Cecil Woodward, early Destin fisherman, dies
Capt. Cecil Woodward, prominent for many years in the Destin charter boat industry and one of the men who help establish one of the community's largest churches, is dead.
Woodward was 69 when he died this past Thursday, Feb. 15. A memorial service was held Monday.
He was born April 24, 1919, the youngest son of Leonard Destin Woodward and Inez Maltezos.
At the age of 12, to help support his family, Woodward began a lifelong fishing career. After his discharge from the U.S. Navy, he returned home to Destin with his wife, Anne Waller Woodward.
He resumed fishing commercially and he and his wife started a family. During this time, he and others established and built St. Andrews By-the-Sea Episcopal Church, where he served as senior warden and vestry member. For many years, he also was the commodore at the annual Blessing of the Fleet ceremony.
After years of commercial fishing, Woodward and fellow fishermen established the Destin Fishing Rodeo and the Destin Charter Boat Association.
His wife, Anne, and his brother, Herbert Woodward, preceded him in death.
Survivors include his sister, Ruby Woodward Melvin; daughter and spouse, Linda and Anthony Calfee; daughter Cecilia Lynn Knoll; granddaughter and spouse Debbie and Mark Ham; granddaughters Tina Harper and Cecilia "Cece" Anastasia Knoll; grandson Stephen R. Knoll; two great-grandchildren, Laura Anne and Andrew Derrick Ham; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
The Rev. Canon Michael Hesse and the Rev. Robb Graef officiated at Monday's service at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Destin.
The family requests that donations in his memory be made to the St. Andrews Anglican Church building fund.
McLaughlin Funeral Home handled the arrangements.
Judith "Judy" D. Murphy
Judith "Judy" D. Murphy, 67, died at Sarasota Memorial Hospital on Feb. 13, 2001.
She was born in Kansas City, Mo., on March 14, 1933, the daughter of Earl H. Kees and Edith C. Kees, formerly of Santa Rosa Beach. She moved to St. Louis and later to Chicago, and graduated with a bachelor of science degree from Lake Forest College.
She started out at WCCO-TV (a CBS affiliate) in Minneapolis as one of the first women television writer-producers in the United States. There she married Leonard (Larry) J. Murphy.
In 1977, the family moved to Fort Walton Beach where she was co-owner of Murphy and Associates Advertising with her husband. She was also active in the Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce where she served as a director as well as being active in the St. Vincent De Paul Association (Corpus Christi Church) in Destin.
After their retirement in 1998, she and her husband Larry moved to Bradenton.
She is survived by her husband of 39 years, Leonard J. Murphy; her oldest son Kevin E. Murphy and his wife Claudia; her youngest son Shawn L. Murphy and his wife Nolia and their two children, McKenna and Donovan.
A graveside service will be conducted for family and friends at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, at Gulf Cemetery in Santa Rosa Beach.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be sent to "Our Lady of the Angels" in Mrs. Murphy's name (earmarked "Building Fund") to P.O. Box 20957, Bradenton, FL 34204-0957.
Jackie C. Ansley
Jackie C. Ansley, 71, of Destin, died Sunday, Feb. 11, 2001, at her residence.
She was born in Savannah, Ga., on Aug. 22, 1929, and lived in Destin since 1989, moving from Decatur, Ga. She was a member of Indian Bayou Golf Club, the Ladies Golf Association and was a past president, and was executive vice president of W.G. Carroll and Co. Inc. in Atlanta.
Survivors include her husband, William S. Ansley of Destin; sons William S. Ansley Jr. of Nashville, Tenn., and Lawrence M. Ansley of Atlanta; daughter Carol Ansley of Duluth, Ga.; sister Eloise McPherson of Saint Simons, Ga.; and seven grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted at graveside in Destin Memorial Cemetery at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 14, with Chaplain Frank Dole officiating.
McLaughlin Mortuary of Fort Walton Beach is entrusted with arrangements.
Marshall Kenneth "Ken" Harris
Marshall Kenneth "Ken" Harris, 59, a long-time residernt of Destin, died Feb. 7, 2001.
A memorial service was conducted Saturday, Feb. 10, at Faith Asembly Christian Church in Destin, Pastor Toy Arnett officiating.
Mr. Harris is survived by his parents, Edward and Rosemary deBrabant; sisters Pat Laird, Anita Williams, Suzi Fraser, Susan Gray, Dr. Pam Harris Eford; brothers Geary and Edward "Buddy" deBrabant, all of Georgia.
Charles Ellsworth "Chuck" Ray Sr.
Charles Ellsworth "Chuck" Ray Sr., born on Christmas Day in 1927, died Sunday, Feb. 4, 2001.
One of 12 children, he was from Zanesville, Ohio. While serving in the Air Force at Eglin Air Force Base, he met and married a Destin girl, Alma Shirah (Ray) and they made Destin their home. They were married for 51 years.
He served in the Marine Corps and the Air Force. As a young man, he was a Golden Gloves boxer, but his first love was bowling. He attended Destin Presbyterian Church and became a member in 1996.
He is survived by his wife, Alma; four children, Sabra, Charles Jr., Jack and Mechelle; eight grandchildren, Joshua Ford, Jessica Alvarez, Jenny Lynn Ford, Lindsey McEwan, Cassandra Hughes, Rachel Ray, Elizabeth Ray and Megan Ray; and two great-grandchildren, Austin and Ayden Alvarez. The family also wishes to acknowledge the care of Marie Brown and Hospice during his illness.
A private service on the Gulf will be conducted with only the immediate family. For friends and family, a memorial service in celebration of his life will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, at First Presbyterian Church of Destin. Flowers are gratefully declined and those wishing to do so may make a contribution in his memory to their favorite charity or the American Cancer Society.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home in Fort Walton Beach is in charge of arrangements.
Sunny Reynolds
Sunny Reynolds, 53, of Santa Rosa Beach, died Monday, Jan. 29, 2001, at a local hospital.
She was the owner and operator of Baywoods Vacation Homes in Santa Rosa Beach.
She is survived by her husband, David.
A celebration of her life is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3, at the Pavilion at Baywoods. After the celebration, her ashes will be spread over Choctawhatchee Bay.
Instead of flowers, the family asks for contributions in Reynolds' name to Feline Friends of Destin Inc., 206 Wekiva Cove, Destin, Fla. 32541.
June Lucinda Hurst
Funeral services for June Lucinda Hurst, 73, of Clayton, Ala., were conducted at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2001, at the Clayton United Methodist Church. The Rev. Doug Seymoure officiated and burial followed in the Clayton Cemetery with Kent Funeral Home of Clayton directing.
Mrs. Hurst died Monday, Jan. 22, 2001, in Dothan, Ala.
Born June 18, 1927, in Montgomery, Ala., Mrs. Hurst was the daughter of the late Alvin Clevland and Eudora Lucinda Ward Bland. Mrs. Hurst was a lifelong resident of Clayton and was a member of the Clayton United Methodist Church where she was a member of the Methodist Womens Club.
Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law, Thomas Wilson and Ann Barr Hurst Jr., Destin, and Paul McNeal and Renay Blanton Hurst, Eufaula, Ala.; one brother, Alvin C. Bland Jr., Luverne, Ala.; one sister, Irene Harris, Phenix City, Ala.; two grandchildren, Natalie Hurst, Bowling Green, Ky., and Olivia Hurst, Eufaula, Ala.; one great-granddaughter, Grace Ann Clark, Knoxville, Tenn.
Active pallbearers were Carlos Baxley, Tim Tucker, Ronnie Cooper, Tommy Knight, Johnnie Knight, Bubba Blair, Jimmie Warr and James Kessler.
E. Chandler Braden Jr.
E. Chandler Braden Jr., 61, of Destin died Jan. 15, 2001.
He is survived by his wife, Betsy C. Braden; a daughter and son-in-law, Cathy and Boyd Derreberry of Lilburn, Ga.; a stepdaughter, Dana Jean Benson; a brother, James D. Braden; grandchildren Caleigh Pate Derreberry and Katie Mae Derreberry; several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Services will be conducted at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17, at Wages Snellville Chapel, Snellville, Ga. The family will receive friends Wednesday from 6-7 p.m. at the funeral home. The remains will be transferred to Highland Memorial Park, Knoxville, Tenn., for interment at 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18.
In lieu of flowers the family recommends donations to the American Cancer Society, 6500 Sugarloaf Parkway, Suite 260, Duluth, GA 30097, in Mr. Braden's memory.
Tom M. Wages Funeral Service Inc., Snellville Chapel, is in charge of arrangements.
Dewey E. Williams
Dewey E. Williams died Jan. 12, 2001, after an extended illness.
He is survived by his wife, Diana G. Williams, sons David Rodger and Darryl Drew Williams and daughter-in-law Michele Williams.
Mr. Williams was a member of several conservation groups.
Funeral services were conducted in his hometown of Enterprise, Ala., on Jan. 14, with interment in Meadowlawn Cemetery.
Shirly Pitman Grice
Shirly Grice, 61, of DeFuniak Springs died May 26.
She was born Oct. 12, 1940, to Preston and Carlie Smith Pitman. When she was a child she moved with her family to DeFuniak Springs where she lived most of her life.
Shirly will be remembered as a devoted, wife, mother, grandmother, sister, sister-in-law and foster mother. She was frequently seen working at the family business but was always delighted in caring for her family and friends.
A dedicated homemaker, Shirly was a fixture in her church and lived by example. At various times through the years she could be found teaching Sunday school classes and teaching at the Galilean Academy. She spend most of her life battling numerous health problems but always stood firm in her resolve. She lived her life her way and on her own terms.
Survivors include her husband of 43 years, Warren A. “Dub” Grice; two daughters, Kathleen Deaver of DeFuniak Springs and Jackie Ann Grice of Pensacola; four grandchildren David and Robin Langford, Sean and Katie Trotman, all of DeFuniak Springs; two brothers and sisters-in-law, James and Marcia Pitman of New York and U.L. and Darla Pitman of Milton; brother and sister-in-law, George and Vesta Owen of Delray Beach; and brother-in-law, Starkey Roach. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
Flowers are being accepted. Graveside services were scheduled for May 29 at Red Bay Cemetery with the Rev. Lonnie Wright officiating.
Jerry Evans Funeral Home handled the arrangements.
Christopher L. Berkowitch
Christopher Lee Berkowitch, 35, of Destin, died May 20 surrounded by his loving family and friends.
He died of complications of chronic progressive multiple sclerosis. He was a long-term resident of Destin Health and Rehab, where they took wonderful care of him. For the past 18 months, Chris also had the extra loving care of Covenant Hospice. He fought a long, courageous battle.
He was born in Roxboro, N.C. on Aug. 27, 1966. Chris loved life, children and animals and had a wonderful sense of humor. His greatest enjoyment was watching the Dallas Cowboys.
He is survived by his mother, Dottie Azzarello; stepfather, Lee Azzarello, who was the love of Chris’s life; stepsister, Sue Kowalski of Michigan; stepbrother, Randy Azzarello of Virginia; his dad, Larry Berkowitch of Elon College, N.C.; his grandfather, George Chambers of Roxboro; and an extended family of aunts, uncles and cousins.
Services were conducted May 23 by Pastor Paul Kummer at Grace Lutheran Church in Destin. Burial followed at Gulf Cemetery in Santa Rosa Beach.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Covenant Hospice, 101 Hart Street, Niceville, Fla. 32578, to the attention of Karen Hughes.
