News
 By  Staff Reports Published 
5:45 pm Sunday, May 1, 2011

Obituaries released on Sunday, May 1

Kelli Thorn Morgan

April 27, 2011

Kelli Thorn Morgan, 24, of Russellville, passed away with her husband on Wednesday, April 27, 2011.
Visitation was Saturday, April 30 at Akins Funeral Home. Funeral services were Sunday, May 1, at Calvary Baptist Church with Bro. Jason Thorn, Bro. Joe Lenox and Bro. Merrell Potter officiating. Interment was in Oak Grove Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Ben Thorn, Josh Puckett, Tanner Hall, Tyler Fretwell, Chuck Thorn and Blake Herring.
She was preceded with death by her husband, Mike Morgan; grandparents, Shirley Keeton and Harold Edward Pinkard; aunt, Jennifer Thorn.
She leaves to cherish her memory, son, Dylan Michael Morgan; parents, Jason and Patricia Thorn; brother, Nick Thorn; grandparents, Pete and Ramona Thorn and Don Keeton.
Thanks for all your prayers and acts of kindness to each of our families during this time.
Mike Morgan

April 27, 2011

Mike Morgan, 32, of Russellville, passed away with his wife on Wednesday, April 27, 2011.
Visitation was April 30 at Akins Funeral Home. Funeral services were Sunday, May 1, at Calvary Baptist Church with Bro. Jason Thorn, Bro. Joe Lenox and Bro. Merrell Potter officiating. Interment was in Oak Grove Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Chris Cummings, Jason Cummings, Willie Cummings, Elvis Tidwell, Phillip “P.J.” McDougal and Rodger “Worm” Pebbles.
He was preceded with death by his wife, Kelli Thorn Morgan; grandmother, Bonnie Miller; uncle, Rickey Michael Miller.
He leaves to cherish his memory, son, Dylan Michael Morgan; parents, Ricky and Valarie Morgan, Renay and Randy Hallman; brother, Spanky Hallman; grandparents, Bueal and Joy Morgan, Lindon and Nona Miller.
Thanks for all your prayers and acts of kindness to each of our families during this time.
Ricky Ethan Knox

April 27, 2011

Ricky Ethan Knox, 10, of Phil Campbell, passed away Wednesday, April 27, 2011.
Visitation will be Monday, May 2 from 6 to 8 pm at Akins Funeral Home. The 10 a.m. funeral service will be held Tuesday, May 3, in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Sammy Taylor officiating.
He was preceded in death by his father, Ricky Knox; grandparents, Arthur and Margarite Ashton; great grandfather, Jimmy Gibson.
He leaves to cherish his memory, parents, Michael and Evelyn Ashton, Sr.; aunts and uncles, Brandy Bullock and husband, Mark, Michael Ashton, Jr., and wife, Alicia, Timothy Ashton and wife, Sonya, and Jimmy Knox; cousins, Kelsey, Megan, Seth, Baylie, Kallie, Zoie, Abby, Colton and Brooklyn; great grandmother, Thelma Gibson; birth mother, Argena King; siblings, Melia, Logan andd Junior; grandparents, Ray and Deana King; numerous other great aunts and uncles and cousins.
He was a member of Mt. View Baptist Church and attended Phil Campbell Elementary.
You never saw Ethan without a smile; he loved to play sports, especially, baseball. He loved to take his BB gun and hunt squirrels and birds with his cousin Seth; he loved to ride 4 wheelers and dirt bikes. He loved to draw. He was our daredevil.

Jay W. LeClere

April 27, 2011

Jay W. LeClere, 45, died Wednesday, April 27, 2011, at his residence in Phil Campbell.
He was a native of Houston, Texas, but had lived in this area for the past 16 years. He was a general laborer.
The funeral service will be Tuesday, May 3, 2011, at 11 a.m. at Pinkard Funeral Home Chapel in Russellville with Jim Lumpkin officiating.

Burial will be at Hardshell Cemetery in Moulton. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Tuesday from 10 to 11 a.m.
He is survived by his son, Garrett Wade LeClere, of Phil Campbell; step-children, Marisa Jade McCormick and Jeffrey Wayne McCormick, Jr.; sister, Valerie LeClere, of Texas; nieces, Brandi Allen and Elizabeth Myers, both of Florence; friend, Paul Allen; several other nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Amy LeClere; parents, Carl and Shirley LeClere; brother, Wesley LeClere.
Amy LeClere

April 27, 2011

Amy LeClere, 33, died Wednesday, April 27, 2011, at her residence in Phil Campbell.

She was a native of Huntington, W.V., but had lived in this area for the past 15 years. She was employed as a food safety inspector with USDA. She was a member of Grace Baptist Church in Russellville.
The funeral service will be Tuesday, May 3, 2011, at 11 a.m. at Pinkard Funeral Home Chapel in Russellville with burial in Hardshell Cemetery in Moulton.

Officiating will be Jim Lumpkin. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Tuesday, from 10 to 11 a.m.
She is survived her father, William Strecker; mother, Shirley Slater and husband, Jim; children, Marisa Jade McCormick, Jeffrey Wayne McCormick, Jr., Garrett Wade LeClere; brother, Brian Strecter; sister, Belva Rusmusel; several nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Jay LeClere and daughter, Selena Roseann McCormick.

Donnie L. Gentry

April 27, 2011

Donnie L. Gentry, 63, died Wednesday, April 27, 2011, at his residence in Phil Campbell.

He was born in Carrollton, Ga., but had lived in this area for the past 22 years. He was a member of Heritage Fellowship Church in Russellville. He was a pastor, a retired truck driver with Heilig Meyers and a Vietnam veteran of the U.S. Army.
The funeral service will be Monday, May 2, 2011, at 1 p.m. at Pinkard Funeral Home in Russellville with burial in Shady Grove Cemetery, Phil Campbell.  Officiating will be Brian Scott.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
He is survived by his children, Tammie D. Gaudu and husband, Matthew, Melinda A. Bonner, Timothy D. Gentry and fiancée, Misty Riddle, Heather M. Black–Taylor and husband, Daniel; sisters, Tommie Anderson, Gerry Pipe and husband, Bob, Robbie Shaw and husband, Bill, Bobbie Bohn and husband, Rod; seven grandchildren; several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by wife, Patricia Gentry; daughter, Julie Black; parents, William James and Eula May Gentry; brother, James Truman Gentry.

Patricia Ann Gentry

April 27, 2011

Patricia Ann Gentry, 50, died Wednesday, April 27, 2011, at her residence in Phil Campbell.
She was born in Blue Island, Ill., but had lived most of her life in this area. She was employed as a teacher at Phil Campbell School and was a member of Heritage Fellowship Church in Russellville.
The funeral service will be Monday, April 2, 2011, at 1 p.m. at Pinkard Funeral Home in Russellville with burial in Shady Grove Cemetery, Phil Campbell.  Officiating will be Brian Scott.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
She is survived by her mother, Judy Nix Evett; children, Tammie Gaudu and husband, Matthew, Melinda Bonner, Tim Gentry and fiancée, Misty Riddle, Heather Black-Taylor and husband, Daniel; brother, David Evett; seven grandchildren; several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Don Gentry; daughter, Julie Black; father, Andrew Pinkard; step-father, Joe Evett; brother, Robert Wayne Pinkard.

Charlene Denise Crochet

April 27, 2011

Charlene Denise Crochet, 41, died Wednesday, April 27, 2011, at her residence in Russellville.

She was a native of Rhode Island, lived in Texas for several years, and had lived in Russellville for the past five years.

She was employed as a food coordinator for Country Cottage in Russellville.
The funeral service will be Wednesday, May 4, 2011, at 11 a.m. at Pinkard Funeral Home Chapel in Russellville with Stan Galloway officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Wednesday from 10 to 11 a.m.
She is survived by her husband, Milton Lee Crochet, Jr., of Russellville; mother, Vivian Latham, of Texas; children, Trenton James Davis, Skyler Lee Crochet, Georgia Helen Crochet, and Rusty Lee Crochet, all of Russellville; brother and sisters, John Albert Mathewson, Jr., Sherry Lee Mitchell and husband, Joey, Deborah Schexnider ad husband, Steven, Fred Mathewson and wife, Tabatha, all of Texas; half-brother, John Mathewson, of Virginia; half sister, Julie Phetteplace, of Tennessee; several nieces and nephews of Texas.

She was preceded in death by her father, John Albert Mathewson.

J.C. Grissom

April 29, 2011

J. C. Grissom, 86, of Spruce Pine, passed away April 29, 2011, at ECM Hospital.

He lived his entire life in Franklin County. He was a member of Quinn Memorial Church of Christ where he had worshipped for 60 years.
Funeral services will be Tuesday, May 3, 2011 at 2 p.m. at Pinkard Funeral Home in Russellville with burial in Grissom Cemetery. Visitation will be prior to the service from 12 noon until 2 p.m. at the funeral home.
He is survived by his loving wife, Betty Mae Grissom, of Spruce Pine; son, Ronnie Lee Grissom, of Spruce Pine; son-in-law, George E. Vinson, Jr.; brother, Teddy Burns Grissom and wife, Carol, of Spruce Pine, James W. Grissom and wife, Nancy; grandchildren, Jana A. Voyles, Diana L. Vinson, Johnny Grissom, Jeffrey E. Vinson, Michael G. Vinson, Tonya Crowden; 17 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Alford B. and Pearl Grissom; daughter, Judith Ann Vinson;  brother, Tommy Benton Grissom; sisters, Ira Mae Lewis and Wyvonne Antepenko.

Pallbearers will be Jeffrey Vinson, Tyler Vinson, Michael Vinson, Johnny Grissom, John Daniel Grissom and Jay Voyles. Honorary bearers will be men from Quinn Memorial Church of Church.

Zan Reese Black

April 27, 2011

Zan Reese Black, 45, of Phil Campbell, passed away on Wednesday, April 27, 2011.

Funeral services were held on Sunday, May 1, 2011, at Spry Memorial Chapel with  Bro. Sammy Taylor officiating.  Burial was in Jonesboro Cemetery.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Johnny and Nila Jo Black; grandparents, Follie and Lucille Bolton; brother, Michael Black; sister, Sonya Trapp; niece, Julie Black.

He is survived by his daughter, Brittany Black; sister, Vicki Galloway and husband, Mack; nieces and nephews, Brad Hill and wife, Faith, Kevin Hill and wife, Denise, Heath Hill and wife, Ginger, and Heather Taylor; and several great-nieces and nephews.

Sonya Collette Trapp

April 27, 2011

Sonya Collette Trapp, 47, of Phil Campbell, passed away on Wednesday, April 27, 2011.

Funeral services were held on Sunday, May 1, 2011, at Spry Memorial Chapel with  Bro. Sammy Taylor officiating.  Burial was in Jonesboro Cemetery.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Johnny and Nila Jo Black; grandparents, Follie and Lucille Bolton; brothers, Michael Black and Zan Black; niece, Julie Black.

She is survived by her husband, Tommy Trapp; children, Brad Hill and wife, Faith, Kevin Hill and wife, Denise, grandchildren, Blake Hill, Bentley Hill and Logan Hill; step-grandchildren; sister, Vickie Galloway and husband, Mack; several nieces and nephews.

Nila Jo Black

April 27, 2011

Nila Jo Black, 66, of Phil Campbell, passed away on Wednesday, April 27, 2011.

Funeral services were held on Sunday, May 1, 2011, at Spry Memorial Chapel with  Bro. Sammy Taylor officiating.  Burial was in Jonesboro Cemetery.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Johnny Black; parents, Follie and Lucille Bolton; sons, Michael Black and Zan Black; daughter, Sonya Trapp; granddaughter, Julie Black.

She is survived by her daughter, Vickie Galloway and husband, Mack; grandchildren, Brad Hill and wife, Faith, Kevin Hill and wife, Denise, Heath Hill and wife, Ginger, Brittany Black, and Heather Taylor; several step-grandchildren, great-grandchildren, Blake Hill, Bentley Hill, Logan Hill and Jasmine Galloway; brothers, Gene Ray Bolton and Jerry Bolton; and several nieces and nephews.

Also on Franklin County Times
Russellville to host MLK march on Monday
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 14, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — The Franklin County Martin Luther King Memorial Scholarship Committee is planning its annual commemoration march, which this year will ...
Career tech programs return to remodeled RHS building
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 14, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Students at Russellville High School returned from winter break last week to a newly remodeled and expanded Career Technical Education ...
Dowdy sentence delayed
Main, News, Russellville
By Brady Petree For the FCT 
January 14, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — The sentencing of Brandy Dowdy will have to wait until another day after her defense attorney suffered a “medical emergency.” Dowdy’s s...
MLK march is about ‘keeping the dream alive’
News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 14, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — The Rev. B.J. Bonner was 11 years old in the summer of 1963 when the civil rights movement reshaped the South and communities across Al...
FCREA finalizes 2025, looks ahead to 2026
Columnists, Opinion
HERE AND NOW
January 14, 2026
There are moments in our meetings that stay with you long after the chairs are folded and the dishes are washed. One of those moments came in November...
This year, let’s resolve to be more involved
Columnists, Opinion
January 14, 2026
Stop eating desserts. Go to the gym every day. Read 50 books this year. Learn a language. Start my retirement savings. Every year we make our resoluti...
RHS track looks ahead to state meet
High School Sports, Russellville Golden Tigers, Sports
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 14, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Russellville High School track athletes have posted multiple top 10 and top 20 section finishes this season, along with podium performa...
Vote of Red Bay budget delayed until February
News, Red Bay
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 14, 2026
RED BAY — City councilmembers will vote next month on the 20025–26 fiscal year budget. Mayor Mike Shewbart told the council last week the budget was n...

Leave a Reply

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