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.



Justin Ray Honea

The graveside service for Justin Ray Honea, 22, of Ardmore, Tenn., will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Carter Hill Cemetery in Coldwater, Tenn., with Roger Cothren officiating and Ardmore Memorial Funeral Home directing.

Visitation will be 5-8 tonight at the funeral home.

Mr. Honea died Tuesday, May 2, at home.



Nancy Ruth Kelley

The funeral for Nancy Ruth Kelley, 70, of Athens, will be 2 p.m. Friday at Memorial Parkway Church of Christ in Huntsville with Jim Bowers and Naaman Goode officiating and Limestone Chapel Funeral Home directing.

Burial will be in Valhalla Cemetery. The family will receive friends Friday from noon to 2 p.m. at the church.

Mrs. Kelley died Wednesday, May 3, 2006, at Athens-Limestone Hospital. She was a member of Coxey Church of Christ, a graduate of the University of Alabama, a 25-year history teacher in Huntsville City Schools, a member of the Alabama Teachers Association, National Education Association, Delta Kappa Gamma and Who’s Who in Personalities of the South.

She was preceded in death by a son, Steven Moore Kelley, and a daughter, Pamela Ly Kelley Gray.

Mrs. Kelley is survived by her husband, Max Kelley of Athens; two granddaughters, Lauren Elizabeth Gray and Katherine Amanda Gray, both of Decatur; and a brother, Robert Avery Moore and wife, Shirley Moore of Arnold, Maryland.

Pallbearers will be Bryan Styles, Dan Styles, Clay Styles, Tom Runnion, Eddie Alexander, Ted Ikerd, Gary Ikerd and Chuck Thompson.

Memorials may be made to Childhaven, P.O. Box 2070, Cullman, AL 35056, or Christian Children’s Home, P.O. Box 2652, Florence, AL 35630.



Mary E. Key

Mary E. Key, 97, of Athens, died Wednesday, May 3, 2006, at Limestone Health Facility. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Spry Funeral Home.



Jackson Bryant McMunn

Katelyn LeAnn McMunn

Mikelyn Elizabeth McMunn

A funeral service for infant triplets, Jackson Bryant McMunn, Katelyn LeAnn McMunn, and Mikelyn Elizabeth McMunn will be at 8 p.m. Saturday at Limestone Chapel Funeral Home with Rob Carlson officiating. Visitation will be from 7-8 p.m. and from 8:30-9 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.

Burial will be in Johnson Cemetery with a private service.

The infants died at Huntsville Hospital. Jackson Bryant McMunn survived one day after their birth. Katelyn LeAnn McMunn lived four days and Mikelyn Elizabeth McMunn lived five days.

The triplets were preceded in death by their grandfather, Fred McMunn; and great-grandparents Birdwell and Myrtle McMunn.

They are survived by their parents, Keith and Dianna McMunn of Madison; and grandparents, Eric and Barbara Frederick of Roanoke, Va.

Memorial donations may be made to the Melissa George Foundation, c/o Huntsville Hospital, Huntsville, Ala., 35801.



Fred Brown Mitchell

The graveside service for Fred Brown Mitchell, 90, of Athens, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Piney Grove Cemetery in Canton, N.C. Spry Funeral Home is handling local arrangements.

Visitation will be from noon to 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Wells Funeral Home in Canton.

Mr. Mitchell died Tuesday, May 2, 2006, at Athens-Limestone Hospital.

He was born Sept. 13, 1915, in Seiver County, Tenn. He was a retired colonel of the U.S. Army, having served in World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam. Mr. Mitchell was the Senior Regular Army advisor to the Alabama National Guard in Montgomery at his retirement in 1968.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Grace Lucille Cody Mitchell; his parents, Lavator and Josie Brown Mitchell; a brother, Rex Mitchell; and four sisters, Delma Patton, Ruby Goodson, Helen Mitchell and Juanita Fowler.

He is survived by one son, Fred Brown “Cody” Mitchell II and his wife, Sandra, of Athens; a brother, Morris “Pete” Mitchell of Canton, N.C.; two sisters, Lois Mills of Houston, Texas, and Elizabeth “Libby” Gilbert of Durham, N.C.; three granddaughters, Barbera Perkins and her husband, Randy, of Athens, Catherine Mitchell of Birmingham, and Amanda Mitchell of Orlando, Fla.; and two great-grandchildren, Victoria “Tori” Grace Perkins and William Cody Perkins.



Mary Henrietta Redding Witt

Mary “Henrietta” Redding Witt passed from this life at home in Athens May 1, 2006, surrounded by several family members. She was born Jan. 24, 1927, in Columbia, Tenn.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John Leonard Redding and Mary Bailess Redding, both long-time residents of Giles County; and one brother, Leonard Bailess Redding, who lived in Birmingham.

Mrs. Witt is survived by one brother, Jack Lee Redding, a former Giles County educator and sheriff, of Palm Coast, Fla.; six children, Emily Witt Pruitt of Buda, Texas, Jim W. Witt of Hartselle, John R. Witt, Jerry R. Witt, Mary Witt Patterson and Laura Witt Black, all of Elkmont; 13 grandchildren; one great-grandchild, several cousins who live in Pulaski, Tenn., and a host of friends.

McConnell Funeral Home of Athens is assisting with visitation and funeral arrangements. Visitation will be at the funeral home from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. today.

The Rev. Jaina Anderson, associate pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Athens, will officiate the graveside service at Antioch Cemetery in Elkmont at 2 p.m. today.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Limestone County, P.O. Box 626, Athens, Ala., 35612.

Mrs. Witt grew up in Giles County, living in Lynnville and Pulaski during her formative years. She was of the Presbyterian faith, as were her parents. She attended Martin College’s developmental school as a child and later attended Giles County High School, graduating in 1945. As a student at GCHS, she was a member of the band, playing the trumpet. After high school, she attended Martin College, receiving her A.A. degree in 1947.

In June of 1947, she married Robert E. Witt of Elkmont and moved to Limestone County, where she resided for the remainder of her life. Mrs. Witt returned to school to complete her college education and received her degree in art education in 1977 from Athens State College. She was a talented artist and vocalist as well as an avid reader.

Though physically frail, Mrs. Witt possessed a strong spirit, imbued with love and compassion for her family and others. In the last decades of her life, she lived as she deemed appropriate for her. Frank Sinatra crooned, “I did it my way.” The same can be said for Henrietta — she did it her way.