Archives
 By  Staff Reports Published 
11:39 pm Wednesday, June 12, 2002

She is preceded in death by her husband, Eugene Ulmer Sr.; a son, Michael Wayne Boyd, sisters, Clarice Chancellor and Helen Skinner; her parents, Grace and Grover Cleveland White; and a granddaughter, Heather Marie Boyd.

By Staff
Pallbearers will be Troy Thrasher, James Miles, Wesley Nason, Keith Boyd, Donnie Bean, and Dennis Davidson.
Visitation will be today 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
RONALD WAYNE ESHEE
Hosiery mill mechanic
Services for Ronald Wayne Eshee will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at Stephens Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Jack Foster officiating. Burial will be in Duffee Baptist Church Cemetery.
Mr. Eshee, 50, Collinsville, died Monday, June 10, 2002, in Jackson.
Survivors include his sisters, Beverly Skelton and her husband, Raymond K., of Collinsville, Sandra Dennison and her husband, Dana D., of Pensacola, Fla., Mona Dear and her husband, Kenneth, of Meridian and Teresa Hebert of Pensacola; a brother, Herman Branning and his wife, Carolyn, of Meridian; his mother, Maudine Eshee of Collinsville; several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his brother-in-law, Ron Hebert; a sister, Linda Kay Chaney; and a nephew, Terry Lynn Lee Jr.
Pallbearers will be Kenneth Skelton, Raymond Skelton, Kenneth Dear, Justin Dear, Dana Dennison, Kenny Branning, Dave Martin and John Branning.
Honorary pallbearer will be Colby Skelton.
Visitation will be today 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
JOANN KELTON
Graveside services for Joann Kelton will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. at Liberty Baptist Church Cemetery, with the Rev. S.T. White officiating. Stephens Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Miss Kelton, 57, of Forney, Texas, died Sunday, June 9, 2002, in Forney.
Survivors include her sisters, Sandra J. Williams and her husband, Ottis, of Forney, Linda Lowe and her husband, Jessie, of Garland, Texas; an aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Jack George of Meridian; a nephew, Jason Lowe of Dallas; a niece, Tracie Peters of Mesquite, Texas; three great-nieces and nephews.
JIMMY H. HUGGINS
Retired
Services for Jimmy H. Huggins will be held Thursday at 3 p.m. at James F. Webb Funeral Home with the Rev. Jack Giles officiating. Burial will be in Magnolia Cemetery.
Mr. Huggins, 63, of Meridian, died Tuesday, June 11, 2002, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center.
Survivors include two sons, Mike Huggins, and Jeff Huggins, both of Meridian; a daughter, Pam Daniels of Meridian; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; and a stepbrother, Bobby Hall of Meridian.
He was preceded in death by his parents, William B. Huggins and Nancy Elisabeth Huggins, and a brother, William Butch Huggins.
Pallbearers will be Kenny Blackwell, Billy Moffett, Tom Eakes, David Daniels, Steve Hill and Rodney Harrison.
Visitation will be today from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
BONNIE RUTH WATSON
School tutor
PORT GIBSON Services for Bonnie Ruth Watson will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. at Mercy Seat Baptist Church with the Rev. Frank McGriggs officiating. Burial will be in St. Peter's Cemetery. Rollins Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Watson, 46, of Meridian, died Friday, June 7, 2002, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center.
Survivors include her husband, Zachary Watson of Meridian; her mother and step-father, Mary Lee and Johnnie Moore of Pattison; three sons, Bryon Robertson, Rakieth Watson and Ronnie Watson, all of Meridian; two daughters, Shawanda Reynolds and her husband, Vincent, and Roshanda Watson, all of Meridian; a brother, Ronnie Moore and his wife, Sarah, of Port Gibson; five sisters, Elizabeth Betty Brandon and her husband, William, Jimmie Rankin and her husband, Sam, Latina William and her husband, Darren Sr., all of Meridian, Willie Ruth Carter of Dallas and Virginia Dee and her husband, Joseph, of Pattison; six uncles, Robert Smith and his wife, Lottie, James Smith and his wife, Willie Bee, Joseph Smith and his wife, Marjorie, of Cleveland, Ohio, Freddie Lee Graves and his wife, Sarah, Shed Moore of Port Gibson and Samuel Hardges and his wife, Fannie, of Pattison; nine aunts, Mattie Jackson, Rosie Lee Thomas, Ethel Hamlin, Jessie Bell Jackson, Bertha Minor and her husband, Nathaniel, Mary L. Smith of Port Gibson, Elizabeth Smith, Shelby Smith of Cleveland, Ohio, and Miriam Smith of Jackson; several other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her father, Robert Graves.
Visitation will be Friday noon-5 p.m. at the funeral home.
JAMES R. POYTHRESS
Truck driver
A private family memorial will be held at a later date for James R. Poythress, 59, of Meridian, who died Friday, June 7, 2002, in Tucson, Ariz.
Survivors include his wife, Margaret Poythress of Meridian; daughters, Geraldine Parker, Marquerite La Batt and Betty Ann Wilkinson, all of Meridian; grandchildren, Gega Ann Morgan, Breanna Michelle Singleton, Aaron Lee Singleton, Donald Jenkins and Ronnie Jenkins; sisters, Brenda Murth and her husband, Larry, of Houston, Ruby Pope of Conroy, Texas, and Sue Burwell and her husband, Bob, of Cincinnati, Ohio.
STEVEN H. HARTLEY
Arrangements were incomplete at James F. Webb Funeral Home for Steven H. Hartley, 41, of Meridian, who died Tuesday, June 11, 2002, in his home.

Also on Franklin County Times
Dowdy sentencing delayed due to medical emergency
News, Russellville, Z - News Main
By Brady Petree For the FCT 
January 7, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — The sentencing of Brandy Dowdy will have to wait until another day after her defense attorney suffered a “medical emergency” on Tuesday...
Legislative session opens Jan. 13; Kiel prefiles 2 bills
Main, News, Russellville, ...
By Addi Broadfoot For the FCT 
January 7, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE -- State Rep. Jamie Kiel has prefiled two bills ahead of the 2026 Alabama legislative session. The bills, which will be considered when l...
Hollimon reflects on 40 years in education
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 7, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE – Dr. Deanna Hollimon always felt she was called to be an educator. After 40 years as a teacher, reading coach, administrator and educati...
Firefighters train for vehicle rescues
News, Russellville, Z - News Main
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 7, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — City firefighters trained last week on how to stabilize overturned vehicles and remove trapped occupants. Fire Chief Joe Mansell said t...
Neighbors helping neighbors, one soda pop tab at a time
Columnists, Opinion
HERE AND NOW
January 7, 2026
Most people don’t think twice about the small aluminum tab on top of a soda can. But those tiny pieces of metal have quietly helped families stay clos...
2025: A year of results for Alabama families
Columnists, Opinion
January 7, 2026
The past year has certainly been a memorable one — and, more importantly, a rewarding one. Beginning the year by leading the Laken Riley Act through t...
Author’s collapse was motivation for comeback
News
Chelsea Retherford For the FCT 
January 7, 2026
When Pete Key collapsed on the bathroom floor in 2024, it didn’t feel like a turning point. It felt like an ending. He had been sick for days — dehydr...
Phil Campbell’s Elliott hits 1,000th career point
High School Sports, Phil Campbell Bobcats, Sports
Bart Moss For the FCT 
January 7, 2026
The Phil Campbell Bobcats kicked off the 2026 calendar year in style Saturday night, securing a decisive 54-37 victory over the visiting Belgreen Bull...

Leave a Reply

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