NEWVILLE – Willie Jones, a resident of Newville, passed away Saturday, June 20, 2026 in Birmingham. He was 72 .
A Celebration of Life service will be held 11:30 A.M. Wednesday, June 24, 2026 at Wright Funeral Home and Crematory with Elder Eugene Smith officiating. Wright Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Willie Jones was born in Henry County, Alabama, to the late Charlie Jones and Gussie Flucker Jones. Raised with strong values of faith, hard work, and dedication, Willie spent his life building meaningful relationships and leaving a lasting impression on those fortunate enough to know him.
He graduated from high school and continued his education by attending college locally. Throughout his life, Willie was known for his strong work ethic and deep appreciation for the outdoors. He spent many years working as a landscaper, a profession that was far more than a job to him—it was a passion. He took great pride in transforming and maintaining beautiful outdoor spaces and found genuine satisfaction in working with nature.
In his leisure time, Willie enjoyed fishing, finding peace and relaxation on the water. Whether casting a line with friends or simply enjoying the quiet beauty of God’s creation, fishing was one of his favorite pastimes. His love for the outdoors reflected his appreciation for life’s simple blessings.
A faithful member of Poplar Springs Church, Willie cherished his church family and valued the role his faith played throughout his life. He found strength, comfort, and fellowship through his church community and sought to live his life guided by Christian principles.
Willie will be remembered for his kind heart, hardworking spirit, gentle nature, and unwavering dedication to his family, friends, and community. His legacy of faith, perseverance, and love for the outdoors will continue to live on in the memories of all who knew and loved him. Though he will be deeply missed, his life serves as a lasting reminder of the importance of faith, family, and finding joy in the simple things.
His memory will forever be treasured by those whose lives he touched.
In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by a daughter, Lakeisha Jones; two grandchildren and three siblings.
Mr. Willie is survived by his wife, Arlene Hogan Jones; son, Timothy Jones (Gabby); daughter, Latoya Jones; grandchildren, Tye Jones, Antonio Smith and Davonce Lampkin; siblings, Dolly Whiter and Charlie Jones, Jr; several other loving nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
WRIGHT FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY
Phone 334-6WE-CARE (693-2273)
www.wrightfuneralhomeandcrematory.com
…Celebrating a life, one family at a time…
Our establishment DOES OWN AND OPERATE ITS OWN CREMATORY, so your loved one never has to leave our care.
Our beloved Gary Leon Galloway departed this life on June 17, 2026. Born in Tallahassee, FL, on July 15, 1949, he spent his life building a legacy centered around faith and family, and he was proud to be a life-long member of the Sweet Gum Head Community.
Dad earned his B.S. in Mathematics Education from Florida State University and M.S. in Administration from Troy State University. He taught mathematics for 40 years, primarily at Ponce de Leon High School, where he coached boys’ and girls’ basketball for many years. He finished his career serving one term as the Holmes County Superintendent of Schools.
Dad was the master of many skills, including carpentry and plumbing, electrical and mechanical work, hunting, fishing, farming, and anything else a neighbor might need. He showed us the value of hard work and keeping your word. He will be remembered for his leadership in the community, his organized barn, his annual fishing trip to Apalachicola, his love of all things Trump, and his life-long passion of tinkering.
A celebration of Gary’s remarkable life will be held on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at 10:00 AM in the chapel of Warren Holloway Ward Funeral Home in Geneva, AL. Burial will follow in the family plot at Tara Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM. Flowers will be accepted, and memorial contributions can be made in Gary’s memory to Camp Wiregrass, P.O. Box 311072, Enterprise, AL 36331.
He was preceded in death by his father, Cyrial Cotton (Bill) Galloway, and mother, Willie Helen Commander Galloway; two special brothers-in-law, Leonard Byrd and Joel Byrd; and a very special sister-in-law, Patsy Byrd.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 57 years, Sherron Byrd Galloway of Sweet Gum Head, FL; his three children, Sherri Galloway Carroll (Brad) of Samson, AL, Eric Leon Galloway (Magen) of DeFuniak Springs, FL, and Nicole Galloway Sewell (Jonathan) of Samson, AL; his 11 grandchildren, Colton Campbell, Ashton Hodges (Spencer), Evelyn Campbell, Cecelia Campbell, Gage Leon Galloway, Hutch Galloway, Curtis Galloway, Sawyer Sewell, Zander Sewell, Fisher Sewell and Vivian Sewell; four siblings, Jerry Galloway (Joy) of Geneva, AL, Hilton Galloway (Martha) of Enterprise, AL, Mary Helen Galloway Platt (Richard) of Pensacola, FL, and Melissa Galloway of Dallas, TX; special brothers and sisters-in-law, Wilmer Byrd, Hilton Byrd, Archie D. Byrd (Linda), Janet Baxley (Gordon), Jean West (Johnny), Karen O’Steen (George), Kathy Marsh (Donnie), Bobby Jean Byrd, and Aubrey Jean Byrd; and a number of special nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family.
Serving as pallbearers and honorary pallbearers will be his grandchildren, who carry forward his curiosity, humor, and resourcefulness.
We dedicate the following poem to Pa, an avid writer and poet:
When burdens grew too great to bear
He sat with God in fields of peace
From that day on, he knelt in prayer
Fruits of family, faith, and work increased
Slowing down, his final light, a page from his book
I resist, I hold on tight, weighed with grief and fear
But then I hear that gentle voice, he asks me, “How’s it look?”
I surrender, as he taught, “All clear, Pa. All clear.”
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.net
ABBEVILLE. . .Erma Ruth Riley, a resident of Abbeville, went to be with the Lord on June 20, 2026. She was 89.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at Liberty Methodist Church in Abbeville (Screamer), Alabama, with Reverend Tom Skeen officiating. The family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow in the Gardens of Memory Cemetery in Headland, Alabama. Wright Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Liberty Methodist Church Memorial Fund in memory of Erma Riley, 341 County Road 92, Abbeville, AL 36310.
Mrs. Riley was born September 22, 1936, in Geneva, Alabama, to the late Lewis Gertrude Smith and Myrtie Ruth Baker Smith. She grew up in Geneva and graduated from Geneva High School in 1955. Following high school, she attended the Massey-Draughon Business College in Montgomery.
Erma met and married Kenneth L. Riley, Sr., and together they raised three children: Kenny, Cindy, and Michael. She was a dedicated homemaker for most of their 63 years of marriage. Their journey together took them to the Mojave Desert; Dothan, Alabama; Columbia, South Carolina; and Marietta, Georgia, before they eventually retired on Lake Eufaula in Abbeville.
Mrs. Riley loved supporting her husband, children, and grandchildren above all else. She was an expert at managing the household, a wonderful cook, always willing to host the neighborhood children and friends. She and Kenneth were charter members of Highland Park United Methodist Church in Dothan, where they served as MYF leaders for many years. More recently, she was an active member of Liberty Methodist Church. She was blessed with four wonderful grandchildren whom she adored and loved to feed any time they visited: Riley, McKenna, Rebekah, and Meghan.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth L. Riley, Sr.; her beloved son, Kenneth “Kenny” L. Riley, Jr.; her sisters, Ethelyn (Frank) Marsh, Mary Lois (Luther) Rinehart, Margaret (Duke) Moody, Juanita (Walter) McNeil, Kathleen (Bill) Hughes, and Betty (Edward) Parker; and her brothers, Bill Smith, Tom Smith, Ned Smith, Herbert Lamar Smith, and Ted Smith.
Leaving to cherish her memory are her daughter, Cindy (Scott) Klages of Eufaula, Alabama; her son, Michael (Ashley) Riley of Marietta, Georgia; her sister, Barbara Hogan of Decatur, Georgia; her grandchildren, Riley Klages, McKenna (Alex) Fowler, Rebekah (Shepherd) Waits, and Meghan (Connor) Frost; her great-grandchildren, Olivia Waits, Lawson Fowler, and Baker Frost; and numerous nieces, nephews, and dear friends.
The family extends their deepest gratitude to the caring staff at Henry County Health and Rehab in Abbeville, as well as Gentiva Hospice, with special thanks to Angie Jones.
WRIGHT FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY
Phone 334-6WE-CARE (693-2273)
www.wrightfuneralhomeandcrematory.com
…Celebrating a life, one family at a time…
Our establishment DOES OWN AND OPERATE ITS OWN CREMATORY, so your loved one never has to leave our care.
OZARK…Mrs. Shirley Ann Harper Watson, a resident of Ozark, died Thursday evening, June 18, 2026, at her home. She was 69.
Celebration of Life Services will be held at 5:00 P.M. on Monday, June 22, 2026, in the Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home Chapel. The family will receive friends from 4:00 until 5:00 P.M. Monday at the funeral home. Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home of Ozark is in charge of arrangements.
Shirley was born on June 11, 1957, in Ozark, Alabama, and she spent nearly all her life in the place she loved and called home. She was happiest when she was surrounded by the people she cared about, and she treasured every moment spent with her family. Shirley had a gift for creating things with her hands—whether she was quilting a blanket, shaping clay into something beautiful, or working with wood to make something useful and lasting. Each piece she made carried a little bit of her heart.
She also took great pride in being a homemaker. Making a house feel warm, welcoming, and full of love came naturally to her. She found joy in the simple, everyday things—cooking meals, keeping a cozy home, and making sure the people around her felt cared for.
Shirley was preceded in death by parents, Mack Gray and Gladys Mae Ammons Gray, her husband, David Carlton “Slim” Harper; as well as her siblings Lamar Mills, Sammy Gray, and Don Mills. Though she will be deeply missed, the love she shared and the kindness she showed will continue to live on in the hearts of those who knew her.
Surviving relatives include her husband, Junior Watson, Ozark; son, David Harper (Rochelle), Ozark; siblings, Ron Mills (Ann), Jerry Gray, Dallas Gray (Kelly), and Billy Gray; granddaughter, Rose Harper; close family friend, whom she called her daughter, Brenda Ellison; nieces, nephews, and cousins.
You may sign a guest register at www.fuquabankston.com
NEWTON…Mr. Robert W. Dockery, a resident of Newton, died early Friday morning, June 19, 2026, in a Dothan hospital. He was 90.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, June 24, 2026, in the Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home Chapel with Mr. Ben Fennick officiating. Burial will follow in Newton City Cemetery. Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home of Ozark is in charge of arrangements. The family will receive friends from 10:00 until 11:00 A.M. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or to American Parkinson Disease Foundation, PO Box 61420, Staten Island, NY 10306.
Mr. Dockery, son of the late Elmer Ray Dockery and Louise Winifred Williams Dockery, was born in Chicago, Illinois, but his story truly began when he moved to Northport, Alabama at a young age. Alabama quickly became home, and he carried those early memories with him throughout his life. He graduated from Tuscaloosa County High School in 1954, and immediately married the love of his life, Geraldine Channell.
He was a hard‑working man from the very beginning. For years, he owned and operated a furniture woodworking company in Northport, putting his hands and heart into every piece he crafted. In 1961, life took him to Tampa, Florida, where he worked with Olsen Industries and Star Kitchens. Even then, he never stopped building, creating, and fixing—work that came as naturally to him as breathing.
Florida became another chapter in his life when he moved to Zephyrhills. There, he continued to use his skills as a craftsman while also establishing Dockery’s Nursery. He loved watching things grow, whether it was a piece of wood he shaped or a plant he tended with care.
In 1977, he moved to Newton, Alabama, where he planted even deeper roots. He became the owner and operator of Tanglewood Mobile Home Park and later served on the Newton Town Council and as Assistant Fire Chief of Newton Volunteer Fire Department.
Those who knew him will always remember his strong work ethic. He was the kind of man who showed up early, stayed late, and did what needed to be done without ever asking for praise. He was also a generous person—quietly helping others in ways many people never knew. He didn’t do work or serve for attention; he did it because it was simply who he was. He loved to go fishing, finding peace in the simple rhythm of the water and the quiet moments outdoors. It was one of the few times he allowed himself to slow down and enjoy the world around him. He was a member of the Newton United Methodist Church.
Mr. Dockery loved his family with his whole heart. Nothing made him happier than having everyone gathered around the table, sharing a meal, talking, and simply being together. He believed that family time was one of life’s greatest blessings, and he made sure those moments happened as often as possible. One of his biggest challenges—and one of his greatest joys—was keeping up with his eight sisters‑in‑law. They kept him on his toes, made him laugh, and filled his life with stories he loved to retell. Through it all, he cherished every bit of the lively, loving family that surrounded him.
Mr. Dockery was preceded in death by his beloved wife of sixty‑four years, Geraldine Channell Dockery, whom he cherished deeply; his sister, Margie Dockery Smith; and his brother, Ray Dockery. Though he has left this world, the impact of his kindness, his steady presence, and his unwavering dedication to family and community will continue to live on in the hearts of all who knew him.
Surviving relatives include his children, Sharon Dockery, Newton, Barbara Pearson (Morgan), Eufaula, Nancy Snow (Art), Birmingham, and Robert Dockery (Leigh Ann), Pinckard; grandchildren, Christopher Pearson (Mandy), Jenny Allen (Rob), Russell King, Tim Parr, Sean King (Ellen), Nathan Dockery, and Sidney Dockery; eight great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Serving as active pallbearers will be Christopher Pearson, Russell King, Tim Parr, Sean King, Nathan Dockery, and Rob Allen. Honorary pallbearers will be Fred Parker, Craig Harden, Arellious Maxwell, Doug Hamner, Mike Huntley, and Chris Warmouth.
You may sign a guest register at www.fuquabankston.com
Obituary from Holman Funeral Home of Ozark – Ozark, Alabama
Mrs. Sandra Lena Violette Waldon, a resident of Ozark, died Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at her home. She was 79 years old.
In keeping with the wishes of the family, there are no public services planned for Mrs. Waldon. Holman Funeral Home of Ozark has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Mrs. Waldon was born February 2, 1947 in Augusta, Maine to the late Donald Joseph Violette and Aurora Alma Maheux Violette. She was a school bus driver for over twenty years with Covina Valley School District in Covina, California and for thirteen years with MSAD11 in Gardner, Maine. Sandra enjoyed cross stitching and jigsaw puzzles. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Michael Waldon; one sister, Gail Constance Mickels; one brother, Donald Joseph Violette, Jr.; and one great grandson, Trevor Waldon.
Survivors include four children, Anthony DiMaggio (Jeanine), Tammy Bunnell,
Timothy Waldon (Nicole) and Todd Waldon (Jamie); grandchildren, Aaron Waldon (Samantha), Abigail Ammons (Zack), Reagan Waldon, Lleyton Waldon, and Kyle Waldon; and great grandson, Gabriel Waldon.
