Mr. Robert Steven Welk, of Newton, Alabama, passed away on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was 68.
A Funeral Mass will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, May 16, 2025, at St. Columba Catholic Church in Dothan, Alabama with Father Patrick Gallagher officiating and Sorrells Funeral Home of Slocomb directing.
The family will receive friends at the church on Friday from 1:00 p.m. until service time.
Flowers will be accepted or contributions may be made to St. Columba Catholic Church: 2700 W. Main Street Dothan, AL 36301 or to The Ark Dothan: 475 W. Main Street Dothan, AL 36301.
Mr. Welk was born March 26, 1957, in Dothan, Alabama to the late Nick I. and Lanell Summers Welk. Robert attended Dothan City Schools and had a career as an inspector of railcars for the railroad.
In addition to his parents, maternal grandparents: Jesse and Lottie Summers; paternal grandparents: August and Doris Welk; and nephew, Eric Welk, all preceded him in death.
Survivors include his loving wife of 48 years, Cynthia Deshazo Welk; daughter, Sabrina Bonner (Shelley); Sons: Danny Hicks, Donny Hicks, and Waylon Welk (Kayla); Fourteen grandchildren, Six great grandchildren; sister, Donna Elliott; brothers: Larry Welk (Janet) and Frank Welk (Jennifer); several nieces, nephews, aunts, and uncles, and other extended family and friends.
Wanda Delores Kirkland, a resident of Webb, Alabama transitioned from this earthly life to her eternal life with her heavenly Father, Tuesday morning, May 13, 2025 at Courtyard Healthcare Center in Marianna, Florida. She was 76.
Graveside services for Wanda will be held at 10:30 AM Thursday, May 15, 2025 at Gardens of Memory cemetery. The family will receive friends at the cemetery following the service.
Wanda was born in Dothan, Alabama January 28, 1949 to the late Kilby and Dannie Mozelle Ryals Kirkland. She lived in Houston, Texas for a brief time but moved back to Webb, Alabama where she resided until her passing. Wanda was in retail sales for various department stores during her career.
Wanda is preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Kirk Kirkland.
Survivors include her sister, Carol Kirkland Wilisch (Alex Wilisch); brother, Foster Kirkland (Linda Kirkland); sister in law, Sandra Kirkland; nieces, Jessica Kirkland, Krisitne Coburn; nephew, Scott Drinkwater and a special friend, Ann Ford (Larry Ford); great niece, Taylor Kirkland and great nephews, John and Cody Kirkland.
David Anthony Skipper, age 67, of Dothan, Alabama, passed away peacefully on May 13th, 2025 at Southeast Health in Dothan surrounded by his loved ones.
A graveside service will be held at 11:30 AM on Friday, May 16, 2025 at Memory Hill Cemetery with Rev. Jimmy Dean and Rev. Jim Tate officiating and Glover Funeral Home directing. The family will receive friends from 10:00 AM until 11:00 AM in the parlor at Glover Funeral Home on Friday prior to the graveside.
Flowers will be accepted.
David was born on April 22nd, 1958 at Flowers Hospital in Dothan, Alabama to David Earl Skipper and Bette June Skipper. He graduated from Houston Academy in 1976 and went on to receive his associates degree from Wallace College followed by his PPL & IR certifications from Alabama Aviation. He worked at PEMCO as an aircraft fabricator and went on to work as a welder and motorcycle engineer. David was a person of faith, known for his love of family, and his love and knowledge of airplanes and motorcycles. In his free time, he enjoyed hanging out with his dog Earl, cooking for his wife, sharing music with family, watching his TV shows, and spending time with his grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his father, David Earl Skipper and his stepfather, John Ellis Harrison and his brother Ronnie Stokes.
He is survived by his loving wife, Teresa Pentz Skipper, his mother Bette June Harrison, his daughter Lauren Elizabeth (Daniel) Holder, two sons David Harrison (Rachel) Skipper and Benjamin Wade (Claire) Skipper, his brother Roger Stokes, his seven grandchildren Ava Caroline, Watson, Elijah, Ezekiel, Ezra, David Judah, and Owen, and many other beloved family members and friends.
Serving as pallbearers will be Harrison Skipper,Wade Skipper, Daniel Holder, Roger Stokes, Alan Lindsey, Mike Henderson, Mike Bastien, and Brian Marquez.
Glover Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements. (334) 699-3888. Please sign the guestbook online at www.gloverfuneral.com
Cecil Roosevelt “Daddy Mack” Cook, Sr., a cherished father, grandfather, and friend, passed away peacefully on May 12, 2025, at the age of 92, in Dothan, Alabama. Born on November 9, 1932, in Havana, Alabama, Cecil was a man of wit, wisdom, and a heart filled with stories that brought laughter to all who knew him.
Cecil was preceded in death by his loving parents, George W. Cook and Gesna Epperson Cook York, his siblings John D. Cook, Leland Cook, Clifford Cook, Bertha Cook Gay, and Gracie Cook Speed, and his great-grandson, Ryder. He leaves behind a legacy of love and laughter, carried on by his devoted children, Sherline Hudson (Mike) of Columbia, AL, Lynn Laham (David) of Benton, KS, and Bubba Cook (Rebecca) of Dothan, AL. His spirit will continue to shine through his six grandchildren, Jeremy, Paul, KC, Tiffany, Zach, and Tasha, his eight great-grandchildren, Daniel, Jesse, Caitlyn, Hiram, Kennedy, Barrett, Gabe, and Aspen, and his great-great-grandson, Colton.
Cecil’s life was a testament to hard work and dedication. He spent his career as an electrician at Burns Electric, where he not only excelled in his trade but also took great pride in mentoring apprentice electricians, passing on his knowledge and passion for the craft. His work ethic and generosity in sharing his expertise left an indelible mark on the industry and those who had the privilege of learning from him. His dedication to his work was paralleled only by his service to his country, having served in the United States Army during the Korean War.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Cecil was a man of many interests. He was an avid reader, with a particular fondness for westerns and his Bible. His love for the genre extended to the screen, where he enjoyed watching western films. He was a true fan of Auburn Football, exclaiming “War Eagle!” with the kind of fervor only a lifelong supporter could muster. Cecil was known for his banter and his ability to tell tall tales that captivated and amused his listeners. His quick wit and penchant for pranks made him a delightful presence, and he was always ready with a joke or a clever comeback.
The family wishes to extend a special thank you to the staff at Extendicare Health Center and Gentiva Hospice for their compassion and care in Cecil’s final days. Their kindness and support were a comfort to him and his loved ones during this time.
A Graveside Service to honor and celebrate the life of Cecil Roosevelt “Daddy Mack” Cook, Sr. will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, May 16, 2025, at Memory Hill Cemetery. The service will be directed by Ward Wilson Funeral Home, providing an opportunity for friends and family to gather in remembrance of a life well-lived and a man deeply loved.
CW3 William E. “Bill” Bixby (United States Army) a resident of Skipperville died Monday, May 12, 2025 at his home with his family by his side. Bill was 78 years old.
Funeral services for CW3 Bixby will be held 11:00 A.M. Friday, May 16, 2025, in the Chapel of Holman Funeral Home in Ozark with Reverend Tim Sewell officiating, Holman Funeral Home of Ozark directing. Interment will follow in Skipperville Community Cemetery with Military Honors followed by a special flyby from the Friends of Army Aviation in Ozark.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home in Ozark Friday from 10:00 A.M. until service time. Serving as pallbearers will be Larry Baker, Bill Baker, Heath Whatley, Wade Whatley, Branden Parkinson and Jonathan Tharpe.
Bill was born August 16, 1946 in Flint, Michigan, the younger child of Jack and Neva Bixby. His life was devoted to his Lord, his family, and his country. Bill loved flying, restoring cars, riding motorcycles and playing the guitar. His mother made up an album for him entitled “Our Mobile Bill”. He was constantly moving in anything mechanical. He inherited his love of flying from his dad who was a career pilot. Bill passed that love on to his son, Jack, also a career pilot. When Vietnam came along, Bill enlisted in the Army as a helicopter pilot. As part of the 1st Air Cavalry, he flew reconnaissance his first six months in Vietnam, and then became Chief Pilot for General Oscar Davis. Bill’s military honors include the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star Meal, the Air Medal, and the Air Medal with 32 Oak Leaf Clusters. He flew 832 combat flights in theater. After his time in the Army, Bill pursued other ventures, but he always returned to flying. He became Chief Pilot for Sundstrand Corporation in Rockford, Illinois, later International Technologies, was Captain at Midway Airlines in Chicago, Illinois, flying an MD80.
He owned and operated Bixby Aviation, Inc., and ended his aviation career in 2017 as a flight instructor for Flight Safety in Daleville, Alabama. When Bill was asked about the DFC, he would only say, “I went where I wasn’t supposed to go, did what I wasn’t supposed to do, and got out”. He was a proud member of the Disabled American Veterans in Ozark, serving as an officer for a time. In serving his Lord, Bill taught Sunday School classes and led Bible studies during his time in Illinois. His parents, his sister, Nancy and his brother-in-law, Bill preceded Bill in death.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Marlo Baker Bixby of Skipperville, Alabama; son, Jack and daughter-in-law, Sammi of Hardy, Virginia; daughter, Anna Parkinson and son-in-law, Branden of Enterprise, Alabama; seven grandchildren, Sarah Bixby Ayers and husband, Cody of Moneta, Virginia, Olivia Bixby of Hardy, Virginia, Braiden Parkinson, Tyler Jones, Abby Parkinson, Lilah Parkinson, and Neva Parkinson of Enterprise, Alabama; and two great grandchildren, Hadley Ayers and Bowen Ayers.
The family would like to thank Nicole of Wiregrass Homecare, Heather, Kathy, and other members of Southern Care Hospice Services for the loving and tender care given to Bill and his family. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in his memory to Alzheimer’s Association Alabama Chapter, Birmingham Office, 1 Metroplex Drive #230, Birmingham, Alabama 35209; or to Disabled American Veterans, 221 Williams Drive, Ozark, Alabama 36360.
ABBEVILLE… Lillian Edwina Bottoms Howerton, a resident of Abbeville, Alabama, passed away early Tuesday morning, May 13, 2025, at the home of her youngest daughter, Melissa, in Abbeville, Alabama. She was 86.
Funeral services will be officiated by Pastor Brandon Turner at 4:00 P.M. on Thursday May 15, 2025, at Judson Baptist Church, 180 County Road 93 Abbeville, Alabama 36310. Burial will follow at Ebenezer Cemetery, 3924 County Road 46 Abbeville, Alabama. Visitation will begin at 3:00 P.M. prior to the funeral. Wright Funeral Home & Crematory is in charge of the arrangements.
Edwina was born in St. Petersburg, Florida on March 05, 1939, but moved to Dothan, Alabama as a baby where she was raised and resided much of her adult life. Edwina was a beloved foster parent for many of her young adult years, providing a loving home and family to numerous children, some of which she still has a very special relationship with. She later moved to Abbeville with her husband, Foy, in 1980 where she happily spent the remainder of her years enjoying country life.
Edwina was a retired school bus driver of 23 years with the Henry County School System in Abbeville. She always bragged that she had “The Best Kids” on her bus route. She loved them all! She enjoyed fishing and going to yard sales. She was an active member of the Abbeville Senior Center until most recently when her health began to decline. She loved her many friends she made while there.
Edwina was preceded in death by her parents, Fannie Mae Davis Bottoms and Leonard Lee (Lynn) Bottoms; her husband of thirty-three years, Foy Randle Howerton, and a bonus grandson, Justin Phillip Watford.
Edwina is survived by her three children, Jimmy Walters (Dawn) of Abbeville, AL, Sherri Burgett of Monticello, FL and Melissa Watford (Bob) of Abbeville, AL; twelve grandchildren, Ronnie Blackman (Toni) of Kinsey, AL, Jessica Kniehase (Rich) of Ocala, FL, Rachel Bratt (Sky) of Rehobeth, AL, Chris Burgett (Cindy) of Tallahassee, FL, Carissa Kerce (Woody) of Tallahassee, FL, Crystal Ruggless of Crawfordville, FL, Morgan Lisenby (Garett) of Abbeville, Al, bonus granddaughter, Ashlyn Fleming (Jacob) of Headland, AL, Carolina Cheek, Dakota Watford, Brandon Watford, Christopher Watford, all of Abbeville, AL; twelve Great grandchildren with two bonus great grandchildren; two brothers, Johnnie A. Davis and Donald E. Davis of Plant City, FL.
Serving as active pallbearers will be Wayne Morrison, Nicholas Cheek, Virgil Bolt, Sky Bratt, Rich Kniehase, and Jon Taylor.
David Anthony Skipper, age 67, of Dothan, Alabama, passed away peacefully on May 13th, 2025 at Southeast Health in Dothan surrounded by his loved ones.
