Willard Beasley
March 22, 2016
Willard Beasley, age 73, of Allentown, passed away on March 20, 2016. He was a barber at Design One Barbershop in Milton. He was a member of the Jay Masonic Lodge and enjoyed gardening and fishing.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Posey and Elendia Beasley; and brother, Austin Beasley.
He is survived by his wife, Joyce Beasley; children, Malcolm and Karl Beasley; grandchildren, Mary Katherine and Jackson Beasley, and Brittany and Tabitha Beasley and great-grandchildren, Anderson, Trevan and Gavin.
A visitation will be held on Saturday, March 26, 2016, from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m. at Jay Funeral Home. Funeral services will begin at 2 p.m.
Burial will follow at Cora Baptist Church Cemetery.
Jay Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Francis Lee Martin
March 22, 2016
Francis Lee Martin, 81, of Cantonment, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 20, 2016. He was a supervisor at Monsanto for 32 years. He was an expert woodworker and owner of his business building wooden toys. Work was his hobby.
He is preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Sue Humphreys.
He is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Majorie Martin; sons, Francis (Pistol) Martin and fiancé, Violet, Jeffrey (Ann) Martin and Matthew (Amy) Olson; 12 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make a donation to Gonzalez United Methodist Church.
Visitation will be held Thursday, March 24, 2016 at Gonzalez United Methodist Church beginning at 4 p.m. followed by a memorial service at 5 p.m.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of arrangements.
Leon Sabol
March 22, 2016
Mr. Leon Sabol passed away peacefully on March 14, 2016. He was born on July 20, 1941, in Boston, Massachusetts. He grew up in Dover, New Hampshire. He served for twenty years in the U.S. Navy, navigating ships to many destinations in South America and Europe. He was most rod of serving on the U.S.S Lexington out of Pensacola. He retired as a Chief QM. After retirement Mr. Sabol worked for ARC of Pensacola for many years. He enjoyed fishing, beekeeping, bird watching, and stamp collecting.
He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Nancy Gilbert Sabol; son, Matthew Sabol; daughter, Audra (Michael) Resler; grandsons, Nick and Brett Resler; sisters, Caroline McGlone and Ginny
(John) Astarita; brothers, Greg (Alice) and Richard (Laurie); special uncle, Albert Sabol; special brother-in-law, John McGlone; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his father, Boleslaw Sabol; his mother, Olga Dowhanczuk Sabol; and brother, Michael Sabol.
In memory of Mr. Sabol, memorial contributions can be made to the Joyce Goldenberg Hospice Inpatient Residence Facility.
A memorial service will be held on Thursday, March 24, 2016, at 1:20 pm at Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola
The family is inviting all family and friends for a gathering at Harold Baptist Church in the fellowship hall after the service.
Jay Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Frances E. Black
March 22, 2016
Frances E. Black, 87 of Canoe, passed away Sunday, March 20, 2016, in Pensacola. She was a homemaker, born on April 30, 1928, in Canoe to the late Emmett Luther and Janie Lee McNeill Mixon, Sr. She was a member of the Canoe United Methodist Church.
She is preceded in death by her husband, William Black; brothers, Emmett L. Mixon, Jr., Charles R. Mixon and William R. Mixon.
She is survived by a daughter, Wanda (Randy) Clark of Canoe; granddaughter, Daphne Clark; and one great-grandchild, Braiden Peebles.
Graveside services were held Wednesday, March 23, 2016, at 10 a.m. in Canoe Methodist Cemetery with Bro. Larry Renfore officiating.
Interment was in Canoe Methodist Cemetery.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is charge of all arrangements.
William E. Curl
March 22, 2016
William E. Curl passed away peacefully on March 19, 2016. He was born on the outskirts of Birmingham, AL on July 20, 1921, into the home of Will and Verlie Curl who were just beginning their ministry in the North Alabama Conference of the Methodist Church. A couple of years later a daughter, Dorothy, would be added to the family. Bill, as he became known to most people, enjoyed the love of his mother and the fellowship of his father. They played together and prayed together. After graduating from Cherokee County High School in 1939, Bill attended Emory and Henry College in Virginia for a year and a half on a partial football scholarship. Due to an illness and the hospitalization of his mother, Bill left school to help care for her and assist the family financially. After a year, Bill entered Birmingham Southern College where he met Faye Little, the love of his life, while singing together in the operetta, “Iolanthe.” In 1943 during World War II, he volunteered for the Army Air Corps. While in the service Bill flew the B-25 Mitchell, the B-24 Liberator and the B-29 Superfortress. On December 18, 1943 he and Faye were married while he was stationed at Maxwell Field in Montgomery, Alabama. After the war ended, they became the parents of a daughter, Andrea. Bill returned home in February, 1946 to pursue his true calling, entering the Methodist ministry. After graduating from Birmingham Southern College, he attended Emery University where he received his Master of Divinity degree at Candler School of Theology in 1949. Bill served churches throughout the North Alabama Conference including Oxford, Vestavia, McCoy, Tuscaloosa First, Huntsville First and Canterbury from where he retired in 1987. He also served in other capacities including District Superintendent of the Florence District, chairman of the Board of Ministries of the Methodist Church and chairman of the committee on Rules. He was given an honorary doctorate from Birmingham Southern College where he served as the chairman of the executive committee of the board of trustees.
After retiring from the active ministry, he and Faye moved back to the Vestavia community where they lived until 2005. While there, they attended the Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church, where Bill taught the Trinity Sunday School class for 15 years. In 2005 they moved to Pensacola to be near their daughter.
Bill’s great love has been his preaching and praying and serving as a pastor to the congregations where he was appointed. His writing ability was not only exhibited in his sermons, but in his book, “Seasons of Prayer.” He always placed great importance on his family, whom he loved dearly. He considered himself a most fortunate man whom God blessed beyond anything he could have dreamed.
Bill will be forever remembered as a wonderful and devoted husband by Faye, his wife of 72 years; a kind, loving and generous father, by his daughter, Andrea Edgar; an amazing grandfather by his granddaughters, Alissa Troike (wife of Ross Troike of Collierville, TN) and Deanna Lamarche (wife of Ted Lamarche, Pensacola). He shall also be dearly missed by his great-grandchildren, Marin Troike, Wyatt Troike, Paxton Lamarche, Aiden Lamarche and Hylan Lamarche and by his sister, Dorothy Yarbrough (Birmingham, AL) and his nephew and nieces.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial donations be made to the William E. and Faye L. Curl Scholarship at Birmingham Southern College, 900 Arkadelphia Road, Box 549003, Birmingham, AL 35254 or to First United Methodist Church, 6 East Wright Street, Pensacola, FL 32501. A memorial service will be planned at a later date.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of arrangements.
Officer Involved Shooting Under Investigation; Suspects Identified
March 21, 2016
UPDATE: The suspects in Monday morning’s officer involved shooting have been identified as:
Donald L. May, 34, who has been arrested 21 times locally since 2000 on charges ranging from home invasion to petit fheft. This does not include the charges forthcoming from the crimes that were committed this morning.
Fred A. Jenkins, 54, who has been arrested 6 times locally since 2000 on charges ranging from aggravated assault with a deadly weapon to check fraud. This does not include the charges forthcoming from the crimes that were committed this morning.
An early morning officer involved shooting is under investigation in Escambia County.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Oak Lodge Mobile Home Park in 7500 block of Lillian Highway for a reported home invasion in progress. The victim told dispatchers that two black males were trying to enter their residence and were armed with guns.
The victim gave a detailed description of the pickup truck the suspects were driving. When deputies arrived on scene the suspects were trying to flee the area in the pickup truck that the victim described, according to the ECSO.
The deputies gave verbal commands to the suspects, the truck then accelerated towards the deputies at which time they fired their weapons at the vehicle. The pickup then crash into the side of the nearby Lillian Square Apartments. Two suspects were transported to local hospitals. Their conditions have not been made available. The resident of the apartment was not injured.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has taken over the investigation, which is standard procedure in officer involved shootings.
The Oak Lodge Mobile Home Park is next door to the Myrtle Grove fire station.
Pictured top: The suspects’s truck crashed to the Lillian Square Apartments. Pictured below: FDLE has taken over the shooting investigation at the Oak Lodge Mobile Home Park. Photos by Ricki Vann, WEAR 3, for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Spring Takes A Break: Frost Advisory Tonight
March 21, 2016
Areas of frost are expected to develop late tonight in the North Escambia area. Sensitive vegetation should be covered to prevent damage. Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Areas of frost after 1am. Otherwise, clear, with a low around 32. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tuesday: Areas of frost before 8am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 68. Light south wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 47. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 74. South wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. South wind around 10 mph.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. South wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Thursday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north after midnight.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 68. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 48.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 73.
Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72.
Century Council To Discuss Tornado Recovery Efforts
March 21, 2016
The Town of Century will discuss tornado recovery during their regular count meeting tonight.
Greg Strader, director of BRACE (Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies), is scheduled to address the town council and provide a recovery update. BRACE continues to coordinate with volunteer organizations that have been active in the disaster to being plans for long-term recovery.
There were 160 homes damaged or destroyed by the February 15 President’s Day EF-3 tornado that tore a 16-mile long path through North Escambia with winds up to 152 mph. The total estimated dollar amount of the damage was $3.9 million.
Federal aid following the disaster has, to date, been denied. Florida has made $2.1 million in housing funds available following the Century tornado on February 15 and an EF-3 tornado in the Ferry Pass area of Pensacola on February 28. Century has not yet learned what their share of the funds will be or determined how applications will be accepted.
The Century Town Council will meet at 7 p.m. at the Century Town Hall on North Century Boulevard. The meeting is open to the public.
Pictured: A home destroyed by an EF-3 tornado on February 15 on Jefferson Avenue in Century. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
One Injured In Late Night Molino Wreck
March 21, 2016
One person was injured in a single vehicle crash late Sunday night in Molino.
The accident happened about 11:30 on Highway 29 at Booth Lake Road with one vehicle reported in a ditch. The driver of the vehicle was transported to an area hospital; his condition was not available.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol; further details including the driver’s name have not been released.
The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the crash.
Camp Fire Century Students Are ‘Absolutely Incredible Kids’
March 21, 2016
The Camp Fire Century Youth Learning Center recently celebrated Absolutely Incredible Kid Day. Each child’s parent wrote a letter to their child letting them know why they are an Absolutely Incredible Kid.
“You are such a funny kid. Never know what you are going to say. You can be the most sweet and loving kid ever. The most incredible this is you’re ours,” one letter said.
“I am a loving, caring, smart young man who loves helping mommy do chores around the house. I am absolutely incredible kid because my beautiful smile always makes mommy smile,” another letter stated.
Pictured: Camp Fire Century Youth Learning Center celebrated Absolutely Incredible Kid Day. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
