Elizabeth Diana Austin embarked on her eternal journey on April 7, 2025, in Atlanta, GA. Born on March 22, 1956, in Belleville, IL, Elizabeth grew up to be a beacon of love and kindness, touching the lives of all who knew her.
Elizabeth was the cherished daughter of the late Rachel Lee McGriff Kemp and of the late William Newton Kemp Sr., and her warm spirit was nurtured in a loving family alongside her sister, Linda Kemp Starks (Willie Earl) and her brother, William Newton Kemp Jr. (Gertrude). Her life was further blessed when she met and married her soulmate, Carlton Austin. Their union of 41 years was filled with joy, laughter, and the gift of three wonderful children: Christopher Austin (Ama Powell), Kimberly Austin (David Saffold) and Andrea Austin. Elizabeth’s love and legacy continued to flourish with the arrival of her beloved grandchildren, Amahris, Aeris, and Ara Austin. She also leaves behind her nieces and nephew, Nikkia Starks Jones (Tony), Allyse Starks Daniels (Stephfon), and Matthew Kemp; and a host of great nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, and her best friend/sister in Christ, Janice Butts.
A product of her hometown’s educational institutions, Elizabeth was a proud graduate of Dothan High School in 1974. She furthered her education at Wallace Community College and Alabama State University, where she honed the skills and knowledge that would inform her professional and personal life.
Elizabeth dedicated many years of her life to the students at Beverlye Middle School as an ISS Teacher and as an assistant reading teacher at Lake City High School in Lake City, South Carolina. Her involvement extended beyond the classroom as she actively participated in band competitions, served as both Vice President and President of the PTA, and was instrumental in starting the James H Daniels Scholarship, which provided a generous donation to the Houston County Library. Elizabeth’s commitment to the community shone through her work as she has touched the lives of thousands of students throughout the years.
Her faith was a cornerstone of her existence. Elizabeth worshipped at Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church for many years, where she served as a deaconess, teaching arts and crafts at Vacation Bible School, and exemplifying a special connection with God that inspired all around her.
Elizabeth’s interests were a reflection of her generous spirit. She loved to help others discreetly, always ready with great advice and a calm demeanor. She had a special knack for taking care of children and the elderly, and her home was often filled with the aromas of her cooking, the precision of her sewing, and the sweetness of her baked cakes. Elizabeth’s sense of humor, love for games, and watching westerns with her son, David, brought joy and laughter to family gatherings. Her investigative skills often made her the family’s private detective, as she helped her husband find his biological parents.
Those who had the privilege of knowing Elizabeth will remember her as the epitome of a loving, kind, and passionate soul. Her giving heart was evident in every aspect of her life, from her dedication to her family, to her service to the community.
As the sun sets on Elizabeth’s earthly chapter, her memory will continue to shine brightly in the lives of those she touched. Her presence will be deeply missed but her spirit will live on, a guiding light of love and kindness. Elizabeth Diana Austin’s journey was one of compassion and joy, and her story will be told with fondness and admiration for generations to come.
A celebration of Elizabeth’s life will be held on Wednesday, April 16, 2025 at 11am at Sunset Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Owens officiating. She will be laid to rest in Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery.
Sunset Memorial Park Funeral Home (334) 983-6604 www.SunsetMemorialPark.com
Martha June (Avant) Kyser, 85 years old of Dothan, Al, passed away on Wednesday April
9, 2025 at Flowers Hospital.
Funeral services will be Monday April 14, 2025 at 1 PM at Ward-Wilson Funeral Home,
with graveside services immediately following. Brother Tim Willis will officiate. The family will
receive friends from 11 AM to 1 PM on Monday at Ward-Wilson Funeral Home.
Martha was born in Slocomb, Alabama to Henry Grady Farmer and Mary Ellen (Spivey)
Farmer. Martha graduated from Slocomb High School in 1957 where she was a member of the
Redtop Marching Band. In June of 1957, Martha married James David Avant. They remained married until his
death in January 1992. Martha served on the Dothan City School Board for several years before becoming a
Head Start teacher at Selma Street Elementary school, until her retirement. Martha was a member of Slocomb Church of Christ from early childhood until the mid 1990’s at which time she became a member of Ridgecrest Baptist Church.
In 2000 Martha met Billy Jack Kyser. They were married in 2000 and remained married until his death in 2010.
Martha enjoyed playing cards and spending time with her friends and was a very talented artist.
Martha was preceded in death by her mother and father, by her first husband David, her
second husband Bill, and her 2 brothers Jim Farmer and Joe Farmer.
Martha is survived by her daughter Allison (Avant) Quinn (Brian). A son, David Blake Avant (Jennifer Alvarado Avant). 5 grandchildren, Melinda (Mindy Mims) Warden (Andrew). Phillip Thomas Quinn (Rachel Goodson Quinn). James Hunter Quinn. Alexandra Grace Avant and Anna Claire Avant. 4 Great-grandchildren, Gabrielle Leigh Warden, Juliana Marie Warden,
Andrew Trent Warden, Zoey Rose Quinn and several nieces and nephews. Pall bearers are Phillip Quinn, James Quinn, Andrew Warden, Larry Anderson, Nicholas
Byrd, Hunter Anderson.
OZARK…Mrs. Shirley Beasley Enfinger, a resident of Ozark, died late Wednesday evening, April 9, 2025, in a Dothan hospital. She was 81.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, April 12, 2025, in the Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home Chapel with Minister Leon Estep and Minister Mark Turner officiating. Burial will follow in Westview Memorial Cemetery. Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home of Ozark is in charge of arrangements. The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. Friday at the funeral home.
Mrs. Enfinger, daughter of the late Albert Madison Beasley and Lena Alene Owens Beasley, was a native of Brantley, Alabama. She moved to Ozark in 1971 where she was employed with Van Heusen in Ozark and retired from the Ozark Board of Education at Mamie Thompkins School as a lunchroom worker. Mrs. Enfinger was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Disabled American Veterans, Unit #94 Ozark. She was an avid University of Alabama Football Fan and enjoyed being a homemaker. Mrs. Enfinger was a former member of the Ozark Church of Christ and was currently a member of the Wicksburg Church of Christ in Wicksburg. She was preceded in death by her sisters, Doris Boggs, Inez Compton, and Bessie Hall; brothers, Joel Beasley and Woodrow Beasley.
Surviving relatives include her husband of fifty-three years, Bobby G. Enfinger; her daughter, Jennifer Hendrickson (Danny); three sons, Kenneth Armstrong, Keith Armstrong (Tracie), all of Ozark, and Terry Enfinger (Angela), Skipperville; three brothers, Charles Beasley, Brantley, Mark Beasley (Nancy), Lakeland, Florida, and Royce Beasley, Davenport, Florida; seven grandchildren, Todd Hendrickson (Michelle), Jenna Hendrickson (Keith), Kacey Gunter (Heath), Ashlynn Elmore (Austin), Tori Armstrong, Brittany Enfinger, and Cody Enfinger; great-grandchildren, Jeremy Armstrong, Easton Gunter, Millie Gunter, Cayden Jones, Aarolyn Jones, and Peyton Hendrickson; nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Serving as active pallbearers will be Cody Enfinger, Keith Jones, Jeremy Armstrong, Easton Gunter, Austin Elmore, Heath Gunter, and Ethan Brown.
LOXAHATCHEE, FL… Roy “Paul” Altman, Jr., known as Paul, a resident of Loxahatchee, Florida, formerly of Abbeville, Alabama, passed away Tuesday morning, April 8, 2025, at HCA Florida Osceola Hospital, in Kissimmee, Florida. He was 64.
Funeral services will be held 3:00 P.M. Monday, April 14, 2025, at Wright Funeral Home & Crematory Chapel with his son, Corey Altman giving a eulogy. Burial will follow in the Abbeville Memorial Garden. The family will receive friends from 2:00 until 3:00 P.M. prior to the service. Wright Funeral Home & Crematory is in charge of the arrangements.
Mr. Altman was born in Florida, to the late Roy Paul Altman, Sr. and Lavinia Story Altman. He graduated from LaBelle High School in LaBelle, Florida. He retired as an automotive mechanic. He lived most of his life in the Abbeville, Alabama area. He had previously lived in Ft. Myers, FL, Greeneville, TN, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, and Ocala, FL, before moving to Loxahatchee, FL where he lived out his life with devoted brother Danny and caring sister-in-law Cheri. Paul loved being outside, he found the most joy being at his camp. He also had a great interest in working and playing with the mud trucks and tinkering with off-road toys.
Along with his parents, he was also preceded in death by his brothers, Terry Altman and Don Altman.
Leaving to cherish his memories is his wife, Nadine Lomaneck Altman; his daughters, Barbara Altman, Valerie Stanley (Earl), and Amy Parrott; his son, Corey Altman; his step-children, Jeremy Layton (Judy), Jimmy Layton, and Jesse Layton; his sister, Christy Fulton (Erk); his brothers, Danny Scott (Sherri) and Brad Selvage; his sister-in-law, Jessie Altman; and his several nephews and nieces and grandchildren.
Mrs. Rubye Stevens Hidle of Slocomb went home to be with the Lord Wednesday, April 9, 2025. She was 90.
Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 12, 2025, in the Slocomb City Cemetery with Dr. Charla Evans officiating and Sorrells Funeral Home of Slocomb directing.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 10:00 a.m. until service time.
Mrs. Hidle was born on September 21, 1934, in Houston County to the late Lester and Annie Peterman Stevens. Rubye was a great woman of faith and spent many years in pastoral ministry along with her late husband, Rev. William David Hidle. She enjoyed helping people and worked as a Licensed Practical Nurse. Above all else, she loved and adored her family and will be dearly missed.
In addition to her parents, her loving husband of 61 years, Rev. William David Hidle, and a sister, Bobbie Driskell, all preceded her in death.
Survivors include her son, David Keith Hidle (Mary Jeffers Antonelli); grandchildren: Michelle Bradley (Jim), Dr. Kristen Hidle Fuller (Dr. Charla Evans), Lauren Taylor (Lauren Michelle); great grandsons: Matt Bradley, Michael Taylor, and Colton Taylor; siblings: Sylvia Collins (Joshua), James Stevens, and Roger Stevens (Vickie); brother-in-law, Harvey Sizemore; several nieces and nephews and other extended family and friends.
Sorrells Funeral Home of Slocomb
(334) 886-7777, is in charge of arrangements. “Because We Care … Is Making A Difference”
