ASHFORD. . .Jean Penuel Starling, a resident of Ashford, passed away Tuesday morning, September 22, 2026, at her home. She was 99.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Thursday, September 24, 2026, in the Cowarts Baptist Church with Chaplain Daulton Keel officiating. The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 2:00 P.M. Thursday in the church sanctuary. Burial will follow in the Cowarts Baptist Church Cemetery. Holman-Headland Mortuary & Cremations is in charge of arrangements.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions may be made to the Cowarts Baptist Church, 2819 Jordan Avenue, Cowarts, AL 36321.
Mrs. Starling was born and raised in Henry County, daughter of the late Thomas Marvin Penuel and Dewey Mae Hodges Penuel. She formerly lived in Wewahitchka, Florida, Dothan and Abbeville before moving to Houston County, near Ashford, in 1990. Mrs. Starling was the oldest living member of Cowarts Baptist Church where she was also a member of the Irma Ready Sunday School Class. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charlie V. Starling, and four sisters, Blondell Owens, Louise Eubanks, Mary Moring and Lynette Forehand, a son-in-law, James E. “Jimmy” Dickens, and great-great-grandchildren, Griffin Allen Watson, Braighley Nicole Harper and Kimberlyn Nicole Day.
Surviving relatives include her daughters, Diane Jinks (Morris), Dothan; Sharon Smith (James), Ashford; and Vicki Jackson (Bert), Columbia; a son, Bruce Starling (Lisa), Abbeville; grandchildren, Tammy Allen (Buddy), Chad Jinks (Heather), Keenan Jinks, Jennifer Harper (Michael), Tracy Watson (Mark), Kaci Baker (Jeff), Dustin Jackson (Whitney), Blake Brannon (Kimberly), Benjamin Day (Tonya), Bryant Day and Cody Odom; numerous great and great-great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews, including a special niece, Linda Jordan.
Serving as active pallbearers will be the great-grandsons.
The family would like to express their appreciation to Ashley, Heather and Sonya of Dayspring Hospice and especially caregiver, Emily Smith, for the loving care and kindness shown to Mrs. Starling during her illness.
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.
OZARK…Mrs. Deborah Ann Cahoon Zodrow, a resident of Ozark, died early Monday morning, September 21, 2026, at her home. She was 71.
Celebration of Life Services will be held on Saturday, October 10, 2026, at the home of her daughter, 627 Robin Parker Road, Ozark. Friends and family are welcome to come together to honor her memory and share stories of the love and kindness she brought to their lives. Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home of Ozark is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Zodrow was a devoted grandmother whose family, especially her grandchildren, held a very special place in her heart. She truly cherished the time she spent with them and found great happiness in simply being a part of their lives. Whether it was spending time together, sharing a conversation, offering a helping hand, or making sure they had what they needed, her grandchildren could always count on her. Being their grandmother was one of the greatest joys of her life.
Mrs. Zodrow was the kind of person who was always looking out for the people she loved. She made sure no one in her family ever went without and was always willing to give whatever she could to help someone along the way. If there was a need, she did her best to meet it. She gave from the heart, never expecting anything in return, because taking care of her family was simply a part of who she was.
Her love could be seen in the everyday things she did. She cared deeply, worried about those she loved, and wanted to know that everyone was taken care of. Family meant everything to Mrs. Zodrow, and she showed that love through her kindness, generosity, and constant presence in their lives. Those who knew her will remember a woman with a generous heart and a loving spirit, someone who found happiness in doing for others and making life a little easier for the people around her.
Mrs. Zodrow was preceded in death by her father, Ross K. Cahoon; her mother, Marvel Arleen Stallings Cahoon; her stepfather, Jean Elgart; her brother, Richard Cahoon; and her sister, Nancy Yunkee.
Surviving relatives include her husband of fifty-three years, Clifford Zodrow; daughter, Aaron Niki Webb (Reagan); son, Ryan Zodrow (Deanie); grandchildren, Ethan Webb, Luke Webb, and Isaac Webb; her eldest sister, Linda Kay Cahoo-Cormack; numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews.
You may sign a guest register at www.fuquabankston.com
Shirley Ann (Dickey) Kirkland, 91, a resident of Dothan, formerly of Columbia, passed away on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at Wesley Place on Honeysuckle, following an extended illness.
Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, September 24, 2026, at Mt. Gilead Baptist Church with Dr. Bradley Rushing officiating. A private family burial will follow with Glover Funeral Home and Crematory of Dothan directing.
Flowers will be accepted.
Shirley was born August 1, 1935, in Havana, Florida to the late William Thomas & Myrtie Mae (Mills) Dickey. She spent the early years and most of her adult life in Columbia, until moving to Dothan 25 years ago. Following high school, she attended college and worked in the medical field as Licensed Practical Nurse for many years. Shirley was faithful member of Mt. Gilead Baptist Church since 2010.
She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Jack Kirkland; her daughter, Dana Henderson; her son, Brian Kirkland; and her siblings.
She is survived by her two daughters, Pam Averett of Midland City, and Debby Parrish (Denny) of Taylor; her nine grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
The family would like to express their gratitude to her Caregiver, Shelia McCloud, as well as the staff and nurses of Wesley Place on Honeysuckle – Sanders Unit & Martin 2, for the love and care shown to their loved one during this difficult time.
Glover Funeral Home and Crematory has been entrusted with the arrangements.
ARITON…Mr. Keith Hardy, a resident of Ariton, died Monday, September 21, 2026. He was 62.
Graveside services will be held at 3:00 P.M. Friday, September 25, 2026, at Woodlawn Memory Gardens with Reverend Dr. Randy Adams officiating. Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home of Ozark is in charge of arrangements. The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 2:30 P.M. Friday at the funeral home.
Mr. Hardy, son of Louis Wyatt Hardy and Ollie Mae Joles Hardy, was a native of Picayune, Mississippi and moved to Ariton in 1972. He owned and operated Keith Hardy’s Asphalt Paving for over 40 years. Married to his beloved wife, Linda, for 42 years.
Keith Hardy was truly one of a kind. I can assure you there was never anyone else quite like him. If you had the chance to meet Keith, you can be certain he left a lasting impression on you whether it was because he made you laugh, pissed you off, helped you, or simply gave you a lasting memory.
The love Keith had for his family was like no other. His drive, work ethic, determination, and knowledge were remarkable. He was a man who could outwork anybody, and he took pride in everything he put his mind to. Keith would get things done even if he didn’t know how he would figure it out and he wasn’t afraid of hard work. He also had a gift for making a deal. If you knew Keith, you knew he was a hustler and going to bargain until he got the best deal possible.
He was a provider, a businessman, a friend, a brother, an uncle, a husband, a daddy, a father to many others a father-in-law, and above all, a family man. He effortlessly filled each of those roles with pride and gave everything he had to the people he loved.
Keith inspired more people than he ever realized. He taught through his actions, his determination, his generosity, and his unwavering commitment to his family. He was larger than life, fearless and unforgettable. There is no one to replace Keith Hardy.
Keith Hardy will always be the Man, the Myth, the Legend!
Surviving relatives include his wife, Linda; children Princess (Alan), Savannah (Trey), and Elvis (Jessica); grandchildren, Angel (Ray), Natalie, Heaven, Myalie, Breylie, Aynslie, and Iden ; niece Neviah. Future great grandchild Eleanor.
Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Elvis, Dale, Frankco, Alan, Trey, and Ray.
You may sign a guest register at www.fuquabankston.com
Obituary from Holman Funeral Home of Ozark – Ozark, Alabama
SMSgt Robert Ellsworth “Bob” Tibbetts, (United States Air Force, Retired) a resident of Ozark, died Thursday, September 17, 2026, at his home. He was 94 years old.
Funeral services for SMSgt Tibbetts will be 3:00 P. M. Sunday, September 27, 2026, in the Chapel of Holman Funeral Home in Ozark with Reverend Tom Skeen officiating. Interment will follow in Woodlawn Memory Gardens with Full Military Honors, Holman Funeral Home of Ozark directing. The family will receive friends at the funeral home in Ozark Sunday from 2:00 P. M. until service time.
SMSgt Tibbetts was born April 18, 1932 in Boston, Massachusetts to the late Samuel Harriman Tibbetts and Minnie Elenor Howard Tibbetts. He retired from the United States Air Force as a Senior Master Sergeant following twenty years of service. In 1970 they moved to Ozark where he attended the Alabama Aviation and Technical College receiving his Airframe and Powerplant License. He worked with the United States Department of Agriculture in the Soil Conservation Office for twenty years until his retirement. He was a passionate outdoorsman who enjoyed camping, boating, skiing and playing golf. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Beatrice Newsome Tibbetts; two sons, Robert Samuel Tibbetts and Gary Ray Tibbetts; and two step-daughters, Janice Smith and Linda Temple.
Survivors include his daughter, Debbie Riley (Mike) of Newville; eleven grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to Angie Ganey and Angie Adams for their care and compassion shown to Mr. Tibbetts.
