Benny Kyle Roberson

Benny Kyle Roberson, 63, a native of Brundage and a resident of Spanish Fort, died Monday, Feb. 5, 2007

A memorial service will be held at a later date in Brundage.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Erma Gene Roberson.

He is survived by his father, Kyle (Lorene) Roberson; brother Bob Roberson; two daughters, Shellie (Jeff ) Bryan and Nancy Roberson; and granddaughter, Madeline Bryan.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in the name of Benny Roberson Memorial to Pulmonary Hypertension Association, 801 Roeder Road, Suite 400, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

Ray Grant

Funeral services for Ray Grant, 60, of Troy, who died Thursday, Feb. 8, 2007, at Prattville Baptist Hospital, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Dillard Funeral Home with the Rev. Mack Lowery and the Rev. Wayne Locklar officiating.

Burial will follow at Green Hills Memorial Park.

Visitation will from 6 until 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Sara Grant; parents, HR and Lucille Stone Grant; brother, Louie Allen; sister, Carol Ann Avant; step-father, Seth Allen; and mother-in-law, Sara Evelyn Borom.

He is survived by his wife, Gail Grant of Troy; children, Larry and Donna Grant of Troy and Lynn and Travis Jacques of Troy; grandchildren, Layton and Leah Grant of Troy, Jordan Jacques of Troy, T.J. Jacques of Camp Johnston, N.C., Kala and Lee Copeland of Needham and Kristian Jacques of Hope Hull; step-children, Mark and Debbie Taylor of Prattville, David and Denise Taylor of Troy and Randy Pevehouse of Troy; step-grandchildren, Brooke, Kaitlyn and Forrest Taylor, Britney, Josh, and Kailee Taylor, and Austin Pevehouse; three brothers, Steve Allen of Troy, Royce (Carolyn) Allen of Ozark and Thomas Allen of Roeton; sister, Faye (Stephen) Plemmons of Montana; father-in-law, Bob Stubinger; several nieces and nephews; sisters-in-law, Jeanette Allen and Jeri Tolbert; and brothers-in-law, Freddy Avant and Jerry Lindsey.

Pallbearers will be Josh Taylor, Layton Grant, Kendall Allen, Kenneth Harris, Tim Allen, Kevin Allen and Craig Allen.

George Alexander Balmer

Funeral services for George Alexander Balmer, 82, of Troy, who died at his home on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2007, will be at 4 p.m. Saturday at Dillard Funeral Home in Troy with the Rev. Steve Rascoe and the Rev. Bo Weed officiating.

Burial will follow at Green Hills Memorial Park.

Visitation will be from 6 until 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Mr. Balmer was a veteran of WWII.

He was preceded in death by his father, James Balmer Sr.; mother, Mary McKaig Balmer; brothers, James and Richard Balmer; sister, Marguerite, Caroline and Arabelle.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret Balmer; children, George E. Balmer of Seaside, Ore., daughter, Sydney, Beverly Strange (J.B.) of Savannah, Ga., children, Tuesday and Bryan, Elizabeth Pelkey (Denis) of Land O'Lakes, Fla., children, Senior Airman John Pelkey, leaving for Iraq on Feb. 14, and Lauren Pelkey, Kathleen Jackson (Mack) of Pensacola, Fla., children, Whitley, Matthew, Mackenzie, Shelby, and Kaitlin and baby boy in June, Christine McLendon (Doug) of Troy, children, Douglas, Scott, Alex and Brooke, James Balmer (Shalanda) of Rockledge, Fla., children, Jacob, Michael, and Naomi, David Balmer of Opelika, Daniel Balmer (Nicole) of Denver, Colo., daughter, Isabella, Amy Carswell of Troy, children, Christian and Amber, plus at least (according to George) five great-grandchildren, brother, Herby Balmer (Betty) of Little Torch Key, Fla., and sister, Betsy Bergner (Dick) of Fla., dear friend of many years, Bobby Joe Renfroe, and his faithful dog, Dutchess.

Clifton E. Day

Clifton E. Day, 85, of Troy, who was a WWII veteran, retired teacher, devoted father and grandfather died on Feb. 3, 2007.

He died at Heartland Hospice in Cartersville, Ga., surrounded by his son, Blaine Day, daughter-in-law, Beverly King Day, daughter, Martha Jean Day Head, son-in-law, Marcus Head and grandson, Garrett Day, after an 11-week battle with liver failure. The liver failure was related to a previous two-month stay in the hospital during WWII brought on from a blood transfusion.

The son of James Richard Day and Etta Lee Baker Day, Mr. Day was born in Troy and raised mostly in the Springhill Community.

He was inducted in the United States Army in August 1942 and served in the Medical Detachment of the 17th Infantry. He wears the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign, World War II Victory and Good Conduct Medals, and Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two Bronze Stars, as well as the Expert Medical Badge and six Battle Stars. He participated in the battles of the Marshall, Leyte, Luzon and Okinawa Islands. His final assignment was in Korea. He also played on the U.S. Army exhibition baseball team in Hawaii against professionals, including Joe DiMaggio.

He returned to Troy and on Aug. 8, 1946, married Martha Louise Dunn, daughter of William Richard Dunn, deceased, and Audrey Harris Dunn of the Needmore Community.

They attended Troy Teachers College together. While in college, Clifton was a pitcher for the university and also for minor league farm teams. He declined an opportunity to move up to the major leagues to finish college on the GI bill. Upon completion of their degrees, the couple moved to Florida, where they taught school together for their entire career.

Clifton began his 35-year career in education in Callahan, Fla., spent time in Grand Ridge, Fla., and Sneads, Fla., and retired with his wife in 1986 from Pace Middle School in Santa Rosa County, Fla., after approximately 25 years of service.

He also spent many of those years coaching and continued to play ball well into his 60s.

He was a devoted and loving spouse for almost 47 years until his wife's death in 1993.

He moved back home to Troy in 1994.

He resided in the Needmore Community, was a member of Northside Baptist Church, and led a very active life until the past six months.

He was preceded in death by three brothers, George Thomas Day, Carroll James Day and William Denzil Day, and four sisters, Minnie Elizabeth Young, Bobbie Cleone Tuck, Clara Mae Yarbrough, and

Mary Melanee Holcombe.

He is survived by a sister-in-law, Louise Day, of Montgomery; four grandchildren, Kristina Day, Garrett Day, Grace Head and Grant Head; and many nieces and nephews.

Above all, Mr. Day was a patient, positive, giving and caring person. Healthy and energetic, and never seeing himself as &#8220old,” most of his life was devoted to hard work, fun and taking care of others. He was generous with his time and his talents for teaching and building things, and used those talents to provide much enjoyment and positive direction to his children, grandchildren and many other kids.

He embraced hard work, and there was nothing he was too good to do, including many hours of housework and cooking as his wife's health declined. His depression-era attitude was so strong that he almost never spent money on himself, but would always give to his children and others. Even in his last hours, he was concerned about his family and his special friend,

Dorothy Murray.

A nurse asked him what was his secret to longevity and happiness and he simply replied, &#8220walking with the Lord.”

Upon his retirement, a student wrote, &#8220For all the help you've given and all the dreams you've made, there's no amount of thanks that could ever repay your time, but you can take pride in life, as you've taught me in mine!

Thank you and good-bye!”

Visitation will be at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Dillard Funeral Home in Troy.

The funeral service will follow at 11 a.m Saturday with the Rev. Clifford Matthews officiating.

There will be a military graveside service at Green Hills Cemetery.

Family and friends are invited to a luncheon at Northside Baptist Church following the graveside service.

Memorials can be made to Williams Memorial Presbyterian Church, Building Preservation Fund, 2182 County Road 7708, Troy, AL 36081 in honor of Clifton and Martha Day, the first couple to be married in the church.