Obituaries week of Nov. 17
Thomas Hines Sharp
Somerville
A Celebration of Life service for Thomas Hines Sharp, 72, was held Nov. 21 from 2-4 p.m. at Shiloh Baptist Church with Bro. Charles Owens officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing.
Mr. Sharp died Nov. 3. He was born May 7, 1949, in Madison County to Herman Hines Sharp and Ruth Thomas Nelson Sharp. He passed away peacefully from a heart attack.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Survivors include his wife, Evonna Sharp; daughter, Kayse Sharp; son, Thomas Lynn Sharp; stepdaughter, Carmen Coco-Geary; brother, Richard Sharp; sister, Judy Purinton (Steve); granddaughter, Hope Gresham; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Bobbie H. Lee
Hartselle
Bobbie H. Lee, 91, of Hartselle, passed away Sunday night at her residence. The service was held Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. in the Peck Funeral Home Chapel. A graveside committal service was at 2 p.m. at Charity Cemetery in Hazel Green.
Bobbie was born to William Hubert and Ettice Juanita Stanford Higginbotham Oct. 27, 1930, in Limestone County. Bobbie loved quilting and gardening. She loved her family, but she adored her granddaughter, Allison, and great-grandson, Avery.
She is preceded in death by her parents; loving husband, Paul Lee; son, Billy Lee; brothers, Tony Higginbotham of Mississippi, Doyce Higginbotham of Hartselle, Billy Ray Higginbotham of Hartselle, Earl Higginbotham of Florida, Donald Higginbotham of Florida and Kent Higginbotham of Hartselle.
She is survived by her sister, Carol Borden (Dwight) of Florence; beloved nieces, Belinda Johnson, Michelle Reid, Brenda Taylor (Jim) and Delores Williams; beloved nephews, Mike Lemmond and Dan (Debbie) Higginbotham; Kathy Lee Hogan (Danny); adoring granddaughter, Allison Lee Rhoades (Eric); adoring great-grandson, Avery; and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.
Pallbearers were family, with the Rev. Eric Taylor officiating.
Bobby “Ditch Digger” Blankenship
Hartselle
Funeral service for Bobby “Ditch Digger” Blankenship, 67, was held Nov. 13 at 3 p.m. at New Center Baptist Church with Bro. Scott Reeves, Bro. Ben Bates and Bro. Brian Bridges officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in New Center Cemetery.
Mr. Blankenship died Nov. 10 at Huntsville Hospital.
He was born July 31, 1954, in Morgan County to James Paul Blankenship and Joyce Marlon Maples Blankenship.
Mr. Blankenship, affectionately known as “Ditch Digger,” was the owner of Bobby Blankenship Construction. He was a farmer and had served on the Morgan Farmers Cooperative Board since 2015. He was a graduate of Morgan County High School, class of 1972.
Preceding him in death were his parents and a brother, James Ray Blankenship.
Survivors include his wife, Cherri Sims Blankenship, Hartselle; sons, Stephen Namie (Jennifer), Decatur, and Stuart Namie (Nicole), Opelika; special fur-baby, Toby, aka Toby Toe; brother, Carl Blankenship, Somerville; sister, Nancy Herring (Jim), Guntersville; and grandchildren, Allison Grill (Peyton) and Ian Namie.
Ian Namie, John Sims, Paul A. “Pick” Rowe, David Sims, Tommy Boger and Logan Blankenship served as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were members of the Morgan Farmers Cooperative Board.
Richard Lasseter
Richard Lasseter
Hartselle
Richard Wayne Lasseter, 80, of Hartselle and longtime former resident of Wichita Falls, Texas, went to his heavenly home Nov. 11.
The youngest of 10 children, Richard was born in Wichita Falls Jan. 9, 1941, to Alfred Kelly Lasseter and Luda Ellen Hudgeons Lasseter. He grew up in Burkburnett, Texas, where he graduated from Burkburnett High School.
Richard joined the United States Marine Corps in 1960, serving as a drill instructor, combat engineer, recruiter and logistician. He served two tours of duty in Vietnam and earned many awards and commendations throughout his distinguished career before retiring as a master sergeant in 1981.
He also completed a second 20-year career with the United States Postal Service.
Richard loved wood working, making many beautiful items for family and friends. He was a member of Mt. Calvary-Falls Chapel Methodist Church in Wichita Falls and then Forrest Chapel United Methodist Church in Hartselle. He was an active member of the Marine Corps League of Morgan County, LCPL
Jonathan L. Smith Detachment 1427, where he was a leader in the Young Marine Program, instilling Marine Corps traditions and values in America’s young future leaders. He was also a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans.
Richard is survived by his wife of 59 years, Janet Marie Lasseter (formerly Payne); their three daughters, Terrie Michael and husband Ray of Hartselle, Cheryl Sink and husband Ralph of Melbourne, Florida, and Tina Pearce and husband, Jeff, of Stafford, Virginia; five grandchildren, Jeffrey Michael, Michael Sink, Erin Davis, Lindsey Ulrich and Ashley Pearce; and six great-grandchildren, Gracie and Gabriel Michael,
Harper, Beckham, and Ryleigh Sink, and Henry Davis.
He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings.
Services were held Nov. 14 at 1 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home in Hartselle. Burial, with military honors, was at Forrest Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery, Hartselle.
Jerrel Franklin Cook
Somerville
Funeral service for Jerrel Franklin Cook, 84, was held Nov. 14 at 3 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Gary Dobbs and Bro. Ralph Henderson officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was
in Center Springs Cemetery.
Mr. Cook died Nov. 11 at his residence. He was born April 11, 1937, in Morgan County to Wiley Cook and Grace Baker Cook.
He was employed at Morgan County District Shop 1, as a heavy equipment operator, for 35 years prior to his retirement.
He enjoyed playing and singing bluegrass, gospel and country music. He also enjoyed boating, water skiing, hunting, fishing and horseback riding in his early years. He always enjoyed being outside for long walks and loved spending time with his grandchildren.
Preceding him in death were a son, Tony Cook; his parents; and two brothers, James and Kenneth Cook.
His family would like to thank Encompass Hospice staff, especially Michelle King, for everything they did.
Survivors include wife, Sue Hardy Cook, Somerville; daughter, Denise Crofutt (Jerry), Somerville; brother, Johnny Cook, Somerville; sister, Lorene Barr, Somerville; granddaughter, Christy Bell (Andrew), Somerville; great-grandchildren, Jaylee and Dalton Parker and Gavin, Tony and River Bell; and a multitude of nieces, nephews and friends.
Pallbearers were W.H. Draper, Bobby Scott, Clete Blankenship, Leverette Blankenship, Curtis Newsom and Dalton Parker.
Betty Jo Ferguson
Hartselle
Graveside service and interment for Betty Jo Ferguson, 65, were held Nov. 14 at 1:30 p.m. at Mount Tabor Cemetery with Peck Funeral Home directing.
Mrs. Ferguson died Oct. 31 at Decatur Morgan Hospital. She was born Feb. 21, 1956, in Morgan County to Frances Hill Cummings.
Mrs. Ferguson drove a school bus for the Hartselle City Schools system prior to her retirement.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, James Earl Ferguson.
Survivors include her sons, Chris Ferguson and Dale Ferguson, and grandchildren, Shaianne Ferguson
Harlie Ferguson and Cayne Ferguson.
Dora Hodges Dearth
Falkville
Graveside service and interment for Dora Hodges Dearth, 69, will be Nov. 20 at 1 p.m. at Falkville City Cemetery with Elder Darrel Chambers officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Visitation will be Nov. 20 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home.
Mrs. Dearth died Nov. 2 at Cullman Regional Medical Center. She was born Aug. 29, 1952, in Morgan County to Oliver Walcott Hodges and Amanda Inez Reid Hodges.
Survivors include her cousin, Darrel Chambers.
Gurnialene Glasgow Braswell
Gurnialene Glasgow Braswell
Hartselle
Graveside service for Gurnialene Glasgow Braswell, 92, of Hartselle was held Nov. 16 at 11 a.m. at Roselawn Cemetery in Decatur with Brother Bobby Ray Halbrooks officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing.
Mrs. Braswell, who was born Feb. 13, 1929, in Morgan County to Gurnie Glasgow and Amber Puckett Glasgow, died Nov. 12 at the Hanceville Rehab and Nursing Facility. She was a longtime member of Hartselle First United Methodist Church and greatly enjoyed singing in the choir. She was an educator for more than 30 years, teaching at Mt. Hope High School and Danville School and finishing her career at Hartselle Junior High School. She also enjoyed music and playing the piano.
She was preceded in death by her husband, J.O. Braswell.
She is survived by her daughter, Beth Pabich (Michael); two grandsons, Nicholas and Oliver Pabich; a sister, Gerri Smith; a niece, Katharine Smith; and a great-nephew, Sam Smith.
Members of the Hartselle First United Methodist Church Choir were honorary pallbearers.
In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to Embrace Alabama Kids, 3140 Zelda Court, Suite 100, Montgomery, AL 36106, embracealkids.org.
Michael Ray Murphy
Hartselle
Memorial service for Michael Ray Murphy, 58, of Hartselle was held Nov. 16 at 6 p.m. at the Summerbrook Church of God of Prophecy, 15 Brookwood Drive, Somerville, with Brother Steve Barber officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing.
Mr. Murphy, who was born June 13, 1963 in Morgan County, died Nov. 13 at Decatur Morgan Hospital. He was employed at Valley Rubber in Falkville.
His father, Osbie Ray Murphy, preceded him in death.
He is survived by three sons, Michael Heath Murphy, Justin Lee Murphy and Stephen Aaron Murphy; a daughter, McCayla Grace Murphy; his mother, Louise Stubbs Murphy; two brothers, Jason Murphy and Jeremy Murphy; a sister, Amanda Williams; and four grandchildren, River Jane Murphy-Burns, Waylon Stone Murphy, Brodie Lee Murphy and Tristan Anthony Murphy.
David Ray Hawkins
Somerville
A graveside funeral service and interment for David Ray Hawkins, 86, was held Nov. 16 at 2 p.m. at New Friendship Cemetery with Bro. Earl Holt officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. No visitation was
scheduled.
Mr. Hawkins died Nov. 14 at his residence. He was born July 25, 1935, in Morgan County to David Mason Hawkins and Ida L. Leeman Hawkins. He was employed as a farmer and a heavy equipment operator prior to his retirement. He was Southern Baptist in his faith and was a wonderful husband and brother.
Survivors include his wife, Helen Taylor Hawkins, Somerville; brothers, Tommy Hawkins, Fort Pierce, Fla., and Johnny Hawkins, Priceville; and sisters, Brenda May, Somerville, Shirley Waddell, Somerville, and Nancy Hawkins, Somerville.
Pallbearers were Helen Hawkins, Ken Hawkins, Brandon Hawkins, Heath Hawkins, Lane Hawkins and Steven Waddell.
Patricia M. Hall
Patricia M. Hall
Danville
A graveside funeral service and Interment for Patricia M. Hall, 76, will be Nov. 17 at 11 a.m. at Johnson Chapel Cemetery with Bro. Tim Keenum officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. No public visitation is scheduled.
Mrs. Hall died Nov. 14 at her residence. She was born May 2, 1945, in Morgan County to Orval D. McCaghren and Kathleen Hensley McCaghren. She was a homemaker for her family, was a loving wife, mother and grandmother and loved flea marketing. She was a member of the Enon Baptist Church.
Her parents preceded her in death.
Survivors include her husband, Roy T. Hall, Danville; daughter, Cindy Hall, Hartselle; brother, Mike McCaghren, Danville; and grandchild, Jordan Hall, Hartselle.
Pallbearers will be Randy Hensley, Keith Hensley, Kim Hensley, Rex Hensley, Jackie Hensley and Marty McCaghren. Honorary pallbearers will be Kenny Sanford and Terry Porter.
The family wishes to express special thanks to the nurses and staff of Amedisys Hospice for the love and care they have shown.
Kathie L. Seals
Hartselle
Funeral service for Kathie L. Seals, 60, will be Nov. 17 at 1 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial will be in Johnson Chapel.
Mrs. Seals died Nov. 13 at Decatur Morgan Hospital. She was born June 9, 1961, in Morgan County to Billie D. Bolan and Margaret O. Walden Bolan, who preceded her in death.
She was employed with Walmart as a receiving clerk prior to her passing.
Her sister, Cynthia Raley, and her grandmother, Clara B. Walden, also preceded her in death.
Survivors include her husband, Ricky Seals; son, John Seals (Sabrina); daughters, Amanda Pack (Robert), Brittney Seals and Lacey England; and grandchildren, Dallas Pack and Ireland Queen.
