Vernon M. McAuliff
Vernon M. McAuliff, age 80, of DeFuniak Springs, passed away Feb. 13, in a local nursing facility.
Vernon was born in Briton, Okla., on July 29, 1921. He was a veteran of World War II and retired from Ford Motor Co., after 25 years of service. He was a resident of this area for the past seven years. He loved his leather crafts and the outdoors.
Survivors include his wife of 39 years of marriage, Rosella McAuliff of Florala, Ala., son, Ronald Allen of Tampa, Fla.; brother, Chuck McAuliff of Michigan; one niece, and three nephews.
Services are scheduled to be held at Mclaughlin Chapel in Crestview, today, Feb. 16, at 11 a.m. Visitation is scheduled to be one hour prior to services. The Rev. Donnie Cadenhead will officiate. Burial is scheduled to follow in Live Oak Memorial Park Cemetery in Crestview.
McLaughlin–Aultman Funeral Home, Crestview, is in charge of arrangements.
Geraldine B. Cobb
Geraldine "Jerry" B. Cobb, age 80, of DeFuniak Springs, passed away Sunday, Feb. 10, in a local hospital.
She was Methodist by faith and a member of First United Methodist Church in DeFuniak Springs. Mrs. Cobb was also a member of Eastern Star Chapter 115 in DeFuniak Springs.
Mrs. Cobb was preceded in death by her husband, Willie Brown Cobb. She is survived by one son; three sisters; one daughter-in-law; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Services were scheduled to be held Feb. 13 at Clary-Godwin Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Robert Penton scheduled to officiate. Burial was scheduled to follow in Magnolia Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the First United Methodist Church, 88 West Circle Drive, DeFuniak Springs, FL 32435; or donations may be made to your favorite charity.
Clary-Godwin Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Ellna Bryan
Ellna Bryan, age 89 died Feb. 9 in Troy, Ala.
Ellna is survived by her sister Eugenia Williams of Luverne, Alabama; 2 nephews, Roger Williams of Luverne, Ala., and Cary Williams of Montgomery, Ala.
A memorial service at Pinckard Cemetery took place on Feb. 14. Burial was at the Pinckard Cemetery in Pinckard, Ala.
Memorial Contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Destin.
Dillard Funeral Home handled the arrangements.
Jimmie L. Howard
Jimmie L. Howard, 68, of Destin, died Feb. 8 at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center.
Jimmie was a gentle and generous soul who leaves behind a large and wonderful legacy of family and friends.
He was born in Dudley, Ga., on Nov. 19, 1933, and went on to serve in the U.S. Army for over 20 years in the combat engineering field.
While in the military he fought in both the Korean and Vietnam conflicts, honoring his family and his country. After his military service, he retired from a second career at the Bremerton Washington Naval Shipyard.
Jimmie is survived by his wife of 41 years, Bettie Howard of Destin; and children, Suzanne McAnn of Tacoma, Wash., Karen Abercrombie of Destin and David Howard of Birmingham, Ala. His fourth child, Ricky Howard, is deceased.
Jimmie had six grandchildren, Shauna, Michele and Christina McAnn of Tacoma, Jessica and Ben Howard of Atlanta, and Sarah Abercrombie of Destin.
Jimmie lived an active and vital life. He loved working and had a servant's heart, willing to help anyone in need. He is remembered through his loyalty, devotion and commitment to those he loved, along with his laughter and pleasure for life. He will be missed and mourned by many.
A memorial service is scheduled 1 p.m. Saturday at Montrose Baptist Church in Montrose, Ga. Burial will be in Ebenezer Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be given to Montrose Baptist Church, P.O. Box 86, Montrose, Ga., 31065.
Rev. Jack Lambert Coley Jr.
The Rev. Jack Lambert Coley Jr., a Florida resident for the past seven years, from the Woodlawn community in DeFuniak Springs, Fla., passed away Feb. 6, at Northwest Florida Hospital in Pensacola.
Mr. Coley was born in Pensacola. He was a former pastor of Gray Church of God in Gray, Ga., Lost Mountain Church of God in Marietta, Ga., Chamblee Church of God in Georgia, and pastored a church in Deland, Fla. He was a member of the New Beginnings Church in Freeport.
Mr. Coley was preceded in death by his father, Jack Lambert Coley Sr.; and mother, Willie Esther Williamson Coley.
He is survived by his sons, Scott Coley and wife Laurin of Marietta, Jason Coley and wife Stephanie of Moorehead City, N.C., and Christopher White of Moorehead City; daughter, Lana White of Moorehead City; brothers, Gary Coley of Macon, Ga., Sim Coley of Tallahassee, Fla., Johnny Coley of DeFuniak Springs, Ronnie Coley of Centerville, Ga., Hugh Coley of Freeport, Fla., Chuck Coley of Macon, Ga., and Bill Coley of Tallahassee; and grandchildren, Cassie Coley, Scotty Coley, Devon Coley, Abby Coley and Kelly White.
Services were scheduled to be conducted Feb. 9, at New Beginnings Church, Highway 20 West, Freeport, with the Rev. Louis Taunton scheduled to officiate.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to New Beginnings Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 1022, Freeport, FL 32439.
Clary-Godwin Freeport Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Sally Patterson
Sally Patterson, 67, passed away Feb. 5.
Sally was a longtime resident of Grayton Beach and attended Walton County ARC for many years.
She was preceded in death by her mother; Wilhelmina Miller Patterson, and father, W.L. Patterson.
She is survived by her siblings, Shirley Shalie, Malcolm Patterson and Linda Eyer of Grayton Beach, and Susan Hood of Tallahassee, and by 14 nieces and nephews.
Services are scheduled for 1 p.m. today at the Point Washington United Methodist Church in Santa Rosa Beach, with the Rev. Tonya Elmore scheduled to officiate, assisted by the Rev. Harry Houseman. Burial is scheduled to follow in New Hope Cemetery.
A time of visitation is scheduled from noon to 1 p.m. today at the church.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Walton County ARC, P.O. Box 813, DeFuniak Springs, Fla., 32435, or to Point Washington United Methodist Church, 1290 North Highway 395, Point Washington, Fla., 32454.
Clary–Godwin Freeport Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Vernon Porter, Sr.
Master Sgt. Vernon Porter, Sr., U.S. Air Force retired, 73, of Roanoke, Va., and formerly of Destin, died Tuesday, Feb. 5.
He retired from the Air Force with 24 years of service. He was a life member of the DAV and a member of the American Legion.
Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Helen Porter; sons and daughter-in-law, Vernon Porter Jr., Stevan J. and Stacey Porter, all of Roanoke; grandsons, Mark, Kevin, Matthew and Sean Porter; granddaughter, Lauren Porter; sisters, Kathleen Hawkins of Orange, Va., Rose Gentry of Kingsport, Tenn., Helen Walters of Chesapeake, Va.; twin sister, Verna Sullivan of Norfolk, Va.; numerous nieces and nephews; uncle, Howard Porter of Martinsville, Va.; and aunt, Stella Hunt of Jacksonville, Fla.
Services are scheduled for today at Oakey’s East Chapel in Roanoke. Interment will be at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, with full military honors.
Oakey’s East Chapel Funeral Home in Roanoke is in charge of arrangements.
William Earl Spencer
William Earl Spencer died Feb. 1 in DeFuniak Springs.
He was originally from DeFuniak Springs and lived here for the past two years. Spencer had resided in Pensacola for 17 years.
He was a truck driver in the waste management industry. His greatest enjoyment came out of making people laugh.
He is survived by his wife of 23 years, Cassandra “Sam” Spencer of DeFuniak Springs; sons, Elijah Earl Spencer and Jacob Elliott Spencer of DeFuniak Springs; mother, Erma Jean Spencer of DeFuniak Springs; and a brother, Raymond Spencer, and wife, Inez, of DeFuniak Springs.
Services were scheduled for Feb. 6 in the chapel of Clary-Godwin Funeral Home in DeFuniak Springs with the Rev. Joel Glenn officiating. Burial was to follow in Magnolia Cemetery.
Clary-Godwin Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Steve Caldwell
Steve Caldwell, 55, of Atlanta, Ga., and Destin died Jan. 28.
He was a prominent businessman in Atlanta for 30 years in the personnel and software industries. Mr. Caldwell served on several national and state boards, was a member of Northside United Methodist Church. He was one of the original members of the “Swingin’ Medallions” band that recorded the hit Doubleshot in 1966.
Mr. Caldwell is survived by his wife Lynn Caldwell, daughters, Alison Tout, Suwanee, Angela Clairborne, Atlanta, Julia Viands, Savannah, son, Steven Caldwell, Jr., Atlanta, sisters, Susan Rivers, Roswell, Edith Gross, Simpsonville, SC., brother, Earl Caldwell III, Charleston, S.C., and grandchild, Mattison Tout, Suwanee.
Services were scheduled to be held Jan. 31 with Dr. Gil Watson officiating. Interment Arlington Memorial Park.
Memorial contributions may be made to World Methodist Evangelism, Scarritt–Bennett Center, 1008 19th Avenue South, Nashville, TN., 37212–2166.
Rebecca Ann Robblee
Rebecca Ann Robblee, 26, of Destin, died Jan. 27.
She was a mother, daughter, sister and aunt.
Becki is survived by two daughters, Autumn and Alexandria Nelson; her parents, Pete and Mary Robblee; sister, Laura O’Neal; and two nephews, Dalyn Buffkin and Lorenzo O’Neal Jr.; a brother–in–law, Lorenzo O’Neal; and close friend and father of her children, Curtis Nelson. She also had friends that used to work with her at Country Inn and Suites.
Graveside services were scheduled for Jan. 31 at Memorial Parkway Cemetery.
Billy Cleveland Fields
Billy Cleveland “Bill” Fields, 75, of Santa Rosa Beach, died Jan. 27 at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center.
He was born on May 13, 1926, to Thomas Walter Fields and Rebekah Blanks Fields, and was a native of Anguilla, Miss. He attended Woodberry Forest School in Orange, Va., and Mississippi State University, where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Until his retirement he was a cotton producer and ginner in the Mississippi Delta.
Bill was an avid outdoorsman and active member of Flag Lake Hunting Club. He was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church.
He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Pilkinton Fields of Santa Rosa Beach; daughter, Anne Shirley and husband, Dr. Stephen Shirley, of New Albany, Miss.; daughter, Rebecca Lee Fields of Jackson, Miss.; daughter, Ruth Hollis of Starkville, Miss.; daughter, Melanie Livingston and husband, Matthew, of Lake Village, Ark.; sister, Frances Leake of Santa Rosa Beach; and brother, Thomas Fields of DeFuniak Springs, Fla. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Matt Shirley of Memphis, Laura Shirley of New Albany, Kathryn Hollis of Starkville, Rebecca Hollis of Rolling Fork, Miss., and Will Livingston of Lake Village. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Harris Fields.
A memorial service was scheduled for Feb. 1 at Anguilla United Methodist Church in Anguilla. Memorials may be made to Anguilla United Methodist Church, Anguilla, Miss. 38721; or to The Community Church, P.O. Box 1723, Santa Rosa Beach, Fla. 32549.
