Bessie Harris Shiller

Bessie Harris Shiller, 94, of Marion passed away April 21, 2008 at her home in Marion. She was born January 9, 1914 in Memphis, Tennessee. Miss Bessie was owner and operator of Nathan Harris&8217; Sons for over 50 years. She was preceded in death by her husbands Joe Harris and Louis Shiller.

She is survived by Her sons Nat Harris (Lois) of Gulf Breeze, FL and Gene Harris (Jean) of Marion, AL, five grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

Graveside services will be Wednesday April 23, 2008 at 11 a.m. at the Marion City Cemetery with Cantor Jessica Roskin officiating and Kirk Funeral Homes Marion Chapel directing. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the charity of your choice.

Buck Ernest Norton

Buck Ernest Norton, 80, of Selma died Monday April 21, 2008 at a local nursing home. Lawrence Funeral Home will be directing. Arrangements will be released at a later date.

Charles Bass Morgan

Charles Bass Morgan, age 81, a resident of Selma, AL passed away April 21, 2008.

Surviving are his wife, Doris Etta Morgan; sons, Harry E. (Jackie) Morgan of Sweetwater, AL and Charlie (Sherry) Morgan of Selma, AL; daughters, Mary Alice &8220;Cookie&8221; (Don) Shumate of Newbern, AL and Betty (Dean) Gengler of Effingham, IL; thirteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at Fairview Baptist Church on Thursday, April 24, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. with Rev. George K. Jones, Sr. officiating.

Interment will be in New Live Oak Cemetery with Selma Funeral Home directing.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Wednesday, April 23, 2008 from 5-7:00 p.m.

Pallbearers will be the deacons of Fairview Baptist Church.

Grandsons will be honorary pallbearers.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to Fairview Baptist Church, 1800 West Dallas Ave, Selma, AL 36701.

Ethel Mae Davis

Ethel Mae Davis was born April 22, 1926 in Tyler, AL to the late Willie Davis, Sr. and Edna Blackman-Davis.

Ethel departed her earthly life on Friday, June 1, 2007 and the funeral was held June 8, 2007 at the Second Baptist Church, Newport, KY.

She was preceded in death by her sister Viola Robinson and a brother Willie Davis, Jr.

Ethel married Burlie Davis on October 10, 1951 in Selma, AL; this union was blessed with ten children.

Ethel and Burlie moved to Covington, Kentucky in June of 1967.

Ethel worked at St. Elizabeth North when she retired after twenty-three years She&8217;s been a life long servant of God attending Church until her health began to fail.

She leaves to cherish her memory;

Her husband, Burlie Davis of Covington, KY; children, sons Lee Ernest of Covington, KY, Burley Jr. of Detroit, MI, Lewis, Charles, Lee Eston of Covington, KY, daughters Ivory (Lee) Goodwin of Selma, AL, Rosie, Shirley (Ronnie) Allen of Cincinnati, OH, Doretha of Covington, KY, Dorthy (Robert) Hubbard; two sisters, Willie Pearl (James) Howard, Annie C. (William) Dill of Birmingham, AL; eighteen grandchildren, eighteen great-grandchildren, a host of in-laws, other relatives and many dear friends.

A precious one from us is gone, a voice we loved is stilled.

A place is vacant in our home, which never can be filled.

From your Children

Dr. Twynette Wells

Watson Yeager

Dr. Twynette Wells Watson Yeager, longtime Alabama educator and community leader of Marion, Alabama, passed away April 20, 2008 in Huntsville, Alabama.

Services will be Tuesday, April 22, 2008 2 p.m. in Marion, Alabama at Siloam Baptist Church, where she was a loyal member for over 45 years. Dr. David Potts, Dr. Earl Tew, and Mark Tew will be officiating and Kirk Funeral Homes Marion Chapel will be directing. Burial will be Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at 1 p.m. in her hometown of At-more, Alabama at Oak Hill Cemetery with Dr. Norman McCrummen officiating.

Dr. Yeager is preceded in death by her husband, Thomas B. Yearger; her parents, and her sisters, Mrs. Melvin Nall and Mrs. Henry Love.

Dr. Yeager is survived by her 2 sons, William B. Watson, Jr. (Mary Elizabeth) of Huntsville and Byron W. Vatson (Jean) of Newbern; daughter Karen W. Thomas (John) of Huntsville; stepdaughter Sausan Y. Wilbourne (Perry) of Foley, eight grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren.

Dr. Yeager was born on February 18, 1924 in Atmore, Alabama to the Rev. O. E. and Betty Lee Webb Wells. She graduated from Howard College (Samford University) and received her masters and doctorate degrees in education from the University of Alabama.

She began her career at First Baptist Church in Atmore where she was Director of Religious Education.

After serving as guidance counselor at Selma High School, Dr. Yearger became Director of Admissions at Judson College. From 1962-1989, she held the positions of Professor of Education, Chair of the Department of Education, Acting Academic Dean, and Dean of Students, mentoring young professionals who are in Education leadership positions over the state and beyond.

After retirement, Dr. Yeager entered public service and spent eight years on the Marion City Council.

Other involvements were the Perry County Chamber of Commerce, the Alabama &045; Tombigbee Commission on Aging, Alabama Historical Commission, Marion City School Board as Director of Curriculum Projects, Marion Academy Board, Board of Directors of Seeds of Hope, and the Committee of Humanities in Alabama.

Of her many awards and recognitions, Dr. Yeager received the Alabama Volunteer of the Year Award, Samford University School of Business Distinguished Alumni Award, Honorary member of Alabama Senior Citizens Hall of Fame, and the AAA Silver Star Award from the Associates of Alabama Agencies on Aging. She is listed in Who&8217;s Who in the South and Southeast Outstanding Educators of America, Who&8217;s Who in Alabama, And Who&8217;s Who of American Women. She was the first woman to serve on the Radio and Television Commission of the Southeast Baptist Convention.

Dr. Yeager will forever be remembered as &8220;Twink&8221; by her family and friends and by hundreds of her students as a honorary &8220;Judson Girl.&8221; She will be memorialized in the City of Marion by her visible projects that she championed and her optimism for progress. Her energy extended into business and the arts, helping make Marion a lovely place to live and visit. Active pallbearers will be her grandsons and nephews:

Kevin Watson, Wells Watson, David Watson, David Boykin, Lee Pilleteri, Chad Eads, Billy Lamb, Henry Love Jr., and Mel Nall. Honorary pallbearers are Roy A. Barnett, John W. Anderson Jr., Dr. William Shane Lee M.D., Corin Harrison Jr., Marion Mayor Anthony Long, Dr. Paul Reitzer, and former Mayor of Marion Edward Daniel.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Dr. Twynette Yearger&8217;s memory to O. E. Wells and Twynette Wells Watson Yeager Scholarship Fund at Judson College, 302 Bibb Street, Marion, AL 36756, Hospice Family Care, 3304 Westmill Drive, Hunstville, AL 35805, or the American Cancer Society, Post Office Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718.

Eddie Bonner

Eddie Bonner, 67, of Selma, Ala., died Sunday, April 21, 2008, at a local hospital. Funeral services will be announced at a later date by Lewis Brothers Funeral Home Inc.

Roberts, Georgia R. Williamson

Roberts, Georgia R. Williamson, age 87 passed away Sunday, April 20, 2008 at Jackson Hospital. She was preceded in death by her husband, William Kelvey Roberts.

Mrs. Roberts is survived by two children, Ann (William) Mitchell, Bobby (Carolyn) Roberts; sister-in-law, Carrene Williamson; eight grandchildren, Renee (Gary) Lovelady, Kim (Billy) Rhodes, Ray (Luann) Roberts, Lisa (Ricky) Daniels, Deborah Duncan, Donna (Robert) Bate, Dena Duncan, Dana (Tim) Abrams; fifteen great-grandchildren, four great-great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held at Leak Memory Chapel on Wednesday, April 23, 2008 from 5 p.m until 7 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, April 24, 2008 at 2 p.m. at Joquin Baptist Church (take Hwy 231 to Troy, take Hwy 29 S. toward Luverne go 14 miles, church is on your left) with Rev. Ed Eaton officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Ruby Mae DeRamus Rainwater

Ruby Mae DeRamus Rainwater, 96, passed away Saturday, April 19, 2008. She was born March 15, 1912, at home in rural Autauga County, the second child of four children of William Howard and Martha (Mattie) Ann Wright DeRamus.She was a lifetime resident of Autauga County, the mother of eight children and grandmother to 28 grandchildren.

She attended Idaho School in Independence through sixth grade and then went on to Hicks Memorial High School in Autaugaville.

She was a member of Bethesda Baptist Church in Independence where she taught a Sunday School class for over 40 years and was a member of the WMU. She also served as Autauga Baptist Associational secretary and treasurer.

Mrs. Rainwater was a member of the Autauga County Cattlewomen, Farmers Federation Board, AARP, Autauga Rural Development Program, and the Prattville Golden Key Club. She did food price surveys for the Alabama Farmers Federation for 30 years. In 1985 she received an Autauga Rural Resource Development Leadership Award, and in 1989 the Montgomery area AARP Seniors of Achievement Award.

Mrs. Rainwater was preceded in death by her husband, James Alvin Rainwater, Sr.; son, Major James Alvin Rainwater, Jr.; two daughters, Patricia Ann R. Johnson and Daisy Carolyn R. Wallace; three grandsons, James Anthony Wallace, James Steven Shaw, and Johnnie Arnold Rainwater, Jr.; also brother William Howard DeRamus, Jr.; and two sisters, Beulah Virginia DeRamus Brown and Daisy Thelma DeRamus Rainwater.

Mrs, Rainwater is survived by one son, Johnnie Arnold Rainwater, Sr. (Cathy); four daughters, Alice Faye R. Ousley (Bill); Dorothy Jean R.

Johnson (Milton); Margaret Marie R. Lanier; and Joycile R. Vasser.

Grandchildren: James Albert Rainwater, Patti Lee Rainwater, John Alvin Rainwater (Chasity); Billy Robert Ousley, Jr. (Taunia), Barry Rainwater Ousley (Monica), Pamela Faye O. Luker (Glenn); Wayne Milton Johnson (Ivy), Craig Alvin Johnson, Paul Whitson Johnson;

Cynthia Lynn W. Herring (Ricky), (Shirley Wallace), Scarlette Ruby W. Atchison (Gerald), Keith Alan Wallace David Carson Johnson (Teresa), Julie Anne J. Strube, Marc Alvin Johnson (Keenya), Lisa Lynn Johnson, Laura Leigh J. Smith (Charlie); Charlotte Marie S. Shewmake, Cheryl Anne S. Johnson (Richard); Dean Dwight Shaw III (Doris); Deborah Jean R. Gunden (Steven), James Alvin Rainwater III (Dianne), Tina Elizabeth R. Brower (John); Linda Gail Hand, and Ronald Allison Hand (Sallie). Mrs. Rainwater is also survived by 45 great-grandchildren and 20 great-great-grandchildren. Family will receive friends at Ridout&8217;s Funeral Home in Prattville, on Monday night, April 21, from 6 to 8 p.m.

Funeral services and burial will be held at Bethesda Baptist Church in Independence, on Tuesday, April 22, at 2 p.,m. with the Rev. Kenneth Hill officiating and the Rev. Bert Tippett assisting.

Pallbearers will be grandsons: Ronald A. Hand, James Alvin Rainwater III, Dean D. Shaw III, David C. Johnson, Keith A. Wallace, Wayne M. Johnson, Billy Robert Ousley, Jr., and James Albert Rainwater.

Memorials may be made to the Bethesda Baptist Church, Baptist Children&8217;s Home or a favorite charity.

Mr. John H. Harris, Sr.

Mr. John H. Harris, Sr., 63, of Jefferson, AL passed recently in Columbia, S.C. Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. at the Small Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church, Jefferson, Alabama. Interment Scott Memorial Cemetery, Jefferson, Alabama Larkin & Scott Funeral Directors of Demopolis, Alabama directing.

Mr. Fred Lewis

Mr. Fred Lewis, 55, of Selma, AL died April 21, 2008 at Vaughan Regional Medical Center. Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date by Miller Funeral Services, Inc.