Arthur Webster Austin Jr, a resident of Dothan, Alabama died unexpectedly, Monday, February 10, 2025 at his home. He was 81.
Per his wishes, there will be no services at this time.
Arthur was born to the late Arthur and Mary Stone Austin on December 11, 1943. He served his country in the United States Navy and was deployed during the Cuban Missile Crisis. After his military service, he began a career as a firefighter, serving the people of Montgomery, Alabama, retiring after twenty years. After moving to the Wiregrass Area, he began a second tour of firefighting serving the people of Fort Novosel (formerly Fort Rucker) for twenty more years before retirement. He was married to the love of his life, Carolyn Evonn McKinley Austin for fifty-eight years. Arthur was a loving father, grandfather, great grandfather, and brother. He will be dearly missed by all who loved and knew him.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; and a grandson, Randall Cook Jr; two sisters, Joyce Belyeu, and Melvina Curtis.
Left to cherish his memories are two daughters, Pam Cook (Rob VanDinter), and Teresa Jones (Randell); a son Greg Austin (Lori); five grandchildren, Jessica Cook, Ashley Jones, Charles Jones Jr (Kayla), Taylor Shahin (George), and Carlie Wiggins (Ethan); fifteen great grandchildren; along with numerous nieces and nephews.
Mary Helen Garner Meacham, 78, passed away on Sunday, February 9, 2025. She was born on December 24, 1946, in Alturas, Florida to J.D. and Kate Garner. Funeral services will be 11:00am, Thursday, February 13, 2025, at Ward Wilson Funeral Home with Reverend Robert Hamilton officiating. Burial to follow at Memory Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 10:00am until the time of service at the funeral home.
Mary was a devout Christian throughout her entire life. She was a loving wife to her husband, Jerry, for 59 years. She was an overprotective, wonderful mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She will be greatly missed by her family and all who knew her. She is rejoicing once again in the arms of her husband in the presence of Jesus Christ.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Jerry Lee Meacham, of Dothan, Alabama, her parents, a brother, Terrell Garner, a sister, Betty Jo Hurtado, a brother, Jack Garner, a brother, David Garner, and a grandson, Joshua McNelley.
Mary is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Chari and Terry McNelley, and Amy and Doug Shumate; grandchildren, Jonathan and Jessica McNelley, Justin and Tiffany McNelley, Joshua and Olympia Shumate, Mary Hannah Shumate and Matthew Shumate; great grandchildren, Nickolas York, Morgan, Brooklyn, Piersleigh and Oliver McNelley; sisters, Sarah Steedley, Patsy Ayers, and brother, Charles Garner; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be Jonathan McNelley, Justin McNelley, Joshua Shumate, Mary Hannah Shumate, Matthew Shumate and Nickolas York.
John Raymond Ragan, Sr., a resident of Eufaula, Alabama passed away Monday, February 10, 2025, at Medical Center Barbour in Eufaula. He was 76 years old.
Funeral services will be held Friday, February 14, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. in the Glover Funeral Home Chapel in Eufaula with Bro. Gerald Carroll officiating and Glover Funeral Home directing. The burial will follow in the Georgetown Cemetery in Georgetown, Georgia. A visitation will be held Thursday, February 13, 2025, at Glover Funeral Home in Eufaula. Flowers will be accepted.
John was born June 10, 1948, in Columbia, Alabama to the late William Raymond and Mallie May Railey Ragan. He worked as an insurance salesman for 30 years. 15 years with Independent Life and retired after 15 years with Mutual Savings, as a Regional Staff Manager. He enjoyed being a Scuba Instructor, airplane pilot, deer hunting, and was known as a great builder.
He is preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Echo Elise Tarver; four sisters, Ruth Ragan, Etta Spence, Gwen Grimes, and Miriam McLaney; four brothers, James Ragan, Joey Ragan, Charles Ragan, and Bill Ragan.
Survivors are three sons, John Raymond Ragan, Jr. of Eufaula, Gregory Wilson Scott (Mary) of Eufaula, and Steven Ragan (Jacquline) of Fort Gaines; sister, Mary Olive; twelve grandchildren, David Tarver (Brandy), Crystal Ragan (Rick), John Raymond Ragan, III (Jessica), Brittany Jewel Ragan, Katelyn Sanders (Kody), Emily Ragan, Lillie Ragan, Amelia Ragan, Alyssa Ragan, Joseph Scott, Matthew Scott, and Morgan Scott; eight great-grandchildren, David Evan Ragan, Olivia Charlette Ragan, Russell James Ragan, Elizabeth Virginia Ragan, Andrea Robertson, Braylin Heath, Karson Sanders, and Kameron Sanders; two former wives, Brenda Gallamore and Shirley Ragan; longtime companion, Linda Twitchell.
Active pallbearers are Steven Ragan, Gregory Scott, Danny LeRoy, Joseph McLaney, Arthur Williams, and David Tarver.
Honorary pallbearers are Jeff Fredrickson and Michael McLaney.
Glover Funeral Home of Eufaula was entrusted with the arrangements. (334) 687-5725. Please sign the guestbook online at www.gloverfuneral.com
Ricky Fred Johnson, age 68, passed away on Monday, February 10, 2025 at Southeast Health Medical Center.
A Graveside service will be held on Wednesday, February 12, 2025 at 2:00 pm at Memory Hill Cemetery with Chad Johnson and Ryan Hill officiating and Glover Funeral Home directing. The family will receive friends following the graveside services at the cemetery.
Flowers will be accepted.
Ricky was born in Dothan on October 24, 1956 to Barlow Fred Johnson and Allie Faye Mills Johnson. Ricky was a native of Dothan. He was a self- employed auto body technician at Johnson Paint and Body and retired after thirty-five years. Ricky enjoyed fishing and hunting. He was known to his family as a devoted son, husband, father, and grandfather. He had a gentle and caring spirit and was tough and hard working.
Ricky is preceded in death by his father, Fred Johnson and brother, Ronnie Johnson.
Survivors include his wife of eighteen years, Pat Johnson; mother, Faye Johnson; two daughters, Elenda Arnold (Seth) and Kelli Hill (Ryan); four grandchildren, Lily Arnold, Lacy Arnold, Jude Hill, and Dylan Hill; nephews, Chad Johnson and Daniel Johnson.
The family would like to extend their appreciation to the ICU staff and team at Southeast Health Medical Center for their love, care, and compassion.
Glover Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements. (334) 699-3888. Please sign the guestbook online at www.gloverfuneral.com
Jerry Max Ballard passed away Monday, February 10, 2025 at Flowers Hospital. He was 92.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, February 14, 2025 at Union Baptist Church in Hartford with Rev. Teddy Ward, Rev. Bryan Carpenter, and Dr. Chris Adams officiating. Interment will follow in the Union Baptist Church Cemetery with Sorrells Funeral Home of Slocomb directing.
The family will receive friends one hour prior to service time.
In lieu of flowers, the family would like to request that any donations go towards the Union Baptist Church Cemetery Fund @ PO Box 1253 Slocomb, AL 36375.
Mr. Ballard was born May 21, 1932, in Geneva County to the late Johnny and Bea Cotton Ballard. Jerry was drafted in the US Army at the end of World War II and stationed in Stuttgart Germany prior to returning home to marry his wife of 66 years, Martha Sue Fondren. Jerry carried out the family tradition of running the family farm north of Slocomb. He enjoyed life on the farm where he tended row crops and livestock. He was a true “people person” as he enjoyed carrying on conversations with all who he encountered. Jerry never met a stranger. He was a lifelong member of Union Baptist where he served as a deacon. He was a loving and adoring husband, father and grandfather and will be dearly missed.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother Gene Ballard (Jesse).
Survivors include wife Sue Ballard, sons Larry Ballard (Melinda), Don Ballard (Patti), Jimmy Ballard, Neil Ballard (Misty), and Mark Ballard (Jennifer). Grandchildren include Shellie (Scott), Demara (Allen), Ben (Khris), Brett (Hillary), Evan (Hannah), John David, Audrey (Landon), Max, Jaycie, Will, Tymofii and Myroslava. Great grandchildren John Patrick, Hannah, Bryce, Gracie, John Luke and Beau.
Theodore Clay “Theo” Nowling, infant son of Alicia Lynn Lovitt and Seth Edward Nowling, was welcomed into the arms of Jesus Friday, February 7, 2025, after 121 minutes of life.
Psalm 121: I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
A private celebration of life will be held for Theo at a later date. Holman Funeral Home of Ozark has been entrusted with the arrangements. Other survivors include grandparents Clay and Louvinda Lovitt of Ozark, Jeannie and James Pearson of Temple, Texas.
John Raymond Ragan, Sr., a resident of Eufaula, Alabama passed away Monday, February 10, 2025, at Medical Center Barbour in Eufaula. He was 76 years old.
Ricky Fred Johnson, age 68, passed away on Monday, February 10, 2025 at Southeast Health Medical Center.
