George Nick Stevens

George Nick Stevens, 71, died Wednesday, January 19, 2005, at a hospital in his home town of Kastoria, Greece.

Services will be held in Kastoria, Greece on Saturday, January 22. Survivors include wife Maria Stevens; sons, Nick Stevens, Aris Stevens and Chris Stevens; and grandchildren, Aris Celene Stevens, Sandra Ruth Stevens and Alyson Grace Robbins.

His also survived by his two brothers and one sister in Greece, Aris, Naoum, and Olga Pappas. George was born on March 25, 1933.

He moved to Birmingham, Alabama, at the age of 18, and served in the United States Army.

Mr. Stevens was a restaurateur who opened Golden Ranch BBQ in Selma.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in his name to your local church.

Mary Olene Whitaker

Mary Olene Whitaker, 81, died Thursday January 20, 2005, at her home.

Services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, January 22, 2005, at Westwood Baptist Church with the Rev. Randy Tanner officiating. Burial will follow at New Live Oak Cemetery with Lawrence Brown- Service Funeral Home directing.

Mrs. Whitaker is survived by one son; Ron (Mary Lou) Whitaker of Selma; three daughters, Alicia (Donald Wayne) Fitzhugh of Monroeville, Anita (David) Barlow of Selma and Beth (Ladd) Brown of Tyler; nine grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and one brother; Jesse Charles (Yvonne) Smith of Frederickberg, Va.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Troy O. Whitaker.

Active pallbearers are David Dykes, Tommy Ellis, Red Harrell, Henry LeVert, Robert Ingram, and Don Smith Jr.

Honorary pallbearers are Frank Arnold, Frank Middleton, Lewis Ham, Larry Jones, James Buchanon, Max Eiland, Don Davis, and Ken Longrier.

Family visitation will be Friday from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Lawrence Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers the family encourages donations to Wiregrass Hospice.

John D. England

John D. England, 65, of Sprott, died Tuesday, January 18, 2005, at his home. Services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, January 22, at New Oak Grove Baptist Church in Sprott, with the Rev. W.L. Melton officiating. Burial will follow in the churchyard cemetery with Miller Funeral Home directing. Survivors include two sons, Melvin (Mary) England of Brent and Ted Heard of Bessemer; two daughters, Dianne England (Terry) Lewis of Selma and Rosie Heard

of Mobile; one brother, George Morton Jr. of Sprott; two grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; two brothers-in-law; three sisters-in-law; and nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends; and a devoted friend, Cecil Huff of Selma.

Active pallbearers are first cousins, England Brothers of Sprott.

Timothy Pettway

The Rev. Timothy Pettway, 79, of Dallas County, died Friday, January 14, 2005, at his home.

Services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, January 22, at Christian Light, Safford with the Rev. Eugene Bennett officiating. Burial will follow in Rising Star P.B. Church Cemetery with Miller Funeral Home directing.

Survivors include his wife, Willie Mae Pettway; three sons, Lawrence Hayes of Orrville, Timothy Ellis of Mobile and Robert Ells of Enterprise; three daughters, Rosie and Patricia Pettway of New York City and Shirley Sewell of Cincinnati, Ohio; two brothers, Zack Pettway of Selma and A.L. Pettway of Mobile; one sister, Rebeca Russell of Mobile; seven grandchildren; one great-grandchild; one sister-in-law; two daughters-in-law; one brother-in-law; and nieces, nephews and other relatives. Active pallbearers are nephews, family and friends.

Tommy Ray Mars

Tommy Ray Mars, 69, died Wednesday, January 19, 2005, at a local nursing home.

Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, January 22, at New Live Oak Cemetery with Lawrence Funeral Home directing. Survivors include three sons, Tommy Mars Jr., Gilbert Mars and George Mars; three daughters, Deborah Lynn Highfill, Deann Owens and Marveland Friday; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Active pallbearers are David Friday, Fabian Mars, Michael Mars, Gabriel Mars and Jeremy Thompson.

Aldotha Edwards

Aldotha Edwards, 87, of Jones, died Thursday, January 13, 2005.

Services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, January 22, at Spring Hill Baptist Church in Fremont, with the Rev. Charles Survivors include four sons, James (Carolyn) Edwards and Ernest Edwards of Selma, Hazell Edwards and Sylvester Edwards of Los Angeles, Calif.; three daughters, Juanita Ervin of Selma, Vera Kent of Jones and Gloretha Watkins of Louisville, Ky.; 19 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; one daughter-in-law; a special aunt, Hazel Vincent Weston; a special friend, Evelyn Gordie. Active pallbearers are friends of the family.