Ernestine Shorts Smith

Ernestine Shorts Smith, 72, of Selma, died Tuesday, July 30, 2002 at a local hospital.

Services are at 3 p.m. Monday, Aug. 5, at Green St. Baptist Church, with Rev. Earnest Colvin officiating. Burial will follow in Smith Family Cemetery with Lewis Brothers Funeral Home directing.

Survivors include her husband, Sanford Eugene Smith, Sr.; one daughter, Minister Tonya Smith Chestnut; one son by marriage, Rev. Coley C. Chestnut, Sr.; three grandchildren, Tamela Chestnut, Coleysia Chestnut and Coley Chestnut II; two biological sisters, Lula Chandler of Detroit, Mich., and Ollie Hollifield of Bessemer; five sisters by marriage, Etta Smith (James) Perkins of Selma, Thelma Jean Smith of Chicago, Ill., Harriette Nellum of Lawton, Okla., Alice Martin of Arlington, Texas and Theresa Murry of Tamara, Fla.; one brother by marriage, Robert (Charles Alice) Smith of San Diego, Calif.; a devoted student, Iola Brooks; a devoted/loyal niece, Synethia Pettaway; two aunts, Evangelist Bessie Williams of Chicago, Ill.. and Elder A.M. Johnson of Birmingham; two uncles, Deacon Jerry Craig of Bessemer and Willie L. Craig of Selma; and a host of nephews, nieces and other relatives.

She was preceded in death by one son, Sanford E. Smith, Jr.

Active pallbearers are nephews, Clarence Chandler, Honorable Mayor James Perkins, Jr., Justin Perkins, Atty. Collins Pettaway, Jr., Collins Pettaway III, Roderick Soloman, Greg Smith and Terrell Smith.

Honorary pallbearers are Deacons of Green St. Baptist Church.

Family visitation will be Sunday, from 7-8 p.m. at Lewis Brothers Funeral Home.

Mrs. Smith was an active member of Green St. Baptist Church, where she served on the Deaconess Board and Missionary Circle # 2. Mrs. Smith received a bachelor’s degree from Alabama State University in 1951. She was an educator in the Selma City School System for several years as an elementary teacher. She was also a successful businesswoman and owner of “Smith Florist” with her husband Sanford E. Smith, Sr. Smith Florist is currently one of the few black locally owned businesses that has been in operation 46 years. Mrs. Smith was known for her love for flowers, family and church.

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Dorothy Smedley Parker

Dorothy Smedley Parker, 93, of Jones, died Wednesday, July 31, 2002.

Services are at 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2, at the Chapel of Lawrence Funeral Home with Pastor Edwin Cumbie officiating. Burial will follow in Pleasant Valley Methodist Church Cemetery in Jones with Lawrence Funeral Home directing.

Survivors include her husband of 65 years, John Milner Parker; two daughters and sons-in-law, Cleta and Tom Reinhart of Prattville and Diane and Charles Teel of Savannah, Ga.; one son and daughter-in-law, John M. Parker Jr. and Jan of Jones; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; one niece; five nephews; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Active pallbearers are nephews, Ranny, Smedley and Johnny Bice, Fred Kimbrough, Bob Ed Reed and Tommy Fisher.

Honorary pallbearers are Berle Hamrick, J.W. McCullough, Bill

Grover, Wilbur Reed, Cecil Smedley, Calbert Colee and Dr. William Hinson.

The body will lie in state at the funeral home one prior to the service.

Memorials may be made to the Cemetery Fund of Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church, 1225 Co. Rd. 103, Jones, AL 36749 or to a charity of one’s choice.

Mrs. Parker was the last surviving child of the late William J. Smedley and Lena Herman Smedley. She was a devout Christian, loving wife, and devoted mother.

The family would like to thank Wiregrass Hospice for their kindness, skill and compassion during Mrs. Parker’s illness.

John Gilbert Scott Jr.

John Gilbert Scott Jr., 80, of Raleigh, N.C., died Thursday, July 18, 2002, at a North Carolina hospital.

Services were held at 11 a.m. Monday, July 22, at Edenton Street United Methodist Church, Raleigh, N.C.

Survivors include his former wife, Elsie Lorraine Willis Scott Smith of Raleigh, N.C.; two sons, John Gilbert Scott III of Atlanta, Ga., and Doug Scott of Raleigh, N.C.; two grandchildren, Hannah Stephanie Scott of Atlanta, Ga., and Taylor Douglas Scott of Cary; a brother, Joseph Scott of Redding, Calif.; and a sister Sarah Bruce of Selma.

In lieu of flowers, donations maybe sent to the Chancel Choir Fund at Edenton Street United Methodist Church, Raleigh, N.C.

Mr. Scott, was born in Greenville Miss., on Aug. 23 1921, one of four children born to John Gilbert Scott and Sara Eloise Lawrence Scott.

The family moved to Selma, where he attended public school. During World War II, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and served a tour of duty in the South Pacific. He earned a bachelor of science degree from Auburn University in 1949 and a master of art degree in sociology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1951.

His career began in hospital administration for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Memorial Hospital. He subsequently served on the Research Triangle Regional Planning Commission and as director of the Wake County Planning Department, Raleigh, N.C. from which he retired in 1985.

In addition to his professional activities, he was an accomplished singer, and served as bass soloist with the Chancel Choir at Edenton Street United Methodist Church for over 30 years.

Clara L. Ray

Clara L. Ray, of Ft. Deposit, died Saturday, July 27, 2002.

Services are at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 3, at Clover Hill Baptist Church with the Rev. John Jones officiating. Burial will follow in the churchyard cemetery with Bell Funeral Home directing.

Survivors include her children, Annie Ruth (William) Taylor of Birmingham, Willie D. Ray and Mary (James “J.D.) White of Ft. Deposit; five grandchildren, Randy (Donna) Taylor of Birmingham, William (Nitza) Taylor Jr. of Seguin, Texas, Wanda (Herb) Worthey of Montgomery, Tina (Kelvin “Top”) Garrett of Ft. Deposit and Willie D. Ray Jr.; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Ernestine Ross

Ernestine Ross, 54, of Brooklyn, N.Y., died Friday, July 26, 2002 at a New York hospital.

Services are at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3, at Mt. Ararat Baptist Church with the Rev. L. L. Ruffin officiating. Burial will follow in Elmwood Cemetery with Miller Funeral Home directing.

Survivors include a loving husband, Bezell Ross; two daughters, Diana Ross of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Charlene Ross of Chicago, Ill.; three brothers, Alfonso Green (JoAnn) of Selma, Robert Green (Diane) of New York and Marvin Green of Selma; two sisters, Georgia Ann Green of New York and Elizabeth Green Holliday (Junior) of Selma; one grandchild; one brother-in-law; and four sisters-in-law.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Lewis and Lillie Mae Green and three brothers, Lewis Green Jr., Nathenial Green and Johnnie Green.

Honorary pallbearers are Mt. Ararat Baptist Church Male Chorus and City of Selma Public Works.

Willie L. Lucky

Willie L. Lucky, 76, of Marion, died Friday, July 26, 2002 at a Marion nursing home.

Services are at 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3, at Marion Baptist Academy with the Rev. Clifford Coleman officiating. Burial will follow in Marion City Cemetery with Miller Funeral Home directing.

Survivors include six sons, Nathaniel (Teresa) Lucky, Alger (Mia) Lucky, Willie Lee Lucky Jr., Leon Lucky, Roy Lucky and Jordan Lucky; three daughters, Annie (Joseph) Laney, Minnie (Thomas) Ross and Dorothy Lucky; one sister, Evella Atkins; two brothers, Johnny (Sara Ann) Lucky and Amzie (Eva) Lucky; 27 grandchildren; and 9 great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Anna Louise Williams Bryant

Anna Louise Williams Bryant, 92, of Greensboro, died Thursday, August 1, 2002 at a Perry County nursing home.

Services are at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 3, at First Presbyterian Church in Greensboro, with the Rev. Alton Phillips officiating.

Survivors include seven nieces and nephews, Janice Conerly of Greensboro, Louise Williams Thaxton of Tuscaloosa, Julia Williams (Charles) Cohen of Tampa, Fla., Jim (Janis) Conerly, Jerre (Frances) Conerly and Carole Conerly (Danny) McDonald all of Chattanooga, Tenn., and Emery (Maxine) Wilson of Westminister, Calif.; 14 great-nieces and nephews, Sidney and Karen Cohen, Chip, Dale and Matthew Conerly, Adrienne Cox Olson and Brent Cox, Denis Thomas McDonald and Jenene McDonald Dunstan, Kerre Conerly, Stephanie Wilson Mauwirth and Eric and Mark Wilson; and nine great-great-nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, Stewart Franklin Bryant, her son, Stewart Franklin Bryant Jr., her parents, Frank Bell Williams and Pauline Zuechting Williams, a brother, William Franklin Williams and sisters, Estelle Williams Conerly and Enoxie Williams Wilson.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Greensboro.

Mrs. Bryant was born Aug. 19, 1908 in Tuscaloosa and lived for many years in Selma with her family, graduating from Selma High School in 1927 and attending business college. After her marriage to Stewart Bryant, they lived in Corcicana, Texas and Montgomery, before making their home in Greensboro in 1947, where they owned and operated Rothenburg’s drygood store until retirement.

She was a faithful member and worker in her church, a loving and loyal friend, and a devoted and loving wife, mother, and aunt, who has left a wonderful example and memories that will remain with those who loved her.