Janatious Paul of Kinston passed away on Sunday, January 5, 2025, surrounded by his loving family. He was 91. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at the First Freewill Baptist Church with Rev. Don Gainey, Rev. James Davis, and Rev. Zachary Hayes, officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery with Pittman Funeral Home of Samson directing. The family will receive friend prior to the service on Wednesday, beginning at 1:00 p.m.
Mr. Paul was born in Kinston, AL on December 5, 1933, to the late William Adolphus and Mollie Ann Burkett Paul. He was a longtime member at First Freewill Baptist Church, where he cared for the church cemetery and served as the congregational song-leader. He loved gospel singing, driving his tractor and gardening.
He was preceded in death by his son, Lamar Paul; four brothers, Ondruss Paul, Walter D. Paul, O.P. Paul, and Robert Paul; and a sister, Jessie Merleane “Coonie” Newsome.
He is survived by his loving wife of fifty-nine years, Mary Paul of Kinston; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
PRINCETON, TEXAS…Mr. Michael J. “Mickey” Morott, a resident of Princeton, Texas (formerly of Ozark), died late Saturday evening, January 4, 2025, at his home. He was 77.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, January 11, 2025, in Mt. Carmel Church, near Echo, with Mr. Wayne Napier officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home of Ozark is in charge of arrangements. The family will receive friends from 10:00 until 11:00 A.M. Saturday at the church.
Mr. Morott, son of the late Joseph “Joe” Morott and Mary Woodham Morott, was a native of Ozark and attended Carroll High School. He moved to the Dallas, Texas area in 1968, where he owned and operated Morott Sheet Metal for over forty-five years. Mr. Morott enjoyed spending time fishing, hunting, and being with his family. He was preceded in death by a sister, Priscilla Baker and a brother, John Morott.
Surviving relatives include his wife, Teresa Cowley Morott; two sons, Jamie Morott and Ryan Morott, all of Princeton, Texas; sister, Lenora Franklin (Weldon), Weston, Texas; brother, Joe Morott, Ozark and Tim Morott, Slagel, Louisiana; grandson, Garett Morott.
You may sign a guest register at www.fuquabankston.com
ARITON…Indea Vance Dease, a resident of Ariton, passed away early Saturday morning, December 28, 2024, as a result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident near Ariton. She was 50.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Sunday, January 12, 2025, in the Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home Chapel with her cousin, Pastor Michael Woodard and Pastor Randy Adams officiating. Burial will follow in Ariton Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 2:00 P.M. Sunday at the funeral home. Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home of Ozark is in charge of arrangements.
Indea was born November 20, 1974, and was a native of Ariton. She attended Ariton High School and was an avid Georgia Bulldogs fan. Indea will always be remembered as a loving sister, aunt, and friend to many. She was preceded in death by her parents, Joe Junior Vance and Charlene Woodard Vance; grandparents, Homer and Brunise Woodard and Jodie Lee and Louise Senn Vance; great-nephews, Carl Preston and Jameson Charles English, Jr.
Surviving relatives include her husband, Jacob Dease, Ariton; three sons, Travis Hobbs, Abbeville, Joseph Keith Hobbs, Dothan, and David Barr, Jr., Ariton; three sisters, Lahoma Register, Troy, Danielle Bishop, Ozark, and Tiffany Parks, Dothan; three brothers, Jameson English, Birmingham, Homer Harris (Kristie), Ariton, and Joey Johnson, Opp; two grandchildren, Aiden Hobbs and Damon Barr; several aunts, uncles including, Kathy Harris, Ariton and Annie Ganshaw, Houston, Texas; mother-in-law, Pearl Senn, Ariton; step-daughter, Arizona Dease; step-son, Jacobi Dease, all of Ozark.
Serving as active pallbearers will be Timmy Johnson, Homer Harris, Victor Burkett, DeVontae Marshall, David Thompson, and Mitchell Burkett. Serving as an honorary pallbearer will be Ben Key.
You may sign a guest register at www.fuquabankston.com
ABBEVILLE. . .Martha Skelton Blalock, a resident of Abbeville, died Monday afternoon, January 6, 2025, in the Henry County Health & Rehabilitation Facility. She was 87.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Wednesday, January 8, 2025, in the Hickory Grove Free Will Baptist Church with Reverend Joey Hudspeth and Pastor Tim Hamblen officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 2:00 P.M. Wednesday in the church sanctuary. Holman-Abbeville Mortuary & Cremations is in charge of arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Hickory Grove Free Will Baptist Cemetery Fund, c/o Jim Blalock, 570 Hickory Grove Road, Abbeville, AL 36310 or Gentiva Hospice, 2431 West Main Street, Suite 1102, Dothan, AL 36301.
Mrs. Blalock was born and reared in Haleburg, daughter of the late Oscar E. Skelton and Hilda Mae Baker Skelton. She lived in Abbeville all her adult lifetime. Mrs. Blalock was a member of Hickory Grove Free Will Baptist Church. She was formerly employed by West Point Pepperell, Phillips Van Heusen in Clayton and served as a Dispatcher for the City of Abbeville. Mrs. Blalock was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Lamar Blalock, Sr., sisters, Elizabeth Mitchell and Rhonda Loftin, and brothers, William Skelton, James Skelton and Thomas Skelton and two infant sisters.
Surviving relatives include a daughter, Sharon Temples (Glenn), Headland; three sons, Kenneth L. Blalock, Jr. (Linda), Robert A. “Bob” Blalock (Karen), and Jim H. Blalock (Susie), all of Abbeville; sisters-in-law, Glenda Skelton and Lily Skelton; grandchildren, Chris Blalock (Morgan), Jason Blalock, Joshua Blalock (Heather), Kevin Blalock (Mariah), Shea Hicks (Dan), Kay-Anne Morgan (Justin), Leah Blalock, Ashley Blalock-Regazzi (Marlie/Matt), Garrett Temples and Kate Temples; fifteen great-grandchildren.
Serving as active pallbearers will be grandsons and grandsons-in-law.
The family would like to express their appreciation to Darden Kirby and the staff of Twin Magnolias Assisted Living and the staff of Henry County Health & Rehabilitation Facility and Gentiva Hospice for the loving care and kindness shown to Mrs. Blalock during her illness.
HOLMAN ABBEVILLE MORTUARY & CREMATIONS IS IN CHARGE OF ARRANGEMENTS. Phone 334-585-5261. You may sign a guest register at www.holmanmortuaries.com. This establishment does not own a crematory.
DOTHAN. . .Lynwood Otto Davidson, a resident of Helena, Alabama and formerly of Dothan, died Sunday afternoon, January 5, 2024, at the home of a son in Tuscaloosa. He was 83.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Thursday, January 9, 2025, in the Holman-Headland Mortuary Chapel with Reverend George Bryan officiating. Burial will follow in the Spring Hill Baptist Church Cemetery, near Blue Springs, Alabama. The family will receive friends from 10:30 until 11:00 A.M. Thursday at the mortuary in Headland.
Mr. Davidson was born in Gilbertown, Alabama, and was raised inn Mayo, Florida, son of the late Rex Cleveland Davidson and Mary Delphine Clark Davidson. He served his country in the U. S. Army during the Vietnam War era. Mr. Davidson graduated from high school in Mayo, Florida and received a B. S. Degree in Business Administration from Troy University. He was retired as the owner and operator of Otto Davidson Timber Company in West, Mississippi. He formerly lived in Mayo, Florida, West, Mississippi and Dothan before moving to Helena, Alabama. Mr. Davidson was preceded in death by his wife, Ervel Wilkinson Davidson, a sister, Reba Blackshear, and a brother, Lamar Davidson.
Surviving relatives include two sons, David L. Davidson (Amberly), Tuscaloosa, AL; and Kenneth J. Davidson (Beverly), Atlanta, GA; grandchildren, David Jacob Davidson, Garrett Russell Davidson and Mary Ashlyn Davidson; a sister, Bonnie Odom, Tuckasegee, NC; several nieces and nephews.
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.
Kelley was a graduate of Ponce de Leon High School, attended Chipola Junior College and served 4 years in the U.S. Air Force. He lived much of his adult life in Gulfport, Mississippi, Holmes County, Florida, and most recently in Geneva, Alabama.
Kelley, by occupation, was a drywall finisher—a master craftsman of his trade. While living in Gulfport, his paternal aunt, Vetta Rose, introduced him to what would become his passion–antiques—buying, selling, collecting, refinishing—he loved it all. He built collections of buttons, trunks, postcards, pottery—to name a few. His knowledge of the antique world was extensive and valued by his peers, Eventually, Kelley began to exercise his artistic nature. He began with refinishing trunks, taking dirty, worn-out pieces of junk and creating wonderfully detailed, fully lined usable decorative trunks. His next artistic projects involved wooden shapes, drywall mud, and a layered painting technique he developed. He created a series of arrows, a group of “root” creatures, and wall art with geometric designs. Finally, was Kelley’s button art. He had an enormous button collection. He took white buttons and dyed them a variety of colors, then glued or sewed them in geometric patterns on painted boxes, lampshades, or on pegboard covered by black cloth.
Kelley was a very private person. For those who did get to know him, they were impressed by his quick wit, dry sense of humor, and his incredible knowledge of antiques and collectibles.
Although private, Kelley left behind many wonderful friends that he treasured throughout the years; Bob Barkley, Laura Rhodes, Cindy Campbell, Janice Jones, Jacky Bradley and most recently Ginger Stephens, Paul Spivey, Brandon Watford and Sarah Paulk with whom he spent time working with on various projects and enjoyed each of them so very much. Finally, Kelley was predeceased by his most treasured and dear friend, Becky Haynes, who he worked with for many years. He spoke fondly of each of these friends, and many more, to his family sharing kind words and entertaining stories of each. We would especially like to mention Sadie, the abandoned dog that adopted Kelley (she is named after the flea market) and the numerous cats that were his constant companions. He loved these pets and would take care of their needs before his own.
Kelley was born on December 3, 1952, to the late Floyd and Lula Powell English and departed this life on December 31, 2024. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by six siblings, Floy Pearl English, Ralph English, Ruthie Merle Motley, Ferrell Floyd English, Colin Larry English, and Jerry Donyer English; and one niece, Brenda English.
Kelley, by birth, was the youngest child in his immediate family. The births of he and his siblings stretched from 1929 to 1952. This placed Kelley much closer in age to his nieces and nephews, and he was, in some ways, like an older brother to all of us. He is survived by, one brother-in-law, Cecil G. Motley, Sr.; two sisters-in-law, Shirley Justice English and Patricia English Jackson; nieces and nephews: Merle’s children: Rhonda Joiner (husband Jesse), Becky Motley, Gordon Motley, Lisa Peeples (husband Forrest), Christy Paul (husband Lee). Ferrell’s children: Ferrell English Jr. and Tonya Jones-Cook (husband Mike). Jerry’s children: Dewayne English, Stacey English (wife Christy), Craig English (wife Amanda).
We are heartbroken by our loss. In months and years to come we will be sustained by our memories and by the furniture, trunks, artwork and other treasures that grace our homes–all because of Kelley. He will be missed.
Warren~Holloway~Ward Funeral Home (334) 684-9999, is in charge of arrangements. “Continuing The Trust You’ve Placed In Us” To sign a guest register, please visit: www.whwfuneralhome.com
