MAUDIE RHODES ATES
Maudie Rhodes Ates, 90, died in Opelika on Oct. 19, 2024. She was born at home in Nokomis, Alabama, on Aug. 3, 1934.
Maudie graduated from Escambia County High School in Atmore and from Secretarial School in Birmingham. She held jobs at Chemstrand Corp. in Pensacola, Florida, and Escambia Academy in Atmore. Her primary job, however, and the one to which she gave herself completely, was being the wife of William F. “Buck” Ates for 51 years, mama to Melisa and Rebecca for 63 years and caretaker of a home and many animals during their lives together as a family. She enjoyed attending First Baptist Church in Atmore and Trinity Methodist Church in Opelika, where she was an active member of her Sunday school classes.
Maudie was preceded in death by her husband; her parents, William and Alma Rhodes of Atmore; and her brother, Dallas Rhodes of Granbury, Texas.
She is survived by daughters Melisa (Meade) Atkeson of Falls Church, Virginia, and Rebecca Poole of Opelika; five grandchildren whom she adored, Allie, Kate, Will and Ben Atkeson of Richmond, Virginia, and Sam Atkeson of Brooklyn, N.Y.; sister-in-law, Louise Rhodes of Southlake, Texas; and many nieces and nephews. Two special friends will miss her greatly, her most loyal companion dog, Dottie, and cat, Lily.
In the final year of her life, she was assisted by caretakers Pam Russell, Maria Rosa and Chelsea Thomas, to whom her family is very grateful.
A private graveside service was held at Garden Hill Cemetery in Opelika, where she will rest in peace beside Buck. Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home of Opelika assisted the family with arrangements.
REGIS ROLAND LEDOUX
Regis Roland Ledoux, 78, of Auburn passed away from lung cancer on Oct. 18, 2024, surrounded by family.
Regis was born to Mary Jane and Edmond Ledoux on Aug. 18, 1946, in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and in 1956 moved to Mesa, Arizona, where he grew up. He loved watching the Chicago Cubs play spring training at Sloan Park in Mesa. This started his love of collecting baseball cards and memorabilia. After graduating from Seton High School in Chandler, Arizona, he enlisted in the Army. He was stationed with Military Police at Sandia Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he met Beverly Jane Argeanas on top of Sandia Peak, the love of his life. They were married on April 11, 1969, and remained sweethearts for 53 years until she passed away in 2022. After finishing his enlistment in the Army, he joined Beneficial Finance as a Loan Officer and later went on to join Bank of America in the Mortgage Department as a Vice President.
Regis was a devoted family man. He loved to joke and have fun. Beverly was his love and inspiration. Working in the finance business caused him to move around the country. He lived in Lubbock and Houston, Texas, Richmond, Virginia, and retired to Auburn to be with his grandchild Caitlyn and be part of her life as she grew up. While in Auburn he worked part time with Tiger Transit and Publix. Regis and Beverly were members of St. Micheal’s Catholic Church. He will be greatly missed, but know he is now with God and Mom.
Regis’s loving spirit is carried on by his daughter, Glenda Ledoux Stokes “Gigi”; granddaughter, Caitlyn Jean Stokes; son, Patrick Edmond Ledoux; sister and husband, Rosie and Ed Benshop; nephew and family, John, Sheri and Tyler; sister-in-law, Sharon Argeanas; niece, Diane Sharsky and her son Jacob; and dearest and closest friend, Virginia Savoldi.
If you would like to donate in his memory, please donate to Spencer Cancer Center at East Alabama Health, www.eastalabamahealth.org/ways-to-give/eamc-foundation/donate-now.
JACKSON ROBERT WARD
Jackson Robert Ward, 16, of LaGrange passed away Oct. 17, 2024. He was born June 24, 2008, to parents Kevin and Ashley Ward in Georgia.
Jackson loved his family and friends and traveling with his family to Disney World and the beach. He loved his Auburn Tiger Football and Basketball. He always had a huge smile and lit up any room he entered. To know him was to love him, and he will be greatly missed. He was in 10th grade at Callaway High School.
He was preceded in death by his grandfathers, Melvin Doyce Edmonson and Ernest “Ernie” William Ward.
He is survived by his parents, Kevin and Ashley Ward of LaGrange; sister, Abby Ward of LaGrange; grandmothers, Mary Ellen Edmonson and Colleen Ward, both of Opelika; aunt and uncle, Sheila and Jeff Henkey of Vestavia Hills, Emily Carpenter of Opelika and Joanna Whitman of Tuscaloosa; cousins, Grant Henkey of Atlanta, Madison Maluff (Peter) of New York City, Regan Henkey of Vestavia Hills, and Seth Carpenter, Zach Carpenter, Bennett Whitman (Katie-Bay), Barrett Whitman and Serena Redden, all of Opelika.
A memorial service was held at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home of Opelika on Oct. 21.
In lieu of flowers please donate to Cure Duchenne at Cureduchenne.com to help find a cure for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
NINA KELLY DEKICH
Nina Faye Kelly Dekich, age 94, passed away peacefully on Oct. 9, 2024, in Auburn.
Nina was born in Titus, Alabama, on July 25, 1930, the first child of Audrey Harry Kelly and Lawrence Alexander Kelly.
Schooling at Sewell Memorial Elementary and Wetumpka High prepared her to enroll at Alabama College (now the University of Montevallo) in 1948, where she studied two years before transferring Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now Auburn University), where she pledged to Theta Upsilon sorority and majored in home economics.
After graduating in 1952, Nina served as an agent of the County Extension Service. While living in Florence, she met the love of her life and husband of 64 years, S. Eugene Dekich. Nina and Gene married in March 1954. Gene transferred to Auburn, and they welcomed a daughter and son. In 1960 They moved to Cahaba Heights in 1960 for Gene to grow his insurance career in Birmingham, then settled in Indian Springs.
Nina was a dedicated wife, mother and grandmother, a woman of Christian faith and a community volunteer. A superb cook and happy hostess for Sunday School classes, friends, and family gatherings, Nina loved to read, travel, and indulge her talents in crafts and needle arts—sewing, knitting, embroidery and more. She taught exercise classes in area churches, but her greatest passion aside from her family was leading volunteers at the library of Dawson Memorial Baptist Church for 25 years. She was a huge Auburn football fan and was kind, creative, hospitable, funny and beloved by family and friends.
Nina was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Gene, and sister, Annette Kelly Ray. She leaves behind her daughter, Dianne Dekich McGee of Vestavia Hills; son, Dr. Steven Eugene Dekich of Auburn; sister, Ruth Kelly Sarris of Hoover; brother, Lawrence Alexander Kelly II of Rockport, Texas; grandchildren, Lt. Col. Lucian Dekich (USAF) of Abilene, Texas, Adam Dekich of Everett, Washington, Colin McGee of Mobile, Brenna McGee Radin of Winter Garden, Florida, and Dr. Andrew McGee of Lexington, Kentucky; 13 great-grandchildren and nine nieces and nephews. In her last years, Nina often declared: “I’ve lived a good life.” Indeed, she did, and she will be missed.
She was buried beside her husband at Alabama National Cemetery in Montevallo on Oct. 18, where family and friends will gather for a graveside farewell. Anyone wishing to honor her memory may donate to a respected veteran’s aid organization, a nature conservation group or scholarship funds at Auburn University.
SHEREL CARPENTER PERRY
Sherel Lee Carpenter Perry was born in Fairfield, Alabama, on Aug. 16, 1948, to Helen Josephine Plichta Carpenter and Dr. Burwell Carpenter Jr. She passed away peacefully on Oct. 10, 2024, at Bethany House in Auburn after a brief illness.
Sherel graduated from Fairfield High School in 1966 and earned a degree in history in 1970 from the University of Alabama 1970, where she was a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority.
Teaching became Sherel’s lifelong vocation. She taught in Gordo and Warrior, Alabama, and in Macon and Conyers, Georgia. In 1986, she joined the faculty at Auburn High School, teaching there for over 20 years and serving as the head of the Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs. She was beloved by her students and her influence will be felt by all who were blessed enough to take her classes.
During her career, Sherel became an ambassador for The National Geographic Society and worked with the Alabama Geographic Alliance to spread awareness of geography in education both in-state and across the nation. For many years she served in the local Philanthropic Education Organization chapter, a group dedicated to promoting educational opportunities for women. She was a member of Auburn United Methodist Church for over 30 years, and she was instrumental in naming the new Christ Methodist Church that was recently established, having served on the naming committee.
Sherel was very talented at both smocking and French hand sewing and created many beautiful heirloom dresses and garments for her children and grandchildren. Her house became the place for family holidays, where tradition was as important as the delicious food she served on the china she collected.
Her grandchildren where her most cherished people. She referred to them as The Blessings, and they in turn affectionately called her Sugar.
Sherel was preceded in death by her parents and is survived by her husband of 54 years, Robert (Bob) Dow Perry Sr.; children, Elizabeth Perry Comeaux (Chris) and Robert (Rob) Dow Perry Jr. (Mary Jessia); grandchildren, Grant, Ben, Parker and Olivia; sister, Marilyn Carpenter Williams; and brother, Burwell Salmond Carpenter III.
A celebration of life service was held Oct. 22 at First Methodist Church in Opelika. Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home assisted with arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Sherel’s honor by mail to Bethany House, 1171 Gatewood Dr., Bldg. 100, Auburn, AL 36830 or to the P.E.O. Star Scholarship Fund, 3700 Grand Ave. Des Moines, IA 50312.
JUSTIN LEE BAILEY
Justin Lee Bailey was a devoted son, father, husband, grandfather, uncle and friend to many. He was a resident of Lee County for over 20 years and was a devout Christian and loved his family fiercely. To know him was to love him and to love him was a blessing.
Justin was born in Heflin to William “Bill” Bailey Sr. and Linda Bailey.
He is survived by his wife, Rebekah Bailey; four children, Miranda, Corrie, Patrick and Leah; grandson, Kaysen, who called him grumpy; father, Bill (Carolyn) Bailey; brother, Skipper (Connie) Bailey; Rodney (Denise) Skinner; and many nieces, nephews and cousins whom he loved dearly.
He was preceded in death by his mother; grandparents Ercelle and Millie Mae Bailey and Lloyd and Lavanda Skinner; as well as several close aunts and uncles.
A funeral service was held Oct. 18 at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home in Opelika.
YOLANDA DILLARD SMITH
Yolanda Dillard Smith was born Nov. 25, 1953, and passed suddenly on Oct. 22, 2024, after a massive stroke. She lived a full life enjoying her grandchildren Emilia, Case and Audrey, reading books and spending time with God. Yo loved talking to people and would chat with anyone. She is survived by husband Jackie Smith and daughter Haden(Matt) Cannon.
