KINSEY. . .Evelyn Raley Laseter, a resident of Kinsey, passed away Monday, January 12th, 2026, at her home surrounded by her family. She was 74.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, January 15th at 2:00 P.M. in the Kinsey Baptist Church with Reverend Joel Laseter officiating. The family will receive friends from 12:45 to 1:45 p.m. in the church sanctuary. Burial will follow in Gardens of Memory. Holman-Headland Mortuary & Cremations is in charge of arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Webb Elementary School, 178 Depot Street, Webb, AL 36376, or Kinsey Baptist Church, 6745 Walden Drive, Kinsey, AL 36303.
Evelyn Laseter was a lifelong resident of Kinsey, daughter of the late Harold Edward “Pat” Raley, Sr. and Martha Baxter Raley. She was a graduate of Headland High School and a member of Kinsey Baptist Church. Evelyn received a B.S. Degree and a Master’s Degree both in Elementary Education from Troy University. Evelyn dedicated her life to teaching in the Houston County Public Education system and retired as an Elementary Teacher at Webb Elementary School after nearly 30 years. Beloved by all of her students, she was recognized for her excellence in teaching. Evelyn also served as a Sunday school teacher and music instructor teaching countless area children to play the piano. She used her talents for the glory of God serving as the church organist at Kinsey Baptist for over fifty years.
Surviving relatives include a daughter, Rachel Exum, Kinsey; two sons, John Laseter (Amanda), Dothan; and Reverend Joel Laseter (KrisAnn), Kinsey; a sister, JoAnne Raley Decker (Charles), Kinsey; and a brother, Harold E Raley, Jr. (Cheryl), Kinsey; grandchildren, Scarlett Exum, John Quinn Laseter, Abigail Laseter, Nathan Laseter, Reid Laseter and Titus Laseter; and was beloved by several nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.
The family would like to thank the caregivers who provided attentive and loving care during her illness including Valerie Underwood, Judy Hough, MariAnn Chapman, and Hearts and Hearts Caregiving and the wonderful team at Gentiva Hospice.
Serving as active pallbearers will be Hal Raley, Chris Raley, Jason Calhoun, Blake Calhoun, Heath Quattlebaum, and Charles Decker. Serving as honorary pallbearer will be John Quinn Laseter.
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.
Cheryle Ann Anderson Valentine, a resident of Dothan passed away on Thursday, January 8, 2026 at Southeast Health Hospital.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Memorial contributions can be made to The American Stroke Association, PO Box 84062, Dallas, TX 75284.
Cheryle was born on November 24, 1956 in Wellsville, New York and spent her early years growing up there. She later moved to Florida in her mid-twenties. Her and her husband met on a blind date in 1992, and later married on October 22, 1994. Cheryle worked as an office manager in the petroleum retail industry. She was very crafty and always working on different craft projects. She enjoyed embroidery and sewing. She made her dress and her husband’s tie for the formal dinner of their honeymoon. Her thoughtful gestures will always be remembered by those close and dear to her.
Cheryle is preceded in death by her father, Arthur James Anderson and step father, Kenneth McCracken Jr. .
Survivors include her husband, Steven Phillip Valentine; brother, Kenneth “Skeet” McCracken III (Kimberly); sisters, Gayle Distasio (Lewis) and Beth Stuart (Mark); many nieces and nephews.
Glover Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements. (334) 699-3888. Please sign the guestbook online at www.gloverfuneral.com
John Vester Nicholson passed away in his home January 6th, 2026.
On November 6th, 1946, John was born in New Brockton, Alabama, the youngest of four brothers of the late Vela Mildred (Bludworth) and Robert Forrest Nicholson.
He joined the United States Army November 1966 and left with an honorable discharge in November 1972, in which time he spent time working with the Military Police.
John worked with the Department of Conservation as the Alabama Deputy State Fire Marshal. Although stationed in Enterprise, Alabama, he was responsible for covering six counties and had to travel all over the state.
He spent 19 years working with the Ozark Police Department. Starting as a patrolman, he quickly made his way into the criminal investigation division. There, he worked his way from sergeant all the way up to Police Chief. In his career, he trained with the FBI, worked as a Special Investigator, aided in training peace officers, and worked several high-profile cases.
He was pulled out of retirement to work as the Midland City Police Chief, and went on to work with the Peace Officer’s Standards and Training Commission before finally retiring and dedicating his time to fishing.
John will be missed by: his spouse Pamela; stepchildren Violet and Gerald Robinson; family Greg and Jeffie Nicholson and their children Mary Nicholson and William Nicholson; David (Elaine) Nicholson; Angie (Mike) McFetters; Andy (Dawn) Plant; Nellie Johnson; and his many neighbors and friends.
Including his parents Vela and Robert Nicholson, John was preceded in death by: his brothers; Robert Maylon, Charles Malloy, and Roy Lomax; and grandparents John Oscar and Ella Nicholson, and Alto Vester and Ellie Bludworth.
A celebration of life will be held at 2pm EST on Saturday, January 17th, 2026 at 414 S Broad St, Bainbridge, Georgia.
Judy Jeannette Sutton Thrower, a resident of Cataula, Georgia, passed away Sunday, January 11, 2026, at Piedmont Columbus Regional in Columbus, Georgia. She was 72 years old.
Private graveside services will be held Wednesday, January 14, 2026, in the Fairview Cemetery with Rev. Stephen Doss officiating and Glover Funeral Home directing. A visitation will be held Tuesday, January 13, 2026, in the Glover Funeral Home Chapel in Eufaula, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Flowers will be accepted.
Judy was born on January 30, 1953, in Eufaula, Alabama, to the late Milton James and Bessie Thelma Arnold Sutton. She worked for many years as a cosmetologist. Judy enjoyed cross stitching, crossword puzzles, reading, but most of all she loved her family and spoiling her grandchildren. Judy was a member of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Cataula, Georgia.
She is preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Wayne Sutton.
Left to cherish her memories are her loving husband of 14 years, Randy Thrower; son, David Byers, II. of Dothan, Alabama; daughter, Diana Selfe of Dothan, Alabama; stepson, Brandon Thrower (Shameka) of Saraland, Alabama; brother, Jerry Sutton of Eufaula, Alabama; sister, Shirley Sutton Faulk of Eufaula, Alabama; two grandchildren, Trenton Selfe and Vivienne Selfe; three step-grandchildren, Bradey Thrower, Noah Thrower, and Luke Thrower; four step great-grandchildren; brother-in-law, Brad Thrower; several nieces and nephews.
Glover Funeral Home of Eufaula was entrusted with the arrangements. (334) 687-5725. Please sign the guestbook online at www.gloverfuneral.com
Renea Myers, 63, of Pansey, Alabama, was born on December 16, 1962, and passed away peacefully at her home on January 9, 2026, surrounded by her loved ones.
Renea was born to her parents, Floyd Mason and Virginia Perkins. She was a graduate of Houston County Schools.
She leaves behind her devoted husband of 20 years, John Myers; her children Derick Creekmore (Elizabeth), Kelly Harrison, Isaiah Myers, and Kate Holley; and her cherished grandchildren Tenley and Blakelynn Creekmore, Harrison Brown, Jeremiah and Gabriel Myers, Kye, Aiden, Emma, and Norah Lynn Holley. She is also survived by her siblings Sharon Stevens, Bobby Willis, James Willis, and Lynnette Mason.
Renea was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Doris; and her precious granddaughter, Kennedie Brown—who was waiting with open arms.
Throughout her life, Renea held many jobs, but her true calling was caring for others. She helped raise many children over the years and was in the process of obtaining custody of her granddaughters before her diagnosis. For over ten years, she faithfully served at Watermark Preschool, where she consistently loved and nurtured every child who walked through the doors. Her kindness left a lasting impact on countless families.
Renea will be remembered for her warm smile, her giving heart, and her loud, joyful laugh that could be heard for miles. She loved deeply, lived selflessly, and leaves behind a legacy of compassion that will continue through all who knew her.
She will be greatly missed and forever loved.
Celebration of life will be Saturday, January 17, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at Watermark church in Ashford, Alabama.
ASHFORD. . .Roy Clenon Cooley, a resident of Ashford, passed away Sunday afternoon, January 11, 2026, at his home. He was 90.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M Wednesday, January 14, 2026, in the Ebenezer Baptist Church with Pastor Vann Cooley officiating. The family will receive friends from 10:00 until 11:00 A.M Wednesday in the church sanctuary. Graveside services, with military honors, will follow in the church cemetery. Holman-Headland Mortuary & Cremations is in charge of arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the SABA Ministry Center, 1306 Ross Clark Circle, Dothan, AL 36301 or to the Ebenezer Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 3894 Ebenezer Road, Columbia, AL 36319.
Mr. Cooley was born and raised in Hollywood, Alabama in Jackson County, son of the late Reverend J.W. Cooley and Annie Jane Smith Cooley. He served his country in the U. S. Navy from 1955 until 1960. Mr. Cooley moved to the Cedar Springs community, near Ashford, in 1968. He received an Associate’s Degree in Applied Sciences and a Technical Certificate as an Electrician both from Wallace Community College. Mr. Cooley retired from Georgia Pacific at Cedar Springs, Georgia as an electrician.
Mr. Cooley faithfully served his community in many areas. He was a member at Ebenezer Baptist Church where he served in numerous capacities over the years. In addition to his church service, he volunteered with Southeast Alabama Baptist Association, Landmark Park, The Salvation Army, and Alabama Disaster Relief in various states. He was preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth Carroll Smart Cooley and all his sisters and brothers.
Surviving relatives include his two sons, Pastor Vann Cooley (Shera), Ashford; and Randi Cooley (Brenda), Columbia; grandchildren, Beth Bavaro, Brooke Dickard (Robert), Savanna Cooley Brackin, Suzanna Henderson (Ben), Bella Cooley, Ridge Cooley and Kendall Cooley; great-grandchildren, Watlee, Wescott, Sam, John Paul, Ellie Roy, Brody, Caleb, Janie Ruth, Trey and Drew; several nieces and nephews including a special niece, Debbie Walden White (Steve).
Serving as active pallbearers will be Ridge Cooley, Watlee Bavaro, Ben Henderson, Robert Dickard, Jacob Phillips and Steve White. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Guy Goodson, Shelley Goocher and members of Mr. Cooley’s Sunday School Class.
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.
Judy Jeannette Sutton Thrower, a resident of Cataula, Georgia, passed away Sunday, January 11, 2026, at Piedmont Columbus Regional in Columbus, Georgia. She was 72 years old.
