Archives
 By  Staff Reports Published 
5:59 pm Wednesday, July 4, 2001

OBITUARIES FOR WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 2001

By Staff
LINDELL A. SMITH
ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. Lindell Anton Smith, 78, died Wednesday, June 27, 2001, in his home. He was born in Union, Miss., on Oct. 22, 1922, son of the late Oliver Lindell and Mattie Sue Harper Smith. He grew up in Guymon, Okla., graduated high school in 1941. After high school he attended Panhandle State University in Goodwell, Okla.
Mr. Smith served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was on the first invasion of the Philippines. After service in the Army, he lived and worked in New York City as an interior designer for F.W. Schmacher, from 1947-1977, then upon retiring moved to Rocky Mount.
Survivors include two brothers, B.J. Smith of Stillwater, Okla. and George Harper Smith of Westminster, Colo.; and three nephews.
Johnson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
ERY CLELL NICHOLS
Retired dairy farmer
FOREST Services for Ery Clell Nichols will be held today at 11 a.m. at Conehatta Baptist Church with the Revs. Dr. Richard Ethridge and Roger Yorks officiating. Burial will be in Conehatta Cemetery with Ott and Lee Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Nichols, 88, of Conehatta, died Monday, July 2, 2001, at Mississippi Care Center.
He was a native of Whynot and had been a resident of Conehatta since 1929, formerly living in Newton. He was a member of Conehatta Baptist Church, where he served as a Deacon for more than 50 years. He was a Mason and a member of the Masonic Lodge in Decatur.
Survivors include a son, Billie G. Nichols of Conehatta; a daughter-in-law, Gale Nichols of Conehatta; a sister-in-law, Ephilou Nichols of Jackson; a brother, James Nichols and his wife, Irma, of Gautier; four grandchildren, Ken Nichols and his wife, Bonnie, of Decatur, Kevin Nichols and his wife, Susan, of Philadelphia, Karen Reece and her husband, Weyman, and Kris Nichols and his wife, Elizabeth, all of Conehatta; and eight great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two wives, Mary Nichols and Imogene Nichols.
Pallbearers will be Ken Nichols, Taylor Nichols, Weyman Reece, Brandon Reece, Kris Nichols and Kevin Nichols.
Visitation will be today from 9 a.m.-9:45 a.m. at the funeral home.
ROBERT F. LINGOLD
Retired Roadway Express driver
Services for Robert F. Lingold will be held Thursday at 10 a.m. at Barham Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Bob Followell and Brandon Bates officiating. Burial will be in Crest Lawn Memorial Park in Atlanta Friday at 10 a.m.
Mr. Lingold, 80, of Meridian, died Monday, July 2, 2001, at Broadmoor Health Care. He was a retired Roadway Express driver.
Survivors include his wife, Carolyn Lingold of Meridian; a daughter, Jean Hoyle of Tampa, Fla.; three step-daughters, Yvette Black and her husband, Robb, Aleisha Bancroft and her husband, Scott and Suzette Bates and her husband, Brandon, all of Meridian; a step-son, Dale Burns and his wife, Debbie, of Panama City, Fla.; a daughter-in-law, Deloris Lingold of Marietta, Ga.; two brothers, Everett Rogers and Charles Rogers, both of Atlanta; a sister, Mildred Smith of Thomaston, Ga. and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary Lingold and a son, Robert F. Lingold Sr.
The family requests memorials be made to Calvary Baptist Church.
Visitation will be today from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
BEVERLY KNIGHT HARPER
Homemaker
Services for Beverly Knight Harper will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at Mt. Gilead Baptist Church with the Revs. Buddy Petty and Hugh Poole officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Barham Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Harper, 45, of Meridian, died Monday, July 2, 2001, at Rush Foundation Hospital. She was a homemaker.
Survivors include her husband, Charles Harper ; a son, Brian Harper; her parents, Billy and Barbara Knight; two sisters, Brenda Harkins and her husband, Travis and Beth Robinson and her husband, Billy all of Meridian and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Bill and Earlene Boswell and Curtis and Lucille Knight and a nephew, Chad Harper.
Pallbearers will be Brent Holloman, Dusty Talbert, Josh Steakley, Harold Harper, Glenn Harper and Corey Murphy.
Visitation will be today from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home and 30 minutes prior to service at the church.
MARGARET WILLARD PIERCE
Retired machine operator
PHILADELPHIA Services for Margaret Willard Pierce will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at McLain Chapel Pentecostal Church with the Rev. Bennie Robertson officiating. Burial will be in McLain Chapel Cemetery in Philadelphia. McLain-Hays Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Pierce, 78, of Philadelphia, died Tuesday, July 3, 2001, at University Medical Center in Jackson.
Survivors include a daughter, Cathy Apperson of Philadelphia; two sons, J.L. Pierce of Louisville and Mike Pierce of Philadelphia; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren and a sister, Bertha Roberts of Collinsville.
Visitation will be today from 5 p.m.-9 p.m. at the funeral home.

Also on Franklin County Times
First Metro Bank donates $250K to hospital
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
April 8, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Russellville Hospital has received a $250,000 donation from First Metro Bank through a state tax credit program. “All rural hospitals a...
PC grad had role in Artemis II launch
Main, News, Phil Campbell, ...
By Bernie Delinski and María Camp 
April 8, 2026
PHIL CAMPBELL — Noah Williams stood in a grassy field at Kennedy Space Center on April 1 about seven miles from the Artemis II launch pad. It was the ...
Locals react to US’s 10-day space flight
News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
April 8, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Rocky Stone, former Russellville High School principal, called last week’s Artemis II launch a “milestone” in the United States’ space ...
Gray hired as UNA director of bands
News
Alyssa Sutherland For the FCT 
April 8, 2026
FLORENCE — Joseph Gray has been named the next director of bands for the University of North Alabama. He will also serve as an associate professor of ...
Protect local deposits which power growth
Columnists, Opinion
April 8, 2026
Most conversations about new digital payment tools often miss a crucial reality: When money exits community bank deposits, local lending is directly i...
Meeting highlights service, awards
Columnists, News, Opinion
HERE AND NOW
April 8, 2026
Members of the GFWC Book Lovers Study Club reported more than $2,700 was raised for community causes, and the chapter received multiple awards during ...
Waypoint Church hosts Easter egg hunt
News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
April 8, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE – Waypoint Church held an Easter event at Sloss Lake Friday afternoon. The free event included photos with the Easter bunny, music (inclu...
Band turns life’s stories into songs
Features, News
Chelsea Retherford For the FCT 
April 8, 2026
For the band OTIS, the road isn’t just for touring and performance. Between shows, in parking lots and back rooms, the band gathers stories from the p...

Leave a Reply

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