March 2026 E-Edition

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Alabama Ledger www.AlabamaLedger.com

PAGE 4 March 2026 E-Edition

The following Death Notices are published as a courtesy of the Alabama Ledger and local funeral homes. To include more info, or a photo of your loved one, in a future edition of the Alabama Ledger contact us at 256-506-7368. Extended obits start at .20 cents per word and $10 per photo. D eath Notices Adams Brown Service Funeral Home Joshua Russell Spray, age 47, of Alder Springs Paula Boyd Langley, age 83, of Albertville Matthew Blake Palmer, age 44, of Albertville Mary Sue Brothers, age 91, of Horton Roger "Big Roger" Coody, age 64, of Boaz Nancy Vaughan Marshall, age 85, of Albertville Jerry Wayne Yeager, age 74, of Albertville Adams-Buggs Funeral Home in Gadsden Joe Rufus Hope, age 77, of Gadsden Teresa "Tee" Smith, age 44, formerly of Ashland Shanda Denise Wyatt, age 55, formerly of Gadsden Albertville Memorial Chapel Rosena Galat, age 41, of Albertville Donna Lynn Blume, passed away at age 52 Patsy Caroline Copeland Sanders, age 77, of Boaz Virginia Seay, age 83, of Boaz Patricia Ann Colvin, age 79, of Crossville Jo Ann Hawkins, age 67, of Boaz Lisa Pope Clifton, age 67, of Crossville Norman Jerome Sisco, age 65, of Albertville Burt Funeral Home Norah Gamble, passed away at age 82 Charlyne O'Rear, age 88, of Mentone Lawrence Walter Swol, age 70, of Fort Payne Antonia Beltran Perez, age 66, of Collinsville Joyce H. Smith, age 81, of Mentone Carr Funeral Home in Boaz Annie Yvonne Fulmer, age 88, of Boaz Joy Lou Guice, age 75, of Albertville Carr Funeral Home in Guntersville Mildred S. Johnson, passed away at age 96 Ruby D. Tidmore Clark, passed away at age 98 Monzta Louise Patterson, passed away at age 83 Edith P. Dilmore, age 86, of Arab Charles Raymond Bostedt, Sr., passed away at age 76 Cherokee Memorial Funeral Home Bryan Douglas Black, age 48, of Centre Rev. Herman Michael Manning, age 79, of Cedar Bluff Nina Geraldine Wynn Goble, age 90, of Centre Collier-Butler Funeral Home Hershel Glenn Nelson, age 84, of Gadsden Infant Jaxon Lee Luster passed away Jerry Reed McGinnis, age 89, of Gadsden Thomas Harold Smith Sr., age 100, of Glencoe John W. "Billy" Malcom, passed away at age 35 Christi Pledger Wilhelm, age 58, of Gadsden Patricia "Trick" Ann Petty, age 82, of Gadsden Loyd Ray "Red" Watkins, passed away at age 94 Rickey S. Underwood, age 72, of Jacksonville Rodney Mitchell Robinson, age 74, formerly of Gadsden Ernest Frank Mello Jr., age 69, of Gadsden Raymond Adam Cruz, passed away at age 92 Walter Alexander "Alex" Roe, passed away at age 69 Collinsville Funeral Home Annie Lee McCoy, age 75, of Gadsden Cornerstone Funeral Chapel in Ider Sue Blevins Barkley, age 80, of Ider Alan C. Lancaster, age 69, of Gadsden Vicki Jones Eller, age 68, of Southside Robert Larry "Doc" Williams, age 75, of Ider James Junior Blevins, age 85, of Flat Rock Donald Ray Young, age 74, of Rossville, Georgia Joyce Christine Smith Walton, age 91, of Rosalie Kenneth Charles Wilhelm, age 79, of Ider Helen Janett Goza Lewis, age 89, of Ider William "Butch" Michaels, age 63, of Fackler Johnnie Koger Young, age 83, of Flat Rock Sarah Ann Lea Owens, age 86, of Henagar Lyvonne Schrader, age 88, of Flat Rock Stephen Lamar Stallings, age 78, of Trenton Crestwood Funeral Home in Gadsden Martha Lanelle Cullum Burrell, passed away at age 89 Tommy Arthur Thompson, age 75, of Gadsden Neva Jeanette Reynolds Bussey, age 91, of Hokes Bluff Patricia Cornelius Brewer, age 89, of Glencoe

Gabe David Kittle, 71, of Peach Tree Road, Boaz, recently appeared before Judge Cody Robinson for sentencing on four (4) counts of Possession of Obscene Materials involving a child less than 17 years (child pornography). Kittle was arrested after the Etowah County Sheriff’s Office received a cyber tip from the Internet Crimes Against Children [ICAC] task force concerning potential child sex abuse materials being uploaded using an account linked to Kittle’s email address and telephone number. That information was used to obtain subpoenas for records, and obtain and execute search warrants for Kittle’s residence, email records, and electronic devices. The searches led to the discovery of multiple images of child pornography saved to his phone, and Kittle’s arrest in these cases. Kittle pled guilty to the charges on October 3, 2025, with no plea agreement reached between the parties. At sentencing, the defense attorney contended that any sentence the Defendant was given should be diverted to a community-based supervision program, such as community corrections or probation, based upon Kittle’s age, lack of prior criminal background, and current health conditions. Deputy District Attorney Carol Griffith, who prosecuted the case, advised that in any criminal case, the particular facts and circumstances of the crime have to be considered in determining the sentence. In cases involving possession of child sex abuse materials, important factors include the number of images in a person’s possession, as well as the nature of those images. Investigator Brandi Fuller of the Etowah County Sheriff’s Office testified that the images and videos found in Kittle’s possession contained images of small children involved in acts of bestiality (engaging in sexual conduct or sexual contact with an animal). Griffith argued that while all cases involving pornographic images of children are egregious, those described in this case were particularly horrific, and warranted a term of imprisonment in the state penitentiary. Judge Cody Robinson sentenced Kittle to ten (10) years in each count of the indictment; that sentence was split to serve three years in the state penitentiary, followed by five years of supervised probation. Kittle was also ordered to pay a $5,000 fine and all associated court costs. As a condition of his release to probation at the completion of the three years, Kittle will be prohibited from having unsupervised contact with anyone under 18 years of age, and having possession or use of any smart phones, internet or social media. In passing that sentence, Judge Robinson stated that "Mr. Kittle, by entering your plea of guilty, you have accepted responsibility for the crimes you committed. However, that does not absolve you of the damage caused by the crimes you committed. I’m afraid a lot of people think these types of crimes are victimless, however, I could not disagree more. The minors depicted in these images will have to live with their existence for the rest of their lives. These images don’t just go away. They will always be accessible in some format. When defendants like yourself view these types of images, it encourages those criminals who produce them to continue to do so, leading to the exploitation and even trafficking of our children, some here in our very own communities. These are serious offenses that must be stopped. As I have said repeatedly from this bench, and will continue to do so as long as I am a judge in this county, our most sacred obligation as a legal system is to protect our children, especially from this type of exploitation. The Court hopes this sentence demonstrates that those who seek to exploit and victimize children in Etowah County will be punished to the maximum extent allowed by law." District Attorney Jody Willoughby expressed his appreciation to the Court for imposing a strict sentence in this case, and others like it. He said that the number of cases involving possession, dissemination and production of child sex abuse materials has increased exponentially in our county in recent years, and during that time, the images involved in those cases have become even more disturbing. “My office is dedicated to the prosecution of any person in our jurisdiction who possesses, distributes or produces images of child sex abuse materials. We will continue to seek maximum sentences for those convicted of these unspeakable crimes,'' stated Willoughby. Gadsden Crash Kills Elkmont Woman 71-year-old Man Sentenced for Four Counts of Child Pornography A single-vehicle crash at approximately 5:53 a.m. on Sunday, February 15, 2026 has claimed the life of an Elkmont woman. According to Alabama State Troopers, Kathy N. Hamilton, 65, was fatally injured when the 2000 GMC 1500 she was driving left the road, striking a fence before traveling into a pond. Hamilton was pronounced deceased at the scene. Hali B. Bridges, 30, of Elkmont, and Chance B. Bridges, 29, of Athens, who were both passengers in the GMC, were injured and transported to Gadsden Regional Medical Center in Gadsden for medical treatment. The crash occurred on Riverview Dr, near Tillison Road, within Gadsden city limits, in Etowah County. Nothing further is available as Troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) Highway Patrol Division continue to investigate.

Phyllis Ann Bolton, age 82, of Skirum Melvin Capps, age 75, of Boaz

Gober Funeral Chapel in Arab Zachary Tyler Washburn, age 28, of Arab Clarence "Buddy" Shultz, Jr., age 75, of Arab Nellie Ruth Phillips, age 85, of Cullman James Edward Bunch, age 81, of Arab Teresa Ann Cooley, age 61, of Union Grove Barbara Ann Graves, age 88, of Arab Linda Gail Alexander, age 76, of Blountsville Kerby Funeral Home Hazel G. Tucker, age 75, of Sylvania Helen Gaither Patterson, age 89, of Pisgah Cynthia Graves Howlington, age 79, of Harrison, TN Marshall Memorial Funeral Home Clifford Chaney, age 52, of Guntersville Lisa Crytzer-Moore, passed away at age 57 Nella Faye Huffstutler, passed away at age 71 McRae Funeral Home Tommy Fox, age 85, of Boaz Rev. A.D. Stephens, age 80, of Boaz Morgan Funeral Chapel and Crematory Willie Mae Wilson, age 81, of Gadsden John Henry Beasley, age 87, of Springville Tammie Waters Walden, age 64, of Attalla Richard David Brothers, passed away at age 82 Betty Jean Stanfield, age 81, of Gadsden Jennifer Anne Brothers, age 58, of Chelsea Carol Keith Roberts, age 87, of Rainbow City Mary Jo Robinson Walls, passed away at age 68 Floyd Christopher West, passed away at age 74 Perry Funeral Home In Centre Andrew Cary Underwood, age 28, of Collinsville Debbie Baldwin Hope LeSueur, age 81, of Centre Randy Michael Daniel, age 82, of Cedar Bluff Dakota Gene Bright, age 18, of Cedar Bluff Leatha R. Harp, age 84, of Cedar Bluff Faye M. LeCroy, age 75, of Center Section Funeral Home Fred Adams, age 75, of Section Rainsville Funeral Home Edgar Eugene Clements Sr., age 80, of Fort Payne Toby Shirley, age 54, of Dutton Bryan Keith Young, age 55, of Scottsboro Lawrence "Larry" Ghrist, age 88, of Fyffe Mazelle Haynes, age 90, of Section Lonnie Verlon Pell, age 78, of Rainsville William "Bill" Haynes III, age 82, of Rainsville Gay Walker, age 80, of Dutton Virginia Vasser, age 97, of Gadsden Mary Jerrie Vines, age 81, of Boaz Wilson Funeral Home in Fort Payne Rosa Gonzalez Romeo, age 62, of Valley Head Jonathan Kerry Blackwood, age 78, of Mentone Langston Hugh Headrick, age 6 months, passed away Wallace Gordon Burt, age 90, of Collbran Magnolia Jean Phillips, 11 days old, pass away Stanley William Belvins, age 72, of Fort Payne Johnny Traffanstedt, age 80, of Collinsville W.T. Wilson Funeral Home Rev. Charles Conrad Martin, age 85, of Grove Oak Billy LaDon "Donny" Alverson, age 62, of Collinsville Dennis W. Hicks, age 78, of Rainsville Patricia Stone, age 64, of Henagar Daniel Lewis "Dan" Clark, age 76, of Arab Amos Cowart, age 77, of Henagar Zachary Jerome Armstrong, passed away at age 62 Junefull Joyce White, age 76, of Sylvania Teresa Ann Mayo, age 57, of Crossville Betty Ruth Rogers, age 90, of Geraldine Emily Diana Ogle Bigbee, age 37, of Crossville Joyce M. Dailey, age 74, of Fort Payne Donald Ray Crane, age 71, of Crossville Jimmy Max "Bucky" Holsonback, age 74, of Crossville Eddie Dewayne O'tinger, age 68, of Rainsville Rayburn O'tinger, age 69, of Attalla Terry Brandon Cofield, age 52, of Fyffe James Randall "Randy" Renfroe, age 63, of Crossville Ronnie Lee Martin, age 65, of Section Dewayne "Festus" Hughes, age 73, of Dawson Jerry Wayne Harper, age 56, of Fyffe Daki LaMichael Goodman, age 23, of Fort Payne Joyce Smith Hamilton, age 74, of Fort Payne Melvin Radford Brooks, age 75, of Collinsville James Michael Gilley, age 75, of Sylvania Jesse Earl House, age 84, of Pisgah

Ada Lou Stokes, age 95, of Birmingham Glenda Gail Tingle, age 85, of Gadsden Sylvia Faye Geer Strawn, age 80, of Gadsden Dale Mackey, age 62, of Glencoe Kevin Charles Brown, age 74, of Reece City Sandra Kearley Miller, age 72, of Evergreen Crossville Memorial Chapel Peggy Lynn Grant, age 71, of Crossville Etowah Memorial Chapel Clark Hudson Wilson, age 83, of Sardis Geraldine Funeral Home Ruby Beam Bearden, age 88, of Geraldine

8563 US Highway 431 Albertville, AL

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