Bennie Allen Sumlin
Born February 21, 1954, passed away March 20, 2026 at the age of 72.
Bennie Allen Sumlin, a beloved father, grandfather, friend, and Uncle passed away on March 20, 2026, at the age of 72, leaving behind a legacy of hard work, devotion, and a lifelong love of the open road.
Bennie spent 44 years as a long-haul truck driver — a career he didn’t just work, but truly loved. He was a man most at home with miles of highway stretching out before him, unbothered by the passing of time, content in the freedom that only the road could give. To Bennie, there was no better place to be.
Off the road, he was a diehard fan of the New York Yankees and the Alabama Crimson Tide, and there was never any doubt where his loyalties stood on game day.
Bennie is survived by his two daughters, Lisa and Sarah, and his four grandchildren, Lacy, Shay, Tyler, and Holly, who were among his greatest joys.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Myrtie Sumlin; his sister, Nancy Bartholomew; and his brother, Richard Sumlin.
Bennie will be deeply missed by all who knew him, but his memory will live on in the hearts of his family and in every mile of open highway.
Loria Ann Jordan Melson of Geneva, AL passed away Sunday, March 22, 2026. She was 66.
Funeral services will be Friday, March 27, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel of Warren Holloway Ward Funeral Home with Rev. Zach Dodson and Rev. Archie Howell officiating. Burial will follow in Vaughanville cemetery with Warren Holloway Ward Funeral Home of Geneva directing. The family will receive friends at the funeral home beginning at 1:00 p.m. Flowers will be accepted.
Ann was born in Orlando, FL on February 24, 1960 to the late Billy Eugene and Massie Ree Caldwell Jordan. She was an avid antique car enthusiast, who especially was fond of the Ford Mustang. She enjoyed traveling to the mountains, playing games on the computer with friends and spending time with her family, especially her great-grandson. Ann was employed for close to 20 years as a data entry clerk with Wiregrass Medical Center in Geneva, AL.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Roger Lynn Melson; one sister, June McKinney and one nephew, Daryl McKinney.
Ann is survived by one daughter, Samantha Fleming of Geneva, AL; three step-sons, Michael Alred of Samson, AL, Scott Alred of Geneva, AL and James Travis Melson (Summer) of Bonifay, FL; one step-daughter, April Lynn Diaz (David) of Winter Haven, FL; two grandchildren, Breanna Alred Callahan (Austin) and Matthew Tucker, all of Geneva, AL; five step-grandchildren; one great-grandson, Weston Callahan of Geneva, AL; one sister, Patty Myers of Samson, AL; a special niece and two special nephews, Josh Myers, Heather Loftin (Spence) and Travis McKinney and a number of special great nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family.
Antonio Fitzgerald Finn, age 41, of Dothan, Alabama, passed away following a lengthy illness.
Antonio was born on June 12, 1984, in Dothan, Alabama, to Gary Chambers and Sharon Finn Kelley. He was employed as a DC Shipper at WestPoint Home Manufacturing. In addition to his career, Antonio was a talented tattoo artist who expressed his creativity through his art.
A proud graduate of Dothan High School, Antonio ran track and was known for his exceptional endurance, earning him the nickname “Mr. No Lungs.” He was also a respected lifeguard throughout all of his high school years and “swam like a fish.” He remained a sports enthusiast throughout his life and especially enjoyed watching his son play basketball for the Wolves and local travel ball/AAU teams
Antonio loved spending quality time with his son, Kamryn, particularly playing video games such as Resident Evil. He also enjoyed swimming and fishing. Known for his quick wit and warm personality, he was truly a jokester who could light up any room with laughter.
He cherished his family deeply and leaves behind precious memories to be treasured by his loving son, Kamryn Finn; his parents, Gary Chambers (Lisa) and Sharon Finn Kelley; his maternal grandmother, Bobbie Darrisaw; his sister, Sherry Finn; nephews Jaylynn May, Javon May; uncles, Odell Chambers (Mary), Rodell Chambers (Priscilla), Willie Finn, and Chris Finn; aunts, Cynthia Vinson (Carlton), Geraldine Potter, and Ella Chambers (Fred); and his best friends, Thomas Wilson and Roland Valentine Schlect, along with many other relatives and friends who will miss him dearly.
A funeral service will be held Thursday, March 26, 2026, at 11:30 am. at New Beginning Ministries INT, INC., 1000 West Main Street, Dothan, Alabama 36301. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Gates of Heaven Cemetery.
ROCKY HEAD COMMUNITY…Mrs. Margaret Ann McMillon Hamby, a resident of the Rocky Head Community, near Ariton, died late Sunday morning, March 22, 2026, at her home. She was 84.
Graveside services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Mt. Olive Cemetery with Pastor Tommy Hartzog officiating. The family will receive friends from 9:30 until 10:30 A.M. Thursday at the funeral home. Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home of Ozark is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Hamby, daughter of the late Franklin McMillon and Katie Record McMillon, was born on August 13, 1941, in Troy. She grew up with the simple values of hard work, family, and faith, and those values stayed with her throughout her life. In the 1970s, she made her home in the Rocky Head Community, where she quickly became part of the fabric of the place — the kind of neighbor people were always glad to see coming.
She attended Vanderbilt Church in Brundidge, where she found comfort, fellowship, and a sense of belonging. Her faith was steady and quiet, but it guided her in the way she treated others — with patience, kindness, and a gentle spirit.
Mrs. Hamby had a gift for working with her hands. Quilting, crochet, and needlepoint weren’t just hobbies for her; they were ways she showed love. Many people have something she made — a blanket, a doily, a piece of needlework — and those pieces carry her warmth stitched right into them. When she wasn’t sewing, she enjoyed sitting down with a good crossword puzzle, taking her time and letting her mind work through each clue. Those small, peaceful moments were some of her favorites.
She carried deep love for her family, and she also carried deep loss. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jessie Hamby; two daughters, Jeretha Ann “Ree” Smith and Patricia Hamby; and a son, Jessie “Tootsie” Hamby. She also mourned the passing of her siblings — Margaret Hamby, Frances Burgess, Mary Louckes, Myrtle Record, and Roy McMillon. Even through heartbreak, she remained strong in her own quiet way, holding onto memories and leaning on her faith.
Those who knew her will remember her gentle nature, her steady hands, and the way she found joy in simple things. She didn’t need attention or praise; she just lived her life with love, patience, and a soft strength that touched everyone around her. Her legacy lives on in the family she cherished, the friends who loved her, and the many handmade pieces she leaves behind — each one a reminder of the care she put into everything she did.
Surviving relatives include her children, Debbie Cargile (John), Prattville, Shellie Chapman (Don), Brundidge, Lisa Ward (Kenny Carroll), Clio, and John Hamby (Tonia), Prattville; five sisters, Darlene Culver, Elba, Nelda Carr, Mona McMillon, Mildred Norris, and Linda Griswold, all of Troy; three brothers, Roger McMillon, Troy, David McMillon, Prattville, and Clyde McMillon, Ariton; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
Serving as active pallbearers will be Kenneth Arnett, Connie Hamby, Sherry Chapman, Pat Sanders, Earl Wellwood, and Jessie Reeves.
It is with deep love and sorrow that the family of LoBorther “Bee” Andrews-Weeks announces her peaceful passing into the presence of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at Southeast Health, surrounded by her children and family.
LoBorther was born on November 16, 1945, in Pace, Florida, to the late James Hayward Andrews and Gussie Katherine Atwell-Andrews. She lived a life rooted in faith, family, and a deep love for the natural world around her.
Affectionately known as “Moma,” she was a devoted mother, Grammy, Great-Grammy, and friend whose strength, kindness, and unwavering love shaped the lives of those around her. Her greatest joy in life was her family, and she poured her heart into caring for each of them.
She was preceded in death by her beloved parents; her precious brother, Jimmie Gene Andrews; her devoted sister, Annie Ruth Mayo; her husband, Roy Carlton Beebe, Sr., the father of her children; her faithful son, Richard Clinton Beebe, a retired United States Marine; and her precious grandson, Caleb Stephen Moat.
She is lovingly remembered and survived by her three children: Roy Carlton Beebe, Jr. (Wanda) of Midland City, Alabama; Tafphy Sylvana Beebe-Satterfield (Brian) of Havana, Florida; and Mary Kathleen Beebe-Busenbark (Alan) of Tallahassee, Florida.
Her legacy continues through her eight cherished grandchildren: Joshua McDaniel (fiancée Maritza Morell); Mikaela Beebe (fiancé Kyle Pappey); Roy Beebe III (Kaylin); Bradley McDaniel (McKall); Ryan Beebe (Tina); Montana Satterfield (fiancé Joshua Clemmons); Caelan Beebe; and Kent Satterfield (Merriah); along with nine beloved great-grandchildren: Makaela Beebe, Kaeden Beebe, Bryson Beebe, Rayna Beebe, Sabrina Beebe, Luna Beebe, Everly Satterfield, Emma Satterfield, and Emerson Satterfield.
LoBorther had a special love for the outdoors. She enjoyed fishing, hunting, gardening, and spending time in God’s creation, where she found peace and joy. She was especially delighted in watching the hummingbirds that visited her yard and caring for her beloved dachshund, Miss Molly, who brought her much companionship and comfort.
Those who knew her will remember her as a Southern lady of quiet strength, deep love for her family, and steadfast faith. Her life reflected a heart that cared deeply for others and a spirit that found joy in the simple blessings of life.
A service celebrating her life will be held at Sunset Memorial Park, 1700 Barrington Road, Midland City, Alabama 36350, on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at 2:00 PM (CST). The family will receive friends one hour to the ceremony at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Park, where she will be laid to rest until her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, returns.
Though her family grieves her absence, they find comfort in the promise of Scripture:
“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
— John 14:1–3
Her love will remain forever in the hearts of those who knew and loved her, and her legacy will live on through the family she cherished so deeply.
Sunset Memorial Park Funeral Home and Crematory, 1700 Barrington Road, Midland City, AL 36350 334-983-6604
OZARK…Mr. James “Bud” Vaught, a resident of Ozark, near Skipperville, died Wednesday afternoon, March 18, 2026, in Dale Medical Center. He was 90.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in the Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Edward Douglas officiating. The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 2:00 P.M. Wednesday at the funeral home. Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home of Ozark is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Vaught, son of the late James Leroy Vaught and Mendie Goodwin Vaught Goodwin, was born on March 11, 1936. He grew up with the kind of steady, humble strength that stayed with him throughout his life. He proudly served his country in the United States Navy, an experience that shaped his work ethic, his discipline, and his deep appreciation for the simple things in life.
After his military service, he spent many years on the road as a truck driver, working with several moving companies including Allied Van Lines, Bekin, Coleman, and J & L Moving Company. He took pride in doing his job well, and he was known for being dependable, hardworking, and willing to go the extra mile—literally and figuratively. The miles he traveled and the people he met along the way became part of the story he carried with him.
Away from work, he found peace outdoors. Fishing was one of his favorite pastimes, not just for the catch but for the quiet moments it offered. He had a soft spot for all animals, and nothing made him happier than sitting outside feeding the birds, watching them gather around him as if they knew they were safe in his presence. He had a gentle way about him that animals seemed to understand.
He shared forty‑five years of marriage with his beloved wife, Joan Waters Vaught, and her passing left a space in his life that could never be filled. Their years together were marked by loyalty, companionship, and the kind of everyday love that grows deeper with time. He was also preceded in death by a brother, Clifford “Sonny” Vaught and three sisters, Agnes “Sis” Vaught, Margaret Vaught, and Joyce Vaught.
Those who knew him will remember a man who appreciated the simple joys—fresh air, good company, the sound of birds, and the comfort of familiar routines. He lived quietly, loved deeply, and cared for the world around him in his own steady way.
Surviving relatives include his daughter, Elizabeth Dobbs, Ozark; sisters, Glenda Comeaux (Michael), Louisiana, Rhonda Vaught, California and Donna Vaught, Hawaii; brothers, Jim Vaught, Jake Waldrop, Birmingham, Dennis Vaught (Kathy), Florida and Phillip Vaught, California; five grandchildren, Mendie Dobbs, Lucas Dobbs, Tristrine Dobbs, Ashley Dobbs, and Keri Risden; five great-grandchildren, JaKolby Maddox, Joanie Lynn Deese, ; JaKamren Risden, JaKorbyn Risden, and JaKabriel Terry, and two on the way; nieces, nephews, and cousins.,
You may sign a guest register at www.fuquabankston.com
Bennie Allen Sumlin
