Obituaries week of Sept. 21
Ronnie Lee Ragsdale
Danville
A graveside memorial service and interment for Ronnie Lee Ragsdale, 67, was
held Saturday, September 17, 2022 at 2 p.m. at Falkville City Cemetery with
Pastor Shane Britt officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. No visitation was scheduled. Mr. Ragsdale died Sunday, September 11, 2022 at Falkville Health Care Center. He was born December 28, 1954 in Lawrence County to Claude Louis Ragsdale and Irene Nell Miller Ragsdale. He was employed as a fork lift operator for Walker Williams Lumber Company prior to his retirement. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Roger Ragsdale and a sister, Vicky Sue Ragsdale. Survivors include daughters, Jacqueline Wilson (John) and Allison Hutchinson (Jeff); sister, Gloria Black and grandchildren, Jacob Wilson and Emilee VanVleet.
Eddie “Sonny” L. Roy
Danville
Eddie “Sonny” L. Roy
Danville
Funeral service for Eddie “Sonny” L. Roy, 83, was held Sunday, September 18,
2022 at 3 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Brian Blass
officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in Salem Cemetery. Eddie (“Sonny”) Louis Roy passed away September 11, 2022. He was preceded in death by his parents, Louis and Addis Roy, and sister Linda Roy Drane. He is survived by his wife, Ramona Etheredge Roy; son, Thomas Eddie Roy (Penny); daughter, Susan Durham; three stepchildren, Donna Lindsey Erickson (Paul), Thomas Jeffrey Lindsey (Gretta), and Mark Etheredge Lindsey (Hilary). He was beloved “Pa-paw” to eight grandchildren, Brooke, Sam, Brandon, Michelle, Cody, Caleb, Mallory and Ashley and five great-grandchildren, Cody Paul, Houston, Savannah, Harlan and Anna. He was a devoted Christian and member of Central Baptist Church, Decatur, Alabama. He retired from the U.S. Army Strategic Defense Command, Huntsville, Alabama where he served as an engineer and division chief but his great love was farming and raising cattle. His favorite pastimes were
fishing, hunting, square dancing, traveling, and playing with his grandchildren. His kind, humble, gentle, and sweet spirit will be forever missed. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the St. Jude Children’s Hospital or the Alabama Baptist Children’s Home. (Decatur campus). Arrangements by Peck Funeral Home.
Paula R. Smith
Falkville
Funeral service for Paula R. Smith, 91, was held Wednesday, September 14,
2022 at 11 a.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Aaron Warnick
officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in Piney Grove
Cemetery. Mrs. Smith died on Sunday, September 11, 2022 at Cullman Regional Medical
Center. She was born Sunday, March 29, 1931, in Cullman County, to Joe Alton Thomas and Willie Rosebud Dial Thomas. She was a homemaker for her family, was a good Christian woman and a member of the Piney Grove Church in Falkville, Alabama. She was a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother. She was an artist and enjoyed painting. Preceding her in death were her husband, Harold Wayne Smith, Sr., her parents and a daughter, Monica Brewer. Survivors include sons, Harold Wayne Smith, Jr., Jerry Paul Smith, and Tim A. Smith; sisters, Barbara Engberg, Nelda White, and Fran Thomas; ten grandchildren and eighteen great grandchildren. Pallbearers were Jim Smith, Jerry D. Smith, Justin Brewer, Thomas Brewer, Cayden Brewer and Avery Brewer.
Sandra Howell Hardin
Falkville
Funeral service for Sandra Howell Hardin, 65, was held Thursday, September
15, 2022 at 1 p.m. at New Life Church with Bro. Phillip Hardin and Dr. Milan Dekich officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in Jones Cemetery. Mrs. Hardin passed away on Monday, September 12, 2022 at Cullman Regional Medical Center. She was born January 26, 1957 in Morgan County to Johnnie Holland Howell and Nagatha Louise Rackley Howell. Mrs. Hardin was a homemaker for her family and a member of the New Life Church. Family and friends who knew her well made statements such as “she had the biggest heart” and “she was the Paula Dean of our family.” She was always helping others and there for her family. She will be missed and always remembered as the sweet, kind lady, who cared about everyone she met. She has gone on to meet her parents and her stepfather, Van L. Morgan, who preceded her in death. She lovingly leaves behind her husband, Rickey Hardin; sons, John Wesley Hardin (Jessica) and James Andrew Hardin (Ericka); brother, Johnnie Howell (Lugie); sister-in-law, Sarah Holmes (Bennie); three grandchildren, Lux Wesley Hardin, Audrey Grace Hardin and Vivian Gabrieal Hardin and a host of nieces and nephews. Pallbearers were Chris Howell, Clayton Howell, Tracy Holmes, Matt Roberts, Al Nixon and Tony Johnson.
Martha Faye Daniel Sparkman
Hartselle
Funeral service for Martha Faye Daniel Sparkman, 85, was held Friday, September 16, 2022 at 3 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, Hartselle, Alabama. Reverend Bobby Ray Halbrooks officiated and Peck Funeral Home assisted with directing. Burial was in Moss Chapel Methodist Church cemetery in Hartselle following the service. Mrs. Sparkman was born February 5,1937 in Austinville, Alabama to James Martin Daniel and Mamie Stovall Daniel. She passed away peacefully Monday, September 12 at Decatur General Hospital, Decatur, Alabama surrounded by her family. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bobby Ray Sparkman of Hartselle, her parents and her siblings Nell French, Mary Ruth Cross of Decatur, Alabama, Elna Williams of League City, Texas and Wallace Daniel of Morton, Illinois. She is survived by her children, Randy Paul Sparkman (Penny) of Hartselle, Robert Alan Sparkman (DeDe) of Springfield, Tenn., and Mary Beth Sparkman of Hartselle, and grandchildren Katharine Anne Sparkman, Jacob Daniel Bradford, Joshua Ryan Bradford and Polly Danielle Overdear (Dylon) all of Hartselle, Robert William Sparkman of Franklin, Tenn., Sydney Caroline Moore and Christian Drake Moore of Nashville, Tenn.
She is also survived by two beloved great-grandsons, Kendrik Ryan Bradford and Wilder Lane Overdear of Hartselle and several nieces and nephews. Mrs. Sparkman was a member of First United Methodist Church of Hartselle. She cherished her memories of growing up in close knit Austinville with her parents, older siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins and neighbors. She enjoyed a long career at Hartselle Hospital and with Decatur physicians. She was particularly gratified by her time as Foster Grandparent at Hartselle’s F.E. Burleson Elementary School. She was always pleased to encounter young adults she had helped at school. She was first and foremost a tireless champion of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and a follower of Jesus Christ every day the sun rose. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Franklin, Tennessee young adult disability care organization, “Finding Abilities, Fostering Community” (https:/wavesinc.com).
Ronnie Lee Ragsdale
Hartselle
Ronnie Lee Ragsdale was born December 28, 1954, to Claude L. and Irene N. Ragsdale and passed peacefully from this earth on Sunday, September 11, 2022, surrounded by family. He was the youngest of four children and is preceded in death by both parents; a brother, Roger; and infant sister, Vicky Sue. He is survived by his sister, Gloria Black (Phil); daughter, Allison Hutchinson (Jeff); daughter, Jacqueline Wilson (John); as well as one grandson, Jacob Wilson; one granddaughter, Emilee VanVleet; two nieces, one nephew, and two great-nephews. Mr. Ragsdale was a forklift operator for much of his career and later spent a number of years in landscaping and lawn care. He enjoyed fishing, Nascar and telling a good joke. He loved to laugh and make others laugh, and very rarely missed an opportunity, no matter the occasion. He loved a good grilled burger, a cold beer, chocolate, and most of all, Alabama football. Godspeed and ROLL TIDE. A graveside memorial service was held Saturday, September 17, 2022, at Falkville City Cemetery with Pastor Shane Britt officiating.
Maranda Fortenberry
Hartselle
Ms. Maranda Fortenberry, 42, passed away on Saturday, September 10, 2022 at
her residence. She was born September 16, 1979, in Morgan County to Robert
Fortenberry and Dena Fay Tanksley Fortenberry. She was employed by Dollar General as a retail clerk prior to her passing. She was preceded in death by her parents. A graveside service was held at Lebanon Cemetery at Speake, Saturday, September 17, 2022. No visitation was scheduled. Survivors include son, Austin Campbell; daughter, Harlie Ferguson (Hunter Hollabaugh); brothers, Kenneth Fortenberry and Jeremy Fortenberry; grandchild, Greyson Hollabaugh.
Franklin T. Morris
Hartselle
A graveside funeral service and interment for Franklin T. Morris, 89, was held
be Friday, September 16, 2022 at 1 p.m. at Hartselle Memory Gardens with
Bro. Rusty Sowell officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Visitation
was Friday, September 16, 2022 from 11:30-12:30 p.m. at Peck Funeral
Home. Mr. Morris died on Tuesday, September 13, 2022 at his residence. He was
born October 19, 1932, in Morgan County to Herman Otto Morris and Evelyn
Edith Karpuk Smith. Mr. Morris was an elder and founding member of Central Christian Church and was a member of the Hartselle Church of Christ. He owned and operated Morris
Sheet Metal – Air Conditioning and Electrical Company for forty years until
his retirement. He was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Flora Ovilene Tapscott Morris, his
parents, and a sister, Carolyn Cooper. Survivors include son, Roger Keith Morris; daughters, Pam Morris and Patti Morris Lamaison (John); grandchildren, Marride Morris, Nikki Knight (Devin),
John Pete Morris Lemaison and Emily Lamaison; great grandchildren,
Emory Knight and Wyatt Kirksey. Pallbearers were family and friends.
Donna Marie Jackson Letson
Decatur
A graveside funeral service and interment for Donna Marie Jackson Letson,
67, was held Friday, September 16, 2022 at 1 p.m. at Etha Baptist Church Cemetery with Pastor Ryan Mouser officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Ms. Letson passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 14, 2022 at her home surrounded by her loving family. She was born April 13, 1955, in Marshall County to James Raymond Jackson and Jessie Mae Humphrey Jackson. She was employed by Publix Market in the Seafood Department, prior to her passing. She was a Baptist in her faith. She will be missed by the family she loved so dearly. Survivors include son, Michael Reeves; daughters, Christie Brown (Harold) and
Jennifer Shutt (Paul); brothers, Wayne Jackson (Ann) and Dylan Jackson (Patti);
five grandchildren; two great grandchildren and her beloved “Fur-Baby” Molly
Pallbearers were Tom Earwood, Harold Brown, Rick Voyles, Wayne Jackson,
David Campbell, Paul B. Shutt and Dakota Linderman.
Kenneth “Peanut” Charles Trent
Decatur
Kenneth “Peanut” Charles Trent
Decatur
Funeral service for Kenneth “Peanut” Charles Trent, 64, was held Tuesday,
September 20, 2022 at 11 a.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with officiating
and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in Hartselle City Cemetery. Mr. Trent died Thursday, September 15, 2022 at his residence. He was born Wednesday, October 9, 1957 in Morgan County, to Joe Daniel Trent and Peggy Juanita Reeder Trent. He was employed as a wood worker and carpenter prior to his passing. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joe Daniel and Peggy Juanita Trent, and a brother, Danny Floyd Trent. Survivors include daughter, Jessie Leighann Trent; granddaughter, Sarah Nicole Barnett; grandson, Jace Carter Klosinski; great grandson, Colton Blake Hutto; sisters, Sharon and Donna Trent. Pallbearers were family and friends.
