Obituaries
 By  Staff Reports Published 
10:34 pm Sunday, March 20, 2011

Ezmah Bruton Portwood

Ezmah Bruton Portwood

March 15, 2011

Mrs. Ezmah Bruton Portwood, 98 1/2, passed away on Tuesday, March 15, 2011 at Bethany Hospice House, Auburn, Ala.; about 7-10 days prior to death, Mrs. Portwood had a stroke and significant kidney failure with a rapid decline in health.

Funeral services were held on Friday, March 18, 2011 at Akins Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Stanley Hargett officiating.  Burial was at Tharptown Cemetery.

Pallbearers were Milton Amos, Orland Britnell, Paden Myrick, Jamie Myrick, Mike Quillen, and Floyd Thorn.  Honorary pallbearers were Jimmy Patton and great-grandsons, Jarrod Webster and A.J. Webster.

Mrs. Portwood was preceded in dead by her husband, George Russell Portwood; son, Gailen Russell Portwood; parents, Will J. Bruton and Lou Ellen McCluskey Bruton; sister, Methyl Britnell; and brother, Jewel T. Bruton.

Mrs. Portwood is survived by her daughter, Georgia Lou Aycock and husband, Kenneth, of Auburn; three granddaughters, Tracey Bates and husband, Korey, of Killen, Kendall Aycock, of Auburn, and Christina Aycock, of Auburn; two great-grandsons, Jarrod Webster and A.J. Webster, of Killen; nieces, Betty Quillen, Onita Quillen, and Carrie Nell Stanley; nephews, Orland Britnell, Charles Bruton, Ronald Bruton, James McCarty, and J.R. McCarty; several cousins; and special friends, Mrs. Elease Amos and Mrs. Fairy Hicks.

Mrs. Portwood was born on September 10, 1912 at home in the Saints Crossroads Community east of Russellville.  She was a member of Bethsaida Missionary Baptist Church, Russellville, Ala.  She was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.  She enjoyed sewing, crocheting and quilting throughout her life.  She was an excellent cook.  She and her husband George had a large garden and she canned, froze and dried many fruits and vegetables over the years.

The family would like to express their appreciation to the staff of Bethany Hospice House for the loving care the last few days of her life.

Flowers will be accepted or memorial can be made to Tharptown Cemetery Fund, c/o Tharptown Baptist Church, 5162 Highway 48, Russellville, AL 35654; Bethsaida Missionary Baptist Church, 2364 Camden Cove, Muscle Shoals, AL 35661 or Bethany Hospice House, 1171 Gatewood Drive, Auburn, AL 36830.

Also on Franklin County Times
Goodwin stepping down as Golden Tigers’ football coach
High School Sports, News, Russellville, ...
Kevin Taylor For the FCT 
January 9, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE – Dustin Goodwin, who served as athletic director and head football coach, announced he is resigning his position to seek other opportuni...
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
By Susie Hovater Malone Columnist Most people don’t think twice about the small aluminum tab on top of a soda can. But those tiny pieces of metal have...
OPINION: 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...

Leave a Reply

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