Obituaries - A Surnames

James Adams, age 84, of Graceville, died Tuesday, March 16, 1999 at Mariner Health Center in Bonifay following a long illness. Mr. Adams was born May 29, 1914 in Graceville and lived all of his life in Graceville. He was a steward of Gailee United Methodist Church, retired from farming and the Florida Department of Transportation.

Funeral services were March 18 at Galilee United Methodist Church with the Rev Robert Hall officiating and Lay Speaker Pat Williams assisting. Burial followed in the church cemetery with Bryd-Williams Funeral Home officiating.

Serving as active pallbearers were Mr. Adams' nephews.

Survivors include his wife Sara Adams of Graceville; sons and daughters-in-law Elton and Mary Adams of Graceville and John W and Vivian Adams of Graceville; daughters and sons-in-law Abbie Joe and Lowell Duce of Grand Ridge and Kay and Eric Johnson of Graceville; a brother and three sisters-in-law John Quincy and Arlene Adams of Chipley, Mary Sue Adams, and Lee Adams, both of Graceville; nine grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; eight step-great-grandchildren; along with many nieces and nephews.

SOURCE: Holmes County Advertiser, Bonifay FL, Wednesday, March 24, 19994
Transcribed by Cathy Strickland Popp

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Capt. Augustus Max (Gus) Adkison, a long time resident of Panama City, had two passions - teaching and the sea. Having spent his life pursuing both these passions, the retired music teach and charter boat captain passed away Saturday, Feb 13, 1999 in Panama City. He was 72 years old.

Funeral services were held on Feb 15, at the Southerland Funeral Home Chapel. Burial was next to his parents and brother in New Effort Cemetery in Bonifay, with Southerland Funeral directing.

Adkison was born in Miami, but grew up in Bonifay. He earned his Master's Degree in Music, with a minor in Education, from Florida State University in 1954, and was the drum major who led the FSU ""Marching Chiefs" in their first marching performance through downtown Tallahassee in 1948. He was a charter member of the Epsilon Iota Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha, a national music fraternity.

In his high school teaching career, Adkison produced award-winning bands in Georgia, New Jersey and Melbourne, Florida. From 1964 until 1983, he taught instrumental music, music theory and music history at Chipola Junior College in Marianna. He was also privileged to conduct the premiere performance and several additional performances of the Northwest Florida Chamber Orchestra. While teaching at Chipola, Adkison conducted orchestras for many Chipola musicals, including, "My Fair Lady", "West Side Story", "The King and I", "Annie Get Your Gun", "Hello Dolly", "The Music Man", "1776", "Mame", and "Bye, Bye, Birdie".

Adkison was a member of the United States Coast Guard from 1943 to 1946 and served his wartime sea duty as a Gunnery Instructor in the South Pacific. Although he began chartering deep sea fishing boats part time in 1967, he made it a full time career when he retired from teaching, and operated several chapter boats, including his own, from Capt. Anderson's Marina in Panama City for many years.

Raised a Methodist, Adkison served as a church Choir Director for eight years in Georgia and Melbourne, Florida.

Survivors include his wife Jean of Panama City; his daughter and her husband, Leslie and Charlie Boyle of Port Charlotte; his daughter and her husband, Brenda and Marc Lockhart of Indianapolis, Indiana; his daughter and her husband, Pam and David Burke of Orlando; sons Scott Adkison of Panama City and Lee Adkison of Orlando; his step daughter and her husband, Suzanne and Richard Leigh of Tallahassee; and ten grandchildren: Corey, Lindsay and Jessie Lockhart; Tanner and Allie Boyle, Matt and Blake Sutton, and Tiffany, Brittany, and Ryan Leigh.

SOURCE: Holmes County Advertiser, 24 February 1999, Page 21

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Genial Hub Allen, the beloved president of the West Florida Press Association and former editor of the Milton Gazette, is dead. His death occurred Jan. 9th in El Paso, Texas, where he had gone with a hope of regaining his lost health. It is hard of us to realize that we shall no more hear the ring of his jovial laughter and to feel again his genial presence. "Hub" was a favorite among the newspaper "boys." He believed that the man who scatters flowers in the pathways of his fellow men, who lets into the dark places of life the sunshine of human sympathy and human happiness, is following in the footsteps of his Master. To his friends he was the soul of fellowship. We only knew him to esteem him more highly as the years passed by. May he rest in peace.

Source: Holmes County Advertiser, Bonifay, Florida, Saturday, January 17, 1914, Page 2, col. 1
Transcribed by Mona Spears, March 1999

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Friendship.
Mrs. Ammons, after continued illness, passed peacefully away at her home here last Saturday afternoon. The funeral services were conducted Sunday at Otter Creek church where she has been a consistent member for many years. Rev. Whitsett, pastor in charge, conducted the service.

Source: Holmes County Advertiser, Bonifay, Florida, Saturday, September 7, 1912
Transcribed by Mona Spears

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Ponce de Leon.
The many friends of Mrs. J. E. Ammons were very sorry to hear of her death, which occurred Saturday at one o'clock. Mrs. Ammons was about 70 years old, a kindly and lovable woman and a consistent member of the church. She leaves a large number of relatives and friends to mourn her loss.

Source: Holmes County Advertiser, Bonifay, Florida, Saturday, September 7, 1912
Transcribed by Mona Spears

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Edith Anderson, age 77, of Jacksonville, Florida, passed away on Thursday, Jan 14, 1999 at the Methodist Hospital in Jacksonville.

Memorial services were held Jan 18 at Live Oak Assembly of God Church with the Rev Sean Miles officiating. Burial followed in the Live Oak Cemetery with Sims Funeral Home directing.

Survivors include her daughter: Wilda Jean Wiles of Thomasville, Georgia; son: Jimmy Anderson of Jacksonville; sister: Lona Adkins of Chipley; sister: Ruby Braun of St Petersburg, Florida; brother: Leonard Wilcox of Milton, Florida; six grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

SOURCE: Holmes County Advertiser/Washington County Post, Wednesday, January 20, 1999; Page 19

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Leon Ray Armes, age 80, of Caryville, passed away on Sunday, Jan 31, 1999 at Calhoun-Liberty Hospital in Blountstown, Florida.

Memorial services were held on Feb 1, at Sims Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev Gus Howerton officiating. Burial was in Essex Cemetery with Sims Funeral Home directing.

Survivors include his wife: Ida Armes of Caryville; son: Darrel Armes of Caryville; brothers: Robert Armes of Milan, Missouri, Theodore Armes of Vanduser, Missouri and Albert Armes and Dewey Armes, both of Bloomfield, Missouri; sisters: Geneva Armes of Kansas City, Missouri, Laura Almond of Lennon, Mississippi, Cathy Wagner of Flatonia, Texas and Mary Williams of Lathrop, Missouri. Donald Nelson of Chipley and J West Nelson and family of Huntsville, Alabama; daughters: Mary Gano and Kathleen Downs and family all of Chipley; sister: Virginia Downs of Huntsville, Alabama; seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

SOURCE: Holmes County Advertiser/Washington County Post, February 10, 1999, Page 18

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Mr. Armstrong Passes Away

Mr. R. S. Armstrong, on account of his age, could not long endure the severe attack of his affection and passed away last Friday night about nine o'clock.

His long and eventful life began at Eufaula, Ala., Sept. 17, 1831. When seventeen years old he moved to Gaines, Ga. June 30, 1853 he was married to Miss Jeannette McLain who died here ten years age. Since then he has lived with his daughter, Mrs. T. J. Wright. Mr. Armstrong was a loyal Southerner and served three years in the Confederate Army, in Company 1 51st Georgia Regiment. He was wounded at Gettysburg in July 1864. In 1885, the month of October, he moved to Holmes County, Fla., and thus was one of the residents of Bonifay. Doing what he could in that direction it afforded him pleasure to see the town grow. A kind and friendly man he was laboring faithfully in the days of his strength, and bearing with commendable resignation of affections of age.

Two daughters, Mrs. Annie Williams, of Clopton, Ala., and Mrs. T. J. Wright, and one son Mr. S. E. Armstrong remain to mourn his loss. The funeral service was conducted at the Wright home Saturday afternoon by Rev. McNeill, pastor of the Methodist church.

Source: Holmes County Advertiser, Bonifay, Florida, Saturday, April 13, 1912
Transcribed by Mona Spears

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