Obituaries 1/2
Published 8:04 pm Monday, January 1, 2007
The News Courier will publish, free of charge, death notices including the name, age and city of residence of the deceased, date and place of death, and time and place of funeral service and visitation. Family members may express themselves in a eulogy, list survivors and give detailed obituary. The News Courier will accept these paid items from the family, funeral directors or other individuals. Paid obituaries may include a photo at no extra charge. For information, call Vanessa Byars at The News Courier, 232-2720.
Marvin Eugene Breeding
The funeral for Marvin Eugene “Marve” Breeding, 72, of Decatur will be 3 p.m. Thursday at Roselawn Funeral Home with the Rev. Buddy Champion officiating. Burial will be in Roselawn Cemetery in Decatur.
Visitation will be from 2-3 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Mr. Breeding died Sunday, Dec. 31, 2006, at home. He was born March 8, 1934, in Decatur to William G. and Gladys Mote Breeding. He was a U.S. Army veteran.
Mr. Breeding, “Our Papa,” was gifted in basketball and baseball. He graduated from Howard College—now Samford University—in 1959. He signed with the Baltimore Orioles and made a run for the American League Pennant in 1960 and was a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers when they won the World Series in 1963. He was inducted into the Morgan County Sports Hall of Fame and also into the Samford University Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006 and a bronze plaque with his name was placed on the arch of the stadium.
When Mr. Breeding retired from baseball he became a manufacturer’s representative for many years and opened his own business in 1979.
Survivors include his wife, Gee Gee Breeding of Decatur; a daughter, Marla Breeding Dean of Athens; two sons, Marve Dudley Breeding of Birmingham and Brad Breeding of Decatur; a sister, Helen Breeding Orick of Decatur; a nephew, Ben Poole of Huntsville; six beloved grandchildren; Bill and Ginny Singer of Osprey, Fla., and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
He ran a tough race and played to the end.
Erma Elaine Brooks
The funeral for Erma Elaine Brooks, 76, of Athens, will be 11 a.m. today at Spry Funeral Home with James Bridges officiating. Burial will be in Dement Cemetery.
Mrs. Brooks died Sunday, Dec. 31, 2006, at Athens-Limestone Hospital.
She was born Feb. 22, 1930, in Limestone County Thomas and Ella Mae Ezell. She was a member of Mt. Carmel Church of Christ. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph Brooks, and her daughter, Jeanette Sirten.
Survivors include on son, Glenn Brooks of Athens; one daughter, Patricia Wright of Athens; two brothers, Thomas Ezell and Charles Ezell, both of Athens; 10 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Timmy Holt, Mark Owens, Chris Putman, Nathan Craig, Neal Jones, Joey Hamlin, Matthew Sirten and Heath George.
Leon Carter
The funeral for Leon Carter, 92, of Athens will be 2 p.m. today at Spry Funeral Home with Doug Colwell officiating. Burial will be in Roselawn Cemetery.
Mr. Carter died Saturday, Dec. 30, 2006, at home.
Orabell McConnell
A graveside service for Orabell McConnell, 92, of Athens, formerly of Anderson, will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery in Anderson with James Turner officiating and McConnell Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. Wednesday at the church.
Miss McConnell died Sunday, Dec. 31, 2006, at Athens-Limestone Hospital.
Mary Francis McFarland
A graveside service for Mary Francis (Fran) Witt McFarland, 79, of Athens, will be held at 2 p.m. today at Athens City Cemetery with the Rev. Jimmy Bassham officiating and McConnell Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. McFarland died Sunday, Dec. 31, 2006, at Limestone Manor.
Mrs. McFarland was born May 28, 1927, in Elkmont, to John Carlyle Witt and Lola Stepp Witt. She was a member of the First Methodist Church in Athens. Mrs. McFarland taught second grade at Athens Elementary School for 39 years and was an active bridge player and supporter of the Donnell House.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Chambers McFarland.
Survivors include sister-in-law Rosa Witt of Athens; and several cousins.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Limestone County, P.O. Box 626, Athens, AL 35612.
Dorothy Jean Mitchell
A graveside service for Dorothy Jean Mitchell, 80, of Taft, Tenn., will be 3 p.m. today at Blanche Cemetery in Blanche, Tenn. with Derrick Moose officiating and Ardmore Funeral Home directing.
Mrs. Mitchell died Sunday, Dec. 31, 2006, at Lincoln Skill Center in Fayetteville, Tenn.
Charles Watson
Funeral arrangements for Charles Watson, 62, of Athens will be announced by Spry Funeral Home.
Mr. Watson died Monday, Jan. 1, 2007, at home.