It is with heavy hearts we announce the passing of Deborah Rice Whitfield a beloved mother, grandmother, sister and aunt to many. Deborah passed away Friday, January 30th, following a short illness at the age of 73 in her home in Dothan, Alabama.
Deborah was born on June 5th, 1952 at Moody Hospital in Dothan, Alabama to Ottie Weed Rice and Eugene Rice. Born and raised in the Dothan area, she was a graduate of Dothan High School. She briefly moved to the Memphis area, working in the trucking industry where she was a devoted and well respected employee for many years. She built her family there and returned to Dothan in later years. She enjoyed tending to her plants, watching Nascar and spending time with her beloved pets over the years.
Along with her parents Ottie and Eugene Rice, Deborah was preceded in death by her brothers Samuel ‘Sammy’ Rice and Brother Donald Ward.
Deborah is survived by her two daughters Tiffany Banks (husband Denny) and Jessica Wicklund; her grandchildren Sawyer and Gracyn Banks; Mercedes Farmer and Casper Wicklund (wife Miranda) and one very special great granddaughter Izabella ‘Bella’ McVay. Deborah shared a unique and exceptional bond with Bella for which she will be deeply missed. Other surviving family includes her two sisters Delores Ward and Pamela Borton and her brother Danny Rice, along with many nieces and nephews and their families.
A celebration of Deborah’s life will be held on Monday, February 9th at 3:00 pm in the Sunset Funeral Home Chapel located at 1700 Barrington Road in Dothan Alabama. Deborah will be laid to rest in Sunset Memorial Park directly following the service.
Beverly Siter Youse, 71, of Dothan, Alabama, died on January 21, 2026, after a courageous, six-year journey with breast cancer. She was born July 2, 1954, in Hampton, Virginia.
Beverly is preceded in death by her mother, Katherine Riddick Graves and her father, Willard James Youse.
Beverly attended Hampton High School. She completed a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Christopher Newport College of the College of William and Mary in Newport News, Virginia, and a Master of Science in Agency Counseling from Troy State University in Dothan. Beverly worked as a Medical Social Worker at Norfolk General Hospital in Norfolk, Virginia before relocating to Dothan, Alabama in 1984. As a survivor of domestic violence, it was in working with other survivors, that she found her life’s calling. She served as Executive Director of The House of Ruth, an organization that serves survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in 9 counties in southeast Alabama. Beverly held that position for 36 years, from 1984 until her retirement in 2020. Under her leadership, the agency saw tremendous growth by providing crisis intervention, safe shelter, court advocacy, children’s services, counseling, community education and outreach, no doubt, saving the lives of hundreds of women and children. Beverly was fiercely committed to improving the lives of all domestic violence survivors, and her Impact reached far beyond the 9 counties in her service area. At the state level, she was a charter board member of the Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence, where she served as Treasurer for one term, Vice President for 2 terms, President for 3 terms, and Legislative Chairperson for 11 terms. She was especially gifted in her understanding of the law. She shared her knowledge; training dozens of advocates on the inner workings of the legislative process and how to educate their respective legislators on issues of importance to survivors of domestic violence. Beverly authored many bills that became law, ultimately eliminating barriers and improving services for women state–wide. Beverly was a crazy cat lady. She enjoyed jewelry–making and loved vintage jewelry. She loved the color purple, and shopping for, and collecting antiques. She was known for her colorful language and for having matching accessories for every outfit that she owned. Beverly was a loyal and generous friend, and a tireless voice for those who had none. Her legacy lives on through the impact she had on countless numbers of survivors of domestic violence, not only in the Wire Grass region, but across the state of Alabama.
She is survived by her chosen family, her dear friend, Phyllis Thomas (Dothan, AL), who selflessly became her primary caregiver over the last year; her close friend, of more than 30 years, Melanie Miller (Statesboro, GA); and her beloved cats, Moo Moo and Suki.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to: The House of Ruth, PO Box 968, Dothan, AL 36302. Arrangements will be handled by Ward–Wilson Funeral Home in Dothan, Alabama.
Gladys Marie Tidwell, born April 21, 1938, passed away peacefully February 5, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of love, devotion, and family. She was a cherished mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother whose kindness and quiet strength touched all who knew her.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, in the chapel of Warren Holloway Ward Funeral Home in Geneva with Gary Galloway and Dr. Jerry Galloway officiating. Burial will follow in the Hurricane Creek Cemetery with Warren Holloway Ward Funeral Home of Geneva, AL directing. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday, February 9, 2026, from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m.
Gladys was preceded in death by her loving husband, Alfred Tidwell; her daughter, Penny Hatcher; her parents, Cleveland and Fredonia McAdams; and her siblings, Herbert, Jessie, Gafford, Rosie, and Louise McAdams.
She is survived by her son, William Earl Tidwell, and his wife, Coreena Tidwell. She was a proud grandmother to Chad Tidwell and his children, Walker and Layla Tidwell, and to Jason Tidwell and his wife, Paige Tidwell, along with their children, Paisley, Jaxson, and Brayden Tidwell. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews. Family was the heart of Gladys’s life. She found her greatest joy in caring for those she loved and in watching her family grow through the generations. Her gentle spirit, unwavering love, and warm presence will be deeply missed but forever remembered.
Gladys Marie Tidwell’s memory will live on in the hearts of her family and friends, and her life will remain a blessing to all who knew her.
Warren~Holloway~Ward Funeral Home (334) 684-9999, is in charge of arrangements. “Continuing The Trust You’ve Placed In Us” To sign a guest register, please visit: www.whwfuneralhome.com
DOTHAN… Nell Taylor Wall, a resident of Dothan, Alabama, passed away Friday morning, February 6, 2026, at her home. She was 80.
A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, February 13, 2026, at Wright Funeral Home & Crematory Chapel, with Reverend Joey Hudspeth officiating. The family will receive friends from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. prior to the service. Wright Funeral Home & Crematory is in charge of the arrangements.
Mrs. Wall was born in Aiken, South Carolina to the late Joseph Jackson Taylor and Dovie Virginia Rains Taylor. She was a homemaker and had previously lived in Lilburn, Georgia, before moving to Headland, Alabama, six years ago with her husband, Fred. She was a member of Union Freewill Baptist Church.
Those left to cherish her memory include her son, Frederic “Eric” Earl Wall, Jr. (Trish); her grandchildren, Steven Thomas Wall (Kori) and Kevin Patrick Wall; along with several other loving family members and friends.
Ellen May Hendrix, known to all as May, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at the age of 95. Born on April 22, 1930, in Lebanon, Tennessee, to Jim Huddleston and Cora Hall Huddleston, May graduated from Watertown High School and lived a full and vibrant life.
May was a beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, known for her loving spirit, strong faith, and incredible cooking. She was a dedicated military spouse who cherished her family, her faith, and the simple joys of life, like canning food from her garden. A longtime member of Westgate Church of Christ, May was a faithful servant of God, often found reading her Bible and enjoying gospel music shows.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Gene Hendrix; her son, Dennis Hendrix; and her siblings: Benton Huddleston, Glen Huddleston, Ada Dunaway, Corene McCulloch, JT Huddleston, Gertrude Phillips, Howell Huddleston, Ed Huddleston, and Carl Davis Huddleston.
May’s memory lives on through her loving family: her son, Steve Hendrix (LaDonna); her daughters, Shelia Poe (Tony) and Tammy Loyed (Gary); special nieces, Debra Williams (Scott) and Becky Holland (Steve); and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren, all of whom were a source of great joy to her.
A funeral service will be held on Sunday, February 8, 2026, at 11:00 AM at Ward Wilson Funeral Home, with burial to follow at Memory Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home beginning at 10:30 AM until the start of the service.
May will be dearly missed by all who knew her, but her legacy of love, faith, and kindness will continue to inspire those who carry her memory.
