John Michael Garrard
July 17, 2019
John Michael “Mike” Garrard, 65 of Cantonment, FL, formerly of Atmore, AL, passed away Saturday July 6, 2019, in Pensacola, Fl. He was a director over medical records. He was born on February 17, 1954, in Atmore, AL to the late John and Fonda Soloman Garrard, Jr.
He is preceded in death by his parents and granddaughter, Lucy Howard.
Survivors include his wife, Gail Blankenbeck Garrard of Ohio; two daughters, Kelly (Rusty) Howard of Allen, TX and Lori Beth (Michael) Diller of Walnut Hill, FL.; brother, David Garrard of Pensacola, FL; step-son, Blaine (Christina) McFarland of Ohio; step-daughter, Dana (Tony) Campise of Ohio; and 11 grandchildren.
Services were held Saturday, July 13, 2019, from Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel.
Interment was in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Joyce Jeffers
July 17, 2019
Joyce Jeffers resident of Molino, FL passed away on July 16, 2019 at the age of 87. She was born on October 14, 1931 to Alton Delune Thomaston and Olene Bowdin Thomaston near Kinston, Alabama. After retiring from Champion Paper Mill (formerly St. Regis) Cantonment, Florida. Joyce was employed with Walmart, Saraland, Alabama. After returning to her home in Molina, Florida Joyce worked for a short time at Grocery Advantage. Joyce’s hobbies have included ceramics, woodworking, and fishing. Her favorite “fishing hole” was in the Tensaw River; Louise and Bumpkin Powell Powell can verify this fact. Joyce was a member of Highland Baptist Church, Molino, Florida. Prior to her residence at the Courtyard, Gulf Breeze. Joyce resided with her son, Deckie, and daughter in love, Terri.
Joyce is preceded in death by her father, DeLunie Thomaston; mother, Olene Thomaston; and sister in law, Shannon Thomaston.
Joyce is survived by her son, Deckie (Terri) Jeffers; brothers, Harold Thomaston, Ronald (Peggy) Thomaston and Donald (Debbie) Thomaston; grandchildren, Steven (Sarah) Jeffers, Kevin (Dannell) Jeffers, Jody (Mark) Celeste, Jennifer (Joey) Gray, Michael (Erin) Jordan and Tim (Meagan) Jordan; 16 great grandchildren and a great number of nieces, nephews and friends.
Visitation will be Sunday, July 21, 2019, from 3:00 to 5:00 PM, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North. Funeral Service will be Monday, July 22, 2019, at 10:00 AM, at the Funeral Home. Pastor Brian Calhoun will be officiating. Interment will be at Rhoades School Cemetery, Coffee County, Alabama.
Pallbearers will be Adrian Enfinger and Wayne Lepley.
Velma Aline Covan
July 17, 2019
Mrs. Velma Aline Covan, age 79, passed away Tuesday, July 9, 2019, in Milton, Florida.
Mrs. Covan was a native of Quitman, MS, a resident of Century, FL for 63 years and had resided in Milton, FL for the past year. She was a member of the Jay Chapter #208 of the Order of Eastern Star, where she served as past grand matron and was a member of the New Life Fellowship Church. She is preceded in death by her parents, Coy and Velma Blackburn; husband, Willie Morris Covan; two sons, Ronnie Hayes and Randy Covan; and a sister, Margaret Levine Jones.
She is survived by her son, Radford (Tina) Covan of Pace, FL; daughter, Recindia (Buck) McCormick of Milton, FL; brother, Sherman (Pat) Glover of Byrneville, FL; 15 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Monday, July 15, 2019, at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Lavon Caraway officiating.
Burial was at the Providence Cemetery, Georgiana, AL
Pallbearers were Matthew Covan, Ashton Covan, Brandon Covan, D.L. Covan, Ben Covan and William Covan.
Honorary pallbearer was Radford Covan.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Carolyn J. Williams Hendrix
July 17, 2019
“And when I awake in Heaven, I will be fully satisfied, for I will see you face to face.” Psalm 17:15 The Living Bible
Carolyn J. Williams Hendrix of Molino, Florida went home to be with her Lord and Savior on July 9, 2019, at the age of 83. She was born in Bay Minette, Alabama on March 20, 1936, to the late Arthur and Moiselle Peacock Williams.
Carolyn’s family moved to Molino, Florida in the early 1940’s and Molino became her life home town.
Carolyn was such a helpmate to the love of her life, Wilbur Hendrix. Together they built Hendrix Service Center in Molino from the ground up. Throughout the 38 years they operated HSC they always gave God the glory for their success. Many souls were saved and lives were changed as a result of their Christian attitude and the kindness that was shown to so many. One of her greatest joys was teaching first through third grade Sunday school for over 20 years at Highland Baptist Church in Molino, Florida.
She was preceded in death by the love of her life of 56 years, Wilbur Hendrix.
Carolyn is survived by her children, Randy (Patty) Hendrix of Jay, Florida and Anita (George) Barnett of Molino, Florida; her grandchildren, Emily Williams, Miranda (Ben) Sevick, Asa Hendrix, Chelsea (John) Helms, Ashley Barnett, Danielle (Brian) Diamond, Patrick, Andrew and Christopher Cooke, and Torri Helm; 14 great-grandchildren; and two brothers, W.V. (Nell) Williams and Carl (Agatha ) Williams. We are so thankful for the outpouring of love by so many during her final weeks.
Services were held at Highland Baptist Church in Molino, Florida on Thursday July 11, 2019.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with arrangements.
Tracy Steadham
July 17, 2019
Mr. Tracy “Buck” Steadham, age 52, passed away Sunday, July 7, 2019, in Pensacola, Florida.
Mr. Steadham was a native of Atmore, AL, was raised in Chumuckla, FL, lived in Flomaton, AL for most of his life and had resided in Century, FL for the past five years. Tracy was a 1986 graduate of Flomaton High School. He was a lineman with Escambia River Electric Co-op with over 30 years of service. He was an outdoorsman and loved to hunt and fish. He was of the Southern Baptist faith. He is preceded in death by his grandparents, Bub and Lucille Steadham, Eva Mae Grissett and Arvin Silcox; two uncles, Winston Steadham and Clyde Steadham; and one aunt, Virginia McKelvain.
He is survived by his father, Carl E. Steadham of Bay Minette, AL; mother, Jo Ann Green of Flomaton, AL; wife of 31 years, his high school sweetheart, Kathy Steadham of Century, FL; two sons, Army E-4 Specialist, Wesley (Carissa) Steadham of Clarksville, TN and Army E-4 Specialist, Casey (Victoria) Steadham of Watertown, NY; one daughter, LeAnn Steadham of Walnut Hill, FL; one brother, Stacey “Pete” (Christy) Steadham of Bay Minette, AL; one grandchild, Emerson Grant Steadham and numerous aunts, uncles, other relatives and many friends.
Funeral services were held Saturday, July 13, 2019, at the First Baptist Church of Flomaton with Rev. Tim Tew officiating.
Burial was at the Flomaton Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Wesley Steadham, Casey Steadham, Pete Steadham, Brandon Smith, Kyle Strickland and David Dees.
Honorary pallbearers were his co-workers and fellow lineman.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Tim Allen Kimmons
July 17, 2019
Mr. Tim Allen Kimmons, age 57, passed away Friday, July 12, 2019, in Mobile, Alabama.
Mr. Kimmons was a native of Century, FL, former resident of Brewton and Flomaton where he spent most of his life and had resided in Range, AL for the past five years. He was an automobile painter and loved stock car racing and was a member of the Ebenezer Church.
He is survived by his mother, Claudeen Kimmons of Range, AL; four brothers, Charles (Kathy) Kimmons of Pensacola, FL, Donnie (Linda) Kimmons of Pensacola, FL, Bernie (Shelia) Kimmons of Cedar Bluff, AL and Douglas (Melinda) Kimmons of Andalusia, AL; one sister, Cindy (Jesse) Burch of Range, AL; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, July 16, 2019, at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Bobby Carnley and Bro. Tim Floyd officiating.
Burial was at the Beulah Chapel Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Justin Burch, Lester Kimmons, Dwaine Kimmons, Steven Kimmons, Doug Kimmons and Bernie Kimmons.
Honorary pallbearers were Mark Boyinton, Lee Ledbetter, Dakorey Kimmons, Chris Burch, Skyler McDaniel and Tyler McDaniel.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Missing, Endangered Teen Located Safe
July 16, 2019
UPDATE: This missing juvenile was located safe.
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help to locate a missing and endangered teen female.
Kyla Shannon was last seen in the area of Pebble Brook Drive in Milton on June 28. The SRSO said it was initially believed she intentionally ran away from home, but they recently received information she may be endangered.
She may be in the company of a white female, approximately 40 years of age, with brown hair and hazel eyes. She may be in the Pensacola or Panama City area. Shannon is 16, is 5-feet 5-inches tall, weighs 190 pounds, has black hair and blue eyes. She may be wearing nose ring.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 983-1100, Detective Scott Assmann at (850) 983-1243 or Santa Rosa County Crime Stoppers at (850) 437-STOP.
One Injured In Highway 29, Highway 97 Rollover Crash
July 16, 2019
One person was injured in a rollover crash in Molino Tuesday.
The wreck happened at Highway 29 and Highway 97 when a pickup and SUV collided, causing the SUV to roll over. A second SUV sustained minor damage.
One person from a vehicle the SUV that rolled over was transported by Escambia County EMS to West Florida Hospital. The occupants of two other vehicles involved in the crash were not injured.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. The Molino and Cantonment stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Former Gulf Breeze City Manager Hired To Turn Century Around
July 16, 2019
The Century Town Council voted Monday night to hire former Gulf Breeze City Manager Edwin “Buz” Eddy as a consultant to help the turn the town around.
He will be paid $35 an hour an independent contractor, not an employee, and receive a $200 mileage reimbursement. He will also bill for services provided by additional consultants not yet named.
The council has allotted up to $5,000 for his Eddy’s services. His first day will be July 29 after he completes previously planned personal travel. Eddy will answer to Mayor Henry Hawkins and the town council under an “at will” arrangement.
“Local government is my passion,” Eddy said. “I’m not doing this to make a lot of money.”
He said his first goals will be to get the town on track in the budget making process and work to improve the bottom line in the gas department, which has consistently lost money for several years.
Council members have expressed concern that the town purchased new gas meters months ago in an effort to increase billing accuracy and revenue, but very few of those meters have actually been installed.
Eddy said the meter installations should be another priority, even if the town hires a contractor to complete the work because their gas department does not have the time or resources.
Eddy made the unsolicited consultant offer after reading a report by independent financial consultant Bob Inzer, whose services were provided to the town by the Florida League of Cities following a scathing grand jury findings. Inzer repeatedly told the town council that Century needs to hire someone for a chief financial officer type position to have direct oversight over the town’s finances.
Pictured: Edwin “Buz” Eddy addresses the Century Town Council Monday night. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Local Marine Struck And Killed On California Roadway
July 16, 2019
A local Marine was struck and killed by vehicle as he crossed a multi-lane highway Saturday night in Orange County, California.
Pfc. Trace Goodwin, 19, was struck by a Tesla Model 3 about 9:30 p.m. Saturday on Jamboree Road in a Tustin, California, business district. Goodwin was in the roadway at the time he was hit by the vehicle, according to police, but the exact circumstances have not been released.
Goodwin was pronounced deceased at the scene. Tustin Police said the driver of the Tesla remained on scene and was cooperative with police. Authorities did not believe alcohol or drugs were a factor in the crash.
Goodwin was from Atmore and was a resident of Pensacola, according to police.