George Long Jr.

Funeral services for George Long Jr., 79, of Vinemont will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 8, 2006, at Shady Grove Baptist Church, the Revs. Larry Duke and Elton Rutherford officiating, with burial in Ebenezer Cemetery. A singing will be held at the church from 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday, while Mr. Long lies in state.

Moss-Service Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Long died Thursday, April 6 at his residence. He was born on Jan. 20, 1927, to George Sr. and Lillie Mae Watson Long. He was a machinist. He was a deacon at Shady Grove Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Ruby Yates; and a brother, Larry Long.

Survivors include his wife, Jewel Long; four sons, Billy (Susan) Long, Roger (Doris) Long, Charlie (Sandra) Long and Marty (Debra) Long; two daughters, Kathy (Kenneth) Howard of Vinemont and Brenda (Ray) McCormick of Boaz; four sisters, June Humphries of Boaz, Linda Robertson of Ohio, Ann Smith of Pennsylvania and Sharon Morton of Boaz; three brothers, Glenn Long and Melvin Long, both of Michigan, and Riley Long of Ohio; 18 grandchildren; and 32 great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Mr. Long's grandsons.

Visitation will be at 6 p.m. today.



Evelyn West Hestla

Graveside services for Evelyn West Hestla, 87, of Hanceville will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 8, 2006, at Fairview West Cemetery, Marvin Bryan officiating, with burial in the adjoining cemetery.

Hanceville Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Hestla died Thursday, April 6 in Hanceville. She was born in Falkville on May 4, 1918, to James Monroe and Josephine Alexander West.

Survivors include his son, Bill (Liz) Hestla of Florida; two daughters, Marilyn Bohn of Sante Fe, N.M., Evelyn Sharlene Elrod of Cullman; four grandchildren, Joshua Byron Elrod of Cullman, Bridget Lorene Elrod Floyd of Snead, Karl Sanders Bohn IV and Keely Joanne Bohn, both of Manhattan Beach, Calif.; and one great-grandchild, August Lorene Floyd of Snead.

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



Hugh Westbrook

Funeral services for Hugh Westbrook, 85, of Cullman will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 8, 2006, at Cullman Heritage Chapel, the Rev. Sherril Hill officiating, with burial in Mt. Zion Methodist Cemetery.

Cullman Heritage Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Westbrook died Wednesday, April 5. He was born on July 24, 1920, in Fyffe. He was in law enforcement in Dade County, Fla.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Roy Westbrook; and a sister, Jewel Mauter.

Survivors include his wife, Ethel Bartlett Westbrook of Cullman; a son, Donald Glenn (Susan) Westbrook of Miami, Fla.; a daughter, Doris Marie Martorana of Cullman; four grandchildren, Edward J. Martorana of Cullman, Wayne F. Martorana of Atlanta, Ga.; Margaret Dawn (Jasen) Harding of Homestead, Fla., and Angela Marie Westbrook of Wesley Chapel, Fla.; and a great-grandchild, Hannah Jane Harding of Homestead, Fla.

Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. today.



Verlon Wesley Smith

Funeral services for Verlon Wesley Smith, 92, of Cullman will be at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 8, 2006, at Bethel United Methodist Church, Bros. Larry Hill and Dewey Briscoe officiating, with burial in Bethel Cemetery. The body will lie in state one hour prior to services.

Cullman Heritage Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Smith died Wednesday, April 5 at Woodland Village. He was born on Aug. 22, 1913, in Eva to James William and Luvena Viola Scott Moore Smith. He served in the U.S. Navy in San Diego, Calif., and in the South Pacific Theatre. He worked as a shipping and receiving clerk for Ragland Brothers Wholesale Grocery and the Associated Grocers of Alabama, both in Birmingham.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Edward Evon Smith; his wife, Annie Elender Martin Smith; and a grandson, Kenneth Ross Brown Jr.

Survivors include a son, James Donald Smith of Birmingham; three daughters, Myrtle Odell (Milford) Howard of Attalla, Veleria Monteze (Kenneth) Brown of Stockbridge, Ga., and Sandra Kay Thomason of Holly Pond; a sister, Kimmie Josephine Hollcomb; 12 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. today.



Ola Lynda Watson

Funeral services for Ola Lynda Watson, 70, of Cullman will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 8, 2006, at Cullman Heritage Chapel, the Rev. Jim Butts officiating, with burial in Center Grove Cemetery.

Cullman Heritage Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Watson died Wednesday, April 5 at her residence. She was born on June 27, 1935, in Lawrence County. In addition to being a homemaker, she was a 15-year seamstress with Cullman Lingerie until it closed. She was then employed with Marsey Manufacturing until 1989, when she became disabled and was forced into an early retirement.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Benton H. and Laura Johnson Parker; five brothers, John Parker, Calvin Parker, Leon Parker, Willard Parker, and twin brother, Olen Parker; and four sisters, Elsie Hood, Vera Mann, Della Cramer and Ozell Brock; and former husband, Gordon E. Watson.

Survivors include three sons, Gary Dewayne (Tammy) Watson of Vinemont, Dennis Keith Watson and Gregory Alan (Lisa) Watson of Hanceville; two daughters, Judith Ann (Ronny) White of Hanceville and Debra Juanita Lynn of Logan; a sister, Wynell (D.L.) McHann; an uncle, Odie (Lill) Johnson; an aunt, Jewell Johnson; eight grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today.



Earlene Dunlap Thomas

Funeral services for Earlene Dunlap Thomas, 64, of Holly Pond will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 9, 2006, at Brooklyn Presbyterian Church, the Rev. Jeremy Collier officiating, with burial in the adjoining cemetery. The body will lie in state one hour prior to the service.

Holly Pond Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Thomas died Friday, April 6 at Cullman Regional Medical Center.



Helen Louise Countz

Helen Louise Countz, 73, of Cullman died Thursday, April 6, 2006, at Brookwood Medical Center. Memorial services will be announced at a later date.

Williams-McCracken Funeral Home is announcing.



S. Maria Meade-Pruitt

S. Maria Meade-Pruitt, 27, entered the arms of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Monday, April 3, 2006. She will be severely missed by her devoted husband, J. Michael Pruitt; her loving sister and closest friend, Alissa Meade; loving parents, Mike and Lori Pillow; and devout grandmother, Aggie Simeone. Her memory will be cherished by her aunt and uncle, Karen and Nico Belli; her favorite cousin, Enzo Belli; her grandparents, Dick and Gail Sharp and Mario Simeone. Holding dear her memory will also be her stepdad, Richard Maines; and her many friends in Huntsville and Cullman.

Maria received her bachelor's degree at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and was scheduled to receive her master's degree in psychology in May. While planning her bright future, she was anxious to begin her career helping to strengthen families and communities so that women and children can lead safe, happy lives. She was a member of the Alabama Coalition Against Rape; Business and Professional Women/USA and the Education Committee Chair of the Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Maria received numerous professional certificates on empowering victims from the Coalition and from the National Children's Advocacy Center.

In addition to being vice president of Psi Chi at UAB in 2003-2004, Maria's ambition drove her to succeed in having many works published in medical, health and psychological books and magazines. She was currently working with doctors of psychology at the University of Alabama in Huntsville on research projects and publications on stereotypes; culture influences in the workplace; and personality measures.

Maria was currently active in raising funds for domestic violence awareness by presenting monologues to the public. Aside from Maria's loving and caring way, she loved to have fun with her friends by acting in skits in a club in Huntsville. She attended New Life Church in Cullman.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 8, 2006, at Hartselle Heritage Funeral Home, located at 1401 Main St. East in Hartselle. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Victim Services, P.O. Box 416, Cullman, AL 35056 or the National Children's Advocacy Center, 210 Pratt Ave. NE, Huntsville, AL 35801.



Lillie Mae Walker

Funeral services for Lillie Mae Walker, 79, of Falkville will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 8, 2006, at Peck Funeral Chapel, the Rev. Keith Whitley officiating, with burial in Bell Springs Cemetery.

Peck Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Walker died Wednesday, April 5 at Cullman Regional Medical Center.