NEWVILLE… Anthony “Tony” Arnold, a resident of Newville, Alabama, passed away Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at his home. He was 75.
Funeral services will be held 11:00 A.M. Saturday, May 09, 2026, at Union Springs Baptist Church in Newville with Brother Jim Cordes and Brother Henry Fullington officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Wright Funeral Home & Crematory is in charge of the arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Gideon’s International Bible Donation, P.O. Box 140800 Nashville, TN 37214 or https://gideons.org/donate.
Mr. Tony was born in Newville, Alabama, to the late Ralph Jackson Arnold and Mary Agnes Bond Arnold. He graduated from high school and went on to build a life centered around faith, family, hard work, and service to others. A skilled carpenter and business owner, he took great pride in working with his hands and creating things that would last for generations. He believed in doing things the right way, treating people fairly, and always lending a helping hand when someone was in need.
Tony proudly served in the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard and was a faithful member of Union Springs Baptist Church. He was a good and Godly man who loved the Lord deeply. Throughout his life, he made it a priority to read his Bible daily. Even as his eyesight began to fail and reading became more difficult, he continued trying faithfully. As recently as this week, he was determined to read the Book of James, showing the strength of his faith and the devotion that guided his life until the very end.
Tony had a deep love for woodworking and building. One of his most treasured creations was a porch swing he made for his daughter, a gift crafted with both skill and love. He enjoyed staying busy and always seemed to have a project in mind. Later in life, when someone told him he needed another hobby, he decided to get chickens — and before long, he absolutely loved them. Caring for his chickens became one of the simple joys that brought him happiness.
Known for his warm heart and playful spirit, Tony had a special way of making people smile. He loved picking at people, telling jokes, and making others laugh. He never met a stranger and could brighten a room with his humor and kindness. To those who knew him best, he was many things — a craftsman, veteran, faithful Christian, father, grandfather, and friend — but his favorite title of all was “Pop.” Hearing his granddaughter lovingly say, “Pop is silly,” brought him great joy and perfectly captured the fun-loving spirit that made him so special to everyone around him.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Tony is preceded in death by a brother, Durwood Arnold.
Surviving relatives include his wife, Cathie Arnold; daughter, Janice Stockman (Jeff); sons, Tony Arnold, Jr. (Deborah), and D.J. Arnold; sisters, Mary Ellen Jones (James) and Judy Williams (Don); brother, Gene Arnold (Sandra); grandchildren, Carter Stockman, Cleveland Stockman, and Ann Marie Arnold; several other loving family members and friends.
Serving as active pallbearers will be Paul Andrews, John Arnold, Carter Stockman, Cleveland Stockman, Shad Jones, and Tyler Lipscomb. Honorary pallbearers will be the Union Springs Baptist Church Men’s Sunday School Class.
NEWTON…Jennifer Griggs, a resident Newton, died Tuesday evening, May 5, 2026, in a Dothan hospital. She was 57.
Funeral services will be held at 3:00 P.M. Friday, May 8, 2026, in the Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home Chapel with her uncle, Mr. Bimbo Turner officiating. Graveside services will follow in Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery with Mr. Earl Blocker officiating. Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home of Ozark is in charge of arrangements. The family will receive friends from 2:00 until 3:00 P.M. Friday at the funeral home.
Jennifer was a proud native of Newton, Alabama, where she grew up surrounded by the familiar faces and close‑knit community she loved so much. She graduated from Dale County High School in 1987, a year she often looked back on with fond memories of friends, teachers, and the small‑town moments that shaped her. After high school, she continued her education at Riley Business College, always determined to better herself and build a future she could be proud of.
Jennifer spent many years working within the Dale County School System, serving at both Newton Elementary and Southdale Middle School. She had a natural way with children—patient, kind, and always willing to lend a hand or a listening ear. Her time in the school system allowed her to touch countless young lives, and she carried those memories with her. Later, she worked at Conestoga Steak House in Dothan, where she became known for her friendly smile, her work ethic, and the way she treated everyone like family.
One of Jennifer’s greatest joys in life was being involved in her daughter’s world, especially when it came to softball. She loved coaching the various teams her daughter played on, cheering from the sidelines, offering encouragement, and celebrating every victory—big or small. Those seasons spent on dusty fields, surrounded by teammates and parents, were some of her happiest times.
Jennifer was also a devoted member of Bethel Baptist Church in Newton. Her faith was a steady part of her life, and she cherished the fellowship and friendships she found there.
Above all else, Jennifer was someone who loved deeply and gave freely. She poured her heart into her family, her work, and her community. Her kindness, her laughter, and her gentle spirit will be remembered by all who were blessed to know her.
Surviving relatives include her daughter, Ramsey Cheyenne Griggs; her parents, Robert D. Griggs and Linda Gayle Turner Griggs, all of Newton; brother, Bob Griggs (Amy S.), Ozark; aunts and uncles, Bimbo Turner (Sherry), Newton, Neal Griggs (Sandra), and Mickey Griggs (Kathy); several niece, nephews, and cousins, including Jake Griggs (Hannah) and Kate Enzor (Dalton).
Serving as active pallbearers will be Mark Potts, Steven Turner, Jake Griggs, Colton Turner, Mason Turner, and Kevin Bond.
You may sign a guest register at www.fuquabankston.com
Kimberly Devon Wright, known to all by Kim, was born in Ft. Riley, Kansas on January 23, 1969. She was a graduate of Carroll High School and Troy University.
On May 2, 2026, Kim finished her journey here and went home to be with the Lord. She accepted Christ at an early age and joined Antioch Baptist Church in Youngtown, Ohio. Later she became a member of St. Rose Baptist Church, Skipperville, AL where she served as the financial secretary.
Kim served her country for 9 years in the U.S. Army. During this time, she served on active duty at Ft. Ord, CA and Ft, Drum, NY. She was on active duty in Kuwait during the Gulf War. Once she left active duty, Kim spent time in the reserve at Ft. Rucker, AL. She also worked for Coleman Worldwide Moving for over thirty years as a Claim Adjuster and Accountant. She was a devoted employee of Coleman at the time she was diagnosed with Breast Cancer.
While many will speak of her “battle” with breast cancer, those who knew Kim saw it less as a war and more as a masterclass in resilience. She didn’t just survive the diagnosis; she lived through it with a fierce, unwavering light that never dimmed, even on the hardest days.
Her victory wasn’t found in a “cure,” but in the moments she reclaimed from the illness. She celebrated every birthday, holidays, and moments in time with a renewed sense of gratitude that was infectious. She taught us that hair is temporary, but a smile is permanent; that the body may tire, but the soul remains invincible. Her legacy is one of faith, honor, and service.
Kim leaves to cherish her memories two beautiful children, a daughter, Ky’Isha Ondrea Wright of Wake Forest, NC and a son, Hernando Cortes Roberts, Jr of Skipperville, AL; her father Phillip G. Wright, Sr. (Pat) of Hinesville, GA and her mother Lula Mae Burnett (Arnold) of Austintown, OH; two brothers, Theotis Wright (Lenore) of Elizabethtown, KY, Phillip G. Wright, II (Cristina) of Leesburg, GA and a sister Tonya Burnett of
Cleveland, OH. A special aunt, Betty Denby of Ozark, AL, cousin, Yolanda Edwards (Zachary) of Troy, AL, and best friend, Beverly Ford (Mervin) of Dothan, AL who were always by her side. She also leaves a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, Coleman (COVAN) co-workers, close friends, brothers and sisters in arms.
FROM KIMBERLY
To my Coleman (COVAN) family: I appreciated you so much for all that you did for me. Thank you for your constant show of love during my most difficult time. I know you did not have to do the things you did, but I thank God you did. To my boss, John Coleman, you know what you did that made a big difference for me, and I am truly thankful. To my work daughters, Dazha Cogman, and Diamond Bigham, thank you for your love and support. I can’t say it enough….. THANK YOU! God bless you all!
FROM THE FAMILY
To Dominique Dunwood: There are no words that quite capture the depth of our gratitude for the way you cared for Kim. You show so much tenderness and support; you provided a sense of peace during a time when we needed it most. You are a reminder that there is immense goodness in the world. We truly feel that you were an earthly angel sent to watch over us, and your kindness has left a permanent mark on our hearts. You are a blessing, and we feel so lucky to have had you by our side. Thank you for being a light during this time.
A celebration of Kim’s life will be held at 1:00pm on Wednesday, May 13, 2026 at Sunset Funeral Home. She will be laid to rest in Sunset Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Wednesday from 12:00 p.m. until 1:00 p.m.
DOTHAN. . .John Leslie “Johnny” Bryan, a resident of Dothan, passed away early Tuesday evening, May 5, 2026, in a Dothan hospital. He had recently celebrated his 90th birthday.
Memorial services will be held at a later date. Holman-Headland Mortuary & Cremations is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Bryan was born in Marianna, Florida, son of the late E. D. Bryan and Mamie Lou Self Bryan. He was raised in Dothan where he lived all his adult lifetime. Mr. Bryan served his country in the Army National Guard in the Dothan unit. He was employed by Carmichael Wholesale Electronics from 1967 until 1998. Mr. Bryan was an active member of Cloverdale Baptist Church where he formerly served as a Deacon and sang in the church choir. He was a devoted member of F.A.I.T.H. Riders Ministry at Memphis Baptist Church in Dothan. Mr. Bryan was passionate about sharing faith and serving others. He helped lead a group dedicated to “planting seeds,” spreading the message of Jesus, and allowing God to work in the lives of others. Mr. Bryan loved attending church, loved the Lord and Alabama football. Johnny loved his routine of eating lunch out every day at his favorite places with friends. He spent many fall Saturdays with his buddies eating at Dreamland and cheering on the Tide! Mr. Bryan was preceded in death by his wife, Bonnie Bryan, a son, Brent Wood Bryan, a sister, Lillian McDonald, and two brothers, Wayne D. Bryan and Dr. Sigurd Bryan.
Surviving relatives include a daughter, Leslie Liebetrau (Bruce Beckman), Port Orange, FL; grandchildren, Shelley Johnson (Brian), Tuscaloosa, AL; and Bryan Liebetrau, Port Orange, FL; great-grandchildren, Mabry Johnson and Maddie Johnson and a great-granddaughter on the way; a sister-in-law, Sara Bryan, Birmingham; and special friends, Joey Reynolds and Randy Taylor; among many others.
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.
ARITON…Mr. Robert “R.C.” Cotton, a resident of Ariton, died early Wednesday morning, May 6, 2026, in a Dothan hospital. He was 72.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M., Friday, May 8, 2026, in the Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Derek Snellgrove officiating. Burial will follow in Tabernacle Methodist Cemetery in the Bald Hill Community, near Hartford. Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home of Ozark is in charge of arrangements. The family will receive friends from 10:00 until 11:00 A.M. Friday at the funeral home.
Mr. Cotton, the son of the late Charles B. Cotton and Maudie B. Bowman, was born in Geneva County and spent his earliest years surrounded by the familiar fields and dirt roads of home. When he was still young, his family moved to the Ariton area of Coffee County, where he grew up and built many of the friendships and memories that stayed with him throughout his life.
His early adult life, he lived in Midland City, owning and operating Tri State Painting. He later moved to Lake City, Florida, working as a truck driver with his brother, William and nephew, Bobby, also painting during that time. He enjoyed the open road and the independence that came with it, but his heart eventually pulled him back to Ariton, the place he always considered home. Once back in Alabama, he put his hands and his talent to work, owning and operating RC Painting Company until his death. He took pride in a job well done and built a reputation for being dependable, skilled, and honest.
Mr. Cotton was a true Alabama boy at heart. He loved the Crimson Tide and rarely missed a chance to cheer them on. Saturdays in the fall were sacred, and he enjoyed every minute of the excitement. He was also a big NASCAR fan, the kind who knew the drivers, the tracks, and the stories behind the sport. Whether it was football or racing, he loved the thrill of competition and the joy of rooting for his favorites.
But more than anything else, he loved being with the people who mattered to him. Time spent with family and friends was what brought him the most happiness. Whether it was a simple visit, a shared meal, or just sitting around talking, he treasured those moments deeply.
He was preceded in death by his siblings, William Cotton, Clara Adams, Emma Whitehead, Wallace Cotton, and Patricia Cotton.
Surviving relatives include his daughter, Pamela Watson (Matt), Brundidge; son, Robby Cotton (Deni), Hartford; two brothers, Jim Cotton (Frances), Foley and Charles Cotton (Cathy), Louisiana; seven grandchildren, Weston Watson, Callie Ryan Cotton, Auburn Watson, Jack Watson, Cohen Watson, Cayden Skinner (Matthew), and Jaxon Hess.
You may sign a guest register at www.fuquabankston.com
BIRMINGHAM…Essie V. McLeod Byrd, a resident of Birmingham (formerly of Ozark), passed away late Monday evening, May 4, 2026, in a Dothan hospital. She was 83.
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
