April 26 obituaries
Kathy Elaine Berry Hays, 71
Kathy Elaine (Berry) Hays, 71, Montevallo, passed away on Monday, April 14, 2025. Visitation will be Friday, April 18th, from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. at Morrison Funeral Home, Cherokee, Alabama. A graveside service will follow at Harris Chapel Cemetery in Cherokee with Bryan Moody officiating beginning at 3:30 p.m.
Kathy was a native of Haleyville, Alabama. She lived for many years in Florence, Alabama, and Pulaski, Tennessee, where she worked as a high school art teacher at Giles County High School for twenty-one years. Kathy recently lived in Montevallo, where she was a member of Helena Church of Christ. She was preceded in death by her mother, Marcelene Sumerel, and her father, James “Jimmy” Lindon Berry.
Kathy is survived by her husband, David Ray Hays; children, David Blake Hays (Megan), and Rachel Malia Hays; brother, Steve Berry (Jennie); sister-in-law, Debbie Windsor (Tom); brother-in-law, Mitchell Hays (Bethany); grandchildren, Mary Vivian Hays and Chloe Cathleen Hays; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Kathy was a wonderful wife, and mother to her two children. In 2019 she and David relocated to Montevallo, Alabama to be closer to her children and grandchildren, and she loved her two grandchildren dearly. Kathy loved the Lord with all her heart and was a blessing to all that knew her.
Pallbearers will be Mitchell Hays, Tom Windsor, Tommy Windsor, Bruce Berry, Taylor Berry, and Casey Hagle.
James Russell Guenther, 65
James Russell Guenther, 55, of Cherokee, passed away on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. Visitation will be Thursday, April 17, 2025 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Morrison Funeral Home in Cherokee. The funeral service for James will be Friday, April 18, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with Rodney Sparks and Billy George officiating. Burial will follow in Asphalt Rock Cemetery.
James was native of Lansing, MI and long-time resident of Cherokee. He was a member at Asphalt Rock Baptist Church and was the Owner and Operator of All Weather Exteriors. He was preceded in death by his mother, Mary Sutinen; father, James Guenther; and brother, Ronald Guenther.
James is survived by his loving wife, Rhonda Powers Guenther; children, Kristen Johnson (Mitchell) and Ty Guenther (Jane); grandchildren, Gunner and Gavin Johnson, and Paxtyn and Rylee Guenther; brother Mark Guenther; sisters, Vivian Burns (Bruce) of Houghton Lake, MI and Diana Guenther; a host of nieces and nephews; and his pets Lala and Kibby Smallzz.
Pallbearers will be Ty Guenther, Thomas Gaisser, Chuck Murphy, Johnny Grissom, Wayne Mauldin, Jimmy Heaps, and Caleb Beyersdorf.
Honorary pallbearer is Tim Wes.
Ralph Lester “Butch” Payne
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Butch Payne. Butch blessed the world with his presence on July 08, 1963, and left us with everlasting, joyful memories on April 15, 2025.
Butch was a loving husband, an amazing dad, the best papaw, a great brother and uncle, a proud Marine Veteran and a caring friend to all. He is survived by his wife, Pam Payne; siblings, Gary Sisk, Karen Payne and Lucretia Phillips (Rich); children, Sheila Jones (John) Matthew Deleon (Kylee), Casey Payne, Crystal Isbell (Joe) Cain Miller (Candace), & Candi Ingrum (Josh); grandchildren, Shelby (Peyton), Jackson, Ayden, Reagan, Finley, Emma, Sanders, Kiersyn, Evalyn, Lilie, Eleanor, and Elijah; niece, Christie Spielmann (John); nephews, Jeremiah Richardson (Holly) and Devin Kilpatrick; special friends, James Fulmer, Russell Oldham, and Linda White.
He is proceeded in death by his mother, Janice Payne; father, Jesse Lee Payne; grandmother, Ruby Hughes; and nephew, Damien Sisk. He was followed in death by his beloved son, Jesse Payne.
Butch had the most compassionate heart and loved being surrounded by family & friends. To Butch, “Roll Tide” meant “I love you” and he made sure we all felt the love every time he said it! If Butch was with his wife, riding the bike on a sunny day, or playing corn hole while watching his grandkids run outside, then he was living his best life! He is already missed tremendously and will be missed every second of everyday going forward.
Memorial arrangements will be announced.
Roll Tide, Papaw!
Irmgard Anna Fiebrich, 86
Irmgard Anna Fiebrich, 86, of Tuscumbia, passed away on Friday, April 18, 2025. There will be no services at this time per Irmgard’s request.
Irmgard was a native of Lauda Germany. She is preceded in death by her mother Stefanie Silber and siblings, Alois Knehr, Kilian Knehr, and Maria Knehr.
She is survived by her children, Jennifer Jahnig (Mark), Herwig “Herbie” Fiebrich, and Hannelore Fiebrich; and three grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Colbert County Animal Shelter.
Sam Stuart
Hennigan, 92
Sam Stuart Hennigan, 92, of Leighton, passed away on Friday, April 18, 2025. Visitation will be Tuesday, April 22, from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m. at Old Brick Presbyterian Church Pavillion. The funeral service will immediately follow at the pavilion with Ben Hayes officiating. Interment will be in the adjoining cemetery.
Stuart was a lifelong resident of Leighton and a veteran of the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict, serving in the 75th Regimental Combat Unit which traces its lineage back to the famed Merrill’s Marauders of World War II. He was retired from Reynolds Alloys and a member of the free masons and co-founder of the Colbert County St. Jude Trail Ride Fundraiser.
Stuart was preceded in death by his wife, Isabel Daves Hennigan; daughters, Kim Hennigan and Roxane Hovater; parents, Samuel Otis and Pauline Norman Hennigan; brothers, Bill and Jack Hennigan; and sisters, Mary Sue Hennigan and Linda Hennigan Steele.
He is survived by his son, Gregory Hennigan (Belinda); grandchildren, Jacob Hennigan, Rebecca Harris (Christian), Kerri Hovater, Amy Moore (Mike), and Abby Hovater (Jim); great-grandchildren, Henry Harris and Alyssa Moore; sisters-in-law, Judy and Joan Hennigan, Lou Thomas, and Bert Nichols; and many nieces and nephews.
Family will serve as pallbearers.
In lieu of flowers, the family ask that you make a donation to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
“Where the grass grows lush and stirrup-high,
There his family beckons him to his home in the sky.
And he strides towards it, cross golden street,
With well worn boots on two steady feet.
Stubborn but true, plain but profound,
Unflinching, Unchallenged, Unconquered, Unbound.”
Krandel Ellis
Kray Agee, 35
Krandel Ellis Kray Agee 35, born January 24, 1990 passed away on April 8, 2025. A memorial service will be held on April 19, 2025 at 11 a.m. at Colbert Memorial Chapel.
He was proceeded in death by his mother Selina Reece and grandfather Jimmy Burns.
Krandel leaves behind two children; Kraylynn Nichole Agee and Corbin Ellis Agee, mother; JoAnn Agee, father; Ronnie Agee, step-mother; MaryAnn Agee, siblings; Corey Agee, Kim Funk (Michael), Audrena Mitchell (Josh), Corlina Peralta, Salvatore Peralta, Francisco Peralta, grandmother; Phyllis Burns and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.
Meera Kothari Bumb, 75
Meera Kothari Bumb, age 75, of Florence, Alabama, passed away Thursday, April 17th, 2025. A Memorial Service will be held Wednesday, April 23rd at 6pm with a visitation with family and friends to follow until 8pm at Colbert Memorial Chapel.
Meera was born in Udaipur, Rajasthan India, the eldest daughter of Fateh Lal Kothari and Sajjan Devi Kothari. She received a BA degree from university of Udaipur. After getting married and having her first son, she moved to America with her husband in 1973. Then in 1988, she and the family moved to Alabama, where she spent 29 yrs as a frontend cashier at Walmart, which was her home away from home.
She leaves behind her husband Dr. Balu L Bumb, son Anu Bumb & his wife Mamta, daughter Anjali Bumb & her dogs Leylah & Eddie, son Manu Bumb, brother Lalit Kothari & his wife Sangeeta, sister Kusum Talesra, brother-in-law S.N. Joshi, the entire Kothari & Bumb family, and her whole Walmart family.
She was an unassuming lady known for her humor, kindness, & willingness to help. She will be missed immensely.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the National Audubon Society.
Lillie Mae
Fry, 100
Lillie Mae Fry, age 100, of Tuscumbia, passed away April 16, 2025. Visitation will be Monday, April 21 at Williams Funeral Home from 1:00 – 2:00 pm. The service will start at 2:00 pm with Brother Rod Stansky officiating and burial following in Shoals Memorial Gardens.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry Howard and Mae Alice Wooten; husband, Noah V. Fry; daughter, Shelia Lynn Fry Tribble; brothers, Lamar, Herman, Henry Jr., Walter, Irvin, and Joel Wooten; sisters, Ona Mae Griffith and Elizabeth Jones.
Mrs. Fry is survived by her son, Jimmy V. Fry, Sr. (Joann); son-in-law, Mike Tribble; siblings, Albert and Harry Wooten. Additional survivors include grandchildren, Jimmy V. Fry, Jr., Brian Tribble, and Stacy Schott; great-grandchildren, Rachel Formby, Jacob Fry, Burke and Ethan Tribble, Saylor, Sylas, Slade, and Seb Schott; great-great-grandchildren, Owen Bo, and Benjamin Formby, and Caleb Gallien.
Mrs. Fry loved gardening, golfing, and fishing—but above all, she cherished her family and was always eager to feed them.
The family would like to thank Enhabit Hospice, Cottage of The Shoals, and caregiver, Beverly Baker.
Nora Ann
Handley, 88
Nora Ann Handley, 88, of Sheffield, AL, passed away on April 17, 2025. Visitation will be held on Wednesday April 23, 2025 from 12-2 at Colbert Memorial Chapel. Mack Dean will be officiating. Burial will be in Barton Cemetery.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Oscar Brown Handley and Pearlly Willingham Handley; brothers, George Haston Handley and Wallace Edward Handley; sisters, Inza Ruthie Strickland and Mamie L. Minor.
She is survived by her son Bradley Dewayne Handley of Sheffield, AL.
