John William Bradley
John William Bradley, 79, of Forest Manor Nursing Home, Northport, passed away on December 11, 2024, after a brief illness. A graveside interment service was held at the Gilgal Baptist Church Cemetery, Duncanville, AL on Sunday, December 15, 2024, at 2 p.m. with Bro. Bart Latner officiating and Memory Chapel directing.
Known to family and friends as ‘Billy,’ he was born August 26, 1945, in Tuscaloosa as the only child of William Obed Bradley and Myra Moore Bradley, both of whom predeceased him. Billy loved the Lord and was a lifelong and faithful member of Gilgal Baptist Church of Duncanville. He was a 1963 graduate of Tuscaloosa County High School, where he was remembered as one of the fastest members of the track team. Billy was a passionate Crimson Tide fan and enjoyed sharing his knowledge of local history. He had a remarkable photographic memory and could remember intricate details and dates of events which spanned his lifetime. Billy was a patriot and had a deep and abiding love for his country and was passionate about his religious and political beliefs. He never shied away from sharing these beliefs with others. Billy will be remembered as a loving son and caring friend. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Gilgal Baptist Church 1856 Building Fund, 3000 Bear Creek Road East, Duncanville, AL 35456.
Sybil Clements Garner
Sybil Clements Garner, 75, of Marion died December 5, 2024, at Hale County Hospital.V isitation was held on Wednesday December 11, 2024, at Lake Payne Church of God with a funeral service following at 11 a.m. Magnolia Chapel South directed. Burial followed in the church cemetery.
Sybil is preceded in death by: her husband K. D. Garner; grandson Carson Hill; parents Jessie and Elvie Clements; brothers Thurman (Sara), Roy (Mary), Lloyd, Wayne (Faye) ; sisters Lillian (Houston), Geneva (Verlon); her sons Dale Hill (Christi) of Greensboro, Bryan Hill of Brent; sisters Minnie (Royce) Duncan of Greensboro, Sadie (Wayne) Richardson of Moundville; grandson Peyton Hill; and numerous nieces and nephews. Pallbearers were Kerry Duncan, Danny Clements, and Darian Hill. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Lake Payne Church of God Cemetery Fund.
Dwight Whitten “June” Gray, Jr.
It is with deepest sorrow that Lavender’s Funeral Service announces the passing of Mr. Dwight Whitten Gray, Jr., 50, of Aliceville on Thursday, December 5, 2024, at his residence. Visitation was Friday, December 13, 2024, at Lavender’s Funeral Service. The home going celebration was Saturday, December 14, 2024, 10:30 a.m. at Mt. Hebron Baptist Church, Aliceville. The body lay in state in the church one hour prior to the service. Rev. Marcus Wright, pastor of Mt. Hebron Baptist Church, was the eulogist. Lavender’s Funeral Service, Aliceville, 205-373-2420, LavendersFuneralService.com, directing. Survivors are the Gray and Oliver families.
Sherrill Neeland Kirk
Sherrill Neeland Kirk, 84, of Marion passed away on Friday, December 13, 2024, at his daughter’s home surrounded by his wife of 60 years, his daughter, and the love and joy of his life… his grandsons Neeland and David Perry. A visitation will be held on Friday, December 20, 2024 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at Marion Methodist Church. Funeral service will begin at 12 p.m., also at the church. A graveside service will follow at 2:30 p.m. with a procession to Oakwood Cemetery, Greensboro, with Rev. Len Hurston officiating and direction by Kirk Funeral Homes.
Dexter Dewayne “Wutang” Manning
It is with deepest sorrow that Lavender’s Funeral Service announce the passing of Mr. Dexter Dewayne “Wutang” Manning, 43, of Aliceville, on Saturday, December 7, 2024 at Northport Medical Center. Visitation will be Friday, December 20, 2024 from 1-4 p.m. at Lavender’s Funeral Service. The home going celebration will be Saturday, December 21, 2024, 11 a.m. at Aliceville City Hall, 419 Memorial Pkwy., Aliceville. The body will lie in state one hour prior to the service. Interment will immediately follow the service in Bethany Town Cemetery, 2288 Old Bethany Rd., Aliceville. Rev. Patrick Bonner, pastor of Christ For Life Church, Aliceville, will be the eulogist. Lavender’s Funeral Service, Aliceville, 205-373-2420, LavendersFuneralService.com, directing. Survivors are the Manning family.
Sylvester McCalpine
Funeral services for Mr. Sylvester McCalpine of Greensboro were held on Saturday, December 14, 2-24, at 11 a.m. in the Washington & Paige Mortuary Chapel, Greensboro. Pastor Lester O. Walker officiated services with burial immediately following in the Sarah Christian Cemetery. Mr. McCalpine lay in state one hour prior to start of services. Public viewing was held on Friday, December 13, 2024, at Washington & Paige Mortuary.
Sylvester McCalpine was born September 4, 1948, to Louise Rachael McAlpine Tinsley Jackson and raised by his grandparents Annie Liza Pickens Burroughs and Benjamin Burroughs. He confessed hope in Christ at an early age and joined Bay Springs Africian Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. In his free time. he enjoyed outdoor pursuits such as hunting, fishing, and gardening. His kindness and generosity extended to his community. where he willingly lent a hand to repair and fix items, and shared the fruits of his labor by giving away his homegrown vegetables. Hunting, however. was his true passion.
He was preceded in death by: his mom Louise Rachael McAlpine Tinsley Jackson; grandparents Annie Liza Pickens Burroughs and Benjamin Burroughs; brother Michael Bernard Jackson; mother-in­law Mary Alice Thomas; father-in-law Stanley Jackson; sister-in­law Cynthia Thomas Whitaker.
Sylvester leaves to cherish his memories: his devoted wife Rubie T. McCalpine of Greensboro; his children. Sylvester “Marley” McCalpine Jr. of Peachtree, Ga., Edtwan (Clemertus) McCalpine, RaShawn McCalpine, Kendra Thomas, April (Melvin) Bell all of Greensboro, Marquita (Donyell) Jones of La Vergne, Tenn.; eighteen grandchildren; ten great grandchildren; one sister Rachael Tinsley (Jerome) Flowers of Ozark: three brothers Charles Joseph Brown, Earnest Anthony Jackson, Samuel Cedric Jackson all of San Diego, Calif.: three brothers-in-law Stanley (Linda) Thomas, Terry (Delois) Thomas of Greensboro, Bryan (Shanita) Thomas of Franklin. Tenn.: five sisters-in-law Mildred Thomas of Austell, Ga., Annie Thomas of Glen Clove. N. Y., Barbara (James) Carter of Brookwood, Linda F. Thomas and Josephine White of Greensboro; a devoted cousin Ambrose Green of Uniontown; a devoted friend Johnny Patton of Greensboro; and a host of cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Pellie Lee Sanders Allen Springer
Pellie Lee Sanders Allen Springer, 100, of Tuscaloosa, died December 6, 2024 at DCH Regional Medical Center. Visitation was at 11 a.m. Saturday, December 14, 2024, for one hour with the funeral service to follow immediately at noon at Magnolia Chapel Funeral Home, 4905 Hwy 69 North, Northport. Burial was in Memory Hill Gardens Cemetery in Tuscaloosa with Magnolia Chapel North directing. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of West Alabama or Alberta Baptist Church.
She was born on a farm near the Blount – Walker County line, and attended schools at Empire, Red Hill, and Hayden. She was preceded in death by: her parents D. Hobart Sanders and Jesse Whitley Sanders; brothers Cecil, Buddy, Eugene Sanders; sisters Lillian Parker, Roberta Hardin, Ruth Spradlin, Doris Parks, Joyce Manning; and husband Jack Springer.
Survivors include: her sons John H. Allen (Joan) of Huntsville, David W. Allen of Greensboro; grandchildren Whitney Patel (Samit), Jonathan Allen, Michael Allen (Jerett), Suzanne Allen; six great-grandchildren Sophia, Collin, Alexandria, Victoria Allen, and Oliver and Austin Patel; siblings Angel Pair, Ruby Sims, Bill Sanders.
Pellie was especially close to her two boys and their families. She was known to many family members as “Peck.” Pellie came to Tuscaloosa following WWII so her then-husband Walter L. Allen could attend the University of Alabama. After he graduated, she helped him with several business start-ups and later worked for Singer Sewing Co. as an instructor. She retired as a seamstress working out of her home until 2007. Pellie and her second husband Jack Springer were very involved in the Tuscaloosa (gospel) Singing Convention. Both held several different officer positions in the organization at the state level, and both participated in gospel singing groups in the 1950s and 1960s. Pellie was a genuine Christian lady and was very involved in her church, the Open Door Baptist Church, which later merged with Alberta Baptist. She cooked and carried food to many sick and shut-ins from her church and in her neighborhood and was famous for her chicken ‘n dumplings and chicken dressing. Pellie was an excellent cook and hosted family members in her home for lunch on Wednesdays for nearly 30 years, including grandchildren when they were attending the University. She was a positive influence on her family, friends, and neighbors. She had a large backyard flower and vegetable garden that would rival any in Tuscaloosa in beauty, variety, and bounty.
Pallbearers were Ellis Harding, Michael Allen, Jonathan Allen, Samit Patel, Nathan Ramey, Tommie Gorum, Carl Manning, Ricky Armstrong, and Larry Spradlin. Honorary pallbearers will be former members of the Joy Sunday School Class from Open Door and Alberta Baptist Church, Pellie’s 21st Avenue friends and neighbors, and doctors Scott Kempt and Phil Hemstreet.
William Ralph Wheat
William Ralph Wheat, 72, of Moundville passed away December 8, 2024, at DCH Regional Medical Center. Services were held on Thursday, December 12, 2024, at 11 a.m. at Magnolia Chapel South with Pastor Josh Wyatt officiating and Magnolia Chapel South directing. Burial followed at Oak Hill Cemetery. Visitation was held at the funeral home one hour prior to the service.
He is preceded in death by: his father R. B. Wheat; mother Nancy Wheat; daughter Christy Lynn Averette; siblings Billy Wheat, Shirley Hollingsworth. Survivors include: his sons William “Bo” Wheat (Sabrina), Micheal S. Wheat, David E. Wheat (Olivia), R. Blake Wheat (Brooke); grandchildren; Hunter R. Wheat, T. Heath Averette, Emily S. Wheat, Heathe R. Averette, Brandon Averette, Brianna Averette, Katie Wheat, Christy Wheat, Bryant Wheat, Eric Wheat, Aubrey Wheat, Bently George, Shelby George, Evelyn Wheat; and several great grand children.
Pallbearers were Wm. Bo Wheat, R. Blake Wheat, Michael Wheat, David Wheat, Hunter Wheat, and Heath Averette.

Nelda Marie Payne Cotton
Born June 15, 1939 -Died December 17, 2024
Nelda, born to Dewey and Reba Wyatt Payne, passed away December 17, 2024, at Hospice of West Alabama. Services were held on Saturday, December 21, 2024, at 2 p.m. at Five Mile Primitive Baptist Church, Akron, with Gene Dockery and Noah Phillips officiating and Kirk Funeral Homes, Greensboro Chapel providing services. Services will be graveside.
She is preceded in death by: her parents Dewey and Reba Wyatt Payne; sister Carolyn Lorrein Payne; brother Adolph Payne; sister Juanita Phares.
Survivors include: her daughter Katrina Michel Espey (Greg); son Norman Larry Cotton, Jr. (Beth); grandchildren Jessup Payne Cotton, Shiloh McCormick Cotton, Emily Renee Gibson (Devon), Jacob Raymond Espey (Courtney); great grandchildren Mary Alice Gibson, Charlotte Elaine Espey; sister Carol Payne Robinson (Larry); and many nieces and nephews.
Nelda was born in Akron and attended Akron High School where she graduated in 1957. She was a hard worker who had jobs at Vanity Fair, Bill’s Dollar Store, and Bonus Dollar. She was active in church throughout her life at Five Mile Primitive Baptist Church of Akron and Eutaw Baptist Church of Eutaw. Throughout the years at Eutaw Baptist Church, she was involved with children’s groups, youth groups, choir, the Joy Sunday School class, and the kitchen prep group. She had a sweet tooth and loved baking cakes and sweets for church meals, friends, and family.
Honorary pallbearers are the nurses and staff with Hospice of West Alabama, the EMTs with Greene County Ambulance Service, the Joy Sunday School class, and the members of Eutaw Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hospice of West Alabama, Greene County Ambulance Service, Five Mile Primitive Baptist Church, or Eutaw Baptist Church.
Rachel E. Free
Rachel E. Free, born January 21, 1983, 41, from Moundville passed away on Saturday, December 14, 2024. A visitation for Rachel was held Friday, December 20, 2024, at Memory Chapel Funeral Home, Tuscaloosa, AL 35405. Following the visitation, a graveside service was held at 11 a.m. at Memory Hill Gardens.
She loved her kids, cooking, and family gatherings. She also loved to joke that she was Pawpaw’s favorite.
Rachel is survived by: her mother Evelyn Stephens, her stepmother Tracy Stephens; her children Devyn Goins, Kylie Free, Kamyrn Free, Danial Free, Brystal Free; her grandchild Brantley Goins; her siblings Jason Stephens (Lyndsey), Jessica Robinson, Phillip Richie (Tanya), Holden Stephens; her grandparents Otis Crumley and Judy Hagler; and many loving aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, friends, and other families. Rachel was preceded in death by: her father Barry Stephens; her grandmother Betty Crumley; her grandfather Joe Hagler.
Wayne Watkins, Mark Hughes, Matthew Pugh, Jonathan Hutson, Sam Davidson, and Jackson Hutson served as pallbearers.
Nicole Hines
Funeral services for Ms. Nicole Hines of Demopolis as held on Saturday, December 21, 2024, at 11 a.m. in the Washington & Paige Mortuary Chapel. Pastor Stephany Davis Colenber officiated services with burial following in the Sarah Christian Cemetery, Greensboro. Ms. Hines lay in state one hour prior to start of services. Public viewing was held on Friday, December 20, 2024, from 1-5 p.m. at Washington & Paige Mortuary.
Sherrill Neeland Kirk
Sherrill Neeland Kirk, 84, was born October 28, 1940, in Greensboro, Alabama to the late Perry Neeland Kirk and Estelle Johnson Kirk. Sherrill passed away peacefully on Friday, December 13, 2024, at his daughters’ home with his wife, daughter and grandsons by his side. He is preceded in death by his parents and two brothers-in-law, David Clarence Ryan and John William Ryan. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Linda Ryan Kirk, daughter, Lea Elizabeth Kirk Luker, and two grandsons, Neeland Ryan Luker and David Perry Luker.
Funeral services were held Friday, December 20, 2024, at Marion Methodist Church, in Marion, Alabama, at noon with Rev. Len Hurston officiating. The family received friends at the church from 10 a.m. to noon. Graveside services were 2:30 p.m. at Oakwood Cemetery, Greensboro, where his parents are laid to rest. Active pallbearers were George Crawford, John William Ryan, Jr., Chester Hogue, John Anderson, III (John John), Randy Matthews, Will Stewart, Larsen Simmons, Bobby Gray, Mike Black, Don Boyle, and Steve Kirk. Kirk Funeral Homes Marion Chapel directed.
Sherrill graduated from Greensboro High School in 1959. After graduating high school, he worked at Spigener Brown Service Funeral Home, Tuscaloosa. He then moved to Tennessee and attended Gupton Jones School of Mortuary Science on the Vanderbilt University Campus. He married Linda Ryan on June 21, 1964, while being employed by Anderson Brown Service Funeral Home in Marion, Alabama. He worked for Mr. and Mrs. Walter Anderson from 1963 to 1965. Linda and Sherrill then moved to the Mobile area to work at a funeral home until 1967. They both became homesick so they moved home. On August 3, 1967, they purchased Anderson Brown Service Funeral Home from the Andersons in Marion. From this date until the date he died, Sherrill followed his dreams and passions. His dedication and love for this profession, his business and all of the families, in general, allowed him to keep his feet firmly planted on the ground so he could be the best he could be for families in their darkest times. Sherrill was very active in the Marion community, including being a member of the Lions Club, Army National Guard, and the Jaycees, where he received Citizen of the Year Award. Sherrill was also active in every aspect of Southern Academy, including being President of the Board for two years and volunteering to make sure that projects needing to be done were completed by contributing both physically as well as financially. It gave him great joy to see his daughter graduate from Southern in 1993 and even more joy to have been able to see his grandsons attend Southern. After joining Marion United Methodist Church in 1967, Linda and Sherrill were very active members, rearing their daughter in Christian values and morals. Sherrill was on the Board at the church where he served many decades. While physically able, Sherrill spent a lot of his down time on the golf course at Marion Military Institute. He was so proud of the fact that his daughter at age 7 taught him the game. Before that he had never played. He bragged to everyone about how a 7-year-old could teach an old man golf. Those years playing together…WERE EVERYTHING. Sherrill was a hands on, devoted, and loving father, husband and friend. All of Elizabeth’s friends adored him because they knew he would always load them up in his suburban and take them anywhere they needed to go. Although Sherrill worked long days and long nights, he rarely ever missed a function, church event, school event, play, basketball game, football game, ballet or voice recital. Sherrill always put others in front of himself. Always, socially or professionally. He loved his family, church, community, country and most importantly his wife, Linda Ryan Kirk, his daughter, Lea Elizabeth, and grandsons, Neeland Ryan Luker and David Perry Luker. The purchase of the Anderson Brown Service Funeral Home in Marion in 1967 would lead to the ground breaking of the Greensboro Funeral Home in 1979 and the purchase of the Kidd-Robbins Funeral Home in Demopolis in 2010. His dedication, love and loyalty for our area never wavered. Because of his chosen profession, Sherrill realized that each individual family was his primary focus of attention during their time of need. The world has lost a great man but his legacy, in his thousands of jokes and stories he told people to get a smile, will live on forever.
Dexter Dewayne “Wutang” Manning
It is with deepest sorrow that Lavender’s Funeral Service announces the passing of Mr. Dexter Dewayne Manning, 43 of Aliceville on Saturday, December 7, 2024 at Northport Medical Center. Visitation was Friday, December 20, 2024, at Lavender’s Funeral Service. The home going service wase Saturday, December 21, 2024, 11 a.m. at Aliceville City Hall, Aliceville. The body layin state one hour prior to the service. Interment followed the service in Bethany Town Cemetery, Aliceville. Rev. Patrick Bonner, pastor of Christ For Life Church, Aliceville, was the eulogist. Lavender’s Funeral Service, Aliceville, 205-373-2420, LavendersFuneralService.com, directing. Survivors are the Manning family.