Obituaries 9-18

Published 6:47 pm Monday, September 17, 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 a 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 The News Courier, 232-2720.



Margarete Christine Abernathy

The funeral for Margarete Christine Abernathy, 77, of Athens will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Limestone Chapel Funeral Home with Carl Witty and Eddie Littrell officiating.

Burial will be in Roselawn Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 tonight at the funeral home.

Mrs. Abernathy died Sunday, Sept. 16, 2007, at Athens-Limestone Hospital. She was born June 2, 1930, to George T. Lowery and Bertha Mae Kaufman Lowery in Limestone County. She was retired as a library assistant at Calhoun Community College. She was a member of Sardis Springs Church of Christ.

She is survived by her husband, Elton “Ab” Abernathy of Athens; one son, Tommy Abernathy and wife Jamiee of Athens; one daughter, Jennifer Brown Pitts and husband Rodger of Athens; grandchildren, Cale Abernathy, Josh Abernathy, Britney Brown, Jessica Pitts, and Kellie Neal, all of Athens, and Miranda Maher of Savannah, Ga.; three great-grandchildren; and one brother, Glenn Lowery and wife Ozell of Athens.

Pallbearers will be Bill Castleberry, Larry Black, Tracy Lowery, Bill Williams, Stanley Hinkle and Wesley Abernathy.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of the Valley, P.O. Box 5460, Decatur, Ala., 35602.



Jerrold “Jerry” Hughes Allen

Funeral arrangements for Jerrold “Jerry” Hughes Allen, 74, of Athens, who died Monday, Sept. 17, 2007, at Huntsville Hospital, will be announced by Spry Funeral Home.



Rickey Blankenship

Rickey Blankenship, 48, of Tanner died Saturday, Sept. 15, 2007, at his residence. Mr. Blankenship was born in Alabama and has been a lifelong resident of Limestone County. He was owner of B.B. Construction and a member of the Bassmasters Association. Mr. Blankenship was a member of Capshaw Baptist Church and was an avid fisherman. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather who will be greatly missed by all.

Survivors include his wife, Amanda Blankenship; one son, Jason Blankenship; one daughter, Ashlee Blankenship, all of Tanner. One grandson, Jaiden Allen Sutton of Clements. His mother, Mary Dupree Brown and one brother, Tommy Blankenship of Harvest.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Madison Chapel Funeral Home with burial to follow in Huntsville Memory Gardens.

Madison Chapel Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.



Bettie Louise Pitts

The funeral for Bettie Louise Pitts, 75, of Huntsville will be at noon Wednesday at the Potter Hand Ministries with Eric Peebles officiating.

Burial will be in Valhalla Memory Gardens with Royal Funeral Home directing.

Mrs. Pitts died Friday, Sept. 14, 2007, at home.



Marilyn Lois Venable

The funeral for Marilyn Lois Venable, 60, of Athens will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Limestone Chapel Funeral Home with Lynn Marshall and Joe Holmes officiating.

Burial will be in Antioch Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 to 9 tonight at the funeral home.

Mrs. Venable died Monday, Sept. 17, 2007, at home. She was born Sept. 13, 1947, to Howard L. Smallwood and Muriel Alice Blevins Smallwood in Jefferson County. She was preceded in death by her parents and a stepdaughter, Kimberly Ellen Venable.

She lived many years in Morgan County, where she taught physical education at Eva and Falkville schools for 19 years. She is a graduate of William Carey University, a member of the Alabama Teachers Association and a member of Vestavia Hills Baptist Church in Decatur.

She is survived by her husband, Wayne Venable of Athens; one son, Howard David Venable and wife Carrie of Decatur; stepsons, Wayne Venable Jr. and wife Lydia of Hartselle, Larry Venable and wife Mandy of Rolla, Mo.; six grandchildren; one brother, Lothian Smallwood and wife Carol of Selma; one sister, Alice Ann Cooper and husband John of Gardendale; several nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Lothian Smallwood, John Cooper, Bobby Halbrooks, Jim Harris, Tom Jordan, Shane LeCroix.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.