Category Archives: Deaths

Obituaries and Death Notices

The DeFuniak Herald – January 1944 Births, Obituaries, and Weddings

January 13, 1944

Obituaries

Howell Jones, about 70 years of age and former resident of DeFuniak, died at his Memphis, Tennessee, home Saturday. While Mr. Howell’s death was not expected, his health has been poor. Survivors are his widow, Mrs. Howell Jones, and 3 daughters, Mrs. V. N. Davis,  Mrs. A. J. Frazer and Mrs. J. E. McCaskill.  Mr. Jones’ father, the late A. P. Jones, was a merchant in this place.

Mrs. Christian Stubbs passed away at her home at Rock Hill Sunday morning, January 9th, and was buried in Euchee Valley cemetery Tuesday afternoon. She was a native of Walton County. Survivors include 2 daughters, Mrs. Blanche Smith and Mrs. Mary Lou Torrence, and several grandchildren.

John Duncan Anderson of Walton County passed away at his home in Eucheanna Sunday night, January 9th, after an illness of 2 years. Mr. Anderson was 63 yrs and lived an entire lifetime in this county. Services conducted at the home Monday and interment was made in the Valley Cemetery. Survivors include widow and foster son Emory Campbell who is in the Army stationed at Eglin Field.  

Weddings

Miss Anna Knepper, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. P. O. Knepper, to Lt. Elvin Mason Gurnea, USNR at Seymour Johnson Field, North Carolina. The groom is a native of Goldsboro, North Carolina.

Miss Audrey Miller, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bragg Miller of Florala, to Mr. Gerald W. Pittman of Fort Pierce on December 30, 1943, in DeFuniak.

Obituaries

Mrs. J. H. Hinote died at her home Saturday, January 8th. Before her marriage to Mr. Hinote, July 2nd, 1896, she was Miss Ida Leona Meigs. Born in Walton County nor far from Mossy Head, she lived her entire life within 10 miles of her birthplace. She was the mother of 11 children, 5 boys and 6 girls. They all survive her but one daughter, Mrs. Ruby Laird, who passed away 8 years ago. Survivors are Mrs. Gladys Shelley, Mrs. Maggie Chesser, Mr. Loyd Hinote,  Sgt. Curtis Hinote, Johnnie Claude, Newton Hinote, Mrs. Mae Adams, Mrs. Annie Richardson, and Mrs. Nora Boothe, 24 grandchildren, and 3 great grandchildren.  Interment was at Crowder Cemetery.

Mrs. Ada Lindsey, wife of A. L. Lindsey, died Tuesday morning at her home. The deceased was 57 years old and a native of Walton County. Services were Wednesday and interment was made at Pleasant Ridge Cemetery.

Births

Mr. and Mrs. Charles McLane, daughter Frances Jean, at Eglin Hospital, January 7th.

Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Adams of Liberty, a son January 5th.

Mr. and Mrs. N. F. Holley of Darlington, a son January 6th.

Mr. and Mrs. L. D. Peterson of Pensacola, a son January 7th.

Mr. and Mrs. Hutch Padgett of Ponce de Leon, a son January 9th.

 Mr. and Mrs. Buford Swander of Defuniak a daughter, January 11th.

 Mr. and Mrs. Alcus Reddick of Niceville, a son, January 11, 1944.

January 20, 1944

Mrs. Cynthia Padgett, age 82, passed away at her home in Gaskin, on Friday, December 14, from a heart attack. The deceased had lived in that community since 1902, coming from Covington County, Alabama. She was married twice and is survived by 3 sons, Lloyd Mosely, C. Rex  Padgett,  and  R. Q. Padgett.  She was the mother of 7 sons, four of whom preceded her in death. Services were held Saturday at Gaskin Baptist Church and interment was made in church cemetery. 

Mrs. Dallas Miller, age 22, was so badly injured from burns, sustained in a wreck, that she died at Lakeside Clinic Monday. In trying to avoid a hog in the road, her truck overturned and caught fire. Mr. W. A. Burkett went to her assistance. She was severely burned all over her body. Blankets were wrapped around her and Mr. Burkett and Woodrow Holley brought her to the clinic in Mr. Holley’s car. Services were held on Wednesday at the Cluster Springs church with burial in the church cemetery.

Mrs. Celia Gainey died at her home Monday morning, January 18, at age of 82 years. She had lived in Walton County for 75 yrs. Services were held on Wednesday with interment at Magnolia Cemetery. 

Born at Lakeside Clinic

Mr. and Mrs. Ruby Thompson, Santa Rosa,  son January 14

Mr. and Mrs. Leon McDuffie, Red Bay, girl January 17

Pvt. and Mrs. Forrest Fiers, DeFuniak, son January 17

Mr. and Mrs. Wesley Brown, Portland, girl January 18

Mr. and Mrs. Albert Collingsworth, DeFuniak, son January 18

The DeFuniak Herald – February 28, 1935 Obituaries and Old News Items

In the death of J. B. Ward which occurred Monday at his home in North DeFuniak, the county lost a resident who bore several distinctions. He was the last remaining Federal pensioner from the Civil war in Walton County. He was among the older residents in the county, being in his 91st year at time of his death, having been a resident for 80 of those years. Services were held Tuesday at Sandy Creek Baptist. Five grandsons, Clyde Brown, Reginald Davis, Lloyd Davis, Alton Ward, Charley Davis and one great grandson Ray Howell acted as pallbearers. J. H. Ward was born in Henry County, Alabama, in May 1844 and removed to Walton County with his family a dozen years later. Survived by 4 children, one son having died, 10 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren.

The death of Mr. Charles Sutton Padgett occurred about the time the sun went beyond the horizon on Sunday, February 10, at his home. Services held in the home on Monday. Interment was at Sandy Creek cemetery in Holmes County. Charles Sutton Padgett was born in Walton County on February 20, 1855, the son of Mahala and William Padgett and was reared on a farm in the same vicinity in which his death occurred. He is survived by his aged wife Margaret Morrison Padgett, 3 sons, Billie, Alexander and Charles, one sister, Mrs. J. M. Miller of Ponce de Leon, 2 brothers, W. S. of Dady, Florida, and E. S. of Ponce de Leon.

F. Q. Tervin,  who suffered an heart attack on the street in DeFuniak earlier in the week, died at his home about 4 o’clock this morning. Funeral arrangements have not be completed at this time.

Three more arrests in the hit and run death of Judge Pearce’s death. Bascomb Guilford has been arrested for the second time, and the mail carrier’s father John H. Guilford was indicted for attempting to bribe Della Massey, the alibi witness of the defendant, and she was accused in a perjury indictment. The Guilfords were arrested late on Saturday at their Daleville home. The older Guilford posted bond of $500, but the mail carrier did not post $1,500 on the charge of first degree manslaughter until Sunday, having spent Saturday in the Houston County jail. Miss Massey was also arrested and did not post bond.

30 yrs ago from the February 23, 1908, Breeze:  Reuben Landrum died at the home of his brother, C. A. Landrum.

25 yrs ago from the February 24, 1910, Breeze:  Ben Sallas of Elam, claimed to have shot his brother-in-law, W. F. Nixon accidentally but County Judge Parish ordered him held for the grand jury.

15 yrs ago from the February 24, 1920, Breeze: Miss Sarah Gillis, 85, died at home of her niece in Pensacola.

10 yrs ago from the February 26, 1925, Breeze:  Mr. and Mrs. Campbell Morrison are the proud parents of a fine boy baby, who arrived on February 25th.

[Contributed by Lois Danley and Sharon Watson]

The DeFuniak Herald – February 21, 1935 Obituaries

The death of Mrs. M. A.  Stinson, wife of the late Dr. W. H. Stinson, who died in 1918, occurred Sunday morning at her home on Guava Street following an illness of about 2 weeks. Services were conducted from the home Monday morning at 11:00. She was Missouri Ann Colquitt and a native of Alabama, having passed her 80th birthday, being born on August 5, 1854. Dr. and Mrs. Stinson moved to DeFuniak from Rose Hill about 35 years ago. Survivors are 3 children: W. I. and Cecil both of this place and Mrs. George Burkhart of St. Petersburg, 4 grandchildren and nieces and nephews.

Hal Richardson died early Tuesday at his home on 12th street of pneumonia. Hal C. Richardson was born in September 1890 at Darien, Georgia, the son of Mr. and Mrs. David Eugene Richardson. When he was eight years old his family moved to this place. In April 1922 he was married to Miss Christian Currie, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. D. J. Currie, paster of the local Presbyterian church for many years. He was a World War vet and member of the post of the American Legion. Survivors are his widow, and one son, Hal Jr., one brother J. P. Richardson of this place and 5 sisters, Mary Richardson also of DeFuniak, Mrs. Quarterman McCaskill of Marianna; Mrs. Reed Walker of Darien, Georgia, Mrs. Jim Northcutt of Notasulga, Alabama, and Mrs. Robert Oliver of Centenary, South Carolina. Service on Wednesday and interment in family lot at Magnolia.

Mr. Norman Gillis died on Friday, February 15, he was called “Uncle Norman” by many. Funeral services were conducted on Saturday from Valley church, interment was in Magnolia cemetery. Norman Gillis was born 85 years ago at the Pensacola Navy Yard. He was a mere child when his family moved to Knox Hill. About 1916 he moved to DeFuniak. He was married to Miss Nannie McSween and 4 children survive this union. Survivors are his widow, 2 brothers, Duncan of this place, Daniel of Panama City, a daughter Miss Kate and 3 sons, Alwyn of Orlando, Angus of Akron, Ohio, and William Campbell Gillis also of Akron, Ohio.

Angus Davis aged about 50 years killed himself shortly before midnight Tuesday at his home at Freeport by a self-inflicted shotgun wound. Davis made his home with a brother, William and a sister, Christine. Mr. Davis had been in poor health and it was thought that he committed suicide in a fit of despondency over his condition. Services were held Thursday and interment was in the Davis cemetery, an old burial ground northwest of Freeport. He is survived by 3 brothers William, James & Alex Davis, sisters Christine and Mrs. Arthur Stanley, and a niece, Dottie B Stanley.

[Contributed by Lois Danley and Sharon Watson]

The DeFuniak Herald – February 28, 1946

Mr Ben Louis Seigler, 82 yrs, 4 mos and 9 days passed away Feb 2 1946 in the home of his daughter Mrs D W Miller.  He was confined to his home from Dec 23 1944 until his death. He was laid to rest in Euchee Valley Cemetery. Survivors are his wife; Mrs Falzy Seigler, 5 daughters, Mrs W F Butler, Mrs Anne Bell Beck, Mrs J O Williams, Mrs D W Miller & Mrs A D Miller; 6 sons Marvin, Lummie, Coe, Jack, Ben Lee, & Sanford Seigler, a grandson James Louis Seigler.

[Contributed by Lois Danley and Sharon Watson]

The DeFuniak Herald – February 28, 1946

Mrs Winnie Henderson, wife of R R Henderson (deceased) passed away Feb 10 at the home of her daughter Mrs V T Drake where she has stayed almost all the time since last November 5 1945.  She was 75 yrs of age. Funeral was held at First Baptist church on Feb 13. She is survived by 10 children: Mrs H A Stephens, Mrs V T Drake, Reason Henderson, Mrs Albert Cosson, Ira Henderson,  Mrs J D Wooten, Jr, J R Henderson, Mrs W J Slaughter, Mac D Henderson, Conward Henderson; one sister Mrs Jane Collinsworth and 2 brothers, Joe And Johnny Stafford.

[Summarized by Lois Danley and Sharon Watson]

The DeFuniak Herald – February 28, 1946

Lt. McSween declared dead. Mr & Mrs J C McSween have received work from the war dept. that their son Lt R D McSween who has been missing since July 1943 has been declared officially dead as of Jan 11 of this year. He was a bombardier on a Liberator bomber which departed from Rushmupur, India on a mission to Rangoon, Burma July 2 1943. No trace of the bomber or crew has ever been found.

[Contributed by Lois Danley and Sharon Watson]

The DeFuniak Herald – February 28, 1946

William Abner Bishop died at the home of his son, D W Bishop in Miami on Friday Feb 20 after two weeks illness. The deceased was 78 yrs was first married to Miss _____, to this union was born 3 sons & 3 daughters, 3 of these and the wife preceding Mr Bishop in death by many years.  He later married Mrs Modie Tharpe to which union were born 2 sons.  Born and reared in Holmes Co., he was associated with his brother J F Bishop in the saw mill business, until  his brothers’ death.  The body arrived here from Miami Friday. and survived by 2 daughters, Mrs C L (Laurton) Neel & Mrs C D (Melinda) Thomason, 3 sons D Webb, J C & John D Bishop; one brother G M Bishop. Services were At Otter Creek Church Friday Feb 22 with interment followed in church cemetery.

[Contributed by Lois Danley and Sharon Watson]