Obituaries for Sunday, Nov. 30

Published 3:55 pm Saturday, November 29, 2014

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 paid obituary to include a photo, eulogy, list of survivors and additional details. The News Courier will accept these paid items from the family, funeral directors or other individuals. For more information, call The News Courier at 256-232-2720.

Irene Mae Matter

Graveside services for Irene Mae Matter, 96, of Athens, will be at 2:30 p.m. Monday, Dec.1, 2014, at Maple Hill Cemetery in Huntsville with Jaina Anderson officiating.

There is no visitation

Matter died Thursday at Limestone Health Facility.

Martha Newby

Martha Elizabeth Allen Newby, 92, died Thursday, Nov. 27, 2014, at Athens-Limestone Hospital.

The funeral is 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30, at Sardis Springs Baptist Church with visitation from 12:30 to 2:45 p.m. Burial will be in Sardis Springs Baptist Church Cemetery with Tim Keenum and Jack Bailey officiating.

Limestone Chapel Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Martha Newby was born Jan. 26, 1922, in Columbia, Tennessee, to William James Allen and Gladys Wilson Allen. She graduated from Columbia Central High School in 1940 and Athens College in 1944 where she meet her husband, James Martin Newby. They were married for 68 years until Mr. Newby’s death in 2012. She was a teacher at Copeland School and Johnson Jr. High School.

Mrs. Newby was a member of Sardis Springs Baptist Church where she taught Sunday school, vacation Bible school and sang in the choir for many years. She was a devoted wife and loving mother and grandmother with many friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James Martin Newby; her parents; sisters, Mary Frances Gladney, Annie Walker Bailey, Gladys Clymer and Marguerite Allen; and brothers, Jimmy Allen, Evan Allen and Paul Allen.

Mrs. Newby is survived by her sons, James Martin Newby Jr. and wife Martha and Jerry Allen Newby and wife, Dianne, both of Athens; daughter, Susan Newby Ming and husband Bill of Athens; grandchildren, John Martin Newby and wife Monica, Leigh Anne Toone and husband Shane, James Michael Newby and wife Lindsay, Elizabeth Ann Newby Crow and husband Justin, Mary Anna Newby, Jerry Allen Newby Jr. and wife Ashley, William Calvin Ming Jr., Elizabeth Newby Ming and Sarah Martha Ming; 10 great-grandchildren; brother, Ernest Wilson Allen and wife Virginia of Columbia, Tennessee; sisters-in-law, Lorene Allen of Columbia, and Wynelle Allen of Pulaski, Tennessee; and many nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be John Newby, Leigh Anne Toone, James Newby, Elizabeth Crow, Mary Anna Newby, Jerry Allen Newby Jr., William Ming, Elizabeth Ming and Sarah Ming.

The family would like to thank the caregivers for their loving kindness and loyalty.

Memorials may be made to the Sardis Springs Baptist Church Building Fund, 18310 Alabama 251, Athens, AL 35613, or the Athens State University Scholarship Fund Foundation, P.O. Box 70 Athens, AL 35612, Martha A. Newby Scholarship Fund.

Sign the celebration wall at limestonechapel.com.

Garrell Noah

Dr. Garrell C. Noah, Jr. formerly of Selma, Alabama, passed away Nov. 28, 2014, at his home in Athens, Alabama. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Palestine Noah and Garrell C. Noah Sr. his brother Stuart Noah and his sister Nancy Noah Ackley. He is survived by his wife of 59 years Mildred M. Noah and sons Alston (Lisa), Sandy (Jennifer), and Lee (Sue). He was grandfather to Alston, Chandler, Mary Payton, Brooke, Taylor, Asher, and Mallory. Visitation will be held on Monday Dec. 1, 2014, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Limestone Chapel Funeral Home and his graveside service will be held at 1pm at Roselawn Cemetery.

Garry was born March 6, 1930, in Detroit, Michigan. He was an avid botanist, mixologist, winemaker, art collector, football fanatic, pilot, cattle farmer, chinchilla rancher, downhill skier, chef extraordinaire, cyclist, oil tycoon and stand-up comedian. He met the beautiful Mildred (Milly) Noah of Clayton, Alabama, as a teenager. She was the love of his life and the only person who could reassure him every day that he was always right. Garry served in the armed forces during the Korean War. After defending our country’s freedom in Okinawa, he attended the University of Southern California where he played football his freshman year. The tugging of his heartstrings pulled him to the State of Alabama where Milly was preparing to attend Auburn University. Garry finished his remaining undergraduate years at the University of Alabama. He married Milly in 1955 then attended medical school at both Emory and Duke Universities specializing in Urology. He and Milly chose Selma, Alabama, to raise their family and to open his Urology practice.

Garry’s wit and dry humor was unparalleled but typically confusing to the new comer who would say, “is he joking or not?” In every case, a simple sarcastic smirk displayed by his wife confirmed the delivery of a successful joke.

Garry was a true southern gentleman. He was an awesome role model for his three sons. During his early years as a father, he quickly realized traditional discipline didn’t work on his hardheaded sons. Spanking, timeouts and hard labor had no effect so he improvised. One simple statement would cure all behavior issues, “Do you know how much you have disappointed your mother?”

Garry and Milly enjoyed entertaining their family and friends. They hosted social events such as May Wine Tastings, wedding brunches and dinner parties. These social events were sprinkled with his favorite Old Fashioned libation, flavored with his simple sarcastic wit. Garry’s friendship and humor touched everyone, with no exception.

During the fourth quarter of his life, Garry’s interests became tending to Milly, nurturing bonsai trees, gardening, cooking and achieving super user status on Tider Insider website.

He was greatly loved and will be deeply missed by all that knew him.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to Integrity World Wide (http://integrityworldwide.org), Big Oak Ranch (http://www.bigoak.org) or your special charitable interest.

Rena Norwood

A graveside service for Rena Ruth Norwood, 91, of Athens, was held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, at Athens City Cemetery with Dan Anderson officiating.

Visitation was 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Saturday at McConnell Funeral Home.

Mrs. Norwood died at home Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2014.

Erma Pepper

The funeral for Erma Pepper, 94, of Athens was 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, at McConnell Funeral Home with Richard Bradford and Daniel Smith officiating. Burial was in Bethel Cemetery.

Visitation was 9:30-10:30 a.m. Saturday at McConnell.

Mrs. Pepper died Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2014, at Valley View Health and Rehab.

She was born June 20, 1920, in Edgefield, South Carolina to John Willis and Barbara Brown Willis. She was a member of New Hope Baptist Church.

Mrs. Pepper was preceded in death by her parents; and husband, Bruce A. Pepper.

Survivors include her two sons, Bruce Pepper and wife Camellia of Cabot, Arkansas, and Ronald Pepper and wife Sue of Athens; one daughter, Julia Smith and husband Roger of Dallas, Texas; two sisters-in-law, Agnes Smedley of Cowan, Tennessee, and Martha Nell Pepper of Athens; seven grandchildren, Lee Pepper, Brents Pepper, Keith Pepper, Todd Pepper, Kip Pepper, Monica Crum and Ian Smith; and 13 great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers were Lee Pepper, Brents Pepper, Keith Pepper, Todd Pepper, Kip Pepper and Ian Smith.

In lieu of flowers, make donations to Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Wounded Warriors.

Loyd Dwight Royster

Funeral services for Loyd Dwight Royster, 64, of Elkmont, will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30, 2014, at Ardmore Chapel Funeral Home with Steve Hargrove officiating. Burial to follow in Legg Town Cemetery in Elkmont.

Visitation is from noon until 2 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Royster died Thursday, Nov. 27, at Huntsville Hosptial.

Bobby Shoulders

The funeral for Bobby Charles Shoulders, 52, is 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30, at New Beginnings M.B. Church with the Rev. John Ervin officiating. Viewing time is 12:30 until 1 p.m. at the church. Burial will be in Pleasant Grove Cemetery in Athens.

Mason Chapel Funeral Home is directing.

Wilma Swann Tolbert

Funeral services for Wilma Swann Tolbert, 92, of Athens, will be held on Mon., Dec. 1, 2014, at 2 p.m. at Hanceville Funeral Home Chapel, with interment in Hopewell Cemetery.

Visitation will be held Sunday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Hanceville Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Tolbert passed away on Friday, November 28, 2014 at Athens Limestone Hospital.

J.T. Word

The graveside service for J.T. Word, age 95, of Minor Hill, Tennessee, will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30, 2014, at Bethel Cemetery in Anderson with Warren Glass officiating.

Word died Friday, Nov. 28, 2014, at Floyd E. “Tut” Fann State Veteran Home.