Joyce Elaine Beasley Hix, a resident of Dothan, died Thursday, August 28, 2025 at her residence. She was 70.
Funeral services will be held at 2 PM Monday, September 8, 2025 in Clearman Chapel at Southern Heritage with Reverends Cory Solomon and Kyle Johnson officiating. Burial will follow in the Dothan City cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1 PM until 1:45 PM prior to the service at the funeral home.
Joyce was born December 13, 1954 in Dothan to the late Elmer Ray and Rosine Estelle Bullard Beasley and was a lifelong resident. She had a heart for caring which was evident in her 47 years as a Nurse. Joyce was a member of Union Hill Baptist church and an Eastern Star with the Ashford Lodge Wiregrass 519.
Joyce is preceded in death by her parents; sister, Annie Strickland and a brother Mack Beasley.
Survivors include her husband of 47 years, James Hix; children, Maggie Dykes and Jim Hix (Tiffany); grandchildren, Gage Dykes (Chelsey), Audrey Hix, Lanie Rogers (Kyle), Angel Burke (Josh) and Charlotte Hix; great grandchildren, Raylyn, Brayleigh and Jeremiah.
COLUMBIA… Ronald K. Lewis, Sr., a resident of Columbia, Alabama, passed away early Wednesday morning, August 27, 2025, at his home. He was 81.
Graveside services with military honors will be held 11:45 A.M., Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at Alabama National Cemetery in Montevallo, Alabama. Wright Funeral Home & Crematory is in charge of the arrangements.
Mr. Lewis was born in Mobile, Alabama to the late Kenny Lewis, Sr. and Hattie Maye Hennis Lewis. He earned his bachelor’s degree in history from Troy University. He served his country and retired with the U.S. Air Force. After his military career he worked and retired from the civil service. He had lived in various places across the United States with his military career and the civil service. A good bit of that time was around Montgomery, Alabama and Wetumpka, Alabama areas. He played fast-pitch softball for years and was inducted into the Blue Grey Hall of Fame. He loved his family very much. He was of Catholic Faith and had attended St. Columba Catholic Church in Dothan, Alabama.
Along with his parents, he was also preceded in death by his sisters, Shirley Atchinson, Faye Ivey, and Regina Dixon; and his brother, Kenny Lewis, Jr..
Leaving to cherish his memories are his wife of sixty-one years, Barbara Jean Bowen Lewis; his daughter, Ronda Kay Hicks (Clay); his son, Ronald “Ron” K. Lewis, Jr.; his sisters, Wendy Johnson and Tracy Maloy; and his brother, Corky Lewis (Debbie); his sister-in-law, Debbie Lewis; and his grandchildren, Christian Hicks and Karsten Hicks.
Anne Mary Rocco, a beacon of kindness and selflessness, passed away peacefully on August 27, 2025, in Dothan, Alabama, at the age of 82. Born on July 20, 1943, in New York, NY, Anne’s vibrant spirit and adventurous soul touched the lives of all who knew her.
Anne’s life was a testament to her unwavering faith and her commitment to nurturing young minds. As a respected preschool teacher at the College of William and Mary, she shaped countless futures with her gentle guidance and infectious enthusiasm for learning. Her devotion to her faith was equally profound, as she was a devout Catholic who lived her beliefs through action, volunteering her time and energy at St. Columba Church.
Her journey from a proud New Yorker to a cherished member of the Dothan community in 2005 was filled with the joy of new friendships and experiences. Anne never met a stranger, and her ability to connect with people was one of her most remarkable traits. Her love for travel took her to Ireland, Germany, and Hawaii fulfilling a lifelong dream.
Anne’s love for life was evident in her passion for shopping, with Macy’s being her preferred destination for the latest fashions. Her sense of style was only matched by her graciousness and her ability to make every occasion special.
Left to honor Anne’s legacy are her loving daughters, Laura Stratton (James), Ronnie Jewell (Jim), and Amy Frohnapfel (Dirk); her adoring grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and her nieces, Aileen Morea and Lizabeth Rossiter. Anne was preceded in death by her beloved parents, William and Anna McKendry; her husband, Michael Rocco; her brother, William McKendry, Jr.; and her sister, Dolores Rossiter.
Anne’s life was a beautiful portrait of love, dedication, and adventure. Her kind heart and selfless nature were the cornerstones of her existence. Those who knew her will forever remember her warm smile, her generous spirit, and the way she embraced life’s journey with open arms. Anne Mary Rocco’s memory will continue to inspire and comfort all who were blessed to feel the warmth of her love.
A mass of Christian burial will be held on Friday, September 5, 2025 at 11am in St. Columba Catholic Church with Father Jim Dane officiating. The family will receive friends 30 minutes prior to service time.
James Carlton Toole, Jr., a resident of Clayton, Alabama, passed away unexpectedly, Friday, August 22, 2025, in Port St. Joe, Florida. He was 54 years old.
Memorial services will be held Saturday, September 6, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. at Friendly Assembly of God Church with Rev. Ronnie Benefield officiating and Glover Funeral Home directing. Flowers will be accepted.
James was born on March 21, 1971, in Columbus, Georgia, to James Carlton, Sr. and Betty Jean Morgan Toole. He was a bridge inspector and dump truck driver for Barbour County and a volunteer firefighter for Texasville Volunteer Fire Department. James enjoyed camping, fishing, watching westerns, and gardening.
He is preceded in death by his father, James Carlotn Toole, Sr.; wife, Deborah Benefield Toole; sister, Frances Rutledge.
Survivors include his mother, Betty Jean Morgan Toole; four sons, James Toole, III (Ashley) of Texasville, Alabama, William Toole of Clayton, Alabama, Jacob Toole (Kimberly) of Clayton, Alabama, and Jacob Toole, II of Clayton, Alabama; daughter, Aubrey Toole of Clayton, Alabama; brother, Charles Wesley Rutledge (Connie); four sisters, Barbara Ann Tackett (William), Martha Nell McCarty (Rudolph), Torrie Toole, and Tia Cherier (Michael); fourteen grandchildren.
Glover Funeral Home of Clayton was entrusted with the arrangements. (334) 775-3403. Please sign the guestbook online at www.gloverfuneral.com
Obituary from Holman Funeral Home of Ozark – Ozark, Alabama
Mrs. Mary Walding Madison, a resident of Greensboro, Georgia and formerly of Ozark, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, from complications due to Alzheimer’s Disease. She was 69 years old.
Funeral services for Mrs. Madison will be 10:00 A.M. Saturday, September 6, 2025, in the Chapel of Holman Funeral Home in Ozark with Reverend Dr. Eric Fuller officiating. Interment will follow in Woodlawn Memory Gardens, Holman Funeral Home of Ozark directing. The family will receive friends at the funeral home in Ozark Friday evening (September 5, 2024) from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M.
Mrs. Madison was born November 26, 1955 in Dothan, Alabama to the late COL (Retired) Henry Dan Walding, Sr. and Nan Coleman Walding. She graduated from Carrol High School in 1973 and married COL (Retired) James G. Madison, III “Jim” of Tuscaloosa, Alabama June 28, 1980. Mary lovingly supported Jim throughout his 34 years in the United States Army. Mary enjoyed the overseas tours and experiences. Jim and Mary retired in June 2017, living in Greensboro, Georgia, Reynolds, and Lake Oconee area. Mary was a member of Ozark Baptist Church and currently a member of the Lake Oconee Presbyterian Church in Eatonton, Georgia. Survivors include her husband of 45 years, COL (Retired) James G. Madison, III “Jim”; two sons, SSgt James G. Madison, IV United States Marine Corps and Dan C. Madison and his wife Jessi Madison; two grandchildren, Will and Grayson Madison; siblings, Henry D. Walding, Jr. “Danny” of Dothan, Lisa Walding Sturdivant of Pinckard and husband deceased, CW4 (Retired) Jerry Sturdivant, Julie Walding Atterbury of Madison and husband MAJ (Retired) Bob Atterbury.
ECHO COMMUNITY. . .Robert Jerald “Jerry” Lurie, a resident of the Echo Community in Dale County, passed away early Thursday morning, August 28, 2025, at his home, after a short illness. He was 82.
Funeral services, with Air Force military honors, will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, August 30, 2025, in the Holman-Headland Mortuary Chapel with his grandsons, Joshua Blair and Will Pierce officiating. Burial will be held at a later date in the Echo Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 10:00 until 11:00 A.M Saturday at the mortuary in Headland.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Echo Methodist Cemetery Fund, c/o Linda Ward, 12066 East Highway 27, Newville, AL 36353.
Jerry Lurie was born on January 11, 1943 to Henry and Elizabeth Smith Lurie in Dothan, Alabama. He was a graduate of Dothan High School class of 1961 and Troy University class of 1965. Jerry was known as “Lark” to his classmates and friends. He retired as a Master Sergeant in the Air National Guard in the Dothan unit after 36 years of service. Jerry was also employed with the state of Alabama as a Security Guard at the Air National Guard in Dothan. He was an avid outdoorsman who hunted and fished every chance he got. Jerry was a member of Echo Methodist Church. He was preceded in death by a brother, Rod Lurie.
Jerry is survived by his wife of 49 years, Judy Tew Lurie, daughters, Heather Lurie Pierce (Clay), Julie Harpe Powell (Jim), and Wendy Harpe Blair. He was known as “Paw Paw” to his precious grandsons, Will Pierce, Graham Pierce, Jack Pierce, Matthew Powell, Joshua Blair (Heather Prather), and Dalton Spann. Jerry is also survived by his step-grandchildren, Mark and Michael Powell, a sister, Margie Bivins, a brother, Doug Lurie (Connie), a sister-in-law, Cheryl Lurie and his best friend, Jerry Brackin.
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.
James Carlton Toole, Jr., a resident of Clayton, Alabama, passed away unexpectedly, Friday, August 22, 2025, in Port St. Joe, Florida. He was 54 years old.
