LYNN HAVEN, FLORIDA. . .Barbara Jean Blalock Merritt, a resident of Lynn Haven, Florida, passed away Thursday afternoon, October 30, 2025, at her home. She was 90.
Graveside services will be held at 1:00 P.M. Friday, November 7, 2025, in the Adoniram Baptist Church Cemetery, 6963 County Road 65, Shorterville, Alabama 36373, with Minister Amy Parrish officiating. Holman-Abbeville Mortuary & Cremations is in charge of arrangements. The family will receive friends from 12:00 Noon until 12:30 P.M. Friday at the mortuary in Abbeville and also following the graveside service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Adoniram Baptist Church, c/o Tina Barnes, 3475 County Road 71, Shorterville, AL 36373.
Ms. Merritt was born and raised in Abbeville, Alabama, daughter of the late James W. Blalock and Alice Hardwick Blalock. She attended Abbeville High School. Ms. Merritt was retired as the Co-Owner and Operator of M. L. Merritt Contracting of Opelika, Alabama. She was affiliated with First Baptist Church of Panama City and was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. Ms. Merritt enjoyed crocheting, cooking and gardening and watching her favorite television shows which included Golden Girls, Mary Tyler Moore Show and N.C.I.S. She was preceded in death by her brothers, Jimmy Blalock and Robert G. Blalock and a special cousin, Olivia Fleming.
Surviving relatives include her son, Kerry Merritt (Lisa), Lynn Haven, Florida; grandchildren, Derek Stevens (Laura Helton), Jessica Darrow (Spencer), and David Stevens; several cousins including, Amy Parrish, Virginia Bostick and Tom Hardwick; and a special and long time friend, Frances Fields.
HOLMAN ABBEVILLE MORTUARY & CREMATIONS IS IN CHARGE OF ARRANGEMENTS. Phone 334-585-5261. You may sign a guest register at www.holmanmortuaries.com. This establishment does not own a crematory.
Obituary from Holman Funeral Home of Ozark – Ozark, Alabama
Mr. Arthur Dean Edmonds, a resident of Ariton, died late Friday night, October 31, 2025, at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was 90 years old.
Funeral services for Mr. Edmonds will be 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, November 5, 2025, in the Chapel of Holman Funeral Home in Ozark with Chaplain Jonathan Smith officiating. Interment will follow in Woodlawn Memory Gardens, Holman Funeral Home of Ozark directing. The family will receive friends at the funeral home in Ozark Wednesday from 10:00 A.M. until service time.
Mr. Edmonds was born February 15, 1935 in Dale County, Alabama to the late Clyde Edmonds and Edna Beasley Edmonds. He graduated from Ariton High School and began work with the State of Alabama with the road crew. He was later employed with various maintenance contractors at Fort Rucker as a helicopter mechanic on various aircraft, retiring following forty-five years of service. Dean was a Master Mechanic and a member of the Machinist Lodge IAM #2003 in Daleville, Alabama. After retirement, he enjoyed farming, gardening, hunting, collecting arrow heads, fishing, Alabama football and tinkering with machinery. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Dina Leigh Edmonds Hughes; his son, Gary Dean Edmonds; three deceased brothers, Ronnie Beasley, Bill Beasley and Al Beasley. Survivors include his wife of 43 years, Betty Edmonds of Ariton; one son, Lynn Edmonds (Belinda) of Ariton; one step-sister, Barbara Slaughter of Tallahassee, Florida; four brothers, Mel Edmonds and E.C. Edmonds both of Brookhaven, Mississippi, Jack Beasley (Linda) of Savannah, Georgia and Larry Beasley of Tamps, Florida. He is also survived by one special granddaughter who he adored, Kristen Hughes. Numerous nieces and nephews also survive. The family would like to extend a special thanks to Community Hospice of Dale Medical Center; Cathy McGowan, Vicky, Tonjulla and Dorothy. Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made in his memory to Mount Olive Cemetery Fund, C/O Mrs. Kathryn Goodson, 1681 Highway 51, Ariton, Alabama 36311; or to Center Ridge Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, C/O Mr. Nelson Senn, 373 County Road 241, Ariton, Alabama 36311.
Clara Blanchard, 87, of Headland, Alabama, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, in Dothan. She was born on February 9, 1938, to Norris Oder and Nodine Hobbs Oder.
Clara was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Richard Blanchard; and her seven siblings. Her loving legacy continues through her children: Barbara Ann Trammell, Jerry Blanchard, Rickey Blanchard, Melvin Blanchard, Penny Sanders, Jeremy Blanchard, and Timothy Jones.
A devoted mother, Clara dedicated her life to her family. Following the untimely passing of her husband in 1971, she raised her children with remarkable strength, grace, and unwavering love. She was also a cherished member of Antioch Baptist Church, where her faith and kindness touched many lives.
In keeping with her wishes, a private burial has been held to honor her memory.
Christy Ann Bailey, age 54, formerly of Dothan passed away Saturday, November 1, 2025 at the East Alabama Medical Center is Opelika.
Christy was born December 16, 1970 in Alabama to the late William R. Bailey, Sr. and Charlotte Law Bailey, Along with her parents, she is preceded in death by her brother, William R. Bailey, Jr.
She is survived by her step-mother, Kathy Bailey, and two uncles, Dustin and Riley Bailey.
Ernest William Davis, a resident of Dothan, died Saturday, November 1, 2025 at Southeast Health. He was 54.
Ernest was born April 6, 1971 in Milton, Florida but moved to Dothan at an early age and lived here the remainder of his life. He was a Truck Driver for AMX and will be remembered as a hard working man.
Ernest is preceded in death by parents, Billy Wayne and Mary Crump Davis and a brother, Jackie Allen Davis.
Survivors include his daughter, Courtney Davis; sisters, Charlene Davis, Danielle Weeks; aunt, Charlotte Boyette, cousin, Becky Garry and a sister in law, Leaanne Davis.
ECHO COMMUNITY. . .Niria Stevens Ammons, a resident of the Echo Community of Dale County, passed away late Saturday afternoon, November 1, 2025, at her home surrounded by her loving family. She was 90.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Tuesday, November 4, 2025, in the New Hope Free Will Baptist Church (2570 County Road 67, Midland City, AL 36350) with Pastor Tim Rabon and Pastor Luke Westbrook officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 2:00 P.M. Tuesday in the church sanctuary. Holman-Headland Mortuary & Cremations is in charge of arrangements.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions may be made to New Hope Free Will Baptist Church, c/o Jo Ann Ammons, 508 County Road 46, Midland City, AL 36350.
Mrs. Ammons was a lifelong resident of Dale County, near the Echo Community, daughter of the late Perry Henry Stevens and Annie Baxley Stevens. She was an active member of New Hope Free Will Baptist Church where she participated in most church activities. Mrs. Ammons formerly served as Treasurer of the Brown’s Crossroads Volunteer Fire Department and served as Prayer Chairman for the Florida State Line Association of Free Will Baptist Women Active for Christ. She was retired from Ansell, Inc in Dothan as a Supervisor. In earlier years, Mrs. Ammons was employed by Wex-Tex Manufacturing Co of Headland. She was preceded in death by her husband, Billy Derl Ammons and a brother, Reverend Earl Stevens.
Surviving relatives include her daughters, Cathy Deaton (Doug), Echo Community; Sharon Rabon (Tim), Raleigh, NC; and Jennifer Tharpe (Kyle), Echo Community; a brother, Bill Stevens (Orlinda), Echo Community; grandchildren, Ryan Deaton (Kash), Amanda Gurman (Mike), Tim Rabon, Jr. (Laura), Philip Rabon (Nichole), Joy Edmonds (Chris), and Leah Shirley (Dustin); great-grandchildren, Jackson Ann Deaton, Zay Deaton, Emma Grace Gurman, Kade Gurman, Riley Rabon, Connor Rabon, Owen Rabon, Aubrey Rabon, Selah Rabon, Ezra Rabon, Landon Edmonds, Braelynn Edmonds, Bryson Edmonds, Laila Kate Shirley and Kaia Shirley; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law from the Ammons family, Jerry Ammons (Jo Ann), and Jack Ammons (Eldora); several nieces and nephews.
Serving as active pallbearers will be the grandsons, grandsons-in-law and nephews, Robert Stevens and Joshua Stevens.
The family would like to express their appreciation to SouthernCare Hospice and especially Ashley, Caneisha and Ramona for the loving care and kindness shown to Mrs. Ammons 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.
