Obituaries 1/10

Published 8:39 pm Tuesday, January 9, 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.



Brett Bailey Hamilton

Brett Bailey Hamilton, 43, of Athens died Sunday, Jan. 7, 2007, after a sudden illness. He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Athens. Graveside service was Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2007, at 1 p.m. at Greenview Memorial Park with the Rev. Roger Mardis officiating and Greenview Funeral Home of Florence directing. Mr. Hamilton was born in Hartselle and graduated from Coffee High School in Florence in 1981 and from the University of North Alabama in 1986. His parents, William F. “Brub” Hamilton Jr. and Barbara Bailey Hamilton, preceded him in death. He is survived by one son, Jordan Bailey Hamilton and one daughter, Mollie Brooke Hamilton, both of Montgomery; three brothers, William F. “Bill” Hamilton of Oxford, Miss., Barry Hamilton of Athens and Bruce Dudley Hamilton of Hartselle. Pallbearers will be Don Brett, Mike McCoy, Lee Cagle, Don Threet, Ricky Roberts, Phillip Skipworth, Blair Riedel and Blair Darby. In lieu of flowers, the family would like to ask that memorials be made to the UNA Foundation, Brub Hamilton Memorial Scholarship for Educators, UNA Box 5059, Florence, AL 35632-0001.



James Ervin Hunt

The funeral for James Ervin Hunt, 64, of Toney, will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Spry Funeral Home with Timothy J. Hunt and Doug Colwell officiating. Burial will be in Roselawn Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 9 tonight at the funeral home.

Mr. Hunt died Monday, Jan. 8, 2007, at Athens-Limestone Hospital. Born April 5, 1942, in Madison County, Mr. Hunt was a retired machine operator.

Survivors include his wife, Helen Hunt of Toney; three sons, Timothy J. Hunt of Toney, and Jeffrey Stewart and Dwight Stewart, both of Elkmont; three daughters, Debra Turrentine and Teresa Tidwell, both of Athens, and Sandra Smith of Huntsville; one sister, Shirley Andrews of Toney; 15 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Jason Andrews, Troy Stewart, Wesley Tribble, Scott Enfinger, Gary Stewart, T.J. Hunt and Austin Nichols.

Honorary pallbearers will be Roger Flannagan, Donny Smith and Robert Reyer.



Marion Laverne McWhirter

The funeral for Marion Laverne McWhirter, 92, of Athens, will be at 11 a.m. today at Limestone Chapel Funeral Home with Casey Harbin officiating.

Burial will be in Copeland Cemetery.

Mrs. McWhirter died Saturday, Jan. 6, 2007, at Athens Convalescent Center.

She was born Sept. 11, 1914, in Tennessee to Levi Griffin and Ozell Woods. She was a member of Copeland Presbyterian Church and First Baptist Church of Athens. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Edward McWhirter, and a son, Kenneth McWhirter.

Survivors include four daughters, Freida Driver and husband Curtis of New Brunswick, N.J., Joann Malone and husband Mark of Athens, Patricia Bridges and husband Randell of Toney, and Janet Shinkunas of Athens; one son, Charles McWhirter and wife Patricia of Athens; daughter-in-law Rocine McWhirter of Athens; 13 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren; three brothers, Billy Griffin of Athens, Neal Griffin of Toney and Mahlon Griffin of Arizona; and several nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Lucas Bridges, Lee Bridges, Mike McWhirter, Chad Smith, Jonathan Smith and Jake McWhirter.

Honorary pallbearers will be Pete Shinkunas, Matt Shinkunas, Logan McWhirter and Landon McWhirter.

Memorials may be made to Copeland Presbyterian Church.