Obituaries - W Surnames

Mrs Ina Ward, age 90, of Panama City, died Monday, March 1, 1999 at a local nursing home. She had been a lifelong resident of the area. She was a member of the Callaway Community Church, and enjoyed fishing.

Funeral services were held March 3 at the Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev J W Hunt officiating. Burial followed in the Millville Cemetery.

Asked to serve as active pallbearers were James W Ward, Terry E Cook, Dennis E Owens, Mark A Ward, John Scott and Dr Samuel E Ward.

Survivors include sons Milmer Titus Ward and the Rev Tilmon E Ward, both of Panama City; Johnny R Ward of Carrabelle and Thomas G Ward of Vernon; daughters Betty W Hays and Evelyn W Cook, both of Panama City; Edna Marie Ward of Texas; 36 grandchildren, 42 great-grandchildren and 20 great-great-grandchildren.

Source: Holmes County Advertiser, 10 March 1999, Page 19

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Massey Jernigan Ward, age 96, of Chipley, died Sunday, Dec 27, 1998 at his residence. He had been a resident of Chipley for the last 28 years and a member of the First United Methodist Church. He moved to Chipley from St John, New Brunswick, Canada where he was a mill manager for Irving Pulp and Paper Company. He began his career in the paper industry with International Paper in Panama City, Florida in 1929. He worked for St Joe Paper Company from 1938 to 1954. He worked in Mobile, Alabama for International Paper from 1954 to 1962.

Graveside funeral services were held Dec 18 at the Magnolia Cemetery in DeFuniak Springs with the Rev John Dinkinson officiating. Burial followed in the Magnolia Cemetery with Brown Funeral Home directing.

Survivors include - his wife: Mary Elizabeth Motley Ward of Chipley; daughters: Patricia Ward Dandridge of Mobile, Alabama and Ann Ward Tison and her husband Harry of Port St Joe; stepson: Charles Motley Yarbrough and wife Nelleke of Alphretta, Georgia; sister: Dr Mildred Ward Costello and her husband Gene of San Antonio, Texas; grandchildren: Tom Tison of Houston, Texas, Laurie Tison of Panama City, Henry Davis Dandridge II and wife Cindi of Cape May Courthouse, New Jersey, Massey Ward Dandridge and his wife Donna of Lynn Haven, Patsy Dandridge Pennington and her husband Don of Mobile, Alabama, Melanie Dandridge Dobbins and husband Alan of Mobile, Alabama; step-grandchildren: Harriet Yarbrough of Marietta, Georgia, Leight Hoffner and husband Richard of Dekalb, Georgia, Elizabeth Fincher of Mobile, Alabama, Lee Gridley and husband David of Marietta, Georgia, William McNelley of Mobile, Alabama and Charlotte Yarbrough of Marietta, Georgia. He is also survived by seven great-grandchildren and six step-great-grandchildren.

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

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Mrs Sallie B Cherry Watford, age 86, of Graceville, died Thursday, Feb 19, 1999 at Flowers Hospital in Dothan, Alabama following a sudden illness. She was born in Holmes County on Aug 1, 1912. She was a homemaker and a member of the Salem United Methodist Church.

Funeral services were held Feb 21 at the Chapel of James and Lipford Funeral Home with the Rev Ron Martin and the Rev Raymond Owens officiating. Burial followed in the Marvin Chapel Cemetery with James and Lipford Funeral Home of Graceville directing.

Survivors include her daughter Magadalene (Maggie) Smith of Graceville; brothers Howard Cherry of Bartow, Florida and Paul Cherry of Orlando, Florida; sisters Ressie Lee Austin of Graceville; Anna Laura Pollard of Avon Park, Florida and Alma Lois Cherry of Marianna; granddaughter and her husband Melissa and Brent Miller of Graceville and grandchildren David Miller and Caitlin Miller, both of Graceville.

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

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Baby Chance Cole Weeks died Tuesday, Feb 23, 1999 at a local hospital.

Funeral services were held on Feb 27 at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church with the Rev Larry Sweat, Jr, and Kenneth Harrison officiating, Commander Funeral Home directing.

He was preceded in death by grandmother Annie Seay.

Survivors include his mother Vickie Carolyn Burgess; father James Coleman Weeks, Jr; brothers James Christopher and Dustin Lee Weeks; maternal grandparents Ronnie and Ruthie Burgess; paternal grandparents Coleman and Ruth Weeks; grandmother Doris Burgess Warren and great-grandfather Malcolm Weeks.

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

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Clora Weeks, age 94, of Bonifay, passed away on Thursday, Jan 7, 1999 at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, Florida. She was a member of the Bonifay First Assembly of God Church and a lifelong resident of Holmes County.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Peter B Weeks; daughter Eulalee Patterson; son: Durrell Weeks; daughter: Euline Johnson; parents: Mr and Mrs James S Andrews, and eight brothers and four sisters.

Funeral services were held Jan 10 at First Assembly of God Church with the Revs Stephen Chitty, John Y Chance and Neil Pitts officiating. Burial followed in the Live Oak Cemetery with Sims Funeral Home directing.

Survivors include her daughters: Eunice Chitty and husband Cliff of Pensacola and Marquerite Dennis of Cantonment, Florida; sister: Myrtle Martin of Bonifay; son-in-law Harry Patterson of Bonifay; 11 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and 14 great-great-grandchildren.

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

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Mrs Pauline E Whitaker, age 74, of Geneva, Alabama, died Tuesday, Jan 19, 1999 in her residence following an extended illness. She was born Aug 8, 1924 in Esto, Florida. She was the daughter of the late Jack and Georgia Payne Ellis. She was a member of the Ledon Baptist Church and a homemaker.

Funeral services were Jan 21 at the Chapel of Pittman Funeral Home in Geneva with the rev Earl Wise officiating. Burial followed in the Geneva City Cemetery with Pittman Funeral Home of Geneva directing.

She was preceded in death by her brothers: R V Ellis and Cliff Ellis and sister: Delia Curry.

Survivors include her husband: Paul C Whitaker of Geneva, Alabama; daughters and son-in-law Brenda and Moe Pujol of Geneva, Alabama, Mary Ann Whitaker of Elba, Alabama; sisters: K C Chancey of Geneva, Alabama and Inez Haney of Gainesville, Florida; and granddaughter: Courtney Pujol of Geneva, Alabama.

Source: Holmes County Advertiser/Washington County Post, Wednesday, January 17, 1999; Page 19

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New Hope News

We regret to learn of the death of Mrs. Sam White last Friday morning. The remains were interred Saturday morning at the Poplar Head cemetery.

Source: Holmes County Advertiser, Bonifay, Florida, Saturday, April 23, 1910
Transcribed by Mona Spears

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Death of H L Williams:

Many people in this section of West Florida, and especially in Holmes county, will be saddened to learn of the death of Mr H L Williams who died at his home in Broxton, Georgia, last week of typhoid-pneumonia. At the time of his death he was editor and publisher of the Broxton, (GA) Journal, and was meeting with much success. Although a stranger when he cast his lot among the citizens of the thriving little Georgia city eighteen months ago, he had succeeded in gathering about him a host of warm friends and admirers who proved to be not only friends in time of peace and happiness, but true friends in his hour of trouble and affliction. His illness was of short duration, being confined to his bed only a few days, and the end came before relatives could reach his bedside.

Mr Williams spent the greater part of his life in this county, being at intervals connected with this paper during its early establishment. He was the second oldest son of Mr and Mrs W D Williams, of Westville, who were prostrated with grief over the sudden departure of a beloved son. And their sorrow and grief is shared by an affectionate and heart-broken wife, three brothers and two sisters.

The remains were brought to the old homestead at Westville and interment was made Sunday afternoon at the Sandy Creek cemetery, the family burial ground. Rev R Q Baker, pastor of the Presbyterian Church, conducted the funeral services. His words of tenderness were indeed comforting and served as a healing balm to the bleeding hearts of the sorrowing relatives.

Source: Holmes County Advertiser, Bonifay FL, Saturday, Nov 14, 1908

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A Pioneer Citizen Falls Asleep: Mr J B Williams, a pioneer citizen of Holmes county and highly esteemed and respected by a host of warm friends, died at the home of his brother, Chubb Williams, at Chipley last Sunday evening. The news of his sudden death came as a severe shock to his friends and relatives, and the expressions of sympathy for the bereaved ones were many and from the heart.

On Friday night before his death Sunday, Mr Williams seemingly was in the best of health. He went down to Chipley from his home at Graceville to attend a meeting of the Masonic lodge, and it was while he was in the lodge room that he was stricken with paralysis. He was removed to his brother's home where he became unconscious and remained so until the end came Sunday evening.

The funeral services were held at Mt Zion church Monday afternoon at two o'clock and the vast throng that assembled to witness the last sad rites over all that was mortal of their friend and neighbor, fully attested the high esteem in which he was held by all. The Masonic lodge, of which the deceased was a faithful member, had charge of the funeral services, and the speaker, Rev D W Haskew, a brother mason, paid a beautiful tribute to the memory of the deceased. The casket was covered with the most beautiful floral designs loving fingers ever wrought all of which spoke of peace, purity and immortality.

The deceased always took an active part in matters affecting the welfare of his community, the county and state. He served the county for a number of years in the capacity of county commissioner, and later served one term as tax collector, filling each office with credit to himself and satisfaction to the people. He was a man of generous impulses and never forgot the hospitable ways of the pioneer. The stranger, even though a beggar, never failed to find shelter if he sought it at his hands, and he was at home by the bedside of the sick and delighted in all kinds and neighborly offices. He had filled the various relations of life, as son, husband, father, brother, friend, and filled them well. How much this county owes him and such as he is, it is impossible to estimate, though it would be a grateful task to trace his influence through some of the more direct channels, to hold him up in these degenerate days, in his various characters of husband and father, of neighbor and friend, to speak of the sons and daughters he has reared to perpetuate his name and emulate his virtues. He was invariably a good neighbor, and there was no happier family circle in the land than his. His best monument will be the good report that he has left behind him in the community in which he has lived for more than fifty years.

Source: Holmes County Advertiser, Bonifay FL, Saturday, 30 Sep 1911; transcribed by Cathy Strickland Popp

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A Sad Death

Mrs. J. L. Williams, who has been confined to her room for the past several days with pneumonia, died at six o'clock Wednesday evening, leaving behind a heart-broken husband, seven small children and other relatives to mourn her untimely demise. Mrs. Williams had been in bad health for several weeks, but a few days ago contracted a severe case of pneumonia and in spite of the best medical skill, aided by affectionate nursing by kind friends, death came and relieved her of her sufferings which she has borne with patience and fortitude throughout her long illness.

The remains was interred in the city cemetery Thursday afternoon at 4 o'clock, the funeral services being conducted by Rev. R. C. Williams of the Methodist church.

Source: Holmes County Advertiser, Bonifay, Florida, Saturday, November 26, 1910
Transcribed by Mona Spears

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Uncle Steve Dead

Uncle Steve Williams, one of the old-time darkies and for a number of years past the family servant of W. L. Sessoms, died of acute indigestion at his home on the colored section of the city last Sunday about noon. He was sick for only a day or so and the news of his death caused general regret among the white folks while members of his own race were overwhelmed with grief, for "Uncle Steve" was a leading man among his people in religious and fraternal matters and so lived that he enjoyed the esteem and friendship of the white people as well as colored. The remains were interred in the colored cemetery Monday morning with Odd Fellow honors, the services being attended by practically every colored resident of the city. The Masonic order of which he was a faithful members, will hold services at his graveside some time next month.

Source: Holmes County Advertiser, Bonifay, Florida, Saturday, October 12, 1912
Transcribed by Mona Spears

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Mr W Ralph Williams, Sr, age 90 of Chipley, died Sunday, Feb 14, 1999 at his home. He was the son the late Nix and Jennie Gainer Williams of Chipley. He never met a stranger, and he enjoyed discussing sports and farming with anyone who shared his interests. He remained an active farmer until the end of his life. In addition to farming, he worked for many years as a substitute rural mail carrier. He was a lifelong resident of Washington County where he graduated from high school and participated on the varsity baseball and football teams. He took pride in his family's long history in the Panhandle of Florida. As a direct descendant of Andrew Elton Williams, he traced his family back to one of the pioneering families of this area who settled near Campbelton in 1809. He enjoyed attending the Williams Family Reunion every year at Galilee Church near Graceville. An active member of the First United Methodist Church of Chipley, he remembered his father and grandfather participating in the construction of the present church.

Funeral services were held on Feb 16, at the First United Methodist Church with the Rev John King and the Rev John Dickinson officiating and Brown Funeral Home directing.

Survivors include his wife of 61 years Janie Livingston Williams of the Washington County Convalescent Center; daughter Jeannie Williams McCall (husband R Dale) of Wilmington, North Carolina; son W R (Bill) Williams, Jr (wife Laverne) of Chipley; grandchildren Chad Williams (wife Keisha); Jennifer Williams; Boyd Williams; and Jonathan McCall; great-grandchild Kristeen Elizabeth Williams.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Carole Sue (1942); brother Milton Williams, a Methodist minister; sisters Clarice Williams Armstrong, Jahaza Williams May, both of Chipley and Bernice Williams Seay of Enterprise, Alabama.

His family will cherish his memory as an honorable man who was faithful and devoted to his wife, family, and church.

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

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Mrs Willow Creel Wilson, age 88, of the Poplar Springs community, died Friday, March 19, 1999 at the Campbellton-Graceville Hospital following an extended illness.

Mrs Wilson was born in Noma, Florida on Dec 18, 190 to the late Charley and Bobbie Creel. She was a homemaker and a member of Burns Assembly of God Church.

Funeral services were held Monday, March 22 at the Chapel of James and Lipford Funeral Home with the Rev Edwin Bell and the Rev James Henderson officiating. Burial followed in Marvin Chapel Cemetery with James and Lipford Funeral Home of Graceville directing.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband J B Wilson; son Willie J Wilson, George F Wilson, and Tom Foy Glen Wilson.

Survivors include sons Gene Wilson and James Wilson, both of Winter Haven, Florida and Huie Wilson of Dothan, Alabama; brothers James Creel of Newville, Alabama, Charles Creel of Altha, Florida, Clarence Creel of Two Egg, Florida; sisters Ouida Chumney and Betty Mize, both of Greenville, Florida; 22 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren.

Source: Holmes County Advertiser, Bonifay FL, Wednesday, March 24, 19994; transcribed by Cathy Strickland Popp

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Man Drowns in Well.

Hosie H Woods, a prominent resident of Cottondale, was drowned in a well Wednesday when he attempted to go down in the well for the purpose of cleaning it out. He had descended but a short distance before he was overcome by the poisonous gases arising from the well and losing his grip on the rope fell into the water about thirteen feet deep. Woods was rescued two hours later by Rev Gay, who displayed great braver in going down in the well after several other had failed. All efforts to revive Woods failed.

Source: Holmes County Advertiser, Bonifay, Florida, Friday, Aug. 20, 1915
Transcribed by Mona Spears, April 1999

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Mr Lawrence Worley, age 82, of Chipley, passed away on Wednesday, Jan 21, 1999 in Dothan, Alabama. He had been a resident of Chipley since 1965 after coming from St Petersburg, Florida. He was a Methodist by faith and a member of the First United Methodist Church in Chipley. He played rhythm guitar with the Moonlighters in Dothan, Alabama.

Graveside services were held on Jan 22 at Glenwood Cemetery with the rev John Dickinson officiating, burial followed in the Glenwood Cemetery, Brown Funeral Home directing. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to may make donations to the charity of their choice.

Survivors include his wife: Lureline Worley of Chipley; son: Richard and wife Carole A Worley of Chipley, grandchildren: Lynn Hill and Laura Mody; and great-grandchildren Jacob and Eli Hill and Harlie and Paige Moody.

Source: Holmes County Advertiser/Washington County Post, Wednesday, January 17, 1999; Page 19

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Mr Maurice Wynn, age 89, of Chipley, passed away Jan 11 1999 in the Northwest Florida Community Hospital in Chipley. He was a life-long resident of Washington County; a Steward, Trustee and Superintendent of Grant Tabernacle A M E Church; a member of Bethel Masonic Lodge and a retried employee of Southern Bell.

Funeral service was Jan 16 at Grant Tabernacle A M E Church in Chipley with the Rev J W Tisdale officiating. Internment followed in the Northside Cemetery in Chipley with Cooper Funeral Home directing.

Survivors include his sons and daughters-in-law: Hurbert and Erma Wynn, Maurice Wynn Jr., Charles and Queen Wynn, all of Ft Pierce, Florida, David and Felicia Wynn of Columbus, Ohio; daughters and sons-in-law: Edith and Lawrence Beasley of Chipley, Ana Lois Ferrell, Raynetta Wynn, both of Orlando, Florida, Danice and Jaffice Donaldson of Tampa, Florida and Edna Corey of Jacksonville, Florida; sister: Rosa Lee Wynn OF Chipley and a large number of other relatives and friends.

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

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