Archives
 By  Staff Reports Published 
8:53 am Tuesday, April 23, 2002

Mrs. Nichols, 99, of Meridian, died Sunday, April 21, 2002, at Beverly HealthCare-Broadmoor. She was a member of Cokers Chapel United Methodist Church and was active in her later years in activities ranging from water aerobics to bingo.

By Staff
Survivors include a daughter, Doris Welker of Meridian and her husband, Clyde; daughter-in-law, Margaret Pickard; grandchildren, Sue Welker and Tom Welker; great-grandchildren, Thumper Welker, Olivia Welker, Tony Welker, Graig Welker, Heather Boldin and Hannah Pickard; a great-great-grandchild, Skylar Alexis; and several nieces, nephews and many friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband Alton Nichols, a son, Edgar Pickard, her parents, Morgan and Maggie Irby, a brother, Preston Irby, sisters, Mary Perry, Agnes Purvis and Myrtle Smith Pogue and grandchildren, Sharon Ann Walker, Paul Keith Pickard and Barry Pickard.
Pallbearers will be Harold Purvis, Lambert Irby, Jerry Smith, Paul Irby, Clyde Welker, Tom Welker, Wayne Johnson and Tony Welker.
Visitation will be today one hour prior to the service at the church.
EUNICE WHITE MCCORKLE
Retired business owner/operator
UNION Services for Eunice White McCorkle will be held today at 11 a.m. at Stephens Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Ronny Spivey and Warren Hedgepeth officiating. Burial will be in Union City Cemetery.
Mrs. McCorkle, 68, of Union, died Sunday, April 21, 2002, in her home.
Survivors included her husband, James McCorkle, a son, Wayne McCorkle and a grandchild, Megan McCorkle, all of Union; two sisters, Mary Terry of Meridian and Ruth Rowzee of Jackson; and a brother, Ronnie White of Philadelphia.
Pallbearers will be members of the Masons: Marty McKee, Max Sessums, Murray Munn, Cory Moorehead, Charles Williams and Woody Chaney.
BILL RUSH
Farmer
Graveside services for Bill Rush will be held today at 4 p.m. at Bloomfield Cemetery with the Rev. Marvin Rush officiating. Clark's Memorial Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Rush, 84, of Preston, died Friday, April 19, 2002, at Kemper County Nursing Home in DeKalb.
Survivors include a sister, Katie Ray Hicks, a brother, Willie Westerfield and his wife, Edna, all of DeKalb; and several nieces and nephews.
THURMAN RAY SHUMAKE
Poultry worker
SEBASTOPOL Services for Thurman Ray Shumake will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the Facility Building in Conehatta. Burial will be in Macedonia Indian Baptist Church. Milling Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Shumake, 41, of Conehatta, died Saturday, April 20, 2002, at University Medical Center.
Survivors include his mother, Janie Shumake of Conehatta; daughters, Latisha Kane Rhodes of Philadelphia and Lasheena Raenee Lewis of Conehatta; a brother, Charles Shumake of Philadelphia; sisters, Anita Anderson and Janella Anderson, both of Conehatta, Norma Thompson of Boque Chitto, Eleanor Chickaway, of Conehatta and Pearlie Thomas of Laurel; a friend, Jenny Lou Lewis; and one grandchild.
He was preceded in death by a son, Tajion Ray Shumake.
DAVE TODD JR.
Retired construction worker
BUTLER, Ala. Services for Dave Todd Jr. will be held Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Shady Grove Assembly of God with the Revs. Mark Lawrey and James Bonner officiating. Burial will be in Shady Grove Cemetery with Bumpers Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Todd, 78, of Needham, died Monday, April 22, 2002, at Riley Hospital.
ANITA HICKS
TAMPA, Fla. Anita Hicks, 46, of Tampa, died Friday, April 19, 2002. Private family services will be held at a later date. Adams &Jennings Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Survivors include her husband, Dale Hicks; daughters, Natasha E. Thompson and Tamica-Lyn H. Hicks; a brother, Alton Hilyer Jr.; sisters, Loxie Lipscomb and Susie Richards; a stepsister, Tanya Pitts; and two granddaughters.
CLARA J. GRAHAM
Arrangements were incomplete at Stephens Funeral Home for Clara J. Graham, 89, of Meridian, who died Monday, April 22, 2002, in Meridian.

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 *