought from AHSAA
High School Sports, Main, Red Bay Tigers, ...
By Brady Petree and Bernie Delinski For the FCT 
March 11, 2026
RED BAY — A petition created by a Red Bay man calls for the Alabama High School Athletic Association to replay six state semifinal basketball games af...
State’s positive CWD cases nearly doubles
Franklin County, News
Kevin Taylor For the FCT 
March 11, 2026
The total number of positive cases of chronic wasting disease (CWD) found in white-tailed deer almost doubled in Alabama following the end of the 2025...
Pace crowned Miss RHS
News, Russellville
By María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimew.com 
March 11, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Lily Cate Pace was crowned the new Miss RHS during the 44th annual Miss RHS Pageant. Pace, a senior at Russellville High School who is ...

Leave a Reply

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