ARITON…Mr. Taylor Polk, a resident of Ariton, died late Friday evening, February 21, 2025, at UAB Hospital in Birmingham. He was 31.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Thursday, February 27, 2025, in the Ariton High School Gymnasium with Reverend Dave Walsh, Reverend Jason Howell, and Reverend Scott Stevens officiating. Burial will follow in Pea River Presbyterian Church Cemetery. Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home of Ozark is in charge of arrangements. The family will receive friends from 4:30 until 7:30 P.M. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Ariton High School Athletics in memory of Taylor, PO Box 750, Ariton, Alabama 36311.
Taylor was born on September 28, 1993, and was a native of Demopolis, Alabama. He was a 2012 Graduate of Demopolis High School where he was a member of the football team that won a State Championship in 2009. Following high school, he played football at Troy University as a long snapper under Coach Blakeney and Coach Brown. He received his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from Troy University in Special Education. Taylor began his teaching career at Charles Henderson High School, where he coached wrestling, baseball, and football along with being a special education teacher. He was currently a special education teacher, football, basketball, and baseball coach at Ariton High School. Taylor was coaching at Ariton in 2023 and 2024 when they won the State Championship in Baseball. His love for special education was evident to all that knew him at school and away from school.
Surviving relatives include his wife, Katie Knox, Ariton; son, Judge Polk; parents, Eddie and Stephanie Catt Polk, Demopolis, Alabama; grandparents, Jim and Dianne McKenzie Catt, Oxford, Mississippi; sisters, Ashley Carroll (Sam), Tennile, Allison Polk, Boca Raton, Florida, and Abby Polk, Mobile, Alabama; brother, Allen Tucker, Troy; aunts and uncles, Tracy Gho (Curtis), Jason Catt (Anna), and Marsha Miller (David); nephew, Knox Carroll; relatives from the Knox family, father-in-law and mother-in-law, Bill and Maria McKnight Knox, Ariton; grandmother-in-law, Mary Ann McKnight, Ariton; sister-in-law, Madison Knox, Ariton; numerous cousins and friends.
Serving as active pallbearers will be Allen Tucker, Sam Carroll, William Stewart, Trey Oates, Bob Pickett, Brett Goodson, Brandon Silvers, and Tom Causey. Honorary pallbearers will be Ariton High School Football and Baseball Coaching Staff and Teams.
You may sign a guest register at www.fuquabankston.com
Donna Iduma Roberts Grantham, age 71, of Dothan, Alabama, passed away Saturday, February 22, 2025.
Donna was born on April 29, 1953 at Ft. Hood, Texas to Donald and Rita Roberts.
She married the love of her life, Wayne Grantham, on June 4, 1969. After moving to Alabama, she became the proud mother of three sons: Donald Wayne Jr., Daniel Lee, and David Orell.
Donna was an exceptionally clever and savvy business woman, working as a real estate broker and owner of Dothan Real Estate Sales & Property Management Co. for more than 3 decades. She was well known in the community for her kindness, friendship, boundless generosity and loving laughter. Donna’s heart was full of deep faith, which guided her every day. Most of all, Donna had an unwavering devotion to her large family, always ensuring that no need went unnoticed. Donna found great joy in giving, and her generosity touched countless people.
Donna was preceded in death by her parents, Donald and Rita, and three brothers: Tommy, Allen, and Buddy Paul Roberts. Donna is survived by two siblings, Sandra and Lee Roberts. Donna is lovingly remembered by her devoted husband of 55 years, Wayne and three beloved sons, Donald (Heather), Daniel (Paige), and David (Heather). Donna is deeply cherished by her grandchildren: John Grantham, Kristien Pierce (Kyle), Haley Garrett (Gaige), Landon Grantham, Donald Grantham III, Michael Grantham, Nola Hayes, Jesse Hayes, Tylar Grantham (Jessica), Trey Grantham (Lakin), Tanner Grantham (Emma), Trevor Grantham (Kerra), Magan Blake (Griffin), Carson Grantham, Trentin Phan, Jaitlyn Phan, and Kinsley Grantham. Donna’s dear great-grandchildren include Lawson Pierce, Myers Pierce, Ava Garrett, Emersyn Grace, Malachi Grantham, Roman Grantham, and Harper Blake.
Donna had a special place in her heart for her extended family, especially John and Judy Dove, Kevin Jackson, Phyllis Johnson, Diane Tillery, and Dora Wilkinson.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Tuesday, February 25, 2025 at Bay Springs Baptist Church (1721 S. Bay Springs Road) with Reverend Tommy Green and Reverend Cliff Morrison officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery with Ward Wilson Funeral Home directing.
The family will receive friends at the church from 10:00 to 11:00 am Tuesday.
Mrs. Janice Brown French of Bonifay, FL passed away Friday, February 21, 2025. She was 77.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 25, 2025 in the chapel of Warren Holloway Ward Funeral Home in Geneva. Burial will follow in East Pittman Freewill Baptist Church Cemetery with Warren Holloway Ward Funeral Home of Geneva directing. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Tuesday beginning at 1:00 p.m. Flowers will be accepted.
Janice was born in Holmes County, FL on March 29, 1947 to the late Hubert Wilson and Melonee Marsh Brown. She was an avid lover of the outdoors, especially when it came to fishing and working in her yards. She was often found with a cup of coffee, just enjoying the beauty of nature and God’s creation. Janice will forever be remembered by family and friends as a phenomenal southern cook.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Elton French; two brothers, Fred Brown and Wilson Brown.
Janice is survived by five children, Ronald Brown of Bonifay, Marsha Butler of Westville, Linda Thames, Brenda Thames and Greg Thames, all of Bonifay, FL; 11 grandchildren, Samantha Hendrix (Stacey), Kristy Brown, Sabrina Lewis (Chris), Robert Vermillion, Todd Vermillion (Samantha), Zachary Burgess, Dalton Thames, Megan Burnham, Heather Williford (Michael), Halley Burnham and Ethan Burnham; 14 great grandchildren; three siblings, Lawrence Brown and Herbert Brown (Roxanne), all of Bonifay, Vivian Wike (Kenneth) of Geneva; two sisters-in-law, Ruth Brown of Geneva and Diane Brown of Bonifay; a number of nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and friends.
OZARK…Mrs. Judy E. Shiver Teal, a resident of Ozark, died early Saturday morning, February 22, 2025, in a Dothan hospital. She was 77.
Graveside services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at Sykes Creek Baptist Church Cemetery, near Clio, with Pastor Michael Woodham officiating. Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home of Ozark is in charge of arrangements. The family will receive friends from 12:15 until 1:15 P.M. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Mrs. Teal, daughter of the late Roy Bryant Shiver and Margaret Frances Shirah Shiver, was a native of Barbour County. She was a 1966 Graduate of Blue Springs High School and moved to Ozark in 1988. Mrs. Teal was formerly employed with Farmer’s and Merchants Bank for several years and was retired from the Ozark Utilities Board after over twenty years of employment. She was a member of Chalkhead Baptist Church. Mrs. Teal was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Teal, Jr.
Surviving relatives include her children, Cheri Shaw (Gary), Headland, Blake Moates (Rachel), Brantley, and James B. Mizell, Opp; sister, Donna Helms (Larry), Eufaula; three grandchildren, Lily Shaw, Katie Moates, and Aaden Moates.
You may sign a guest register at www.fuquabankston.com
OZARK…Mrs. Betty Sue Benefield Peters went to the hands of the Lord on Saturday, February 22, 2025, in her home. She was 91.
She was from Ozark, Alabama and was born on June 25, 1933, she was a loving daughter to Willie Benefield and Mildred Fralish Benefield. She was a graduate of the class of 1951 from Ariton High School. She Married Toby G. Peters on December 24th, 1951, in Dale County. Betty was a loving mother to her three children Aubrey G. Peters (Rhonda), Janetta Goolsby (Tommy), and Corsey S. Peters (Janet) She worked as a seamstress for many years, she found joy in dedicating her sewing talents to serving Jesus with the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church- Dorcas sewing ministry. She had a wonderful gift for her sewing talents that she offered to many. Betty truly lived life to the fullest, through simple pleasures, in her spare time you could find her in her garden, chatting with friends and family, her most requested meals came from the local hunter’s wild game that she would specially prepare for them to enjoy. She never met a stranger, and you never left without a full belly. She is preceded in death by her parents Willie and Mildred Fralish Benefield. Her three sisters Lillian Layton, Faye Jacobs and Carolyn Peters. Her husband Toby G. Peters, son Aubrey G. Peters, granddaughter Jeannie Clark
She is survived by her daughter Janetta, her son Corsey (Janet), daughter in law Rhonda, eight grandchildren, seventeen great-grandchildren, four great-great-grandchildren and her sister, Charlotte Byrd.
Graveside services will be held at 3:00 P.M., Monday, February 24th, 2025, at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Cemetery with Reverend Harold Peters officiating. The family will receive friends following the graveside service. Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home of Ozark is in charge of arrangements.
Serving as active pallbearers will be Noah Williams, Cain Turvin, Jeremy Peters, Bryan Peters, Jason Peters, and Matthew Goolsby.
The family would like to thank the Ariton Fire and Rescue and the wonderful help and special care given by Community Hospice. In lieu of flowers, please make a memorial contribution to the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church- Dorcas Sewing Ministry 1124 CR-11 Ozark, Alabama 36360 or Ariton Fire and Rescue PO Box 183 Ariton, Alabama 36311.
You may sign a guest register at www.fuquabankston.com
