These obituaries generously transcribed and submitted by Delilah Evans, Phillip Combs, Sr. unless otherwise noted.

Click here for listing of USGenWeb Archives Obituary Listing for Lee County

BAKER, Leslie Eugene Sr..

The memorial service for Leslie Eugene Baker, Sr., of 2175 Wrights Mill Road in Auburn will be at 4 pm., today, Monday, Aug. 10, 1987,
at the chapel of Fredericks Funeral Home. The Revs. James Ross and Lester Spencer will officiate.

Mr. Baker, who died Sunday, Aug., 9, at East Alabama Medical Center, was born Nov 16, 1920 in Missouri. He was a retired
chemist with the Alabama Department of Forensic Science. He was a veteran of WW2 and a member of the Auburn United Methodist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth Baker of Auburn; a daughter Dr,. Lea Bake Weghorn of Paris, Ky.,
a son, Leslis Eugene Baker Jr., of Auburn; a sister Betty Rice of Dothan; and two grandchildren.

The family requests that memorials be made to the Alabama Sheriffs Boys and Girls Ranches.

Fredericks Funeral Home is directing

BUFFORD, Meacy

Final rites will be held for Meacy Bufford Thursday at 1:00pm from C.M.E. Methodist Church at Loachapoka.
The Rev. W.D. Dunn will officiate.Internment in the Loachapoka cemetery. She passed away at her home in
Loachapoka Monday at 9:15 a.m. after a brief illness. She is survived by her husband, one daughter, three sons,
17 grandchildren, three sisters and one brother. Joe L. Frazier has charge of arrangements.

SOURCE: Opelika Daily News, December 12, 1945

COMBS, David Samuel

David was the son of Robert Combs and Charity Dowdell Combs He was born on December 22, 1890 in Auburn, Lee, AL. He was married to the late Rosie Lee Brown. He died on December 12, 1968 in a traffic accident. The funeral service was held at Greater Peace Baptist Church and interment followed in the Rose Mere Cemetery Ward’s Funeral Home was in charge of final arrangements

COMBS, Willie B, Sr 

Willie B Combs, Sr was the son of Robert Combs and Lula Dowdell Scott. He was born on June 10, 1897 in Lee County, AL He was married to the late Brooksey Hawkins. He died on May 26, 1972 in the Veterans Hospital of Lake City, FL. He was a Church Deacon and local businessman for many years. He is survived by Ten Children. The funeral service was held at the Holy Temple Church in Live Oak, FL on May 29, 1972 and interment followed in the Eastside Mem Cem. Live Oak,FL

SOURCE: OPELIKA DAILY NEWS, dated Dec 9, 1957

COPELAND, Charles Wilburn

Charles Wilburn Copeland, of Auburn, died Saturday night at the Lee County Hospital following a lingering illness. He was 72. Funeral services were held at 10 am today from Fredericks Chapel with internment in the Concord cemetery in Macon County. Rev. W. F. Wagner officiated and pallbearers were Edward Reynolds, Bill Reynolds, Lloyd Simpson, W. J. Isaac, Cecil Ward, Jr., and H.M. Lane. Mr. Copeland was a native of Macon County but had resided in Auburn for the past 33 years. He was a member of the Auburn Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife: three daughters, Mrs. B.P. Curtis of Birmingham, Mrs. John Burgess of Tuscaloosa and Mrs. J.H. Thornburg of Marietta, Ga; one son, Charles W. Copeland, Jr. of Opelika; two sisters, Mrs. Mattie Hamilton of Pell City and Mrs. Lulleah Garretson of Tulsa, OK. Also surviving are six grandchildren and one ggrandchild. Fredericks was in charge of arrangements.

Submitted by Delilah Evans

SOURCE: OPELIKA DAILY NEWS, dated Dec 9, 1957

DUNCAN, Alberta A

ALBERT A DUNCAN, FORMER OPELIKAN, SUCCUMBS IN N.J. Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30am,
Saturday for Albert A. Duncan, 50, a former Opelikan who died at his home in Glouscester City, New Jersey, Tuesday.
Mr. Duncan, a retired Navy man was born March 31, 1906. He attended
school in Opelika before entering the Navy. Survivors include his widow; one son, Thomas Duncan of San Diego, Cal.;
mother, Mrs. D. C. Duncan, Sr., three brothers, Palmer Duncan of
Alex City, D.C. Duncan, Jr., and H.O. Duncan, both of Montgomery; two sisters, Mrs. Irene Ward and Mrs. Johnny Hall,
both of Opelika. Last rites and internment will be in Glouscester.

SOURCE, THE OPELIKA DAILY NEWS, dated 9/13/1956

Thomas Calvin Freeman, oldest son of Bailey and Mary Freeman, was born December 2nd, 1847, in Tallapoosa,
County, Alabama. Died in Notasulga, Ala., June 18th 1932. His father, Bailey Freeman, died when Thomas C was only
nine years of age, and being th eoldest of four children, he worked and helped his mother raise the family. He united
with the Misssionary Baptist when young. On September 1st, 1867, he was married to Indiana Waller. To them were
born seven children. She died in 1883 or 1882. In 1886 he united with the Primitive Baptist Church at Bethlehem in
Notasulga, Ala.  In 1889 he moved to Macon County near Bethlehem Church. The same year (1889)  he married
Miss Joe Merchant. To them were born two children. The same year (1889) he was given the custody of the
meeting house and cemetery at Bethlehem, and he looked after the upkeep of both faithfully for 38 years.

His second wife died in February, 1925.  Till death his home was a place of welcome for his brethen and friends/  
He is survivied by five of his nine children, namely: T. W. Freeman, Mrs. J. N. Norris, Mrs. J. W. Sanders and
O.G. Freeman of Notasulga, Ala. . and Mrs. Arthur Page, Atlanta, Ga., who bear traits of character resembling
 their noble father - also by ten grandchildren and seven ggrandchildren, and many other relatives. His character
through a long and usefu life, came fully up to the standard required of all men, and was temperate in all things
and abstained from many ugly and useless habits. An impressive funeral service was oncducted by Elder
S. L. Hornsby of Tallassee, Ala., the pastor of Bethlehem church, assisted by Rev. C. T. Culpepper,
amid a concourse of relatives and friends.

Surely he was "a servant of the Lord." May we all, together with devoted sons and daughters, keep in memory the noble example of his sincere life and endeavor to model after same.

Thomas Calvin Freeman was John G.L. Waller's half-brother. Indiana Waller was John B. Waller's sister. John P. waller lived with them before he married Annie Lee Duke.

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HEFLIN, George

George Heflin of the Waverly and Opelika community, passed away at his home at Waverly, Rt. l Saturday at 3:45pm,
after an extended illness. He was formerly of Opelika and had resided in the Waverly community 12 years. Funeral
rites will be held Tuesday at l:00pm from the Antioc Baptist Church. The Rev. Smith will officiate, and internment
will be in the City Cemetery at Opelika. He is survived by his wife, four daughters, two sons, one sister, three brothers,
and other relatives. Joe L. Frazier has charge of arrangements.

SOURCE:     Opelika Daily News, dated December 18, 1945

HILL, Rose

Rose hill, age 103 years and a life resident of Auburn, died at twn o'clock Monday at the home of her son, Will Hill.
Her funeral will be held at twoo'clock Thursday evening from the Green Chapel Baptist Church, with the Rev. R. Gates, of Columbus, Ga.,
officiating. Her survivors are two sons, several grand and great grandchildren and other relatives. Peterson & Williams in charge.

SOURCE: Opelika Daily News, December 12, 1945

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MIGHT. Mrs. Bell C.

MOTHER OPELIKAN BURIED MONDAY IN JASPER, ALA. Mrs. Bell C. Might, resident of Jasper, Ala., and mother
of Mrs. J.W. Johnson of Opelika, died Sept 15 at the home of a daughter in Boaz, Ala. after a short illness. Mrs. Might would
 of celebrated her 100th birthday Feb. 7, 1957, having been born in Ohio in 1857. She was a member of the Methodist
Church. Funeral services were held Monday in Jasper with interment in the Jasper cemetery. Survivors include three daughters,
 Mrs. J.W. Johnson of Opelika, Mrs. U.G. Carroll of Boaz and Mrs. John Self of Cordova, Ala. Also surviving are several
grandchildren and ggrandchildren and one gggrandchild.

SOURCE: THE OPELIKA DAILY NEWS, 9/18/1956

MITCHUM, R.W.

R.W. MITCHUM DIES TODAY IN VET. HOSPITAL 

Robert W. Mitchum, 50, of 153 Nineteen Street, Opelika, died in the Veterans Hospital at Montgomery today, following five months illness.
Funeral service is to be held at Fredericks Chapel at 4:00pm Thursday with internment in Garden Hill cemetery. 

Deceased was born in Clay County and had resided in Opelika 11 years, moving to this city from East Tallassee.
He was married to Miss Tilson (may not be correct) Willa Mathis in West Point, Ga., July 2, 1937. 

Mr. Mitchum, wa World War 11 Veteran was a member of the Southside Baptist Church and is survived by  widow; three daughters,
Misses Ann, Carolyn, and Mary Mitchum, and one son, Billy Mitchum, all of Opelika; one sister, Mrs. Marvin Bean, of Childersburg; three brothers,
Oliver Mitchum of Bonair, Ala., Amos Mitchum, of Sylacauga and Vernon Mitchum of Roanoke. 

Rev. M.C. Elmore, Rev. B.S. Warr and Rev.Noah Lazenby will conduct funeral service. Fredericks is in charge. 

SOURCE: Opelika Daily News, dated 9/12/1956

POPE, Clarence E. (Bill) Pope

Opelika Daily News, Sunday, December 6, 1976.

Funeral services will be held today at 2 p.m. for Clarence E. (Bill) Pope. The services will be held from the chapel at
Frederick’s Funeral Home with interment at the Providence Cemetery. Rev. Robert Dismukes will officate. Mr. Pope
died at the Lee County Hospital on Friday. He was 69 years old and a
resident of Opelika. Mr. Pope was a member of Providence Baptist Church. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Mamye Lois
Pope, Opelika; two sons, William Pope, Phenix City; David Pope,
Houston, Tex.; two sisters, Mrs. Agnes Dennis, Mrs. Gladys Jackson, both of Montgomery; and two grandchildren.

Submitted by: David E. Pope

Source: Opelika Daily News, Sunday, December 6, 1976.

POPE, Prior Lopez  

Funeral services for pryor Lopez Pope, 91, of Route 1, Opelika, will be held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6, graveside, at Garden
Hills Cemetery, the Rev. Jimmy Blanton officiating. Mr. Pope died today at Lee County Hospital. Survivors include two sons,
M. W. (Marvin Weldon) Pope of Opelika, Roy B. (Byron) Pope of Long Beach, Calif.; three daughters, Mrs. Elza (Elza Elois)
Smith of Long Beach, Calif., Mrs. Robert Bell (Mary Cue) of Opelika, Mrs. Lucille (Esther Lucille) Pope of Opelika; 12 grandchildren
and 25 great-grandchildren. Mr. Pope was the father of the late H. A. (Huel Adolphus) Pope of Opelika. Fredrick’s
Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Submitted by: David E. Pope

Source: Opelika-Auburn News, Friday 4, 1977

REESE, Mary Elizabeth Combs  

Mary Reese aka “Big Mary” was the daughter of Robert Combs and Charity Dowdell Combs.  She was born on January 11, 1894 in Auburn, Lee, AL.

She was married to the late John Reese.  She was businesswoman and she operated a snack store on US Hwy 29 for many years. 
She had no children but there is a relative that she raised as her own child, Mary Jackson—Little Mary.  She had two brothers
that preceded her in death, Samuel David Combs of Opelika, AL and Willie B Combs, Sr of Live Oak, FL

She passed away January 7, 1988 at the Opelika Health Care Center.

The funeral service was held at the Peterson & Williams Funeral Chapel at Auburn on January 13, 1988
and interment followed at the Mt Vernon Church Cemetery.

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RIDDLE, Miss Theodosie

LIFE LONG RESIDENT OF LEE COUNTY, DIES

Miss Theodosie Riddle, 81, died at her home, Opelika route four, today after several weeks illness. A
resident of Lee county during her entire life, Miss Riddle was a member of Morris Chapel Methodist church.

Funeral services will be held at ten o'clock Thursday morning at the Morris Chapel with interment in the Morris Chapel cemetery.
The Rev. Bob Wilson will officiate. Surviving Miss Riddle are one sister, Mrs. Mary Josephine Yarbrough; two brothers, Alfred Riddle,
residing in Florida, and Jim Riddle, of Birmingham.

RUFF, William Brewer

Notasulga: The funeral for William Brewer Ruff, 93, of Notasulga, will be at 2 m, today, Sunday,  Dec 29, 1991,
at the Notasulga United Methodist Church in Notasulga, with burial in the Bethlehem Cemetery in Notasulga.
The Rev. David Bromstad will officiate.

Mr. Ruff, who died Friday, Dec 27, 1991, at East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika, was born Oct 5, 1898.
He was a longtime resident of Notasulga. He was an active member of the Notasulga United Methodist
Church fro many years and was a member of the choir for 75 years.

Survivors include: there sisters, Lois R. Rountree of Montgomery; Elba R. Weldon of Hapeville, Ga., and Lorene R. Allen
of Auburn; one brother, Robert R Ruff of Opelika; two step daughters: Mazell Morris of Notasulga and Carolyn Peters
of Tallassee; two step sons, Marrell Haynie of Notasulga and Austin Haynie of Creedmoor, N.C., nine step granschildren,
Daryl Weldon, Shonda Weldon, and Gene Morris, all of Notasulga, Dr. Kim Peters, Keith Peters and Klay Peters, all
of Tallassee, Drew Haynie and Lettie Ann Cash, both of Creedmore, N.C., and Robert Haynie of Notasulga.

The Methodist Men will serve as honorary pallbearers

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