Mary Frances Smith
November 30, 2019
Mary Frances Smith, 77, of Atmore, AL, passed away on Monday, November 18, 2019, at her residence. She drove truck and worked at Buster’s Restuarant for many years. She also owned Ramblin Rose. She was born in Georgianna, AL on November 25, 1941, to the late Arthur and Inez Johnson Stokes.
She is preceded by her parents; two daughters, Kathy Harrison, and Angela Stoll; and brother, Mack Stokes.
Survivors include her husband of 51 years, Aubrey Smith of Atmore; one son, Aubrey “Sonny Man” (Faye) Smith of Turnerville, AL; five daughters, Janet Hayes of St. Stephens, AL, Judith (Rusty) Zeller of Picaynne, MS, Jackie (Larry) Kiper of Saraland, AL, Jeannie (Wayne) Crabbtree of Semmes, AL, and Kimberly Turner of Mt. Vernon, AL; step-daughters, Vicky (Don) Williams of McCullough, AL, Lisa (Ricky) Ward of Excel, AL, and Michelle (Claude) Turberville of Saraland, AL; one brother, Lester (Naomi) Stokes of Crenshaw County, AL; 24 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Services were held Friday, November 22, 2019, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel, with Bro. Glenn Barnhill officiating.
Graveside services were held at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Saraland, AL.
Active pallbearers were Tommy Primm, Timothy Primm, Jason Vickery, Michael Thomas, Bo Ward, and Jesse Ward.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
William Cook
November 30, 2019
William “Eddie” Edward Cook of Davisville, FL. passed away Friday, November 29, 2019 in Pensacola, FL. He was born in Chumukla, FL. on March 26, 1937 to the late Roy W. and Edith Marie Carnley Cook. He served in the United States Army. He was a retired Senior Mechanic with Exxon Mobil and had work for the City of Atmore with the Beautification Department. He was a member of the Walnut Hill & Century Masonic Lodge. He also was a 32nd degree mason and Past Grand Patron of the Order of The Eastern Star of Florida which was an elected position. He began playing fiddle when he was 8 years old and became a well-known musician during his life. He is preceded in death by his parents, two brothers Leon Cook and Clarence Ray Cook.
He is survived by his wife Laura Green Cook of Davisville, FL. Two sons Chadwick W. (Tonya Black) Cook of Nokomis, FL. and Brady E. (Kay) Cook of Daphne, AL. One brother Winston Cook of Pace, FL; two sisters Voncile Grant of Pace, FL. and Marie (Otis) Joiner of Milton, FL. 7 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held 11 AM Tuesday, December 3, 2019 at Brooks Memorial Baptist Church with Dr. Dale Patterson officiating. Interment will follow in McCullough Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Chris Burkland, Randon Watson, Cordair Cook, Travis Ashcraft, John Wesley Cook and Scottie Cook.
Honorary pallbearers will be Ron L. Cook, Greg Crenshaw, Brian Crenshaw, Darrell Crenshaw, Ron Cook and Donnie Grant
Visitation will be held Monday, December 2, 2019 from 6pm until 8pm from the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Eastern Star Service starting at 6 pm.
Fire Destroys Landmark Skate Center On Navy Boulevard
November 29, 2019
A two alarm fire destroyed the former Landmark Skate Center at 1002 Navy Boulevard early Friday morning.
Multiple units from Escambia Fire Rescue, the Pensacola Fire Department and the Navy were dispatched at 3:12 a.m. and remained on scene for hours working to extinguish the blaze. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office.
North Escambia fire units from Molino and Cantonment were alerted and shifted southward to other fire stations to provide standby coverage.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Major Water Leak Near ECUA Well On 10 Mile Road Leads To Boil Water Notice
November 29, 2019
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority crews worked for hours Friday to contain a major water leak near a well on East 10 Mile Road.
Crews started work on the repairs about 5:30 a.m. and had restored pressure to all but a few addresses on 10 Mile Road in the immediate area by 2 p.m. A precautionary boil water notice was issued for 10 Mile Road between Highway 29 and 40 10 Mile Road.
Water flowed and was standing in areas over a quarter mile away. East 10 Mile Road was closed between Highway 29 and North Palafox Street by the leak.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Century Man Injured In Collision With Log Truck Passes Away
November 29, 2019
A Century man critically injured in a collision with a log truck in Century earlier this month has passed away.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 86-year old Jim Burl Day was traveling south on Old Flomaton Road approaching East Highway 4 on November 11. He failed to make a complete stop with his 2000 Dodge Dakota pickup and pulled into the path of an approaching log truck. Wilford Kenneth Hancock, age 66 of Baker, was unable to avoid a collision, with the front of his semi striking the passenger side of Day’s pickup. Day’s pickup came to rest in the edge of a wooded area, and the log truck jackknifed into a ditch.
Day was extricated from the vehicle and airlifted to a Pensacola Hospital by LifeFlight helicopter with serious injuries. He passed away this week. Hancock suffered minor injuries and was treated on scene by Escambia County EMS.
Day was ticketed by the FHP for failing to stop at the stop sign following the crash.
Funeral services for Day are set for Friday. Click here for his complete obituary.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Man Shot In The Groin In Escambia County
November 29, 2019
A man showed up at the hospital Thanksgiving day with a gunshot wound he suffered Wednesday night in Escambia County.
The incident happened on North Loop Road near Blue Angel Parkway.
The man arrived at a Baldwin County hospital Thursday with a gunshot wound to his groin. He told deputies he was shot about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, but he provided multiple stories on exactly what happened, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. He first told deputies his girlfriend caught him cheating and shot him, but he later said someone else shot him.
There was no word of any arrests.
Nine Mile Crash Claims Life Of Motorcyclist Thanksgiving Night
November 29, 2019
A motorcyclist will killed on Nine Mile Road Thanksgiving night.
Phillip Woodruff, 57, of Pensacola was traveling east on Nine Mile Road on his Harley Davidson about 6:16 p.m Thursday. The Florida Highway Patrol said 24-year old Tyler Kendrick of Pensacola was stopped at a stop sign on Bowman Avenue when he failed to yield the right of way. Troopers said he pulled into the intersection and into the path of Woodruff’s motorcycle.
Any charges are pending the outcome of a traffic homicide investigation, according to FHP.
Council On Aging Seeks Support For Ramp Building Program
November 29, 2019
Wheelchair-bound, dependent on a cane or walker, and literally unable to leave their front steps because of disability, clients of Council on Aging of West Florida’s ramp-building program receive hope and independence, as well as a safe, functional way to leave their home. The program functions entirely on the backs of our volunteer team and supplies are purchased solely from community donations. As part of Giving Tuesday 2019 on December 3, the Council on Aging seeks to grow our wheelchair ramp fund in order to serve those who need this program. Currently, individuals are placed on a waitlist until funds are available.
The ramp program not only creates a way for wheelchair-bound clients to leave their home; it also serves as a bridge from homebound boredom and fragility to opportunities and experiences in the outside world. This program has served dozens of senior adults in the two-county area and demand continues to grow. Currently, more than five disabled elder adults are eagerly awaiting their day of freedom.
“I used to have to be home all day,” said Roger Hurlbutt, a veteran for whom the Council on Aging recently installed a wheelchair ramp leading out of his rural home. “It’s great being able to go out now. It’s been a big help. Council on Aging has helped me so much.”
All donations given toward this goal on Giving Tuesday will be matched by the Home Instead Senior Care Foundation, but individuals must give via https://www.give65.org/rampteam. This year marks the third year in a row Council on Aging has partnered with both the Home Instead Senior Care Foundation and the local Home Instead Senior Care office to raise money for areas of acute need in our elderly community. In 2018, Council on Aging raised over $8,000 for Meals on Wheels, and in 2017 the agency raised $3,800 for our general fund. This year, the goal is $5,000, but thanks to matching dollars, the local community needs to only contribute $2,500 of that.
“According to Home Instead Senior Care Foundation, ‘less than 2 percent of our nation’s largest grant-makers are specifically focused on seniors,’” said Stacy Robello, owner of the local Home Instead Senior Care office. “Giving to the Council on Aging of West Florida with our foundation’s matching funds will help seniors age with dignity and independence. Something as simple as having a ramp will allow seniors to successfully age in place as long as possible in their own home.”
Giving Tuesday is December 3 and the fundraising initiative continues for 24 hours. All donations will be matched.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Free Beans, Rice And Clothing Giveaway Saturday In Cantonment
November 29, 2019
Saint Monica’s Episcopal Church will be giving away free dried beans, white rice, coats and other gently worn clothing items on Saturday, November 30.
The distribution will be from 9 until 11 a.m. (or while supplies last) at the church located at 699 South Hwy 95-A in Cantonment.
There are no guidelines and no paperwork required.
The rice and beans are distributed on the last Saturday of every month.
Black Friday, Cyber Monday Safe Shopping Tips
November 29, 2019
Here are safe holiday shopping tips from Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody:
- When shopping online it is often wise to pay with a credit card instead of a debit card, if possible. Both payment methods allow you to dispute a charge if the merchandise never arrives or is different from what was ordered. However, with a debit card, the purchase is already deducted from your bank account and it may take days or weeks for your bank to reverse the charge.
- When ordering online, ensure that the web browser has a secure connection before inputting or submitting payment information. In the address bar, a padlock should appear if your session is secure.
- Some debit and credit card providers offer one-time card numbers to be used for online transactions to further protect their cardholders. Log in to your account or contact your card provider to see if it offers this service.
- When shopping online there are often additional costs such as shipping and handling. Be sure to account for such additional charges when comparing prices across retailers or when making the choice between an online purchase or an instore purchase.
- Keep your receipts and be sure you understand retailers’ return policies and periods so you can return any unwanted item(s) for a full refund.
- Some retailers offer layaway plans or other payment options to allow shoppers to pay for items in installments or at a later date. Before agreeing to such a plan, be sure to ask whether the retailer charges a fee for its program and whether payments and any fees are refundable if the purchase is canceled or returned.
- When purchasing gift cards, check whether there is an additional activation fee, and provide the activation receipt to the recipient. Additionally, consider the retailer’s financial situation before buying a gift card. If the retailer closes or declares bankruptcy, the recipient may not be able enjoy the card’s value.
- Shop with retailers that you are familiar with or have done business with in the past. If shopping with a new retailer, check with the Better Business Bureau at www.bbb.org to determine whether other customers have filed complaints against them