Billy Steve Coker of Dothan, Alabama, passed away on Sunday, February 23, 2025. He was 72.
Memorialization, as per Mr. Coker’s request, will be by cremation.
Mr. Coker was born March 2, 1953, at Fort Rucker/Fort Novosel, Alabama to the late Willie J. and Flora Butler Coker. Steve was a respected Mental Health Counselor for over 40 years. He retired from Southeast Health after a fulfilling career. He enjoyed Alabama football, fishing, hunting, and was an avid outdoorsman. He also took pride in and enjoyed gardening.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother Edward Earl Coker.
Survivors include his children Amanda Smitherman, Cole Coker, and Carly Coker; grandchild, Henderson Smitherman; nephew, Jesse Coker (Kendal); great nieces: Rossi Coker, Alex Ann Coker, Charlianna Coker, along with a host of extended family and friends.
Mrs. Minnie Faye Godwin Dean, beloved wife, mother and grandmother, passed away peacefully Monday, February 24, 2025. She was 80 years old. Funeral services for Mrs. Dean will be 10:00 A.M. Saturday, March 1, 2025, from Good Hope Baptist Church near Troy with Reverend Wayne Locklear officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery, Holman Funeral Home of Ozark directing.
The family will receive friends in the church Saturday from 9:00 A.M. until service time.
Mrs. Dean was born November 17, 1944 in Troy, Alabama to the late Ralph Audice Godwin and Annie Belle Holmes Godwin. Minnie married Jerry Don Dean in 1961 and together they raised three children: Dannie, James and Darren. She was a loving mother-in-law to Holly and also a loving grandmother to seven grandchildren. Minnie enjoyed spending her time gardening, cultivating beautiful flowers and plants that brought joy to all who knew her.
She will be remembered for her kindness, generosity and unwavering love for her family. May Minnie’s memory live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved her. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in her memory to Good Hope Baptist Church, 1093 County Road 1165, Troy, Alabama 36079.
DOTHAN… Joanne M. Krist, a resident of Dothan, Alabama, passed away Sunday, February 23, 2025, at a Dothan hospital after a courageous battle with cancer. She was surrounded by her loving family as she entered her eternal home. She was 83.
Funeral services will be held 2:00 P.M. Thursday, February 27, 2025, at Ridgecrest Baptist Church with Reverend Chuck Locke officiating. Burial will follow in the Gardens of Memory Cemetery in Headland, Alabama. The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 2:00 P.M. prior to the service at the church. Wright Funeral Home & Crematory is in charge of the arrangements.
Mrs. Krist was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to the late Edward James Leewe and Ethel Miles Leewe. She graduated from Washington High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1959. For over 30 years, Mrs. Krist was a dedicated employee for Troy University of Dothan. She loved her Ridgecrest Baptist Church family and was very active in many of the church’s ministries. She spent her life in dedicated service to others.
Along with her parents, she was also preceded in death by her brother, James Leewe, and his wife, Nancy Leewe.
Leaving to cherish her memories is her husband of sixty-one years, Wayne F. Krist; her son, Reverend Kevin Krist (Valerie); her daughter, Michelle Lewis (David); her brother-in-law, Tom Krist (Penny); her grandchildren, Megan Whitson (Marcus), Jonathan Lewis, Jared Krist, and Jake Lewis; her great-grandchildren, Presley Whitson, Eliza Whitson, and Anna Whitson.
Serving as active pallbearers will be Jonathan Lewis, Jared Krist, Jake Lewis, Marcus Whitson, Ken Klatt, and Lance Whitehurst.
ABBEVILLE. . .LaVerne Greene Smith, a resident of Abbeville, died Monday afternoon, February 24, 2025, in the Henry County Health & Rehabilitation Facility. She was 87.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Friday, February 28, 2025, in the Holman-Abbeville Mortuary Chapel with Reverend Joey Hudspeth officiating. Burial will follow in the Abbeville Memorial Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 10:00 until 11:00 A.M. Friday at the mortuary in Abbeville.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions may be made to Gentiva Hospice, 2431 West Main Street, Suite 1102, Dothan, AL 36301 or to the Rebuild First Baptist Church “Building Fund”, P.O. Box 606, Abbeville, AL 36310
Mrs. Smith was born and reared in Cordele, Georgia, daughter of the late Loren Greene and Sarah Clifford Posey Greene. She lived in Alpharetta, Georgia before moving to Abbeville in 1971. Mrs. Smith was a member of the Abbeville Methodist Church and attended the Union Free Will Baptist Church. She was also a member of Sugar Belles. Mrs. Smith was formerly employed by the Abbeville Methodist Church as the church secretary. In earlier years, she served as Secretary for the State Veterinarian in the State of Georgia. While her children were students at Abbeville Christian Academy, she was involved in school activities and the P.T.A. Mrs. Smith was preceded in death by a daughter, Sarah Catherine Smith and a brother, Billy L. Greene.
Surviving relatives include her husband, Benjamin J. Smith; three sons, Mark Smith (Maria), Edwin Community; Benny Smith (Charla), Abbeville; and Chris Smith (Ellie), Ponte Vedra Beach, FL; grandchildren, Lauren Dusek (Zac), Markus Smith (Britney), Billy Smith (Claire), Chase Smith (Haley), Jonathon Smith (Nur), and Nick Smith; great-grandchildren, Ali Dusek, Rowan Dusek, Hudson Smith, Martha Kate Smith, Decker Smith, John Bennett Smith and Vera Smith; an aunt, Myrt Posey of Rhode Island; several nieces and nephews.
Serving as active pallbearers will be the grandsons, and a great-grandson, Hudson Smith.
The family would like to thank the Henry County Health & Rehabilitation Facility and Gentiva Hospice for the loving care and kindness shown to Mrs. Smith during her illness.
HOLMAN ABBEVILLE MORTUARY & CREMATIONS IS IN CHARGE OF FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS. Phone 334-585-5261.You may sign a guest register at www.holmanmortuaries.com. This firm does not own a crematory.
Larry Landers Morris passed away on Saturday, February 22, 2025, in Fairhope, Alabama, after a brief illness, surrounded by his loving family. The family finds comfort in knowing he is now at home with the Lord, reunited with cherished loved ones who have gone before him.
Funeral services will be held at 1 PM on Thursday, February 27, 2025, at First United Methodist Church in Dothan, with Reverend Charles Cummings officiating. Following the service, burial will take place at Memory Hill Cemetery, under the direction of Southern Heritage Funeral Home. The family will welcome friends starting at 11:30AM at the church parlor.
Born on September 4, 1937, in Atlanta, Georgia, Larry was the second of four siblings, the son of the late Walter and Mary Morris. In 1942, the family moved to Dothan, Alabama, where Larry developed a deep love for the community that he would always consider home.
Larry graduated from Dothan High School in 1955, where he was an active participant in various sports, excelling in football, basketball, track, and baseball. He was proud to be a member of the state championship basketball team and earned a football scholarship to the University of Alabama, where he graduated in 1959 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business. Upon returning to Dothan, he joined the family business, Rimson Furniture Store, and Morris and Sons Insurance. Larry also co-founded a beloved local restaurant, “The Cellar,” while serving part-time in the Air National Guard.
On April 8, 1962, Larry married his high school sweetheart, Jo Ann (Youngblood) Morris, at First United Methodist Church in Dothan. Their love story spanned 62 wonderful years, during which they welcomed two children, Landy and Joey. In 1970, Larry moved his family to Florida to pursue a successful career in real estate. He began in Fort Myers before relocating to Clearwater, where he became President of Sales at Innisbrook Golf Resort in Tarpon Springs. After a fruitful tenure there, he sought to return closer to Dothan but settled in Destin, Florida, in 1983, where he served as President of Sales and Marketing at the Destin Yacht Club. Later, he launched his own real estate firm, Investment Marketing, specializing in condominium and property sales and development. In 2023, following his retirement, Larry and Jo Ann moved to Fairhope, Alabama, to be nearer to their son Joey.
Larry was a dedicated member of Foster Street United Methodist Church and later First United Methodist Church during his time in Dothan. He also became an active member of Destin United Methodist Church, contributing to various committees and singing in the choir. Family and faith were the cornerstones of Larry’s life. He cherished every opportunity to gather with friends and family, especially his parents, siblings, cousins, and his beloved grandchildren: Andrew, Patrick, William, and Anna Louise. Larry was a proud grandfather who took an active role in his grandchildren’s lives. His loyalty to friends and family was unwavering, and he always went above and beyond to offer support and help those he cared about.
Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Mary Morris; his son, Larry Landers Morris II (Landy); his brother, Walter “Jack” Morris, and sister-in-law, Glenda Morris; sister Mary Morris Juergens and brother-in-law, Everett Juergens; sister Martha Nix and brother-in-law, James Carlton Nix, Jr.; and nephew James Thomas Joyce Jr. (Jim). He is survived by his wife, Jo Ann Youngblood Morris; his son, Joey Morris, and fiancé, Tonya Gollotte, of Fairhope, Alabama; and grandchildren Andrew Morris, Patrick Morris, William Morris and fiancé Katie Morand, and Anna Louise Morris. Larry also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, and cousins who he loved dearly.
HEADLAND… Robert Lee “Juicy” Turner, a resident of Headland, Alabama, passed away Sunday morning, February 23, 2025, at his home. He was 52.
A memorial service will be held 11:00 A.M. Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Wright Funeral Home & Crematory Chapel, with Dr. Reverend Dwylan Glover officiating. The family receive friends following the service. Wright Funeral Home & Crematory is in charge of the arrangements.
Mr. Turner was born in Tuskegee, Alabama to the late Waymond Johnson and Mary Lizzie Turner. He had previously lived in Baker Hill, Alabama before moving to the Haleburg, Alabama area about fifteen years ago. “Juicy” worked with Clarence Brown Concrete and C-Dock Construction, before being medically retired. He was a member of the Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Abbeville, Alabama.
Along with his parents, he was also preceded in death by his niece, Lizzie Green.
Leaving to cherish his memories is his wife, Roxanne Brooks Turner; his children, Alysia Brooks, Rodney Brooks (Brittany), Nakesshia Battle, and Kareem Brooks; his sisters, Kimberly Turner Hardamon (Les) and Shannon R. Turner; his brothers, Donnie E. Kelley (Gloria) and Cedric Johnson (Brittany); his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Lillie Wheat, Annie Dean Craddock (Floyde), Henry C. Brooks (Christine), Charlene Glover (Dwylan), Lola B. Spann, and Flecia Turner (Eric); his several grandchildren; his special nephew, Naquinton Graham; his special nieces, Serenity Turner and Remy Turner; his good friends, Scott & Deb Barron, Chris & Faith Barron, Andrew & Courtney Barron, Holley O’Bannon, Tab Ritter, Chris Bryant “Coach”, George Grace, George Samuel Miller, Bill & Vicki Norton, and Linda Tharp.
