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 By  Staff Reports Published 
11:20 am Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Danny W. Cornelius

By Staff
September 14, 2008
Danny W. Cornelius, 57, of Russellville passed away on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008. He was born on Aug. 29, 1951.
The funeral service was Sept. 15 at Friendship Baptist Cemetery with Bro. Stanley Hargett officiating.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Willie George and Willie Elvera Cornelius.
He is survived by his daughter, Katina Petree; brothers, Willie "Billie" Cornelius, Jimmy Cornelius and Roger Cornelius; niece, Sheryl Smith; and three grandchildren.
Spry Memorial Chapel assisted the family. To sign the register book and to offer private condolences to the family, go to www.sprymemorialchapel.com.
Esther Mae English
September 14, 2008
Esther Mae English, 92, of Russellville passed away Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008.
Funeral services were held Sept. 16 at Spry Memorial Chapel in Russellville with Bro. Denvil Kiel officiating. Interment was in Franklin Memory Gardens.
Pallbearers were Jeff Michael, Laney McAnally, Jake Vandiver, Gene Ward, Charlie Vernon and Benji Allen.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Sam English; parents, Charlie and Clara Melton; stepdaughter, Deetra Bearden; brothers, Turk Melton, Nat Melton and Sid Melton; sisters, Ocie Allen and Marie Melton.
She is survived by her stepsons, J.W. English and Samie Jr. English; sisters, Helen Anderson, Maxine Stokes; and a host of nieces and nephews.
Spry Memorial Chapel assisted the family. To sign the register book and to offer private condolences to the family, go to www.sprymemorialchapel.com.
Eron Chess Lawler
September 12, 2008
Eron Chess Lawler, 88, of Russellville passed away on Friday, Sept. 12, 2008 at Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital in Florence. She was born on June 2, 1920.
Eron was a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother. Spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren, brought her the most joy. She could sew, cook and garden like no other. Her compassion for others in need was unsurpassed. Eron was a strong Christian lady and a member of Eastside Church of Christ. She will be sadly missed by her family and friends.
Funeral services were held Sept. 14 at Spry Memorial Chapel in Russellville with Bro. Johnny Richardson officiating. Interment was in Franklin Memory Gardens in Russellville.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Ola DeVaney; husband, Orval Lawler; daughter, Becky Fowler; brother, Rayburn DeVaney; sisters, Glenna Lawler, Betty Britton and Emma Sue DeVaney; and great-grandson Emmitt Christopher Lawler.
She is survived by her son, William Lawler of Huntsville; daughter, Marcia Lawler Weems of Trussville; eight grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews.
Her pallbearers were Jason Lawler, Shane Hester, Greg Fowler, Shannon Lawler, Todd Fowler and Scott Petty.
Spry Memorial Chapel assisted the family. To sign the register book and to offer private condolences to the family, go to www.sprymemorialchapel.com.
R. Gail Yates
September 5, 2008
R. Gail "Gailbug" Yates, 41, of Phil Campbell passed away Friday, Sept. 5, 2008. She was born in Columbus, Ind., on July 25, 1967 to Mack Thompson and Bobbie Sue Cobb Thompson.
Funeral services were held Sept. 10 at Hillcrest Cemetery in North Vernon, Ind.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Jerry Lee Yates; father, Mack Arthur Thompson; and grandparents, Clinton Thompson, Adele Mayfield and Larcus and Louise Cobb.
She is survived by her daughter, Harley Shane Yates; son, Cody Allen Nay; stepson, Joshua Lee Yates; mother, Bobbie Thompson; brother, Mack Thompson Jr.; sister, Alina Burton; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Akins Funeral Home assisted the family. To sign the guestbook, go to www.akinsfh.com.
Jennie Kirkpatrick Finley
September 9, 2008
Jennie Kirkpatrick Finley, 66, of Guntersville passed away from cancer Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2008 at Huntsville Hospital. She was the youngest of seven children but the first to die, just two months after a family reunion with all seven present.
She was born in Russellville to Creed M. and Virgie Waters Kirkpatrick and moved to Guntersville when she was 8. She started teaching Sunday school for small children when she was 12 and taught young children all her working life.
She married Keith Finley in 1963 and opened the Village School in Guntersville in 1975. She and her husband later opened the Village School in Albertville, and she ran it after she sold the one in Guntersville.
After graduating from Marshall County High School (now Guntersville High School), she attended Jacksonville State University for two years and majored in elementary education. After working briefly at the old OK Rubber plant, she began teaching at Guntersville Elementary School.
Two or three years later, she opened a private pre-school program at First United Methodist Church and opened the Village School in Guntersville in 1975.
She was a member of Guntersville Church of Christ. She enjoyed watching sports, especially if one of her sons or grandchildren were taking part in them, and she frequently visited people in nursing homes.
The Kirkpatrick family has had an annual reunion for many years, and all of the siblings were able to attend the one held last July at Lake Guntersville State Park.
Funeral services were held Sept. 12 at Guntersville Church of Christ with Bro. James Dudley and Bro. Philip Bradley officiating. Burial was in Crestview Cemetery.
She is survived by her husband, Keith Finley; sons, John Finley (Linda) and Christopher Finley, both of Guntersville; brothers, Carl Kirkpatrick (Edna) of Russellville and Hollis Kirkpatrick (Barbara) of Virginia Beach, Va.; sisters, Dollie Bishop of Russellville, Lois Sands (Roy) of Largo, Fla., Helene Ramage of Michigan and Jo Harvey (Joe) of McMinnville, Tenn.; and grandchildren, Kirk Finley, Thomas Finley, Chase Finley and Carter Finley.
Pallbearers were Lloyd W. Darnell, Frank Wood, John Wright, Jim Brazleton, Ted Looney and Bart Chandler.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to the Kerry Chandler Memorial Fund at Guntersville Church of Christ. The fund is for families of children with cancer.
Guntersville Memorial Chapel assisted the family.

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