Kingsley, Comptom, Roberts, Gentry, McPherson, Woods, McGriff, Thomas, Collins

Published 10:30 pm Thursday, March 23, 2006

Mary Christene Brown Kingsley

Funeral services for Mary Christene Brown Kingsley, 84, of Hanceville will be at noon Friday, March 24, 2006, at Hanceville Funeral Home, Brother Ronnie Cason and Sister Evon Flagg officiating, with burial in Watts Union Cemetery in Warrior.

Hanceville Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Kingsley died Wednesday, March 22 in Hanceville. She was born on Feb. 22, 1922, in Cullman County to Lee Andrew and Nancy Baines Tolbert.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Survivors include her daughter, Julia (Alvin) Russell of Hanceville.

Visitation was Thursday.



Patrick Comptom

Funeral services for Patrick Comptom, 55, are incomplete and will be announced at a later date by Moss-Service Funeral Home. Mr. Comptom died Monday, March 20, 2006, at Medical Center East.



Mae Belle Couch Roberts

Funeral services for Mae Belle Couch Roberts, 88, of Birmingham, formerly of Cullman, will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 25, 2006, at Moss-Service Chapel, the Rev. Dan Ingram officiating, with burial in Emeus Cemetery.

Moss-Service Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Roberts died Wednesday, March 22 at Baptist Medical Center-Montclair. She was a factory worker at a workshop for the blind and disabled.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Arnold Addison and Lillian Gay Couch; and her husbands, Themis N. Cochban and Ellis Roberts.

Survivors include three daughters, Rose Roberts Sanderson of Birmingham, Anna Cochban Gordon of Trussville and Irene Cochban of Williamsville, N.Y.; five sisters, Arnell Hinkle, Doris McMurry, Nellis Goodlett, all of Cullman, Leona Adair of Chattanooga, Tenn., and Iralee Chambers of Florida; six grandchildren, Danny Ingram, Robin Ingram, Dennis Ingram, Kelli Wheeler, Billy Jack Wheeler and Brian Wheeler; and four great-grandchildren, Natalie Hogue, Ashley Ingram, Austin Ingram and Karli Wheeler.

Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. today.



Glenn Hollis Gentry

Memorial services for Glenn Hollis Gentry, 73, of Logan will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 25, 2006, at Harmony Baptist Church, Roland Belew and Daniel Gann officiating

Moss-Service Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Gentry walked into Paradise on Wednesday, March 22 at Cullman Regional Medical Center. He fought a long, hard battle with diabetes, heart and kidney disease. He was born in Eva on Feb. 23, 1933, to C.B. and Ruby M. Umphrey Gentry. Glenn loved God and his country. He was a member and deacon of Harmony Baptist Church. He was a retired U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer and served during the Korean and Vietnam wars. He served on seven different ships and sailed around the world in service to his country. He retired with 22 years of distinguished service to his country. After retiring from the U.S. Navy, he worked for Oxy Chemical Company for 10 years and retired from there in 1993.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Yvonne M. Gentry; one son, Robert Mark Gentry and family; two sisters, Faye (Jerry) Smith and Beverly (Dock) Abercrombie; two brothers, Roger (Brenda) Gentry and Ray Gentry; a sister-in-law, Melissa Harbison; and several nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Glenn Gentry Memorial Fund for Harmony School Library in care of Peoples Bank, 811 2nd Ave. SW, Cullman, AL 35055.



Lawrence Mitchell ‘Mac’ McPherson

Funeral services for Lawrence Mitchell “Mac” McPherson, 87, of Vinemont will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 25, 2006, at Mt. Vernon West Methodist Church, the Revs. Glenn Miller and Gary Milligan officiating, with burial in the church cemetery.

Cullman Heritage Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. McPherson died Wednesday, March 22 at Hartselle Medical Center. He was born on Nov. 10, 1918, in Florida to Lawrence M. and Catherine McPherson. He was a welder with Sujack Co.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Jean McPherson; a granddaughter, Erin McPherson; and two brothers, Earl and J.W. McPherson.

Survivors include his wife, Nelda Owens McPherson of Vinemont; two sons, Bruce McPherson of Pinson and Anthony “Tony” McPherson of Little Rock, Ark.; a daughter, Sandra Webber of Vinemont; five grandchildren, Shawn Kent, David McPherson and Alan Webber, Katrina Jones, all of Cullman, Katie McPherson of Vestavia and Andria Webber of Vinemont; two great-grandchildren, Blake Kent and Jacob McPherson, both of Cullman; a sister, Mozell Beall of Dade City, Fla.; and a brother, Billy James of California.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today.



Meval Marice Woods

Funeral services for Meval Marice Woods, 80, of Vinemont will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 25, 2006, at Corinth West Methodist Church, Wayne Jetton officiating, with burial in the church cemetery. The body will lie in state one hour prior to the service.

Cullman Heritage Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Woods died Wednesday, March 22 at Cullman Regional Medical Center. She was born on Jan. 14, 1926, in Cullman County to Willie A. and Leitha Jane Freeman Owens. She was a homemaker.

She was preceded in death by her mother; her father; and a sister, Mavie Matthews.

Survivors include her husband, Donald Woods of Vinemont; a son, Gary Donald (Claudette) Woods of Danville; a daughter, Deborah (John) Childress of Fairlawn, Ohio; a brother, Price Owens of Morgan County; five grandchildren, Darren Allen Woods, Kendra Leigh Antila, Jonathan D. Childers, Kelly Renee McLean and Jeremey D. Childers; and six great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Mrs. Woods’ grandsons.

Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. today.



Dal D. McGriff

Funeral services for Dal D. McGriff, 68, of the Rock Springs community will be at 11 a.m. Friday, March 24, 2006, at Redan Baptist Church, the Rev. Andrew Chambers officiating, with burial in Redan Cemetery.

Holly Pond Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. McGriff died Wednesday, March 22 in Blount County. He was born in Cullman County to Elbert and Eula Ann Murphree McGriff. He was in construction. He was also a member of Redan Missionary Baptist Church and Mason Lodge 149.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and three brothers, Willard, Dwight and James McGriff.

Survivors include his wife, Pauline Nail McGriff; a son, Wayne (Pam) McGriff; a daughter, Lisa (Doug) Carr; and four sisters, Willene (Glenn) Clark, Velma (Dan) Armstrong, Joyce (Bobby) Love and Janice (Keith) Hicks.

Pallbearers will be Rodney Hooper, Wendell Weaver, Terry Bagwell, Terry Holcomb, Jim Holcomb and Rick Hooper.

Honorary pallbearer will be Radford Green.



Marvin Herbert Thomas

Marvin Herbert Thomas of Huntsville and Niceville, Fla., passed away Monday, March 20, 2006. He was 80 years old. He was born July 19, 1925, in Kansas City, Mo., to Herbert W. and Clela A. Thomas.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 42 years, Nan Sisk Thomas, of Sheffield.

Mr. Thomas graduated from East High School in Kansas City in 1942 and attended the Kansas City Art Institute and School of Design, graduating with a master of fine arts degree in 1952. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps on March 18, 1943, as an Aviation Cadet and trained at Miami Beach (Basic), Kent State Ohio (OTS), SAAC San Antonio, Texas (Preflight), Pine Bluff, Ark., (Primary Flight), Independence, Kan., (Basic Flight) and Foster Field, Victoria, Texas (Advanced Flight). After graduation Feb. 1, 1945, he was commissioned second lieutenant and assigned to fly the P-40 Fighter Aircraft. He was stationed in Greenland, April 7, 1946, and flew PBY rescue missions over the North Atlantic. He separated from active duty at Westover Field, Mass. Dec. 11, 1946, and remained in the Air Force reserve until July 1, 1969, retiring as a LTC.

After military service, Marvin worked for the United States government as a graphic illustrator at Redstone Arsenal until his retirement in 1981. During this time he painted the mural depiction of Huntsville’s history which is on display in the lobby of the Madison County Courthouse.

He was a member of St. Paul Methodist Church, Masonic Temple Gate Lodge No. 299, Kansas City, Mo., and the Huntsville Cahaba Shrine Baffoon Unit. Being a member of the International Shrine “Clowns of America” the Huntsville Cahaba Baffoon Unit had an intricate role in the proclamation by Gov. George C. Wallace of National Clown Week Aug. 1-7, 1973, at which time he urged all citizens to familiarize themselves with the outstanding services rendered by “Clowns of America.” He was also named a “Kentucky Colonel” by the governor of Kentucky. After retirement he traveled and continued his charity work for the Shrine crippled children’s hospitals.

He is survived by his loving children, Connie and Steve Golden, formerly of Huntsville, now residing in Niceville, Fla., Karen Thomas Pope of Pensacola, Kimberly Anne Thomas of Toney; his devoted brother, Don Thomas of Sierra Vista, Ariz.; and treasured sister-in-law, Katherine Sisk Schwarzmann of Washington, D.C. Precious gifts from God are his grandchildren Tracey Slaton, Jenny and Corbin Camp, Simon, Zechariah and Gus Thomas, Andy Pope; and great grandsons Niklaus Slaton, Gage Camp; and great-granddaughter, Cassie Camp.

The visitation will be at 5 to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 25, 2006, with a Masonic graveside service at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 26 at Valhalla Memory Gardens, 698 Winchester Rd, Huntsville.

Donations may be made to Cahaba Shrine, 6001 Pulaski Pike, Huntsville, AL.

Valhalla Funeral Home will be in charge of service.



Emily Brooke Collins

Funeral services for Emily Brooke Collins, 22, of Arab were Thursday, March 23, 2006, at Arab Memorial Chapel, with burial in Roswell Creek Cemetery.

Arab Memorial Chapel was in charge of arrangements.

Ms. Collins died Monday in Cullman County in an auto accident.