Clifton Wayne Johnson, a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather stepped into the glorious presence of his Savior with Coach Bear Bryant leading him through the Pearly Gates on Sunday, November 9, 2025. Born on June 11, 1947, to Marion and Gladys Johnson, the only child, Wayne spent most of his younger days playing baseball or delivering newspapers. It wasn’t long before Wayne demonstrated his entrepreneurial talents and in the early 70s, he started his own newspaper with a distribution of 500 and spent early mornings delivering papers before school. On Saturday mornings he would help his mom do laundry and chores. Once he was finished, he would be able to play baseball with his friends. It was his entrepreneurial spirit and his hatred for folding clothes that guided him to take his income to buy his mother a new dryer so he could get out earlier on Saturdays. Wayne certainly was filled with vision. Having no place to play ball, Wayne spotted a vacant lot in his neighborhood and set about cleaning it up to create a baseball diamond. Soon after, Wayne and some of his friends organized a band called The Impacts, and he began a career in the music industry playing drums. Following his love for music, Wayne opened Cowboy’s, formerly known as The Club, and was able to book big names for concerts for the Dothan area. He ran Cowboy’s along with his wife Sara for many years until they sold it. Not ones to be idle, Wayne and Sara soon opened Dothan Linen Service and operated it together until 2024 when the business burned.
Wayne was mostly known for his love for Alabama football as well as his sense of humor. He had a quick wit and would sharpen it every morning when he’d get together with his friends at Waffle House. Oh, to be a fly on the wall! There is no doubt there were many colorful stories told as well as discussions about the world, politics and mostly Alabama football. Wayne was most certainly an armchair quarterback when he and Sara weren’t on the road to go to the games – even going as far as Hawaii to see the Alabama play. Sara ended up in the hospital in Hawaii and had to have her appendix removed but not even that stopped Wayne from going to the game. He sold her ticket and bought beer.
As a past president of The Dothan Jaycees, Wayne was always thinking of ways to enrich the city that he loved. Wayne added mentor to his list of many talents and coached a local Little League baseball team thereby passing on his love of sports to many young hearts in the Dothan area.
Wayne is survived by his wife of 41 years Saralynn Johnson; his daughters, Hope Johnson and Hayley Blount (Ken); grandchildren Peyton Chestnut, Austin Chestnut, Hannah Cochran, Jaycee Cochran, Dylan Blount, and Taylor Fitzgerald (Christopher). He is also survived by his great-grandchildren, James Bennett Fitzgerald and Adalynn Grace Cochran, as well as so many friends and family members.
The community is invited to pay their respects at Ward Wilson Funeral Home, where a service celebrating Wayne’s life will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, November 14, 2025. The service will be officiated by Pastor Chad Hixson, and burial will follow in Memory Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends Thursday, November 13, 2025, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Ward Wilson Funeral Home.
WEBB… Jane Lomax Evans, a resident of Webb, Alabama, passed away Sunday, November 9, 2025, at her home. She was 75.
Memorial Services will held 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at First Baptist Church of Columbia, with Reverend Vann Cooley officiating. The family will receive friends following the service. Wright Funeral Home & Crematory is in charge of the arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to First Baptist Church of Columbia, in Ms. Evans honor; P.O. Box 267, Columbia, Alabama 36319.
Ms. Evans was born in Blakely, Georgia to the late James Edward Lomax and Lillian Vire’ Knight Lomax. She was a graduate of Early County High School. She loved her family, and she nurtured them with tenderness, warmth, and support. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Columbia.
Leaving to cherish her memories are her daughter, Brandy Hughes (Brian); her son, Max Evans (Tammie); and her grandchildren, Cody Evans, Dalton Evans, Lilli Kate Evans, Walker Evans, Brody Hughes, and Bryson Hughes.
Obituary from Holman Funeral Home of Ozark – Ozark, Alabama
Mr. Carl D. Gassett, a former resident of Ozark, passed away Monday, November 10, 2025. He was 85 years old. Funeral services for Mr. Gassett will be 10:30 A.M. Friday, November 14, 2025, in the Chapel of Holman Funeral Home in Ozark with Reverend Johnny Anderson officiating. Interment will follow in Woodlawn Memory Gardens, Holman Funeral Home of Ozark directing. The family will receive friends Friday at the funeral home from 10:00 A.M. until service time.
Mr. Gassett was born on January 26, 1940, in Skipperville, Alabama, to Grady Gassett and El Berta Dykes Gassett. He was the seventh of eight children and the youngest boy in the family. Affectionately known as “DEE-witt” or “Dee” by his siblings, Carl grew up surrounded by a large extended family in rural Dale County. He often recalled with humor and fondness what it meant to be “poor folks.” One treasured family photograph shows a young Dee, about eight years old, standing proudly barefoot among his brothers and sisters gathered around their mother.
Carl graduated from Carroll High School in 1958. After working several odd jobs, and a short stint in the army national guard, he attended Norman College in Norman Park, Georgia, where he met and married Ruth Sloan Crosby. They had one daughter, Teresa Gassett (Rhyne). Carl later completed his degree at Troy University and began a long and dedicated career in public-school music education in DeFuniak Springs, Florida. At that time, he chose to go by “Carl,” believing it carried the professional respect he sought as a teacher and musician.
A musician by both talent and calling, Mr. Gassett taught public school music for more than 20 years and served as minister of music in churches across DeFuniak Springs and Ozark, Alabama, for over four decades. In addition to his teaching and church work, he played guitar, taught himself the fiddle, worked as an assistant manager at Walmart, and tuned pianos as a skilled technician before retiring.
Carl recognized and nurtured a musical gift in his daughter, Teresa, ensuring she took piano lessons and encouraging her love of music. She fondly remembers singing with her father and Aunt Margaret at Southside Baptist Church in Ozark. Following in his footsteps, Teresa became a public-school music educator herself. Later in life, Carl welcomed a son, Stephen Carl Gassett, who served as a percussionist in the U.S. Army Band. Stephen and his wife, Mia, live in Manhattan, Kansas, with their two sons.
Beyond music, Carl had a deep affection for animals—especially cats, dogs, and horses—and a love for the outdoors. He enjoyed fishing, teaching his daughter the art of catching fish with a simple cane pole, and he delighted in taking his nieces and nephews swimming at local ‘watering spots’ during family visits. He would often stop along the road to visit friends and family, pet a horse, or rescue a stray animal. He also played on several church softball teams and was an avid Atlanta Braves fan. One of his favorite memories was being in the stands when Hank Aaron hit his record-breaking 715th home run in 1974.
He was preceded in death by his mother, El Berta Gassett; siblings Laura Lou Gassett, Mavis Gassett Phillips, Earl Gassett, Margaret Gassett Scales, Wayne Gassett, and Lamar Gassett.
He is survived by his daughter, Teresa Gassett Rhyne (Jimmy); his son, Stephen Carl Gassett (Mia); his brother, Ed Gassett (Rebecca); grandsons, Jamie and Joshua; his lifelong friend, Annette LeMacks; and several nieces and nephews.
HEADLAND. . .Nelle Boone Knowles, a resident of Headland, passed away late Monday night, November 10, 2025, at her home. She was 95.
Memorial Services will be held at 3:00 P.M. Thursday, November 13, 2025, in the Holman-Headland Mortuary Chapel with Dr. Cecil M. Sanders, Jr. officiating. The family will receive friends from 2:00 until 3:00 P.M. Thursday in the mortuary chapel.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church of Headland, 301 East Church Street, Headland, AL 36345.
Mrs. Knowles was born to Henry Folmar Boone and Reba Montez Boone on February 23, 1930 in Dothan and was raised in Headland. Mrs. Knowles was a graduate of Headland High School. She lived for many years in the White Oak Community on Lake Eufaula before returning to Headland in 2021. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Headland. Mrs. Knowles retired as the owner and operator of the Lamp Shade in Dothan. She was preceded in death by both parents, her husband of sixty years, Bob Knowles, a son, Phillip Knowles, and a sister, Zorah Boone Messer.
Surviving relatives include two sons, Frank B. “Booney” Knowles (Sandra), and John Thomas “Tommy” Knowles (Lesa); nine grandchildren, Tricia Jenkins (Doug), Tracy Knowles (Cheri), David Carr (Roslyn), Ashley Whitfield (Clay), Kara Etheredge (Andrew), Anna Knowles, Katie Hester (Kraig), Chad Granberry (Savannah), and Dustin Granberry (Beth); eighteen great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren; a niece, Priscilla Messer, a special cousin, Bobby Boone (Rhoda), and a very special young man, Albert White.
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.
HEADLAND… Barbara Jean Witt, 89, of Dothan, Alabama, passed away on November 9, 2025, at Wesley Place in Dothan. Born in Lottie (Atmore), Alabama, to Herbert Warren Dean and Etta Estelle Dean, she graduated from Baldwin County High School and was a member of Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church. Barbara worked as a sales associate at Parisian in Dothan for 20 years, retiring in 2006.
She was preceded in death by her parents and son, Larry D’Wayne Witt. She is survived by her daughter, Tammie Hancock (Wayne); sons, Press Witt (LaDonna) and Patrick Witt; siblings, Wayne Dean (Libby), Wendell Dean (Sue), and Beverly Sigler (Bill); grandchildren, Allison Tinius (Josh) and Brady Hancock (Olivia); and great-grandchildren, Breece Tinius and Mugisha Tinius.
The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the staff at Wesley Place on Honeysuckle as well as SouthernCare Hospice for the excellent care and support.
A private graveside service will be held at New Home Cemetery in Lottie, Alabama. Memorial contributions may be made to Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church at 1550 Paramore Road, Dothan, AL 36303. Funds will be utilized for their Operation Christmas Child Fund (OCC).
David Curtis Bryant, a man of unwavering faith and selfless heart, passed away peacefully at his home in Dothan, Alabama, on November 9, 2025. Born on February 5, 1948, David spent his seventy-seven years enriching the lives of those around him with his kindness and dedication to his family and community.
A proud graduate of Auburn University with a degree in Business Administration, David’s professional life was marked by his integrity and leadership. He served with distinction at Regions Bank and Ameris Bank, where he began his career as a Loan Officer before rising to the esteemed position of Branch Manager. Beyond his professional achievements, David was an active and cherished member of the Dothan Exchange Club, where he led as President, guiding the club in its service to the community.
David’s commitment to his Christian faith was evident in all his endeavors. He served as a Sunday School Director, Choir Director, and Youth Minister at Denton Road United Methodist Church, where he inspired countless individuals with his spiritual guidance and warm presence. His love for the Lord was the cornerstone of his life, and he lived every day as a testament to his faith.
David was preceded in death by his loving parents, Stephen Curtis Bryant and Bernice Meadows Bryant. He leaves behind his beloved wife of 54 years, Brenda Bryant, their children, William David Bryant (Lena Tolbert) and Kristin Leigh Bryant (James Hall), and his grandchildren, Teagan Curtis Bryant, Arin Hall, and Rowan Hall. His sister, Sarah Doris Jordan (Charles), sister-in-law, Glenda Powell, and his nephews and niece, Bart Jordan (Larunda), Brad Jordan (Brooke), and Denice Papac (Steve), along with several other family members, will fondly remember David’s kind and generous spirit.
An avid Auburn fan, David never missed an opportunity to exclaim “War Eagle!” His interests were as diverse as they were passionate; from hunting deer to farming, from playing with his grandkids and his dogs to watching Westerns, David found joy in the simple pleasures of life and shared that joy generously with all who knew him.
The community is invited to pay their respects at Ward Wilson Funeral Home, where a service celebrating David’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 12, 2025. The service will be officiated by Reverend Joe Wyatt, and burial will follow in Memory Hill Cemetery. Prior to the service, the family will receive friends from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home.
