Deborah “Debbie” Nelson, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, went home to be with her Savior on the afternoon of August 20, 2025, at the age of 71. Surrounded by her cherished family and dearest friends, Debbie peacefully entered into eternal rest, completing her earthly journey with the same grace and faith that defined her life.
Debbie was the devoted wife of Robert “Bob” Nelson for 49 beautiful years. She was preceded in death by her loving parents, George and Dora Trivett, and leaves behind a legacy of love and faith.
She is survived by her brothers, Randy (Lee) Trivett and Tim (Laurie) Trivett; her son, Ronald Nelson (Monica); and her daughter, Tracy Sawyer (John). Debbie’s life was joyfully enriched by her grandchildren: Zack (Whitley), Rachel (Talgat), Press, Rebecca, Morgan, Barrett, Kristen, Josh, and Will-Hart. She also delighted in her great-grandchildren: Jules, Max, Luka, and Liam, each of whom brought her immeasurable joy.
Debbie was blessed with a circle of unwavering friendship, especially her lifelong friends Jackie and Cleveland Pope, who stood faithfully by her side throughout her journey.
A faithful member of Harvest Church, Debbie was known for her servant’s heart, warm hospitality, and her special gift for making everyone feel welcome. Whether it was preparing a meal for a large gathering or offering a kind word to a stranger, Debbie lived out her faith in quiet, powerful ways that touched countless lives.
The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to the compassionate caregivers of Amedisys and Dayspring Hospice, whose support and kindness brought comfort during Debbie’s final days.
A private celebration of Debbie’s life will be held at a later date.
Though our hearts are heavy, we rejoice in the knowledge that Debbie is now in the presence of her Savior, and the beautiful legacy she leaves behind will live on in all who were blessed to know and love her.
Thomas “Tommy” Carter Parker, a resident of Dothan, died Sunday, August 17, 2025 at Flowers Hospital following a brief illness. He was 62.
The family will receive friends at a memorial visitation from 3 PM until 5 PM Saturday, August 23, 2025 in Clearman Chapel at Southern Heritage Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the family.
Tommy was born April 9, 1963 in Dothan, Alabama to the late Joe Brack and Frances LaVelle Gentle Parker. He was raised in the Taylor and Rehobeth area and was a 1981 graduate of Rehobeth High School. He worked for Carpetland for over 25 years where he made great relationships with his customers. Tommy had a love of music and shooting pool, where he won several championships, and Alabama Crimson Tide football. He also enjoyed the outdoors arrowhead hunting, Indian artifacts and deep-sea fishing.
Tommy is preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Phillip and Timmy Parker.
Survivors include his daughters, Abbie Vickers (Martin), Bonnie Parker-Smith (Colten); grandchildren, Archer and August; brother, Frankie Parker and two sisters in law, Stephanie Parker and Jill Parker, along with several nieces and nephews, and the mother of his children, Laurie Allgood Parker.
TUMBLETON… Dorothy “Dot” Shelley Hardy, a resident of the Tumbleton Community of Henry County, Alabama, near Headland passed away Tuesday morning, August 19, 2025, at her home. She was 101.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, August 23, 2025, at New Zion Free Will Baptist Church, with Reverend Joey Pettis and Reverend Tim McCraney officiating. Serving as pallbearers will be her grandsons. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. Friday evening, August 22, 2025, at Wright Funeral Home & Crematory. Wright Funeral Home & Crematory is in charge of the arrangements.
Flowers will be accepted, or memorial contributions may be made in Mrs. Dot’s honor to the New Zion Free Will Baptist Church Building Fund, 9716 CR-99, Headland, Alabama 36345.
Mrs. Dot was born on July 4th, 1924, to the late Grover “Pomp” Cleveland Shelley and Queenie Bradshaw Shelley. Because of her birthday, her father nicknamed her his “little Firecracker Baby” and she lived up to it well! She attended Tumbleton School and Headland High School and was known to be a very good basketball player. She worked on the farm in her earlier years. Always determined, she once picked an entire bale of cotton in a week just to prove to herself and others that SHE could do it! She was a devoted member of the New Zion Free Will Baptist Church in Tumbleton.
She was also a fantastic cook! There was something extra special about going to eat summer dinner at her house. Fried chicken, freshly picked vegetables, and some types of cobbler were favorite menu items. And who could forget her sweet tea…three generations of grandchildren have walked into her house asking for “Granny Tea”.
She was definitely blessed with a “green thumb”. She was known throughout the Tumbleton Community for driving her golf cart around the yard to water her beautiful flowers. Passers-by were greeted with a wave and a warm smile as she tended to her yard or picked up pecans.
Mrs. Dot loved her family, and we loved her; knowing that the Lord surely blessed us in a special way by allowing us to be led by such a remarkable matriarch for more years than most. During her brief illness, her house was filled with family and friends. There were tears, but there was also love, laughter, and special memories shared with one another. She made this world a better place and our family is surely better for having been nurtured by such a wonderful lady. Her fiery spirit, kind heart, gentleness and strength live on in each of us.
In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her husband of sixty-seven years, L.J. Hardy; her son, Jerry Hardy; her granddaughter, Dawn Hardy Lewis; her son-in-law, John Allen Skipper; her great-great-granddaughter, Cylann Dawn Hicks; her sisters, Ida Pearl Shelley Wilson and Nina Jo Shelley Killingsworth; her brothers, Cleveland Shelley, Jr., Jack Shelley, Shelby Earl Shelley, and William Major Shelley.
Leaving to cherish her memories are her daughters, Judy Hardy Skipper and Zelda Hardy Oates (Wyatt); her son, Kyle Hardy (Dianne); daughter-in-law, Colleen Hardy; her sister-in-law, Janelle Shelley; her grandchildren; Neal Hardy, Jill Skipper Albert (Todd), Kylie Hardy (Tasha), Janie Skipper Hutto (Thomas), Adam Hardy (Amanda), Jeffrey Hardy (Brandi), Josh Oates (Jenna), Jarrod Oates (Heather), and Jay Skipper (Jamie); her grandson-in-law, George Lewis; her twenty-two great-grandchildren; her seven great-great-grandchildren; her numerous special nieces and nephews; and her sitters, Michele Apida, Margo Apida, JoAnn Culp, Patsy Barron, and Jean Grider. A very special thank you to Enhabit Hospice for their service.
Carolyn Betty (Stanberry) Johnson, a resident of Gordon, passed away on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, at her daughter’s residence in Webb, following an extended illness.
Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, August 22, 2025, at Webb Baptist Church Cemetery with Pastor Todd Thorpe officiating and Glover Funeral Home of Dothan directing.
Flowers will be accepted.
Carolyn was born on September 23, 1943, in Lakeland, Florida, to the late Floyd V. & Jenny Sara Holcomb Stanberry. She spent the early years of her life there and later moved to Houston County in 1965. Carolyn worked for many years in the textile industry as a machine operator. She was of Baptist faith.
She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Van Johnson Jr.; her daughter, Kathy Lynn Honea; her grandchildren, Jennifer Dawn Gibson, and Christopher Honea; her son-in-law, James Barrentine; her sisters, Coreen Blount, and Clonia Brady; and her brother, Charles Stanberry.
She is survived by her three daughters, Carolyn Ann Gibson (Harry), Mary Louise Barrentine, and Cynthia Diane Lane; her seven grandchildren, James D. Gibson (Charity), Stephen W. Barrentine (Carrie Linkous), Michael Barrentine (Hayley Morrell), Brandon Johnson (Heather), Blake Honea, Nicholas North (Kayla), and Tyler Shortsleeve (Beverly), 15 great-grandchildren, Jackson Daniel Gibson, Sophia Barrentine, Harper Barrentine, Vera Barrentine, Patricia Linkous, Miracle Linkous, Kinley North, Annette North, Justin Geitz, Emma Shortsleeve, Zane Shortsleeve, Xaiver Shortsleeve, Zander Shortsleeve, Becka Jackson, and Bella Jackson.
Serving as pallbearers, James Gibson, Harry Gibson, Stephen Barrentine, and Tyler Shortsleeve.
Glover Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements. (334) 699-3888. Please sign the guestbook online at www.gloverfuneral.com
Brenda Hallford, 67, of Eufaula, Alabama, passed away peacefully on August 19, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of love, strength, and devotion to her family. She was born on June 4, 1958, in Plant City, Florida, to the late John and Pauline McCord.
Brenda was the devoted wife of the late Gene Hallford, with whom she shared 33 wonderful years of marriage built on love, laughter, and partnership. She was the proud mother of Thomas Hallford, Jr., John Edward Hallford, and Christina Lynn Baughman (Curtis), who were always the center of her life. Her heart overflowed with love for her grandchildren, Lyric Carroll, Logan Hallford, Lanie Mae Hallford, Tabitha Good (Daryl), Austin Baughman, and Ashton Baughman, as well as her great-grandchildren, Rowan Berry, Delilah Carroll, Maddy Carroll, and Kennan Wright. Brenda’s nurturing spirit will also be cherished by her siblings, Faye Trimm (Phil), Annette Simmons (Tim), Wayne McCord, and John Henry McCord, Jr. (Diane), along with many nieces and nephews who adored her. Brenda was also preceded in death by her grandparents.
Brenda built her world around her home and family, where she created a place filled with love, comfort, and open doors for anyone who needed a seat at her table. She devoted her life to raising her children in Cottonwood and took great joy in being the heart of her family.
Her passions reflected her generous and joyful nature. She found peace in crocheting handmade treasures for loved ones, joy in dancing on Saturday nights, and simple pleasure in her shopping trips to Walmart or Sadie’s Flea Market. Yet her happiest times were always those spent with family and friends. Some of her most treasured memories were made on the pontoon boat at Lake Eufaula, floating to the island, sharing stories, and filling the air with laughter that will echo in her family’s hearts forever.
She will be remembered as the steady presence who held her family together, offered comfort in times of need, and celebrated every joy with boundless love. Brenda’s legacy is one of kindness, strength, and devotion, and the lessons she instilled will continue to guide those who loved her for generations to come.
A celebration of Brenda’s life will be held at 2:00pm on Monday, August 25, 2025 at Sunset Funeral Home with Brother Jonathan Broyles officiating. She will be laid to rest in Gardens of Memory Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to service time.
Dr. Ben Matthew Grimes, M.D., age 89, passed away peacefully with his family at his side on August 12, 2025, at East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika, Alabama.
Born in Coffee Springs, Alabama, to Fred and Elsie Grimes, Ben lived a life devoted to service, medicine, family, and faith. He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Janice Morgan; his niece, Cornelia Anne Morgan; and his brother-in-law, Thadius William Morgan.
He is survived by his devoted wife of 31 years, Virginia D. Grimes; his children, Dr. Tinsley Grimes (Graham), Andrea Dowell (Patrick), Gilbert Grimes (partner, Jennifer), and John Grimes; his cherished grandchildren, Mac Hendricks, Carson Dowell, and Jacob Dowell; his nephew, Thadius William Morgan Jr.; his brother-in-law, Allison Derby, Jr. (Renee); his niece, Kate Elmore (Chase); his nephew, Al Derby (Paige); numerous great-nieces and great-nephews; and numerous cousins.
A proud graduate of Enterprise High School, Class of 1954, Ben went on to serve his country in the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1957, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant.
Dr. Grimes’s remarkable medical career spanned more than four decades. He earned his B.S. from the University of Alabama in 1960, where he was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, and his M.D. from the University of Alabama School of Medicine in 1963. Following his internship at Carraway Methodist Medical Center and a fellowship in Internal Medicine and Pulmonary Diseases at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, he served as a respected physician, educator, and leader in both pulmonary medicine and anesthesiology. His career included roles at Carraway Methodist Medical Center, the University of Alabama Hospital, Anderson Regional Medical Center, Jackson Hospital, Montgomery Surgical Center, and Baptist Medical Center, among others. He held several leadership positions, including Chairman of Critical Care Medicine, Director of the Intensive Care Unit, and President of the Tri-States Thoracic Society.
Beyond his medical achievements, Ben was a man of kindness, humor, and integrity. He enjoyed time with family and friends, whether relaxing at his farm, spending days at the bay, or sharing his dry wit. A devoted fan of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide and the St. Louis Cardinals, he was always quick with a smile and rooted deeply for the teams he loved.
His family extends heartfelt gratitude to Auburn Assisted Living and the caregivers at Synergy for their devoted care, compassion, and friendship during his final months.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, October 4, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at St. James Episcopal Church in Livingston, Alabama. Burial will follow at the Campbell/Derby Cemetery in Whitfield, Alabama.
Memories and condolences may be shared at www.freemancitronelle.com. Freeman Funeral Home – Citronelle, Alabama
Memorials may be made in Ben’s honor to St. James Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 446, Livingston, Alabama 35470.
Ben leaves behind a legacy of faith, service, and dedication to others, along with the quiet strength of a man who carried no unkindness in his heart. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered.
Obituary for Dr. Ben Matthew Grimes, M.D.