SSG Travis L. Nelson

Funeral services for Staff Sergeant Travis L. Nelson, 41, a 1982 graduate of Cullman High School, will be at noon Sunday, Dec. 18, 2005, at Cullman Heritage Funeral Home Chapel, Richie Thompson officiating. Second Lt. Mike Digby is in charge of the eulogy. Burial will be at Coldwater Baptist Church Cemetery in Oxford.

Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Cullman Heritage Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

SSG Nelson died Saturday, Dec. 10 in Iraq. He served in the United States Army from 1982 to 1992 and won the Bronze Star during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. After leaving the Army he worked in Cullman at Wal-Mart Distribution Center. In 2001, he joined the National Guard and following the attacks of Sept. 11, his unit was activated and sent to Huntsville and then to Anniston Army Depot. He reenlisted into active duty on Sept. 28, 2004, and was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division attached to Fort Campbell, Ky. He left for Iraq on Sept. 27, 2005.

He was preceded in death by his stepfather, Fred C. Galin; and his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Houston Leeth.

Survivors include his wife, Shelly Nelson; his daughter, Summer Edgworth of Anniston; his mother, Jeanice Galin; a brother, Mike (Beth) Nelson of Cullman; a brother, Dr. Shawn Galin of Birmingham; a sister, Tammi (Kyle) Bramblett of Cumming, Ga.; his father- and mother-in-law, Steve and Arlene Digby; a brother-in-law, Mike (Cassey) Digby of Anniston; two nieces, Bailee and Abby Nelson of Cullman; and three nephews, Micah and Jacob Digby of Anniston and Walker Bramblett of Cumming, Ga.

SSG Nelson will be given full military honors and will receive the Purple Heart.

Military personnel will serve as pallbearers.

Jane Nelson Fields

Funeral services for Jane Nelson Fields, 41, of Massey will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18, 2005, at McKendree United Methodist Church, the Revs. David Parker, Grad Tanner and Jack Bailey officiating, with burial in Herring Cemetery. The body will lie in state at the church one hour prior to services.

Peck Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Fields died Thursday, Dec. 15 at her home in Massey. She was born Rebecca Jane Nelson in Morgan County on Feb. 27, 1964, to James Ralph and Mary Alice Morris Nelson. She graduated from Falkville High School in 1982, then attended Calhoun Community College and the University of North Alabama on a basketball scholarship. After receiving her master's degree, she began her teaching career at Speake High School. She also taught at Hazelwood High School and Eva Junior High School, having retired in 2002. A wonderful and caring teacher, Jane taught physical education and coached girls volleyball, softball and basketball. She had a passion for helping her students and encouraged them to do their very best. She was a member of Gandys Cove United Methodist Church and attended McKendree United Methodist Church where she taught Sunday School. She was a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, daughter-in-law and sister-in-law.

She was preceded in death by a sister, Janet Marie Nelson; and her grandparents, Joe and Bertha Nelson and William and Bettye Presley Morris.

Survivors include her husband, Milford "Sandy" Fields; a son, William Caleb Fields; her parents; a sister, June Nelson Graham; three nieces, Scarlett Graham, Kimberly and Lillie Smith; two nephews, Nelson Graham and Pat Smith; her in-laws, Milford and Verna Mae Fields; her sister-in-law, Rixie Fields Smith; and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

The family offers a heartfelt thanks to family and friends for their love, prayers and support during Jane's illness. It was Jane's desire that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the Jane Nelson Fields Scholarship Fund, in care of Community Bank of Falkville, Hospice of Cullman County, McKendree United Methodist Church, Gandys Cove United Methodist Church or Danville Baptist Church.

Pallbearers will be Nelson Graham, Pat Smith, Rex Slate, Tim Ward, Chris Bryant, Frank Dougherty, Hank Summerford and Tom Summerford.

Honorary pallbearers will be Baxter Bryant, John David Bryant, Don Dougherty, Trevor Turner, Terry Turner, Greg Adams, David Henderson, Homer Jones and Jeff Welsh.

Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Julie Brechin

Funeral services for Julie Brechin, 44, of Vincent will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, 2005, at Blountsville Funeral Home, Bro. Russell Hughes officiating, with burial in Rock Springs Cemetery.

Blountsville Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Brechin died Thursday, Dec. 15 in St. Clair County in an automobile accident. She was born in Dallas County to M.J. and Virginia Anderson Payne. She was a homemaker.

Survivors include her husband, Bryce Brechin of Vincent; three sons, Nathan (Kelsi) Payne and Christopher (Amber) Payne, both of Vincent, and Nicholas Brechin of Alabaster; a daughter, Crystal (Jesse) Roberson of Vincent; her parents; a brother, Buddy Payne of Birmingham; two sisters, Loretta Payne and Angie Burbank of Helena; and five grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Russell Brechin, Adam Brechin, Bill Alldredge, Lynn Alldredge, Chase Payne and Lee Payne.

Visitation will be from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at the funeral home.