Robert B. Coulter
Robert B. Coulter, 80, passed away Feb. 16, 2015. Born Nov. 18, 1934, in Columbia, S.C., he grew up in Waycross, Ga., and graduated from Auburn University in 1957.
He retired from Uniroyal Tire Company Oct. 1, 1987, and retired from Auburn University in 2003, after serving in the U.S. Army six months at Ft. Jackson, S.C., and seven months at Ft. Bragg, N.C.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Matt Coulter in 2008.
Survivors include children Lori Falter of Littleton, Colo., Liz (John) Geiss of Flower Mound, Texas, and Boyd (Amy) Coulter of Opelika; four grandchildren, Justin and Rachel Geiss and Cole and Alexis Coulter.
Viewing was held from 6-8 p.m. Feb. 19 at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home.
Funeral service was held at 1 p.m., Friday, Feb. 20, at Jeffcoat-Trant Chapel with Dr. Chris Duncan officiating. Interment followed at Garden Hills Cemetery.
The family respectfully declined the gift of flowers and suggested memorials be directed to Trinity Presbyterian Church Building Fund, 1010 India Road, Opelika, AL 36801.
David Neal Martin
Graveside service for David Neal Martin, 66, of Auburn was Thursday, Feb. 26 at noon at Auburn Memorial Park Cemetery. Dr. Shirley Dempsey, Chaplain, officiated. Visitation was Wednesday from 5-7 p.m. at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home.
Mr. Martin, who died Sunday, Feb. 22, in Atmore was born Sept. 2, 1948, in Opelika. Mr. Martin was a sergeant in the Army Special Forces, served in Vietnam, retired from Alagasco, owned Martin’s Mobile Home Services and owned Martin’s Heating and Air.
He is preceded in death by his parents, William F. Martin and Estelle Huggins Martin, and son John David Martin. Survivors include his wife Stacey Martin; daughters, Sandy Martin (Terrence) Green and Rana Rentfrow; sister, Mary Ann (Phillip) Hadaway; brother, Ronnie (Betty) Martin; grandchildren, Brittanie Martin, Whittanie Porter, Brandy Randolph and Alexis Reese; great-grandchildren, Kennidi Brown and Yung Brown; and nephew Jeffery Frazier.
Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home directed. www.jeffcoattrant.com.
Martha Janice
Edwards Pace
Janice Edwards Pace, 80 years of age, widow of the late T. Emil Pace, passed away Feb. 23 in Auburn. She was a lifelong resident of Auburn.
Visitation was Feb. 25, from 5-7 p.m. at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home. Services were Feb. 26 at 1:30 p.m. at Jeffcoat Chapel with Dr. George Mathison and the Rev. Charles Cummings officiating. Burial was in Auburn Memorial Cemetery beside her late husband.
Mrs. Pace graduated from Beauregard High School as salutatorian of her class and went on to graduate from Opelika Technical College. She will always be remembered for her days when she was a cheerleader at Beauregard High School. Her special friend, Steve Penland, remembers when she was a member of the Opelika Recreational Softball Team.
She was employed with a real Estate, Insurance and Accounting Office for 15 years before going to work for South Central Bell/A T & T. She retired from AT&T with 28 years of service as a Supervisor/Manager. After retirement, she was employed with Auburn University, Telecom/ETV for nine years. She left the University to be a caregiver for her sick husband, the late T. Emil Pace.
Janice was a member of Auburn United Methodist Church, Moores Mill Club, Telcom Pioneers, and a widow of Charter member T. Emil Pace of the No. 57 Auburn-Opelika Elks Lodge No. 1834.
She was predeceased by her parents, Martha and Oscar Edwards, a sister and brother-in-law, Zelda and Robert Carroll, and brothers, Milo Edwards and Irvin Edwards.
She is survived by sisters, Marian (Tom) Givens of Lilburn, Ga., and Betty Boynton of Northport; a special nephew, Greg T. Carroll of Montgomery; numerous nieces and nephews; and special friends Chip, Debra, and Randy Ransom.
Flowers are accepted or your memorial gift can be made to Auburn United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 3135, Auburn, AL 36831 or to Elks Club 1834, P.O. Box 864, Auburn, AL 36831.
Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home directed. www.jeffcoattrant.com.
Hubert Green Adkins
Born Dec. 29, 1914, in Enterprise to Albert B. Adkins and Francis Leona Strickland Adkins, Hubert passed away on Feb. 15, 2015 at the age of 100. He was preceded in death by his parents and six siblings; brothers, Coy and Harry Adkins, and sisters, Carmen Wentworth, Floyd Austin, Francis Adkins and Dorothy Pence.
He is survived by his wife, Susie Adkins, two sons, Rudy Adkins (Brenda) and John Adkins (Loretta); his sister Lois Lindsey; five grandchildren, Cindy Vaille, Angela McKee, Pam Brown, Scott Adkins and Steven Adkins; and eight great-grandchildren, Collin Vaille, Caitlin Vaille, Ciaran Vaille, Jordan Creath, Jacob McKee, Avery Brown, Steel Adkins and Aurora Adkins.
Due to the death of his father, Hubert dropped out of high school and went to work in the textile mill in Enterprise to help support his mother and his siblings.
In 1932 he worked on the government’s CWA/WPA programs and then the CCC in 1933 in Brewton. Hubert and his brother, Coy, came to Opelika in 1934 and found work at the Pepperell textile mill, where he continued to work for 46 years until his retirement in 1980. He married Susie Smallwood in 1941, and they have celebrated 73 years of marriage.
Services were at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home, 1500 Frederick Road, Opelika, at 1 p.m. Feb. 21 with visitation beginning at 11:30 a.m.
Simon Abram “Abe” Gray
Funeral service for Mr. Simon Abram “Abe” Gray, 71, of Atlanta, Ga., was held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25, at Bethesda Missionary Baptist Church with interment in Memory Hill Cemetery.
The eulogist was the Rev. George Bandy. Pastor David Stallion is the pastor.
Mr. Gray, a native of Opelika, passed Wednesday, Feb. 18, at home in Atlanta, Ga. He was a former member of Bethesda Missionary Baptist Church.
In 1961, he graduated from J.W. Darden High School, and in 1965 he graduated from Tuskegee Institute in the school of Architect.
Mr. Gray was a U.S. Navy veteran.
The family received family and friends Tuesday at 6 p.m. His remains laid in state at the church one hour prior to the service.
Survivors include his loving and devoted former wife, Virginia Gray of Atlanta, Ga.; two sons, Michael Jones and Charles Jones, both of Atlanta, Ga.; ten grandchildren; three siblings, Lurene (Bobby) Effat of Fayetteville, Ga., Gabriel (Earnestine) Gray of College Park, Ga., and Councilman Larry Gray of Opelika; seven nieces; and a host of cousins, other relatives and friends.
Peterson and Williams Funeral Home directed. www.petersonandwilliamsfuneralhome.com
Lee Young
Lamar Jr.
Auburn Fire Chief Lee Young Lamar Jr., 54, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 18 at East Alabama Medical Center after battling cancer. Chief Lamar was born in Tuskegee April 25, 1960, and lived his entire life in Lee County.
Chief Lamar is survived by his wife, Anne Streeter Lamar; son, Zachary Lee Lamar; father, Lee Y. Lamar Sr.; sisters Mary Jane “Jay” Lamar (William B. Turner) and Katie Lamar Jackson (Kevin); brother-in-law, Paul Streeter (Bonnie); mother-in-law Virginia Streeter; numerous nieces and nephews; and his Fire Division and City of Auburn family.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Gail Renfroe Lamar, and his father-in-law, Richard Streeter.
A visitation was held Feb. 21 at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church beginning at 1 p.m. followed immediately by a memorial service at 3 p.m. in the church sanctuary. Father Geoff Evans and Dr. George Mathison officiated. Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home directed. www.jeffcoattrant.com.
The family suggested donations be made to the Salvation Army, EAMC Cancer Center or the Lee County Humane Society.
Rufus Jerry Lawler
Memorial service for Rufus Jerry Lawler, 71, of Tallassee was held at 1 p.m. Feb. 25 at Pepperell Baptist Church with the Rev. Mike Newman officiating. Visitation for family only was held at noon at the church prior to the service.
Mr. Lawler passed away Feb. 20 at Tallassee Health and Rehabilitation Center in Tallassee. He was born Feb. 2, 1944.
Mr. Lawler was preceded in death by his parents, Rufus Lawler and Annie Lawler, and sister Judy Bogler. Survivors include his wife, Orrie Ann Garrett Lawler; daughter Teresa Thompson; sister Faye Amoroso; two grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations be directed to Pepperell Baptist Church.
Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home is directing.
Jeffere Daniel Young
Funeral service for Jeffere Daniel Young, 51, of Five Points was held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25 at Jeffcoat-Trant Chapel. The Rev. Shirley Medica officiated. Burial was held in Garden Hills Cemetery. Visitation was Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home.
Mr. Young passed away at his home Feb. 22. He was born Sept. 30, 1963, in Lee County. He was a native of Opelika and had lived in LaGrange and Five Points. He was an avid outdoorsman.
Mr. Young is survived by his wife Debra Hendrix Young of Five Points; parents Paul and Tina Young of Dadeville; brother Bradley D. Young of Opelika; sons Rodney (Teresa) Knott of Roanoke and Stephen (Jennifer) Knott; six grandchildren, Jacob, S.J. Allie, Breanna, Hunter and Olivia; and special aunts, uncles and cousins.
Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home directed. www.jeffcoattrant.com.
Janie Kate Smith
Janie Kate Smith, 87, of LaFayette, passed away Feb. 21, 2015.
She was preceded in death by her son, James C. (Jimmy) Smith Jr.
Kate is survived by her husband of 70 years, James C. (Carl) Smith Sr., her daughters, Myrtle S. Smedley and Arlene Odom; her grandchildren, Teresa S. Herren (Jamie), Brandon Smith, Jason Odom, Renee S. Davis (Daniel) and Justin Smith; and several great-grandchildren, Lauren and Andrew Davis, Zach Smith, Stephen (Billie Jean), Jonathan (Hayley), Amanda and Ty Herren.
She is also survived by two sisters, Ann Adcox and Frances Trimble; and close family friends Brenda Smith, Becky Vinsant and Frances Hope.
Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home handled the arrangements. www.jeffcoattrant.com.
A graveside service for Kate was held at Garden Hills Cemetery in Opelika Tuesday, Feb. 24, at 11 a.m.