Obituaries (05/01/24)

Wanda Faye McCaghren West
Hartselle

Surrounded by her family and in her home on Bethel Road in Hartselle,  Wanda
Faye McCaghren West passed from this life on Sunday, April 21. While her
passing leaves those of us who loved her feeling heavy-hearted, we celebrate
the impact that knowing her has had on our lives.

Visitation for Mrs. West was held on Thursday, April 25, at Enon Baptist
Church from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The funeral service, conducted by Steve Ledbetter and Tim Keenum, followed visitation. Interment was in the family plot at Enon. Peck Funeral Home directed.

Wanda Faye McCaghren was born in Lawrence County to Robert Darty (Bob)
McCaghren and Vicy Lillian Borden McCaghren on December 12, 1938. She was
preceded in death by both parents, and she was the last surviving sibling of
seven.

Mrs. West was also preceded in death by her granddaughter, Tonya Wallace
Barnett.

Wanda earned degrees at John C. Calhoun Community College, Athens State
University, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. At Calhoun, she
served as a Warhawk student ambassador and participated on the debate team.
Earning a master’s degree in Adolescent Counseling at UAB enabled Wanda to
practice professionally what she had done in an unofficial capacity most of
her life. She worked with and guided young people. Her effervescent
personality and genuine love for young people made her a natural mentor.

In her younger years, Wanda coached the Hillbillies, a Hartselle girls’s
youth league softball team. She cheered aspiring pageant contestants and
judged area competitions. She participated in Hartselle’s Little Theater. She was also an avid supporter of Decatur’s annual Spirit of America, especially
the Miss Point Mallard Beauty Pageant, which she loved.

Wanda was a member of Enon Baptist Church most of her life. During the years
she lived at Auburn and on Lake Martin, she worshipped at the First Baptist
Church of Dadeville. She worked with the youth at both churches, combining
Biblical instruction with memory-making activities. For example, occasionally, she would allow the youth group at Enon to “borrow” a case of toilet paper from the supply closet and roll some member’s yard. Those who participated, still enjoy reminiscing about some of their youth group adventures.

During the years Wanda lived in Auburn, she served as house mother for two
fraternities, Sigma Alpha Epsilon and Theta Chi. She also owned Mom’s Party
Shop, and even ran for mayor. Though she was not successful in her bid to
become mayor, she was known and loved by untold numbers of Auburn students,
especially those she hired to work at Mom’s. Rule number one for anyone
applying to work at Mom’s was: Applicants must be enrolled at AU. Many of
these young men and women, who have gone on to achieve successful careers,
have continued to keep in touch with Mom.

Wanda embraced the philosophy that although pain is inevitable, misery is
optional. Even as rheumatoid and osteoarthritis ravaged her body, she
remained joyful and optimistic, never succumbing to bitterness or
complaints. Instead, she smiled when she recalled the days when she had
played league tennis in Auburn, had played softball with the Tomboys in
Decatur, and had worn her own pair of skates when she went to Phillips
Skating Rink.

Wanda’s survivors include her husband of 37 years, Philip Holk West and two
sons, Tony Wallace and Terry Wallace (Robyn). Surviving grandchildren are Tera Wallace Moon (Joey), Ryan Wallace (Ashley)
and Jessica Wallace. Surviving great-grandchildren are Makenzie Barnett Robertson (Brett), Pearl Moon, Byron Penn, Grace Wallace and Ian Wallace.

Wanda is also survived by a host of nieces and nephews whose lives she has
enriched immeasurably. She could find humor in almost any circumstance, even
when she pulled off her shoes while watching a movie at the Princess Theater
and had to walk barefooted up Second Avenue in Decatur because someone
seated near her had taken her shoes.

Pallbearers were Ricky Johnson, Philip Johnson, Greg Johnson, Joey Moon,
Ryan Wallace, and Rob Burt.  

Carol Cheatham
Athens

A Memorial service for Carol Cheatham, 60, was held Saturday, April 27, 2024
at 3:00 PM at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Geoff Halbrooks officiating and
Peck Funeral Home directing. No Visitation is scheduled.
Ms. Cheatham passed away on Monday, April 22, 2024, at Huntsville Hospital.
She was born December 4, 1963, in Morgan County, to William Ray Patterson
and Millie Chunn Patterson. 
She was employed as a grill cook, for Cracker Barrel, prior to her passing.
She was a wonderful mother and grandmother and will be missed.
Preceding her in death were her parents and two brothers, Wendell Patterson
and Ronnie Patterson.
Survivors include her son, Timothy Cheatham; daughter, Keri Cheatham and two grandchildren.  

Jo Ann Prater Steel
Danville

Funeral service for Jo Ann Prater Steel, 72, will be Sunday, April 28, 2024
at 3:00 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).  Visitation will be Sunday, April 28,
2024 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Peck Funeral Home. 
Mrs. Steel died on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, at her residence.  She was born
Saturday, May 26, 1951, in Lawrence County to Katie Pauline Sanford Prater.
She was a loving, compassionate and beautiful spirit, who could befriend
anyone anywhere. No matter the challenge she would always be there to
support people. She was an unofficial mom to many, a safer place for others
to confide and a true nonjudgmental lover of people. She inspired you to
dream, to work hard, to be your best, to know your worth, to treat others
with respect and most of all to love life. She was creative, talented,
crafty and she could find a way to solve any task that came her way. She was
magic when it came to flowers, just like her momma. She was the best
daughter, little sister, wife, aunt, cousin, friend, mom, granny and KoKo,
that you could wish to have. We have no doubt, she is smiling in heaven as
she reunited with past loved ones while she scopes out a place to start a
flower garden.
Her mother preceded her in death.
Survivors include her husband, Ronald Steel; daughters, Kim Steel and Kristi Steel; sister, Dorothy Powell; grandchildren, Bryson Brown, Mireille Steel and a granddaughter by love, Leah Eliff.
Pallbearers will be Christopher McCravy, Dalton Westmoreland, Sandy Sanford,
Herman Weaver and Rodney Weaver.
 

Angela Marie Traylor  

Somerville  

Angela Marie Traylor, 65, of Somerville passed away Saturday, April 20, 2024 in Russellville. She was born March 31, 1959, in Norfolk, Va. to Joseph Walter Eaton and Joan Eve Geissensetter.  No services are planned, and Peck Funeral Home is assisting the family. She was a teacher for A.S.F.L. in Huntsville, prior to her retirement. Angela was preceded in death by her father, husband, Bryce Traylor; son, Dylan Jackson; survivors include, son, Brian Mills (Melissa); stepson, Shane Traylor (Camoon); mother, Joan Eaton; two sisters, Melinda Steele and Aleta Haynes; four grandchildren.  

Jackie D. Taylor 

Vinemont

 Funeral service and Entombment for Jackie D. Taylor, 76, will be Friday, April 26, 2024 at 2:30 PM at Roselawn Cemetery Mausoleum with Peck Funeral Home directing. No visitation is scheduled. 

Mr. Taylor passed away on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 at Summerford Nursing Home. He was born April 14, 1948, in Morgan County, to Clyde Livingston Taylor and Oma Lillian Harris Taylor. 

He was employed by Whitt’s Service Station, as a wrecker driver, prior to his retirement. He was a good man and loved raising his children and grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Virgil Marvin Taylor; a sister, Novel June Kilpatric and a brother-in-law, Leroy Griffith. 

Survivors include his stepdaughters, Karen Kelley Haga (Steve) and Angela “Angie” Dodd Kilpatric (James); brother, Clyde R. Taylor (Jeanette); sisters, Gearldine Griffith and Darlene Wright (Jerry); sister-in-law, Geneva Taylor; and brother-in-law, Robert Kilpatric. 

Donald Ray Williams 

Hartselle 

Donald Ray Williams III, 30, of Hartselle, died on April 24, 2024. Mr. Williams was born on Saturday, September 11, 1993, in Kentucky to Donald and Samantha Williams. No service is scheduled at this time. Donald was a loving son and brother. He was a great inspiration to his brothers and anyone he met. Donald loved video games and Anime. He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Connie Philpot and his grandfather, Donald Williams, Sr. 

Survivors include his parents, Donald and Samantha Williams; brothers, Steven Franco and Jeffrey Franco; and two sisters, Heaven Williams and Cassi Williams.  

Henry Levet Crow 

Priceville

Graveside service for Henry Levet Crow, 82, was held Saturday, April 27, 2024, at 10:30 AM at Walnut Grove Baptist Church Cemetery with Bro. Doyle Creel and Bro. Aaron Clark officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing.
Mr. Crow died on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at Decatur Morgan Hospital. He was born January 25, 1942, in Lawrence County to William “Wilson” Crow and Ozema Tucker Crow. Prior to his retirement, he was a store manager for CVS.
Mr. Crow was a member of Walnut Grove Baptist Church where he also served as a Deacon. He loved his family and loved serving the Lord with his church family. Mr. Crow was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Joe Crow.
Survivors include his wife, Linda Doyle Crow; sons, Allan Crow (Sandra) and Andrew Crow; daughter, Chandra Dotson (Allen); brother, Ronald Crow; sister, Ann Adams; five grandchildren, Alex Crow (Breana Alis); Kayla Crow; Carter Dotson (Jenna); Aaron Crow and Baylee Dotson.
Pallbearers will be Jacob Smith, David Hogan, Carter Dotson, Alex Crow, Johnny Smith and Danny Ward. 

Reba Swinford 

A visitation for Mrs. Reba Vest Swinford was held Monday, April 29, 2024, from 11:00 to 1:00 PM at Peck Funeral Home. Her funeral service followed at 1:00 PM in the Chapel. Interment will be at Burningtree Memorial Gardens. Geoff Halbrooks and Bro. Frankie Keene officiated. Peck Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
Mrs. Reba Vest Swinford passed away Friday morning, April 26, 2024, at her residence in Hartselle with her family by her side. She was 80 years old. Reba was born to William Byrd and Mamie Pannell Vest on February 23, 1944, in Morgan County, Alabama. She worked as a Head Start teacher in Hartselle prior to retirement. She wore many hats but will be most remembered as being a loving wife, mother MiMi and great MiMi. She loved to quilt and sew, especially enjoying her quilting guild. She also enjoyed volunteering at the Red Cross and spent many years doing do.
Reba is preceded in death by her parents. Survivors include her loving and adoring husband of 60 years, Cledith; her daughter, Valerie Clark (Kevin); sister, Katie Hill; grandchildren, Conner Clark (fiancée Keri), Carson Clark (Allison), and Caleb Clark; and one great granddaughter, Georgia Grace Clark.

Pallbearers will be Kevin Clark, W. Conner Clark, Carson Clark, William (Billy) Betterton, Jeremy Bradford and Don Henderson

The family request in lieu of flowers please consider making a memorial donation in Reba’s name to the American Red Cross or St. Jude’s Hospital. 

Nathan Silas England 

Lacey’s Spring 

A funeral service for Nathan Silas England, 28, of Lacey’s Springs, was held Saturday, April 27, 2024, at 2:00 PM at Valhermoso Springs Holiness Church with Bro. Tim Patrick officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing.  Nathan England was born on Monday, September 4, 1995, to Mark and Tammy England. He died on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. 

Nathan was a loving son, brother, and an amazing father. He loved gaming, cooking, and making new friends. He was a wonderful friend to all. 

He was preceded in death by his mother, Tammy England; uncles, Mathew and Joshua Teague, his grandfathers, Randall Kimbrough and Budy Selby. 

Survivors include his daughter, Sylvia Kay England; father, Mark England; brother, Jordan England; sisters, Megan England and Marisa England; grandmothers, Patricia Kimbrough and Wanda Thompson; grandfather, Sam England; uncle, Toby England; aunt, Renee England and cousin, Cameron England.  

Pallbearers will be Nicholas McKinley, Cameron England, Toby England, Brian East, Brandon Moon, and Chad Moon. 

Obituary for Axel Reid Jolly 

 Funeral service for Infant Axel Reid Jolly, 7 weeks old, of Vinemont, was held Monday, April 29, 2024, at 4:00 PM at No Fences Cowboy Church with Bro. Josh Sparkman officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was at Evergreen Cemetery.
Axel died on April 25, 2024. He was born February 29, 2024, in Cullman, to Gary Jolly and Krystal Chaney Jolly.
Survivors include his parents, Gary and Krystal Jolly; brothers, Alexander Buckmaster and Jonathan Guibert; sister, Alexis Guibert; grandparents, Ralph and Sheila Jolly and Christin Denise Roy; great-grandparents, Josephine James and Kay and Terry Johnson.
Pallbearers were Gage Tice and Ralph Jolly.