Jane Pippin Gilliland, a resident of Rehobeth, died Sunday, January 12, 2025 at her residence. She was 77.
Graveside services for Mrs. Gilliland will be held Wednesday, January 15, 2025 at 11 AM at Rehobeth City cemetery with her son, Reverend Dewayne Efurd officiating. The family will receive friends following the service at the cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to; Pleasant Plains Baptist Church Mission Fund, 7220 E. Co. Rd. 22 Ashford, AL 36312.
Jane was born November 28, 1947 to B.E. and Vallie Branton Pippin, Sr. and was a lifelong resident of Rehobeth. She was a 1966 graduate of Rehobeth High School and later began a career as an Administrative Assistant at the 1st National Bank and Southeast Health Medical Center. She was a member of Memphis Baptist Church.
Mrs. Gilliland is preceded in death by her parents, husband, Larry Gilliland and siblings, Mary Nell Kirkland, Bernice Ellison Pippin, Jr. and Eddie Ruth Williams.
Survivors include her son, Dewayne Efurd (Pam); granddaughter, Jade Efurd Garcia (Ronnie); great granddaughter, Roslin Garcia; niece, Valisa Meggs and Tyler Meggs (Alyssa), niece, Kristi Goss and a sister in law, Myra Pippin.
Connie “Memaw” Mae Hendrickson 67, of Cowarts, AL, passed away Sunday, January 12th, 2025.
Connie was born August 28th, 1957, in Donalsonville, Georgia, to the late Louie Eugene Austin and the late Ada Mae Tillery. Most of her earlier years were spent in Alabama/Georgia and she would eventually make Cowarts, AL, her permanent home with her sister Frances.
Although Memaw did not achieve her high school diploma, she was successful at gaining her GED and becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant. Her goal was to become a nurse; however, she chose to become a stay-at-home mother. She had a heart to serve and help people in need as much as she could. Memaw was a very short, feisty and strong-willed woman. She said what she meant and meant what she said. She was one that loved to laugh, cut up, and have a good time. She absolutely loved spending time with her family, watching her favorite TV shows with her sisters, Frances and Paulette.
Survivors include: Four sons and daughters-in-law, Robert Hendrickson, Dothan, AL., Daniel Hendrickson, Iowa, Allen and Amy Hendrickson, Cowarts, AL., Bobby and Dina Hendrickson, Ashford AL.; two daughters, Christine and Gary Jackson, Cowarts, AL. and Rita Hendrickson, Hustle, Virginia. 19 Grandchildren, 25 Great-Grandchildren.
Sisters, Mary Frances Jones of Cowarts, AL, Patsy Austin of Ashford, AL, Paulette Blue of Ashford, AL, Judy Ivey (Willie) of Thomasville, GA, Marie Tillery Forrest of Webb, Shirley Strickland and Melissa Brackin; Brothers, Bryan Tillery (Melissa) of Cowarts, AL, Tommy Tillery (Delores) and Sammy Tillery; brother-in-law, Donnie Goff of Dothan; along with numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Connie is preceded in death by husband, Robert Hendrickson, daughter Paula Jean Hendrickson; sisters, Dianne Katherine Austin, Ruby Jean Johnson and Rebekkah Goff; brother Louie O’Neal Austin; brothers-in-law, James Robert Jones, J.J. Johnson, Claude Newman, David Forrest and Kenneth Brackin; sister-in-law Margaret Austin; nephew, Ronnie Eugene Jones; niece Kelly Ann Johnson; grandson Christopher Elijah Woodruff.
Per Connie’s wishes there will be no Funeral services, but a Celebration of life will be held by the family at a later date. Ward Wilson Funeral Home will be providing the final arrangements for the family. Thank you for your understanding and prayers.
The family would like to thank DaySpring Hospice and her sweet nurse Olivia Starling for the exceptional care that was given to Connie and the family.
Eddie Lucille (Palmer) Farnham, 78, passed away January 4, 2025, in Dothan, AL.
Eddie was born in Dallas, TX on May 21, 1946, to the late Eddie and William Palmer. She was a resident of Dothan for nearly 40 years. Eddie is formally from Greenwood and Biloxi, MS.
Theater and radio were her life and she made an impact on generations to come. She had a way of pulling greatness out of you. To know her was to love her and she will be dearly missed.
Leaving behind to cherish her memory are her husband of 27 years, Sam Farnham; her children, Ben Downs of Ocean Springs, MS, Shannon Bicket and Amy Talley (Brad) of Biloxi, MS; her bonus children, Michael Farnham (Dee Dee) of Loranger, La, Jeff Farnham (Stacy) of Columbus, MS, Sam Farnham (Jennifer) of Largo, FL, and Robbie Farnham (Becky) of Flowood, MS; sisters-in-law Becky Morgan of Winchester, TN and Bobbi Hart (Pat) of McComb, MS, numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A celebration of life will be held at 11 AM on January 18, 2025, at the Elks Lodge located at 3041 Ross Clark Circle in Dothan. In lieu of flowers, the family request memorials to be made to SEACT (seact@seact.com) or Elks Lodge of Dothan (P.O. Box 1887 Dothan, AL 36302-1887.)
Glover Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements. (334) 699-3888. Please sign the guestbook online at www.gloverfuneral.com
Dr. Atwill Lamar Miller, Jr., age 93, died peacefully on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. Lamar was born in Dothan on August 20, 1931, to Atwill Lamar Miller and Ann L. Joiner Miller. He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Connie Hill Miller; five children: Kathryn (Byron) Woodruff of Birmingham, Becki (Clay) Hine of Atlanta, Chris (Frankie) Miller of Dothan, Joe (Elizabeth) Miller and Nancy (Mike) Heard, both of Birmingham; and nine grandchildren (who called him “Lemac”): Melody Hine, Camden Hine, Anne Miller, Christopher Miller, Daniel (Kendall) Miller, Harris Miller, Reed Miller, Levi Heard and Paul Heard. He was preceded in death by his brother, Joe L. Miller, and is also survived by sister-in-law Mary Lou Miller and nieces Teresa (Keith) Norman and Jo Ann (Mike) Marshall.
Lamar graduated from Dothan High School, where he was president of the student body and a member of the National Honor Society. After earning a B.S. from the University of Alabama in 1953, where he was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, he and Connie married on July 18. In 1957 he graduated from the Medical College of Alabama (now UAB School of Medicine) and then did a rotating internship and surgical residency at Lloyd Noland Hospital in Birmingham. After serving two years as general surgeon at the 3320th USAF Hospital in Amarillo, TX, he completed a urological residency at Baylor University College of Medicine in Houston, TX, where he received the Outstanding Resident in Urology award. Between 1964 and 1970, Lamar served as Chief of Urology at Lloyd Noland Hospital and clinical instructor in urology at Medical College of Alabama.
During medical school, Lamar worked two summers as camp doctor at the Children’s Fresh Air Farm in Birmingham, while Connie served on staff.
Lamar was a member of the American Medical Association and the American Urological Association and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. While in Birmingham he served as president of the Birmingham Urological Club. In 1971 he joined Urological Associates of Dothan and practiced at both Southeast Alabama Medical Center (SAMC, now Southeast Health) and Flowers Hospital. He held several offices in the Houston County Medical Society, including president. He served Flowers Hospital as Chief of Staff and Chief of Surgery. He served SAMC as Chief of Surgery, chairman of the Surgical ICU Committee when the unit was built, and as a member of the Executive Committee. Lamar’s peers considered him an innovator in the OR, where he could improvise to get the desired result. He retired from Urological Associates in 1999. After retirement he worked several years at the SAMC Outpatient Wound Care Center.
Lamar had many interests other than medicine. He was a member of the Birmingham Banjo Band and a founding member of the Dothan Dixieland Band, with whom he played for 25 years. He was also an avid banjo collector. He was a deacon, choir member and adult Sunday School teacher for many years at First Baptist Church and was named Deacon Emeritus in 2017. He served FBC on the Music Committee and as chairman of the Building Committee. He also served five years on the Dothan City School Board, including a term as chairman. Over the years, Lamar served on the boards of directors of Mutual Assurance, SouthTrust Bank, Dothan Country Club and Southeast Alabama Community Theatre (SEACT). He was named board member emeritus of Music South. He was also a member of Dothan Rotary Club.
When Lamar was younger, he earned a commercial pilot’s license with multi-engine, instructor and instrument ratings and enjoyed flying a small plane. He also enjoyed woodworking and even built a grandfather clock. His interests included gardening and experimenting in the kitchen, with several of his recipes being featured in the May, 1981 issue of Southern Living. Lamar truly loved the game of golf and traveled many times with golfing buddies to play the famous courses in Scotland. Lamar was once described as owning “more golf clubs than Edwin Watts.”
Not only was Lamar a board member of SEACT, but he was also a frequent performer. He is probably best known for playing Buffalo Bill in Annie Get Your Gun, a role he originated in 1976 and reprised in 2007. He played the same character, Beauregard Jackson Pickett Burnside, in both Mame and Auntie Mame. He also appeared in Oklahoma! (as Ado Annie’s father), Annie (as FDR), On Borrowed Time (as Gramps), Beauty and the Beast (as Monsieur D’Arque), The Music Man, My Fair Lady and Li’l Abner.
Lamar loved the Lord and he loved his family. He was known for his honesty, his bushy eyebrows, and his booming bass voice. While we miss him dearly, we know where he is and look forward to seeing him again. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm on Sunday, January 26, 2025, at First Baptist Church, Dothan, with visitation preceding at 1:00. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to First Baptist Church or Macular Degeneration Research. Lamar’s family would like to express our sincere gratitude to the caring people of Extendicare Health Center, Anointed Touch Caregivers and Gentiva Hospice.
Robert Leonard Karpovich, a resident of Dothan, died Friday, January 10, 2025 at his home. He was 94.
Funeral services will be held at 11 AM Friday, January 17, 2025 in Clearman Chapel at Southern Heritage with Chaplain Eddie Biss officiating. Burial will follow at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 10 AM until 10:45 AM prior to the services at the funeral home.
Mr. Karpovich was born August 12, 1930 and raised in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania. He joined the United States Air Force and met the love of his life, Hazel Vickers Karpovich. Following his tenure in the Air Force he began a career in Banking in Washington, D.C. Mr. Karpovich moved to Dothan in the early 90’s where he resided for the remainder of his life. He was a member of St. Columba Catholic and enjoyed rooting for the Washington Redskins.
Mr. Karpovich is preceded in death by two sons, Christopher Jon Karpovich and Michael Andrew Karpovich.
Survivors include his wife, Hazel Vickers Karpovich; grandchildren, Jason Karpovich (Stephanie), Laura Karpovich, Kimberly O’Quinn (Chris), Beth Karpovich and Joseph Karpovich; three great granddaughters, Aubrey and Emily O’Quinn and Olivia Karpovich; two sisters and a brother.
Arthur Robert Durham, known affectionately as Bobby to his friends and family, passed away after an extended illness on January 10, 2025, in Dothan, Alabama, at the age of 80. Born in Bluffton, Georgia, on October 28, 1944, Bobby was a man whose life was defined by the love he had for his family, the passion he had for his work, and the joy he found in his many hobbies.
Bobby grew up in the warm embrace of a close-knit community in Fort Gaines, Georgia, where he later became a well-respected figure. He spent his career working the land he loved as a farmer and serving the city he called home as the Superintendent of Maintenance. His dedication to his town was further shown through his work with George T. Bagby State Park, where he contributed over five years of service.
Those who knew Bobby will remember him as the man who could bring life to music with his skillful play on the keyboard and his talent as the lead guitarist for his first band, The Mustangs. His love for music was only matched by his love for the outdoors; Bobby was an avid fisherman and hunter, finding peace and solace in the harmony of nature. His green thumb was evident in the beautiful gardens he tended, and he was known for his ability to fix anything that was broken, a true testament to his handy and adventurous spirit.
Bobby’s kind soul shined through in his interactions with others, though he was very introverted, preferring the comforts of home and the quiet companionship of his loved ones. He was a man of few words, but when he spoke, his words were filled with wisdom and kindness.
He leaves behind a legacy of love and cherished memories with his sons, Rob Durham and Will Durham (Stacie Blankenship). His granddaughter, Madison Durham, will miss her grandfather’s gentle presence and the quiet lessons he imparted. Though his marriage to Jeanie Jeffcoat did not last, their relationship remained amicable and respectful throughout the years. Bobby will also be fondly remembered by his several nieces and nephews who looked up to him as an example of quiet strength and integrity. He was preceded in death by his parents, Willie and Ethel Durham, and his brothers, William Jack Durham and Daniel Myrus Durham, who have welcomed him into eternal rest.
Arthur Robert Durham’s life was a tapestry of hard work, humble passions, and quiet moments with family. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered as a man who lived a life true to himself, always kind, always adventurous, and forever handy. As we say goodbye, we celebrate the life of a man who was content with the world he built around him and the simple joys that filled his days. May he rest in peace, knowing he was loved and his memory will always be treasured.
