Obituaries - L Surnames

Emma Melinda Laird, age 88, formerly of Panama City, died Wednesday, Feb 17, 1999 in a Fort Walton Beach hospital. She had been a resident of Panama City since 1942, moving from Holmes County. She was a member of Westview Baptist Church.

Funeral services were held Saturday, Feb 20 in the Wilson Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev Neal Hughes and Winston Barrett officiating. Burial followed in the Evergreen Memorial Gardens with Wilson Funeral Home directing.

She was preceded in death by her husband Hubert F Laird; sons Sherwin Laird and Harold Max Laird, Sr., and a grandson, Harold Max Laird, Jr.

Survivors include a son Malvin A Laird and his wife Louise of Destin; a daughter, Lorene Dupree of Montgomery, Alabama; 10 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren; and sister Beatrice Leavins of Westville.

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

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Mrs Cumi Jeannette Land, age 76, of Bonifay passed away Wednesday, Dec 23, 1998 at her residence.

Funeral services were Dec 27 at Live Oak Assembly of God Church with the Rev Sean Miles, the Rev Lomas Lunsford and the Rev Dallas Pettis officiating. Burial was in the Live Oak Church cemetery with Peel Funeral Home directly.

Pallbearers were grandchildren: Larry Lee Land, Lennon Land, Ladis Messer, Lyle Messer, Landrea Messer, Linsey Messer and Lance Messer.

Survivors include - her husband Lowell Land of Bonifay, son and daughter-in-law: Larry and Betty Land of Bonifay; daughter and son-in-law: Donna and Roy Messer of Bonifay; brother: Leon Parrish of Bonifay; and sister: Ethel Lewis of Bonifay.

Source: Holmes County Advertiser/Washington County Post - Wednesday, January 6, 1999, Page 19

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George Stafford Land, age 84, of Graceville passed away Monday, Jan 4, 1999 at Cambellton-Graceville Hospital after an extended illness.

Mr Land was born Sept 20, 1914 in Graceville and lived there until he entered the U S Army and served in World War II. After his military duty, Mr Land moved back to Graceville briefly, before moving to Sneads in 1954, and in 1997 he moved back to Graceville. Mr Land was a member of Galilee United Methodist Church.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday, Jan 6, 1999 at Galilee United Methodist Church with the Rev Robert Hall officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery with Byrd-Williams Funeral Home directing.

Survivors include a wife: Bonnie Land of Graceville; son: Larry Land of Sneads; grandsons: Jason Land of Graceville and Brian Land of Montgomery, Alabama; brother: Walton H Land of Slocomb, Alabama; sister: Flora Hines of Graceville and several nieces and nephews.

Source: Holmes County Advertiser/Washington County Post, Wednesday, January 13, 1999, page 19

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Mr Leonard Landress, age 86, of Bonifay, passed away Jan 8, 1999 at Flowers Hospital in Dothan, Alabama. He was born Dacula, Georgia and was a member of Moss Hill Methodist Church. He was also a member of the Holmes County Chamber of Commerce, Holmes County Development Commission; Holmes County Soil and Water Conservation Services, Holmes County Planning Board, Holmes County Council on Aging, Tri-County Community Council. He also served one term as a representative in the Silver Haired Legislature and spent 30 years as a Real Estate Broker.

Funeral services were held on Jan 20 at Peel Funeral Home Chapel in Bonifay with the Rev Jack Faircloth officiating. Burial followed at Bonifay City Cemetery with Peel Funeral Home directing.

He was preceded in death by parents Carl and Aro Lee Landress and brothers: James and H N Landress.

Survivors include his wife of 50 years Elizabeth Griffin Landress of Bonifay; son: Bobby Landress of Merritt Island, Florida; daughter Mary Nelbeth Irwin of Las Vegas, Nevada; brothers: S M Landress of Kennesaw, Georgia and Collier Landress of Northridge, California; four grandchildren, along with several nieces and nephews.

Source: Holmes County Advertiser/Washington County Post, Wednesday, January 13, 1999, Page 19

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Mr Theodis Leath, age 77 of Noma, passed away Wednesday, Oct 28, 1998 at his residence. Mr Leath served as a Steward of St Mark A M E Church, Superintendent of the Sunday School, a member of the Masonic Lodge and a volunteer of community service with Meals on Wheels.

Funeral services were held on Nov 2 at St Marks A M E Church in Noma with the Rev Nellie Graham Parkers, the Rev Laura Holloway and the Rev Reba Sorey officiating.

Burial followed in the Leath Family Cemetery in Columbia, Alabama with Cooper Funeral Home directing.

Survivors include wife: Allie V Leath of Noma; daughter: Elizabeth Wilkerson of Jacksonville; step-daughter: Marjorie BeBose; sons and daughters-in-law: Waymon and Gwendolyn Leath of Augusta, Georgia, Samuel and Jeanette Leath and Charles Leath, all of Columbus, Ohio; sisters: Shellie L Ward and Jo Anna Jackson, both of Norma, and Lillie Jackson of Portsmouth, Virginia; 28 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; and many other nieces, nephews, cousins, sisters-in-law; brothers-in-law and other relatives and friends.

Source: Holmes County Advertiser/Washington County Post - Wednesday, November 25, 1998; Page 11

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Mrs. Bessie Tatum Lewis, beloved wife of Joe Lewis, died at her home in Vernon Tuesday night of pneumonia, being sick but a week. The remains were brought here and tenderly laid to rest in Bonifay cemetery Wednesday. Besides her husband she left a ten months old baby boy who will be taken care of by it grandmother, Mrs. Lewis of Bonifay.

Source: Holmes County Advertiser, Bonifay, Florida, Saturday, September 21, 1912
Transcribed by Mona Spears

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Mr Perry Monroe Lewis, age 84 of Bonifay, passed away on Wednesday, Feb 24, 1999 at Jackson County Hospital in Marianna.

Funeral services were held on Feb 28 at New Smyrna Assembly of God with the Rev Mike White and the Rev Neil Pitts officiating. Burial followed at the New Smyrna Church Cemetery with Peel Funeral Home directing.

He was preceded in death by daughter Louvern Hall.

Survivors includes his wife Ethel Parrish Lewis of Bonifay; son the Rev Jerome and wife Marcille Lewis of Grand Ridge, Florida; sister Martha Creel of Bonifay; grandchildren Regina and husband Ronald Clark, Steve Lewis, Michelle and husband Greg Riley, Phillip Lewis, Michael Bush; and five great-grandchildren.

Source: Holmes County Advertiser, 3 March 1999, Page 21

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Dr. Lewis Killed Saturday Night.

Jesse and Joe Barnes Held in Jail Charged With Crime.

During the progress of a dance at the home of Nix Taylor, who lives about 15 miles north of Bonifay. Saturday night an altercation arose between Dr. W. E. Lewis, a practicing physician of Esto, and Elias Barnes and which culminated in the former being shot to death.

It is said that the row started in the home but that the participants decided to go out in the road and settle the dispute. When they had reached the public road, a distance of some fifty yards from Mr. Taylor's home, a pistol shot immediately rang out and Dr. Lewis fell dead with a bullet hole through his heart. The shooting, which occurred about 12 o'clock, is alleged to have been done by Joe Barnes, a younger brother of Elias Barnes, who was engaged in the difficulty.

In response to a telephone message, County Judge Tew and Sheriff Mayo proceeded to the scene of the killing early Sunday morning and immediately empannelled a coroner's jury. After hearing the testimony of several witnesses the jury returned a verdict charging Joe and Jesse Barnes with first degree murder.

After the killing the Barnes boys hid out and were not apprehended until Thursday when deputy sheriff Dupree brought them in and placed them in the county jail. Their arrest followed a consultation between J. Walter Kehoe, who has been engaged as counsel for the defendants, and E. L. Barnes, father of the boys. The consultation was held at the Barnes home and upon the advice of Col. Kehoe Mr. Barnes sent for his boys who were hiding in a near-by swamp, and they came in and gave themselves up to officer Dupree. Their preliminary trial will probably be held sometime next week.

Source: Holmes County Advertiser, Bonifay, Florida, Saturday, February 7, 1914
Transcribed by Mona Spears, March 1999

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Brian Russell Lindsey, age 25, of Chipley, passed away Friday, Jan 8, 1999 in Chipley. He had been a resident of Chipley for the past 8 years, coming from West Palm Beach, Florida. He was of the Baptist Faith.

He is survived by his father: Edward Glenn Lindsey, Jr; mother: Betty Cawley of Bradenton, Florida; brother: Shawn Lindsey of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; grandparents: Joe and Jeanette Fornsby of Chipley.

Memorialization was by cremation. Memorial services were held Tuesday, Jan 12, 1999 at the Chapel of Brown Funeral Home, the Rev Tom Hall officiated and Brown Funeral Home directed.

Source: Holmes County Advertiser/Washington County Post, Wednesday, January 13, 1999, Page 19

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Mrs Elenor Ruth Love (Justice) Compton, age 51, of Caryville, died Friday, Jan 15, 1999 at the family home following an extended illness.

Funeral services were held Jan 17 at the Smith Chapel Church with the Rev Harvey Chamblee officiating. Burial followed in the Whitewater Baptist Church Cemetery with Bottoms Garden Chapel of Geneva, Alabama directing.

She was preceded in death by her parents: Clarence and L C Love; sister: Harriett Holder and brother: J C Love.

Survivors include her daughters and one son-in-law: Lizzy and Tracy Bruner, Sarah Justice, and Frieda Justice; brother and sister-in-law: Keener and Margaret Love; sister: Margie Padgett; grandchildren: Danielle and Stacy Buner; and many nieces, nephews and friends, all of Caryville.

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

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Esther J Lucas of Ocoee, Florida passed away on Tuesday, Feb 23, 1999.

Graveside services were held at Winter Garden Cemetery on Feb 26 at 10 am with Pastor James I Reeher officiating and Collison Carey Hand Funeral Home directing.

She was preceded in death by her husband Cortez Lucas in May 1965.

Survivors include her daughter Shirley Dobson and husband Wayne; brothers Warren Brown and Linwood Brown; three grandsons, one granddaughter, seven great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews; along with sisters-in-law Martiel White of Hartford, Alabama and Hester Wells and husband Perry of Chipley.

Source: Holmes County Advertiser, 3 March 1999, Page 21

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