Frances E. Smith
Frances E. Smith, 91, passed away May 29, 2014, in her home.
She was born on March 25, 1923, to Lyman and Dessie Scroggins in Clayton, Ala. Frances spent most of her life in Columbus, Ga. She was a cloth inspector in the Textile Mills until her retirement. Frances had recently moved in with her daughter in Opelika due to declining health.
Frances was married to Granville Lee Smith on Sept. 30, 1938. They had 61 wonderful years together before he went to be with his Lord on April 1, 1999.
Frances was a loving, caring mother who enjoyed cooking big Sunday dinners for all of her family. It was never too many. She loved each minute of having her family with her. She also enjoyed square dancing, jitter bugging and country music. Her favorite country music singer was Randy Travis.
Frances is survived by two daughters, and sons-in-law, Patricia Alderman and Ralph Alderman of Cherokee Village, Ark., and Elaine Cooper and Richard Cooper of Opelika; sisters, Lavonia Wright of Columbus, Ga., and Ruth Hartley of Cataula, Ga.; nine grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and five great-great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by father, Lyman Scroggins; mother, Dessie Bryant; stepfather, H.W. Bryant; son, Donald E. Smith; grandchildren, Karen Sanders, Reggie Davis; and sister, Sybil Hendley.
Funeral service was held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 31, at Jeffcoat-Trant Chapel with visitation at 10 a.m., one hour prior to the service at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home. Burial was held Saturday at 2 p.m. at Park Hill Cemetery in Columbus.
Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home and Crematory directed. www.jeffcoattrant.com.
Justin “J.T.” Torbert
Funeral service for Mr. Justin “J.T.” Torbert, 24, of Tuskegee was held at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 1, 2014, at Shiloh AME Zion Church with interment at Zion At the Hill Church Cemetery. The Rev. Charles Adams officiated.
Mr. Torbert passed Friday, May 23, 2014. He was a 2007 graduate of Booker T. Washington High School.
Survivors: a daughter, Ja’Ziyah Torbert of Shorter; his companion, ShaQuana Patterson of Shorter; mother, Gwendolyn Torbert of Tuskegee; father, Bernard Holland of Auburn; six siblings, Christopher Torbert, Phillip Torbert, Melissa Torbert, Jerrick Torbert, Trentin Torbert and Abraham T. Wright, all of Auburn; grandparents, Barbara Douglas of Union Springs and Taylor Torbert and Bernice Holland, both of Auburn; one nephew; several aunts, uncles, and a host of cousins and friends.
Peterson and Williams Funeral Home directed.
Michael “Sam” Morgan
Funeral service for Mr. Michael “Sam” Morgan, 58, of Opelika was held at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 31, 2014, at Peterson and Williams Chapel with interment in Evergreen Cemetery. The Rev. Charlie B. Bryant officiated.
Mr. Morgan passed Monday, May 26, 2014, at the East Alabama Medical Center.
Peterson and Williams Funeral Home directed.
Mr. Randall Akins
Mr. Randall Akins, age 65, of Auburn, Ga., passed away May 27, 2014, at his residence.
He was a native of Anniston, former resident of Opelika and had resided here for the past 26 years. He attended Bethlehem Church and was an employee of Ryerson Metals.
Surviving are wife, Barbara Sue Akins; children, Jana Davis of Monroe, Ga., Derek Akins of Cusseta and Tyler Akins of Auburn, Ga.; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; mother, Vivian Pressley of Cusseta; father, Loyd B. Akins of Valley; siblings, Doris (Earl) Leamer, Vickie Kalla, Denise (Timmy) Deas and Jamie Pressley, all of Cusseta, and Dean (Cindy) Franklin of Opelika; mother-in-law, Syval Hawkins; brothers-in-law, James (Renate’) Hawkins, Jimmy (Darlene) Hawkins, Riley Hawkins; sister-in-law, Lorraine (Louie) Rodriquez; and a number of nieces and nephews and many friends.
A funeral service was held Saturday, May 31, 2014, at 3 p.m. at Bethlehem Church, 548 Highway 11 North, Bethlehem, Georgia, 30620. The family received friends Saturday from 1-3 p.m. at the Church.
Carter Funeral Home of Winder, Ga., is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be expressed at www.carterfhwinder.com.
Alma Lois Childers
Funeral service for Alma Lois Childers, 84, of Opelika was held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 3, 2014, at Jeffcoat-Trant Chapel. The Rev. David Floyd officiated. Burial was held in Garden Hills Cemetery. Visitation was Monday from 6-8 p.m. at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home.
Mrs. Childers passed away Sunday, June 1, 2014, at Arbor Springs in Opelika. She was born March 18, 1930, in Carroll County, Ga.
Mrs. Childers was a longtime resident of Opelika. She was retired from West Point Pepperell Mfg. Co. with 40 years of service. Mrs. Childers had been an active member of the Auburn Assembly of God Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Hugh Childers, in 1991.
Survivors include two daughters, Belinda Webb of Columbus, Ga., and Cathy (Bob) Key of Opelika; son, Dana (Joyce) Childers of Haltom City, Texas; six grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; sister, Peggy (Hollis) Baggett of Panama City, Fla.; and brother, Bert (Joanne) Spates of Cleveland, Tenn.
Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home & Crematory directed.
www.jeffcoattrant.com.
Dean Lyman Kloepper
Dean Kloepper, 85, died peacefully on May 20, 2014, at Bethany House Hospice in Auburn.
He was born Feb. 10, 1929, in a farmhouse built by his grandfather near Huron, Kansas.
Dean is survived by his wife Neva Kloepper; his three sons: Fred, Joe and Mark; his daughter-in-law Jaine Richards; and his four grandchildren, Kathryn, Laura, Gregory and Matthew.
Dean earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Kansas and worked as a chemical engineer in several companies until retirement. During retirement, Dean built a Rutan Long-EZ aircraft, which he enjoyed flying for many years, taking friends and family on many memorable trips. He resided in Centennial Colorado from 1969-2010, when he and Neva moved to Auburn to enter independent living at Azalea Place Assisted Living. For the last year of his life, Dean lived with Neva in Oak Park Nursing Home.
Funeral services will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 21. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Lutheran World Relief (www.lwr.org).
www.jeffcoattrant.com.
