Vivian Louise Chavers Pate
June 20, 2016
Mrs. Vivian Louise Chavers Pate, age 64, of Unicorn Lane in Brewton, Alabama, passed away Thursday, June 16, 2016, at her residence after a brief illness. She was a native and lifelong resident of Brewton. Mrs. Pate attended Pilgrims Chapel Church. She was a 1970 graduate of Conecuh County High School in Castleberry, and a graduate of Jefferson Davis Community College. She was a homemaker.
Survivors include her husband of 45 years, Jerry Pate of Brewton; three sons, Joshua Pate of Phoenix City, Alabama, Jeremy Pate and Jonah Pate, both of Brewton; Miss Jordan Salter of Brewton; two brothers, Joe Chavers and Mack Chavers, both of Brewton; seven grandchildren; one great-grandchild; two aunts, Faye Chavers of Brewton and Dr. Delaine Salter of Atmore; and one uncle, Willie Chavers of North Alabama.
Funeral services were held Sunday, June 19, 2016, at Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Fred White officiating.
Interment was in Beulah Cemetery in Brewton.
Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Brewton directing.
Floyd Lester Johnson
June 20, 2016
Mr. Floyd Lester Johnson, 85, passed away on Friday, June 17, 2016, in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Mr. Floyd Lester Johnson was a native of Whitehouse Fork, Alabama, and a former resident of Clanton, AL and had resided in Shreveport for the past 10 years. Mr. Johnson was a Veteran of the Korean War, and a retired machinist with the Federal Government-NASA Program.
He is preceded in death by a son, Lester Raymond “Butch” Johnson; mother of his children, Barbara Ballinger Johnson; two sisters, Ernestine Rowlan and Helen Whatley; and four brothers, Lonzo, George, Carl, and Curtis Johnson.
He is survived by his two daughters, Regina (Bob) Lowry of Blanchard, LA and Tonya (Michael) Holley of Clanton, AL; one brother, Lorenzo Johnson of Crossroads, AL; one sister, Maxine Bowen of Crossroads; eight grandchildren, Shelly (David) Feaster of Bossier City, LA, Brian Donald of Shreveport, LA, Kristy Zackary of Alexandria, LA, Jonathan (Courtney) Lowry of Shreveport, LA, Sheri Spikes of Blanchard, LA, Christopher (Donna) Chamness of Winston-Salem, NC, Christina (Shane) Gros of Saraland and Jeremy (Dana) Chamness of Fairhope; and 17 great-grandchildren.
Graveside services were held Sunday, June 19, 2016, at 2 p.m. at the Johnson Cemetery with Sis. Helen Stewart officiating.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Hazel Ruth McGhee Brice
June 20, 2016
Hazel Ruth McGhee Brice, 75 of Atmore, passed away Wednesday, June 15, 2016, in Mobile. She was a retired registered nurse. She was born in Poarch, on August 22, 1940, to the late Mace and Elba “Coot” Presley McGhee . She was a Member of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. She was one of the first Native Americans to graduate from University of Alabama. She served on the Board of Church Society for the UMC, serving Native American and Indigenous Family’s.
She is preceded in death by her husband, James A. Brice; sister, Evona Menzel; nephew, Keith Allen McGhee; and a niece, Karen Menzel.
Survivors include one son, Russel (Jeanette) McGhee; two daughters, Stephanie Brice (Thomas) Rolin, and Jaine McGhee all of Atmore; one brother, Mace McGhee,Jr of Samish Island, WA; four sisters, Betty (Jimmy) Caraway, Clara (Kenny Ray) Jones, Kim (Jimmy) Flowers, all of Atmore, and Karen (Jeff) Findley of Everett, WA; nine grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren and a special friend, Doyle Coleman.
Services were held Monday, June 20, 2016, at 10 a.m. from the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Dianne Everette officiating.
Interment will follow in New Home Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Cory Flowers, Trent Flowers, Shane Caraway, Mark Spurill, Frankie Jones and Justin McGhee.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Aaron Louis Steele
June 20, 2016
Aaron Louis Steele, 85, of Pensacola, passed away Thursday, June 16, 2016, in Pensacola. He graduated from Ernest Ward High School. He retired from Southern Bell and AT&T. He was born in Oak Grove on August 14, 1930, to the late Alex and Elizabeth Greer Steele.
He is preceded in death by brothers, Marshall (Elise) Steele, Raymond (Ruby) Steele, Amond (Mary) Steele, Edward Steele, and Roger (Jean) Steele.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Carolyn Steele; one son, Floyd Glen (Vicky) Steele; granddaughter, Sarah (Joshua) Price; two step-granddaughters, Michelle (Phillip) Salzman and Charity (Peter) Zierten; one daughter, Sandra (Steve) Ryland; granddaughter, Brandi (Jesse) Barefield; eight great-grandchildren; one sister, Laverne Passmore; five brothers, Juber (Ethel) Steele, Cleveland (Ann) Steele, Artis (Syble) Steele, Onoree (Brenda) Steele and Bennie (Eloise) Steele; one sister-in-law, Frances , and numerous nieces and nephews.
Services were held Monday, June 20, 2016, at the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Robert Heard officiating.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Sidney Allen Gill, Jr.
June 20, 2016
Sidney Allen Gill, Jr., age 68, of Milton, was called home June 16, 2016, while surrounded by his cherished family. He was born in Pensacola on January 1, 1948, to Willie Jewel Burch and her then husband, the late Sidney Gill, Sr.. Sid was a proud 1968 graduate of Pensacola High School and Troy State University where he earned a masters degree in Business Management. He was a member of the Army National Guard and retired from Hatch Mott MacDonald Engineering after 17 years of service. Sid was known for his dedication to his family, his fondness for FSU, Pace High School and Catholic High School sports.
He is survived by his devoted children, Julie Thompson of Pensacola, Greg (Sidney) Gill, of Pace and Dana Chase, of Milton; nine grandchildren; his mother, Willie Jewel Burch; sisters, Sheryl (Jeff) Pomeroy of Cantonment and Gloria (Kent) Fox of Nashville, TN; special friends, Jeff, Shazelle, Trey, Tanner, and Trace Halstead; his father’s second wife, Leilani Gill-Hamer and her children, Martin (Kris) Gill and Monica (Greg) Fowler; and many nieces, nephews and friends.
Per Sid’s request there will be a private family ceremony to celebrate his life at a later date. In lieu of a service, Sid would like to be remembered by a fried mullet meal with a cold Coke in his honor. His family gives special thanks to the staff of Life Care Center of Pensacola.
Honorary pall bearers are Jeff Halstead, Glen Fryou, Thomas Burch and Ron Smith.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of arrangements.
Gwendolyn E. Cotton
June 20, 2016
Gwendolyn E. Cotton, a lifelong resident of Pensacola, passed away on Monday, June 20, 2016, at the age of 69. She was an avid New Orleans Saints and LSU football fan.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Flora Mae Meriwether “Mimi”; father, Louis Clement Rance; and niece, Susan King Weems.
Gwendolyn is survived by her husband, Gary F. Cotton; brother, Terry Louis (Carol) Rance; sister, Dianne Rance (Hugh) King of Mandeville, LA; her beloved beagle, Boudreaux; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, June 23, 2016, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home South with Rev. Jack Hankins officiating. The family will receive friends at 1:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers donations may be may to the Sacred Heart Foundation for Local Cancer Care, 5151 North 9th. Avenue, Pensacola, FL 32504.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home South is entrusted with arrangements.
Unemployment Rate Drops In North Escambia
June 19, 2016
The latest job numbers released show the employment rate falling in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in Florida, while inching upwards in Alabama.
Escambia County’s seasonably adjusted unemployment rate fell from 4.7 percent in April to 4.4 percent in May. There were 6,188 people reported unemployed during the period. One year ago, unemployment in Escambia County was 5.7 percent.
Santa Rosa County unemployment decreased from 4.2 percent to 4.0 percent from April to May. Santa Rosa County had a total of 2,905 persons still unemployed. The year-ago unemployment rate in Santa Rosa County was 4.8 percent.
In Escambia County, Alabama, unemployment increased slightly from 6.0 percent in April to 6.3 percent in May. That represented 928 people unemployed in the county during the month. One year ago, the unemployment rate in Escambia County, Alabama, was 7.0 percent.
Florida’s unemployment rate dropped from 4.8 percent in April to 4.7 percent in May, with the new rate representing an estimated 457,000 people being out of work, according to state Department of Economic Opportunity figures released Friday. The numbers reflect a projected 16,000 fewer people qualified as unemployed from April to May, while the workforce of 9.8 million has shrunk by 30,000 in the same time. The state unemployment mark now matches the federal rate, which dropped from 5 percent to 4.7 percent between April and May.
Alabama’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, at 6.1 percent in May, was unchanged from April’s rate of 6.1 and was also unmoved from the year-ago rate of 6.1 percent.
The jobless numbers released by Florida and Alabama do not include persons that have given up on finding a job and are no longer reported as unemployed.
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.
Birthday Party Held For Rescue Horse
June 19, 2016
Panhandle Equine Rescue in Cantonment held a 32nd birthday party for Sky, their second rescue horse, and an open house event on Saturday.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Gulf Power Crews Deploy To Restore Power In Alabama
June 19, 2016
Following a round of Friday night storms that left customers without power across the Southeast, Gulf Power crews headed north Saturday to help sister company Alabama Power restore power in the Montgomery area.
A storm team of more than 60 crew and support staff from Gulf Power along with 15 distribution line contractors will assist in storm restoration after a state of emergency was declared due to widespread power outages caused by Friday’s storms.
According to a release from the office of the Alabama governor, Robert Bentley, the declaration will allow crews from other states, including Gulf Power, to assist in the restoration of power until Tuesday. Alabama Power crews worked overnight to restore 42,000 power outages statewide, with the majority of the outages in Mobile, where 13,500 customers were still without power by Saturday morning.
“Our crews worked through the night to restore power here in Northwest Florida due to the same storm system,” said Rick DelaHaya, Gulf Power spokesperson. “Once we have completed our restoration efforts, our crews will travel to help our sister company. That’s the power of being a part of Southern Company — to be able to call on sister companies for help . We make every effort to respond as quickly and safely as possible to unforeseen weather events, whether right here at home or for our neighbors.”
The Gulf Power crews deployed from various company locations including Pensacola, Crestview and Chipley.
File photo.
Couple Hosts Appreciation Picnic For Beulah VFD
June 19, 2016
The Beulah community turned out Saturday afternoon for a Beulah Volunteer Fire Department Appreciation Picnic.
The event was hosted by Donna and Joe Meeks at their Live Oak Plantation in Beulah and included grilled Conecuh Sausage, hot dogs, other food, games and music.
“Joe and I thought it would be fitting to show them just how much everyone in Beulah appreciate them and their families for all their hard work, time and effort they give for all of us with little or no recognition,” Donna Meeks wrote on Facebook.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
