Eddie Rivers

Eddie Rivers, 52, of Selma, died Monday, May 5, 2003, at a local hospital.

Services were at 1 p.m. Thursday, May 15, at Christian Grace Apostolic Church with Bishop James Marshall officiating. Burial followed in Elmwood Cemetery with Miller Funeral Home directing.

Survivors include his wife, Dorothy Rivers; parents, Mary and Willie Rivers Sr.; three stepsons, Benjamin Jenkins, Jefferson Jenkins and Woody Jenkins; one step-daughter, Kim Jenkins; one brother, Willie Rivers Jr.; one sisters, Lela Sharp; seven grandchildren; two brothers-in-law; three sisters-in-law; one nephew; three nieces; one aunt; two great-nieces; and five great-nephews.

Ella Mae Gardner

Ella Mae Gardner, 67, of Selma, died Wednesday, May 14, 2003, at a hospital in Columbus, Miss.

Services are at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, May 17, at the Chapel of Lawrence Funeral Home wit the Rev. Alan Yarbrough officiating. Burial will follow in Pineview Memory Gardens Cemetery with Lawrence Funeral Home directing.

Survivors include son, Averel Ray Gardner Jr. (Donna) of Selma; daughter, Debra Bryan (Hank) of Monroeville; brother, Kenny Jones of Selma; five grandchildren, Suzanne (Kip) Gardner Lowe of Montgomery, Jeremy Gardner, Joshua Gardner both of Selma, Maria (Hal) King White of Macon, Miss., and Jessica King of Monroeville; three great-grandchildren, MariAnna Hare, Jacob White and Grady White; two nephews, Jamie (Sandy) Jones and Danny Jones both of Comumbus, Miss.; sister-in-law, Ruby Jones of Columbus, Miss.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Arvel R. Gardner Sr. and brothers, Ralph and Bo Bo Jones.

Family visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, at the funeral home.

Mrs. Gardner was a long time resident of Selma. She was a wonderful mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, who will be missed, and be in the hearts of those who loved her.

Corine Williams

Corine Williams, 91, of Uniontown, died Monday, May 5, 2003, at her home.

Services are at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 17, at First Baptist Church of Uniontown, with the Rev. William Reese officiating. Burial will follow in Living Hope Cemetery with Julia L. White Funeral Home directing.

Galen M. Shetler

Galen M. Shetler, 32, of Newbern, died Monday, May 12, 2003, in Greene County.

Services were at 3 p.m. Thursday, May 15, at Cedar Crest Mennonite Church in Faunsdale, with Harold E. Schmidt and Kenneth E. Diller officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery with Kirk Funeral Homes of Greensboro directing.

Survivors include his wife, Cristina Coblentz Shetler of Newbern; parents, Melva and Fannie W. Shetler of Kidron, Ohio; three sons, Travis Shetler, Titus Shetler and Terrance Shetler all of Newbern; one daughter, Marina Shetler of Newbern; five brothers, Paul Shetler of Wooster, Ohio, Roy Shetler of Dalton, Ohio, Henry Shetler of Clarksdale, Miss., John Shetler and James Shetler both of Fredericksburn, Ohio.

Active pallbearers were Anthony Eicher, Judson Johnson, Dave Wenger, DaleJohnson, Mark Schmidt, Terry Warkentin, David NueFelt, Chris Schmidt and Bob Nichols.

Jean Wesely

Jean Wesely, 75, of Uniontown, died Tuesday, May 13, 2003, at her home.

Services are 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 20, at First Baptist Church of Uniontown with the Rev. Anthony Trimble officiating. Burial will follow in Goldman Hill Cemetery with Julia L. White directing.

Mary L. Jones

Mary L. Jones, 76, of Selma, died Sunday, May 11, 2003, at a local hospital.

Services are at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 17, at the Chapel of Miller Funeral Home with Pastor Nathaniel Holloway officiating. Burial will follow in Elmwood Cemetery with Miller Funeral Home directing.

Survivors include two nephews, Peter Wolfe (Daisy) of Brooklyn, N.Y. and Lonnie Small III of Tampa, Fla.; three nieces, Lisa Shoemaker (Ervin) of Mobile, Sonya Stephens (Donald) of San Diego, Calif., and Emily Smith of Seattle, Washington; great-nieces, LaZonda Shoemaker, Donna Stephens and Kelsey Small; great-nephews, Desean Nelson, Demarcus Small and Samuel Stephens.

Howard H. Reid

Howard H. Reid, died Monday, May 12, 2003, at his home.

Services are at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 17, at First M. B. Church in Farmersville, with the Rev. Lovell Lewis officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery with Lewis Brothers Funeral Home directing.

Survivors include son, Marcus Howard and Ronnie Wright and step-son, Reginald Howard; daughters, Sandrea Howard, Angela Howard, Dewanda Evans, Ronnie Wright and four step-children, Felesha, Reginald and Sharnita Howard and Deedra Dale; three brothers, Elberd Hall and Arvin Hall of Minter and Darvin Reid of Cleveland, Ohio; two sisters, Marie Williams and

Lizzie Small both of Minter; two grandchildren; two brothers-in-law; two susters-in-law; nine nephews; seven nieces; and a host of loving cousins and other relatives.

Active pallbearers are friends of the family.

Pink Dillard Sr.

Retired Command Sgt. Maj. Pink Dillard Sr., formerly of Marion Junction., died Monday, May 5, 2003, at his home.

Services were held Saturday, May 10, at Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church in Columbus, Ga., with the Rev. James C. Harris officiating. Burial followed in Evergreen Memory Gardens in Columbus Ga.

Survivors include four children, two sons, Pink Jr. and wife, Sonya and Christopher and wife Pamela; two daughters, Willie Dee and Jaqueline all of Columbus, Ga.; eight grandchildren, Monica, Tammy, Chandra, Kenyana, Marques, Maurice, Raheem and Jalen; 11 great-grandchildren; a daughter-in-law, Toni Dillard of Atlanta, Ga.; two brothers, G. C. Dillard of Selma, and Jimmie Underwood and wife, Susie of Bronx, N. Y.; a sister-in-law, Rosetta Underwood of Marion; a devoted friend, Evelyn Creighton; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Priscilla, and his son Michael.

Mr. Dillard Sr. was born April 18, 1929, a son of the late Governor and Virginia Dillard in Marengo County, Demopolis. He received his secular education in the schools of Dallas County and graduated with the 1949 Class of Hudson High School in Selma. On April 7, 1950, he was united in marriage to the former Priscilla Smith, lasting for 46 years until her death on October 6, 1996.

For over 30 years, Pink served his country and fellowman in the Armed Forces of the United States during the era of the Korean and Vietnam Conflicts. After his tour of duty was complete, he retired with honor and distinction as command sergeant major. Among his many medals and citations were: Vietnam Service Medal with one Bronze and one Silver Star, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Silver Star, Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal (8th Award), Bronze Star Medal, four Overseas Service Bars, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, Meritorious Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Expert Infantryman Badge and the Korean Service Medal with four Bronze Stars.

Being one who wouldn’t &uot;let the grass grow under his feet&uot;, he obtained employment at the Jack T. Rutledge Correctional Institute as a correctional officer, a career that spanned some 12 years until his retirement.

Mr. Dillard joined Mt Pilgrim Baptist Church under the Rev. C. Harris, Sr., in August of 1985. His service at Mt Pilgrim included, ordained as a deacon in 1997, Man of the Year for 1998-1999, chairman of trustees, Usher Board #2, program committee, Brotherhood Circle, assistant Sunday school teacher for Class #9, chairman for the bus ministry and reader for weekly Bible class. He served faithfully until his death.

Furthering his education, Mr. Dillard received a bachelor degree from Troy State University. At the time of his death, he was doing volunteer work at St. Francis Hospital.

Royce W. Lader

Royce W. &uot;Frank&uot; Lader, 68, of Lynn Haven, died Saturday, May 10, 2003, at a healthcare facility.

Graveside services were at 2 p.m. Monday, May 12, at Evergreen Memorial Gardens with Pastor Laurin L. Lader officiating and full military honors by the Tyndall Air Force Base Honor Guard with Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home directing.

Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Faith Lader of Lynn Haven; his father, 92 year old Albert Lader of Panama City; three children, Royce L. Lader and wife Donna of Ft. Payne, Laurin L. Lader and wife Bonnie of Sigonella, Italy and Marlena F. Hall and husband Carey of Rainsville; 12 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, and uncles.

Mr. Lader was a retired United States Air Force veteran, he lived in the Lynn Haven area since 1985, moving here from Selma. He was a loving son, husband and father. He was an associate member of the local Fleet Reserve Association, Northside Baptist Church, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Any memorials should be made to the Hospice of the Emerald Coast, 700 W. 23rd Street, Suite G-59, Panama City, FL 32405.