Rosa May Anders Thomas, 104, of Dothan, Alabama entered her heavenly home on October 17, 2025.
Born on August 23, 1921, in Blountstown, Florida, Rosa grew up during an era when life was simple but rich with meaning. Words like “turpentine”, “horse and mule trading”, “stockyards”, and “hog killings” were part of her everyday world. Her father, having left Louisiana’s turpentine industry, established a horse-trading business in the Florida panhandle, where he and his bride began their life together.
Rosa attended Florida State College for Woman (now Florida State University), graduating in 1943, and went on to earn her master’s degree in library science from the University of North Carolina in 1944 – the day before D-day. Her lifelong love of learning and service began there and carried her to remarkable places.
During her college summers, Rosa worked at Ridgecrest Baptist Assembly in North Carolina, serving as the only lifeguard at beautiful Lake Dew and teaching countless children to swim – many of whom went on to become leaders in the Southern Baptist Convention. Her years at Ridgecrest were filled with joy, faith, and lasting friendships.
Following her graduate studies, Rosa joined the U.S. Navy Library Service during World War II, proudly serving her country by managing and developing libraries at various naval location across the United States. Her distinguished career in library science continued with the Veterans Administration and later with the U.S. Army, where she served as Chief Librarian in Germany and at several major military installations. Her work took her from New York City to Washington D.C., to Germany, and beyond, a remarkable journey for a young woman from Blountstown, Florida.
Rosa was a devoted member of Dothan First Baptist Church and ran the library there for 46 years. She enjoyed lifelong involvement in her community as a member of the Sorosis Study Club, Cherokee Garden Club, The Rosa Thomas Book Club, and the Camilla Society. She also enjoyed gardening flowers and reading.
Rosa was a woman of grace, intelligence, and humor, a storyteller who lived through a century of change yet never lost her curiosity or zest for life. She was devoted to her family and friends and had a special way of making everyone she met feel known and valued.
She is survived by her son, John Thomas ( Dianne); she also leaves behind beloved nieces and nephews; Anne Stroud, Dana Norton (Tom), James Franklin Andres II (Lorie-Duggar), Jane Ruffin, Lee Thomas (Mikell), Libba Owen (John), Jean Dagostin (Mike), Karen Etheredge (Steve), Charles Thomas (Becky), Patricia Thomas, Barbara Hendrix, Cindy Burn (Michael), Mark Thomas (Sylvia), Richard Thomas (Rita); her step grandson, Michael Smith, her god-daughter Elizabeth McGregor (Brian), her loving cousin Madelyn Hoyt, her very special and devoted friend Thelmanne McGaughey. Her very devoted Doctor, Mary Lynn Parker. Her loving and caring caregivers; Jackie Bryant, Tiffany Davis, Rebecca Davis and Deanne Davis. Numerous great nieces and nephews and friends.
Rosa was preceded in death by her husband, Shelly Dowling “Red” Thomas, Jr.; her parents Rosa Ruth Smith Anders and James Franklin Anders; and her brother, Charles Leonard Anders and wife Mary Oswalt Anders; her aunt Annie May Woodside (Southport, NC); as well as great nieces and nephews; Marvin Stroud, Charles Herrman, Shane Dagostin, Josh Dagostin and Laura Thomas.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made in the memory of Rosa to First Baptist Church of Dothan.
Pall bearers are her nephews Jim Anders, Curtis Herrman, Cory Herrman, Stuart Norton, Charlie Norton, Robert Ruffin and Lee Thomas.
Rosa’s life was one of faith, service, and remarkable experiences, a century’s worth of stories, laughter, and love. Her legacy will continue to shine through the many lives she touched.
A celebration of Rosa’s life will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, October 24, 2025 at First Baptist Church of Dothan. Rosa will be laid to rest in Memory Hill Cemetery, which will be a private family graveside service. The family will receive friends one hour prior to service time.
EUFAULA. . .Billy Charles “Bo” Wright, Jr., a resident of Eufaula, formerly of Headland, passed away Monday afternoon, October 20, 2025, in Crowne Health Care of Eufaula. He was 64.
There are no memorial or funeral services planned at this time. Holman-Headland Mortuary & Cremations is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Wright was born and raised in Headland where he lived most of his lifetime before moving to Eufaula in 2022. He was affiliated with Sardis Free Will Baptist Church in Eufaula. Mr. Wright was formerly employed by the Southeast Alabama Gas District. He was preceded in death by his father, Billy Charles Wright, his mother, Mary Lorene Berry Parrish, and a brother, Bobby Farthing.
Surviving relatives include a daughter, Anna Wright, Enterprise; two sisters, Debbie Kay Adams (Tim), Mobile, AL; and Patricia Farthing, DeFuniak Springs, FL; a brother, Jimmy Farthing, Las Vegas, Nevada; grandchildren, Ariyana Nix and Bubba Nix; a special niece, Tabitha Wright, and special friends, Lee and Tina Henderson, Eufaula; several nieces and nephews.
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.
On October 20, 2025, Michael Carl Lane, a loving husband, family man, and devoted friend to many, departed this life peacefully at home surrounded by family and friends, after a courageous battle with cancer.
Graveside services will be held at the Pinckard Memorial Cemetery, County Road 47, (Old Campbellton Highway), Pinckard, Alabama, on Thursday, October 23rd, at 2:00 PM CDT. The service will be officiated by Danny Lovering from Thomaston, GA. The family will receive friends from 12:00 Noon until 1:00 P.M. CDT Thursday at Holman-Headland Mortuary in Headland, Alabama and also following the graveside services.
Mike was born on June 19, 1954 in Colquitt, Georgia to Lawrence Collie Lane and Mildred Roberts Lane. Mike grew up in Miller County and graduated from Miller County High School in 1972. As a young man, Mike was known as a skilled musician and singer. He later helped found the popular musical group The Bonnie Blue Band and the acoustic duo Bell and Lane. Mike also distinguished himself as an award-winning Alfa Insurance agent based in Midland City, Alabama. Before retiring, Mike served as a sales agent with Sunsouth in Abbeville, Alabama.
Mike loved life and the outdoors. He enjoyed spending time with his wife Lisa, riding motorcycles, camping, and riding his Tennessee Walking horse “Scamper”. Mike loved his furry friends, spending lots of time with his dogs Hank, Zola, Little Larry, Charlie, Andee, and Barnee.
Michael Lane was well known as a good man and loyal friend. He was loved by many, many, people. Mike was a member of Ridgecrest Baptist Church, Dothan. Most of all, Mike loved God, family, and country. He was a passionate, true American patriot, and loved the life his country had provided him.
In addition to his parents, Mike was preceded in death by his brothers Lamar (Sam) Lane, Kenneth (Buck) Lane, sister Lynda Lane, and nephew Tony Lane. Also, Larry H. Childres, his father-in-law, and Sheila M. Lane (mother of his children).
Mike is survived by his loving wife Lisa Childres Lane, sons, Jon-Michael Lane
(Katie), Marcus E. Lane, and granddaughter Charleigh Lane. Also, brothers, Phillip Lane (Lynne), and Ronnie Joe Lane (Harriet), sisters, Joan Lane Kirkland, Gail Lane Altman (Harry), and Penny Lane, Barbara Childres (Mother-in-law), and many nephews and nieces.
Serving as active pallbearers will be Luke Stevens, Todd Ward, Pete Barnes, William Snell, Keith Nall, Nate Johnson and Gregg Grimsley.
Holman Headland Mortuary, Headland, Alabama is in charge of arrangements
In memory of Michael C. Lane, send flowers to Holman Funeral Home. Headland, Alabama 36345 or memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or to an Animal Rescue Shelter of your choice.
The family would like to give a special thank you to Claude and Rachel Bell, and Garret and Diane Daniels for their faithful friendship. Also, a special thank you to SouthernCare Hospice of Dothan, Alabama, nurses; Ashley, Mandy and Shannon for the loving care shown to Mike during his 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.
Rita Lois Faulk of Samson, Alabama passed away on Wednesday, October 15, 2025. She was 75.
Funeral services were held on Monday, October 20, 2025, in the chapel of Warren Holloway Ward Funeral in Geneva, AL. Burial followed in Liberty Chapel Baptist Church Cemetery with Warren Holloway Ward Funeral Home directing.
The family request in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Liberty Chapel Cemetery Fund, c/o Gary Thames, 703 Goat Hill Road, Samson, Alabama 36477.
Rita was born September 12, 1950, in Dothan, Alabama to the late Byrd and Lela Lois Greggs Faulk. She was a loving and devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. She was widely known for her talents in flower designing, selling beautiful jewelry and gifts from her floral shop and flower gardening at her home. She was a hard worker, who enjoyed raising cattle and driving her tractor on her farm. She was an active member of the Geneva County Republican Women’s organization and worked the polls during elections.
Rita is survived by three children, Jonathan McGriff (Melanie) of Bonifay, FL, Meredith Chapman (John) of Rosamond, CA and Allison McGriff (Dustin Weeks) of Samson, AL; 12 grandchildren, Alexandra, Elizabeth, Madison, Sean and Jordyn McGriff, Sarah Mauldin, Abigail Wilson, Ramsie Brasington, Sarah Chapman and Xach Chapman, Haley Edwards and Remington Weeks; two great grandchildren, Jaxon and Cecilia Edwards.
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
ABBEVILLE. . .Debra McLeod “Debbie” Clemons, a resident of Abbeville, passed away Monday morning, October 20, 2025, at her home. She was 67.
Memorial Services will be held at a later date. Holman-Abbeville Mortuary & Cremations is in charge of arrangements.
Debbie Clemons was born and raised in Lake Wales, Florida, daughter of the late J. D. McLeod and Janie Mildred Mercer McLeod. She formerly lived in Lake Wales, Waycross, Georgia and Blackshear, Georgia before moving to Abbeville in 2021. She and her late husband, Robert Eugene Davis, owned and operated S.K.D. Plumbing in Waycross, Georgia. Debbie was also formerly employed by Heart of Florida Hospital, Winter Haven, Florida. She was a licensed pilot and was affiliated with Lakeside Christian Fellowship, near Abbeville. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Robert Bell and Robert Eugene Davis, a son, John Thomas Gay, a sister, Bobbie McCranie and two brothers, Larry McLeod and David McLeod.
Surviving relatives include a daughter, Tina Morris (Clifford), Eufaula; a son, Joseph Gay (Peggy), Broxton, GA; a sister, Ann Sexton, Lake Wales, FL; and grandchildren, Vydea Tew, Vada Westbrook, Cheyenne Ricker (Kevin), Joseph Perryman, Sayde Gay and Nala Gay.
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.
