James Gibson Clower

Funeral services for James Gibson Clower, 85, who died Saturday, October 2, 2004, at his home, will be be at 3 p.m. on Monday, October 4, 2004, at the First Baptist Church in Troy, with Dr. Ed Walter officiating. Burial will follow in Green Hills Memorial Park, with Dillard Funeral Home of Troy directing.

Visitation will be Monday from 1:30 p.m. until service time at the church.

He was born Dec. 10, 1919, in Sprinhill and attended elementary and junior high in Springhill. He graduated from Pike County High in 1937 and attended Troy State from 1938-40.

He enlisted in the National Guard in Troy on Nov. 25, 1940, in the 31st Division, 117th Field Artillery and was commissioned 2nd Lt., Field Artillery on Nov. 5, 1942. He served with the 372 F.A. Bn. 99th Division in the European Theater of operations, participating in the Battle of the Bulge, the Cologne Plain, the Remagen Bridgehead and Central Europe Campaigns, where he was awarded a Purple Heart and Bronze Star. After the war Gibson served on occupation duty in Germany for another six months. He reentered the National Guard in 1949 as Battery Commander of C Btry, 933rd. F.A. Bn., based in Troy. He remained with them until retiring as a captain in 1951.

He attended the University of Alabama Law School from 1946 until graduation in August 1948. He then practiced law in Pike County for 46 years.

Gibson also served this area in the following business, civic and religious activities: Commander of the VFW Post 4942, Adjutant of American Legion Post 70, President of Troy Lions Club, first President of the Troy Exchange Club, which he helped organize, President of the Troy Country Club, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Pike County's Pensions and Securities Unit, member of the Troy Hospital Building Authority, which constructed Edge Hospital. He also served as general counsel for the board from its inception until 1989, Chairman of the Rural Health Initiative Program, member of the Industrial Board, Board member of Goodwill Industries of South Alabama, member of the Board of Directors of the Troy Bank & Trust Company for 25 years, member and teacher of the Baraca Sunday School class at First Baptist Church in Troy.

In addition to these activities, he found time to develop a decent golf game and enjoyed a lively game of dominoes.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Coley and Irma Gibson Clower, and a sister, Beryl Clower Boutwell McBride.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, the former Virginia Johnson originally of Brundidge; their three children, Connie Whiddon of Spanish Fort, Shannon and her husband Douglas Selvius of Houston, Texas, and Jim Clower of Troy; and two grandchildren, Stephanie and Ryan Selvius of Houston.

Pallbearers will be Keith Watkins, Joe Faulk, Dickie Calhoun, Charlie Botts, Jerry Spurlock and Corley Chapman. Honorary pallbearers will be the Barraca and the Builders Sunday School classes at First Baptist and Andy Murphree, Phil Morgan, Bill Sanford, Bobby Cates, John Elmore, Bobby Price, Jim Tustin, Linda Meadows, Betty Joyce Tatum, Dr. Rewdea Richardson, and Dr. Alan Young.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial be made to the Wiregrass Hospice, the Troy Library or the First Baptist Church of Troy.

Leland Griffin

Funeral services for Leland Griffin, 84, of Grady, who died at his home Friday, October 1, 2004, will be at 11 a.m. on Monday at Community Baptist Church, with Rev. Chuck Ford, Rev. David Floyd and Dr. Malone Chandler officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery with Dillard Funeral Home in Troy directing.

Visitation will be from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Sunday, October 3, 2004, at Community Baptist Church.

He is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, James Edward and Edith Griffin of Montgomery; daughter Jessie Pearl Rhodes of Ramer; devoted daughter-in-law Alice Griffin Gulley of Fort Deposit;a brother and sister-in-law Luther and Ann Tetter of Grady; sister Joy Tetter of Grady; two devoted nieces, Jennifer (James) Jordan of Grady and Margaret Tetter of Grady; seven grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, one great great grandchild, and two very devoted great nieces, Jessica and Jamie Godfrey of Grady.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Community Baptist Church in Grady.