Obits: ARE FREE and MUST come from the Mortuary, probate judge or company taking care of arrangements. Additional information (such as personal messages/thank you messages) will have to be charged. No Exceptions! Please email them to [email protected] or fax them to 205-652-4466. Cards of Thanks, personal family messages and photos must be paid for before they can run. Photos are $15.00 for each run with the obituary. Page updated on Thursdays.
LaMarcus D. Bell
Mr. LaMarcus D. Bell, 37, died recently in Coatopa. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 24, 2025, at Bethel Pine Baptist Church, Coatopa. Rev. Dwayne Crockett will officiate with burial in Livingston City Cemetery, Livingston. Visitation will be held on Friday, May 23, 2025, at Hardaway’s Funeral Services Chapel, York, from 5-7 p.m. Hardaway Funeral Services, hardawayfuneralservices.com, directing.
Leila Faye Colburn
Leila Faye Richardson Colburn, 77, of Moundville, died peacefully May 16, 2025, at Aliceville Manor Nursing Home. Services were 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at New Hope Baptist Church with Bro. Dee McGuire and Bro. John Russell officiating. Visitation was one hour prior to the service at the church and the burial followed at the church cemetery with Magnolia Chapel Funeral Homes of Tuscaloosa directing. She was preceded in death by her husband, Eugene Colburn; parents, John Alvin and Willie Dee Richardson; brothers Alvin Richardson, J.T. Richardson, and Ray Richardson; and sisters Virginia Bibby, Thelma Roland, and Jane Averette. Survivors include her son Marty Colburn (Dianne); daughter Tammy Brown (Scott); sister Peggy Dunkin (Willie); grandchildren, Dylan Colburn, Trent Colburn, Kimberly Colburn, Max Brown, and Luke Brown; and numerous nieces and nephews. Leila Faye loved life. She especially enjoyed her time as a park ranger and volunteer in Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park along with gardening, doing mission work, visiting family and friends, and traveling. She had a servant’s heart, a selfless love, and a giving spirit. Pallbearers will be Bruce Dunkin, Van Richardson, Dylan Colburn, Trent Colburn, Max Brown, and Luke Brown. Honorary pallbearers are numerous nephews, nieces, and Smoky Mountain National Park,Cades Cove Station Rangers and Volunteers.
Gracie Mae Edwards
Ms. Gracie Mae Edwards of Forkland, Alabama entered into eternal rest May 17, 2025, at Whitfield Regional Hospital, Demopolis. Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 24, 2025, at 11 a.m. from First United Baptist Church Forkland. Interment will follow in Lloyd Chapel Baptist Church Cemetery, Forkland. Visitation will be held Friday, May 23, 2025, from 1-4:30 p.m. at the funeral home. The remains will repose at the church prior to services. Larkin and Scott Mortuary, LLC entrusted with arrangements.
Gwendolyn Jemison
Gwendolyn Jemison, 70, of Cuba, Ala.,was born October 17, 1954 to the blessed union of the late Ervin and Dorothy Lee Jemison. She peacefully transitioned to the Will of God surrounded by loving family at Anderson Regional Medical Center, Meridian, Miss., at 6:32 a.m. on May 16, 2025. Service of remembrance and life celebration is slated for Saturday, May 24, 2025, at 11 a.m. at Grants Chapel C. M. E. Church, 5290 Kinterbish 10, Cuba, with interment following in Cagus Cemetery, Kinterbish 10, Cuba. Rev. Walter Ball will deliver the eulogy offering words of comfort and consolation, with Sis. Gracie Jones serving as Mistress of Order. Rev. Izea Blanks is church pastor. Gwen will lie in repose one hour prior to funeral time. Visitation for family and friends is scheduled Friday, May 23, 2026, from 2-5 p.m. in the Weatherly Chapel. The processional will leave with escort service from the Jemison residence on Snack Shop Road at 10:40 a.m. Saturday morning. To the entire Jemison Family, we at Weatherly Funeral Home offer to each of you our most sincere and heartfelt sympathy and condolences. Our prayer remains that your abiding faith in God will lend to you a measure of comfort to strengthen and sustain you during your time of bereavement.
Joel Thomas McConnell
Joel “Papa Joe” Thomas McConnell, 87, of Valley Grande, passed away on May 15, 2025. He was born on December 30, 1937, in Electric Mills, Miss. Known to friends and family simply as “Joe,” he was the oldest of three children born to Joel Wellington and Mary McConnell. Raised in a family of farmers, Joe became the first in his family to attend college, graduating from Auburn University. Following his graduation, he began a career with International Paper Company, where he also founded Riverdale Credit Union. After taking early retirement, Joe launched his own consulting business in the pulp and paper industry—a venture his youngest son, Joel Kristopher McConnell, joined after graduating from Auburn. During these prosperous years, Joe and his beloved wife of 58 years, Helen McConnell, traveled across the United States, working at paper mills and exploring the country together. Joe had a deep and abiding faith in God that was evident in how he lived his life and raised his family. Joe was deeply devoted to the Lord and found great joy in studying biblical prophecy, the Old Testament, Bible history, and nurturing a heartfelt love for Israel. He enjoyed working with his hands and personally built the home in which he and Helen resided until his passing. His love for his family shaped everything he did, and he treasured every moment spent with them. He was preceded in death by: his father Joel Wellington McConnell; his mother Mary McConnell; his sister Faye Whitley. Joe is survived by: his devoted wife Helen McConnell; his sons. Steven McConnell (Elizabeth Frances Noble), Joel Kristopher (Andrea Vega) McConnell; grandsons Joel Colin McConnell, Aidan Kristopher McConnell, Finn Thomas McConnell; granddaughter Esmee Grace McConnell; special daughters Angelica McConnell Bernie, Andrea Vega McConnell; brothe Oliver “Kit” (Tippy) McConnell. A celebration of Joe’s life will be held at Valley Grande Baptist Church, with Bro. Pastor Caleb Winningham officiating at a date and time to be announced. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to Valley Grande Baptist Church; 48 Co Rd 16, Valley Grande, AL 36701. Joe’s spirit and laughter will be deeply missed by all who knew him. His unwavering devotion to the Lord and his enduring faith that he would one day be with Him in Heaven serve as both comfort and inspiration to the family and friends he leaves behind.
David Devon
“Heavy D.” Prude
It is with deepest sorrow that Lavender’s Funeral Service announces the passing of Mr. David Devon “Heavy D.” Prude, 35, of Aliceville, on Friday, May 16, 2025, at UAB Hospital, Birmingham. Visitation will be Thursday, May 22, 2025, from 4-5 p.m. at Lavender’s Funeral Service. The home going celebration will be Friday, May 23, 2025, 1 p.m. at Pickensville Church of Christ, 641 Gore Rd., Pickensville. The body will lie in state in the church one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow the service in New Cemetery, 196 Valley View Rd., Aliceville. Evangelist David Seay, the pastor of Pickensville Church of Christ, will be the eulogist. Lavender’s Funeral Service, Aliceville, 205-373-2420, LavendersFuneralService.com, directing. Survivors are the Prude family.
Larry Paul Radcliffe
Graveside services for Larry Paul Radcliffe, 69, of Richton, Miss., formally of Ward, were held on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at 1 p.m. from Cokes Chapel Cemetery, Ward, with Rev. Paul Young officiating. Visit bumpersfuneralhome.com to sign the online register and post condolences to the family. Arrangements entrusted to Bumpers Funeral Home of York.
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved brother, Larry Paul Radcliffe. He left his earthly home to spend eternity with his Heavenly Father, his parents, Eugene Radcliffe and Delores “Lois” Stockman Radcliffe, and brother, John Eugene Radcliffe on May 17, 2025. He was born on April 15, 1956, and will always be cherished with memories of him driving the roads of Bunkum, on his riding lawnmower and his bicycle. He was a true friend to everyone and rarely complained. He is survived by his family consisting of: his sisters Martha Shaulis, Patricia Curington, Rita Whitt; his nephews Anothony Shaulis and wife Elisa Shaulis; and their boys Nic, Noah, John; Kristofer Shaulis; Ken Wright and his girls Khia and Lamara; Wendy Forty and her boys Brandon, Ashton, Christian; Travis Aaron Whitt and wife Erin Whitt and their girls Emma and Ainsley; and Corey Whitt.
We would like to pay a special acknowledgment to his Compassus Hospice team: Whitney Kelley; Abby McKay, RN; Chiquita Knighton, LPN; Nelson Gordon, Tech; Hilda Lang, Social Worker; and Rev. Paul Young. A special thanks to Wes Purvis, RN, for his kindness and support given to the family the night of this passing. Thanks also to TMC Therapy, Sumter Rehab Nursing Home, and Perry County Nursing Home.
Pallbearers include Anthony Shaulis, Kristofer Shaulis, Cory Whitt, Ken Wright, Nickloas McLain, and Noah McLain.