Joiel Wilson Edmonson
November 8, 2013
Joiel Wilson Edmonson “J.J.”, passed away on Saturday, November 2, 2013.
He is preceded in death by his grandparents, Joiel David Edmonson and Eula Mae Edmonson, Woodrow Allen and Estelle Allen.
J.J. is survived by his loving wife, Rori Edmonson; daughters, Torrie Edmonson, Gyanna Edmonson and Harley Edmonson; father, John David Edmonson (Tina); mother, Teresa D. Edmonson; brothers, Jerry Wayne Nellum (Anita) and John Nellums (Elsie); many aunts, uncles and cousins.
Pallbearers will be Bo Bibby, Rodney Watkins, Joshua Allen, Joiel Smallwood, Justin Smallwood and Dustin Thurston.
Honorary pallbearers will be David Denhan, Jr., Jarome Edmonson and Sidney Benware.
In lieu of flowers, contributions to the funeral cost would be appreciated.
Funeral service were held on Thursday, November 7, 2013 at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North with Reverend Tony Shackle and Reverend Wesley Alvarez officiating.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with the arrangements.
James David “Dave” Hoffman
November 8, 2013
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day. (2 Timothy 4:7-8a)
James David “Dave” Hoffman of Cantonment, was received by his Lord and Savior into Heaven on Wednesday, November 6, 2013. He left this world peacefully while surrounded by members of his loving and loyal family and friends who were in prayer for him, and was greeted at the gates of Heaven by his many family members and friends who preceded his arrival.
Dave Hoffman was born December 15, 1931, and lived a joyful, busy, happy life filled with service to others and a dedication to his family that was unparalleled. Dave was there before anyone asked for help; his generosity and kindness to others was the daily service of this strong but humble man. He always had a smile and hug or handshake for everyone he met and people who know him watched out for his vise-like grip!
He retired from the United States Navy after serving 20 years from 1950 – 1970 and served during the Korean Conflict and Vietnam War era. During his military career he received numerous honors including the National Defense, United Nations, and Korean Service Medals. After his retirement from the Navy he returned to Pensacola and worked for Flor Daniels Construction Company at the (then) Monsanto Plant until he retired for the second time. Dave was a great carpenter and gardener and many people in Pensacola were blessed by his precise, beautiful woodwork and offerings from his bountiful vegetable and rose gardens.
Dave was preceded in death by his parents, David Felix and Renolda Hoffman of Taylor, Mississippi; his brother, Harry Paul Hoffman and brother-in-law Grover Kinney; son-in-law Walter Zittel; and grandson Roy (“Willie”) McCormick.
He is survived by his sweet and loving wife, Jane Hoffman (“Nana”) of 63 years and their four children, Lyn Zittel of Pensacola; Jim (Mary) Hoffman of Virginia Beach,VA; Jeff (Robyn) Hoffman; Janet Price (Dennis Foster) as well as K.C. (Susanne) Fehl, all of Cantonment. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Bert (Felicia) Wynne, Emily & Savannah Price, Rebecca Zittel, Meagan & Matthew Hoffman, Jared & Trevor Hoffman, Kim Zurbay and Charles McCormick; as well as Kenny Paul Fehl; and his two great-granddaughters, Abigail and Allison Wynne. He also leaves his sister, Hazel Kinney and sister-in-law, Marilyn Hoffman both of Oxford, MS; his aunts, Iva Brown and Edna Hargrove; his brother-in-law, Virgil (Amy) Cooper of Birmingham and a multitude of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Visitation will be Monday, November 11, 2013 from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Faith Chapel North in Cantonment.
Funeral services will be Tuesday, November 12, 2013, at 10:00 a.m. at Faith Chapel North in Cantonment, with Pastor Roy Chewning officiating.
Interment will follow at Barrancas National Cemetery at 11:30 am.
Pallbearers will be Bert Wynne, Jared Hoffman, Trevor Hoffman, Kenny Paul Fehl and Robby Stoner.
Honorary Pallbearers will be Dennis Bailey, Windell Long, Charlie Lowery, Glen Norris, Clifford Stoner and the active Deacons of Gonzalez Baptist Church.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with the arrangements.
Mary Lou McMath
November 8, 2013
Mrs. Mary Lou McMath, 85, of Atmore, passed away November 7, 2013, at her residence. She was born October 1, 1928, in McCullough, Alabama, to the late Isaac E. and Madora Luker. She was an active member of Presley Street Baptist Church, where she faithfully served as a Sunday School teacher for many years. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Joe McMath, a brother Leo Luker and one great granddaughter Anna Grace McMath.
She is survived by her two sons, Joseph Leroy (Susan) McMath, Jr., and John William (Esther) McMath; two daughters, Mary Diane (Eddie) Purvis and Susan Elizabeth McMath; two sisters, Miriam Milliken and Lois Amerson; grandchildren, Joey (Misty) McMath, Jeremy (Jennifer) McMath, Jonathan (Lacey) McMath, Melanie (Chad) Kent, John (Dana) McMath, Jr., Brook (Jeremy) Hawsey, Marisa Robards and Derek (April) Bell. She is also survived by twelve great-grandchildren and a special cousin, Dixie Caylor.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 9, 2013, at 2 p.m. at Presley Street Baptist Church with Bro. Leo Luker and Bro. Mike Grindle officiating.
Burial will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be grandsons Joey McMath, Jeremy McMath, Jonathan McMath, Chad Kent, John McMath, Jr., and Derek Bell.
The family wishes to express heartfelt gratitude to Community Hospice of Baldwin County for their compassionate care during Mrs. McMath’s last days.
Visitation will be held Saturday, November 9, 2013, from 12 p.m. until service time at Presley Street Baptist Church.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Clear And Cold Tonight
November 7, 2013
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 39. North wind around 10 mph.
- Friday: Sunny, with a high near 67. North wind around 10 mph.
- Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 41. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
- Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 71. East wind around 5 mph.
- Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 47. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 75. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
- Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 48. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
- Veterans Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 75. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 48. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 75.
- Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 50.
- Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 67.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 36.
- Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 61.
Mail Delivery Vehicle, Pickup Collide In Cantonment
November 7, 2013
Three people were injured in a wreck involving a mail delivery vehicle and a pickup truck this afternoon near the Cantonment Post Office.
The mail delivery vehicle overturned on the side of the roadway, while the pickup came to rest in a Highway 29 turn lane. None of the injuries were believed to be serious in the 12:15 p.m. crash.
Further details have not yet been released by the Florida Highway Patrol.
Reader submitted photos by Felicia Molchanoff and Kimberly Blackwell for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Hit And Run: Driver Heads Home After Hitting House
November 7, 2013
A Walnut Hill man allegedly hit a house, fled the scene of the accident and drove a couple of miles to his own home Wednesday night.
The driver of a Nissan was eastbound on Arthur Brown Road just west of the Walnut Hill Baptist Church when he left the roadway, plowed through some brush and into the front yard of a home. Witnesses said he then backed into the unoccupied home, causing little damage, before driving around behind the home and then fleeing the scene again eastbound on Arthur Brown Road.
Evidence and vehicle parts left behind led authorities to the man’s residence just over two miles away on Highway 97. Vehicle parts were visible in the front yard of his residence, and his heavily damaged vehicle was located behind his home.
The man was transported by Atmore Ambulance to Atmore Community Hospital with injuries that were not believed to be serious.
Charges are pending the outcome of a Florida Highway Patrol investigation. The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the incident.
Pictured above: First responders render aid to a Walnut Hill man at his Highway 97 residence Wednesday night, about two miles from where he allegedly struck a house on Arthur Brown Road. Parts from the alleged hit and run vehicle are seen in the photo foreground. Pictured inset: The vehicle tore a path through some brush on Arthur Brown Road. Pictured below: The man allegedly backed into this unoccupied home on Arthur Brown Road. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Pensacola Chamber Awarded $200K Cyber Warfare Grant
November 7, 2013
Governor Rick Scott announced Wednesday that the Greater Pensacola Chamber has been awarded a $200,000 grant from the Florida Defense Support Task Force. The funding will establish a center of excellence for information dominance to stimulate science and technology research and cyber warfare training.
We’re investing $200,000 in the Pensacola region to support the growth of science and technology in the region. The Greater Pensacola Chamber is putting these funds to great use by providing the community with more opportunity to excel and expand their knowledge in the military and defense sector,” Gov. Rick Scott said.
“The bases in Northwest Florida are vital to America’s national security, and we’re committed to supporting the families and communities who serve our country. We want to protect jobs and opportunities for Florida families, and the investment of another $200,000 from the Florida Defense Support Task Force grant funding to support research and development operations, create a center of excellence, and support our warriors will help in that goal,” Sen. Greg Evers said.
Representative Clay Ingram said, “I congratulate Pensacola’s military and defense industry. This award is huge for our area. The knowledge that our military men and women will gain because of these resources will make Pensacola a better place to live.”
“We’ve been working hard to support our military and defense in Pensacola and these funds will greatly help this community. I’m excited about Pensacola’s bright landscape and what’s to come for this area’s military sector,” added Rep. Mike Hill.
“The Center of Excellence is the culmination of our on-going relationship and collaboration with our federal partners at Corry Station,” said Craig Dalton, vice president of Armed Services, Greater Pensacola Chamber. “We are extremely grateful to the State of Florida for supporting this endeavor to collectively develop a cyber-forensics lab that promotes science and technology research in Pensacola.”
The grants are vital to military and defense programs and local economies, according to Secretary of Commerce and President & CEO of Enterprise Florida Gray Swoope. He said jobs are created and the state’s workforce is strengthened.
Statewide, the Task Force awarded more than $2 million in grant initiatives to local community organizations supporting Florida military installations. These grants will be utilized to protect, preserve and enhance Florida’s military missions and installations while maintaining Florida’s reputation as the most military friendly state in the nation.
Additionally, these grants will strengthen Florida’s military bases ahead of any potential U.S. Department of Defense realignment or closure actions. This will protect the more than $73 billion in economic impact and the nearly 760,000 jobs the defense industry infuses into Florida.
The Florida Defense Support Task Force was created in 2011 with the mission to make recommendations to preserve and protect military installations, support the state’s position in research and development related to military missions and contracting, and improve the state’s military-friendly environment for service members, military families, military retirees and businesses that bring military and base-related jobs to the state.
This program is administered by Enterprise Florida, Inc. on behalf of the Florida Defense Support Task Force.
Byrneville Elementary Releases First Nine Weeks Honor Roll
November 7, 2013
The following students were named to the first nine weeks honor roll at Byrneville Elementary School:
Mrs. Barberree, Kindergarten
All Satisfactory
Emily Adams
Savannah Barrow
Allie Bradley
Elizabeth Coleman
Luke Godwin
Sawyer Jackson
Katherine Johnson
Ryder Lee
Makenzie Levins
Mrs. Golson, Kindergarten
All Satisfactory
Mary-Clayton Dawson
John Glenn
Jaycee Harvell
Logan Jordan
Hanah Lambeth
D’Ericka Odom
Easten Odom
Andrew Plant
Brynlie Shaw
Layla Sims
Evelyn Smith
Christian Velazquez
Mrs. Dawson, First Grade
All A’s:
Raymie Brechin
A’s and B’s:
Madeleine Attalah
Layla Brown
Kerissa Dortch
Daisy Johnson
Hunter Johnson
Gage McCormick
Addisen Miller
Blake Shaw
Mallory Smith
Zi’don Smith
Nicholas Walston
Mrs. Thornton, First Grade
All A’s:
Madison Levins
Jayden White
Brian Yoder
A’s and B’s:
Ayden Attalah
Gavin Beasely
Maddie Mae Driskell
Tyler Gilmore
Jikeem Hall
Jaci Jackson
Kelan Jurey
Mia Kornegay
Evin Matlock
Allie Odom
Mrs. Gilmore, Second Grade
All A’s:
Riley Dawson
Tyson McBride
Tyler Riggs
A’s and B’s:
Jon Bolen
Kaylee Hamilton
Aydan Smith
Mrs. Marshman, Second Grade
All A’s:
Nolin Godwin
Madalyn Grimes
Meredith Johnston
A’s and B’s:
Caden Canaday
Alexa Castro
Tyler Davis
Takayla Lewis
Mrs. Dunsford, Third Grade
All A’s:
Emily Levins
Kaden Odom
Blake Yoder
A’s and B’s:
Leah Anderson
Hunter Barnes
Drake Allen Driskell
Dreama Wright
Mrs. Weaver, Third Grade
All A’s:
Aloysia Dortch
Bradley Hamilton
Kayla Johnson
A’s and B’s:
Briana Dunsford
Chase Hampton
Jessica Loftis
Tiana White
Mrs. Gilmore, Fourth Grade
All A’s:
Hunter Borelli
Torka Mills
A’s and B’s:
Cody Adams
Dusty Carnley
Tessa Flowers
Kaitlin Gafford
Jace Gifford
Harley Walker
David Ward
Mrs. Johnston, Fifth Grade
All A’s:
Maille Kilcrease
A’s and B’s:
Travon Brown
Logan Bryan
Brianna Colter
Heather Knowles
Justin Lambeth
Abigail Levins
Tyler Merchant
Jalexis Robinson
Ty Rolin
The Latest Buzz: Roadside Bees Garner Attention
November 7, 2013
A roadside bee hive in Walnut Hill is catching the attention of passing motorists. The exposed hive is located in an oak tree alongside North Highway 99 near Highway 97. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Update: The bees were removed by someone Thursday morning.
Tate Grad Hubbard Graduates From Basic Training
November 7, 2013
Air Force Airman 1st Class James A. Hubbard graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.
The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.
Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.
Hubbard earned distinction as an honor graduate.
He is the son of Lesley Hubbard of Deedra Avenue, Pensacola.
The airman is a 2002 graduate of Tate High School, Cantonment. He received a master’s degree in 2010 from Stony Brook University, New York, N.Y.