Archives
 By  Staff Reports Published 
9:38 am Sunday, March 6, 2005

Edith Massey, Raymond Pickett, Willie A. Robinson, Eyrah Pearl Booker Rouse

By Staff
Edith "Madrew" Massey, age 81, of Vina, passed away Wednesday, March 2, 2005, at North Mississippi Medical Center following a sudden illness.
Mrs. Massey was born August 11, 1923, in Franklin County and was the daughter of the late Orlando and Kate Gober. She was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and will be greatly missed here on earth, but her family is comforted to know she is with her Lord. Mrs. Massey was a member of Vina First Baptist Church for 23 years and loved her church family. She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, O'Neal Gober and Gene Gober; and a sister, Topsey Hardin.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 5, 2005, at Vina First Baptist Church with Bro. Steve Ledbetter officiating. Interment was in Red Bay City Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Stacy Childers, Nathan Simsalek, Garrett Frederick, Gary Bullock, Mike Bullock and Chris Watts.
Mrs. Massey is survived by two sons, Jerry Massey and wife Sylvia, of Vina, and Larry Massey and wife Jo, of Parma, Ohio; a daughter, Wanda Simsalek and husband Eddy, of Halltown; a brother, Homer Gober and wife Jeanette; a sister, Ruby Bullock and husband Demp; eight grandchildren, Amanda Simsalek Childers, Nathan Simsalek, James Massey, Jimmy Massey, Susan Cecil, Garrett Frederick, Shelley Mann and Beth Moss; thirteen great-grandchildren and another to be born in the spring.
Deaton Funeral Home assisted the family.
Raymond "Pee Wee" Pickett, age 65, of Red Bay, passed away Tuesday, March 1, 2005, at Helen Keller Hospital.
Mr. Pickett was a native of Mississippi and was a retired railroad engineer. He was a member of Alter Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his parents, Vernon and Gladys Pickett; and a grandson, Andy Keith Armstrong.
Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. on Friday, March 4, 2005, at Deaton Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Jerry George and Bro. Paul Reynolds officiating. Interment was in Ridge Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Phillip Armstrong, Cody Armstrong, Dennis Childers, Keith Childers, Kenneth Pounders, Claude Keeton and Terry Collier.
Mr. Pickett is survived by his wife of 39 years, Wanda Nell Pickett; a daughter, Tammi Mason and husband Tommy, of Hamilton; two sons, Randy Armstrong and wife Toni, and Gary Armstrong and wife Angie, both of Red Bay; a sister, Bernice Orrick and husband Pug, of Vina; four grandchildren, Brittney Mason and Brandy Mason, both of Hamilton, and Cody Armstrong and Phillip Armstrong, both of Red Bay; a great-granddaughter, Kalei Mason of Hamilton; and four nieces and nephews, Joy Childers, Joe Childers, Dennis Childers and wife Geral, and Keith Childers and wife Anita.
Deaton Funeral Home assisted the family.
Willie A. Robinson, age 92, of Russellville, passed away Wednesday, March 2, 2005, at Russellville Hospital.
Mrs. Robinson lived most of her life in Franklin County and was a member of Russellville Church of Christ. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph L. Robinson.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 5, 2005, at Pinkard Funeral Home Chapel with Charlie Britnell and Carl Gilbert officiating. Interment was in Franklin Memory Gardens.
Pallbearers were Mrs. Robinson's nephews.
Mrs. Robinson is survived by a son, Bobby O. Robinson and wife Mary, of Spruce Pine; a daughter, Genelle Jackson of Spruce Pine; a brother, Johnny Weems and wife Reatha, of Tuscumbia; three sisters, Dorthy Logan of Russellville, Lola King Taft of California and Nellie Myrick of Russellville; three grandchildren, Lisa Thorne and husband Wilson, Denise Fretwell and husband Doug, and Lorraine Cummings and husband Barry; six great-grandchildren, Chris Pace, Kayla Thorne, Billy Fretwell, Tiffany Thorne, Joshua Thorne and Jessica Fretwell; and several nieces and nephews.
Pinkard Funeral Home assisted the family.
Eyrah Pearl Booker Rouse, age 89, of Salt Lake City, Utah, passed away Monday, February 28, 2005.
Mrs. Rouse was born May 11, 1915, in Morris, Alabama, daughter of George and Plumie Booker. She married Robert Claud Rouse on January 29, 1940, in Douglasville, Georgia. Claud and Eyrah owned and operated the Red Bay Tire Shop, located in Red Bay for 35 years. Mrs. Rouse was a member of the First Baptist Church in Red Bay and a teacher in the Adult Sunday School for several years. She was a member and former officer of the Red Bay Garden Club. She was a former P.T.A. President of Red Bay School. She was an inaugural member of the Red Bay Country Club and became a trophy-winning golfer. Mrs. Rouse loved to sew, travel and read. She had great pride in her home and family and was a patient and loving mother and grandmother. Despite the difficulties of her latter years, she endured her struggles with grace and dignity. She was preceded in death by her husband, Claud Rouse; a son, Wayne Rouse; her parents; and six brothers and one sister.
Funeral services were held at noon on Saturday, March 5, 2005, at Deaton Funeral Home Chapel with Duffy E. Pingree officiating. Interment was in Red Bay City Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Max Pingree, Ben Pingree, Brian Humphres, Brandon Humphres, Eddie Humphres and Derick Dameron.
Mrs. Rouse is survived by a daughter, Joan Rouse Pingree and husband Duffy, of Sandy, Utah; a daughter-in-law, Sandra Byram Rouse of Red Bay; a sister, Inez Booker Wright and husband Wyatt Wright, Jr., of Wedowee; three granddaughters, Casendra Pruitt, Lynn Dameron and Conna Humphres; two grandsons, Max Pingree and Ben Pingree; three great-grandsons; and one great-granddaughter.
Deaton Funeral Home assisted the family.

Also on Franklin County Times
Warming stations in the Shoals
News, Z - News Main
By Addi Broadfoot For the FCT 
January 23, 2026
FLORENCE — Several warming centers and emergency shelters are operating across Lauderdale, Colbert and Franklin counties in preparation for freezing t...
What to know about hypothermia
News, Z - News Main
Kevin Taylor For the FCT 
January 23, 2026
FLORENCE — While Colbert, Franklin and Lauderdale counties are facing a ice storm warning starting at midnight, several homes and residents may lose p...
Sheriff: Contraband is constant battle in jails
Main, News, Russellville, ...
Bernie Delinski For the FCT 
January 21, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Franklin County Sheriff Shannon Oliver said the county jail is not immune to the problem jail officials everywhere face: Inmates coming...
Oliver, Shackelford qualify for sheriff
Main, News, Russellville, ...
Kevin Taylor For the FCT 
January 21, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE – Franklin County Sheriff Shannon Oliver will have to hit the campaign trail to seek a fifth term this year. Oliver, a Republican and Fra...
New welding shop a plus for students
Franklin County, Main, News, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 21, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — A new welding shop inside the Russellville High School’s remodeled career tech building offers students more time and space to learn th...
Vina seniors tour NWSCC campuses
News, Vina Red Devils
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 21, 2026
VINA — Vina High School seniors toured the Phil Campbell and Muscle Shoals campuses of Northwest Shoals Community College as part of career planning a...
Can the US solve its electricity crisis?
Columnists, Opinion
January 21, 2026
As America embraces a new year 2026, consumers are looking for relief from an ongoing “affordability crisis.” While prices for some key items have mer...

Leave a Reply

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