Obituaries 7-26

Published 8:53 pm Tuesday, July 25, 2006

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 biographical information about the deceased in a paid 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 McKee at The News Courier, 232-2720.



Thomas Brindley Coggin

Funeral services for Thomas Brindley Coggin, who died Monday, July 24, 2006, will be held Thursday, July 27, at 11 a.m. at Limestone Chapel Funeral Home in Athens, Alabama, with burial following in Athens City Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday, July 26, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Edward Thomas and Fran Brindley Coggin of Athens, Alabama. Tom is survived by his children: Cathy (Brad) Shapiro, Brent (Tina) Coggin, Christy (Dale) McCartney, Caryl Shaw, Clair (Sam) Frankel and Asa-Benton Brindley (Shannon) Coggin; his grandchildren: Ian Burton Coggin Shaprio, Thomas Brindley Coggin III, James Collier Coggin, Logan Forrest Williamson, Fran Brindley Shaw and Kayleen Elizabeth Coggin; his brother John D. Coggin (Paula) of Centre, Alabama; two nieces Gina (Mark) Coggin-Price and Dana (Chad) Coggin Gladden.

Tom married Micki White of Athens, Alabama, in 1960. He graduated from Jacksonville State University in May of 1962 with a major in mathematics and a minor in physics. He spent two years (1962-’64) in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers after receiving an ROTC commission and served in the Alabama National guard for six years after his active duty service.

Upon leaving the Army, he was employed at Marshall Space Flight Center before enrolling in the Cumberland School of Law. Tom received his Juris Doctorate from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in 1970.

Tom was assistant district attorney of Morgan/Limestone County in 1971 and served with distinction as circuit judge of Morgan County from 1972-1981. During that time, he piloted a judicial computer system for the Alabama Administrative Office of Courts.

In 1979, Tom was married to Sallye Powell of Falkville, Alabama. In 1980, Tom was arrested on possession of marijuana charges. Tom admitted his guilt and served his time as a model prisoner in the State of Florida prison system. After paying his debt to society, Tom returned to his residence in Falkville, where he pursued a career in computer programming. During that time, Tom wrote groundbreaking programs in accounting and tax reporting.

After semi-retiring, Tom relocated to Cullman and pursued farming and woodworking.

Throughout his life, Tom enjoyed flying and held a pilot’s license of over 30 years. Tom volunteered for Angel Flights to transport sick children for treatment. He enjoyed traveling to exotic places in the Caribbean and South America. Tom survived a previous crash unscathed and no drugs were found then, either.

Tom had a passion for life. He liked to think of his family as Garrison Kiellor describes fictional Lake Wobegon, “where all the women are strong, all the men are good looking and all the children are above average.”

Pallbearers will be Brent Coggin, Asa Coggin, Thomas Coggin, James Coggin, Forrest Williamson, Richard Martin, Stoney Powell and Glenn Shaffer.





Lillian Christine Fain

The funeral for Lillian Christine Fain, 82, of Athens, will be at 2 p.m. today at Spry Funeral Home with Dwight Ridinger officiating. Burial will be in Todd Cemetery.

Visitation will be today from 12 p.m. until the service at the funeral home.

Ms. Fain died Tuesday, July 25, 2006, at her residence.

She was born Nov. 13, 1923, in Limestone County. She was a member of Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church and was retired from Athens Lingerie.

She is survived by one son, Doug Fain of Athens; four daughters, Linda Callahan of Elkmont, Shirley Shores of Athens, Carolyn Siniard of Athens and Nancy Watkins of Elkmont; one brother, Garlon Slaton of Town Creek; two sisters, Elizabeth Adams of Ardmore and Wanda Arnett of Athens; 16 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, five great-great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Mason Fain and one daughter, Peggy Kimbrough.

Pallbearers will be grandsons.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of Limestone County.