James Thomas “Tommy” Godwin
June 8, 2014
James Thomas “Tommy” Godwin was born May 30, 1945, in Brewton and went to be with his Lord and Savior on June 3, 2014. Tommy graduated from Flomaton High School in 1963. He joined the US Air Force after high school and served until 1968. Upon returning home, he went to work for Gulf Power Company for the next 38 years. He was a proud pawpaw, and loved his grandchildren, fishing, and Alabama football.
He is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Kathy Godwin and his trusty sidekick, Hank; sons, Tony (Christina), Jason (Tamara) and Terry; grandchildren, Dylan, Kyle, and Kora; siblings, Faye (Barney) Williamson, Peggy Lail, Donald (Faye) Godwin and Darlene Nelson; father and mother-in-law, Marvin and Elaine Wiggins; and numerous loving family members and friends.
Tommy was preceded in death by his parents, Mose and Bernice Godwin of Brewton; and his sister, Judy Burford of Axis, Alabama.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the USO of Northwest Florida.
Visitation will be on Monday, June 9, 2014, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, June 10, 2014, at 10:30 a.m. at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North. Pastor Gene Stokes will be officiating services.
Interment will be at Barrancas National Cemetery.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with arrangements.
Patricia Ann Moorer
June 8, 2014
Patricia Ann Moorer, 61, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, June 3, 2014. Patricia was born January 25, 1953, in Cantonment and was a graduate of J.M. Tate High School, class of 1970. She worked many years as an editorial clerk with Saufley Field and later retired.
She is survived by her two children, Sharvin (Shandra) Moorer and Kourtney (James) Walker, both of Pensacola; four granddaughters, Shanel Moorer, Destiny Moorer, Morgan Turner, and Keziah Walker, all of Pensacola; mother, Sarah Moorer of Cantonment; two brothers, David (Dorothy) Moorer of Cantonment and McEarnest (Isalean) Moorer of Compton, CA; three sisters, Joyce (David) Mallety of Fayetteville, N.C., Barbara Easley and Linda Parker both of Pensacola; and numerous nieces, nephews, family, and friends.
A celebration of life was held Saturday, June 7, 2014, at Ward’s Temple A.F.M. Church in Cantonment, with Bishop Donice Brown, Sr. officiating.
Interment was in Holy Cross Cemetery.
Faith Chapel North Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Junior Lee Vestal
June 8, 2014
Junior Lee Vestal, 74, of Atmore, passed away June 6, 2014, in Pensacola. He was born in High Point, NC, on November 29, 1938, to the late Jonie and Bessie N. Vestal of Mocksville, NC. He served in the U. S. Navy during the Cuban Crises. He was a member of Cross Point Baptist Church.
He is preceded in death by his parents; brother, Leo F. Vestal; grandson, Chris Berryman; brother-in-law, Jerry Suits; and his late wife, Shirley K. Vestal, all of North Carolina.
He is survived by his wife of 23 years Irma Jean Macks Vestal of Atmore; children, Patsy Jean Alverson of Atmore, Ronnie (Molly) Lee Vestal, Rhonda Vestal, all of Statesville, N.C; Ray (Londy) Himes of Flomaton; Brenda (Danny) Hill of Atmore; Shane (Brenda) Haskew of Brewton, and Jerry (Bernice) Haskew of Andalusia; siblings, Billie (Dorothy) Vestal; sister-in- law, Margaret Vestal, all of Yadkinville, NC; Wesley (Diane) Vestal of Jacksonville, NC, Betty (Tony) Upright, Mary V. Suits, all of Statesville, NC; 25 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Monday, June 9, 2014, at 11 a.m. from Cross Point Baptist Church with Bro. J.T. Guyton officiating.
Burial will follow in Serenity Gardens Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be grandsons Jason, Douglas, Jacob, Cody, Cameron, David, John, and J.T.
Visitation will be held Monday, June 9, 2014 from 10 a.m. until service time at Cross Point Baptist Church.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Wahoos, Biscuits Split Doubleheader
June 8, 2014
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos split their doubleheader with the Montgomery Biscuits on Saturday night at Riverwalk stadium in Montgomery. The Wahoos overcame a late 3-1 deficit to win the first game 4-3, before falling short behind a tremendous start from Jon Mostcot, 1-0, in the second game.
Brodie Greene led the Wahoos offense in game one by going 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI. Greene provided an RBI single in the top of the seventh to pull the Blue Wahoos within one, before Rey Navarro doubled home two, giving Pensacola a 4-3 lead. Justin Freeman (S, 1) slammed the door shut in the bottom of the seventh to secure the win.
Robert Stephenson (W, 3-5) started for Pensacola, he allowed 3 R/ER over 6.0 innings and walked three and struck out three to earn his third win of the year. Andrew Bellatti (L, 1-4) was charged with two of the three ninth inning runs out of the bullpen. He suffered his fourth loss of the year and his first blown save of the season.
In the second game both starting pitchers matched each other all game long. Moscot (L, 4-4) had just one blemish, despite allowing just two hits and facing only one batter over the minimum. He surrendered a solo home run to Taylor Motter, just actived before the game from the disabled list, in the fifth inning. The homer snapped string of 11 straight batters retired by the Blue Wahoos starter. He retired 17-of-19 he faced for the game.
Offensively, Pensacola was unable to mount a threat against Dylan Floro (W, 6-5). The Blue Wahoos scattered their three hits and never got a runner past second base. Floro earned his sixth win of the year. Moscot was the hard-luck loser despite allowing just two baserunners all game to go with four strikeouts.
The series continues with the fourth of five games Sunday evening. The Blue Wahoos send RHP Mikey O’Brien (2-3, 4.43) to the mound against Biscuits RHP Roberto Gomez (1-3, 6.00). First pitch is set for 5:35 from Riverwalk Stadium in Montgomery.
by Tommy Thrall
Donald “Pat” Houston
June 8, 2014
Donald “Pat” Houston, 74, died Thursday, June 5, 2014, at The Terrace in Jay following illness.
He leaves his wife of 44 years, Clara (Strickling) Houston; daughters, Jo Ann Harris and Joyce Wainwright; brothers, Joe (Dorthy), Lonnie (Wanda), Max (Wanda), Beda Ray “Cotter” (Carolyn) Houston; sisters, Norma Jean Frazier, Jane (David) Wright; five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews and many friends.
Donald was a veteran of the Korean War, where he served in the Army. He grew up in the Fidellis community. He was the son of William Hillary and Lillie Mae Houston; twin brother Ronald “Mike” Houston; as well as 14 other brothers and sisters. Donald loved to ride his horses and after leaving Monsanto worked to care for them. He also loved his family and friends dearly.
Services were held Saturday, June 8, 2014.
Burial was in Fidelis Cemetery.
The family would like to give special acknowledgement and thanks to The Terrace Staff and Emerald Coast Hospice Care for their outstanding love and care of Donald throughout his time there.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Jay Funeral Home in Jay.
William J. “Bill” Lee
June 8, 2014
Bill Lee of Cantonment was born in Allentown on August 30, 1946, and died June 2, 2014, at age 67.
He is survived by his life’s mate, Sharon Smith; three children, Tommy (Gloria), Anisa Matis (Dave), Jason (Jeanette); seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren; three brothers, Dozier, Bobby (Donna), James (Hazel); and two sisters, Louise Ballard (Ben) and Barbara Holley (Millard).
Bill was preceded in death by his parents T.L. and Naomi Lee; one brother, Donald; and two sisters, Dorothy Creel and Laurine Parks.
A celebration of his life was held on June 4, 2014 in Pensacola at Moose Lodge 557.
One Injured In Highway 29, Bluff Springs Road Accident
June 7, 2014
One person was injured in a two-vehicle crash Saturday morning on Highway 29 at Bluff Springs Road.
Their injuries were not considered serious, and they were transported to Jay Hospital by Escambia EMS. The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. The Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded to the call.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
McDonald’s Robbery Under Investigation
June 7, 2014
A robbery last night at a Pensacola Boulevard McDonald’s is under investigation.
Two men reportedly held up the restaurant at gunpoint just before 10 p.m. Friday. A witness said the two male suspects were wearing bandanas when they entered business and demanded cash before fleeing the restaurant.
A manhunt by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office followed in the area around the restaurant, which is located at Pensacola Boulevard and West Burgess Road, . There’s was no word from the Sheriff’s Office of any suspect descriptions.
Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to call Crimestoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
No Serious Injuries In Highway 97 Guardrail Crash
June 7, 2014
There were apparently no injuries in a single vehicle crash on Highway 97 south of Walnut Hill Saturday morning.
The driver of a Ford F-150 was southbound on Highway 97, ran off the road, over-corrected and crossed back across Highway 97, hitting a guardrail adjacent to the northbound lane. The truck then rotated, traveled behind the guardrail and struck several trees.
The accident was discovered just before 6 a.m. The driver of the truck had already left the scene when first responders arrived, and a search by the Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue confirmed that no one was thrown from the vehicle.
The Florida Highway Patrol reportedly later made contact with the driver by phone, and he was not seriously injured.
The accident remains under investigation by FHP; further details have not been released.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Most Escambia County FCAT Scores Up For 2014
June 7, 2014
The Florida Department of Education released the second round of FCAT scores Friday, including reading in grades 4-10, math in grades 4-8 and science in grades five and eight.
In Escambia County elementary schools, reading scores remained the same, with 56 percent of fourth graders and 55 percent of fifth graders reading on or above grade level. In grades 6-10, reading scores improved except for the ninth grade were 45 percent of students were on grade level.
In math, scores were down from 58 to 55 percent of fourth grade students on grade level, while grades 5-8 showed improvement. Fifth grade scores dropped from 59 to 53 percent proficient in science, while tenth grade science scores were up from 42 to 45 percent.
Below are school by school results for Escambia County District 5 schools. To see scores from every Escambia County school, click here.
