April 11 obituaries

William Russell Newton, 84

William Russell Newton of Houston, Texas passed from this life on March 23, 2026. He was preced­ed in death by his parents, Marcus Newton and Virgie McKenzie Newton, sis­ters, Ruby Sockwell, Polly Hester, Jean Jackson, and Betty Horrocks, and broth­er, James Marcus Newton. He is survived by sever­al nieces and nephews.

Russell graduated from Auburn University in 1965 with a B.S degree in mechanical engineer­ing. Early in his career he worked with civilian con­tractors at Marshall Space Flight Center where he worked on the Gemini and Apollo programs. At the conclusion of the Apollo program, he worked for Sperry Rand and Tennes­see Valley Authority for a time and then spent thir­ty-three years working for NASA until his retire­ment. He enjoyed family and friends and photogra­phy. He was dearly loved by all who knew him.

A private graveside service will be held at Colbert Memorial Gar­dens in Tuscumbia, Ala­bama. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to Churches of Christ Disas­ter Relief Effort, Nash­ville, Tennessee; Arms of Hope, Medina, Texas; Foster’s Home for Chil­dren, Stephenville, Texas; Healing Hands Interna­tional, Nashville, Tennes­see; Houston Church of Christ, Houston, Texas; or Mars Hill Bible School, Florence, Alabama.

The family expresses a special thanks to Aaron and Denise Mouser, Russell’s special beloved neighbors.

Mary Louise Moore

Rasnick, 94

Mary Louise “Lou” Moore Rasnick, 94, passed away peacefully on the morning of March 30, 2026. Born on November 16, 1931, Lou lived a long, remark­able life defined by strength, service, and an unwaver­ing dedication to others.

A lifelong resident of the Shoals, Lou was a respect­ed businesswoman who owned and operated The Uniform Shoppe in down­town Florence for 40 years. She served clients across 48 states and several countries, building a reputation for professionalism, compas­sion, and a deep understand­ing of the people she helped. Many will remember her pioneering work as a mas­tectomy prosthetics fitter and her lifelong commit­ment to breast cancer aware­ness. Lou taught countless women how to perform self examinations, offer­ing not only guidance but comfort, dignity, and hope.

Lou loved nature, birds, and the peaceful beauty of life on the Singing River. She found joy in simple mo­ments—watching the water, listening to the wind, and ap­preciating the world around her with quiet gratitude.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Mary Wharton Moore and Franklin Lewis Moore; her brother, Louis Moore (Sue); her husband, Jack; and her beloved son, Van.

Lou is survived by her sister, Martha Moore Hyde; her brother, William E. Moore (Peggy); and many nieces and nephews who adored her and will for­ever cherish her memory.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, April 2, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., with funeral services be­ginning at 1:00 p.m., at Colbert Memorial Chapel, 700 Hwy 43 S, Tuscumbia, AL 35674. Burial will be in Oakwood, Sheffield, AL.

Lou’s legacy lives on in the countless lives she touched—with her kindness, her courage, and her stead­fast belief in helping others.

Gregory David Barnett, 56

Gregory David Barnett, 56, of Tuscumbia, AL passed away on April 1, 2026. Visi­tation will be Monday, April 6, 2026 from 10-11 am at Colbert Memorial Chapel with a service to follow at 11 am in the chapel. Burial will be in Davis Huff Cemetery.

He was preceded in death by his father, David Barnett; grandparents, Harold and Lucille Richardson and Buf­ford and Willie Pearl Barnett.

He is survived by his wife, Jennie Barnett; mother, Joyce Chapman; father, An­thony Chapman; son, Cam­eron Barnett; daughter, Na­talie Huggins; sister, Jelynn McDougal; grandchildren, Gracely Huggins, Easton Huggins, Swayzie Huggins, Ellie Barnett, Aubrie Bar­nett, and Waylen Barnett.

Lucille Bolton Hester, 95

Lucille Bolton Hester, 95, of the Red Rock com­munity in Tuscumbia, AL, passed away April 1, 2026. Visitation will be held at the Colbert Memorial Gardens chapel on Monday, April 6 at 11:00am. The funeral service will begin at 1:00pm in the chapel, with graveside burial in the adjoining gardens im­mediately following. Pall­bearers will be from among grandchildren, great-grand­children, and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the fam­ily encourages donations to Make-A-Wish, St. Jude Chil­dren’s Research Hospital, or a charity of your choice. The family offers our sincere gratitude to the staff and nurses at Mitchell Holling­sworth and the caregivers of Southern Care Hospice for their service, dedication and concern she received.

Lucille was preceded in death by her husband of over 75 years, Denton, her parents Douglas and Be Etta Bolton, and siblings Doug­las Bolton Jr., Marie Gatt­man, and Charles Bolton.

Lucille is survived by her sons, Larry (Sandy) and Ran­dy (Marian); grandchildren, Chad (Alana), Will (Titus Daniels), Nicholas (Bess), and Emily (Jason) Reaves; great-grandchildren, Jay, Anna Lee, Samuel, Eleanor, Thomas, Madeline Hester and Luke Reaves; sisters Ima Jean Hutchins and Nan­cy Borden, along with a host of nieces and nephews.

Lucille was born on Oc­tober 1, 1930, grew up in Sheffield, and while work­ing in her father’s general store in 1947, she met and soon married Denton. To­gether they made their home in the Red Rock community, raising their sons on a small family farm while Denton worked for TVA. Lucille worked tirelessly both inside and outside the home, in­cluding stints on the staff of the Cherokee High School cafeteria and the dentist of­fice of Dr. Howard Gamble.

Lucille’s jovial, caring nature generated friendships within every facet of her life, and her most beloved hobby was visiting with and en­tertaining her many friends and loved ones. Although her home was never a large one, Lucille and Denton showed boundless hospital­ity which welcomed anyone for a good visit or a won­derful meal, always remark­able in warmth or laughter.

Lucille nurtured her faith and discovered many new friends through fellowship in Christ during her par­ticipation in Community Bible Study groups at both Woodmont Baptist (Flor­ence) and Barton Baptist churches. For many years, she held great joy in her weekly trip down Red Bay Highway to Carolyn Hoop­er’s beauty salon. Her stand­ing appointment for a few minutes of hair treatment, coupled with several hours of talking, would usually be a highlight of her week. Carolyn’s passing in 2007 left a void in Lucille’s life that was never quite refilled.

Lucille’s brightness, her willingness to serve and up­lift others, never dimmed. She always dismissed any ailment or obstacle that would have interrupted her mission of loving her chil­dren, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Her family has found it difficult to replicate Lucille’s per­fection of stuffed pickles, fried catfish, coconut cake, or even her simple milk­shakes. It will be impossible to replace her distinct laugh­ter. But the way she lav­ished love on those around her will reverberate within our family for generations.

Burrell Timothy Alewine, 66

Burrell Timothy “Tim” Alewine, 66, of Muscle Shoals, passed away Friday, April 3, 2026. A Celebration of Life for Tim will be held at Colbert Memorial Chapel on Tuesday evening, April 7, 2026, at 6:30 pm with Bro. Seth Hood officiating. Visitation will follow the service from 7 until 9 pm.

Tim was a good man at heart. He was funny, intelli­gent, and very talented with music and art. He played gui­tar and loved music. He was a part of the Colbert Heights High School 2A State Bas­ketball Championship team in 1976 and graduated with the class of 1977. He also enjoyed golf and fishing.

Tim is preceded in death by his father, Bur­rell Thomas Alewine; and his grandparents.

He is survived by his wife, Gwen Alewine; moth­er, Doris Alewine; children, Brian Alewine and Amy Terry; grandchildren, Jake and Sadie Terry; brother, Steve Alewine (Vicki); and sisters, Roxanne Walker (Jim), and Kim Alewine.

The family would like to give a special thanks to the nurses and staff of Ala­bama Hospice of the Shoals, his pastor, Seth Hood, and the doctors, nurses, and staff of Helen Keller Hospital for all their care they have given to Tim.

In lieu of flowers dona­tions may be made to the Kruzn for a Kure Foun­dation in Tim’s memory.

Sylvia Marie Weldon, 79

Sylvia Marie Weldon, age 79, of Florence, Ala­bama was called to be with the Lord Thursday, April 2, 2026, at her home. She was born on March 17, 1947, to Lavell and Hazel Fulgham in Oktibbeha County, Mis­sissippi. She was a gradu­ate of Maben High School where she played basketball and ran track. She attended Wood Junior College and was on the exhibition gym­nastic team. That’s where she met her husband to be Mike Weldon. They were married June 8, 1968, and were later blessed with two sons Christopher Timothy Weldon and Robert Matthew Weldon. Her calling was to children. She helped with her nieces and nephews, children in church, and was the greatest of mothers. She was a blessing as a minister’s wife, always helpful and en­couraging. She was a mem­ber of Pleasant Hill Church and was godly in character, a prayer warrior, and a great wife. She loved her family, friends, and anyone she met.

She is survived by her loving husband of 58 years, Mike Weldon; two sons Chris Weldon (Julie) and Robert Weldon; grandsons, Joshua Weldon (Katie) and Caleb Weldon; host of niec­es, nephews and cousins.

She was proceeded in death by her parents, Lavell and Hazel Fulgham; sisters, Myrna Eidon and Carol Loden; brothers, Buddy Ful­gham and David Fulgham.

Pallbearers will be Ja­son McKnight, Sam Parker, Wayne Fulgham, Craig Ful­gham, Joe Wall, and Booter Fulgham. Honorary pall­bearers will be Cleveland Watkins and Dwane Rhodes.

Visitation will be Thurs­day, April 9, 2026, from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM at Morri­son Funeral Home, Central Heights. The Funeral will be Friday, April 10, 2026, at Double Springs Method­ist Chapel (11426 Sturgis Maben Road, Maben Mis­sissippi 39750). The family will receive friends from Noon until 1:00 PM with the service immediately follow­ing with Rev. Doug Pierce officiating. Burial will be at Clear Springs Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers me­morials may be made to Pleasant Hill Church @ ph.breezechms.com

Martha Jane Keenum

Sharp, 84

Martha Jane Keenum Sharp, 84, of Tuscumbia, passed away on Sunday, April 5, 2026. Visitation will be Saturday, April 11, from 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. at Morrison Funeral Home, Tuscumbia. A graveside ser­vice will follow at Colbert Memorial Gardens, Tus­cumbia, beginning at 3:00 p.m. with Frank Mills and Mike Coston officiating.

Born in Tuscumbia, AL, and grew up in the neighbor­hood known as Sugar Hill. Jane attended Cave Street Elementary School and grad­uated from Deshler High School in the class of 1960.

After high school she at­tended and graduated as a registered nurse from Car­raway Methodist Hospital School of Nursing in Bir­mingham, AL. She served as President of her Senior Class and was twice chosen runner up in the “Sweet­heart of Carraway” com­petition. Jane was hired at Carraway Hospital imme­diately after graduating, where she was the charge RN in obstetrics. It was at Carraway that she met and later married Lt. Douglas Odell Sharp, who had pre­viously worked as a student and pharmacist in the Car­raway Hospital pharmacy.

Shortly after marriage, Jane joined her husband in Boston, MA where she worked in OB at St. Eliz­abeth’s Hospital that was located in the Brighton neighborhood of Boston. She often mentioned that she enjoyed working there more than anywhere else, even though the doctors and interns there would call her Miss Georgia or Miss North Carolina and encour­aged her to speak more so they could hear her speak in her southern Alabama accent. After Boston she relocated to Columbia, TN where she was an OB nurse at Maury County Hospital.

Jane was an active mem­ber of Graymere Church of Christ and often attend­ed Maury Christian Camp, serving as camp nurse. She taught children’s Bible classes and was involved in Vacation Bible School. She volunteered at Tennessee Orphan’s Home in Spring Hill, TN caring for the needs of the children there.

Jane was active in the Baker School PTA, having served as co-Chairman of the annual school’s Spa­ghetti Supper & Festival and volunteered as school nurse. She often volunteered as sub­stitute teacher at Columbia Academy Christian School in its first year of existence.

After the family relocat­ed to northwest Alabama Jane was employed as an RN at Shoals Hospital in Sheffield, AL. After retiring from nursing, she worked alongside her husband at the Medicine Shoppe Phar­macy in Sheffield until it closed at the end of 1999.

Jane was a member of Cross Point Church of Christ in Florence, AL where she served in the Friendship Center Ministry, working in the clothing department.

In retirement she en­joyed travelling to 35 dif­ferent countries located in North & South America, Europe and Asia. In 2015 she relocated from Muscle Shoals to Tuscumbia, AL.

She was preceeded in death by her parents, Loyd Talmadge Keenum and Martha Adell Willingham Keenum; brother, Talmadge M. Keenum; and grandson, William Andrew Sharp.

Jane was known for her compassion and the Chris­tian love that she shared with others. She touched the lives of so many people, but her greatest love was her fam­ily. Survivors include her husband of sixty-two years, Douglas Odell Sharp; sister, Patricia Barnett; sons, Doug (Myra) Sharp, Bryan (Bran­di) Sharp and Tom (Jan) Sharp; grandson, Alexander Sharp; granddaughters, Ash­lyn (James) Upshaw, Alaina Sharp, Emilee (Josh) Bro­schinski and Sheridan (Ker­ry) Welch; stepgrandsons, Blake Gentry, Patrick Gentry and Cale (Samantha) Fred­erick; great-grandchildren, Norah & Liam Upshaw and Elliott & Garrett Broschins­ki; step great-grandchildren, Rylan Gentry and Claire, Conner and Christopher Frederick; and a host of niec­es, nephews, and cousins.

Pallbearers will be Chad Barnett, Eddie Sharp, James Upshaw, Nate Allen, Kerry Welch, and Josh Broschins­ki. The Deshler High School Class of 1960 will serve as honorary pallbearers.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Cross Point Church of Christ Friendship Center Ministry, 1350 Cox Creek Pkwy, Florence, AL 35633.

The family offers spe­cial thanks to the staff of Southern Care New Bea­con Hospice, and to The Cornerstone caretakers.

Mark John

Polasky, 63

Mark John Polasky, 63, of Red Bay, passed away on Saturday, April 4, 2026. A memorial service will be held in Wisconsin at a later date.

Mark was a veteran of the US Air Force. He was pre­ceded in death by his parents, Richard and Ottilie Polasky.

Mark is survived by his wife, Annette Polasky; and children, Alex Po­lasky, Melissa Polasky, and Kristen Sumrall.

Judith Lynn Crow, 79

Judith Lynn Crow, 79, of Muscle Shoals, AL died on Saturday, March 28, 2026. Visitation will be on Friday, April 3, 2026 from 12-2 pm at Colbert Memo­rial Chapel with a service to follow at 2 pm in the chap­el. Reggie Bruce will be of­ficiating. Burial will be in Colbert Memorial Gardens.

Mrs. Crow was a part of the first graduating class of Muscle Shoals High School in 1964. She was known for her being the seamstress for cheerleaders and band mem­bers of Muscle Shoals High School, and was very proud of all things Muscle Shoals.

She was preceded in death by her parents, War­ren and Frances Keenum.

She is survived by her sons, Jeff Crow (Ashley) and Keith Crow (Tammy); broth­er, Danny Keenum (Debby); grandchildren, McKenzie Crow and Nick Lynch; neph­ews, James Keenum (Megan) and Josh Keenum (Nina).

Pallbearers will be family and friends.

Special thanks to the caregivers of Diversi­care of Foley for all their loving care toward Judy.

Doris Catherine Smith, 83

Doris Catherine “Cathy” Smith passed away on, March 28, 2026, at the age of 83. She was born Decem­ber 23, 1942, to Mary Belle and William Barnett and lived for many years in Wat­son, Louisiana, before mov­ing to Sheffield, Alabama.

Cathy was the sweetest soul, known for her bound­less kindness to friends and family alike. Those who knew her best also knew of her soft heart for animals, having never met a stray that she didn’t care for and love. To know Cathy was to love her, just as she loved us all so much. She was preced­ed in death by her parents, William and Mary Belle Bar­nett; sons, Jody Paul Smith and Michael Shane Smith; sister, Rosemary Smith; and niece, Maria McLaren-Lam­bert. Cathy is survived by her daughter, Jeanne Stiles and husband, Wade; and grandchildren, Preston Stiles, Jordan Smith, Michael Smith, and Nicholas Smith

At the request of Cathy and her family, there will be no services at this time.

Raymond Eshcol Agee, 98

Raymond Eshcol Agee, 98, of Muscle Shoals, passed away on Saturday, April 4, 2026. Visitation will be Fri­day, April 10, from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. at Morrison Funeral Home, Tuscumbia. The funeral service will im­mediately follow in the fu­neral home chapel with Joe Agee officiating. Interment will be in Valhalla Mem­ory Gardens, Huntsville.

Raymond was a veteran of the US Army, serving ac­tive duty from 1945 – 1947. He was preceded in death by his wife, Maggie Eve­lyn Agee; daughter-in-law, Rhonda Agee; parents, Wil­liam and Tennie Agee; three brothers; and two sisters.

Raymond is survived by his sons, Eddie Agee (Patricia), Joe Agee (Gayle), Dwight Agee (Paula), and Randy Agee; grandchildren, Teresa Agee, Amanda Agee, An­drew Agee, Matthew Agee, Cayce Jones, April Walk­er, Dwight Agee Jr., Randy Agee, and Buddy Agee; and several great-grandchildren.

Raymond’s sons and grand­sons will serve as pallbearers