Mr. Earnest Lex “Buddy” Parrish of Dothan, a beloved father, brother, and friend, peacefully left this world on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, at the age of 86, in the comfort of his home.
A celebration of Buddy’s remarkable life will take place on Saturday, November 22, 2025, at Bay Springs Baptist Church at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Tommy Greene and Rev. Cliff Morrison officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery with Sorrells Funeral Home of Slocomb directing. Friends and family are invited to gather one hour prior to the service to honor his memory.
Born on April 7, 1939, in Geneva County, Buddy was the cherished son of the late Ammie and Ethel Stewart Parrish. His life was defined by service and dedication, proudly serving in the United States Air Force for 20 years until his well-deserved retirement in 1977. Following his military career, he spent 24 years at Pemco, where he excelled as an electrician, supervisor, and avionics manager.
Buddy’s heart was forever intertwined with his high school sweetheart, Ann Parrish. Their love story spanned over 66 beautiful years, during which they built a life filled with laughter, love, and shared passions. Buddy was known for his culinary skills, often delighting his family with his cooking. He cherished fishing trips, enjoyed watching western television shows, and was an avid baseball fan. A man of deep faith, he was a proud member of Bay Springs Baptist Church. Buddy also had a special love for dogs, enjoying countless moments with his beloved granddogs.
He is preceded in death by his dearly loved wife, Ann, and his siblings: Ammie Parrish Jr., Harry Parrish, Robert Parrish, Evelyn Parrish Green, and Charlotte Parrish Teets, all of whom held a special place in his heart.
Buddy leaves behind his devoted son, Jeff Parrish, and his wife Lynda; his cherished sisters, Grace Parrish Battles and Susan Parrish Blount; along with numerous special nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends who will remember him with great affection and respect.
As we remember Mr. Earnest Lex “Buddy” Parrish, let us celebrate a life well-lived, marked by devotion to family, a strong sense of duty, and endless love that will echo in the hearts of those he touched.
The family would like to express their heartfelt appreciation to Gentiva Hospice and to Buddy’s dedicated caregivers: Kintenia, Kelly, Pam, Barbara, Joanna, Shitera, Destinee, Shirley, and Donna for the exceptional love, compassion, and care they provided.
Sorrells Funeral Home of Slocomb
(334) 886-7777, is in charge of arrangements. “Because We Care … Is Making A Difference”
James Bryant Thorne, age 84, a resident of Eufaula, Alabama passed away Wednesday, November 19, 2025, at Southeast Health in Dothan, Alabama.
Funeral services will be held Sunday, November 23, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. in the Glover Funeral Home Chapel in Eufaula with Dr. Kermit Soileau officiating and Glover Funeral Home directing. The burial will follow in the Ramah Baptist Church Cemetery in Banks, Alabama. A visitation will be held Saturday, November 22, 2025, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Glover Funeral Home in Eufaula. Flowers will be accepted.
James was born on January 19, 1941, in Union Springs, Alabama to the late Loyd Bryant and Mattie Lou Shepard Thorne. He loved music and was a great drummer, he also enjoyed fishing. James loved his family and friends and enjoyed spending time with them.
He is preceded in death by his parents, and a daughter, Gina Doreen Thorne.
Left to cherish his memories are his loving wife of 64 years, Maurine Locklar Thorne; two daughters, Beverly Thorne Conner (Tony) of Locust Grove, Georgia and Angie Ussery (Shannon) of Madison, Georgia; son, Mike Thorne (Lynn) of Stockbridge, Georgia; six grandchildren, Stephen Payne, Gina Sexton (Blake), Melissa Yeager, Alex Yeager (Melanie), Michael Thorne (Jordan), and Lyndsey Thorne; six great-grandchildren, Kashten Payne, Kohen Sexton, Elizabeth Yeager, Livi Thorne, Lainey Thorne, and Hudson Thorne.
Asked to serve as pallbearers are Stephen Payne, Blake Sexton, Alex Yeager, Michael Thorne, Tony Conner, and Shannon Ussery.
Glover Funeral Home of Eufaula was entrusted with the arrangements. (334) 687-5725. Please sign the guestbook online at www.gloverfuneral.com
Loren “Les” Blocher, Jr., a cherished husband, father, grandfather, and friend, passed away peacefully on November 20, 2025, in his hometown of Dothan, Alabama, where he was also born on March 1, 1963. Les was a man known for his sense of humor and his appreciation for the outdoors.
Les graduated from Dothan High School, where he built lasting friendships and developed a strong work ethic that carried into his career. He worked many years as both a mechanic and construction worker, taking pride in his skills and the quality of his work. His coworkers knew him as someone dependable and straightforward, always ready with a joke.
He enjoyed golfing, hunting, and fishing, all of which gave him time to connect with nature and the people he cared about. He also loved to reminisce about his younger days racing motorcycles, stories he never grew tired of sharing.
A dedicated supporter of Alabama Football, Les rarely missed a game and always cheered with enthusiasm. He enjoyed time spent on his porch, especially when he could tease and joke with friends and family, something that became one of his trademarks.
Les’s family was the heart of his life. He was a devoted husband to his wife of 25 years, Trina Blocher, and a loving father to his children, Tiffany Watford (Larry), April Blocher, Brittney Blocher, and Loren Bradley Blocher. His grandchildren, Austin Watford, Paisley Watford, Damean Davis, Hunter Leger, Mikaela Watford, Reese Watford, Justin Robbins, and Patrick Parrish, and his great-grandchildren, Ellie, Ryleigh, Jaxon, and Isabella, brought him great joy.
Les was preceded in death by his parents, Jacquelyn Thompson and Loren Blocher, Sr.; his grandparents, Lucille Creamer and Woodrow Creamer; and his father-in-law, Danny Simmons. He is survived by his brother, Loren C. Blocher; his sister, Aleda Blocher; his mother-in-law, Teena Holliday; his brother-in-law, Craig Simmons (Melissa); beloved uncle, Ronald Creamer (Gail); and several loving cousins.
Ms. Mary Bell Brown Baxley, known as “Ma Bell” a resident of Clayton, Alabama, passed away Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at Wesley Place in Dothan, Alabama. She was 93 years old.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 22, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Prospect Baptist Church in Clayton, Alabama, with Rev. Buddy Ward officiating and Glover Funeral Home directing. The burial will follow in the church cemetery. A visitation will be held Friday, November 21, 2025, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Glover Funeral Home in Clayton. Flowers will be accepted, or contributions can be made to one’s favorite charity.
Ms. Bell was born on August 22, 1932, in Henry County, Alabama, to the late Claude Brown and Pennie Bush Cox. She was a life-long resident of Barbour County. She worked at West Point Stevens until her retirement. She loved her family and friends. Bell was a wonderful wife, mom, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend to everyone. She lived a good life doing what she loved the most, cooking for her family and carrying food to people. Her special gift was making tea cakes and cakes and everyone loved them. She enjoyed fishing but especially jug fishing with her son until she was 86 years old. Bell was a member of Prospect Baptist Church, a member of the Texasville Fire Department, and the Texasville Community Club House.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her loving husband, Wiley Emmett Baxley; two brothers, Wayne Brown (Christine) and Bobby Brown; son-in-law, Theldon Byrd. Surviving relatives include her daughter, Ann Byrd of Grady, Alabama; her son, Larry Baxley (Cindy) of Dothan, Alabama; three grandchildren; Andrew Baxley (Jorda), Tracy Bowman (Jamie), and Ashley Ledbetter (Kevin); five great-grandchildren, Hunter Bowman, Kylie Bowman, Brady Ledbetter, Eleanor Baxley, and Eli Baxley; three sisters; Dorothy Gould of Lake Martin, Alabama, Jean McKnight (James) of Dothan, Alabama, and Beth Scott of Shorterville, Alabama.
Active pallbearers will be Andrew Baxley, Kevin Ledbetter, Jamie Bowman, Hunter Bowman, Dennis Baxley, and Bruce Adams.
Honorary pallbearers will be Eli Baxley and Brady Ledbetter.
Glover Funeral Home of Clayton was entrusted with the arrangements. (334) 775-3403. Please sign the guestbook online at www.gloverfuneral.com
Betty Wills Hudgins, 82, passed away on November 13, 2025, after a long battle with ovarian cancer. Betty was born in Shorterville, AL, and grew up in Abbeville, AL, the daughter of W.C. and Lucile Wills. She graduated from Abbeville High School. Betty held a degree in social work from the University of Alabama (Roll Tide), where she was a member of the Delta Zeta Sorority, a source of lifelong friendships. After graduation, she began a career in advertising, where she met her husband, Don. She later became a successful residential real estate agent in Atlanta, GA. As a real estate agent, Betty loved getting to know her clients and many of them became lifelong friends.
Betty was preceded in death by her mother, father, and husband. She is survived by her daughter Stephanie Philippo and her son-in-law Drew Philippo, as well as her five cherished siblings and spouses: brothers George Wills, Jerry Wills (and wife Patty), Bill Wills, and Phil Wills (and wife Janet) and sister Barbara Wills. Betty is also survived by a large family of nieces, nephews, and in-laws, all of whom she loved dearly.
The family would like to express their deep appreciation for her longtime caregivers Jackie Saunders and Karen White. Their loving care, dedication, and support were invaluable and made Betty’s cancer journey the best it could possibly be.
A memorial service will be held in January at H.M. Patterson & Son – Arlington Chapel, Sandy Springs, GA. Details, date, and time will be posted later. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the American Cancer Society.
For further information please contact Holman-Abbeville Mortuary & Cremations at 334-585-5261.
John J. McCraney, a resident of Blountstown, FL, went to be with the Lord Saturday, November 15, 2025. He was 70.
John was born in Barbour County, Alabama, the son of the late JC McCraney and Annie Mae (Grubbs) McCraney. He loved the water, enjoyed freshwater fishing, and could often be found working on cars and restoring lawn mowers. He was a heavy equipment operator in the Pulpwood industry and of the Baptist faith.
In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his eight siblings– five brothers and threesisters, and a brother-in-law, James Vinson.
Survivors include three sisters: Alberta Vinson, JoAnn Shuyler (husband, Terry), and Patsy Vaughn (husband, Bob) all of Alabama; along with additional family members.
James Bryant Thorne, age 84, a resident of Eufaula, Alabama passed away Wednesday, November 19, 2025, at Southeast Health in Dothan, Alabama.
Ms. Mary Bell Brown Baxley, known as “Ma Bell” a resident of Clayton, Alabama, passed away Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at Wesley Place in Dothan, Alabama. She was 93 years old.