GEORGE NAY - OBITUARY

George Nay

September 26, 1925 - January 19, 2018

George Edward Nay, 92, retired nursing home custodian. Mr. Nay died Friday, January 19, 2018 at Athens Health and Rehabilitation. He was born September 26, 1925, in Sterling, NJ. He was baptized into the Catholic Faith, July 29, 1926. George was a survivor, after spending 4 years in a TB Sanatorium; he became a custodian and an audio visual operator at Morris View Nursing Home in Morristown, NJ, for 43 years. He was married to the former Shirley Nay for 18 years. They moved to Athens in 1994. George's hobbies included photography and coin collecting. 

 

Survivors include step-daughter Carlene Freehauf of Athens and step-son Bill Lackey of Corinth, MS. Seven Step-grandchildren Craig Freehauf of TN, Sonya Phillips of Elkmont, George Lackey of IL, Jerry Lackey of NH, Dennis Lackey of IN, Marie Lackey and Ted Lackey of MA, and eleven step-great grandchildren. 

There will be a memorial service Saturday, February 3, 2018 at 12 p.m. at Saint Timothy's Episcopal church, 207 E. Washington Street in Athens with Kelton Riley officiating.

CASSIE MIRL HARGRAVE - OBITUARY

Cassie Mirl Hargrave, age 99 of Athens, died Thursday at her residence. Mrs. Hargrave was born February 25, 1918, she was a member of Round Island Baptist Church and she was a retired seamstress.

 Services will be 2PM Sunday, January 28, 2018 at Spry Funeral Home Chapel with Anthony Anderson and Mike Green officiating, burial at Roselawn Cemetery, visitation is Saturday 6-9PM at Spry Funeral Home.  

Survivors: 
Daughter: Anna Gayle Adams of Elkmont  Brother: Allen Craig of Athens
Sister: Moreta Johnson of Athens, Grandchildren: 
Donald McLemore and Dana McLemore. 
Preceded in death by Eleven Brothers and Sisters

AJ PUCKETT - OBITUARY

 

A J Puckett , 77, of Athens,AL died Tuesday, January 23, 2018 at Athens Health and Rehabilitation, Athens, Alabama.

Mr. Puckett was born Sunday, July 21, 1940 in Taft, TN. He was the son of Amos J Puckett and Zana Frances Whitt Puckett. He was preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by: 

Sons

Amos J Puckett, III, Gulf Shores, AL and Nathan Fillers, Chattanooga, TN. 

Daughters

Janet (Jeff) Posey, Hazel Green, AL, and Janna (Hank) Mauldin, Calhoun, GA. 

Brothers

Freddie Puckett, Elkmont, AL, Randy (Lucy) Puckett, Harvest, AL and Jimmy (Fran) Puckett, Prospect, TN. 

Three grandchildren and one great-
grandchild.

A Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 25, 2018 at Ardmore Chapel Funeral Home, Ardmore, Alabama from 1:00 PM until 3:00 PM.

A Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, January 25, 2018 at Ardmore Chapel Funeral Home at 3:00 PM with Bro. Rick Cantrell officiating.

CHELSIE NICHOLE SAYLORS - OBITUARY

Chelsie Nichole Saylors, age 23 of Elkmont, died Thursday at her residence. Miss Saylors was born December 27, 1994 in Huntsville, Alabama. A graduate of West Limestone High School, she attended Calhoun Community College. 

There will be a 11AM Graveside Service Tuesday, January 23, 2018 at Mt. Pisgah Cemetery with Chad Capps officiating.  Visitation is from 6-8PM Monday at Spry Funeral Home.  

Survivors: 
Mother: Amy Saylors of Elkmont
Twin Sister: Jade Hope Saylors of Elkmont
Grandparents: 
Wayne and Linda Burks of Elkmont
Donnie and Jean Saylors of Athens

GERALDINE CLEM MASSEY - OBITUARY

Geraldine (Clem) Massey, age 90 of Athens, died Thursday at her residence. Mrs. Massey was born October 29, 1927 in Limestone County, she was a member of West Hobbs Street Church of Christ and she was a homemaker. Preceded in death by Parents: Leonard and Lou Emma Clem, Husband: Courtney Massey, Brother: Robert Vernon Clem, Sister: Sue Bauer Arnold.

A Graveside Service will be 3PM Friday, January 19, 2018 at Athens City Cemetery with Bill Irby officiating, visitation is from 1PM until 2:30PM Friday at Spry Funeral Home. Grandsons and Nephews will be pallbearers. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Limestone County.


Survivors: 
Daughters: 
Kellie (Monroe) Broadway of Athens, Jerrie (Barry) Smith of Athens, 

Grandchildren: 
Brooke (Josh) Parsons of Elkmont, Cody (Lindsey) Smith of Athens and Savanna (Troy) Evans of Prospect, Tennessee, 

Great-Grandchildren: 
Liam Parsons and Jude Parsons

Brother: David (Ada Bee) Clem of Elkmont, Nieces and Nephews. 

LAUGHING WITH DONNA

A highway patrolman pulled alongside a speeding car on the freeway. Glancing at the car, he was astounded to see that the blonde behind the wheel was knitting! Realizing that she was oblivious to his flashing lights and siren, the trooper cranked down his window, turned on his bullhorn and yelled, "PULL OVER!"

"NO!" the blonde yelled back, "IT'S A SCARF!"

HOUND DOG IS TOMORROW

Greetings, Hound Dog Runners!
We are one day away from the Hound Dog Half! We hope your training has gone well and you are ready to run on Saturday, January 20th! We are looking forward to seeing you bright and early!

We have had some crazy winter weather here in Elkmont this past week but Saturday morning is looking to be crisp and cool (ok – maybe cold). The forecasted high/low for the day is 52*/37* with a 10% chance of precipitation. Thankfully no storms are predicted for race day like we had last year!

Ok – let’s get down to business:
Packet pick-up 
Available at the Elkmont Town Hall on Friday evening from 5:00-7:00 and Saturday morning from 6:30-7:45. The address of the town hall is 18890 Upper Fort Hampton Rd, Elkmont, AL 35620.

Race day registration
If you have a friend that hasn’t registered, bring them along! We will have race day registration! $80 is the registration fee on race day.

Parking
Available at the local churches and behind Belle Chevre goat cheese factory. Please do not park at the town hall as we have workers needing to get in to that parking lot to pick up supplies and volunteers.

Start time – 8:00 am

Aid stations
There will be 4 aid stations along the course. The approximate locations are miles 3, 5, 8 and 11.

Restrooms
There will 4 portables spread out on the course. Look for them the 3,5,8 and 10 mile markers (1 at each location). The restroom at the north end of the trail (around mile 8) may or may not be open. We are checking on it but it may have been winterized due to the frigid temperatures we have experienced in December and this past week. Regardless, there will be a portable there!
Photographers – there will be at least 2 photographers out there on the course – so look up and SMILE!

Finisher Swag
You will get your awesome finisher medal when you cross the finish line. Please head up the hill to the Elkmont Methodist Church to collect your 2018 race hat and  PANCAKE BREAKFAST! Your race bib is your ticket to the pancake breakfast and also for claiming your hat.

Pancake Breakfast
Will be held at the Elkmont Methodist Church. It is just up the hill from the finish line. Your supporters are welcome to join you at the pancake breakfast (or they can eat while you are running). Tickets are $5.00 and they can pay at the door.

Door Prize
There will be a bib drawing done while you are out running on the course. Winning bibs will be posted at the Pancake Breakfast. Check out the board and if you are a winner, claim your prize!

Awards
Will be at 11:00 at the Elkmont Methodist Church where the pancake breakfast will be.

JOYCE MAE HOBBS SHELTON - OBITUARY

Joyce Mae Hobbs Shelton 75, of Ardmore,AL died Sunday, January 07, 2018 at Huntsville Hospital, Huntsville, Alabama.

Born Thursday, May 28, 1942 in Giles County TN, she was the daughter of Delbert and Velma Hastings Hobbs. She lived in the Ardmore area most all her life and was a member of Community Baptist Church of Ardmore
.
She was preceded in death by parents, husband, Robert "Rab" Shelton, brothers, Penny Hobbs, Edd Hobbs, Bill Hobbs, and Donald Hobbs.

She is survived by her daughter, "DeDe" (Jackie) Emerson, Ardmore, AL, brother, Randy (Lynn) Hobbs, Elkmont, AL, sister, Patsy (Riley) Owens, Athens, AL, 2 grandchildren, Ashley (Drew) Hogan and Presley Emerson, and 2 great grandchildren, Hazel and Jasper Hogan.

Visitation was on Tuesday, January 09, 2018 at Ardmore Chapel Funeral Home, Ardmore,v Alabama, from 11:00 AM until 2:00 PM.

A Funeral Service was held on Tuesday, January 09, 2018 at Ardmore Chapel Funeral Home, at 2:00 PM with Bro. Steve Hargrove officiating. Burial was in Hasting Cemetery, Ardmore, AL.

MORRIS ELDRIDGE ADAMS - OBITUARY

Morris Eldridge Adams, age 74 of Elkmont, passed away Wednesday, January 17, 2018 at his residence. Mr. Adams was born January 6, 1944 in Limestone County to William Grady Adams and Thelma C. Pitts Adams.

Services will be Saturday, January 20, 2018 11:00 a.m., at Limestone Chapel Funeral Home with Doug Colwell and Marshall Norman officiating. Visitation will be Friday, January 19, 2018 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be in Dement Cemetery.

Preceded in death by his parents; seven brothers and three sisters.

Survived by his wife, Gayle Adams of Elkmont; three daughters, Alecia Pugh and husband, Dennis of Toney, AL, Sabrenia Heard and husband, Jeff of Shelbyville, TN and Joy Smith and husband, George of Toney, AL;; eight grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; one brother, Buddy Adams of Athens; three sisters, Evelyn Gatlin of Madison, Ester Barnett of Athens and Ruby Haggermaker of Athens; several nieces and nephews.

Mr. Adams was a non denomination preacher and singer. He loved working with animals.

Pallbearers will be Shane Watkins, Brandon Renegar, Mark Heard, Adam Heard, Josh Heard and Jeremy Moore.

ELKMONT'S BRIANNE HARGROVE - MISS UNA CONTESTANT

I am so excited and honored to be competing in the Miss UNA pageant this month.

Each contestant has a platform of her choice to promote and bring awareness through within the community. My platform is “Kids to Love”. Some of you may have heard of the Kids to Love Foundation. It is a non-profit based out of Madison, Alabama and founded by Lee Marshall. 

Foster children have a special place in my heart. People would be shocked at how many children are in the foster care system just in our own communities.  On average a child remains in foster care for two years while six percent remain in the system for five years or more. Six percent may not sound like a lot, but when you do the math, that is roughly 40,200 children that spend a better portion of their childhood in foster care. That number is almost equivalent to the entire population of Florence, Alabama. 

I believe we can change that bitter reality. Kids to Love is changing the lives of foster children. Not only do they provide them with things that most children take for granted, but they also advocate for these children to find them forever homes. Since Kids to Love first launched in 2004, the number of children in foster care has decreased 30% statewide. Their methods are working in so many ways and I am honored to support them and promote everything they are doing.

One of my missions this past month was to sponsor as many foster children under the care of the Kids to Love program as I could for the holidays. With help from donations and wonderful hospitality of others, I was able to sponsor five foster children and their entire holiday wish list!

Another portion of the competition is talent. For my talent, I will be performing a clogging routine to the song “Better When I’m Dancing” by Meghan Trainor. As the title says, “I’m better when I’m dancing”. I have found something that brings me joy and lifts me up when I am down. I hope others can do the same and live life to the fullest.

 

As many of you have already seen, each contestant also designs a ring with the help of Creative Jewelers in Florence. Creative Jewelers sponsors the pageant and in return gives a special gift to the winner with the most likes on her picture with her ring design, which is posted on their facebook page. Not only does the person with the most likes get a prize, but the new Miss UNA 2018 receives her custom design ring for FREE, compliments of Creative Jewelers! 

Aside from the jewelry, pampering, and scholarships the Miss UNA pageant brings, the best reward of all has to be the experience. I have been able to learn new things and challenge myself in ways I would have never been able to before. 

So many doors have been opened and new people to call my friends, but seeing all the wonderful support back home brings a tear to my eye. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! Love you all! Go Red Devils and Roar Lions!

LINK TO VOTE FOR BRIANNE'S RING
*When you get there "like" her ring design photo to help her win the ring contest.

Join us Saturday January 27st at 5:00p.m. at Norton Auditorium for the 44rd Miss UNA Scholarship Pageant Sponsored by SGA and Creative Jewelers. Tickets are on-sale now at www.una.edu/boxoffice! $12 Online, and $15 at the door. Students may redeem a complimentary ticket from the Office of Student Engagement from January 5th until January 26th. 

PAGEANT INFORMATION:

The Miss UNA Scholarship Pageant is an official preliminary for the Miss Alabama/Miss America Pageant. The Miss UNA Scholarship pageant has been a UNA tradition for over 40 years. 

 

Each young woman is encouraged and mentored to develop skills that will enrich her personal and professional life beyond her university experience. Miss University of North Alabama spends her year in service to the university and Shoals Area community promoting the platform of her choice, makes official appearances as a university representative, and represents the university at the Miss Alabama Scholarship Pageant.