Mr. Rufus Wendell Skipper of Slocomb, Alabama, passed away peacefully at Flowers Hospital in Dothan, Alabama, on Monday, July 27, 2026, at the age of 60.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at a later date.
Born in Tallahassee, Florida, to the late Jimmy Ray and Callie Lorraine Cooper Skipper, Rufus lived a life marked by hard work, kindness, and a love for the simple things. He spent many years as a long-haul truck driver, traveling the country’s highways until the harsh northern winters began to affect his health and led him to retire from the road.
Rufus found joy in the hobbies he loved most. He enjoyed collecting die-cast cars, spending time fishing, and playing bingo with family and friends. He treasured life’s quiet moments and the relationships he built along the way. He will be remembered for his warm heart, easygoing spirit, and the memories he leaves with those who knew and loved him.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Jimmy Ray Skipper, Jr.
He is survived by his brother, Frankey Skipper (Dorria); his nephew, Buddy Skipper; and other family members and friends who will cherish his memory forever.
William Terry Bullard, a resident of Dothan, Alabama died Tuesday, July 28, 2026 at his residence following a brief illness. He was 87.
Terry’s wishes were to not have any services but the friends may drop by the family residence for a time of visitation.
Terry was born March 10, 1939 in Houston County, Alabama to the late Charles and Agnes Watson Bullard. He was a graduate of Dothan High School and attended Huntingdon College before graduating from Auburn University in 1962 with a degree in Building Science. He opened Bullard Engineering in Dothan and ran that for 15 years before going to Cumberland School of Law and getting his Law Degree. Terry was a practicing Attorney for 46 years in Dothan. He had a passion for flying, boating and spending quality time with family and friends. Terry became a Christian at the age of 70 and joined Calvary Baptist Church where he loved attending his Tuesday morning Bible Study with Dr. Rick Weber and Thursday morning Bible Study with Kelly Colbert. He lived life to the fullest and enjoyed bringing joy to those around him.
Terry is preceded in death by his parents; sister, Linda Ness; brother Ted Bullard and a granddaughter, Cassidy McCallister.
Survivors include his wife of 31 years, Karen Whatley Bullard; daughters; Paige McCallister, Cara Powell (Dr. Adam Powell); sons, Trant Bullard (Karen), Dr. Chad Mann (Haley) and Caleb Mann (Jeanie); grandchildren, Nick, Lawson, Anna Louise, Mary Frances, Warner, Mary Ellen, Elizabeth M, Mills, Hudson, Neely, Elizabeth P and Anne Collins; great granddaughter, Margot and a brother, Matt Bullard (Linda).
Paul Bradley Shipes, 57, of Ariton, Alabama, passed away unexpectedly at his residence on July 25, 2026.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 30, 2026, at Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Rev. Jason Waddell will officiate, with burial to follow in the church cemetery.
Serving as pallbearers will be Bruce Casey, Shannon Strickland, Travis Strickland, Dylan Prescott, Mitch Evans, and Michael Tillman.
Paul is survived by his beloved daughter, Macy (Dylan) Prescott of Midland City, Alabama; his mother, Gaye Tillman Shipes; his brother, Scott (Mary Ann) Shipes of Euell, Alabama; two nephews, Zach (Jasmine) Shipes and Baker Shipes; one great-niece, Mila Shipes; the mother of his daughter, Schella Shipes of Ozark; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and dear friends.
He was preceded in death by his father, Andy Shipes.
Paul was a faithful and active member of Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church and a proud 1987 graduate of Dixie Academy. He had a passion for NASCAR and especially enjoyed helping his brother, Scott, work on his stock car. He loved spending time fishing, farming—whether with his own tractor or someone else’s—and cheering on the Alabama Crimson Tide. Paul will be remembered for his kind heart, willingness to lend a helping hand, and the love he had for his family, friends, and community.
He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
Patricia Eugenia Cobia, a resident of Cottonwood, Alabama died Friday, July 24, 2026 at Southeast Health Medical Center. She was 82.
Memorial services will be held At 11 AM Friday, August 7, 2026 in the Chapel of Ward Wilson Funeral Home with Reverend Chuck Locke officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the services at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her honor to; Ridgecrest Baptist Church, 1231 Fortner Street, Dothan, AL 36301.
Mrs. Cobia was born January 5, 1944 in Houston County, Alabama to the late Clemont Fox and Catherine Sue Hutchison Jordan. She moved to Ft. Walton, Florida at an early age and resided there until she moved back to the Dothan area. She was a secretary for Cargill before her retirement and later worked for Wiregrass Rehab and the Houston County Extension Office. She enjoyed dancing, painting, decorating, crocheting and gardening. Mrs. Cobia loved her Lord and was a member of Ridgecrest Baptist Church. She also loved her family and spending time with them.
Mrs. Cobia is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Cecil Chester Cobia, daughter, Ronda Mae Cobia Johnson; son, James Cecil Cobia; sister, Joann Wimbish and a great grandson, Brayden James Norris.
Survivors include her grandchildren, Amber Cobia Mandella (Michael), Ashley Pearson (Justin), Sarah Cobia Mauldin (Mitchell); great grandchildren, Landon, Blayne, Gianni, Austen, Addie, Hunner, Braylee, Bentley, Paislee, Maelee, Eliza-Jo, Myleigh and Ella; sister, Janet Hunley; daughter in law, Suzanne Watson Cobia.
Donald Joseph Rhodes, beloved son, grandson, and brother, passed away on July 22, 2026, in Pensacola, Florida. Born March 26, 1998, in Houston County, Alabama, Donald was a vibrant young man of 28, whose passion for life touched everyone he knew.
A Celebration of Life Service is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on July 29, 2026, at Sorrells Funeral Home in Slocomb, led by Rev. Shane Rhodes, Sr., and Rev. Keener Batchelor. He will be laid to rest at Antioch Free Will Baptist Church Cemetery. A time of visitation will be held one hour prior to service time.
Donald is remembered for his fierce loyalty and deep love for those close to him. After moving to Pensacola, he devoted himself to caring for his beloved “Nonnie,” a reflection of his selfless and compassionate spirit. He cherished his family and took immense joy in spending time with his girlfriend, Paisley, as well as his loyal canine companions, Dizzy and Jerry. Whether collecting vinyl records, enjoying podcasts, or gaming, Donald filled his days with joy and laughter.
Preceded in death by his grandparents, Tommy Lee Rhodes, Carolyn Crutchfield, John Simmons, and Frances Young; his stepfather, Matthew Lance; and his aunt, Lorraine Simmons, Donald leaves behind a family who treasures his memory.
Survived by his mother, Jennifer Ghesquiere Rittner, his father, Shane Rhodes, Sr. (Julie), his “Nonnie”, Mary Young, and his siblings Devin Kelly, Shane Lee Rhodes, Jr., Dustin Rhodes (Adrienne), Gabrielle Greenhow (Nick), Kayla Rhodes, Anthony Rhodes, Matthew Rhodes, Aaron Eddins, Ragan Eddins, along with his treasured girlfriend, Paisley Sellers, and a host of extended family and friends.
His life, though brief, was rich with connections and love, leaving a legacy that will continue to resonate in the hearts of those who knew him.
DOTHAN… Abbey Wood Pollan, a resident of Dothan, Alabama, passed away Sunday afternoon, July 26, 2026, at a Dothan hospital. She was 47.
Abbey was born in Dothan on June 19, 1979 to Lynda and Steve Wood. Because her parents were involved in studies at Auburn University, she spent her early years living with them on the campus in student housing. All her life, she felt a tie to Auburn and was an avid Auburn Tigers fan. She attended elementary and middle school in Dothan, was in the band and performed in Dothan Children’s Theatre. After moving to Headland AL with her mother and sister, she attended First Baptist Church Headland, where she was baptized. She grew up having contact with lots of older kin and many summers enjoyed fishing and going to family reunions in South Alabama and Northwest Florida with her grandparents and great grandparents.
She graduated from Headland High School in 1998, with an Advanced Diploma, won several medals as a member of the marching band, and excelled at playing the clarinet and flute. During her senior year, she competed and won a seat to play the clarinet in the prestigious All-State Band on the campus of University of Alabama. She also wrote an essay that helped her win the Clint Hutto Memorial Scholarship.
She attended Wallace College, where she played saxophone and clarinet in the college jazz band, which took her to New Orleans and other places for concerts. She also played for local community bands and worked in Jacksonville FL.But her greatest joy in life was being a wife and mother.
Abbey married the love of her life, Neil Pollan, in a traditional ceremony at Calvary Baptist Church in Dothan on July 10, 2010. Together they have two beautiful children, daughter Alexandra Erin, 13 years old, and Eban Nicholas, six. Abbey shared Neil’s passion for rocks, gems and fossils, and together they attended rock shows. She made jewelry and wire trees and had a fun collection of unusual pens, keychains, flamingoes and tigers, but what she enjoyed most was cooking for her family. Together, she and Neil helped the children with homework, extra-curricular activities, and encouraged them to do their best in school.
Even though her recent knee and leg surgeries were a hardship, Abbey still was looking forward to helping her daughter and son prepare for the new school year and was planning to go over the school supply list with them. Her passing was sudden and will always be a great loss to her husband, children and all members of her family.
Abbey was preceded in death by her mother Lynda Lee Merrill; daughter, Lyndsey Erin Wood; grandparents, Eli Reid (Tobey) Merrill, Annette Miller and Fate Wood, all of Dothan; her father-in-law Eugene Pollan, Ashford AL; and beloved great grandparents, Anna Lou Brown (Demp) and Woodrow (Drow) Busbee, Gantt AL.
Abbey is survived by her husband and two children; sister, Stephanie Wood Burns (Kyle); niece Charlotte; nephews Jacob and Dash Burns, all of Fernandina Beach FL; father, Steve Wood (Angie) and half-brother Ethan Wood, all of Jacksonville FL; grandmother, Delores Busbee Merrill, Lynchburg VA; mother-in-law, Roxanne Pollan, Ashford AL and sister-in-law Bonnie Pollan, Dothan; aunts, Elizabeth Merrill Wade (Scott) and Cynthia Merrill Joyner (Matt), all of Lynchburg; aunts, Sandra Glass and Kellie Wood, Dothan; First cousins in Washington DC, Virginia, North Carolina, Florida and Alabama include Sharmon Woodham (Don Angle) and Garrette Woodham (Heidi); Emily Wade Liberto (Dan), Sarah and Anna Wade; Reid, William, Mary Spengler and Anne Spengler Mack (Eric).
Abbey is also survived by great uncles James Larry Busbee (Caroline), Milton FL and Patrick H. Busbee (Debbie), Durham NC; second cousins from Florida, Tennessee and North Carolina, Angela Busbee Swaney (Ray) and Michael Busbee (Jennifer); Jed Busbee (Melanie) and Hannah Busbee Shipley (Derek); and several third cousins in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee.
On Saturday, August 8, 2026 a worship service will honor the memory of Abbey at Victory Family Church, 3225 Headland Avenue, Dothan, AL 36303. Visitation is from 10 to 11 A.M., and the service is from 11 A.M. to noon. Flowers are welcome, or financial contributions may be made to help with expenses during the difficult months ahead. Kindness, prayers and generosity are deeply appreciated.
(The extended family has established a GoFundMe to support Neil and the children during this difficult time. Those who wish to honor their loved one’s memory through a contribution are sincerely appreciated.- https://gofund.me/16e527ec3)
