Articles from the July 4, 2019 edition


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  • Finding a lot of history in a weekend

    Kevin McKinley, Guest Writer|Jul 4, 2019

    If you find yourself with several days off work and desire to vacate the familiar scenery of our area, northern Mississippi might be calling your name. On a recent June weekend travelled north and discovered untapped gems of local color and history in previously unviewed locales. Our good friends Bruce and Cathy graciously allowed us to stay with them and soon the four of us were touring the area. After spending the night in the charming town of Tishomingo, Mississippi and a stop at a local...

  • Several new sites available to search history

    Jim Stanton, Guest Writer|Jul 4, 2019

    I have written several times about family history. Back in the 1980's when I was just getting started in family research it was trips to libraries other places where records were kept. Some time during the mid 1990's there was these things called computers and the internet coming into play. Some smart people saw a way to use the computers and internet to do family research making everything much easier for us. This made finding your relative from all over the world somewhat easier. Then several years later a thing called DNA research came...

  • Country clean in paradise with a twist

    Earline Smith Crews, Guest Writer|Jul 4, 2019

    So today I saw a post of Texans washing their prize longhorn in the local car wash. Pros and cons of comments set me to remembering my childhood and how Mama & Daddy saved time and energy by doing things the easiest way possible while letting us enjoy life to the fullest. As the slight cool opening of the hot summer day ahead I remember hearing Mama & Daddy talking in the kitchen as they made breakfast for us. Somewhere in the bluish time of day-breaking: the smell of bacon and sausage frying, the smell of coffee as the old aluminum percolator...

  • Tips for picnic safety this National Picnic Month

    Carolyn Bivins, Guest Writer|Jul 4, 2019

    “Summertime and the livin’ is easy. Fish are jumpin’…and we want to handle all foods safely before we cook, grill or fry”! (A play on words from one of my favorite songs by George Gershwin) Summer holidays provide a break from school and work, but we shouldn't break from being smart about food safety. More care is needed since foodborne illnesses increase during the summer. July is National Picnic month and summer picnics are a great way to enjoy the outdoors and each other's company. Keep your picnics with family and friends healthy and safe...

  • Glenn Bryars

    Jul 4, 2019

    Glenn Bryars, 70, died Sunday, June 30, 2019, in Perdido, Ala. Mr. Bryars was a native and lifelong resident of Perdido, Ala. Of the Holiness faith, he was retired from the Baldwin County Road Department with more than 43 years of service. The funeral was held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, July 3, at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Sis. Helen Stewart officiating. Burial followed at White Cemetery with Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home directing. Mr. Bryars is survived by five sons, Robert Eugene Gardner, Jr. of Crossroads, Ala., John...

  • Marsha Gayle Thames English

    Jul 4, 2019

    Marsha Gayle Thames English, 75, of Atmore, died Monday, July 1, 2019 at Santa Rosa Health and Rehab Center in Milton, Fla. Mrs. English was a native of Atmore who was a 1962 Escambia County Training School graduate who retired from Vanity Fair in Atmore with more than 20 years of service. She was a member of Deliverance Ministry of Jesus Christ Church #1 in Atmore, where she served as a Church Mother. The funeral was held at 3:30 p.m., Saturday, July 6, at Deliverance Ministry of Jesus Christ Church #1 with Rev. Kelvin Williams officiating....

  • Charles Wesley Everage

    Jul 4, 2019

    Charles Wesley Everage, 78, died Thursday, June 27, 2019, following a brief illness. Mr. Everage was born Jan. 2, 1941, to Archie Edward and Elizabeth Bozeman Everage. A graduate of T.R. Miller High School, he attended Troy State University and served in the US Army during the end of the Korean Conflict. Returning to Brewton, he managed Everage's Store, worked as a salesman for Gayfers and Dillard's until his retirement. A member of the Rotary Club, he was active in Habitat for Humanity after retirement. The funeral was held at 3 p.m., Sunday...

  • Pauline 'Polly' Frost

    Jul 4, 2019

    Pauline “Polly” Frost, 92, of Atmore, died Tuesday, June 18, 2019. Mrs. Frost was born March 30, 1927, to Paul and Melida Kasten in New Jersey. Raised in New Brunswick, N.J., where she graduated from high school, she was employed by Johnson and Johnson and Maytag before she married and moved to Watertown, Mass. The couple moved to Bedford, Mass., where she worked as a wedding sales/coordinator in Judy's Dress Shop, an office worker at Miller Disposal and Raytheon Corporation in Waltham, Mass. from where she retired. A member of First Bap...

  • Clifton H. Mims, Jr.

    Jul 4, 2019

    Clifton H. Mims, Jr., 67, died Thursday, June 27, 2019. Mr. Mims was born August 22, 1951, to Clifton H. Sr. and Lorene Tucker Mims in Atmore. Attending Jefferson Davis Community College and AUM of Montgomery, he was a member of First United Methodist Church of Atmore where he served many roles and was a member of the choir for more than 41 years. A member of the Boy Scouts of America, he reached the Order of the Arrow and was an avid outdoorsman. A memorial service was held at 2 p.m., Sunday, June 30, at the First United Methodist Church of...

  • Samantha Murray

    Jul 4, 2019

    Samantha Murray, 53, died Wednesday, June 19, 2019. Mrs. Murray was born Jan. 5, 1965, to Willow D. Murray and was a friend to all who knew her. The funeral was held at 11 a.m., Saturday, June 29, 2019 at Christian Memorial Funeral Home with Pastor Jimmy Kyles officiating. Burial followed at Fairview Cemetery with Christian Memorial Funeral Home directing. Mrs. Murray is survived by one daughter, Danishia Murray; one sister, Mia Kyles (Charles) Finklea; and numerous other family members and friends....

  • Doris Jean Johnson Thompson

    Jul 4, 2019

    Doris Jean Johnson Thompson, 72, of Brewton, died Saturday, June 29, 2019. Mrs. Thompson was a native and lifelong resident of Escambia County, Ala. and a retired security guard with Container Corporation. Of the Holiness faith, she was involved with the cancer survivor group at D.W. McMillan Hospital. The funeral was held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, July 1, at the chapel of Craver's Funeral Home with Rev. Ron Headley officiating. Burial followed at Elim Cemetery with Craver's Funeral Home directing. Mrs. Thompson is survived by two sons, Johnny...

  • Margie Ruth Payne Thompson

    Jul 4, 2019

    Margie Ruth Payne Thompson, 80, of Jay, died Sunday, June 30, 2019, in a Pensaola hopice facility after a brief illness. Mrs. Thompson was a native of Brewton, former resident of San Antonio, Texas and long time resident of Jay who attended north Brewton and W.S. Neal school systems. Of the Baptist faith, she was a former seamstress at Judy Bond, Sales Associate at B.C. Moore's and a homemaker with several hobbies and interests. The funeral was held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, July 3, at Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Bill Thompson...

  • Adell Porter Williams

    Jul 4, 2019

    Adell Porter Williams, 81, died Saturday, June 22, 2019. Mrs. Williams was born April 13, 1938, to Ervin McCants and Rosa Lee Lundy in Barlow Bend in Clark County, Ala. Attending school in Clark County, she later moved to Huxford Camp on Highway 41, worked as a hairdresser and was a member of Huxford Baptist Church. She later relocated to Pearidge Road in Brewton and had worked at Ole South, Ramona Inn, Willie's, Ole Willie's, David's Catfish, Brewton County Club, and Oak's Cafe there. The funeral was held at 11 a.m., Saturday, June 29, at...

  • Qwinsenta 'Qwin' Willis

    Jul 4, 2019

    Qwinsenta “Qwin” Willis, 61, died Thursday, June 27, 2019 at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. Mrs. Willis was born Charles McCorvey and Dorothy Mae Willis in Atmore. A 1975 graduate of Escambia County High School, she attended the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa and became a correctional officer at Holman Prison in Atmore, where she worked for many years. She was a member of the Christ Temple EPC, serving on the Pastor's Aid and Hospitality committees. A Celebration of Life will be held at 12 p.m., Saturday, July 6, at Emmanuel Fai...

  • Barbara Jean Wilson

    Jul 4, 2019

    Barbara Jean Wilson, 79, of Atmore, died Sunday, June 23, 2019. Mrs. Wilson was born May 13, 1940, to Frank and Bessie Jackson Kent in Brewton, Ala. A member of the Atmore First Assembly of God Church, where she taught Sunday School and held a shut-in ministry, she had worked for Chapman Ace Hardware before becoming a pre-school teacher for more than 15 years. The funeral was held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, June 26, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Don Davis and Bro. Ricky Tedder officiating. Burial followed at Serenity Gardens...

  • Staying cool & learning safety

    Stephanie Cunningham, Ledger Staff|Jul 4, 2019

    On the last day of jumpstart, Thursday, June 27, a program intended to prepare incoming Flomaton Elementary School kindergartners to attend school, the children were treated to a special surprise. Flomaton Fire Chief Steve Stanton along with other firemen and EMS drivers, arrived with their fire engine to spray the children with the water hose. Chief Stanton and his crew had visited with the children prior to Thursday's visit to educate the kids on fire safety and emergency awareness. As the...

  • Is freedom fading from glory?

    Pete Riehm, Guest Writer|Jul 4, 2019

    The United States of America is 243 years old this Independence Day. For almost two and half centuries, this great nation has guaranteed the freedom Americans enjoy and too often take for granted. We are quick to proclaim and celebrate our freedom. We demand it and claim we will even defend it, but exactly what are we demanding these days? What do modern Americans think freedom is? The concept of freedom is immutable; it never changes. In sheer genius, our founders captured the essence of freedom in the Declaration of Independence in one...

  • Border battle reveals Dems divisions

    Congressman Bradley Byrne, Guest Writer|Jul 4, 2019

    For months, Speaker Pelosi and my Democratic friends have denied a crisis on the border exists. Nothing to see here! But the American people, our border agents, video footage, and even the liberal media insisted otherwise and called for action. The public pressure was immense. Now, in a development as stunning as it is sudden, Democrats have dramatically shifted gears, speaking out against the housing of illegal immigrants in detention and the need for immediate action to improve conditions. This comes after Democrats refused for months to...

  • Legislative session a success

    Steve Flowers, Ledger Staff|Jul 4, 2019

    The 2019 Legislative Session was one of the most controversial yet productive sessions in memory. Governor Kay Ivey’s first Session of the Quadrennial was a roaring success. It’s hard to remember a governor getting everything they wanted since the George Wallace heydays. Wallace in his prime simply controlled the legislature. It was more like an appendage of the governor’s office. Kay Ivey has apparently taken a page from the old Wallace playbook. By the way, that is probably apropos as Kay cut her teeth in Alabama politics working for and l...

  • New jail for Escambia Co.?

    Joe Thomas, Ledger Editor|Jul 4, 2019

    The Escambia County (Ala.) Commission has given Sheriff Heath Jackson the go-ahead to discuss the possibility of purchasing an 80-acre tract of land from the city of Brewton in hopes of building a new detention center. During an administrative workshop Tuesday afternoon, Jackson told commissioners David Stokes, Brandon Smith and Karean Reynolds that an analysis of the existing facility by PH&J Architects of Montgomery showed nothing could really be done to upgrade and expand the current jail....

  • Jay girls headng south for state tourney

    Gretchen McPherson, Ledger Staff|Jul 4, 2019

    The Jay Council Monday night voted to donate $1,000 to the Jay Tri-County All-Stars 10u (10 years and under) softball team as it is headed to compete for the state title this Friday, July 5, near Fort Myers, Fla. The town had money left over from the cost of the fireworks, so it is in the budget, according to Operations Manager Eric Seib. Coach Jeff Hawthorne said the girls had a car wash at Jay Town Hall last weekend and raised abut $900. The team had to buy new uniforms, which cost about...

  • Teacher raises to begin in July

    Gretchen McPherson, Ledger Staff|Jul 4, 2019

    School personnel will receive a state-mandated 4 percent raise after the Escambia County (Ala.) Board of Education voted to approve starting the pay raise this month at it's meeting on Thursday, June 27. Chief Financial Officer Julie Madden told board members the unreserved fund balance of $12.88 million which equates to 4.12 months of operating reserve. She said financials had been reconciled through May 31, 2019. “As we get into the summer months, when we are doing the summer maintenance, w...

  • Century agrees to give pay checks out early

    Gretchen McPherson, Ledger Staff|Jul 4, 2019

    The Century Council Monday night agreed to distribute paychecks on Wednesday, July 3, instead of Friday, this week due to the holiday and banks being closed. Town Clerk Kim Godwin told the council that their bank, United Bank, will be closed Thursday and Friday this week for July 4th. Councilwoman Ann Brooks suggested the town look into direct deposit for its employees, noting that this situation would not be an issue. Godwin said she thought there is a fee associated with direct deposit and...

  • Coastal Alabama holds GED graduation ceremony

    Special to the Ledger|Jul 4, 2019

    The Coastal Alabama Community College Adult Education Program and Hope Place Family Resource Center held graduation exercises June 20, 2019, at the Woodfin Patterson Auditorium in Brewton. Graduates completed the High School Equivalency Diploma or the High School Diploma Option with several graduates also completing requirements for the Ready-to-Work program, ACT WorkKeys, and other Career Pathways certificates. Pastor Faron Wilson delivered the invocation. Special guest, Michele Blackburn honored her father by presenting Jerry Garrett...

  • Local students receive honors

    Special to the Ledger|Jul 4, 2019

    Locals attending colleges and universities in around the state and nation were honored recently at their schools. Brewton’s Joshua Barrett Fields, Class of 2020, was inducted into Sigma Tau Delta at Huntingdon College. Sigma Tau Delta is an honor society whose purpose is to confer distinction upon students of English language and literature. Frisco City’s Haleigh Ridgeway, Class of 2021, was inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society, established at Huntingdon in 1989 and Gamma Sigma Alpha, a national greek aca...

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