Betty Sue Bryant, age 83, passed away on July 1, 2026. She was born on August 12, 1942, and lived a life centered on family, hard work, and helping others. Those who knew Betty often described her as a true fireball, a woman with a strong personality, a sharp wit, and an even bigger heart.
Betty was born to the late Hoyt Croxton and Anne Hinson and grew up in South Carolina, where she attended Great Falls High School. In 1970, she moved to the Wiregrass area from Augusta and made it her home for the next several decades.
She worked for many years in the textile industry before making the decision to return to college at the age of 40. Betty earned three associate degrees, including her nursing degree, proving that it is never too late to pursue new goals. She later worked as a caregiver for terminally ill patients, a role that reflected her caring nature and willingness to help others.
Betty was also active in her community. She spent several years working with Girls, Inc. and enjoyed teaching craft classes through SARCOA and other local senior centers. She loved sharing her creativity and spending time with others.
She is survived by her son, Steve Bryant and wife Stacie; her daughter, Nina Mielkie and husband Steven of Lancaster, South Carolina; her brother, Hoyt Croxton of Haughton, Louisiana; her sister, Nell Gillcreath of Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 40 years, James Bryant; her daughter, Tonya Barker; her sister, JoAnne Phillips; and her parents, Hoyt Croxton and Anne Hinson.
Betty will be remembered as someone who spoke her mind and stood by what she believed. She could be stern and outspoken, but those who knew her best also knew how generous and caring she was. She was always willing to help someone in need and was deeply devoted to her family. Her strength, kindness, and determination will be remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing her.
SHORTERVILLE. . .Gary “Smiley” Mills, a resident of Shorterville, passed away Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at his home. He was 65.
Memorial services will be held at a later date. Holman-Abbeville Mortuary & Cremations is in charge of arrangements.
Gary Mills was born in Birmingham but lived in Shorterville all his life. He was formerly employed by the Henry County Road & Bridge Department. Gary was preceded in death by his father, Robert Earl Mills and his mother, Annie Elmina Hutto Mills.
Surviving relatives include two sons, Matthew Mills (Chessidy Pryor), Dothan; and Zachary Mills, Florence, AL; step-daughters, Gracie Smith (Jordan) and Eleri Mills; grandchildren, Imala Mills, Isabella Mills, Leonidas Mills, River Mills, Rowan Mills and Isaac Mills; cousins, Danny Hutto, Becky Cordell, Kendra Thomas, Janice Hutto and Julie Hutto.
. HOLMAN ABBEVILLE MORTUARY & CREMATIONS IS IN CHARGE OF FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS. Phone 334-585-5261.You may sign a guest register at www.holmanmortuaries.com. This firm does not own a crematory.
WEBB. . .Eddie Chris Hamm, Jr., a resident of Webb, Alabama, passed away Wednesday afternoon, July 1, 2026, in UAB Hospital in Birmingham. He was 50.
Funeral services will be held at 3:00 P.M. Monday, July 6, 2026, in the Webb Baptist Church with Dr. Ray Cobb officiating. The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 3:00 P.M Monday in the church sanctuary. Graveside services, with Fireman’s Honors, will follow in the Webb Cemetery. Holman-Headland Mortuary & Cremations is in charge of arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Webb Volunteer Fire Department, P.O Box 202, Webb, AL 36376.
Eddie Hamm was a lifelong resident of Webb and attended Houston County High School in Columbia. He was self-employed as the Owner & Operator of Hamm Lawn Care and EH Farms. Eddie drove a special needs school bus for the Ashford Elementary School in the Houston County School System. He formerly served on the Webb Town Council and as Mayor Pro Tem. Eddie was a member of Webb Baptist Church, the Houston County Cattlemen’s Association and the Ashford Masonic Lodge No. 493. He was a member of the Webb Volunteer Fire Department where he was Captain and also volunteered his time as a member of Kinsey Volunteer Fire Department.
Eddie was preceded in death by his grandparents, Edsel and Pauline Hamm, and John and Dorothy Wilbur, and aunt, Paula Vinson.
Surviving relatives include his fiancé, Tina Nowlin; three daughters, Alyssa Nill (Spencer) and Michelle Hamm (Ryan Rose), all of Webb; Makayla Hamm (Dakota Rogers), Kinsey; a bonus daughter, DeAnna Redding (James), Kinsey; his parents, Eddie Chris Hamm, Sr., Webb; and Rhonda Wilbur Hamm, Webb; a sister, Kaye Hamm Dukes (Johnathan), Montgomery; a grandson, Walker King, a granddaughter on the way, Peyton Rogers, and a bonus grandson on the way, Brantley Redding; a niece, Allie Dukes and a nephew, Logan Dukes.
Serving as active pallbearers will be Jamar Ivey, Matt Bowdoin, Robert York, Josh Waybright, John Cherry and Wayne Nowlin. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Firefighters from the Houston and Henry County Volunteer Fire Departments.
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.
ASBURY COMMUNITY…Mr. Joe W. Weldon, a resident of the Asbury Community, near Ozark, died late Thursday afternoon, July 1, 2026, at his home. He was 61.
A complete obituary with a list of survivors will be announced later by Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home of Ozark.
You may sign a guest register at www.fuquabankston.com
ABBEVILLE… Brandy Marie Duncan, a resident of Abbeville, Alabama, passed away Saturday night, June 26, 2026, from injuries sustained in a hit and run accident. She was 46.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
The family request that donations be made to the GoFundMe, (Brandy Duncan’s Funeral Cost) to help offset the unexpected tragic accident; or to Wright Funeral Home & Crematory, 15579 U.S. Hwy 431 South, Headland, Alabama 36345.
Ms. Duncan was born in Mobile, Alabama to Brenda Townsend and the late John Mark Duncan. She had previously lived in Cottonwood, Alabama before moving to the Abbeville, Alabama area over twenty-five years ago. She had previously worked with Money Motor’s in Abbeville before becoming disabled. She loved working with wood and was an artist. She was a member of the Abbeville Methodist Church.
Along with her father, she was also preceded in death by her maternal grandmother, Patricia Campbell; her paternal grandparents, John & Betty Duncan; and her uncle, Steve Duncan.
Leaving to cherish her memories are her daughter, Olivia Michelle Zacherl; her mother, Brenda Townsend Howell; her sisters, Shelley Christine Hope (her daughter Kali Christine Hope), and Elizabeth Michelle Hofacker (Chauncey); her brother, Charles Vincent Pacanins; her aunts and uncles, Mary Ann Reeder (Daniel) and Lynn Duncan; her cousins, Alison Woodward (Justin), Matthew Reeder, Andrew Reeder, Jacob Duncan, and Alisha Duncan; and her several nieces and nephews.
