Obituaries

Sherrie R. Andersen

Sherrie R. Andersen

Sep 21, 2024

Sherrie R Andersen passed away on Saturday, September 21, 2024. Sherrie was born at Anniston Memorial Hospital in Anniston, Alabama on June 28, 1957, to parents Wesley Eugene Hydrick and Mary E Smelcher, and she spent some years of her childhood in Anniston, Alabama before moving to DeFuniak Springs and graduating from Walton Senior High School. She had many great...

Tolise Ward Huber

Tolise Ward Huber

Sep 14, 2024

Beloved mother, sister, grandmother, aunt and friend, Tolise Ward Huber, passed from this Earthly life on Sept. 14, 2024, in Danville, Calif. She was 83.

Born Sept. 9, 1941, in Talledega, Alabama, she was the oldest daughter of Marvin Steen and Ethel “Billie” Ward. The family soon moved to Pine Apple, Alabama, where she would grow up with sisters Carol, Judy...

Barbara Louise Bullen

Barbara Louise Bullen

Sep 12, 2024

Barbara Louise Bullen passed away on Thurdsay, September 12, 2024. She was 85 years old. Barbara was born in Wilmington, Ohio on July 6, 1939, to Hubert Lee Bullen and Orba Etta Carey Bullen. She spent her early years in Ohio, graduating from Wilmington High School, before she moved to Panama City, Florida to start a family, and then eventually...

Lisabeth Fountain Crawford

Lisabeth Fountain Crawford

Sep 3, 2024

Lisabeth Fountain Crawford, age 76, passed away on Tuesday, September 3, 2024. Lisabeth was born on March 12, 1948, at Fort Knox in Kentucky to Risden Lyle Fountain and Nancy Hyde Fountain. Being born into a military family, Lisabeth got to call many places home. The list includes Fort Knox, KY, Japan, Fort Hood, TX, Germany, Washington, DC, and Miami,...

Annie Floried White

Annie Floried White

Aug 30, 2024

After 95 years of precious life, Annie Floried White passed away peacefully at home on Friday, August 30, 2024. She was surrounded by loved ones. Born in Savannah, Georgia on June 11, 1929, to parents Rufus David Brabham and Ruby Laura Donaldson, Floried spent her young years in Savannah until becoming a military wife by her marriage to Wilton White...

Mary Wilkerson

Mary Wilkerson

Aug 25, 2024

In loving memory of Mary, Mary Wilkerson passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, August 25, 2024. She was born in Caryville, Florida on October 18, 1949, to parents Baker and Rosa Lee Richards. Mary attended school in Walton County and graduated from Walton High School, and she was a longtime member of Baldwin Baptist Church in DeFuniak Springs.

 She loved...

Marilyn Louise King

Marilyn Louise King

Aug 23, 2024

Marilyn Louise (Hixson) King passed away peacefully on August 23, 2024. She was 77 years old. Born September 1, 1946, in Yakima, WA to parents Ted and Emma Hixson, Marilyn spent her childhood in Yakima, and then the family moved to San Antonio, TX when she was 16. She finished her last year of high school at International Bible College...

Eric Michael Lewis

Eric Michael Lewis

Aug 19, 2024

Eric Michael Lewis passed away unexpectedly on August 19, 2024. He was 39 years old. Born April 16, 1985, to parents Tommy and Susan Lewis, Eric was raised in DeFuniak Springs and graduated from Walton High School. After high school, he began his career in plumbing and electrical. Eric was Baptist by faith. 

His job at Andrews Plumbing and Electrical was...

Dr. Jerold Alfred Derkaz

Dr. Jerold Alfred Derkaz

Aug 12, 2024

Dr Jerold Derkaz passed away on August 12, 2024. He was 67 years old. Born to Alfred and Marilyn Derkaz in Warwick, Rhode Island on December 7, 1956, Jerold graduated from Toll Gate High School and then Boston University. He then went on to complete his medical studies at the University of Vermont Medical School, and he moved to the...

Edwin "Bob" Robert Seigler

Edwin "Bob" Robert Seigler

Aug 3, 2024

Edwin “Bob” Robert Seigler peacefully passed away from cancer surrounded by his family and friends on August 3, 2024, in Destin, Florida. He was born to Edwin Leroy Seigler and Lois Mae Gill on April 19, 1954. He attended Walton High School and then joined the National Guard. 

 Bob was a loving and dedicated father and brother. He treasured time spent...

Dorothy "Dot" Drake Johnson

Dorothy "Dot" Drake Johnson

Aug 3, 2024

Dorothy “Dot” Johnson passed away in Sarasota, Florida on August 3, 2024. Dot was born on August 8, 1947, to parents Eddie Lee and Mary Lou Drake. She attended school at Walton County High and received a degree from Okaloosa Walton Junior College. She was a longtime member at East Baptist Church in DeFuniak Springs, and she loved her church...

Opal Florence Ward Godsey

Opal Florence Ward Godsey

Aug 2, 2024

Opal Florence Ward Godsey passed away on Friday, August 2, 2024, in Niceville. Opal was born February 2, 1937, to Willie N Ward and Mary Juliette Rigdon Ward. She was a longtime member of Bruce United Methodist Church, and she was also a member of Muscogee Nation of Florida in Bruce, Florida. 

 She is preceded in death by her parents, Willie...

James Edward Rathmel

James Edward Rathmel

Aug 1, 2024

James Edward Rathmel, age 40, passed away unexpectedly in a car accident on August 1, 2024. Born in California to Gary Rathmel and Jin Hee sunok Chin on January 20, 1984, James had moved to Florida by the time he was in high school, and he attended Okaloosa Applied Technology Center in Fort Walton Beach. 

James was full of life and,...

Maureen Margaret Gilreath

Maureen Margaret Gilreath

Jul 29, 2024

Maureen Margaret Gilreath passed away peacefully on Monday, July 29, 2024. Maureen was born in England on January 14, 1941, to parents Maureen Margaret Locke and Thomas Joseph O’Malley.

She was an accomplished and supportive Air Force wife for many years before she and her husband, James, settled their family in the Red Bay area, and she was proud of working...

Griselda Carpenter Weeks

Griselda Carpenter Weeks

Jul 21, 2024

Griselda Carpenter Weeks, age 84, passed away peacefully with her loving family by her side on July 21, 2024, at Chautauqua Springs Health and Rehabilitation Center. Born on September 21, 1939, to Clarence and Era Carpenter, Griselda enjoyed living most of her life in DeFuniak Springs. She graduated from Walton Senior High School and then went on to Florida State...

Joel Thomas "Tommy" Mathews

Joel Thomas "Tommy" Mathews

Jul 19, 2024

Joel Thomas Mathews, Tommy, passed into glory on July 19, 2024. He was born almost 91 years ago to Joe Achie and Mary Stanley Mathews on July 25, 1933, and he attended school in Georgia. Tommy was a long time member of Caney Creek Baptist Church in DeFuniak Springs. 

Tommy loved deeply and gave freely, and he loved the Lord with...

Carolyn Joyce Watson

Carolyn Joyce Watson

Jul 13, 2024

Carolyn Joyce Duke Watson passed away surrounded by family and friends on July 13, 2024. Born to Daniel Owen Duke and Betty Duke on May 15, 1960, Carolyn grew up in DeFuniak and went to school at Walton, then graduated from Desoto County High School and Northwest Florida State College. She was a longtime member of Glendale Church of God.

 Bubbly...

Billy Hutto

Billy Hutto

Jul 11, 2024

Billy Hutto, Jr, age 59, passed away on July 11, 2024, after a strong fight with cancer. He was born in Dothan, Alabama on August 5, 1964 to Billy and Mary Hutto, and was proud to call DeFuniak Springs home for the past 32 years. 

 Billy was a dedicated worker, a loving family man, and a ceaseless giver. He worked for...

Billy Robert Whatley

Billy Robert Whatley

Jul 6, 2024

Billy Robert Whatley went to be with his Lord and Savior on July 6, 2024. Born January 4, 1946, to Jesse and Helen Whatley of Jena, Louisiana, Robert was a twenty-year resident of DeFuniak Springs. Shortly after his 1965 high school graduation in Verdun, France, he joined the Air Force and gave 22 years in service to his country. After...

Versie Opal Ard

Versie Opal Ard

Jun 24, 2024

Versie Opal Ard passed from this life to be with Jesus, her Savior, on the morning of June 24, 2024. At the time of her death, she was a resident of Sodalis Defuniak Springs Assisted Living and Memory Care.

Born in the Hacoda community in rural Geneva County, AL on May 19, 1932, Versie was the youngest child, and only daughter,...