RONALD “RONNIE” SHELL COON
It is with a heavy heart to announce the passing of Mr. Ronald Shell Coon, 77, on Sept. 6, 2024, at East Alabama Medical Center.
Ronnie was born March 11, 1947, in Selma. He was preceded in death by his father, Charles Coon Sr., and his beloved mother, Josephene Coon; two brothers, Charles Coon Jr. and Homer George Coon; and two sisters, Johnie Mae Brown and Gaynell Schlabach.
In the last several years of his life, he met the “love of his life,” Sue Cole, and they were “over the moon” happy. It was wonderful to witness the love that they shared together.
Although he never had children of his own, he was “Uncle Ronnie” to a whole host of other people’s children.
When he was a younger man, he worked as a technician for the Coca-Cola Bottling Co. He knew everybody and the locations of every Coca-Cola machine he ever serviced or filled.
He will be missed by more people than he could have ever imagined and has left empty holes in more hearts that he could have realized.
A memorial service was held Sept. 8, with Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home assisting the family with arrangements.
JAMES “JIM” STEPHEN KAMINSKY
James “Jim” Stephen Kaminsky passed away Sept. 4, 2024, at age 79. Jim was born in Minne-apolis, Minnesota, on Aug. 23, 1945. After spending a happy childhood there, he attended the University of Minnesota, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1967. He contin-ued his education at Michigan State University, where he earned a Master of Arts in 1969 and a Ph.D. in 1973.
After teaching in elementary school for a few years, Jim moved to Australia, where he met and married his first wife, Bonnie. During his time “down under” Jim was a professor at the University of New England, as well as associate dean. He wrote a textbook and served as ex-ecutive editor of “Educational Philosophy and Theory,” a journal of the Philosophy of Edu-cation Society of Australasia.
After the birth of their daughter, Jessica, Jim and Bonnie returned to the United States. They moved to Auburn in the late 1980s, intending to be here only a few years, with Jim teaching at Auburn University. He served as department head from 1992 through 2001 and was actively involved in the Southeast Philosophy of Education Society. Professional honors included AU’s Authors Cup and the 2005 SGA Outstanding College of Education Professor award. After Bonnie’s untimely death in 2005, Jim married Julie Boggan in 2007. In 2009, he was awarded the Mildred Cheshire Fraley Distinguished Professorship. Upon his retirement, he was granted the status of Professor Emeritus in the Department of Educational Founda-tions, Leadership, and Technology.
Jim was predeceased by his parents, sister Mary and his first wife, Bonnie. He is survived by his current wife, Julie, and her children, Anella Nicole DiVito, John Michael Schutta (Brittany) and Regina Michelle Schutta; his daughter, Jessica and her husband, John, and their chil-dren, James Atticus Glassmire and Jantzen Finch Glassmire.
A memorial service was held Sept. 6 at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home of Opelika. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to one’s favorite charity.
NANCY L. BORDEAUX
Nancy L. Bordeaux (Dennison) was born Sept. 20, 1950, and passed away Sept. 4, 2024, at the age of 73.
Funeral services were held Sept. 9 at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home of Opelika, followed by a short graveside service at Morris Chappell Church.
Nancy is survived by her husband, Michael Haynes Bordeaux; daughter, Shondila Hearn; and son, Andrew James Howard. She also has seven grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. She was a loving mother and grandmother. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
DONALD WAYNE DYE JR.
Donald Wayne Dye Jr., 62, of Phenix City was born Oct. 28, 1961, and passed away on Sept. 4, 2024.
Donald is survived by his two daughters and grandchildren, as well as other family and friends. He will be missed dearly by his loved ones.
Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home of Opelika assisted the family with arrangements.
GLENDA BRADLEY
Glenda Ree Grantham Bradley went to meet her Savior on Sept. 5, 2024, surrounded by her family at Bethany House.
She was born Oct. 14, 1924, in Red Level, the second of six children of Grohner F. and Nettie Merrell Grantham. She grew up during the Depression, the daughter of a farmer/Primitive Baptist Preacher. She graduated valedictorian of her class in 1942 and went to work at Eglin Field during World War II. After the war, she attended API (now AU), graduating Phi Kappa Phi in 1948 with a degree in Home Economics. Along the way, she met William Warner Brad-ley, and they wed in June of 1948. They were both slated to become teachers. Glenda taught briefly at Auburn High School, then they both moved for teaching jobs in Pleasant Home, Alabama. They taught there for about 18 months, had their first child and returned to Au-burn to farm the family land in 1952. In Auburn, they completed their family with four more children. Then, as a single mom, Glenda went to work at Auburn University’s Poultry Sci-ence Department. She obtained her master’s degree in microbiology in 1966 and was cho-sen to oversee and operate Auburn’s first and only electron microscope. She retired from AU after 27 years. She was always active in her church and community and was a positive influ-ence on all who knew her. She placed her trust in our Heavenly Father, who made her, re-deemed her, sustained her and carried her through almost 100 years of life.
She was preceded in death by her parents, four siblings, her youngest son Frank, two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She is survived by her sister, Anne Hugghins; daughters, Beth (Pete) Landreth and Joan (Sonny) Moreman; son, Bill (Susan) Bradley and daughter, Glen Jones; grandchildren, Sasha (Bill) Shallock, Kate (Caleb) Petty, Richard (Missy) Landreth, Hank (Susan) Moreman, Brad (Gina) Moreman, Sarah Elizabeth Moreman, Josie (Luke) Stamps, Warner (Andrea Johnson) Bradley, Anna (Dan Facklam) Bradley, Stephanie (Stacey) Shirey, Susan (Jamie) East, Jessica (Carlos) Talavera, Dianna Bradley and Danika Bradley; 23 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. She was looking forward to welcoming twin great-grandchildren and a great-great grandson in December.
“Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on…that they may rest from their labors for their deeds follow them.” Revelation 14:13
A funeral was held Sept. 9 at Lakeview Baptist Church in Auburn, with Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home of Opelika assisting the family with arrangements.
Instead of flowers, donations to Lakeview Baptist Church’s Lottie Moon fund or Benevo-lence Fund would be greatly appreciated and would honor her commitment to God’s work on earth.
GENE M. MILLER
Gene Meredith Miller, age 95, of Auburn died Sept. 2, 2024. Born Jan. 5, 1929, in Effingham, Illinois and raised in Springfield, Illinois, Gene lived 35 years in Atlanta and had been a resi-dent of Auburn since 2003.
He retired from Equifax Corporate Headquarters in 1990 after 33 years of service. He was a member of the Associated Credit Bureaus of America National Education Committee and an instructor of credit bureau management at the Credit Bureau and Merchant Association Management Institutes at The University of North Carolina, The University of Georgia and Florida State University. He was a Certified Associate of MDOR, The Institute for Managerial Development and Organizational Research, Los Angeles.
He was a United States Navy veteran of nine years, Petty Officer First Class serving from 1948 to 1957 in various roles including plane captain on PBM and P5M Flying Boats, flight engi-neer with the first “hurricane hunters,” testing air to air radar, and serving aboard the aircraft carrier USS Tarawa.
Gene and Doris Elaine Rankin first met in Orlando, Florida, at the home of Doris’ sister Joyce. It was truly “love at first sight,” and then “in love forever.” They were married just seven months later, in February 1958, by Doris’ father, Rev. H.P. Rankin. Gene and Doris moved fre-quently to several cities where he served as branch manager of Equifax offices, including Orlando, Miami, West Palm Beach and Anniston before he became regional manager and later assistant vice president at Equifax corporate headquarters in Atlanta.
Gene and Doris were tennis enthusiasts and enjoyed traveling as a couple, visiting most of the states in the US, including Alaska and Hawaii, as well as the Bahamas, Bermuda, Cana-dian Provinces, Mexico, Central America and Caribbean Cruises, England, Italy, Switzerland, Eastern Europe and the Balkans.
In addition to his loving wife of 66 years, he is survived by a son, Markham C. Miller and wife Kirsten and their children Sylvan, Kelly, and AnnElise of Eden Prairie, Minnesota; daughter Laura L. Miller and husband Peter Lerwill of Auburn and their daughter Alexis Nguyen of Houston, Texas; daughter Dara L. Miller and her children Madelaine Duggan and Connor Duggan of Auburn; sister-in-law, Charlotte Harris; three nieces, two nephews and special caregiver, Amy Creamer.
Gene was a member of The American Legion and a member of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. A service was held at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Auburn on Sept. 11, followed by a private graveside service at Town Creek Cemetery. Frederick-Dean Funeral Home of Opelika assisted the family with arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the East Alabama Food Bank or to Disabled American Veterans.
ABIGAIL MORGAN WALLS
Abigail’s testimony:
“When I look back at my life before Christ, pain is the first thing that comes to mind. My life was marked with self-hatred that motivated most of my decisions. I considered suicide many times.
My world revolved around me and what I was feeling, how I would cover it up, and constantly trying to figure out how to make it better in my own strength. I spent a lot of time punishing myself, numbing the pain, and choosing the worst relationships. The only real dream I had was of motherhood. The moment it all changed was when I thought of bringing a child into the life I was living and it broke me. The Lord used the children I didn’t have at the time to save my life. I made the decision to turn to Jesus and go all in on Him. I laid down my mess of a life at the foot of the cross. Since that day my life has never been the same. I’m no longer the center of my tory. The Lord is. His love is restoring me. He has covered me with grace and mercy. I’ve witnessed many miracles — two of them being my children I now have that He used just the thought of to save my life years ago. I’m married to a man of God by the loving grace of God.
My life has not gotten easier since that day, but it is better. Even as I walk out a cancer diagnosis my greatest heart’s desire is to let this story be written by God and for God. He is the only one who can heal me and that alone makes Him so worthy. The Lord is increasing my faith.
I’m learning more and more about his nature. This has been one of the most challenging seasons of my life, but I believe it’s a healing journey; not just physically, but also spiritually, mentally and generationally. All of this is for more people to see him, know him and experience the life changing love of laying it all at his feet, at the foot of the cross. Jesus Wins is truly the headline of this story.” ~ Abigail
Abigail, aged 33, was healed on Sept. 4, 2024, at her home in Auburn. Her family was the most important thing to her and she is survived by her loving husband, Jason Walls and her two beautiful children who were the joys of her life, her daughter, Willow and her son, Luca, her mother, Rebecca Griffith; father, Brad Williams; sister, Amber Jordan; and brother, Aaron Williams.
Born on April 21, 1991, Abigail’s life was characterized by her devotion to her family and her faith. Her favorite thing in life was people. Abigail truly loved to just be in constant community with others. If you knew her, you’d agree. Here’s what a few close to her had to say:
“Abigail was the type of friend that saw you through the eyes of Jesus, not others. She was non-judgmental and compassionate which allowed you to be your full transparent self around her. She had the ability to lift you up when you were feeling down. She loved others and loved them well.”
“Abigail’s authenticity and vulnerability naturally drew people to her, and if you were blessed to be her close friend, you would experience a fierce love. Her calm, easy presence and encouraging, honest words over my life have been like Jesus speaking truth over me.”
“She loved with every ounce of her being and she had such compassion for all people, alway believing in the good for those around her.”
“Abigail had a way of finding a joke out of any situation to make people laugh. She didn’t eve have to try, she was just unapologetically herself and that’s what I loved about her.”
“Abigail exuded joy and laughter. Her laugh will always echo in my head as contagious. She loved a joke and never met a stray.”
Her compassion for others overflowed into every area of her life including her choice of career in becoming a hairstylist. She cared deeply about those who had the privilege over the years to sit in her chair, always wanting them to leave feeling better about themselves than when they first came in. She didn’t only see the best in people, she also had a deep affection for animals and always took the chance to be surrounded by them. Every inch of her being exuded tender heartedness for all of God’s creation and those closest to her never doubted the love she had for them as she made sure to remind them of it often.
Although, Abigail, as she mentioned above in her testimony, battled a hard season of self doub in earlier years of her life one thing is clear after watching her walk out this last season before going Home…she did NOT let her past define her and instead wanted nothing more than for everyone around her to witness that despite her sickness, she finally knew who God created her to be and the love He has for her and all of his children. If there is one thing she wanted to make sure that everyone remembers about her life, it’s this…
“Jesus Wins is truly the headline of this story.” – Abigail Walls
A time of celebration and worship in Abigail’s honor will take place on Saturday, Sept. 14 at Auburn Community Church (323 Airport Road, Auburn, AL) beginning at 10 a.m. CT.
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” – John 1:5
MARGARET RUNELL DOBBS-BELCHER
Margaret Runell Dobbs-Belcher passed away September 6, 2024. Ms. Margaret was born March 13,1934 to the late William Oliver Dobbs and Arlene ( Bill) Ingram. For over 50 years of her life, Margaret served the Lord by teaching Sunday school to 3 and 4 yr olds. First at Northside Baptist and then at Providence Baptist. She truly loved the little children and was never prouder than when they could all sing Jesus Loves Me.
Margaret married Gordon Belcher and together they had 7 children. Wanda, Mike, Larry, Randy, Sandy, Kathy and Paula. She instilled in us the Love of God, the Love of Music and the Love for our brothers and sisters. Work ethic was also a very important part of our lives. She wanted her children to be self-reliant, strong and ready to face the world. She was very successful at achieving her goals because she led by example. She was truly one of the strongest, most independent and most determined women of the world. I am most proud of my mother and her accomplishments.
Margaret leaves behind a host of children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, Nieces and Nephews. It is her most heartfelt desire that they would come to Love the Lord Jesus so she will see them again in Heaven.
