Caralee “Teeny”
Williams Venters

Caralee “Teeny” Williams Venters passed away at her home in the early hours of Sunday morning, July 26, 2015.  She was born in Opelika on June 21, 1921, to Mary Fanny Ellington Williams and John Winfield Williams.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Andrew Lamar Venters and her older sister, Anne Williams Littleton Canon.  She graduated from Opelika High School and attended Montevallo and Auburn University.
She is survived by her daughter, Mary Wynn Roper (David); granddaughter, Shannon Melia-Lorraine Tyree; son, John Andrew Venter (Barbara); grandson, Michael Andrew Venters; granddaughters, Lauren Taylor Venters; her beloved nephew, John Winfield Littleton (Joanie); and her treasured dog, Bo.
Her home, her family, and her friends were always at the center of her heart and her universe.  She married Lieutenant Andrew Lamar Venters at Trinity Methodist Church on June 17, 1944, at a ceremony officiated by her father-in-law, the Reverend Walter Hay Venters.  That union took her away from home to Baltimore, Maryland, and Berlin, Stuttgart, and Kaiserslautern, Germany, for over 15 years, but the bond to Opelika and loved ones only grew stronger; and she returned to live in her childhood home in June of 1964.
Her close-knit community included her many cousins, her companions in the bridge club, and the group of friends known as the “the crowd,” all of whom, with us now in life or in spirit, have been an unflagging source of friendship and support to Teeny and her family.
In Her last years, she was cared for by very special ladies, her caregivers Johnnie Mae Williams, Subrina Smith, Gwen Scott, Rosalind Torbert and Tylene McLeod.
Memorial service was held 11:00 a.m. Thursday, July 30, 2015, at the First United Methodist Church of Opelika with visitation following the service at the church.
Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home is directed.
www.jeffcoattrant.com.

Susan Wylene Long

Funeral service for Susan Wylene Long was 3 p.m., Thursday, July 30, 2015, at Jeffcoat-Trant Chapel.  Pastor Mark Carlock officiated. Visitation will begin at 1:30 p.m. at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home.  Burial will be at Garden Hills Cemetery.
Miss Long passed away at her home on Sunday, July 26, in the Beauregard Community where she went to be with our Heavenly Father.  She was born July 17, 1951, in Opelika.  She was a life-long resident of Opelika since her birth to Pink “Junior” Long, Jr., and Bertha Kathleen Worley Long.
Susan graduated from Beauregard High School in 1969 and continued her education at Opelika Technical School majoring in accounting.  She worked at First National Bank from 1971 to 1998 and then began working with BancorpSouth Bank in 1998 until her retirement in 2013.
Being a faithful member of Society Hill Baptist Church, she served as the music leader and was involved with Vacation Bible School.  She was a member of the Lee County Pilot Club serving in many capacities.  Susan will always be known as an avid reader enjoying a cup of coffee and a good book at Books-A-Million, discussing plot lines of recent movies.
She is survived by her siblings, Brenda Messer (Benny) of Dothan, Eddie Long (Toni), and Tina McKibben (Eddy) both of Opelika; 5 nieces and nephews, 4 great nieces and nephews, and 3 great-great nieces and nephews.  Never having any children of her own, her siblings shared their children with her.  She loved them all and was very proud of each one.  She also leaves behind many cousins and special friends.  Susan was a very caring, loving sister aunt, and friend.  Our love for her remains.  She will be sorely missed.
Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home & Crematory is directed.
www.jeffcoattrant.com

Wayne Teague

Wayne Teague, 87, passed away peacefully Sunday, July 26, 2015, at his home in Auburn, Alabama. He was born in Cullman, Alabama, on November 19, 1927, to Levi Wade and Floy Teague.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Josephine Teague; daughter, Karen Teague Delano; and son, Dewey Wayne Teague and his wife, Valerie; his brother, Buck (Karen) Teague.  He is also survived by seven grandchildren, Hilary (Reece) Powell, Wade (Stephanie) Delano, Dylan (Ashley) Teague, Jacie Teague, Alex Teague, Ashton Teague, Dalton Teague, and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his siblings, Wade Milton Teague and Eleanor Teague.
Dr. Teague spent his professional career as a teacher, coach, administrator and superintendent in Alabama and Georgia. He served as Alabama’s State Superintendent of Education for 20 years from 1975 – 1995. His personal and professional experiences in education and in life provided the foundations for the principle beliefs and leadership practices that guided him during his time as the third longest standing state superintendent of education in the United States. Among his most prominent actions were the development of the Plan of Excellence; Kindergarten Program; educator evaluations; and the 1985 Bond Issue. He steadfastly kept children as the focus as he displayed integrity, compassion and hard work.
Dr. Teague’s love of Auburn began when he enrolled in Auburn University in 1947 after serving his country in the U.S. Air Force. He was proud to serve on the Board of Trustees at Auburn University during his term as State Superintendent.  As a true Auburn man, he believed in Auburn and loved it. He was most proud of the family that he and Josephine started in 1949. He will be missed by scores of friends and colleagues.
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to Loachapoka United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 157, Loachapoka, AL  36865.
A memorial service was held July 28  at 3 p.m. at Auburn United Methodist Church with a visitation from 1-2p.m. at Hamill Court at AUMC.
Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home & Crematory directed.
www.jeffcoattrant.com

Tim Harrington

Funeral services for Timothy Lee Harrington, 40, of Opelika, Alabama, were held at 3 p.m., Wednesday, July 29, 2015, at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home Chapel. Visitation was from 1p.m.- 3 p.m., prior to service. Interment followed at Garden Hills Cemetery. Reverend Earl Ballard and Reverend Bill Kierce officiated.
Tim passed away Saturday, July 25, 2015, at East Alabama Medical Center.  A lifelong resident of Opelika, he was born on April 22, 1975, and graduated from Opelika High School where he played football.  He went on to receive a technical degree from Southern Union State Community College.
Tim was a loving husband and father. Second only to his family, his joy in life was to share and enjoy the outdoors and sports with his children, family and friends.  He was generous with his time and loved taking kids fishing and hunting, teaching them the skills he had learned in his lifetime outdoors. Tim also dedicated many hours to coaching the football and baseball teams his children were a part of.  His easy going countenance made him a friend to all who knew him.
Tim is survived by his wife, April Swarthout Harrington; sons, Austin D. Harrington and Clayton G. Harrington; daughter, Anna Gail Harrington; parents, Larry and Denise Harrington; sister, Tina (James) Merritt; grandmother, Ann “MawMaw” Keith; in-laws, Jack and Gail Swarthout; sister-in-law, Carol S. (Rusty) Robinson; nieces, Miranda Harrington, Patricia Harrington and Savanna Merritt; nephews, Trey Owens, Russell Robinson; great-nephew, Nathan Glass and his life-long friend, fishing and hunting buddy, Jeff Gamble, as well as a host of loving aunts, uncles and cousins.  In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, Trinity United Methodist Church or the charity of your choice.
Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home & Crematory directed.
www.jeffcoattrant.com

Martha Mullins Hardy

Martha Mullins Hardy was born to Clyde and Helen Mullins on July 21, 1940, in Jenkins, Kentucky.  She is preceded in death by her parents, her sister Clydette Huddleston, and her husband, E. Howard Hardy. She is survived by two sisters, Sammy Jo Baker (Mack) of Gate City, VA, and Lura Van Tine (Jim) of Miamisburg, OH; a brother-in-law, Frazier Huddleston (Clydette) of Cincinnati, OH; as well as many nieces and nephews.  Her family includes her four children, Katrina (Joel) Calleiro of Hampton, GA; Jenny of Auburn, AL; Greg (Cary) of Hoover, AL; and Rebecca (Ben) Barley of Auburn, AL; and five grandchildren.
Martha graduated from Taylor University in 1962. After orking in early education in various states, she settled her family to Auburn in 1976.  She began providing child care services in 1978, which grew into Hardy’s Creative ChildCare, a business that served families in the Auburn area for 37 years. While working at Child Care Resource Center, Martha served as a trainer for other area childcare providers. She also served on several boards and councils that focused on improving the quality of care for young children.  In 2001, Martha was recognized by the UAB Civitan International Research Center with the Champion For Children Award.
Martha was an avid reader of books, both for learning and for pleasure.  Her house was her favorite place in the world, and she was constantly improving it.  She had a passion for ornithology, and would enjoy her morning coffee on her back porch while observing the various birds.  However, Martha’s greatest pleasure was her family, and her house was the gathering place, creating wonderful family traditions and memories.
Martha battled multiple myeloma for four years, passing away on July 21, 2015.  The family would like to thank the physicians, nurses and other medical professionals at East Alabama Medical Center and The University of Alabama at Birmingham for their amazing care and compassion.
A service celebrating Martha’s life was held on Saturday, July 25 at Jeffcoat-Trant funeral home, 1500 Fredrick Road, Opelika, AL 36801. Visitation began at 10 am and the funeral service followed at 11 am. Father John Wells Warren officiated.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials go to Lee County Partnership for Children care of Luellen Bishop of Auburn Bank, P.O. Drawer 3110, Auburn, AL 36831, or EAMC Cancer Center Foundation Fund, 2000 Pepperell Parkway, Opelika, AL 36801.
Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home and Crematory directed.
www.jeffcoattrant.com