May 23 obituaries
Bonnie Turpin Adams, 80
Bonnie Turpin Adams 80, of Cherokee, AL passed away on May 15, 2026. Visitation will be Sunday, May 17, 2026, from 1-3 pm at Colbert Memorial Chapel with a service to follow at in the chapel. Burial will be in Colbert Memorial Gardens.
She liked to ride and look around through the woods with her husband.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Turpin; parents, Reba and Roy Burcham; brother, Roy Burcham; and sister, Sandy Burcham.
She is survived by her husband, Ronald Adams; children, Misty McCreless (Rodney) and Dallas Turpin (Nina); grandchildren, Dustin, Cody, Dakota, Savanna, Tory, and Lanny; six great grandchildren; brother, Pete Burcham; sister, Mary Burcham; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be family and friends.
Wanda Joyce Kirchner, 71
Wanda Joyce Kirchner, 71, of Leighton, AL died on Wednesday, May 13, 2026. Visitation will be on Friday, May 15, 2026 from 1-3 pm at Spring Valley Church of Christ with a service to follow with Chris Miller and Sonny Owens officiating. Burial will be in Colbert Memorial Gardens.
Wanda was raised in Sheffield and graduated from Sheffield High School in 1973. She was married to the love of her life, Tommy, for 47 years. She loved her children and grandchildren dearly. She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and aunt. Wanda enjoyed sewing and all kinds of crafts. She was a faithful member of Spring Valley Church of Christ where she was a Bible Class teacher for many years. She also loved her dogs, Tater and Wilson.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Tommy Kirchner; brother, Donnie Murner; parents, James Q and Mary Alice Murner.
She is survived by her daughter, Skye Miller (Chris); son, Colin Kirchner; grandchildren, Kyler (Bryleigh), Abegail; Cooper, Kaylee, and Tatum; brother-in-law, Ken (Diane) Kirchner; mother-in-law, Lydia Kirchner; sister-in-law, Carroll Murner; and a host of loving family and friends.
Pallbearers will be David Corsbie, Mike Longcrier, Ken Kirchner, Wesley Rikard, Kyler Miller, Cooper Hanbery, and Anthony Hall.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
Special thanks to Gloria Bolton, Jennifer Jones, and Preferred Home Health for their love and care and to Carroll; for always being there and for being the “sister she never had”.
Paul Edward Fisher, 77
Paul Edward Fisher, 77, of Muscle Shoals, went to be with the Lord on May 11, 2026.
Papaw was born on April 13, 1949, to Jessie and Eliza Fisher in Leighton, AL. He was third in birth order, but the eldest son of 9 children.
He grew up attending Vandiver Hollow Baptist Church. He attended Colbert Heights & Littleville Schools and joined the Job Corp when he was 17 years old. He returned from the Job Corp and married the love of his life, Karen Newman, on March 4, 1967.
Together, they had 3 daughters and built a life centered on love, family, but most importantly, faith. Papaw loved the Lord with all of his heart, all of his mind, and all of his soul. He faithfully served the Lord and was a member at Victory Baptist Church of Muscle Shoals.
Papaw was no stranger to hard work. He worked many years as an iron worker, working with many crews in Alabama and Texas. He spent the last 25 years of his career working at Nafco/Tarkett in Florence. Even on his rare off day, he was working, often giving of his time to serve others.
His greatest joy was his 8 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
He is survived by his adored wife of 59 years, Karen Fisher, and daughters, Sophie (Bryan) Vandiver, Pam (Josh) Jantz, Chasitie (John) White; grandchildren, Jessica (Dustin) Burch, Hannah (Daryn) Raley, Heather (Chase) Shattles, McKayla (Dewayne Pullum) Vandiver, Katie Amos, Eliza White, Vivian White, and Norah White; great-grandchildren, Zoey, Heidi, Easton, Paul, Hudson, Rowyn, Lettie Cait, Marsali, Stevi, and Noah; sisters, Elizabeth (Woodrow) Rogers, Faye Fuller, Sherril (Douglas) Hand, and Sarah (Cheryl) Fisher; and a host of other family members and dear friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Jessie & Eliza Fisher, twin sister, Peggy Thrasher, sister, Elaine Fisher, brothers, Ray Fisher and Jessie Leon (Rusty) Fisher, and brothers-in-law, Danny Thrasher and Jimmy Fuller.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Aaron Karr, Sherry, Donna and all the staff with Alabama Hospice of the Shoals for your care and support.
The visitation is to be held from 1 – 3 PM at Vandiver Hollow Baptist Church on Thursday, May 14, with a celebration of life service to be held immediately thereafter.
Pallbearers to be Bryan Vandiver, Josh Jantz, John White, Dustin Burch, Daryn Raley, Chase Shattles, Dewayne Pullum and Terry Fuller.
Honorary Pallbearers are Luther Grisham, Ricky Davis, Easton Shattles, Paul Walker, and Hudson Shattles.
Graveside Service to follow at Vandiver Hollow Cemetery.
Ronald Kelvin Lavender, 72
Ronald K. Lavender was a beloved son, brother, uncle, family member, and friend whose presence brought love, wisdom, and strength to everyone around him. He lived a life filled with compassion, dignity, and devotion to those he cared about most.
Ronald will always be remembered for his intelligence, his warm spirit, and the love he shared so freely with family and friends.
Whether spending time with loved ones, sharing stories, or offering encouragement, he made a lasting impact on everyone blessed to know him. Though our hearts are heavy with sorrow, we thank God for the precious memories Ronald leaves behind and the legacy of love that will continue through all who knew him.
Those who preceded him in death: his father, Frank Smith; stepfather, Edward Hampton, Sr.; uncle, Leo Hollingsworth, Sr.; and aunt, Eloise Day.
He leaves to cherish his memory: his loving mother, Alma Hampton; brothers, Billy Lavender (BesRenia), Eddie Hampton (Angela), Ranuald Smith (Bridget), and Durell Goode; sister, Renee McAfee (Leroy); uncles, William Day and Danny Woods (Gloria); aunts, Patricia Hollingsworth (Leo), Delora Colley, Georgia Colley, and Mignon Day; and also several cousins, nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many dear friends who were all special to him.
Ronald’s love, laughter, and spirit will forever remain in our hearts.
Lydia Anthem Kirchner, 101
Lydia Anthem Kirchner, 101, of Muscle Shoals, passed away Saturday, May 16, 2026. Visitation will be Tuesday, May 19, from 1:00 until 2:00 p.m. at Morrison Funeral Home, Tuscumbia. The funeral service will immediately follow in the funeral home chapel with Chris Miller officiating. Interment will be at Colbert Memorial Gardens.
Lydia was a long-time member of Highland Park Church of Christ. She later joined Eastwood Church of Christ. She is preceded in death by her husband, Clarence Millard Kirchner; sons, Sammie Neal Kirchner and Tommy Ray Kirchner; daughter – in – law, Wanda Joyce Kirchner; parents, Will and Willie Rickard Bolton; sisters, Katie Strickland, Elton Rickard, and Lula Taylor; brothers, Otis and Clovis Bolton.
She is survived by her son, Kenneth Kirchner (Diane); grandchildren, Misty Sager (Brian), Jeanie Kleiber (Jason), Skye Miller (Chris), and Colin Kirchner; great-grandchildren, Austin Sager (Ava), Parker Sager (Hayley), Makena Jones (Ben), Triana Sager, Jaysa Kleiber, Jessie Kleiber, Kyler Miller (Bryleigh), and Abegail Miller, Cooper Hanbery, Kaylee Fielder, and Tatum Ricks; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The pallbearers will be Brian Sager, Austin Sager, Parker Sager, Kyler Miller, and Ben Jones.
The family would like to give special thanks to all the staff and residents of Lauderdale Christian Nursing Home.
John David Robertson, 67
John David Robertson, 67, of Sheffield, passed away May 12th after an extended illness. An avid motorcycle enthusiast, a die hard Alabama fan, and an ambassador of General Motors, John lived life to the fullest with the throttle wide open. He had a successful career spanning over 20 years until his retirement from Commercial/Fleet Sales at Lynn Layton Chevrolet.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Doyce and Margaret Robertson.
Survivors include his brother Rick Robertson,(Becky); sons, John Houston, Jared and Reed; and his 3 grandchildren Brodie, Gracie and Channing.
Carol Weatherby Barker, 82
Carol Weatherby Barker, 82, of Sheffield, passed away on Saturday, May 9, 2026. There will be a private service held at a later date for the family.
Carol was native of Sheffield. She was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. Carol and her late husband, Allen Dean Barker, owned and operated Photography by Dean Studio for many years. She was a member of Highland Methodist Church where she was the organist for many years.
Carol was preceded in death by her husband; and her parents, Autry and Martha Weatherby.
She is survived by her children, Robin Stansell and Christopher Allen Barker (Ashlyn); grandchildren, Adam Stansell and Lauren Workman; brother, Jim Weatherby; and loving child of heart, Debbie Whitley.
The family expresses special thanks to Happier at Home Aveanna Hospice, especially Lesa Hogan and Jennifer Larder.
