BIRMINGHAM…Essie V. McLeod Byrd, a resident of Birmingham (formerly of Ozark), passed away late Monday evening, May 4, 2026, in a Dothan hospital. She was 83.
Homegoing services will be held at 1:00 P.M., Saturday, May 16, 2026, St. Paul AME Church with Reverend Gregory Keith McLeod officiating. Burial will follow in Asbury Cemetery near Skipperville, Alabama. Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. The family will receive friends from 12:00 until 1:00 P.M. Saturday at the church.
God saw you getting tired and a cure was not to be; so he put his arms around you and whispered, “Come with me.”
With heartfelt gratitude for a life beautifully lived, we celebrate the legacy of Essie Viola McLeod Byrd affectionately known as “Nanny” who was surrounded by love as she peacefully transitioned from her earthly life on the evening of May 4,2026.
Essie was born on April 26, 1943, in Ozark, Alabama, to the late John Oliver and Essie Mae McLeod. She was educated in Dale County and attended DA Smith High School. Essie confessed Christ at an early age and joined St Paul AME Church. She was a devoted member and served the church in several capacities, including the ladies aid, church usher, and food committee.
Essie will be remembered for her free spirit, love of fishing, touching the hearts of many, her kindness, and love of family and friends. We will all miss her tasteful cooking and her making sure nobody went home hungry from her cookouts.
She was proceeded in death by; her parents, John Oliver and Essie Mae McLeod, four brothers; Willie D. McLeod, Johnny Mack MeLeod, Bobby Lee McLeod, and Floyd McLeod. Five sisters; Winona Harris, Minnie Lee Johnson, Ola Mae Johnson, Margart Sue Wilson, and Annie D. Edwards.
She leaves to cherish her memory; daughter, Eleanor Martinez; son, Luther D. Byrd, grandchildren; Shamika Byrd, Reginald Byrd, Nakeia Martinez, Latonya Byrd, Renata Martinez, and Katrice Snell, great grandchildren; Janisha Williams, Ketavion Ike, Daetrion Byrd, Kaylyn Pitts, Salaysis Johnson, and Truth Johnson; two sister-in laws; Mrs. Edna Meral Byrd of Atlanta, and Mrs. Lee McLeod; special cousin and best friend, Bonnie Dyck; special nephew/2nd son, Darren Wilson, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
You may sign a guest register at www.fuquabankston.com
James “Pete” Ewell Barkley, 89, a long-time resident of Dothan passed away to be with his Lord Jesus Christ on May 12, 2026, at his home surrounded by family members.
Celebration of Life services will be held at 2:00pm on Friday, May 15, 2026, in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church with Dr. Taylor Rutland officiating. The family will receive friends from 1:00pm-2:00pm on Friday at First Baptist Church.
Pete was born April 25, 1937, in Dothan to Amos Emory and Toye Barkley.
After graduating from Dothan High School in 1955, Pete served in The Air National Guard, including manning a radar station in Florida during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. He developed an interest in trucking early in life as he accompanied his father (a road driver with a local trucking company at the time) on road trips between Dothan and Birmingham. He began his career in the trucking business at GFA Transportation, working his way from billing clerk to the General Office. He then moved on to AAA Motor Lines in Dothan, alongside his close friend, Mack Dove. He learned to drive, deliver and pick up freight, and operate a terminal. He then left AAA to become Terminal Manager at A-OK Motor Lines, then later taking the same position at Georgia Highway Express in Dothan. He was promoted to Terminal Manager in Macon, GA in 1968. At that time the Macon facility as the 2nd largest terminal in the company.
In 1973, Pete was asked by Mack to return to Dothan to help with the merger of AAA Motor Lines & Cooper Transfer Co. He became General Manager of the new company, AAA Cooper Transportation. The company flourished under his leadership, becoming a nationally respected corporation. Pete retired as AAA Cooper’s Chief Operating Officer in 2005. He was an avid golfer, fisherman and hunter. He enjoyed watching John Wayne movies and spending time with his family. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Dothan and the Men’s Sunday School class there. He believed deeply in loyalty to The United States of America. He also was a huge supporter of the Alabama Crimson Tide and was a Scholarship Club member of The University of Alabama.
He is preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Joyce Dotson.
He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Sara Tomlin Barkley of Dothan, and his three sons, Dr. Thomas Jackson “Jack” Barkley (Becky) of Dothan, James Emory “Jimmy” Barkley (Martha) of Pass Christian, MS and Jason Edward Barkley (Mary Elizabeth) of Panama City Beach, FL; his eight grandchildren: Amanda Kathryn Montgomery (Trey) of Dothan, Caroline Louise Barkley of Raleigh, NC, James Hunter Barkley (Kelsey) of Dothan, Eva Elizabeth Adams (Roane) of Mobile, Allyson Christine Murray (Matt) of Birmingham, Sara Melissa McKean (Walt) of Mobile, Dr. Jason Reeves Barkley of Marathon, FL, Lilia Elizabeth Barkley of Gainesville, GA; his 4 great-grandchildren, along with several nieces & nephews.
Serving as active pallbearers will be Hunter Barkley, Reeves Barkley, Trey Montgomery, Roane Adams, Matt Murray, and Walt McKean.
Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Rut Crawford, Mack Dove, Ken Hayes, Pat Heffner and Joe Thomas.
OZARK…Mr. Morris R. Lattimore, Jr. (Colonel, United States Army, Retired), a resident of Ozark, died early Tuesday afternoon, May 12, 2026, at his home. He was 76.
A complete obituary with a list of survivors will be announced later by Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home of Ozark.
You may sign a guest register at www.fuquabankston.com
ABBEVILLE… Shannon Foy Day, a resident of Abbeville, Alabama, passed away Monday, May 11, 2026, at his home. He was 56.
No services are planned at this time.
Mr. Day was born in Pelham, Georgia to Johnny Lucky and the late Connie Ruth Whitehead Singletary. He lived in Shorterville, Alabama and Cuthbert, Georgia area before moving to Abbeville, Alabama.
Along with his mother, he was also preceded in death by a brother, Christopher Whitehead.
Leaving to cherish his memories are his daughters, Shayenne Day, Harley Day, and Ashley Day; his brothers, Jamie Enfinger and Cobi Enfinger; and his grandchildren, Ivy Jackson, I’ya Jackson, I’veone Jackson, I’Lynn Jackson, Kenzlie Day, Karsyn Anderson, Kairo Hicks, and Cyiero Hicks.
Pauline was born in Ollerton, England, to William and Alice Bingham. In her youth, she was an accomplished musician and swimmer. As a young adult, she traveled the world as a professional trumpet player, performing with various big band ensembles.
She later settled in Dothan, Alabama, where she spent the rest of her life near her children and grandchildren. Pauline was a founding member of the Dothan Moonlighters, a celebrated music instructor, and a longtime member of the Dothan Civic Band. She also performed in the orchestra at SEACT for many years. Additionally, she was a business owner in the Wiregrass area for 35 years, serving several local medical facilities. She was a longtime member of Christ Church International, where she played trumpet in the praise band.
Pauline was a beloved mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend. She is preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Gordon. She is survived by her children, Karen Hoole of Slocomb and Gary (Sheila) Hoole of Dothan; her grandchildren, Jessica Lynn of Ashford, Jennifer (Nathan) Russler of Dothan, Jacob (Bonnie) Lynn of Slocomb, Jordan Holman of Texas, Kristin (Tim) Meyers of Dothan, Sarah (Dylan) Jones of Dothan, and Jon Hoole of Dothan; Her brother Barry Bingham of Australia; her close cousin Yvonne (Mick) Kennison of the UK, as well as many great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
The family will be having a private ceremony at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Wiregrass Pets Rescue and Adoption Center.
