Former Atmore Mayor Howard Shell Has Passed Away
August 23, 2021
Former Atmore Mayor Howard Shell has passed away at age 88.
Shell was born in Monroe County, Alabama, but his family moved to Davisville in Florida. About two years later, the family moved to Walnut Hill, and Shell’s father bought a small general store on Highway 97 just south of the modern day Ernest Ward Middle School.
Shell graduated from Ernest Ward High School, where he played football in 1950. He attended Florida State University, and served in the Korean War in the U.S. Navy. He then spent 30 years in research and development at the Chemstrand plant in Cantonment.
After his retirement, Shell was first elected to the Atmore City Council in 1984 before being appointed mayor after the death of then-Mayor Patricia McKenzie. He served a total of 22 years as Atmore mayor.
Funeral services have not yet been announced.
W. Edward Godwin
August 23, 2021
W. Edward Godwin, a resident of Century, FL, passed away on August 20, 2021, at the age of 79.
He was born on June 17, 1942, to the late Wilbourn J. Godwin and Amanda Ziglar Godwin.
Edward was a member and deacon at Walnut Hill Baptist Church.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Web Godwin, sister, Christine Creel, and first wife Diane Godwin.
Edward is survived by his wife of 42 years, Gladys Sharee Strickland Godwin; children, Keith (Barbara) Cauley, Lynn (Greg) Mills, Leah (Doug) Vickery, Darla (Jeff) Brantley and Kiley (Michelle) Godwin; 12 grandchildren; and six great grandchildren with one on the way.
Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, August 24, 2021, at Oak Grove Cemetery, Oak Grove, FL.
Pallbearers will be Lee Cauley, Bradley Dortch, Tripp Vickery, Cade Vickery, Zeb Vickery, Luke Brantley and Robert Fuchsen.
Memorials may be made to Walnut Hill Baptist Church.
Kathryn Abramovich Hicks
August 23, 2021
Kathryn Abramovich Hicks, 88 of McDavid, FL passed away August 20, 2021 in McDavid. She was born in Perdido, AL on December 2, 1932 to the late Rudolph and Viola Vidak Abramovich. She was a member of Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church in Bogia, FL and was a retired RN with over 33 years of service. She is preceded in death by her parents.
She is survived by her husband, Fred Hicks of McDavid, FL; two children, Bro. Ed (Valerie) Hicks of Molino, FL and Rhonda (Brian) Bruley of Atmore, AL; four grandchildren, Ben, Charity, David, Nathan and six great grandchildren.
Graveside services will be held Monday, August 23, 2021 at 3:00 pm at Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church Cemetery. Interment will follow at Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Monday, August 23, 2021 from 2 pm until 3 pm at Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church.
Denise Renee Pace
August 23, 2021
Mrs. Denise Renee Pace, passed away August 21, 2021 at age of 56. She born in Asheville, North Carolina, but has lived most, of her life in the Century, FL. area. She was an avid Florida State Seminole fan. She valued her time she got to spend with family, friends, and especially her grandchildren. She always enjoyed the outdoor cookouts.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Mr. Jack Banks and Mrs. Mary Lee Connors Banks, husband, Steve Pace, one brother, Duane Banks.
She is survived by her two sons, Steven Pace (Amie) of Molino, FL; Rannon Pace (Marisah) of Century, FL; one daughter, Rachel Pace (Ronnie Holt) of Cantonment, FL; eight grandchildren, Kaleb, Bella, Harper, Skyla, Ean, Siobaun, Logan, and Braelyn, nieces, nephews, friends and relatives.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, August 25, 2021 at 2:00 PM at the Petty- Eastside Chapel funeral Home LLC with Bro. Reo Pugh officiating.
Burial will follow at Hollingsworth Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Wednesday August 25, 2021 from 1:00 PM until service time at 2:00 PM at the Petty- Eastside Chapel Funeral Home LLC.
Pallbearers will be Kaleb Pace, Ean Lundy, Logan English, Keith Davis, Dathan Church, and Chandler Rogers.
Honorary pallbearers will be David Corn
Otis Carlton Stanley
August 23, 2021
Otis Carlton Stanley passed away on Friday, August 20, 2021, in Pensacola, FL. He was born August 6, 1933, in Doniphan, MO, to Grover and Ava Stanley. Otis enlisted in the Navy in 1957 and retired in 1976. He continued to serve as a contractor with the Army until 1998, when he relocated to Pensacola to enjoy retirement.
Otis enjoyed taking friends and family to see the Blue Angels and visiting the Pensacola Naval Air Museum, where he volunteered.
Otis is survived by his wife, Glynnell Stanley, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
A Memorial Service will be Saturday, August 28, 2021, at 3:00 PM, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home South. Chaplain David Gibson will be officiating. Interment will be at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, MO.
Suspect In Bratt Home Invasion Arrested After All-Day Search
August 22, 2021
A home invasion suspect was arrested Saturday night after a day-long manhunt near Bratt.
The home invasion was reported in the eight o’clock hour Saturday morning in the 5400 block of Still Road, just south of West Highway 4. There were no injuries reported.
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies and K-9’s spent hours Saturday and into Saturday night searching for the suspect.
Paul Ray Morris, age 42 of Atmore, was located by ECSO deputies and arrested shortly after 9 p.m. in the 5400 block of Still Road – at or near the location of the reported home invasion.
Morris was booked into the Escambia County Jail at 11:44 p.m. Saturday. He was charged with burglary, criminal mischief property damage, larceny from a person age 65 or older, grand theft of a motor vehicle, resisting arrest and possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond was set at $21,000.
Pictured: A manhunt followed a home invasion on Still Road near Bratt Saturday. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Man Charged With Murder After Victim’s Body Found In Vehicle Trunk On Highway 29 In Ensley
August 22, 2021
The body of a Crestview murder victim was found in the trunk of a vehicle on Highway 29 Saturday evening in Ensley, and the driver is now charged.
The Crestview Police Department has charged 37 year old Johnny Lee Akins, Jr. with murder in connection with an incident that occurred on East Walnut yesterday.
During the incident, Johnny Akins shot and killed a 42 year old male victim that was later identified as James D. Matthews of Holt.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to Highway 29 near the Murphy Oil gas station. “They arrived to find a black male in a state of excited delirium”, according to Sgt. Melanie Peterson. The man was taken into custody a short distance away near Game Stop in the shopping center in front of Walmart and transported to a local hospital.
“He was transported to the hospital after they got control of him,” she said. “They ran the tag, and the vehicle came back that the owner of the car was suspected in a homicide out of Crestview.”
She said there were drugs in plain view “everywhere” on the seat of the car. As part of the inventory process before seizing the vehicle, the trunk was opened.
“There was a dead body there in the trunk,” Peterson said.
The investigation into the incident is continuing by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Crestview Police, Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Hot, Humid, Afternoon Thunderstorms On The Weather Menu
August 22, 2021
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Sunday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Heat index values as high as 107. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. Calm wind.
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly clear, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Wednesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
COVID-19 Vaccination Event Tuesday In Century
August 22, 2021
Community Health Northwest Florida will host an after school vaccination clinic for all ages this week in Century.
The COVID-19 vaccination clinic for ages 12 and older will be held from 3-5 p.m. Tuesday at Community Health Northwest Florida Century Pediatrics at 501 Church Street. Siblings, parents, guardians, or any individuals age 18 are welcome to participate.
Participants will have the choice of the Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Persons wishing to participate in any CHNWF vaccination clinic may call the Community Health Vaccine Call Center at (850) 439-3358 to schedule an appointment or simply walk in at their convenience during regular operating hours.
All participants will be required to show photo ID at time of appointment. Individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 14 days or have had symptoms of illness (fever, cough, shortness of breath) in the past 14 days should not receive the vaccine and should not enter clinic facility.
Pictured: Community Health Northwest Florida Century Pediatrics. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Photos: Tate Meets Pace In Kickoff Classic
August 22, 2021
The Tate High School Aggies traveled to Pace to take on the Patriots in a Kickoff Classic Friday night.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Scores were as follows:
- Freshmen – Pace 8, Tate 6
- JV – Pace 7, Tate 0
- Varsity – Pace 17, Tate 0
The Tate Aggies will kick off their 2021 regular season Friday night, August 27 as they host Pensacola High School at 7 p.m.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Jennifer Repine, click to enlarge.
