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Hugh M. Sims Jr.
Columbiana native
Hugh M. Sims Jr., 68, of North Shelby County died March 22, 2004. A native of Columbiana and an executive and entrepreneur in the cast metals industry, he retired from Vulcan Engineering, where he was vice president of marketing, and from Birmingham Alloys Inc., where he was president and founding partner. He was a 1957 graduate of the University of Alabama where he earned his degree in metallurgical engineering. In 1988, he was honored as an outstanding fellow and distinguished engineering fellow by the College of Engineering. He worked for Dixie Bronze, American Cast Iron Pipe Company and Columbus Iron Works in Columbus, Ga., before founding Simsco Industries in 1964 with foundries in Columbiana, Selma, Demopolis and Centreville.
His professional achievements included national president of the American Foundrymen's Society, founder and president of Alabama Cast Metals Association, AFS Hoyt Memorial lecturer, AFS Pangborn gold medalist, national president of the Foundry Education Foundation and a member of the board of directors of Sloss Furnace Museum.
In 1988, he founded SimsArt, producing limited edition bronze collectible sculptures. He also served on the Shelby County Board of Education and was a member of Meadowbrook Baptist Church.
He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Jo Ellen Fore Sims; children, Lisa (Steve) Sims Harrison of Birmingham and Dr. Hugh M. (Stacey) Sims III of Bowling Green, Ky.; stepsons, Jeff Smith of Birmingham and Todd Smith of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; his brother, Wayne Sims of Boaz; his sister, Yoby Sims Brazo of Panama City, Fla.; and six grandchildren.
Service was March 25 at Meadowbrook Baptist Church, Dr. Ron Sumner, Dr. Charles Lee and the Rev. Charles Stroud presiding.
Carolyn Skelton
Hickory Hills Worship Center member
Carolyn Skelton, 65, of Pelham died March 22, 2004. She was preceded in death by her husband of 39 years, Paul H. Skelton, her parents, nine brothers and a sister. She was a member of the Hickory Hills Worship Center and a homemaker.
She is survived by a daughter, Paula (Darrell) DeShazo of Columbiana; two sons, Steve (Susan) Skelton and Phillip Skelton, both of Pelham; one sister, Patsy Smith of Conroe, Texas; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Graveside service was March 16 at Wooten's Chapel Cemetery in Cahaba Heights, Southern Heritage Funeral Home directing.
Claudine Weldon
Grandmother of 33
Claudine Weldon, 84, of Sterrett died March 22, 2004. She is a member of Beulah Baptist Church in Sterrett.
She is survived by three sons, Donald (Sara) Weldon, Ronald (Mary) Weldon and Phillip (Andrea) Weldon; one daughter, Billie Jean Weldon; two sisters, Ozell Johnson and Geraldine (Hubert) McGuire; 11 grandchildren; and 22 great-grandchildren.
Service was March 24 at Kilgroe Chapel, the Rev. Earl Hardy presiding. Burial followed in Beulah Cemetery, Kilgroe Funeral Home directing.
Carie Brasher
Leeds resident
Carie Brasher, 32, of Leeds died March 25, 2004. She was a member of the Vincent Revival Center Church. She was preceded in death by William Davis.
She is survived by her husband, Mark Brasher; her son, Ryan Brasher; her mother, Joyce Davis; her father- and mother-in-law, Jerry and Emma Brasher; her brothers, Jimmy (Tammy) Davis and Stephen (Rena) Davis; her brother-in-law, Robin Brasher; her sister, Vicki (Jackie) Reeves; nieces and nephews, Khristy Davis, Erica Brasher, Michelle Reeves, Andrew Davis, Timothy Reeves, Nichole Davis and Stephen Davis.
Service was March 28 at Vincent Revival Center with burial in Beulah Cemetery in Sterrett, Kilgroe Funeral Home directing.
MARCUS W. COSPER
Former Shelby resident
Marcus W. Cosper, 61, formerly of Shelby died March 29, 2004, at a local hospital. She was born in Jefferson County on July 10, 1942.
He is survived by a sister, Joanne Williams; a brother-in-law, E.H. "Zeke" Williams; two nephews, Mark H. and Brian M. Williams; and other family and friends.
Service was March 31 at Bolton-Letlow Chapel, Bill Wright presiding. Burial followed at Elmwood Cemetery, Bolton-Letlow Funeral Home directing.
MARJORIE CHURCHWELL
Sterrett resident
Marjorie Churchwell, 80, of Sterrett died March 31, 2004, at Cook Springs Nursing Home. She was born in July 1923 in Dargin, Ala.
She is survived by her husband of 66 years, Alvin Churchwell; a son, the Rev. Kenneth Churchwell of Shelby; two daughters, Claudette Rowe of Springville and Brenda Culpepper of Moody; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; two sisters; and one brother.
Service was April 2 at Bolton-Letlow Chapel, the Rev. Arzell Hyche presiding. Burial followed in Beulah Cemetery in Sterrett, Bolton-Letlow Funeral Home directing.
HERBERT SCOTT "PAW PAW" GUTHRIE
Sterrett resident
Herbert Scott "Paw Paw" Guthrie, 86, of Sterrett died March 28, 2004. He was born May 17, 1917, in Walker County. He was an ordained minister and pastored 17 churches during his lifetime. He retired from the ministry in 1969. He was preceded in death by his son, Arnold Guthrie.
He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Bertie Godsey Guthrie; his daughter, Annette (Wilson) Johnson; sons, Herschel (Sherria) Guthrie and Tim (Sharon) Guthrie, all of Sterrett; grandchildren, Jeff (April) Johnson of Chelsea, Chris (Tami) Johnson of Vandiver, Robin (Don) Cheatham of Atlanta, Ga., and Stephen (Regina) Guthrie of Bowling Green, Ky.; great-grandchildren, Justin Johnson of Vandiver, Chad Howard of Chelsea, Jordan Johnson of Vandiver, Haley Johnson of Chelsea, Christian Cheatham and Faith Cheatham, both of Atlanta, Ga.
Service was March 31 at Union Cemetery in Westover, the Rev. Chris Johnson and the Rev. Bert Cornelius presiding. Bolton-Letlow Funeral Home directed the services.
RODRICK "ROD" ALVIN HOUSTON
Career insurance underwriter
Rodrick "Rod" Alvin Houston, 60, of Maylene died April 3, 2004. He was a graduate of West End High School and the University of Montevallo and made his career as an insurance master underwriter. Houston was preceded in death by his father, William Alvin Houston.
He is survived by his wife, Georgia Richardson Houston; son, Bradley (Angi) Houston of Calera; daughter, Gina (Chris) Dorough of Maylene; mother, Faye Houston of Pelham; sister, Sherry (Roger) Turner of Villa Rica, Ga.; and other family and friends.
Graveside service was April 6 at Ryan's Baptist Church Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society, 3840 Ridgeway Drive, Homewood, AL 35209.
Charter Funeral Home in Calera directed the service.
HOMER W. HUFF JR.
Shelby resident
Homer W. Huff Jr., 71, of Shelby died March 24, 2004. He was born Oct. 4, 1932, in Alabama.
Huff is survived by his partner, Virginia Echols of Montevallo; five children, Mark Huff of Milwaukee, Wis., Michael Huff of Birmingham, Sandy Brasher of Calera, Kelly Huff of Birmingham and Keela Huff of Shelby; nine grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; two sisters, Virginia Blocker of Sylacauga and Jackie Parker of Alex City.
Service was March 27 at Bolton-Letlow Funeral Home the Rev. Buddy Hayes presiding. Burial followed in Columbiana City Cemetery, Bolton-Letlow Funeral Home directing.
SHIRLEY MORRIS HUMPHRIES
Birmingham resident
Shirley Morris Humphries, 55, of Birmingham died April 1, 2004. She was preceded in death by her father, William L. Morris, and her mother, Willie Mae Morris.
Humphries is survived by sons, Brittain Alan Dix and Jeremy Bennett Humphries; sisters, Betty Jean Reed, Carol Dianne Isbell and Gwendolyn Darlene Wallace; brothers, Aaron Clifton Morris and Johnny Ray Morris; and one grandchild.
Service was April 4 at Vandiver Church of God. Burial followed in Forest Crest Cemetery, Kilgroe Funeral Home in Leeds directing.
