Obituaries Articles

Smiths Station mourns Mayor Richard Cooley, longtime public servant

BY OBSERVER STAFF SMITHS STATION — Smiths Station Mayor Richard Cooley, whose dedication to public service helped shape the community from its earliest days as an incorporated city, died Saturday, Oct. 24, surrounded by his family.The city announced his death...

Obituaries | Oct. 27, 2026

WILLIAM CHARLES PORTERWilliam Charles Porter, 83, of Auburn passed to life eternal on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, after a protracted illness. The son of Arthur Cleveland Porter Sr. and Madeliene Van Sandt Porter, Bill was born, reared and spent the great majority of his...

Obituaries | Week of Oct. 19, 2026

PATTY LOUISE  ADAMS MARTIN A graveside service for Patty Louise Adams Martin was held at 10 a.m. on Oct. 17, 2026, at Garden Hills Cemetery in Opelika. A Celebration of Life followed at 11 a.m. at Trinity Methodist Church in Opelika with a reception and...

Obituaries | Week of Oct. 12, 2026

EARL NORTONEarl Norton, 88, of Auburn, died on Oct. 3, 2026. Earl was born in Gadsden, Alabama, on Nov. 13, 1937, to Earl Wood and Fannie Lee Norton. He grew up in rural Etowah County where he saw the sun and moon rise over Lookout Mountain. He graduated from Etowah...
Obituaries | Week of Oct. 5, 2026

Obituaries | Aug. 31, 2026

GARY A. JERNIGANGary A. Jernigan, 67, died on Aug. 13, 2026, from heart failure and pulmonary edema after being recently diagnosed with stage three...

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Obituaries | Week of Oct. 5, 2026

Obituaries | Aug. 25, 2026

CHARLES WILEY WHATLEY Charles Wiley Whatley, 81, died on Monday, Aug. 24, 2026, in Opelika.Yeah, we know. It’s not what he would’ve wanted either....

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