Grab-And-Go Easter Giveaway Provides Over 1,000 Meals, Easter Goodies
April 12, 2020
Escambia County Commissioner Lumon May, retired NFL guard Josh Sitton, retired professional boxer Roy Jones Jr. and retired NFL defensive tackle Fred Robbins hosted a grab-and-go drive-thru Easter event for children Saturday at Legion Field.
Parents and children received a free boxed lunch, fresh vegetables and fruit. A free Easter goody bag was also given to children.
“The last few weeks have been a difficult time for all of us as we adjust to the new normal of limiting gatherings and social distancing amid COVID-19,” Commissioner May said. “We wanted to give kids and families a sense of normalcy and provide a fun way to get out of the house and still celebrate the holiday.”
The even was sponsored by the Sitton family and other local residents.
Durrice Garvin
April 12, 2020
Durrice Garvin passed away Sunday, April 5, 2020, after a long battle with lung cancer. He was born the third of four children to Sherman and Unogar Garvin, of Florala, Alabama.
Durrice was a hard-working, generous man who loved his God, his country and his family. He would help anyone in need without any expectation of anything in return. His love for his family was at the top of the list, and he cared for them all to the best of his ability. His favorite saying was, “The Lord’s been good to me.”, from the lyrics of the old song. He worked at the papermill in Cantonment for 24 years, as a pipefitter. He worked at the shipyards in Pascagoula for a time, then joined Pipefitters Local 366, where he traveled all over the country maintaining nuclear power plants. He retired in 2010 and maintained rental houses, providing homes for eight other families.
Durrice was preceded in death by his parents, and many aunts and uncles from his large family.
He is survived by his loving wife, Rebecca; one daughter, Melanie Gregory (John); son, Jeremy; two beautiful granddaughters, Katie and Kristen. He also leaves numerous nieces and nephews who thought the world of him.
There will be a small graveside service, with only immediate family, due to the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions. We know that friends and other family members would like to attend, but times are what they are, unfortunately.
The family would like to thank Dr. Ibrahim, Dr. Adams and Dr. Bryan for their care throughout his illness. Thanks, also, to Emerald Coast Hospice for the compassionate care they provided during the past month. Any memorial gifts can be made to Emerald Coast Hospice or the American Cancer Society.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with arrangements.
John W. Miller
April 12, 2020
John W. “Johnny” Miller, 72, of Cantonment, FL, passed away Thursday, April 2, 2020, of a heart attack.
John was born in Stockton, AL to Nora and Willie Miller, and spent most of his life in Cantonment, FL. He graduated from Tate High School in 1965. In the fall of 1965, he joined the Army and was always a proud veteran. After discharge from the Army, John went to work for Baroco Electric Construction Company of Pensacola where he worked for 43 years as an apprentice, electrician, and job superintendent. Johnny is a local electrical legend, having mentored many, including his brother George, his son Jerry, brothers-in-law, Eddie Sanders, John Sanders, and Tommy Sanders (Sanders Brothers Electric of Pensacola), and so many more.
John was a devoted and loving husband to Pat Miller, his wife of 45 years. He enjoyed spending time outside with his little shadow, Robert Charles Parazine, his hound dogs, and chickens. He also enjoyed doing “projects” for family and friends. He was a strong, hardworking man who could build or fix anything. His family often called him “Superman”.
John was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Ellis Miller, and sister, Florence Lucille McQueary.
He is survived by his wife, Pat Sanders Miller; brothers, James Miller and George Miller; sisters, Opal Darby, Irene Garrett, and Bernice Hudson (Larry); beloved children, Jonny Ray Miller, Charity Parazine Moncada (Misael), Aril Parazine Gibson, Regina Syphurs (James), and Jerry Sanders (Angie); the grandchildren he loved more than life, John Westley Miller, Darin Frank (DEEJ) Voght, Chris Miller, Aleigha Brooks, Nic Parazine, Jillian Gibson, Robert Charles Parazine, Dalton Miller, Gabe Miller, Alex Ferguson, Gabe Ferguson, and Piper Ferguson; and five precious great grandsons, Xander, Caden, Killian, Kain, and #5 due in August. He is also survived by numerous other friends, relatives, his buddy, Dave Dailey (who is also a brother-in-law), and his best neighbor ever, Ira Garman.
John attended Farm Hill United Methodist Church and cherished his church family. He loved unconditionally and with all his heart. He lived a simple, unpretentious life and was truly larger than life.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with arrangements.
Ruth Edythe McCurdy Horne
April 12, 2020
Ruth Edythe “Edye” McCurdy Horne, of McDavid, Florida, passed away on April 7, 2020, in a rehabilitation facility in Milton, Florida. She was born on August 5, 1941, in Century, Florida.
Edye graduated from Century High School and attended Pensacola Junior College. Edye had a deep love for so many people and animals in her life. Her love of Ed Horne, her husband of 42 years, was special. Edye was a loving daughter, sister, aunt, cousin and friend throughout her life. She loved and cared for her King Charles Cavaliers – Chase and then Jackson so much as well as her and Ed’s Appaloosas. For years she was secretary of the Appaloosa Pleasure Horse Association. Her love of others shone in a quote she recently shared, “The noblest art is that of making others happy” – PT Barnum. Edye retired from Monsanto in Gonzalez, Florida, after over 30 years of service to Chemstrand/Monsanto, where she worked in several roles, with the last being in human resource administration. Edye loved sports. While in both high school and working at Monsanto she played multiple sports. She also coached young girls’ basketball during her employment at Monsanto. She also enjoyed working as a home interiors displayer, for which she was a top sales person for numerous years.
Edye is preceded in death by her husband, Clarence Edwin Horne Jr; parents, Harold Hayes McCurdy and Eva Mae Edwards McCurdy; sister, Jane McCurdy; brother-in-law Charles Andrews; sister-in-law, Mona McCurdy; nephew, John Andrews; great niece Stephanie Macks and great-great-nephew, Adam Knowles.
She is survived by her sister, Mary McCurdy Andrews ; brothers, Thomas Edwards McCurdy (Sylvia); Richard Harold McCurdy; nieces, Sandra Andrews Greenwell (Thomas), Anne Andrews Powell (Kenny), Merilee McCurdy, Natalie McCurdy (Blaine); nephews, Steven Andrews (Sandra), Matthew McCurdy (Mimi), Roderick McCurdy (Andrea), Benjamin McCurdy (Ashley), Nicholas McCurdy (Wright), along with numerous great nieces and nephews. Ed’s children, Denise Allain; Lynn Horne (Norman) and Dennis Horne; and other relatives and friends. Thanks to a special friend in the past years who has helped Edye, Brenda Yarter.
Pallbearers are Joshua Greenwell, Jeremy Greenwell and Candice Greenwell.
A small private graveside service was held at Eastern Gate Memorial Funeral Home in Pensacola, Florida, on Monday, April 13, 2020.
A future Celebration of Edye’s Life will be held and shared at a later date.
UWF Coach Is Running Seven Marathons In Seven Days To Help Feed The Community
April 12, 2020
Inspired by an ultrarunner in Palm Bay, Florida, who ran 100 miles in one day to raise money for COVID-19 relief efforts, University of West Florida cross country coach Caleb Carmichael laced up his Nike running shoes and left his home at 5 a.m. on Monday, April 6. He returned about 3½ hours and nearly 27 miles later, one step closer to his admittedly “crazy” goal.
The 35-year-old Carmichael is running seven marathons in seven days to raise money for Argo Pantry, which provides food to UWF students in need of assistance, and for Feeding the Gulf Coast, a food bank that serves 24 counties throughout the Florida panhandle, South Alabama and South Mississippi. He set up a crowdfunding page through Feeding the Gulf Coast. Argo Pantry asks that donations be made through its wish list on Amazon or by visiting the student support webpage and selecting Argo Pantry as the designation.
“As a community we’re going to have a lot of people lose jobs and not be able to feed their kids and we need to do something about it,” said Carmichael, who is in his seventh year as the UWF men’s and women’s cross country head coach and will complete his fundraiser on Sunday, April 12. “It needed to be something crazy enough for people to take notice. Doing seven in a row is a monumental task.”
Since the spread of COVID-19, Feeding the Gulf Coast reports over a 500% increase in people seeking food assistance. From April 1-7, the organization distributed over 100,000 pounds of food during its mobile panty distributions and distributed 4,000 meals and 4,000 snacks to children in the community. The demand put on food banks nationwide increases each day as the unemployment rate skyrockets from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Feeding America, the largest network of food banks with over 200 affiliates, projects a $1.4 billion shortfall in the next six months.
Those grim projections motivate Carmichael each morning to lace the Nikes back up and hit the pavement. Last month, he ran 100 miles in a week, capped by a marathon, but seven marathons in seven days—a total of about 186.2 miles—marks a first for him.
“It’s been hard no doubt about it, but I’m just inspired to do something for somebody else,” said Carmichael, after completing his fourth consecutive marathon on Thursday, April 9. “Each day I start off very sore, very tired and kind of work through it. Halfway in I feel better and then toward the end I get tired and worn out. I spend most of the day then resting and eating and getting hydrated so that I’m ready for the next day.”
For more information about Argo Pantry, visit uwf.edu/argopantry.
Brian Chess Helton
April 12, 2020
Brian Chess Helton, 39 of Atmore, AL, passed away April 3, 2020, in Pensacola, FL. He was born in Mobile, AL, on February 3, 1981, to Chester “Chet” Jr. and Linda Kaye Singleton Helton. He was a sales representative most of his life.
He is preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Chester, Sr. and Mabel Helton and his maternal grandparents, Bernard and Mavis Singleton.
He is survived by his parents, Chester “Chet” Jr. and Kaye Helton of Atmore, AL; one brother, Chad (Suzanne) Helton of Atmore; and one sister, Ashley (Brad) Trawick of Atmore, AL; nieces and nephews, Taylor Helton (Austin) Lee, Brett (Hannah) Helton, Chaston Helton, Avery Trawick and Charlie Trawick; great-nieces, Ella Kate Lee and Maggie Scott Lee.
A private family memorial service will be held at a later date.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Donna Butler Welch
April 12, 2020
Donna Butler Welch, resident of Pensacola, FL, passed away on April 10, 2020, at the age of 66, after fighting a losing battle with dementia. She was born in Marion, IN, on October 21, 1953, to the late James Cecil Butler and Julia Fairlena Butler Croddy.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Greg Thomas Welch and sister Phyllis Aidt.
Donna is survived by her daughters, Julianne Poole and her husband Kevin, and Amber Johnson and her husband Michael, six grandchildren Luke, Lane, Elizabeth (Libby) and Frederick (Freddy) Poole and Bentley and Abigail Johnson, as well as two brothers, Jack Butler, his wife Ruth and Fred Butler, his wife Jill, also one sister Betty Cline, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
She will be greatly missed and will be remembered most for her compassion as a registered nurse. She touched many lives because of her love of medical missions, and was always willing to do what she could to help, no matter the socioeconomic background.
A memorial service will be held and announced at a later date.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with arrangements.
Kenneth Richard Maddox
April 12, 2020
Kenneth Richard Maddox, 42 of Canoe, AL passed away March 27, 2020, in Canoe. He was born in Elgin, IL to Jerry and Kathryn Willett Maddox on January 4, 1978. He
worked for Winn Dixie in Atmore, AL for 15 years and he is preceded in death by his father Jerry Maddox.
He is survived by his mother, Kathryn Maddox of Canoe, AL; one brother, David Maddox of Canoe, AL and his sister, Karen (Kenneth) Condrey of Flomaton, AL; two nieces, Ashley Austin and Morgan Condrey.
A memorial service was held Monday, March 30, 2020, at the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Alvin Brown and Bro. Kevin Odom officiating.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Barbara J. Lane
April 12, 2020
Barbara J. Lane, resident of Pensacola, FL, passed away on Thursday, April 9, 2020, at the age of 77. She was born in Pike County, Kentucky on October 15, 1942, to the late Clyde Moore and Bell Ball Moore.
Barbara retired from Syossett Hospital in New York and Sacred Heart Hospital.
She is preceded in death by her husband of 46 years, Richard Lane (09/02/2012).
She is survived by her daughter, Rhonda (Debra) Kay Phillips; step daughters, Patricia Lane Spivey and Karen Lane Loop; grandson, Kallen (April) Phillips; great-grandchildren, Haeden “Jellybean”, Emily “Emmy” and Kallen Andrew “Lil Man” Phillips; other grandchildren, Laurie, Tracey White, Sandra, Doug, Kerrie, Timmy, Amanda, and Kenny; and numerous great grandchildren.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with arrangements.
Lisa Darlene Parnell
April 12, 2020
Lisa Darlene (Donald) Parnell born February 26, 1962, passed away in her home April 6, 2020, in Atmore, Alabama.
She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister and aunt. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. She is preceded in death by her daughter, Heather Lyn Stewart.
Those left to cherish her memory include husband, Thomas Parnell; children, Jennifer, Jamie and Alyson Donald, Joseph Parnell, Christian Perez; mother, Robbie (Lindsey) Cook; brother, Russell Donald; sister, Linda (Cook) O’Bryan; grandchildren, Brittanee and Madison Thomas; numerous other relatives and a multitude of friends.
Funeral services were held Friday, April 10, 2020, at the Petty- Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Eric Jerkins and Sis. Helen Stewart officiating.
Burial was at the Dean Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Robert McClain, Dee Baldwin, Danny Brooks, Logan Tippo, Galvin Brothers, James “Jr.” McMillian, Michael Walden and Ivory Johnson.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.