Obituaries July 21-27
Merita Faye Kent
Danville
Funeral service for Merita Faye Kent, 72, was held July 13 at 11 a.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Benjamin Sides officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in Johnson Chapel Cemetery.
Ms. Kent died July 10 at North Alabama Medical Center.
She was born May 29, 1949, in Morgan County to Edmond Franklin Peppers and Dorothy Jean Armstrong Peppers. She was a homemaker for her family and a loving mother and grandmother.
She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Kenneth Peppers.
Survivors include two sons, David Junior Kent and Lloyd Edmond Kent; two daughters, Lisa Kent Taylor (Todd) and Debra Adams; brothers, Randy Peppers, Johny Peppers and Jim Peppers; sister, Carolyn Letson; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers were Todd Taylor, Randy Peppers, J.J. Sanford, James Morgan, Lloyd Kent and David Kent. Honorary pallbearer was Sam Kent.
William L. Poppleton
Somerville
Funeral service for William L. Poppleton, 81, was held July 15 at 6 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel, with family saying a few words and Peck Funeral Home directing.
Mr. Poppleton died July 12 at Decatur Morgan Hospital. He was born June 15, 1940, in Will County, Illinois, to William Henry Poppleton and Gladys L. Legner Poppleton, who preceded him in death.
He was employed as a machinist for Caterpillar prior to his retirement.
He was married to his wonderful wife, Mary, for 58 years.
Mr. Poppleton enjoyed bowling, coaching Junior Leagues and hunting. He was a softball enthusiast and a Cubs Fanatic. He also had two fur-babies he cared for, Bella and Buster. He was a veteran of the United States Air Force.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Conrad Poppleton; daughters, Catherine Caswell (Ed), Sandra Pulliam, Dawn Poppleton, Brenda Poppleton and Amanda Petric (Jason); son, William Poppleton; brothers, Robert Poppleton (Frances) and Edward Poppleton (Anna); sister, Judy Gala; 16 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
Bobby Robinson
Falkville
Funeral service for Bobby Robinson, 65, was held July 16 at 3 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Terry Nappier and the Rev. Ryan Wilbanks officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in Ebenezer Cemetery.
Mr. Robinson passed away July 11 at Cullman Regional Medical Center. He was born May 31, 1956, in New York to William F. Robinson and Katherine Monzell Cowan Robinson.
He was the owner and worked as a backhoe operator for Robinson Backhoe Service prior to his retirement.
He and his wife, Glenda, were married for 47 years. He enjoyed dirt track racing and spending time with his grandchildren. He loved his children and was loved by all.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Sue Johnson, and a brother, Stevie Robinson.
Survivors include his wife, Glenda Fortner Robinson; sons, Bobby Joe Robinson (Sonya), Johnny Robinson (Nikki) and Jeff Hemming (Cindy); daughter, Melinda Robinson Bennett (Chad); brother, Billy Robinson (Catherine); sister, Joan Cocke; sister-in-law, Sandra Fortner Lacy; and five grandchildren, Kaden, Amberly, Brodie and Derek Bennett and Megan Robinson.
Pallbearers were Bobby Joe Robinson, Johnny Robinson, Chad Bennett, Travis Lacy, Brian Robinson, Michael Robinson and Ricky Barbee.
John “Junior” Baker
Hartselle
A memorial service for John “Junior” Baker, 41, was held July 18 at 2 p.m. at Hartselle Independent Holy Church of Christ with Bro. John Johnson and Bro. Gordon Wilbanks officiating.
Mr. Baker died July 13 at Decatur Morgan Hospital. He was born June 30, 1980, in Morgan County to John William Baker and Barbara La-Theada Brown Earls. He was formerly employed by Copeland Corporation, was a graduate of the West Morgan High School Class of 1998 and was a lifelong resident of Morgan County.
He was preceded in death by his father, John William Baker.
Survivors include his mother, Barbara B. Earls; brother, Noah Earls, Holly Pond; sisters, Marie Morton of Nashville, Denise Sellars of Nashville, Lee Ann Laate of Nashville and Dale Milan of Douglasville, Ga.; and a host of nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to the American Diabetes Association.
James “Jim B.” Crawley Jr.
Decatur
Funeral service for James “Jim B.” Crawley Jr., 77, was held July 18 at 3 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Steadman Livingston officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in Valhermoso Springs Cemetery.
Mr. Crawley died July 14 at Hospice Family Care. He was born May 21, 1944, in Lebanon, Kentucky, to James Bruce Crawley Sr. and Elizabeth Perkins Crawley.
Mr. Crawley grew up in Campbellsville, Kentucky, and graduated from Western Kentucky University, where he played in the band. He was an avid sports fan and enjoyed watching all of his grandchildren play ball.
Besides his family, he also loved music. He was band director at Brewer High School for 20 years and then taught music at Calhoun Community College. He truly enjoyed teaching young people music and sharing his passion.
He was preceded in death by his parents, James B. Sr. and Elizabeth Crawley.
Survivors include his son, Bruce Crawley (Kim); daughter, Michele Moore; grandchildren, Morgan Whitt, (Todd), Alex Livingston (Chandler), Cole Crawley, Abby Moore and Grace Crawley; great-grandchildren, Addy Grace, Townes and Maggie Mae Whitt and England Livingston; and sister, Janie Crawley Killian.
Pallbearers were Philip Davis, Eric Davis, Chandler Livingston, Todd Whitt, Bruce Crawley and Cole Crawley.
Gail Barnett
Falkville
Funeral service for Gail Barnett, 58, was held July 19 at 1 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in Blue Springs Baptist Cemetery.
Mrs. Barnett died July 15 at Cullman Regional Medical Center. She was born Nov. 16, 1962, in Morgan County to Arthur Glenn Bailey and Helen Barnett Bailey. She was employed by Sonoco as a cook and
store clerk prior to her passing.
Her father preceded her in death.
Survivors include her husband, Toney Barnett; mother, Helen Barnett Bailey; sons, Timothy Barnett (Heather) and Lucas Barnett; daughters, Darlene Bailey and Jodie Maples (Anthony); brothers, Dickie Bailey (Sherry), Noel Bailey (Brandy) and Joel Bailey (Teresa); sister, Kathy Draper (Ricky); and seven grandchildren.
Pallbearers were Lucas Barnett, Timothy Barnett, Noel Bailey, Joel Bailey, Eric Bailey and Anthony Maples.
Timothy Jay Abercrombie
Hartselle
Timothy Jay Abercrombie, 59, of Hartselle passed away July 13.
Tim was a very loving, dedicated husband, son, brother, uncle and friend.
Tim leaves behind his cherished wife of 36 years, Susan Abercrombie; fur children, Macy and Kaylea; father, Ken Richards; sister, Gayla Wright (Tom) of Decatur; nephews, Clint Woodfin (Brie) of Madison, Stuart Woodfin (Jaime) of Saint Augustine, Fla., and Matthew Puckett of North Carolina; niece, Chante Thomas (Ken) of Decatur; and several great-nieces and nephews.
Tim was preceded in death by his mother, Brenda Little Richards.
Tim worked as a civil engineer for more than 20 years. He had a passion for bridges, and he loved seeing his designs come to life. He was instrumental in planning and design of the 18-hole golf course at Canebrake in Athens.
He enjoyed working in the bus ministry for several years at his church.
A celebration of Tim’s life will be announced at a later date.
Donations in memory of Tim may be made to your local animal shelter or to North Alabama Hospice.
Kathleen-Pait Bradberry Pait
Hartselle
Kathleen-Pait Pait, 88, transitioned to her heavenly home July 15 at NHC Healthcare. She was born Nov. 26, 1932, in Morgan County to Alton Audy Bradberry and Eva Florine Somerford Bradberry.
She was employed as a cosmetologist for several years, and was employed at Crestline Elementary School for a few years, prior to her retirement.
She was a Baptist and a member of East Highland Baptist Church. She loved to cook, do crossword puzzles and do journaling. She was a sweet lady and a wonderful mother.
She was preceded in death by two husbands, Melvin Bruce (Coy) Wright and James A. Pait Sr., her parents and a sister, Margaret Hill.
Family wishes a “special thanks” to NHC Health Care nursing staff, to the “Crestline Elementary Girls” and to the Hospice of the Valley.
Survivors include sons, Dwight Wright (Jeannie), Woody Pait (Kim) and Jim Pait; daughter, Devona Wright Kilimas (Steve Cooper); sister, Jo B. Barnette; grandchildren, Jason Kilimas, Dawn Smith and Tasha Wright; several great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; one niece; and two nephews.
Funeral service for Mrs. Pait was held July 18 at 1:30 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Walter Blackman officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in Cedar Creek Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Jason Kilimas, Jeremy Simmons, Dominic Simmons, Tim Barnette, Jeff Burbanks and Bobby Looney.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of the Valley in memory of Kathleen-Pait Pait.
Jewell Alexander Nelson
Eva
A graveside funeral service and interment for Jewell Alexander Nelson, 90, were held July 18 at 4 p.m. at Union Hill Freewill Baptist Cemetery with Peck Funeral Home directing. No public visitation was scheduled.
Mrs. Nelson died July 16 at Summerford Nursing Home. She was born March 25, 1931, in Morgan County to Samuel Clarence Alexander and Pearlie Mae Tomlin Alexander. She was employed by Weaver LLC as a seamstress, prior to her retirement, and was a homemaker for her family.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Henry Delone Nelson; a son, Gary Delone Nelson; her parents; four brothers, Cleo, Charlie, Hollis and Ewell Alexander; and two sisters, Lovie Roberts and Clarene Brown.
Survivors include her children, Sammy Nelson (Martha), Stanley Nelson, Ellen Neal (William) and Mark Nelson (Tonya); sister, Audrey Holmes; six grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers were Brett Neal, Joe Nelson, Chris Butterfield, Daniel Nelson and Dave Pelliccio.
Wayne-Adkins Adkins
Somerville
Funeral service for Wayne-Adkins Adkins, 60, will be held July 21 at 3 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Brandon Finklin officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial will be in Valhermoso Springs Cemetery. Visitation will be July 21 from 2-3 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home.
Mr. Adkins died July 15 at his residence. He was born April 17, 1961, in Morgan County to Billy D. Adkins and Linda Ann Brown Frazier. He was employed in the construction industry prior to his passing.
His sister, Melinda Blankenship, and his birth father preceded him in death.
Survivors include his parents, Raymond Elgin Frazier and Linda Brown Frazier; brother, Ron Frazier; and sister, Venessa Johnson (Tim).
