OZARK…Mrs. Betty Ayres, a resident of Ozark, died late Saturday afternoon, October 11, 2025, in the Ozark Health & Rehabilitation Facility in Ozark. She was 72.
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
Mitchell B. Kirkland, 76, passed away on October 7, 2025, at Advent Health in Apopka, Florida, after a brief illness. Born on February 6, 1949, in Dothan, Alabama, Mitchell’s life was rooted in the Southern communities he called home and shaped by service to his Lord and enduring ties to family and friends.
Mitchell was preceded in death by his parents, Otis Sr. & Evelyn Kirkland, parents-in-law Abner & Mary Miller, brother Otis Kirkland Jr., nephew Thad Kirkland, brother-in-law Curtis Emerson, sister-in-law Carol Kirkland, and sister-in-law Helen Ruth Taylor.
Mitchell is survived by his wife Glenda Kirkland, Howey in the Hills, FL; son Randall Newberry (Alice) Phenix City, AL; daughter BJ Riday (Ryan) Clermont, FL; four grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, sisters Gloria White (Harold), Slocomb, AL; Mary Emerson Dothan, AL; Vivian Morrison (Billy), Dothan, AL; and a host of other relatives including a very special aunt Quinque Donley, his cherished nieces and nephews, his adopted family the Ozbuns, and other close friends.
Mitchell was a seemingly quiet man who was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He was always there to lend a hand when anyone needed. His quick wit served him well when he was joking, and he never missed a chance to make you laugh, even if it came at your own expense sometimes.
Mitchell served in the US Navy for four years as an electronics mechanic, spending eight months at sea aboard the USS Saratoga during her deployment to the South China Sea supporting the Vietnam War efforts.
Mitchell, an electrician by trade, retired as the Director of Plant Services after 38 years working for Southeast Alabama Medical Center.
Mitchell loved fishing even though he didn’t often take time to go. He did find time to garden and took pride in his wicking pots and the vegetables they produced. In recent years, he also enjoyed watching bluebirds nesting in his bird boxes. He never turned down a request for dog sitting and will be greatly missed by Spice and Sugar.
Mitchell was a man of God. He traveled the world on various mission trips, but he viewed everyone in his daily life as his mission field. He ministered to those he worked with, and he developed lifelong friendships with those he fellowshipped with. He interceded in prayer for all those he knew.
If you choose to contribute in Mitchell’s honor, PersecutionProject.org is a cause he believed in.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 3 P.M. Saturday, October 18, 2025 at Ward Wilson Funeral Home.
The family will receive friends after the Celebration of Life service at The DoubleTree, 2740 Ross Clark Circle. We would also love for you to share your favorite memories of Mitchell with us via email, even if you’re unable to join us. Lifetime.Lived@Gmail.com
Norma Jane Gilley Barber, 92, a long-time resident of Dothan, went home to be with the Lord on Friday, October 10, 2025. A celebration of life service will be held at 1:30 on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at the Ward Wilson Chapel in Dothan, AL. Burial will follow in the Tabernacle Methodist Church Cemetery in Bald Hill (family only). The family will receive friends from 1:00 until service time at the Ward Wilson Funeral Home.
Norma was born on November 22, 1932, in Lynn Haven, Florida to the late Clois Bishop Gilley and Ruth Hoover Gilley. She was a 1951 graduate of Slocomb High School in Slocomb, Alabama. After graduation she began working at the Slocomb National Bank and later transferred to the First National Bank in Dothan. In the late 60’s she worked at Hedstrom Union Company until her marriage in 1967 to Ray Barber. Norma and Ray enjoyed fishing, playing games, working in the yard and spending time with the family together until his death in 2017. They were both members of the Goodwater Freewill Baptist Church in Newton.
She is survived by two step-sons Ray N. Barber (Patti) of Tifton, GA and Randy Barber (Darlene) of Chickamauga GA, and one step-daughter Jody Burke (Bo) of Marianna FL, four step-grandsons – Ben Burke (Kara), Daniel Burke (Emily), Austin Barber (Cara), Jonathan Barber (Brittney), five step-granddaughters – Mandy White (Ben), Natalie Keadle (Walker), Sarah Barber, Lawson Nagle (Connor), Maria Bible (Cameron), twenty step-great grandchildren, and several cousins including June (Ken) Winter of Tennessee.
2414 Hartford Highway
Dothan, AL 36305
Tel: 334-792-4194
https://www.wardwilson.com/
Robert Lee Beaubouef, known affectionately as Bob to his friends and family, passed away on October 9, 2025 at his residence in Dothan, Alabama. He was 78 years old
Bob was born on December 5, 1946 in Alexanderia, Louisiana to Roland and Vertie Beaubouef who precede him in death. Bob is also preceded by all of his siblings: Roland and his wife Diane Beaubouef, Charles Beaubouef, Leonard Beaubouef, and his sister, Linda Cazes. His first wife, Peggy Beaubouef, also preceded him.
He is survived by his son, Joseph Beaubouef, Louisiana; daughter, Karen Beaubouef Jacobs and her husband, Alan Jacobs, Dothan, AL;. and son, Mathew Beaubouef, and his wife, Natalia, and their children, Elowyn and Milo Beaubouef, of Franklin, TN; sister-in-law, Gerry Beaubouef; and brother-in-law, John Cazes; and numerous nieces and nephews, as well as his second wife, Judy Bulot.
Per Bob’s wishes, he will be cremated and have a Mass of Christian Burial at St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery in Deville, Louisiana at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for any donations to be sent to the church. St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, P.O. Box 7, Deville, La 71328.
We would also like to give a special thanks to Encompass Health for the excellent care provided and a heartfelt thank you to Father Patrick Gallagher for his comfort and spiritual support not just for Dad but everyone in our family.
HEADLAND. . .Margaret Ann Gandy Austin, a resident of Headland, passed away Sunday morning, October 12, 2025. She was 70.
A private burial will be held in the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida.
Mrs. Austin was born in Hollywood, Florida and was raised in Davie, FL, Leesburg, FL and Apopka, FL. She lived in the state of Florida before moving to Headland, Alabama in 2016. Mrs. Austin was retired from Extendicare Health Center in Dothan as a Cosmetologist. In earlier years, she was employed by the Lake County School Board in Leesburg and Tavares, FL as a School Bus Driver for thirty-four years. Mrs. Austin was preceded in death by her husband, Wayne Stephen Austin and a brother, James Steven Gandy.
Surviving relatives include a daughter, Melissa Bryant, Headland; a sister, Carol Ann Farrar (Leslie), Headland; a special friend and caretaker, Carole Frank, Dothan; a niece, Leslyn Farrar, nephews, Michael Farrar (Jennifer) and Will Farrar; and a Grandpup “Gracie”.
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.
SOUTHAVEN, MS…Ms. Maxine Moseley, a resident of Southaven, Mississippi (formerly of Ozark), died on Monday, September 29, 2025. She was 92.
Celebration of Life Services will be held at 10:00 A.M., Saturday, October 18, 2025, in Pleasant Grove Baptist Church with Reverend Jim Peters and Reverend Brandon Witt officiating. The family will receive friends from 9:00 until 10:00 A.M. Saturday at the church. Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home of Ozark is in charge of arrangements.
Ms. Moseley lived a life filled with purpose, compassion, and unwavering faith. Born and raised in Ozark, Alabama, she was the beloved daughter of Malcolm Moseley and Mattie Lou Harris Moseley. From a young age, she carried the values of kindness, service, and devotion to God—values that would shape every step of her journey.
She graduated from Dale County High School in 1951, and her love for learning and her deep spiritual calling led her to pursue higher education. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from Samford University in Birmingham, and later, a Master’s degree in religious education from New Orleans Baptist Seminary. Her studies weren’t just about academics—they were a reflection of her heart’s desire to serve others and share the love of Christ with the world.
After college, Ms. Moseley began her work with the Southern Baptist Women’s Ministry, where she poured her energy into uplifting and empowering women in their faith. Her calling then took her far from home, as she joined the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board and served as a missionary in Ghana, West Africa for ten years. Those years were filled with challenges and triumphs, and she embraced every moment with grace and courage. She built relationships, shared her faith, and made a lasting impact on the lives of those she served—always with humility and love.
When she returned to the United States, her heart for service continued to guide her path. She became a chaplain at Montclair Baptist Hospital in Birmingham, offering comfort and spiritual support to patients and families during some of their most difficult times. Later, she brought that same compassion to Dale Medical Center in her hometown of Ozark, where she continued her chaplaincy work and reconnected with the community that had shaped her early years.
Ms. Moseley’s journey then led her to Memphis, Tennessee, where she transitioned into nursing role that allowed her to care for people not just spiritually, but physically. She worked as a Home Health Nurse for St. Francis Hospital, visiting patients in their homes and offering both medical care and heartfelt companionship. Her gentle spirit and attentive presence brought peace to many.
Later, she served as a nurse at Baptist Reynolds Hospice House in Collierville, Tennessee, and eventually at Unity Hospice in Olive Branch. In these roles, she walked alongside individuals and families during life’s final chapter, offering comfort, dignity, and love. She worked faithfully until her retirement, never losing sight of her calling to serve others with grace and compassion.
Throughout her life, Ms. Moseley was a quiet force of goodness. She didn’t seek recognition or praise, she simply showed up, did the work, and loved people deeply. Her faith was the foundation of everything she did, and her legacy is one of selflessness, strength, and unwavering devotion.
She was preceded in death by her two brothers, Ewell Moseley and Carl Moseley, whom she loved dearly. Though she experienced loss, she carried those memories close to her heart and continued to live with hope and purpose.
Ms. Moseley’s life was a beautiful testament to what it means to serve others, to live with faith, and to leave the world better than you found it. She will be remembered not only for the places she went to and the roles she held, but for the way she made people feel—seen, cared for, and loved.
Surviving relatives include her brothers, William J. Moseley (Shirley), Ozark and Clyde Moseley (Loyette); sister-in-law, Elaine Moseley, Ozark; several nephews and one great-niece.
