Olin Abbott of Harpersville died peacefully Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2005, with his family at his side. He was an active member of Providence Baptist Church on Highway 85, having joined the church as a young boy. He served as deacon there until he was no longer able to do so. A civic-minded man, he settled in Harpersville after traveling with road construction for many years. He owned a garage and produce stand. During the early 1950s, his family opened a general merchandise store they operated for about 30 years.

He was instrumental in helping get a water system in Harpersville as well as starting a Fire and Rescue Department, even traveling to Atlanta to get the city’s first fire truck.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Frankie Bates Abbott; his infant daughter, Sylvia Abbott; and his son-in-law, Richard E. Waldrop.

He is survived by his current wife, Annie Lambert Abbott; his three daughters, Bernice Waldrop Dorothy (William) Rayfield and Jewell (Jimmy) Waldrop; two stepsons, Roy (Lisa) Lambert and Ricky (Lisa) Lambert; nine grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; six step-great-grandchildren; sisters, Thelma (Olin) Collins, Wilma (Delano) Riddle and Shirley (Bennie) Smith; and a host of nieces and nephews.

Service was Sept. 9 at 2 p.m. at Providence Baptist Church in Harpersville, the Rev. William W. Rayfield presiding and Bolton-Letlow Funeral Home directing.

Henry Carlos Beiro, 83, of Calera died Monday, Sept. 5, 2005. He was a retired vocational educator.

He is survived by his wife, Audrey Hood Beiro of Calera; his daughter, Patricia Mae Beiro of Calera; two sons, Henry Harrison (Rebecca) Beiro of Huron, Ohio, and Timothy Dewayne Beiro of Calera; two brothers, Caesar Beiro of Tampa, Fla., and Benny Beiro of California; and two grandchildren, Kristy Nicol Beiro and Miranda Michelle Beiro.

Service was Sept. 8 at 2 p.m. at Rockco’s Funeral Home Chapel in Montevallo, Dr. Jim Parker presiding. Burial followed in Ashby Cemetery in Brierfield, Rockco’s directing.

Ed Blake, 65, of Montevallo died Saturday, Sept. 10, 2005, following a battle with cancer. The son of Cheltz and Tommie Mae Blake, he was born in Underwood, Ala., in 1940 and grew up in Bessemer. He graduated from Alabama College in 1963. He later earned a master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Montevallo. He was an editor at the Central Alabama Advertiser, the Shelby County Advertiser, the Childersburg Star and general manager of the Shelby County Reporter. In 1973, he accepted a position at Bessemer State Technical College as coordinator of evening programs. He later accepted a dean’s position at Bessemer State. He served as president and vice president of the Alabama Technical College Deans Association and was named Dean of the Year. He retired from Bessemer State in 1996 after 22 years of service. During his retirement, he told many tales and caught a lot of fish.

Other achievements include publishing ‘Tested Techniques for Catchin’ Crappie’ and contributing features to Southern Outdoors magazine. He produced a radio program called ‘Whistling Through the Heart of Dixie’ and won first place awards for best feature story and best news photograph in the Alabama Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest.

He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Evelyn Holifield Blake; one son, Britt Blake; one daughter, Rebecca Blake Sandidge; one son-in-law, Brad Sandidge; and two grandchildren, Blake and Abigail Sandidge.

Service was Sept. 13 at 11 a.m. at Rockco’s Funeral Home, the Revs. Mike Ratliff and Buddy Freeman presiding and Rockco’s Funeral Home directing.

Mildred Geneva Lynn Bragg, 85, of Westover died Sept. 10, 2005. She was a member of North Shelby Baptist Church and had retired from Mira-Flex Watchband Company. She was preceded in death by her husbands, H.J. Lowery and Shelly Bragg Jr., and her parents, Walter and Pearlie Lynn.

She is survived by her daughters, Marie Phillips Flynt and Linda (J.B.) Helms; her son, Raymond Lowery; her brother, James Walter Lynn Jr.; her sisters, Nora Lee Cox and Zenobia Kaloc; eight grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Service was Sept. 13 at 11 a.m. at Kilgroe Chapel with burial following in Kendrick Family Cemetery, Kilgroe Funeral Home in Leeds directing.

Ola Lee Edwards, 80, of Clanton died Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2005, at home.

Graveside service was Sept. 9 at 3 p.m. at Community Cemetery in Brierfield, Kenny Hatcher presiding.

Ezekial ‘Zeke’ Caraway Fancher Jr., 88, of Brierfield died Thursday, Sept. 8, 2005, at home. He was a veteran of World War II and a member of Masonic Lodge No. 70 in Montevallo.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Ione Edwards Fancher.

He is survived by his son, E.C. (Judy) Fancher of Brierfield; grandchild, Danny (Pam) Fancher of Pea Ridge; and great-grandchildren, Whitney and Madison Fancher.

Graveside service was Sept. 10 at 11 a.m. at Community Cemetery in Brierfield, the Revs. Don Vanderslice and Kenny Hatcher presiding and Rockco’s Funeral Home directing.

Sandra Hill, 63, of Shelby died Thursday, Sept. 8, 2005. She was born Dec. 14, 1941, in Florida and was a member of the Bay Springs Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents, Percy and Pearl Bailey; and her brother, Paul Bailey.

She is survived by her son, Marty Fortenberry; her grandchildren, Brooklyn Rainey Varden, Kori Fortenberry and Andy Fortenberry; her brother, Wayne Bailey; and other family and friends.

Graveside service was Sept. 10 at 11 a.m. Croft-Acton Cemetery, Bolton-Letlow Funeral Home directing.

Jean Joyce James, 67, of Montevallo died Friday, Sept. 9, 2005, at home. She was preceded in death by her son, Kenneth James.

She is survived by her husband, Willard James of Montevallo; three sons, Kevin (Melissa) James of Montevallo, Eddie (Sherry) James of Calera and Billy James of Montevallo; one sister, Mary Keim of Sarasota, Fla.; one brother, Joseph Keim of Wheaton, Ill.; four grandchildren, Kimberly and Kayley James and Shawn and Scott James; and one great-granddaughter, Makayla James.

Service was Sept. 11 at 6 p.m. at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church of Montevallo, Bishop David Foley presiding and Rockco’s Funeral Home directing.

Alpha Johnson Lucas, 72, of Jemison died Friday, Sept. 9, 2005, in Alabaster.

Service was Sept. 12 at 2 p.m. at Rockco’s Funeral Home Chapel in Montevallo, the Revs. Jay Gordon and Scott Watson presiding. Burial followed in Providence Cemetery, Rockco’s Funeral Home directing.

Carolyn Jean Pennington, 64, of Columbiana died Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2005, at home. She was born June 10, 1941, in Dora, Ala. She is preceded in death by her husband, Coleman ‘Buddy’ Pennington.

She is survived by her children, Marie Pennington and Lee Pennington; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Service was Sept. 10 at 5:30 p.m. at her home, Bolton-Letlow Funeral Home directing. The family requests memorial donations be made to the Shelby County Humane Society.

David W. Rogers, 56, of Bessemer died.

Service was Sept. 6 at 11 a.m. at Bolton-Letlow Chapel with burial following in Union Cemetery.

Bobby Ray Snow, 64, of Montevallo died Friday, Sept. 9, 2005, at home. He had retired from his job in maintenance at the Shelby County Board of Education.

He is survived by his wife, Ann Snow of Montevallo; his daughter, Lee Snow of Chelsea; his son, Jeff (Tina) Snow of Wilton; his mother, Ruth B. Snow of Montevallo; his sister, Carolyn (Hubert) Wolfe of Montevallo; his brother, Terry (Dianne) Snow of Clanton; and his grandchildren, Megan Snow and Adrian Candelaria of Montevallo.

Service was Sept. 12 at 11 a.m. at Rockco’s Funeral Home Chapel, the Rev. David Reed presiding. Burial followed in Montevallo Cemetery, Rockco’s directing. The family requests memorial donations be made to the American Red Cross or the Salvation Army disaster relief funds.

James W. ‘Dub’ Whitfield, 81, of Columbiana died Sept. 10, 2005. He was born May 1, 1924, in Siluria.

He is survived by his wife, Johnnie Faye Whitfield; his children, Glenda (Stanley) Davis of Columbiana and Greg (Paula) Whitfield of Murfreesboro, Tenn.; seven grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Virginia Baggett of McCalla.

Service was Sept. 13 at Bolton-Letlow Chapel with burial following in Columbiana City Cemetery, Bolton-Letlow Funeral Home directing.

Martha Ann Wright, 92, formerly of Columbiana died Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2005. She was born May 16, 1913, in Mississippi. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Columbiana.

She is survived by her children, Sally (Richard) Runyan and Molly (Dr. Alan) Jared; her grandchildren, Wendy R. Lowe, Thomas Marcus Runyan, Russell Alan Runyan, Jeffrey Alan Jared and Leah Melissa Webb; nine great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Service was Sept. 11 at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Columbiana. Burial followed in Columbiana City Cemetery, Bolton-Letlow Funeral Home directing