COTTONWOOD… Gerard T. Guilford, a resident of Webb, Alabama, passed away early Sunday, November 9, 2025. He was 55.
There are no services planned at this time.
Mr. Guilford was born in Lake City, Florida, to the late Gerald Guilford and Theresa Annette Godwin Guilford Perrin. He had lived in the Dothan, Alabama area most of his lifetime. He was an avid fisherman and loved to fish whenever he could wet a hook. He was a people person and never met a stranger. He loved his family. He was currently working with Danford Farms as a heavy equipment mechanic. He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Dothan, Alabama.
Leaving to cherish his memories are his sisters, Danna Carpenter and Belinda Gail Guilford; his aunt Judith Ingram (Royce): and his cousins (more like brothers) Freddie Ingram (Sandi), Jack Ingram (Sharlon) and Chase Ingram (Ciera).
Clifton Wayne Johnson, a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather stepped into the glorious presence of his Savior with Coach Bear Bryant leading him through the Pearly Gates on Sunday, November 9, 2025. Born on June 11, 1947, to Marion and Gladys Johnson, the only child, Wayne spent most of his younger days playing baseball or delivering newspapers. It wasn’t long before Wayne demonstrated his entrepreneurial talents and in the early 70s, he started his own newspaper with a distribution of 500 and spent early mornings delivering papers before school. On Saturday mornings he would help his mom do laundry and chores. Once he was finished, he would be able to play baseball with his friends. It was his entrepreneurial spirit and his hatred for folding clothes that guided him to take his income to buy his mother a new dryer so he could get out earlier on Saturdays. Wayne certainly was filled with vision. Having no place to play ball, Wayne spotted a vacant lot in his neighborhood and set about cleaning it up to create a baseball diamond. Soon after, Wayne and some of his friends organized a band called The Impacts, and he began a career in the music industry playing drums. Following his love for music, Wayne opened Cowboy’s, formerly known as The Club, and was able to book big names for concerts for the Dothan area. He ran Cowboy’s along with his wife Sara for many years until they sold it. Not ones to be idle, Wayne and Sara soon opened Dothan Linen Service and operated it together until 2024 when the business burned.
Wayne was mostly known for his love for Alabama football as well as his sense of humor. He had a quick wit and would sharpen it every morning when he’d get together with his friends at Waffle House. Oh, to be a fly on the wall! There is no doubt there were many colorful stories told as well as discussions about the world, politics and mostly Alabama football. Wayne was most certainly an armchair quarterback when he and Sara weren’t on the road to go to the games – even going as far as Hawaii to see the Alabama play. Sara ended up in the hospital in Hawaii and had to have her appendix removed but not even that stopped Wayne from going to the game. He sold her ticket and bought beer.
As a past president of The Dothan Jaycees, Wayne was always thinking of ways to enrich the city that he loved. Wayne added mentor to his list of many talents and coached a local Little League baseball team thereby passing on his love of sports to many young hearts in the Dothan area.
Wayne is survived by his wife of 41 years Saralynn Johnson; his daughters, Hope Johnson and Hayley Blount (Ken); grandchildren Peyton Chestnut, Austin Chestnut, Hannah Cochran, Jaycee Cochran, Dylan Blount, and Taylor Fitzgerald (Christopher). He is also survived by his great-grandchildren, James Bennett Fitzgerald and Adalynn Grace Cochran, as well as so many friends and family members.
The community is invited to pay their respects at Ward Wilson Funeral Home, where a service celebrating Wayne’s life will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, November 14, 2025. The service will be officiated by Pastor Chad Hixson, and burial will follow in Memory Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends Thursday, November 13, 2025, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Ward Wilson Funeral Home.
WEBB… Jane Lomax Evans, a resident of Webb, Alabama, passed away Sunday, November 9, 2025, at her home. She was 75.
Memorial Services will held 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at First Baptist Church of Columbia, with Reverend Vann Cooley officiating. The family will receive friends following the service. Wright Funeral Home & Crematory is in charge of the arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to First Baptist Church of Columbia, in Ms. Evans honor; P.O. Box 267, Columbia, Alabama 36319.
Ms. Evans was born in Blakely, Georgia to the late James Edward Lomax and Lillian Vire’ Knight Lomax. She was a graduate of Early County High School. She loved her family, and she nurtured them with tenderness, warmth, and support. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Columbia.
Leaving to cherish her memories are her daughter, Brandy Hughes (Brian); her son, Max Evans (Tammie); and her grandchildren, Cody Evans, Dalton Evans, Lilli Kate Evans, Walker Evans, Brody Hughes, and Bryson Hughes.
Obituary from Holman Funeral Home of Ozark – Ozark, Alabama
Mr. Carl D. Gassett, a former resident of Ozark, passed away Monday, November 10, 2025. He was 85 years old. Funeral services for Mr. Gassett will be 10:30 A.M. Friday, November 14, 2025, in the Chapel of Holman Funeral Home in Ozark with Reverend Johnny Anderson officiating. Interment will follow in Woodlawn Memory Gardens, Holman Funeral Home of Ozark directing. The family will receive friends Friday at the funeral home from 10:00 A.M. until service time.
Mr. Gassett was born on January 26, 1940, in Skipperville, Alabama, to Grady Gassett and El Berta Dykes Gassett. He was the seventh of eight children and the youngest boy in the family. Affectionately known as “DEE-witt” or “Dee” by his siblings, Carl grew up surrounded by a large extended family in rural Dale County. He often recalled with humor and fondness what it meant to be “poor folks.” One treasured family photograph shows a young Dee, about eight years old, standing proudly barefoot among his brothers and sisters gathered around their mother.
Carl graduated from Carroll High School in 1958. After working several odd jobs, and a short stint in the army national guard, he attended Norman College in Norman Park, Georgia, where he met and married Ruth Sloan Crosby. They had one daughter, Teresa Gassett (Rhyne). Carl later completed his degree at Troy University and began a long and dedicated career in public-school music education in DeFuniak Springs, Florida. At that time, he chose to go by “Carl,” believing it carried the professional respect he sought as a teacher and musician.
A musician by both talent and calling, Mr. Gassett taught public school music for more than 20 years and served as minister of music in churches across DeFuniak Springs and Ozark, Alabama, for over four decades. In addition to his teaching and church work, he played guitar, taught himself the fiddle, worked as an assistant manager at Walmart, and tuned pianos as a skilled technician before retiring.
Carl recognized and nurtured a musical gift in his daughter, Teresa, ensuring she took piano lessons and encouraging her love of music. She fondly remembers singing with her father and Aunt Margaret at Southside Baptist Church in Ozark. Following in his footsteps, Teresa became a public-school music educator herself. Later in life, Carl welcomed a son, Stephen Carl Gassett, who served as a percussionist in the U.S. Army Band. Stephen and his wife, Mia, live in Manhattan, Kansas, with their two sons.
Beyond music, Carl had a deep affection for animals—especially cats, dogs, and horses—and a love for the outdoors. He enjoyed fishing, teaching his daughter the art of catching fish with a simple cane pole, and he delighted in taking his nieces and nephews swimming at local ‘watering spots’ during family visits. He would often stop along the road to visit friends and family, pet a horse, or rescue a stray animal. He also played on several church softball teams and was an avid Atlanta Braves fan. One of his favorite memories was being in the stands when Hank Aaron hit his record-breaking 715th home run in 1974.
He was preceded in death by his mother, El Berta Gassett; siblings Laura Lou Gassett, Mavis Gassett Phillips, Earl Gassett, Margaret Gassett Scales, Wayne Gassett, and Lamar Gassett.
He is survived by his daughter, Teresa Gassett Rhyne (Jimmy); his son, Stephen Carl Gassett (Mia); his brother, Ed Gassett (Rebecca); grandsons, Jamie and Joshua; his lifelong friend, Annette LeMacks; and several nieces and nephews.
HEADLAND. . .Nelle Boone Knowles, a resident of Headland, passed away late Monday night, November 10, 2025, at her home. She was 95.
Memorial Services will be held at 3:00 P.M. Thursday, November 13, 2025, in the Holman-Headland Mortuary Chapel with Dr. Cecil M. Sanders, Jr. officiating. The family will receive friends from 2:00 until 3:00 P.M. Thursday in the mortuary chapel.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church of Headland, 301 East Church Street, Headland, AL 36345.
Mrs. Knowles was born to Henry Folmar Boone and Reba Montez Boone on February 23, 1930 in Dothan and was raised in Headland. Mrs. Knowles was a graduate of Headland High School. She lived for many years in the White Oak Community on Lake Eufaula before returning to Headland in 2021. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Headland. Mrs. Knowles retired as the owner and operator of the Lamp Shade in Dothan. She was preceded in death by both parents, her husband of sixty years, Bob Knowles, a son, Phillip Knowles, and a sister, Zorah Boone Messer.
Surviving relatives include two sons, Frank B. “Booney” Knowles (Sandra), and John Thomas “Tommy” Knowles (Lesa); nine grandchildren, Tricia Jenkins (Doug), Tracy Knowles (Cheri), David Carr (Roslyn), Ashley Whitfield (Clay), Kara Etheredge (Andrew), Anna Knowles, Katie Hester (Kraig), Chad Granberry (Savannah), and Dustin Granberry (Beth); eighteen great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren; a niece, Priscilla Messer, a special cousin, Bobby Boone (Rhoda), and a very special young man, Albert White.
HOLMAN-HEADLAND MORTUARY & CREMATIONS IS IN CHARGE OF ARRANGEMENTS. Phone 334-693-3371. You may sign a guest register at www.holmanmortuaries.com. This establishment does not own a crematory.
