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 services and visitation.

Family members now 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.

If a published obituary contains an error, The News-Courier will reprint a corrected obituary at no charge, provided the error was ours. The News-Courier does not issue refunds on obituary announcements.

For pricing information, call Vanessa McKee at The News-Courier, 232-2720.



Viola Williams Griffin

The funeral for Viola Williams Griffin, 80, of Ardmore, will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Limestone Chapel Funeral Home with Billy Taylor and Jerry Smith officiating. Burial will be in Roselawn Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 6 to 9 tonight at the funeral home.

Mrs. Griffin died Sunday, March 12, 2006, at home.

She was a member of Union Hill Baptist Church in Ardmore.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Griffin; an infant son, Robert Griffin Jr.; her parents, Gilbert and Nina Williams; a sister, Lela Willard; and a brother, James Edward “Buddy” Williams.

Mrs. Griffin is survived by a son, Calvin Griffin of Ardmore; two daughters, Frances Hobbs of Ardmore and Diane Luna of Athens; seven grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, three step-great grandchildren; and three sisters, Louis Hamley and Christine Shannon, both of Ardmore, and Helen Ables of Elkton, Tenn.

Pallbearers will be Brett Griffin, Tyler Griffin, Steve Griffin, Matt Hobbs, Bobby Hobbs and Dwight Luna.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of Athens and Limestone County.



Mary M. Hendrix

The funeral for Mary Migliorati Hendrix, 84 of Athens, will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Spry Funeral Home with Joe Teal, Larry Hicks, and Ed McCracken officiating. Burial will be in Athens City Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. tonight at the funeral home.

Mrs. Hendrix was called home Monday, March 13, 2006, at her residence.

Mrs. Hendrix was born March 21, 1921, in Pennsylvania. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Athens.

Mrs. Hendrix met her husband of 60 years, Lawrence A. Hendrix Sr., in Michigan, where he sought employment with Ford Motor Company during the 1940’s. They were married on Oct. 6, 1945, and later moved to Huntsville and later to Athens in 1955, where she resided until her death. Mary was a wonderful wife, mother, and grandmother who was loved by everyone who knew her. She was a model homemaker and gracious hostess. She was happiest when entertaining friends and family. She was well known for her joy in cooking, gardening, and canning, always accompanied by her sweet smile.

She is survived by her husband, Lawrence A. Hendrix Sr. of Athens; one son, Joseph Hendrix of Athens; one daughter, Nancy Johnson and her husband, Bobby, of Tuscaloosa; one son, Lawrence A. Hendrix Jr. and his wife, Cheryl of Huntsville; three sisters, Frances Ceresa of Michigan, Christine Muttersbach and her husband Fred of Florida, Rose Cook and her husband Bob, of Arizona; one sister-in-law, Julie Migliorati of Michigan; and four grandchildren, Angie Johnson, Jennie Johnson, Lauren Hendrix and Lawrence Austin Hendrix III.

Pallbearers will be Herman McKinzie, Hollis Hinkle, Sam Luna, Comer Beasley, Charles Smith and Don Matthews. Honorary pallbearers will be Bobby Smith and Wayne Harper.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of Limestone County.



Minnie Hardy Jernigan

The funeral for Minnie Belle Hardy Jernigan, 91, of Athens, will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Spry Funeral Home with James Rolison and Ed McCracken officiating. Burial will be in Ripley Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home.

Mrs. Hendrix died Monday, March 13, 2006, at Athens-Limestone Hospital.

She was a member of the Faith Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James Melvin Jernigan; three brothers, Roy Hardy, George “Bud” Hardy and Edgar Hardy; and one sister, Janie Garner.

She is survived by two sons, James L. “Buddy” Jernigan and his wife Connie, and Edd Jernigan and his wife Esther, all of Athens; one daughter Virginia Woodard of Athens; one brother, Richard Hardy of Nashville, Tenn.; one sister, Lucille Whitt of Huntsville; 11 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and two great great-grandchildren.



Leatha M. Magnusson

The funeral for Leatha McCormack Magnusson, 87, of Athens, will be at 2 p.m today at McConnell Funeral Home with Bobby Marks and Tommy Hammons officiating. Burial will be in Poplar Creek Cemetery.

Mrs. Magnusson died Saturday, March 11, 2006, at Athens-Limestone Hospital.

She was born Oct. 10, 1918, in Limestone County to William Oliver Allen and Velma F. Owens Allen. She was a member of First United Methodist Church of Athens.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Malcolm McCormack; and her second husband, Malcolm Magnusson.

Mrs. Magnusson is survived by a son, Charles R. McCormack and wife, Patricia, of Athens; a daughter, Bobbie McCormack Warner of Decatur; two sisters, Marjorie Sledge and Dorothy LeCroix, both of Athens; and five grandchildren, Brent Warner and wife, Melanie, of Decatur, Terri Lovett of Madison, Mack McCormack and wife, Jennifer, of Athens, Pam McCormick and husband, Greg, of Athens, and Sheri Magnusson of Athens.

Pallbearers will be Mack McCormack, Brent Warner, Larry Sledge, Douglas Wales, Wayne Sledge, Bud Allen, Greg McCormick and Ronnie Magnusson.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to First United Methodist Church or the American Cancer Society.



Mary Reyer Robinson

The funeral for Mary Reyer Robinson, 86, of Elkmont, will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Limestone Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Joel Logan officiating. Burial will be in New Garden Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 tonight at the funeral home.

Mrs. Robinson died Sunday, March 12, 2006, at Athens-Limestone Hospital.

She was a member of Boyd’s Chapel Methodist Church in Ardmore.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Wheeler Robinson; and a son, Dannie Robinson.

Mrs. Robinson is survived by a son, Joseph Wesley Robinson of Elkmont; two grandsons, Joseph Kevin Robinson and Jason Ashley Robinson, both of Elkmont; a great-granddaughter, Lily Brianna Robinson; a sister, Pauline Usery of Ardmore; and several nieces and nephews.