DALEVILLE… Doris “Dot” Clarine Morrison Spencer, longtime resident of Daleville, Alabama, passed away peacefully in 2025 at the age of 92. She was surrounded by her loving family in her final days.
Visitation will be held Sunday, December 14, 2025, from 1:00–1:30 p.m. at Searcy Funeral Home and Crematory, Enterprise. A graveside service will follow at 2:00 p.m. at Daleville Memorial Gardens, Daleville, Alabama.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in memory of Doris Spencer to Samaritan’s Purse or the Daleville Lions Club.
A complete obituary with a full life story and list of survivors will be announced by Searcy Funeral Home and Crematory.
SEARCY FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORY 1301 Neal Metcalf Road Enterprise, Alabama
MIDLAND CITY… Cora Jean Berry, a resident of Wesley Place on Honeysuckle, formerly of the Sylvan Grove Community near Midland City, Alabama, passed away Friday morning, December 12, 2025, at a Dothan hospital. She was 77.
Graveside services will be held 3:00 P.M. Sunday, December 14, 2025, at Richland Baptist Church Cemetery, with Reverend Joey Hudspeth officiating.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the House of Ruth, Dothan, Alabama.
Cora Jean Berry was born March 02, 1948, to Lowell and Ruby Blalock Dansby in the Hodgesville Community of Houston County, Alabama. She retired from SpectraCare in 1995 and then worked with the House of Ruth until she began working as a caregiver.
In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Dwight Arnold Berry, and a brother, Alto Bish Dansby.
Surviving relatives include a daughter, Angelia Williams Enfinger (Jody); two sons, Rusty Williams (Karen) and Phillip Johnson; Four grandchildren, Ronald Shane Ard, Blake Williams (Tori), Halie Williams, Lee Enfinger; five great grandchildren, Kirsten Ard of Washington, DC, Aurora Ard of Huntsville, Addlyn Williams, Riley Williams, Tyler Williams; four siblings, Shirley Oder, Danny Dansby, Patricia Barnette and Robert Dansby.
“The Soul takes flight on the wings of death. The soul takes flight
into the land where there is no night, For those who believe what the Savior said will rise in glory though they be dead.
So death comes to us just to open the door to the Kingdom of God and life evermore.”
Ava Blake Ford, a bright and beautiful light whose presence brought endless joy to all who loved her, passed away peacefully on December 7, 2025, at the tender age of 5. Born on January 22, 2020, Ava’s life, though far too short, was filled with love, laughter, and moments that touched the hearts of everyone around her.
Ava had a gentle spirit and a personality that radiated happiness. She adored getting her hair brushed and her nails painted, always lighting up when she felt pampered. Bath time was a favorite part of her day, and she loved being pushed in her wheelchair by her big brother, a simple joy that always made her smile. Ava found comfort in swinging, dancing, dressing up, and being surrounded by her family, especially her cherished grandmothers. She never missed a chance to smile when someone sang to her or blew bubbles her way, and she was happiest when she had the attention of those she loved.
Her favorite movies included Hotel Transylvania, Rapunzel, Hocus Pocus, and Pocahontas. Though nonverbal, Ava was remarkably smart, expressive, and full of personality. She especially loved Disney World.
Ava is survived by her loving parents, Trent and Mary Ashley Ford; her brothers, Hayden and Cru Ford; her grandparents, Elizabeth Rich, Tina and Roger Dale Sasser, and Greg “Pops” Hayes; and her great-grandparents, Benny and Wanda Buchanan and Margaret Easterly. She will also be deeply missed by her aunts and uncles, Erin Hayes (Ben Scott), Steven Hayes, Annie Stephens, Lilly Stephens, Gabe Stephens, Tiffany Edwards (Chad), Mary Beth Sasser, Gracie Sasser, and Ryder Sasser; her cousins, Grayson Hayes, Jackson Edwards, and Dawsey Edwards; her special cousin, Kelli Strange; and her great aunt, Susan (Max) Tyson. She also leaves behind a host of extended family members who loved her dearly.
She is preceded in death by her grandfather, David Goodson, and her great-grandparents, James Travis Mixon and Olbia Mixon.
Ava’s life was a gift—a beautiful reminder of the power of joy, resilience, and unconditional love. Her smile, her sweetness, and the light she brought into every room will forever be cherished.
We take comfort in knowing that Ava is now completely healed—running, jumping, playing, and doing all the things she could not do on this earth—resting in the eternal glory of Jesus Christ, our Savior.
A celebration of Ava’s life will be held on Sunday, December 14, 2025, at 2pm at Madrid Baptist Church, 283 Decatur Road, Cottonwood, AL, with Bro. Jayson Kirk officiating. The family will receive friends from 4-6pm on Saturday, December 13 at Sunset Funeral Home.
ARITON…Ms. Tina Hughes Parrish, a resident of Ariton, died early Thursday morning, at the home of her daughter in Ozark. She was 63.
Funeral services will be held at 2:30 P.M. Tuesday, December 16, 2025, in the Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home Chapel with her brother, Reverend Jason Senn officiating. Burial will follow in Universalist Cemetery in Ariton. Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home of Ozark is in charge of arrangements. The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. Monday at the funeral home.
Ms. Parrish, daughter of the late John William Hughes and Anita Thompson Senn, was a proud native of Ariton, Alabama. She grew up with the values of hard work, resilience, and love for family that carried her through every stage of her life. She worked for Dowling Textile in Clio, where she built lasting friendships and showed the same dedication she carried into everything she did. Later, she took on the adventurous life of a long-haul truck driver, spending years on the open road. Driving across miles of highways gave her stories to tell and a sense of independence that she cherished.
Outside of work, Ms. Parrish found joy in the simple pleasures of life. She loved fishing and being outdoors, where the quiet of nature gave her peace. Some of her happiest moments were spent on the back porch, sipping a hot cup of coffee, cigarette in hand, watching the world go by. Those everyday rituals reflected her down-to-earth spirit and her appreciation for life’s small comforts.
She was also a devoted fan of University of Alabama football. Saturdays in the fall were special to her, filled with excitement, pride, and cheering for her team. Her love for the Crimson Tide was more than just about the game—it was about tradition, community, and the joy of sharing something she loved with others.
Ms. Parrish’s life was not without heartache. She was preceded in death by her beloved daughter, Angelica Hope Parrish, and son-in-law, Stephen Smith, who served honorably as a Lance Corporal in the United States Marine Corps. She also endured the loss of her son, Stephen Andrew Johnson; her brothers, Donald Gene Senn and Danny Ray Senn; and her grandson, Preston Kenneth Smith. Though these losses weighed heavily on her heart, she carried their memory with strength and love, keeping them close in spirit.
Those who knew Ms. Parrish will remember her as a woman who lived authentically, who found joy in the everyday, and who loved her family deeply. She had a way of making ordinary moments—like a quiet morning on the porch or a football game on TV—feel special. Her legacy is one of resilience, warmth, and devotion, and she will be remembered with love by all whose lives she touched.
Surviving relatives include her daughters, Candice Smith (Andrew), Ozark and Ashley Parrish, Dothan; four sisters, Brenda Hughes Segars, Ozark, Kathy Youngblood, Dothan, Kimberly Dawn Carter (Jeffery), Jasper, Alabama, and Cynthia Rutt (Kurt), Branford, Connecticut; her brother, Reverend Jason Senn (Melissa), Newbern, North Carolina; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Serving as active pallbearers will be Matt Peters, Andrew Smith, Reverend Jason Senn, James Porter, Ty Lee, and Jeffery Carter.
You may sign a guest register at www.fuquabankston.com
HEADLAND…Mrs. Kathy Maurice, a resident of Headland (formerly of Ozark), died early Thursday morning, December 11, 2025, in the Henry County Health & Rehab in Abbeville. She was 78.
In keeping with the wishes of the family, there are no public services planned at this time. Entombment will be in Woodlawn Memory Gardens Mausoleum. Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home of Ozark is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Maurice, daughter of the late Levi Jefferson Muncy and Betty Newburn Muncy, was born and raised in Vallejo, California. She carried with her the warmth and spirit of her hometown all her life. A proud graduate of Vallejo High School in 1964, she cherished the friendships and memories she made there. On April 30, 1966, she married and began the beautiful journey of building her family—a role she treasured above all else.
Her very first job was as a telephone operator in San Francisco, a position that reflected her natural gift for connecting with people. Later, she discovered her passion for cooking and baking, which became not only a hobby but a way of showing love to those around her. She even worked as a part-time baker for the Monterey, California school system, sharing her talent with children and staff alike. Cooking was never just about food for her—it was about joy, creativity, and bringing people together. She loved trying new recipes, ordering dishes she had never tasted before, and then recreating them in her own kitchen with her special touch.
Travel was another joy in her life. Whether near or far, she delighted in seeing new places, meeting new people, and experiencing the world beyond her doorstep. Her adventures gave her stories to tell and memories to hold close, and she carried that sense of curiosity and wonder wherever she went.
Above all, Mrs. Maurice was a woman who poured her heart into her family, her friends, and her community. She had a way of making people feel welcome, cared for, and loved. She was preceded in death by her sister, Barbara Owens, and though she is no longer with us, her spirit lives on in the countless lives she touched.
Surviving relatives include her husband, Norman Wayne Maurice (Sergeant Major, United States Army, Retired), Headland; two daughters, Margaret Humble (Michael), Durham, North Carolina and Jacqueline Maurice, Headland; son, Michael Maurice (Brenda), Headland; two grandchildren, Christopher Maurice (Julia) and Sarah Maurice; five great-grandchildren, Evelyn Maurice, Ellie Maurice, Ambrose Maurice, Becket Maurice, and Gemma Maurice.
You may sign a guest register at www.fuquabankston.com
