Robert Earl Burkett of Geneva, AL passed away on Monday, January 13, 2025. He was 52 years old.
Earl was born in Florida on August 30, 1972 to Ruby Lee Bass Burkett and the late Morris Burkett. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and brother. Earl was known by family and friends to be a hard worker, loving to build and work with his hands. He enjoyed driving semi-trucks and working in construction, which afforded him the ability to use his building talents. He was employed at Outdoor Aluminum in Geneva for the past year. Earl will be missed by those who knew and loved him.
Earl is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 16 years, Amber Sims Burkett; two daughters, LaDawn Smith and her husband, Skyler and Paige Burkett; three grandchildren, Kaelyn Brewer, Camryn Smith and Zackary Smith, all of Geneva, AL; mother, Ruby Burkett of Geneva, AL; five siblings, Gale Harrison (W.M.), Burt Burkett and Patricia Burkett, all of Geneva, AL, Dwayne Burkett (Candace) of Florida and Hilder Burkett of Tennessee; a number of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends also survive.
Dorothy Foxworth Barton of Geneva, Alabama, passed away on Monday, January 13, 2025. She was 80 years old.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, January 17, 2025 in the chapel of Warren Holloway Ward Funeral Home in Geneva with Rev. Ricky Hall officiating. Burial will follow in Midway Cemetery with Warren Holloway Ward Funeral Home of Geneva directing. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday beginning at 1:00 p.m.
Dorothy was born October 19, 1944 in Geneva, AL to the late Walter Andrew and Ruby Pearl Jacobs Foxworth. She was a loving and devoted mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend. She enjoyed working in her flowers, fishing, dancing, watching her hummingbirds and spending time with her canine companion, “Bubba”. Her love and devotion to her family was her sole goal in life, which she excelled in. She will be deeply missed by those who knew and loved her. She was a member of Devco Baptist Church and attended faithfully as long as her health permitted.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Ed Barton; three brothers, Frank, A.W. and Junior Foxworth and three sisters, Nell Cronkite, Doris Gilmore and Eloise Hughes.
Dorothy is survived by one daughter, Sandra Barton of Geneva, AL; two sons, Joe Barton (Jennifer) of Panama City, FL, and Jeff Barton (January) of Geneva, AL; grandchildren, Nathaniel Barton, Joanna Barton Bennett (Joey), Breanna McDuffie, Justin Bacon, Bryson Barton and Ashley Dunn; great grandchildren, Case Barton, Cane Barton, Gracie Baker and Skylar Grace Blackman; three sisters-in-law, Ruth Mathews of Westville, FL, Gail Johnson Barton of Samson, AL and Sylvia Foxworth Hand of Geneva, AL; and a number of special nieces and nephews.
Serving as pallbearers will be Nathaniel Barton, Joanna Bennett, Bryson Barton, Reed Wilson, Reagan Brannon and Trent Smith.
The family would like to extend a very special thank you to Hilda Owens for her love and kindness shown, as well as, Dr. John Simmons, Sr. and staff and Wiregrass Medical Center for your devoted care for our mother.
Callie Boykin, of Dothan, AL passed away on January 8, 2025, at the age of 41. Born on July 15, 1983, her life was a testament to her unwavering spirit and devotion to her family and friends.
A private memorial service will be held at a later date.
She is predeceased by her parents, Leonard Boykin and Olivia Johnson Boykin. She was cherished dearly and will be lovingly remembered by her husband, Sylvester Jackson Jr., a sister, Holly Taylor, a special nephew, Everett Jackson, mother-in-law, Betty Jackson, and her best friend, Kimberly Jackson.
HEADLAND… Dolores Eileen Koch, a resident of Headland, Alabama, passed away Monday afternoon, December 23, 2024, at her home. She was 81.
The family will receive friends beginning at 1:00 P.M. Saturday, January 18, 2025, at Harvest Church in Dothan, with a memorial service to follow with Brother Jonathan Broyles officiating. Wright Funeral Home & Crematory is in charge of the arrangements.
Mrs. Koch was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania to the late Clarence Iry Harple and Dorothy Elizabeth Beam Harple. She was a 1961 graduate of Downingtown High School in Downingtown, Pennsylvania. She worked as a secretary with several school systems with the last being at St. Bonaventure University in St. Bonaventure, New York. She and her late husband were very active volunteers with the Special Olympics and also the Boy Scouts of America. She attended Harvest Church in Dothan, Alabama.
Along with her parents, she was also preceded in death by her husband, George Russell Koch, Sr.; her son, Christopher Koch; her brothers, William C. Harple and Carl Harple; and her sister, Barbara Troupe.
Leaving to cherish her memories is her children; her sister, Marlene Hallan (Dr. Tom Hallan); her 12 grandchildren; and her 2 great-grandchildren.
DALEVILLE…Mrs. Fran McCarty Gardner, a resident of Daleville, died early Friday evening, January 10, 2025, at her home. She was 76.
Celebration of Life Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, January 18, 2025, in the Pilgrim Home Baptist Church, Wicksburg, with Pastor Allen Singley officiating. The family will receive friends from 10:30 until 11:00 A.M. Saturday at the church. Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home of Ozark is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Gardner, daughter of the late Clayton Thomas McCarty and Lucille Maxcine Alfrey McCarty, was a native of Lexington, Kentucky where she was a 1966 Graduate of Lexington High School. She received a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree in Psychology both from Troy University and a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Alabama. Mrs. Gardner retired as a social worker after over twenty years of employment. Some of her favorite things were restoring furniture, traveling, reading, and spending time with her family and grandchildren. She was a member of Pilgrim Home Baptist Church. Mrs. Gardner was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Joe Gardner; son, Robert Gardner, Jr, sisters, Patricia Bristow and Sue McCarty, and a brother, James McCarty.
Surviving relatives include her daughters, Michelle Gardner, Daleville and Teresa Evans (David), Mason, Ohio; brother, Howard McCarty (Pattie), Indiana; seven grandchildren and seventeen great-grandchildren.
You may sign a guest register at www.fuquabankston.com
Jo Ann Hall, a cherished wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully at her home in Dothan, AL, on January 12, 2025. Born on December 27, 1942, in Huntington, WV, she was a beacon of love and wisdom throughout her 82 years of life.
Jo Ann, the daughter of the late Robert L. and Mildred Williams, grew up in Huntington, WV, where she developed a foundation of faith and family that would guide her entire life. She graduated from Barboursville High School and went on to achieve a remarkable balance of family life, career, and service. Jo Ann’s dedication to education was evident as she completed not only two undergraduate degrees but also a graduate degree while raising a family and supporting her husband’s ministry.
For 61 years, Jo Ann was the loving and devoted wife of Dr. Jerry Hall. Together they built a life full of love and purpose. She was a pillar of strength and support in their partnership, standing by his side during his tenure as a pastor and university professor. Jo Ann’s love for education led her to teach first grade for sixteen years, positively shaping the lives of countless children. Her passion for nurturing young minds extended beyond the classroom as she developed and directed a successful child-development center and later served as the administrative assistant to the CFO of a large church in Chattanooga, TN.
Jo Ann’s legacy lives on through her family. She is survived by her husband Dr. Jerry Hall; her daughter, Pamela (Darrell) Bishop of Slocomb, AL; her son, Jerry D. (Leigh) Hall, Jr. of Hartwell, GA; and her beloved five grandchildren: Jamey (Justin) Etheridge, Sydney (Kyle) Dodson, and Jerry D. (Gabi) Hall, III, of Hartwell, GA, Gabrielle (Cody) Irwin of Enterprise, AL, and Hannah (Sam) Loftin of Slocomb, AL. She was also the proud great-grandmother of fourteen great-grandchildren.
Her warmth and guidance will be missed by her siblings, Audrey Williams of Milton, WV; Brenda Chaney of Chesapeake, OH; Walter Williams and David Williams of Altizer, WV. Jo Ann’s capacity to love extended to all who knew her, and her family was the center of her universe. Her greatest joy came from being surrounded by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, whose lives are a testament to her unwavering love and support.
The family wishes to express their profound gratitude to the Gentiva Hospice workers for their compassionate care during Jo Ann’s final weeks. A special thanks is also extended to neighbors Ty Powell and Gwin King for their readiness to assist whenever needed, and to her close friend, Mavis Mims, for her companionship and love during Jo Ann’s illness. The family is also grateful for the many friends and relatives who visited, provided meals, and lifted them in prayer during this time.
Jo Ann Hall’s life was a reflection of her faith and the love she had for her family and community. She will be remembered for her tireless dedication to her family, her unwavering faith in God, and the countless lives she touched through her teaching and ministry. Her memory will continue to inspire all who were blessed to know her.
Jo Ann’s life will be celebrated in a service that honors her faith and the beautiful legacy she leaves behind. Her journey on earth has ended, but her spirit lives on in the hearts of those she loved. Jo Ann Hall, a virtuous woman of grace and dignity, has found her eternal rest and peace with her Savior, Jesus Christ.
Visitation will be held at 1:00-2:00 pm on Thursday, January 16, 2025 at Sunset Funeral Home followed by a celebration of Jo Ann’s life at 2:00 pm on Thursday. Jo Ann will be laid to rest in Sunset Memorial Park.
Dorothy Foxworth Barton of Geneva, Alabama, passed away on Monday, January 13, 2025. She was 80 years old.
