Richard C. “Mousey” Ward
1946-2012
Funeral services for Richard C. “Mousey” Ward, age 65, of Opelika, were held at 11 a.m. on July 16, at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home. Burial was in Garden Hills Cemetery.
Visitation was on July 15, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home.
Ward was born on Aug. 17, 1946, in Tallassee. He died on July 12, at East Alabama Medical Center. Richard has been a resident of Opelika for the past 50 years. He was retired from the Opelika Light & Power Department with 33 years of service. Richard also served in the U.S. Marine Corps for three years. He was a member of both the Auburn-Opelika Elks Lodge and the American Legion.
Survivors include, two daughters, Christie (Bobby) Brown of Canton, Ga., Amy (Shane) Stanley of Athens; two sisters, Rhonda (Barry) Allday of Beauregard, Deana (Frank) Conort of Lanett; two brothers, Eddie (Donna) Ward of Opelika, Davis (Kathy) Raines of Nashville, Tenn.; three grandchildren, Dylan Dark, Lawson Brown, Libbie Brown; a close, special friend, Joyce Birchfield of Opelika and many other close friends.
Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home and Crematory directed.
Abigail Jordan Howell 1989-2012
A funeral service for Abigail Jordan Howell, 23, of Opelika was held at 10 a.m. on July 18, at Trinity United Methodist Church. Reverend David Warren and Reverend Steve Bass officiated. Burial was held in Garden Hills Cemetery. Visitation was Tuesday from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home. Miss Howell was born on May 21, 1989, in Opelika and had lived all of her life in Opelika and Auburn. She passed away on Sunday, July 15, at East Alabama Medical Center. Miss Howell was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church. She was a graduate of Southern Union College and was attending Auburn University. She was a manager at Southern Springs Horse Farm. She was an avid hunter and outdoors person. Her babies were her two dogs, Nala and Shooter Bear. Miss Howell is survived by her parents, Keith and Jeanie Sanderson Howell of Opelika; two sisters, Joanna Ortiz of Naples, Fla., Mary Cason of Opelika; fiance, Blake Barnett of Auburn; four nieces Ana, Alexas, Ryleigh, Destiny; and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home & Crematory directed. www.jeffcoattrant.com
George Strickland 1922-2012
A funeral service for George Strickland, 90, of Auburn was held on July 25, at 2 p.m. at Bell Missionary Baptist Church with interment in Evergreen Cemetery. Pastor Mark X. Lee and Rev. John Martin officiated.
Strickland passed on July 18, at the East Alabama Medical Center. He was a member of Bell Missionary Baptist Church where he was an usher and sang with the male chorus. He was a veteran of World War II and a member of Masonic Lodge No. 292.
His remains laid in state at the church one hour prior to the service.
Survivors include two children, Shirley Strickland and Michael (Georgella) Strickland both of Auburn; five grandchildren, Mary Ann Strickland (Deon Randolph), Franchesca (Corey) Strickland-Brewer, Joshua Strickland, Jessica (Emmanuel) Bufford and Nicholas Strickland; 11 great grandchildren; one sister-in-law, Roxie Gibson, Auburn; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Peterson and Williams Funeral Home directed.
William Conner, Sr. 1939-2012
The funeral service for William Conner, Sr., 73, of Beauregard, was held at 4 p.m. on July 22, at Jeffcoat-Trant Chapel. Pastor John Russell officiated. Burial was in Garden Hills Cemetery. Visitation was Saturday from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home.
Conner was born Oct. 18, 1939, in Dale County. He passed away on July 20, at East Alabama Medical Center. He had been a resident of the Beauregard Community since 1975. He was the owner/operator of Conner’s Collision Center of Opelika for 30 years. Mr. C was known and respected throughout the community as a kind and honest person.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Conner; two daughters, Kristy (Allen) McConnell, Donna (Rodney) Estes; son, Robert (Kelly) Conner all of Beauregard, son, William “Bill” (Lori) Conner of Opelika; 11 grandchildren; four great grandchildren; and brother, Malcolm (Jean) Conner of Dothan.
Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home & Crematory directed. www.jeffcoattrant.com
Doris Knowles Pryor
1925-2012
Doris Knowles Pryor, age 86, was born Oct. 2, 1925, and passed away on July 22, at Bay Medical Hospital, Panama City, Fla. She was the daughter of Dowdel and Sally May Meadows.
Pryor was preceded in death by her husbands, Dewitt Knowles and Clyde Pryor. She is survived by her son, Devon (Jennie) Knowles of Blountstown, Fla.; daughters, Deloris (Harry) Day of Bay Minette and Dianne (Steven) Brock of Las Vegas, Nev.; four grandchildren; and nine great grandchildren.
A graveside service was held on July 25, at 11 a.m. at Garden Hills Cemetery, Rev. Tom Tippett officiated.
Fredericks Funeral Home directed.
Donald G. Hatfield 1932-2012
A funeral service for Donald G. Hatfield, 80, of Auburn, was held at 2 p.m. on July 22, at Jeffcoat-Trant Chapel. Burial was held in Garden Hills Cemetery. Visitation was Saturday from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home.
Hatfield was born on May 23, 1932, in Detroit, Mich. He passed away on July 19, at Oak Park Nursing Home in Auburn. Hatfield had been a resident of Auburn for the past 48 years. He was retired from Auburn University department of art, with the distinction of Professor Emeritus, where he served for 30 years. Hatfield was active in Post 5404 of the local VFW and held multiple offices in that organization. Don was often a volunteer at the Tuskegee Veterans Administration Hospital.
Survivors include two daughters, Suzanne V. (Robert) Sevchuk of Auburn, Kathleen Hatfield of Auburn; grandson, Jeffrey T. Sevchuk of Auburn; and sister, Shirley Akers of Traverse City, Mich. He was preceded in death by his wife, Marilyn Hatfield; and son, John Thomas Hatfield.
The family suggests in lieu of flowers, donations be made to a favorite charity in honor of Mr. Hatfield.
Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home & Crematory in Opelika directed.
Eldridge Wheeler Baker (Peanut)
1965-2012
Eldridge Wheeler Baker (Peanut) age 47, of Opelika was born on June 7, 1965, and died July 20, at home.
Preceded in death by his father, mother and two brothers, Eldridge and Estelle Baker; Sammy, and Billy Joe Baker. He is survived by his wife Karen, son Blake Baker, brother Owen (Jackie) Baker and Grandmother Gladys Taylor; extended family daughter Brandy (Robbie) Smith, son Hank Renfrow and the apple of his eye, granddaughter Shelby Rose. Ma (Mildred) and Pa (Bill) Davis, and a host of loving aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces, and cousins.
Memorial services will be held today, July 27, at 2:30 p.m. at Restoration Church. The family request in lieu of flowers please make donations to Restoration Church, 7603 Hwy 280 West, Auburn, AL 36830, in memory of Peanut. R.I.P. He was loved dearly and will never be forgotten.
Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home & Crematory is in charge of arrangements.
Nancy Higginbotham Davis
1948-2012
Nancy Higginbotham Davis, 64, of Opelika, passed away on July 23, at East Alabama Medical Center. She was born in 1948, to the late Charlotte Otelia Ashley and Stewart Joseph Higginbotham. Nancy had been a resident of Opelika for many years.
Though she excelled in academics and her medical profession, she was most known for her dedication and love of family and friends. She was valedictorian of her class of 1966 at Gaston High, and received her B.S. in Laboratory Technology in 1970 from Auburn University with highest honors. She received the Comer Medal for Excellence in Biological Sciences, and was certified as a medical technologist, 1971 to present. Most recently, she was a Medical Technologist at EAMC and retired in 2010.
Davis had been a member of the West Point Pepperell Garden Club since 1977, Les Saisons Study Club, Mothers of Twins Club, and faithful choir member for over 30 years at First Baptist Church of Opelika. She loved to cook and sew special-occasion clothing for children and grandchildren, and loved to spend time with family, especially spoiling grandchildren.
Davis is survived by her husband of 41 years, Gayron Nixon Davis; daughters, Melody Leigh Noles (Daniel) of Chattanooga, Tenn., Holly Ashley Word (Bryan) of Birmingham; son, Patrick Nixon Davis (Bethany) of Bruce, Miss.; brothers, Alan Frank Higginbotham (Marsha) of Austin, Texas, Phillip Dale Higginbotham (Tammy) of Chattanooga, Tenn.; grandchildren, Emmaleigh Grace, Eli, Sarah, and Hannah Noles and Davis and Kaitlyn Word.
The family sincerely appreciates the care for Nancy by the doctors and staff at both EAMC of Opelika and MD Anderson Cancer Center of Houston, Texas.
A funeral service for Davis was held at 11 a.m. on July 26, at First Baptist Church of Opelika. Reverend Steve Scoggins officiated. Burial was held in Garden Hills Cemetery. Visitation was Wednesday from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home.
Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home & Crematory directed.