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 5, 1914 – Page 2

Red Bay

  • Clifford Meigs, of DeFuniak and Randall Hughes of Ponce de Leon were down here Sunday.
  • Mrs. Neil McLeod visited her mother, Mrs. David George, at the Valley Sunday.
  • Mr. and Mrs. Pat Kennington of Ponce de Leon spent Sunday with their parents.
  • Miss Irene Brown spent last week at home.
  • Rev. Peacock of Pleasant Valley preached here Sunday.
  • J.R. Brown and Marshall Chamberlain were in DeFuniak last week.
  • Daniel Alec McDonald and Reg Sanford were in Ponce de Leon on business Wednesday.
  • Edgar Chamberlain was in Argyle Sunday.
  • Tom Chamberlain wears a smile these days twice as long and large as the ordinary father wears. His twins are named Hurtis and Curtis.
  • The young people under the management of Mrs. Brown and Mrs. McLeod are practicing for a play to be given in about two weeks. It is to be given to raise funds with which to purchase a new fence to be used around the cemetery. A worthy object, and we are sure the young folks will receive the encouragement and patronage they deserve.

[Compiled by Emily Petroskey]

The DeFuniak Herald – December 30, 1965 Obituaries

Mr Robert E Bishop age 50, of Destin, Fla died Monday in Montgomery, Ala. Born in Fairmont, Minn, he moved to Destin in 1958. Services on Wednesday Dec 29th and burial followed in Santa Rosa Cemetery with graveside military services. Survivors: his wife, Mrs Juanita Bishop, 2 sons Donnie Ray & Robert  Danny Bishop, father Mr Edward E Bishop, 2 bros, Donald & Vernon Bishop.

Train Wrecked, car hits cargo, Mrs Edna Louise Brown 42, of Dorcas was killed.

[Summarized by Lois Danley and Sharon Watson]

The Breeze – January 4, 1912

Married on 24 December at the home of the bride’s brother, Mr. Brown in Washington County – A.J. Ward of Bruce and Miss Jennie Brown, with J.J. Ward officiating. The couple will make their home in Bruce.

Married at the home of the bride on Thursday evening, 28 December: Miss Anna Bell Ray and Murray Elmer by the Rev. R.L. Baker; attendants – Miss Thelma Gillis, John A. Ray, Miss Sallie Ray, and Warren Elmer.

 

Contributed by Mary Ellen Wexler

The Breeze – April 27, 1911 – Page 4

The Baptist church was transformed into a bower of beauty last Wednesday night, with white and green in honor of the wedding of two of De Funiak’s most popular young people, Miss Florence, the only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Monroe Laird and Glen, the eldest son of Mayor A. L. Beach, who plighted their troth in the presence of a crowd that filled the church to to doors in spite of the showers that dropt nearly all the afternoon, Rev. D. P. Slaughter, of the Methodist church, performing the ceremony, assisted by Mr. Catts, the Baptist pastor.

The coming of the bridal party was heralded by the singing of  “O Fair, O Sweet, O Holy”  by Mrs. Harley Cawthon, Miss Annie Burke Landrum playing the accompaniment with violin obligato by Rosby Brown, and the strains of Mendelshon”s wedding march announced their entrance into the church, Miss Beaulah Morris being the bridesmaid, with Mrs. B. P. Morris as matron of honor, and the best man Lancelot  Hughes. The bride’s other attendants were Misses Jimmie Lou Burkes, Mary Vic Bole, Minni McCaskill, Ossie Berry and Ethel Chapman, while G. D. Campbell, Waverly Wadsworth, Ralph Campbell and Angus McKinnon were the groomsmen. Geo. Cawthon and C. A. Landrum were the ushers, little Walton Flournoy the page and Mark Burk and Gracie Flournoy the flower girls.

After the ceremony the immediate bridal party with a few of the more intimate friiends repaired to the Brown House where a luncheon was served before the arrival of the train on which the happy pair left for an extended tour to New Orleans and other points. On their return they will be at home in the Beach cottage on Live Oak avenue which was the gift of the groom’s father.

[Contributed by Michael Strickland]

The Breeze – October 27, 1910 – Page 6

One of the most beautiful weddings taking place in DeFuniak in quite a long space of time was that which occurred Wednesday evening of last week [October 26, 1911] at the Methodist church, when Mr. James Monroe Northcutt and Miss Julia Shafer Richardson were united in marriage. The church being handsomely decorated for the occasion.

At the sounds of the sweet soft wedding march which was played by Miss Edna Meigs and Rosby Brown the bride entered leaning on the arm of her father and who was met by the groom at the alter where the words were pronounced that made the happy couple man and wife.

The wedding procession went immediately from the church to the home of the bride where they remained only a short time before leaving on the evening train on a short trip through different points of interest in Alabama before stopping at Tuscaloosa where they will make their future home.

The bride is well known through this section and she will be greatly missed among the many social gatherings in which she had a large number of friends and admirers whose wishes for her of a long and happy life were numerous while the groom is a business man of good standing in his home town to which place he has carried one of our most loved young ladies.

[Contributed by Michael Strickland]

The Breeze – September 22, 1910 – Page 8

The Death of Mrs. Julia Yonge

The funeral services over the remains of Mrs. Julia Yonge, who died in DeFuniak Springs Saturday night [September 17, 1910] at 11:20 o’clock, after a lingering illness, were conducted in this city yesterday morning at 10 o’clock.

Mrs. Yonge had been in bad health for some time, and last winter went to DeFuniak Springs for the benefit of her health, and was residing with her daughter, Miss Julia Yonge, at that place when her death occurred. The remains of Mrs. Yonge were brought to this city Sunday morning and were met at the depot by a large concourse of friends and acquaintances and carried from there to the home of Hon. P. K. Yonge. Funeral services were conducted yesterday morning at Christ church, Rev. Mr. Brown performing the last sad rites, after which interment was made in St. Michael’s cemetery. The following acted as pallbearers: W. A. Blount, F. C. Brent, Lewis Willis, J. W. Durr, H. S. White and W. K. Hyer, Jr.

Mrs. Yonge was eighty years of age and was one of the most beloved residents of this city. She was consistent member of the Episcopal church, and an earnest church worker.

Mrs. Yonge is survived by one son, P. K. Yonge, and two daughters, Miss Julia Yonge and Mrs. Frank Simmons, and numerous other relatives.

Pensacola Journal

Mrs. Yonge while here [in DeFuniak Springs] made a large number of friends who are sorry to learn of her death.

[Contributed by Michael Strickland]

The Breeze – August 25, 1910 – Page 1

The case of the state against J. B. Sallas, who was indicted by the last grand jury for murder in the second degree for killing his son-in-law Wesley Mixon near Ealum last spring was the only case of any particular interest before the Criminal Court, and resulted in a verdict of manslaughter, before a jury composed of Ben Spencer, J. A. Early, J. B. Francis, J. R. Chambliss, W. J. Wasden and Sim Brown.

[Contributed by Michael Strickland]