Hicks, Preher, Jones, Sanders

William A. Hicks

Funeral services for William A. Hicks, 80, of Cullman will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 2, 2006, at Williams-McCracken Chapel, the Rev. Steve Rodgers officiating, with burial in Cullman City Cemetery.

Williams-McCracken Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Hicks died Friday, Dec. 30, 2005, at Woodlanad Medical Center. He was born May 22, 1925, in Westfield, Mass., to Walter Bartlett Hicks Sr. and Edith Angell Hicks. He was a retired accountant for the federal government and served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II and Korea.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Emma V. Hicks; and a brother, Walter B. Hicks Jr.

Survivors include his son, Lawrence D. (Sue) Hicks of Forrest Hill, Calif.; stepson, Joe E. Hicks of Glendora, Calif.; daughter, Sharon (Al) Hughes of St. Louis, Mo.; stepdaughter, Jo Ann Hammons of San Bernadino, Calif.; brother, Phillip Hicks of Santa Maria, Calif.; two sisters, Elizabeth Hicks of Westfield, Mass., Frances Wheeler of Brattleboro, Vt.; 11 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.



Nell Baker Preher

Nell Bake Preher, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend, died peacefully Thursday, Dec. 29, 2005, at Cullman regional Medical Center. She was born in Lumberton, N.C., on Jan. 18, 1919, to Vernon Dupree Baker and Thedis Thompson Baker. She was the youngest of five children and grew up in a loving family. After graduation from high school, she worked as a secretary to the Superintendent of Schools in Lumberton, N.C.

During World War II, she met her future husband, Henry C. Preher, when he was stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C. They married in the First Baptist Church in Lumberton, N.C., on Aug. 10, 1945. Shortly thereafter, they moved to Lafayette, Ind., where her husband attended college at Purdue University. They had three children.

While raising her family, Nell was deeply involved in all her children’s activities. These included gymnastics, music, church youth groups, athletics, scouting and swimming. She served as a troop leader for her daughters’ Girl Scout troops. She was always there to make sure her family was well cared for.

As a homemaker, Nell was active in bridge and gardening clubs. She was also active in the Episcopal Church Women (ECW) at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Evansville, Ind., and Grace Episcopal Church in Cullman. She served as the president of the ECW at Grace Episcopal Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and siblings. She is survived by her three children, Cliff (Carolin) Preher, Jan Preher and Lynn Sticher; her grandchildren, Marla Ingram (David) Scott, Ryan (Danielle) Preher and Troy Preher; and her great-grandchild, Matthew Scott.

The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to Grace Episcopal Church, 305 Arnold St., Cullman. The body is to be cremated and a memorial service will be held at on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2006, at Grace Episcopal Church, beginning with visitation at 3:30 p.m. and the service at 4.

Williams-McCracken Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.



Christopher Richard Jones

Christopher Richard Jones, 45, of Springfield, Ill., died Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2005. A memorial service will be announced at a later date.

Moss-Service Funeral Home is announcing.



Ellen Nevada Payne Sanders

Funeral services for Ellen Nevada Payne Sanders, 72, of Cullman will be at 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 2, 2006, at Moss-Service Chapel, the Rev. Drs. Edwin Hayes and Bill Burkett officiating, with burial in Cullman City Cemetery.

Moss-Service Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Sanders died Saturday, Dec. 31, 2005, at her residence. She was born on Sept. 4, 1933, to Fred Dewey and Clairice Eulala Riley Payne. She retired as a system manager from Cullman City Hall with approximately 30 years of service. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Cullman.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Orval Eugene “Bill” Sanders; a sister, Inez Lewis; and a brother, C.W. Payne.

Survivors include three daughters, Linda Sanders Lee, Wanda Sanders Tubbs, Lisa Sanders Brinkman; one son, Randal Eugene Sanders; one sister, Naomi Curren; one brother, Caius Eugene Payne; six grandchildren, Joey Tubbs, Jana Tubbs, Julie Triplett, Jessica Lee, Jennifer Lee, Emily Brinkman; and three great-grandchildren, Elisha and Luke Triplett and Olivia Tubbs.

Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.