Obituaries Feb. 1 – 8
Stephanie Lyn Miner
Hartselle
Funeral service for Stephanie Lyn Miner, 46, was held Feb. 4 at 11 a.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Tim Brannon and the Rev. Wayne Keeton officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in Keeton Cemetery.
Miss Miner died Jan. 30 at Decatur Morgan Hospital. She was born April 22, 1974, in Trenton, Michigan, to Robert Miner and Hilda Keeton Miner.
She worked as a greeter for Walmart for 13 years and was a graduate of the Calhoun Community College Class of 2017. She served on the Governor’s Committee from 2017 until the present.
Stephanie brought joy to everyone who knew her, and she was a special aunt.
Preceding her in death were grandparents John and Kathryn Miner and grandmother Sue Keeton.
Survivors include her parents, Robert and Hilda Keeton Miner and grandfather Noah Keeton.
Ivette Waleska Hernandez Reyna
Decatur
Funeral service for Ivette Waleska Hernandez Reyna, 59, was held Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Pastora Norma Godinez officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in Cemeterio Municipal de Guayama, Puerto Rico.
Mrs. Reyna died Jan. 30 at Decatur Morgan Hospital.
She was born Feb. 25, 1961, in Puerto Rico to Ismeel Hernandez Vazquez and Enriqueta Figueroa Gonzalez. She was a member of Rey Victorioso and was a loving wife and mother, taken too soon.
She was preceded in death by her mother.
Survivors include her husband, Juan Reyna; father, Ismeel Hernandez Vazquez; daughter, Marinel Castro, stepdaughters, Monica Doherty and Angela Grooms; brothers, Pacun and Rafi; and sisters, Nana, Meme, Norma and Lina.
Sarah-Debter Anne Bennett Debter
Huntsville
Jan. 31 Sarah-Debter Anne Bennett Debter, 98, was called to her heavenly home while surrounded by her four children and one grandchild, who were singing the Hallelujah Chorus.
Sarah-Debter Anne was born April 26, 1922, in Hartselle. She was preceded in death by her husband, Edmond Eldon Debter; parents Lucy Anne Stewart Bennett and Frederick Arthur Bennett Sr.; and her two brothers, Jimmie Bennett and Fred Bennett Jr.
Sarah-Debter Anne is survived by four children, Dianne Debter (Tim Lee, deceased), Ronald Debter (Lisa Adams), Charles Debter (Dawna), and Lucy Courington (Larry Hoagland); grandchildren Ashley Thorne (Mark), Andrew Debter (Lauren), Addison Debter and Sarah-Debter Catherine Courington; and two great–grandchildren, John Thorne and baby girl Debter, on the way.
She was a resident of Sheffield and a member of Sheffield First United Methodist Church for 65 years. She had a strong faith in God. For 30-plus years, with close friends, she played bridge and solved the world’s problems. She, like her husband, was an avid supporter and lover of Sheffield and the state of Alabama.
Music was of utmost importance to Sarah-Debter Anne. She played the piano by ear, sang in the church choir, served on the music committee, played piano for Sunday School and was a huge supporter of all music in the Shoals area, especially the W. C. Handy Festival.
Her eclectic love of music spanned from the ’40s to recent times. While at Auburn, during World War II, she wrote a song called “Lonesome and Blue” to show her love for her sweetheart who was overseas in the South Pacific. The “Auburn Knights” played her song for the dance lead-out during the Big Band era.
Sarah-Debter Anne graduated from Auburn University in 1942 with a degree in home economics. At Auburn she was a member of Phi Omega Pi Sorority. She worked in Cullman as a home demonstration agent.
After WWII she married Ed while he was a student at the University of Alabama. She then worked for the Bureau of Business Research at the University. After Ed’s graduation, they moved to Monroeville and later to Shelbyville, Tenn., where she played piano for a dance school.
In Sheffield she worked as a PE teacher for Sheffield City Schools. Later she was a teacher, social worker, and then director for Colbert County Head Start. She loved to learn and continued her education at UNA in Florence. Throughout her life she was an avid reader, and she loved words, writing and doing crossword puzzles. In recent years she enjoyed using her computer and loved remembering and sharing her Stewart and Bennett family history.
Sarah-Debter Anne was a vibrant and loving person to all she knew! She was a wonderful mother and grandmother who lived every day as an example for her children. She found great pleasure in watching birds and enjoying nature on the Tennessee River and the family farm, her father’s birthplace, that we fondly call “The Mountain.”
Sarah-Debter Anne Bennett Debter will live in our hearts forever.
Feb. 5 services were held at First United Methodist Church–Huntsville, 120 Greene St., Huntsville. Memorial service was at 1 p.m. in the sanctuary; graveside service was at 3:30 p.m. at Cullman City Cemetery, 812 9th Ave. SW, Cullman.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be given to Sheffield First United Methodist Church, 701 N. Montgomery Ave., Sheffield; Sheffield Public Library, 316 Montgomery Ave., Sheffield; or Huntsville First United Methodist Church, 120 Greene St., Huntsville.
Venita Sharlene Roberts
Hartselle
A graveside funeral service and interment for Venita Sharlene Roberts was held Feb. 6 at 2 p.m. in the Johnson Chapel Cemetery with Peck Funeral Home directing.
Mrs. Roberts died Feb. 2 at Decatur Morgan Hospital. She was born on Jan. 21, 1947, in Morgan County to James Raymond Wright and Frances Rachel Roberts.
She was employed as a secretary for Calhoun Community College, prior to her retirement. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great–grandmother.
She is survived by a brother, James “Bud” Wright (Brenda); nieces, Missy Hutto, Peggy Lunn (Tobie), Lisa Gregory and Kim Hogan; nephews, Patrick Rylant, Rodney Rylant (Angie) and Amos Hogan; great–nieces, Tabetha Hutto, Tamara Hutto, Sadie Rylant, Emma Rylant, Desirae Yost, Brittany Hogan, Kelsey Hogan, Danielle Roberts and Whitley Hutto; and great–nephews, Joseph Hogan (Kinley) and Justin Hamby.
Preceding her in death were her parents and a sister, Debbie Rylant.
Pallbearers were Amos Hogan, Tobie Lunn, Jeff Hutto and Michael Berryhill.
Ronnie Speegle
Griffin, Georgia
Funeral service for Ronnie Speegle, 65, was held Feb. 6 at 11 a.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Audrey Rogers officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in Center Cemetery.
Mr. Speegle died Jan. 27 at HSHS St. John’s Hospital. He was born Aug. 12, 1955, in Morgan County to Sonny Ervin Speegle and Mildred Lois Garrison Speegle. He was employed as a truck driver prior to his passing.
He was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers, Rusty Speegle, Gary Speegle and Donnie Speegle.
Survivors include his sons, Heath Speegle (Lori), Chris Speegle (Kathy Boothe) and Brian Speegle (Melisa); brothers, Jay Speegle and Charles Speegle; sisters, Debbie Hayes, Brenda McAbee and Judy Maddox; 10 grandchildren; and six great–grandchildren.
Pallbearers were Heath Speegle, Chris Speegle, Austin Speegle, Brandon Speegle, Andy Boothe and Jeffery Hayes.
Donna Jo Speakman
Hartselle
Funeral service for Donna Jo Speakman, 55, was held Feb. 8 at 10 a.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Frankie Speakman officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in Powell’s Chapel Cemetery.
Miss Speakman died Feb. 5 at Decatur Morgan Hospital.
She was born April 5, 1965, in Franklin County, Tennessee, to Ollie Speakman and Mary Vivian Taylor Speakman. She was of the Baptist faith and enjoyed music, being busy, Elvis and NASCAR. She loved animals and babies.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Survivors include sister Judy Crowe (Greg) and brothers Danny Speakman, Stan Speakman and Ollie Speakman Jr. (Mary).
Harold “H.R.” Robert McCormick
Hartselle
Funeral service for Harold “H.R.” Robert McCormick, 75, was held Feb. 8 at 1 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Tim McCormick officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in Union Hill Cemetery.
Mr. McCormick died Feb. 5 at his residence. He was born Dec. 22, 1945, in Morgan County to Lonnie Lee McCormick and Alice F. George McCormick. He was a carpenter for General Repair Service prior to his retirement.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Gail McCormick; his parents; brothers, Leonard and L.A. McCormick; and a sister, Ruth Hanners.
Survivors include a son, the Rev. Tim McCormick (Jellethia); a daughter, Krista C. McCormick; grandchildren, Jarrett R. McCormick and Andrew D. George; and great–grandchildren, Alex McCormick Blake McCormick.
Pallbearers were Jarrett McCormick, Josh Frezza, John Easterwood, Thad Holmes, Keith Holmes and Isaac Frezza. Honorary pallbearers were Felton Hanners and Jerry Gullion.
