Obituaries of 7/18/2024

Published 10:00 am Thursday, July 18, 2024

Gerald (Jerry) Davis Hudgens

Gerald (Jerry) Davis Hudgens, age 83, of Crestview, Florida, passed away Monday, July 8. Jerry lived in Crestview for the past 38 years.

Jerry Hudgens was born on May 6, 1941, in Troy. He was the son of Buck and Jewel Ethel Hudgens from Glenwood. He graduated from Luverne High School in 1959.

He attended Auburn University and graduated in 1965 with a B.S.E.E (Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering) degree. Jerry began his career with RCA and worked on the U.S.S Vandenburg. He then enjoyed a successful career as an electrical engineer for over 40 years working for companies Vitro, Nutek, and the Department of Defense. Through retirement, Jerry continued to apply his love of learning, his creativity, and his problem solving skills towards innovative projects in and around his home. He loved gardening with a passion and enjoyed deep sea fishing.

Jerry is survived by his wife, Sharon Tilley Hudgens; three children, Melissa (Dave) Ley of Plantation, Florida, Michael (Rachel) Hudgens of Birmingham, Jeffrey (Dominique) Hudgens of Pensacola, Florida; sister Charlotte (Don) Hall of Montgomery; seven grandchildren (Mikey, Megan, Justin, Nathan, Novalee, Sophia and Savanna); several nieces and nephews and two four-legged family (Lissie and Maggie).  He was predeceased by his parents, sister Carra (Don) Higgins of Babb, Montanna and brother Kenneth (Lynn) Hudgens of Glenwood.

Memorial donations in his name can be made to the Glenwood Methodist Church at PO Box 53 Glenwood, AL, 36034 and would be greatly appreciated.

War Eagle!

Willard “Buddy” Bailey

Willard “Buddy” Bailey was born May 1, 1934 in Rutledge to Clant and Annie Bailey and passed away peacefully on July 3 at the age of 90. 

Buddy was a 1953 graduate of Luverne High School. He married Erma Jean Rushing Aug. 12, 1957 and they spent 67 wonderful years together. Buddy joined the Air Force Jan. 1, 1955 and retired as a Master Sergeant after 20 years of service. 

After retiring from the Airforce, he taught at Haney Technical and Rutherford High School for 15 years. Buddy was a charter member of his beloved church, Carlisle Baptist Church, and served as Deacon Emeritus. Buddy has been a Masonic Brother at Callaway and Parker Lodges for over 50 years. 

Upon retirement, he and his wife Erma spent their time enjoying over 40 cruises together. Buddy was known for his witty sense of humor, loyalty and loving his family, friends, church and country. 

Buddy was preceded in death by his parents and 10 siblings. He is survived by his loving wife Erma Bailey, sister Jeanene Winfiele, daughter Vickie (Gary) Messick, son Doug (Tawana) Bailey, son Bruce Bailey, grandchildren, great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. 

Those who love Buddy were invited to celebrate his life 12 p.m. Monday July 8 at Kent Forest Lawn Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Evergreen Memorial Gardens . 

Family received friends one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Carlisle Baptist Building Fund, 835 South Berthe Street, Panama City, FL 32404. Pallbearers were Kelso Hamilton, Brian Winfiele, David Winfiele, Mark Schenavar, Bill Gazafi and Walter Hayes.

Grover Braxton Laird

Chief Master Sergeant Grover Braxton Laird, Retired, 91, a resident of Highland Home, passed away peacefully in his home on Tuesday, July 9. Funeral services for Braxton were held at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 12 at Sardis Church of Christ with Brother Steven Foster and Brother John Dickinson officiating. He was then laid to rest in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery with Turners Funeral Home of Luverne directing. 

Braxton was born on July 22, 1932, and later drafted into the U.S. Army on April.which, unfortunately, was not an April Fool’s Day joke! From that point forward, except for a three-year vacation in between leaving the Army and enlisting in the Air Force, he proudly spent 39 years in service to his beloved country, most of that as a training supervisor. His dedicated service earned him the rank of Chief Master Sergeant, the highest attainable for a non-commissioned officer. Upon his retirement at the age of 60, he proceeded to raise cattle, chickens and anything else a proper farmer should grow. He was also an avid fisherman and gardener. Additionally, he was an active member of the Church of Christ for over 60 years as he firmly believed in God, Country and Family. 

He had a true love of football and spent many years cheering on his beloved Crimson Tide on the gridiron. However, he was always up for a good football game, regardless of who was playing, but he especially enjoyed seeing his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren participate in that and other sports. Braxton was an integral part in lovingly helping to build Clay Jordan Stadium at Highland Home High School. He also served on the board of trustees for the school, as well as vice president or president for the athletic association for a number of years. He also gave the same dedication to his faith and home church as he was the treasurer for Mt. Pleasant Church of Christ for several decades. 

Braxton was an extremely generous man with both his time and love with his family who meant the world to him. There was nothing he would not do for them, though he also demonstrated the true love of Christ in his desire to help anyone who needed it. One of his favorite activities was seeing his friends with whom he could talk for hours on end. He never met a stranger, a fact his family could attest to as they could never seem to go anywhere on vacation that he didn’t run into someone he knew. That he made that kind of impression on people he met during his lifetime speaks volumes as to the kind of man he was… a truly great one. He will be sorely missed by all those who knew and loved him so well. 

Braxton was preceded in death by his wife, Maggie Lou Laird; parents, J.C. and Mittie Mae Armstrong Laird; siblings, J.W. “Bill” (Betty) Laird, Juanita (Max) Russell and Lamar Laird; and sister-in-law, Anelia Laird. He is survived by his wife, Victoria; his sons, Larry Laird and Clinton (Michelle) Laird; grandchildren, Randi Laird Vincitore, Ricky (Mandy) Laird, Regina Laird, Mallory Laird, Hannah Laird and Landon Laird; great-grandchildren, Hunter (Amber) Owens, Hayley Owens, Jackson Faulk, Ronni Faulk, Tyler (Sydney) Laird, Talyn Laird, Jayden Laird, Shelbylei Holley and Janie Holley; great-great-grandchildren, Emma Jane Owens and Greyson Owens; siblings, Nolan Laird and Ina (Tom) Davis plus a host of multiple generations of nieces and nephews, as well as extended family members and friends. 

Active pallbearers were Wesley Laird, Ricky Robertson, Aubrey Reeves, Carson Williams, Jackson Faulk and Mike Russell. 

Janie Davis Ward

Janie Davis Ward, 79, a resident of Luverne, passed away peacefully at Andalusia Manor on Monday, July 8. Funeral services for Janie were held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, July 16, from the Chapel of Turners Funeral Home with Brother Dale Simmons officiating. She was then laid to rest in Providence Cemetery with Turners Funeral Home of Luverne directing. 

There’s no better way to describe Janie than that she was a character on the world’s stage! She was truly a born entertainer so you were never not going to have a good time when she was around. She could be Scarlett O’Hara or the Joker, it just depended on what mood she was in, but she was never going to fail to entertain everyone she was around. In fact, one of her favorite parts of being a travel agent was booking bus tours where she appointed herself the tour director so she could ride along with her customers, leaving them with a host of hilarious memories. I’m not sure she ever said no to a party and, whether as a host or guest, the world was her oyster. Holidays with Janie were always the best as well. She might be a witch for Halloween and Santa for Christmas, but her doors were going to be thrown open for those she knew and loved. She was also enormously generous with everyone. She rarely arrived for a visit without a gift, no matter how random or unique it was, and she had a habit of giving away about as much as she sold through her stores over the years. 

Janie was the kind of free spirit who loved traveling wherever the impulse took her, and as an avid reader, she could continue to travel in her mind even when she wasn’t doing so physically. She was most definitely an extrovert and usually fit the stereotype to perfection, but there was also a genuine love of people and generosity of spirit that endeared her to nearly everyone who knew her. Authenticity is a rare commodity but Janie had it in spades. She was never fake nor put on airs, she was just who she was and made no apologies for it. That is a remarkable quality to have these days and it made her unforgettable to all those fortunate enough to know her….and stay on her good side! Janie lived an incredible life full of ups, downs, and incredible experiences, but there was nothing she loved more than being “Nannie” to her beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She cherished every single moment she was able to spend with them and all the things she could do for them. More than material things, her grandchildren knew they always had her love and support over the years and that leaves behind a treasure trove of memories for them to hold close for many more years to come. 

Janie was preceded in death by her husband, Edward A. “Butch” Ward, and parents, Joe D. and Lois Layton Davis. She is survived by children, Cricket (Danny) Mount, Joey (Susan) Carpenter, James (Val) Ward and Tim (Traci) Ward; grandchildren, Jon Jon (Brittney) Mount, Caitlin (Christopher) Hilburn, Zoey Carpenter, Mattie White, Mary Cochran Ward, Jack White, Abbie White, Noah Ward, Brittney (Blake) Van Winkle, Alaina Ward, Madison Moye and Brooklyn Ward; great-grandchildren, Colter Mount, Fielder Mount, John-Henry Hilburn, Natalee Jane Hilburn and John Allen Hilburn; sister, Retha (Barney) Hand; niece, Celes Hand and numerous other extended family members and friends. 

Active pallbearers were Christopher Hilburn, Leonard Wright, Kenny Davis, Tim Ward, James Ward and Bubba Bozeman. Her dear friend, Guy Simmons, served as an honorary pallbearer.