Billy Gene Cross

Billy Gene Cross, 75, of Pinedale Road, Ardmore, AL, died Friday, November 3, 2006, at his residence.

Funeral services were held Monday, November 6, at 11:30 a.m. at Ardmore Memorial Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Lynn Marshall and Bro. Tommy Campbell officiating. Burial was in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Prospect, TN.

Billy Gene Cross was Born October 7, 1931 to Johnny and Nona Lee Campbell Cross in Limestone County, AL. He lived all of his life in the Ardmore area and was a member of the Piney Grove Baptist Church. He was a Navy veteran of the Korean War and retired from Fruehauf Corporation of Decatur, AL. He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant son, Billy Joe Cross.

Survivors include his wife, Ruth Cross of Ardmore, AL; one daughter, Gina Lynn (Mike) Cagle of Ardmore, AL; grandsons, Cody Broadway and Patrick Cagle both of Ardmore, AL; granddaughter, Chrissy (Rob) Minor of Huntsville, AL; and great-grandchildren, Chloe and Caleb of Huntsville, AL.

Cousins and nephews served as pallbearers.


Billy Gene Cross

William Tennis “Billy” Milam

William Tennis “Billy” Milam, 69, of 6th Street, Ardmore, AL, died Monday, November 6, 2006, at his home.

Graveside funeral services will be held Saturday, November 11, at Morris Chapel Cemetery in Moulton, AL, with Bro. Brian Hawkins officiating. Ardmore Memorial Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

William Tennis “Billy” Milam was born September 29, 1937 in Prospect, TN, to Thomas Clifton Milam and Mamie Virginia Gilbert Milam. He lived in this area 26 years after moving here from Decatur, AL.

Survivors include his wife, Sharon Milam of Ardmore, AL; son, Billy “Bubba” Milam of Decatur, AL; step-sons, Billy Bell of Ardmore, AL, Kip Morris of Grand Rapids, MI, Todd Morris of Denver, CO; daughters, Bonnie Madison and Frances Patterson of Decatur, AL; step-daughters, Darcy Woodard of Middleville, MI and Peggy Sue Morris of Belvedere, IL; brothers, Tommy Milam and Steve Milam of Decatur, AL; sisters, Mary Posey of Decatur, AL, Jane Miller of Danville, AL, and Delores Reed of Moulton, AL; 20 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Joey Madison, Adam Milam, Todd Patterson, Billy Bell, Jr., Kelvis Posey, and Eddie Miller.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Milam family to help with final expenses.

Robert E. Morelli

Robert E. Morelli, 73, of Huntsville, died Saturday, November 4, 2006.

Visitation will be Wednesday, November 8, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Laughlin Service Funeral Home in Huntsville. Funeral services will be Thursday, November 9, at 11:30 a.m. at the funeral home chapel with Father Louis Giardino officiating. Burial will be in the Maple Hill Cemetery with Laughlin Service Funeral Home in charge.

Robert E. Morelli was originally from Providence, RI, the son of Italian immigrants. He resided in Huntsville since 1953. He was a U.S. Army veteran, a graduate of Athens State College, the University of Alabama in Huntsville, and a retiree from NASA with 40 years of service. He was an active member of the Good Shepherd Catholic Church.

Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Mary Ann Blakemore Morelli; three sons, Rob Morelli of Memphis, TN, Mike Morelli of Elkmont, AL, and Matt Morelli of Ardmore; one daughter, Lance DeFatta of Huntsville; seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1942.

Jean Douthit Coffman

Jean Douthit Coffman, 83, of Birmingham, died Tuesday, October 31, 2006, at Limestone Health Facility in Athens.

Graveside services were held Thursday, November 2, at 11 a.m. at Gatlin Cemetery in Ardmore with Billy McGregor officiating. McDonnell Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Coffman was born November 11, 1922 in Limestone County to Howard Young Douthit and Bessie Ira Eaves Douthit. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, George “Slick” Coffman, two sisters, Mildred Shannon and Merle Fry, one brother, Billy Joe Douthit.

Survivors include sisters, Jane Ferguson of Toney, AL, Nathalia Church of Huntsville, AL, Marcella Bolton of Moulton, AL; nieces and nephews, Joe Mark Douthit of Ardmore, AL, Howard Fry of Huntsville, AL, Susan Bolton of Decatur, AL, Betsy Holmes of Chester, VA, Brenna Cottingim of Cumming, GA, Judy Shannon of Nashville, TN, Carolyn Shannon of Nashville, TN, Barbara Bateman of Nashville, TN, Jackie Shannon of Nashville, TN, and Peggy O’Kain of California.

Pallbearers were Eugene Ferguson, Neal Douthit, Cass Hutcheson, Howard Fry, Charlie Durham and Randy Smith.

Lorene Ricketts

Lorene Ricketts, 97, of Athens, AL, died Sunday, November 5, 2006, at her residence.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, November 7, at 2 p.m. at McConnell Funeral Home with Dr. Larry Inman and Bro. Tim Keenum officiating. Burial was in the Roselawn Cemetery in Athens with McConnell Funeral Home in charge.

Survivors include son, James Ricketts and wife Nancy of Pulaski, TN; daughters, Mary Frances Ricketts of Athens, AL, Edith Hambrick and husband Sam of Scottsboro, AL, Virginia Dollar and husband Charles of Athens, AL; seven grandchildren, Dennis Ricketts, Beth Miller, Ken Ricketts, Jan Hodgson, Lisa Barfoot, Joy Burguss, Blake Dollar; nine great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers were Stan Menefee, Stanley Menefee, David Smith, Kenneth Craft, Glenn Craft, Kent Murphy. Honorary pallbearers were Pettus Menefee, Robert Ruff, George Phillips, Jim Martindale, Morris Bates, Randal Hare, Othal Washington, Lawrence Washington, William Washington.

Memorials may be made to Wiregrass Hospice or your favorite charity.