Obituaries (01/17/24)
Fayne Peck
Falkville
Funeral service for Fayne Peck, 79, of Falkville will be Wednesday,
January 10, 2024, at 1 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Brother Donnie
Hargrove officiating with burial in the Ebenezer Baptist Church Cemetery in
Morgan County with Peck Funeral Home directing.
Mr. Peck, who was born January 19, 1944, in Marshall County to Colman Fayne
Peck Sr. and Lottie McDonald Peck, died on Saturday, January 6, 2024, at his
home. He was a United States Army Veteran, loved to garden, hunt, and fish.
Fayne never met a stranger, he always loved to talk and make new friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Helen Sammons Peck.
Survivors include her son Marce “Bubby” Peck; daughter Jelina Peck, two
brothers, Thomas Bohanon Joey Korecz; sister Cathy Hough, three
grandchildren, Bianca Weeks, Jackie Cranfield (Linda) and Robin Ohsner and
numerous great and great-great grandchildren.
Joyce Jackson Pence
Joyce Jackson Pence was born on March 23, 1934, in Alabama, to Mary and Elmer Jackson. She passed away on January 6, 2024. Funeral services for Joyce Jackson Pence will be held on Monday, January 8, at Peck Funeral Home with Bro. Charles Shaddix officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Visitation will be held from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, with the funeral service immediately following at 1:00 PM. A graveside service will be held following the funeral at Shiloh Baptist Church cemetery in Somerville.
Joyce was a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was a member of First Baptist Church Hartselle and volunteered at The Caring Place. Joyce enjoyed helping in the library at Crestline Elementary School, working in her yard, traveling, and crocheting. She was also an avid Braves baseball fan. Joyce loved her independence, but most of all, she loved her family.
Joyce Jackson Pence was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Don Pence, and her parents, Mary and Elmer Jackson.
Survivors include son, Rick Pence (Janine); daughter, Debbi Owen (Jim); brother, Donald Jackson (Lottie); five grandchildren, Kristen Evans (Tyler), Tyler Pence, Whitney Pence, Daniel Owen (Erin), and Jay Owen (Alyssa); and seven great-grandchildren, Karter Evans, Nathan Owen, Amelia Owen, Summer Evans, Kinsley Owen, Anne Jackson Owen, and Hayley Evans.
Pallbearers will be Daniel Owen, Jay Owen, Charles Clemons, Bobby Goode, Jerry Collier and Jim Pence.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made to First Baptist Hartselle Library Fund or Alabama Baptist Children’s Home.
Linda Weaver Vassar
Hartselle
Linda Weaver Vassar passed away on January 5th, 2024, at the age of 81. She
was a beloved mother, wife, and friend who will be deeply missed by all who
knew her.
Linda was born on September 1, 1942, in Greensboro, North Carolina. She
would go on to attend cosmetology school and work at a beauty salon before
retiring as a full-time homemaker. Linda was a devoted mother and wife. She
loved spending time with her children, seeing them off to school and meeting
them after. She was always there to offer guidance, support, and
encouragement, no matter what challenges they faced. In her free time, Linda
enjoyed reading romance novels and listening to 50’s music.
Linda is survived by her loving husband, Walter C Vassar Jr “Bo” of 64
years, her brother Baron Weaver “Buddy”, their children, Lisa Vassar, Joey
Vassar, and Cheri Sellers (James), Ten grandchildren, Emily Moore (Ryan),
Adam Miller, Tyler Vassar (Elle), Morgan Wilson (Dakota), Skylar Evans
(Ariel), Weston Evans (Quinci), McKenzie Moore (Wyatt), Isaac Sellers,
Skylor Williams, and Grey Sellers and 18 great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers include Adam Miller, Sky Evans, Weston Evans, Tyler Vassar,
Isaac Sellers, Skylor Williams, Grey Sellers, Carter Moore. Her memory will
be cherished by all, and her legacy of compassion, generosity, and faith
lives on.
The funeral service will be held Wednesday, January 10, 2024, at 2:30 PM at
Peck Funeral Home with Bro. Hal Daigre, Rev. Emily Moore, and Rev. Eli Moore
officiating. Burial will follow at Burningtree Memorial Gardens.
Kenneth “Kenny” Reeves
Decatur
Memorial Funeral service for Kenneth “Kenny” Reeves, 69, will be Saturday,
January 20, 2024 at 1:00 PM at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Bo Gunter
officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Visitation will be Saturday,
January 20, 2024 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM at Peck Funeral Home.
Mr. Reeves died on Sunday, January 7, 2024 at his residence. He was born
August 23, 1954, in Stuttgart, Germany, to Guy S. Reeves and Margaret C.
McCormick Reeves.
Kenny loved to fish and loved Alabama football. He was a foosball champion
that held two world titles on two different companies’ tables. Mr. Reeves
was a loving brother and adored his nieces and nephews.
Kenny was preceded in death by his mother: Margaret McCormick Lott and his
brother, Daniel A. Sharpe.
Survivors include his father David Lott; brothers James H. Sharp, Michael Lott (Tammy), Eric Lott, Christopher Lott (Shannon) and Berry R. Reeves (Lucy); sister – Deborah Allen (Larry); several Nieces and Nephews and a host of friends.
Diane Lewter
Hartselle
Funeral service for Diane Lewter, 69, will be Friday, January 12, 2024 at
11:00 AM at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Phillip Hines officiating and Peck
Funeral Home directing. Burial will be in Athens City Cemetery. Visitation
will be Thursday, January 11, 2024 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Peck Funeral
Home.
Mrs. Lewter died on Saturday, January 6, 2024 at C H I Memorial Hospital in
Chattanooga . She was born April 4, 1954, in Morgan County, to Edgar Earl
Smith, Sr. and Dorothy Mae Vinson Smith.
She was a homemaker for her family that she loved dearly, especially her
grandchildren. She always called her family members to wish them “Happy
Birthday” and never forgot. She loved to quilt, crochet, loved to sew and
was very crafty. She attended Hartselle Church of Christ. Her parents
preceded her in death.
Survivors include her husband Cecil Lewter; sons David Terry (Meagan); sonsAllen Lewter (Ciara Crotzer Lewter) and Shane Lewter; Daughter – Catina Terry Black (Shannon); brother – Ed Smith, Jr. (Carolyn); sister – Brenda Julian; 14 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be grandsons.
James Jeffrey (Jeff) Prater
Danville
Funeral service for James Jeffrey (Jeff) Prater, 62, will be Thursday,
January 11, 2024, at 1:30 PM at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Francis
Proctor and Bro. Jonathan Proctor officiating and Peck Funeral Home
directing. Burial will be in Friendship (South of Danville).
Mr. Prater died on Monday, January 8, 2024, at his residence. He was born
October 22, 1961, in Morgan County, to James Ray Prater and Norma Lee
Dobbins Prater.
Music was Jeff’s life. He was a drummer who loved music and singing, Auburn
football, spending time with his great niece and nephews and loved to fish.
He was preceded in death by his mother.
Survivors include his father James Ray Prater; brother Paul Prater (Cindy); sister Lisa Turrentine (James); niece Bayley Jones (Matthew); nephew Brandon Turrentine (Brittany); two great nephews Hagen Turrentine and Grady Jones; one great niece Hadley Turrentine; several aunts and uncles.
Pallbearers will be Todd Kelsoe, Johnny White, Danny Lee, Brandon
Turrentine, Matthew Jones and Timothy Proctor.
Kathy Steel Wilhite
A visitation for Mrs. Kathy Steel Wilhite will be held Thursday, January 11,
2024 from 10-11 a.m. at Peck Funeral Home with her funeral service
following at 11:00 in the chapel. Interment will be at Roundtop Cemetery in
Falkville. Peck Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
Kathy was born to Calvin and Estelle Prater Steel in Lawrence County, AL on
July 22, 1950.
She was a lifelong home maker loving and guiding her children with her
husband of 52 years, Jimmy Wilhite. She loved hunting, gardening, goats,
chickens and most animals. She enjoyed watching racing on TV and loved her
family wholeheartedly.
She is preceded in death by her parents and sister, Patsy Steel.
Kathy is survived by her husband, Jimmy Wilhite; one daughter, Daphne Terry
of Danville; two sons, Greg Wilhite (Angie) of Moulton, Sam Wilhite (Kelsey)
of Danville; one sister, Donna Thompson (Jerry) of Danville; two Brothers,
Larry Steel of Danville, David Steel of Falkville; four grandchildren and
three great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Garrett Wilhite, Tyler Cook, Hunter Wilhite, Landon
Wilhite, Colton Steel and Jerry Thompson.
The family wishes to express special thanks to Southern New Beacon
Hospice for all their wonderful care.
Dorothy Ann Wilson Durand
Decatur
Funeral service for Dorothy Ann Wilson Durand, 79, will be Sunday, January
14, 2024, at 1 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Geoff Halbrooks
officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial will be in Forrest
Hill Cemetery.
Mrs. Durand died on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, at Hospice Family Care. She
was born August 19, 1944, in Morgan County, to Louie Charest and Annie Mae
Parker Charest.
She was employed as a recruiter for Par Enterprises and A.J. Associates,
prior to her retirement. Ann was a loving mother, grandmother and great
grandmother. She was a member of Forest Hill Baptist Church for 57 years.
She enjoyed volunteering with the Sheriff’s Posse and taking rides in her
red jeep.
Ann was preceded in death by her first husband, Norris Wilson, her second
husband, Mike Durand, her daughter, Kay Wilson Swader, her parents, and a
sister, Beatrice Freeze.
Survivors include her son Keith Wilson (Angela); sisters – Mildred Watkins and Peggy Dudley; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Chad Kelsoe, Kevin Gilreath, Jef Fluevog, Andrew Wilson
and family and friends.
Rickey J. Greer
Eva
Funeral service for Rickey J. Greer, 71, will be Saturday, January 13, 2024
at 5:00 PM at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Peck Funeral Home directing. No
Visitation is scheduled.
Mr. Greer died on Monday, January 8, 2024, at Crestwood Medical Center. He
was born October 6, 1952, in Morgan County, to Virgil Paul Greer and Onez
Myrtle Mooney Greer. He was employed as a Truck Driver for the City of
Decatur, prior to his retirement. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Survivors include his wife Maybell Greer; daughter Brenda Greer; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other extended family.
Brenda Doris Bush Burgess
Danville
Funeral service for Brenda Doris Bush Burgess, 76, was Thursday, January 11,
2024 at 1 p.m. at Journey Church with Bro. Joey Coots officiating and Peck
Funeral Home directing. Burial will be in Andrews Chapel Cemetery.
Mrs. Burgess died on Monday, January 8, 2024 at Cullman Regional Medical
Center. She was born November 1, 1947.
Sylvia Hill
Danville
Funeral service for Sylvia Hill, 77, will be Sunday, January 14, 2024, at
2:30 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Steve Ledbetter and Bro. Wayne
Turner officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial will be in
Johnson Chapel Cemetery.
Mrs. Hill passed away on Thursday, January 11, 2024, at her residence. She
was born January 1, 1947, in Lawrence County, to Dee Brooks and Elvie Brown
Brooks.
She was a homemaker for her family whom she adored. She was a loving wife,
mother, grandmother and sister. She was a member of Enon Baptist Church and
taught Sunday School. Sylvia loved vacationing, especially with her family.
Preceding her in death were her parents, and two sisters, Imogene McKay
Gillespie and Irene Brooks.
Survivors include her husband Randall Hill; son Randall Dywain Hill; daughter Brenda Gail Grigsby (David); brother Billy Brooks; sister Mary Fuller (Darrell); four grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be family and friends.
Gilbert “Gibby” Lee Frost
Eva
Funeral service for Gilbert “Gibby” Lee Frost, 88, will be Saturday, January
13, 2024 at 3:00 PM at Westside Baptist Church with Bro. Gary Peebles
officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial will be in Oden Ridge
Cemetery.
Mr. Frost died on Friday, January 12, 2024, at his residence. He was born
February 10, 1935, in Morgan County, to Herman Lesker Frost and Rena Idonia
Martin.
He was a carpenter by trade and was a member of West Side Baptist Church for
many years. He loved his family dearly and was a good Christian man.
Preceding him in death were his parents, his first wife, Robbie Darden
Frost, three sisters, seven brothers and a daughter, Pamela Sue Frost
Holmes.
Survivors include his wife Doris Frost; sons Randy Lee Frost (Sherry), Rex Looney (Mitzi), Tim Looney (Subrena) Matt Looney; daughter Janet Burch; 14 grandchildren Lindsey Frost, Heather Conn, Grant Holmes, Josh McNatt, Jennie Mitchell, Andy Burch,
Kyle Looney, Katherine Sparks, Sarah Beth Poland, Jeramey Looney, Tiffany Poole, Micaela Jefferys, Seth Looney and John Looney; numerous great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be Grant Holmes, Josh McNatt, Bobby Newman, Ricky Frost,
Jeff Frost, George Frost, Keith Frost and Roger Frost.
MSgt Charles E. Ball
MSgt Charles E. Ball (USAF, retired) was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, veteran, teacher, electrician, craftsman and mentor. He was born November 28, 1935, in Decatur, AL, growing up on Willow Avenue and attending Austinville School. He married the girl next door and love of his life, Virginia Miller, and together they had three children: Dusty, Theresa, and Danny.
He was a proud 21-year veteran of the U.S. Navy and Air Force, serving in combat as a mechanic aboard the U.S.S. Boxer aircraft carrier during the Korean War. Upon return from duty, Charles and his family were stationed around the country with assignments to NAS Whidbey Island in Oak Harbor, Washington; NAS Chase Field in Beeville, Texas; Eglin AFB in Niceville, Florida; Minot AFB in Minot, North Dakota; and Chanute AFB in Rantoul, Illinois.
After retiring from the military, Charles and his family moved back to Alabama, where he began his second career–teaching electrical technology at Calhoun Community College. Upon transitioning to a position teaching inmates at Limestone Correctional Facility through Calhoun, Charles thrived–taking great pride in sharing a trade that could offer his students more in life and a means to provide for their families with no judgment on what brought them there in the first place. The impact he had throughout his 20-year teaching career is immeasurable.
Charles and Virginia shared a love for antiquing, pulling their trailer to auctions across the country. He would spend evenings and weekends in his backyard workshop, refinishing furniture and rewiring lamps to sell at their antique store on Railroad Street in downtown Hartselle.
Though he worked many jobs over his 41-year career, “Grandaddy” was his favorite title. Charles spent his retirement devoted to his grandchildren, following them to sporting events and introducing them to auctions and the Atlanta Braves. He passed down his work ethic, woodworking skills, and love for Snickers, R.C. Colas, and Oatmeal Cream Pies. Alzheimer’s took him from us long before he left us, but not before he could create memories and share that same all-encompassing love with his great-grandchildren.
Charles Ball escaped his earthly body on January 11, 2024, sleeping peacefully and surrounded by his family. He is preceded in death by his parents, Christine and Homer Murphy, and brother, Edward Ball. He is survived by his wife, Virginia Miller Ball; his children, Dusty Perry (Doug), Theresa Shepard (Stephen), and Danny Ball (Angie); grandchildren, Tommy Boger (Kristina), Ashley Young (Tracey), and Jessica Bolton (Eric); and great-grandchildren, Karson, Lily, Sofia, Cannon, Asher, and Ethan.
The family owes a great deal of gratitude to his incredible caregivers at The Terrace at Priceville and at Floyd E. “Tut” Fann State Veterans Home.
A private service for the family is planned. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his honor to the Alzheimer’s Association.
