Obituaries

Apr 8, 2024

Victoria Ann Sword passed away on Monday, April 8, 2024 in Panama City, Florida.  She was sixty-five years old.  Born February 17, 1959 in Lincoln Park, Michigan to parents Richard and Betty Maes, Victoria graduated from Belleville High School.  She was an active member of AmVets.

Time with family and friends was very important to Victoria.  She never passed up an opportunity for a get...

Apr 4, 2024

Tera Jean Tew passed away unexpectedly at home in Shady Valley, Tennessee on Thursday, April 4, 2024.  She was born in Florala, Alabama on April 21, 1960, to parents Clifton Eugene and Eddie Merle Murphy.  She graduated from Walton High School, and she attended college at Lee University in Cleveland, TN.  

 

When she lived in DeFuniak, Tera taught English at...

Apr 2, 2024

Theresa Vaneata Hutcheson Floyd, age 91, passed away peacefully at home Tuesday, April 2, 2024, surrounded by her loving family. She was born October 7, 1932, in DeFuniak Springs, FL to parents Ida Nichols Hutcheson and Van Hutcheson.

Her marriage to Cecil J. Floyd on May 16, 1949 began a beautiful seventy-two year adventure that brought about her proudest accomplishment, her...

Mar 27, 2024

Douglas Wayne Bell passed away on March 27, 2024, at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center surrounded by his loving family.  A lifelong resident of DeFuniak Springs, Wayne was born on September 24, 1947, to parents Hubert and Geraldine Bell.  He graduated from Walton High School, served in the National Guard for almost 7 years, and was a longtime member of Glendale Presbyterian...

Mar 25, 2024

Susan Blocker passed away at home in DeFuniak Springs on March 25, 2024.  She was born in New York City, New York on September 18, 1956, to parents O.C. and Hildegard Blocker.  Susan was a member of St. Margaret’s Catholic Church.

 

Susan enjoyed watching movies and dining out.  She always looked forward to football season, and she was extra happy when her favorite team,...

Mar 17, 2024

Mr. Henry D Ennis Sr., age 90, entered into eternal life on Sunday, March 17, 2024, in DeFuniak Springs Florida.  He was born March 22, 1933, in Elba, Alabama and was the sixth of seven children born to Calvin Arthur and Ada Prudence Ennis.

Mr. Ennis was a resident of DeFuniak Springs.  He was Baptist by faith and a member of the First...

Mar 1, 2024

Joseph Sean Kollmer passed away in a car accident on I-10 near mile marker 61 on Friday, March 1, 2024. He would have celebrated his 40th birthday later this month on March 21.

His biggest accomplishments in life were defeating addiction, having three beautiful children, and having a family that truly loved him unconditionally.

He...

Feb 22, 2024

Melvin Douglas King passed away peacefully on February 22, 2024.  Born July 29, 1945 in Hartburg, Texas to parents Charlie and Plennie King, Doug spent all of his childhood in Texas and graduated from Deweyville High School.

He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Theology and was an ordained minister. He was a pastor and traveling minister...

Feb 20, 2024

Joseph Elliot Goldsborough passed away on Tuesday, February 20, 2024.  He was born in Leonardtown, Maryland, on February 9, 1954, to parents Joseph Raymond Goldsborough and Mary Lorraine Elliot.  Joseph graduated from high school in Maryland, Chopticon High, and then joined the Marines in 1973.

Joseph was a proud Marine and served our country from 1973-1977.  He...

Jan 24, 2024

Sarah Ellen Burgess passed away peacefully in her sleep on the night of January 24, 2024.  Born on February 18, 1931, to parents Joseph and Maggie Creamer, she was very near to celebrating her 93rd birthday.

Sarah was an extraordinary mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.  She took care of all others before taking care of herself.  She loved...

Jan 17, 2024

Nakoma Irene Weeks died peacefully at home surrounded by loved ones on January 17, 2024.  She was born on December 12, 1961, to James and Alice Weeks.

Nakoma loved big.  She cared for the elderly, loved children, and adored her dogs.  There are many adults today who were blessed to be raised by Nakoma and who will...

Jan 5, 2024

Betty Chestnut, age 87, of Crestview passed away on Friday January 5, 2024 at North Okaloosa Medical Center. She was born in Brewton AL on August 4, 1936, to Austin and Lizzie Mae Pittman, she was the 2nd born of 9 children. Betty grew up in Crestview and married Billy Chestnut. For many years she worked for...

Jan 4, 2024

William “Bill” McMillan passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on January 4, 2024.  He was born in Mobile, Alabama on December 9, 1945.  Bill served our country in the United States Air Force, and then went on to graduate from Auburn University with a degree in Psychology.  He also worked at the Kennedy Space Center in the...

Dec 31, 2023

Kenneth George May Sr., age 68, passed away on December 31, 2023.  He was born on July 15, 1955 in DeFuniak Springs, FL to Kenneth Paul and Iva Jean Nowling May.

Mr. May was a resident of DeFuniak Springs.  He was LDS by faith and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in...

Dec 28, 2023

William “Bill” Robert Jones passed away on December 28, 2023.  Bill was born August 22, 1939, to Wesley and Beatrice Jones.  After graduating from Butler High School, Bill attended William Patterson University and then served our country in the Army National Guard.  He was dedicated to his service of God and of the community as he was a member...

Dec 26, 2023

With Faith, Hope, and Love, she brightened the world and impacted the lives of her family, her friends, and the children she taught. Janice Lee James Jowers, age 76, of Mary Esther, Florida, passed away on December 26, 2023, after a brief struggle with ovarian cancer.

She was born in Tallahassee, Florida on June 19, 1947, to...

Dec 26, 2023

Gerald Roland Desruisseaux (Gary) passed away peacefully on December 26, 2023.  Gary was born in New Hampshire on February 16, 1949, and he lived there through high school, graduating from Goffstown High School in Goffstown, New Hampshire.

Gary served 4 years in the United States Navy and then moved to Florida around 1970.  While he lived in...

Dec 1, 2023

Joey Smith died peacefully on December 1, 2023.  It was his 57th birthday.    Joey was born in Crestview, Florida in 1966 to parents Homer Ervin Smith, Jr and Mattie Florene Robertson.  He resided in the Panhandle of Florida most of his life and attended both Walton Middle and Walton High School.

Joey was a welder.  He enjoyed...

Dec 1, 2023

Charles Edward Barefield, age 76, of Mentone, Alabama, passed away peacefully at his home on Friday, December 1, 2023, after a short battle with Lewy Body dementia.  Born on December 1, 1947 in Florala, Alabama, Charles was the son of Lorene and Byrd Barefield.  He graduated from Walton High School in 1965 and spent all of his life living...

Nov 28, 2023

After a long illness, John Jeffery Hartley died peacefully at home surrounded by family on Tuesday, November 28, 2023.  The son of John Wesley and Anna Ruth (Waits) Hartley, John was born in Fernandina Beach, FL on Sept. 21, 1962.  He lived in various parts of north Florida - Jacksonville, Madison, Live Oak - before calling Ponce de Leon...