Obituaries

Dec 1, 2023

Charles Edward Barefield, age 76, of Mentone, Alabama, passed away peacefully at his home on Friday, December 1, 2023, after a short battle with Lewy Body dementia.  Born on December 1, 1947 in Florala, Alabama, Charles was the son of Lorene and Byrd Barefield.  He graduated from Walton High School in 1965 and spent all of his life living...

Nov 28, 2023

After a long illness, John Jeffery Hartley died peacefully at home surrounded by family on Tuesday, November 28, 2023.  The son of John Wesley and Anna Ruth (Waits) Hartley, John was born in Fernandina Beach, FL on Sept. 21, 1962.  He lived in various parts of north Florida - Jacksonville, Madison, Live Oak - before calling Ponce de Leon...

Nov 19, 2023

Virginia Scott Day, age 84 of Darlington passed away on Sunday, November 19, 2023 at Specialty Health and Rehabilitation in Pensacola, Florida. She was born on August 8,1939 in Darlington Florida the daughter of Richard Lester Scott and  Alma Enfinger Scott.  She remained in Darlington until she graduated from Walton High School in 1957.  She moved to Pensacola in...

Nov 15, 2023

William Timothy Shaffer went to be with his Lord on November 15, 2023, at age 57. Tim was born in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, to William Kenneth Shaffer and Rose Janice Shaffer. He was an attorney who practiced Debt Defense and was passionate about helping others. He was a member of Providence Presbyterian Church in Pensacola, Florida. Before his recent move...

Nov 7, 2023

Howard Eugene Reeves, Sr passed away on November 7, 2023.  He was born in Niceville, Florida on March 13, 1942, to parents Avery Edward Reeves and Bessie Mae Goodwin.  Gene spent his life living and working in the panhandle of Florida.  Gene owned and ran a successful mechanic/transmission business in Crestview for many years until his retirement, and he...

Oct 29, 2023

Dealin Williams age 26 of Crestview passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, October 29, 2023. He was born in Crestview, FL on April 11, 1997, to Christie and D. J. Williams. He grew up in Crestview and graduated from Laurel Hill High School. Dealin loved the outdoors and loved to hunt and fish. He worked construction and loved going to...

Oct 19, 2023

James Lossie Potter, 57, of Niceville, Florida, transitioned unexpectedly on October 19, 2023.  Born on July 9, 1966, to James Potter, Sr. and Carolyn Barnhill  in DeFuniak Springs, FL., James is the eldest of seven children.  He attended primary and secondary schools in Walton County, and he was proud of his football legacy at Walton High School.  James was...

Sep 30, 2023

Jerrie Leonia Neely passed away on Saturday, September 30, 2023. Born in Geneva County Alabama on January 27, 1942, to parents Edgar B. Whitehead, and Eva Mae Marlow, Jerrie grew up in the South with sisters Naomi, Wyonia, and Wanda. She graduated from Central High School in Phenix City and went on to college at Troy State. She married...

Sep 28, 2023

Robert “Rob” Earl Hight, Jr, age 58, of Webb City, Missouri, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, September 28, 2023, in DeFuniak Springs, Florida.

He was born in Joplin, Missouri on April 16, 1965, to parents Robert Earl Hight, Sr, and Freda Dodson (Eli).

Having moved to Florida for work, Rob truly embraced...

Sep 24, 2023

Guy Spence, 84, of Wake Forest, passed away on Sunday evening, September 24th, 2023 at his home surrounded by his family. He was born in DeFuniak Springs, Florida to the late Chess Spence and Bessie Beauchamp Spence.

Guy grew up on a farm in a rural part of northwest Florida.  Upon graduation from high school, he joined...

Sep 24, 2023

Elizabeth Patrick Leopold (Betty Ann) died on Sunday, September 24, 2023.  Born in Cleveland, Ohio on February 6, 1937, to Nicholas Patrick and Elizabeth Dugas, Betty spent her early years enjoying life on a small farm in Solon, Ohio.  Retiring from the Rochester Community Schools in Rochester Michigan and working for the Detroit Public Schools in Michigan, Betty was...

Sep 20, 2023

John P. McLaughlin, “Jack”,  passed away on Wednesday, September 20, 2023.  Born in Kearny, New Jersey on September 25, 1960, to parents John McLaughlin and Patricia Huhn, Jack graduated from Kearny High School in 1978 and went on to New Jersey Vocational School to become a machinist.   He worked as a machinist for Sheffield Tool, and as a computer...

Sep 18, 2023

Mary Inez Gainey passed away at her home on Monday, September 18, 2023.   Inez was a lifelong resident of DeFuniak Springs, born on September 29, 1933, to parents Noah and Rosie Rushing.  She attended Valley View school in the late 1930s and then began work in a sewing factory in Florala.  She continued being involved in the area through...

Sep 15, 2023

Maxwell L. McKee, Sr passed away peacefully at his home in DeFuniak Springs on Friday, September 15, 2023.  He was 95 years old.  Maxwell was born in Mississippi on February 21, 1928, to parents James Mallard McKee and Edith Glidewell.  He graduated with a degree in drafting and began a career in civil engineering.  Maxwell spent time stationed at...

Sep 12, 2023

Jacqueline Caswell Rutherford, age 92, passed away September 12, 2023, surrounded by family who loved her dearly. Jackie was born to Bowers and Nell Caswell in Crenshaw County, Alabama on September 29, 1930. The family moved to DeFuniak Springs, her father’s hometown, when she was a young child. Although Jackie had no siblings, she had many first cousins who...

Sep 4, 2023

Jack Earl Huggins passed away peacefully on Monday, September 4, 2023.  Jack was born in Laurel Hill on September 22, 1936, to William Oscar and Madelia Davidson Huggins.  He was a lifelong resident of the area – living in Baker, Pensacola, and DeFuniak Springs.  Jack was part of the 1954 graduating class of Baker High School.

Jack...

Aug 30, 2023

Sam Josh McBroom, “Sammy”, passed away peacefully on August 30, 2023.  After a gift of remission, cancer returned a short while ago and, as Sammy referred to it, “that damn cancer” ultimately took his life.  Sammy was born in DeFuniak Springs on August 5, 1941, to parents Hildra and Artie Mitchem McBroom.  He attended Walton High School then enlisted...

Aug 8, 2023

John Paul Irvine, Sr (Johnny) passed away peacefully on August 8, 2023.  Johnny was born in Cartersville, Georgia on April 17, 1941, to parents Kenneth B. and Martha F. Keith Irvine.  He lived in Hapeville, Georgia into his high school years before moving to DeFuniak Springs in 1957 and graduating from Walton High School.

Johnny married Vicki...

Aug 6, 2023

Cheryl A. Williams, “Sherry”, age 63, has gone to be with our Lord Jesus Christ as our Holy Father called her home Sunday, August 6, 2023. She was born in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina on November 30, 1959, to parents, Gene E. Williams and Carolyn N. Williams. The family left Camp Lejeune, North Carolina when Sherry was 3 years...

Aug 6, 2023

Ruth Ann Martin passed away Sunday, August 6, 2023 in Miramar Beach, Florida.  Ruth was born in Genoa, Nebraska on December 10, 1947, to parents Roy R. Raymer and Lila Nansel Raymer.  She married Henry Martin in 1965 and they were blessed with almost 58 years as husband and wife.  Henry’s service in the Air Force allowed them to...