1935
Louise Cunningham, 88, of Dora died Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2004, at her residence. Mrs. Cunningham was a graduate of the Dora High School class of 1935.
Mrs. Cunningham is survived by her daughter, Laura Sue Cunningham Tucker of Dora, sons, Hugh Lee Cunningham and his wife, Dellie, of Dora and Harvey Wilburn Cunningham ans his wife, Dale, of Fairhope; four grandchildren, Bobbi Sue Tucker Tolbert and her husband, Daniel K. Tolbert, Wilburn Lee Cunningham and his wife, Michelle Cunningham, Pamela Sue Strange, and Laura Elaine Cunningham Florey and her husband, David Florey; four grandchildren and six great grandchildren..
1937
Alexander James Sumner was born on Columbus Day in 1919 in Dora, Ala., the son of Luther McLeod and Alma Evans Sumner. Alex was the fourth of six children and is survived by his brothers, Bryceon J. Sumner and H. McLeod Sumner.
Alex graduated from Dora High School in 1937 and worked briefly for a local coal mining company before joining the Civilian Conservation Corps. The CCCs sent him to Oregon, where he was stationed at Camp Trask in Tillamook County. While in Tillamook he met a young local woman named Rhoda J. Trusty. They soon began a courtship before Alex entered the U.S. Army in 1941. They were married on June 12, 1941, by Alex’s brother-in-law, a Walker County, Ala., minister.
Alex spent the early years of the war state side in Florida, Texas, Illinois and Washington. He was then sent to the war in the Pacific serving on the islands of Saipan, Guam and Tinian. He finished his service as a first lieutenant with the Oregon National Guard in 1956.
After the war, Alex and Rhoda settled in Portland, Ore., and he became an auditor for American Can Company. He stayed with the company, working in Portland, Salem and Ft. Dodge, Iowa, until he retired. Alex took accounting classes at Portland State University on the G.I. Bill and was a member of the International Accounting Society.
In 1956, American Can Company opened a plant in Salem, where Alex was transferred. He began work at the plant before construction was completed, later returning to Salem and working again with American Can Co. until the plant closed in 1987. He had worked at the plant the day it opened and the day it closed.
Alex was preceded in death by his spouse, Rhoda, who died in 1989.
He is survived by his sons, James (and spouse, Annabelle Sumner) of Salem, Oregon, and Kent (and spouse, Claudia Cave) of Corvallis; grandchildren Emily Skelding (and spouse, Philip Skelding) of New Orleans, La., Jacob Sumner (and spouse, Miranda Sohn) of Chicago, Ill.; and grandchildren, Sumner Skelding, Ramona Skelding, Cole Ivelia-Sumner and Jude Sumner.
A memorial service was held for Alex on Saturday, Dec. 19, 2009, at 1 p.m. at the Trinity Covenant Church in Salem, Ore.
1938
Dick McGowen: passed away 2003 Click here for Obituary from Birmingham News.
Justine Gray Magers passed away October 2007
Justine Gray Magers, 87, of Baldwyn, Miss., and a former Dora resident, died Thursday, Oct. 11, 2007 at the North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14, at New Horizon Memorial Funeral Home with burial at Free Will Cemetery in West Jefferson. The Rev. Lee Taylor will officiate. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service at the New Horizon Funeral Home. Waters Funeral Home of Baldwyn, Miss. will direct.
She was born to Leonerdas Glynn and Cora Stallins Gray on June 24, 1920 in Graysville. She was the youngest child of a family of ten and grew up in the coal mining area of Jefferson County. She attended elementary school in Jefferson County and graduated from Dora High School in 1938. She was actively involved in gospel music from an early age. She sang in church and at “all day singings” with a family group, “The Sunshine Girls.” She also helped her sister Nola lead singing schools.
She married Thomas B. Davis of Dora, on Aug. 2, 1940. They were very active in Calvary Baptist Church, Dora First Baptist Church, and Sumiton Baptist Church while Tom served as a Deacon and choir director. She served as a choir member, Sunday School teacher, WMU president, GA sponsor, and other leadership roles. During the 1950-60s she worked as a substitute teacher for the Walker County Schools and served as PTA president and member of Dora High School Band Booster Club. When Tom died suddenly in 1971, she served as interim choir director of Sumiton Baptist Church. She lived her last years in Baldwyn.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas B. Davis; an infant son; and her parents.
She is survived by her daughter, Diane Davis Browning and her husband, Larry of Waco, Texas; grandson, William J. Browning of Austin, Texas; and the T.N. Davis family of Dora.
Paul Joffre Brignet, 93, of Jasper, died Wednesday Nov. 21, 2007, at Walker Baptist Medical Center. Services will be held at 2 p.m. today, Nov. 24, at Kilgore-Green Funeral Home with Brother Levi Sides officiating. Visitation will be from 1 until 2 p.m. Kilgore-Green Funeral Home will direct.
He was born Oct. 3, 1914 in Dora, son of Jean B. A. Brignet and Marie Victorine Maurin. He was a 1934 graduate of Dora High School and president of his senior class. After completing Massey Business College he attended the University of Alabama. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was active in the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
He was manager of the Alabama State Employment Service in Jasper for 30 years. He /served on the Jasper City Council, was past Chairman of the Jasper Water Works and Sewer Board, and was a member of the Birmingham Regional Planning Commission. He was a member of the Advisory Council of Walker State Technical College and former Director of the Jasper Chamber of Commerce.
He was married 67 years to Helen (Jim) Hall. Survivors include his wife Jim Brignet; daughters Camille Brignet Shotts, Paulette Thompson (George), Libby Hulsey (Mark); and son Pete Brignet. He is survived by eight grandchildren Angela Shotts, Elizabeth Thompson, Adrienne Thompson, Jessica Brignet, Sarah Brignet, Lesley Brignet, Steven Hulsey, and Adam Hulsey.
He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend. His family and many friends will greatly miss him.
The family requests donations to please be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 130909, Birmingham, Ala. 35231.
Class of 1938 Clark William Sandlin, married Ida Dean Griffin Jul 27, 1940 in Townley; they had 2 children. Enlisted for Military Service April 12, 1944. Clark died September 3, 1973 in Birmingham, AL and is buried at Elmwood Cemetery, in Birmingham..
Mary Ouida York James, 86, of Empire, died Tuesday, Aprl 4, 2006, at Walker Baptist Medical Center. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, April 7 at New Horizon Memorial Funeral Home with burial in McCormack Cemetery. The Rev. Chris Cone and the Rev. Donald Westbrook will officiate. Visitation will be from 6 until 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. New Horizon Memorial Funeral Home will direct. Mrs. James was a member of Sumiton United Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Mack James; parents, Jessie and Rilla York; siser, Nora Sellers and brothers A.B., Jack, Calvin and Paul York. She is survived by her son, Ronny James and his wife Patsy; granddaughter, Jayna Lacy and her husband Drew; stepdaughter, Loretta James; step-grandchildren John Smith, Dan Smith, Lois and Daniel and Clara Anderson and family. Published Daily Mountain Eagle April 6, 2009 From The year book for the graduating class of 1938 “Graduation Exercises Dora High School Class of 1938, May 18, 1938, 8:00 P.M. Prelude Processionals – “Triumphal March” by Verdi, Mrs. Gertrude Smithers Putnam. Song – “America: Invocation – Rev. C. B. Sims Class – Song Commencement Address – Dr. Gladstone H. Yeuell, Professor and Head of Department of Secondary Education, University, Ala. Solo – “Memories” Mary Ouida York”
Ouida married classmate Mack James, they lived in the house Mack’s grandfather, William Mckinley Drummond, built c.1875 located off Empire Road between Sumiton and Empire. Mr. Drummond sold land to or gave rights of passage to the Rail Road, a switch was located at one corner of the property – leading to the area being called Drummond Switch.
Mack James, 80, of Empire died Sunday, April 14, 2002, at his residence. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 17, 2002, at New Horizon Memorial Chapel with burial in McCormack Cemetery. Revs. Mark Adams and Donald Westbrook will officiate. New Horizon Memorial Funeral Home is directing. He was retired owner and operator of H. C. James Lumber Co., a WWII veteran of Army Air Corp, and a member of American Legion, Alabama Cattleman’s Association., Auburn Alumni Association, and Sumiton Church of God. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Mary Ouida York James; daughter, Loretta James of Houston, Texas; son, Ronny James and his wife, Patsy of Quinton; granddaughter, Jayna Lacy and her husband, Andrew of Jasper. Pall bearers will be Roger Russell, Floyd and Lloyd Burton, Tommy Raines, and Phillip and James Drummond. Published Daily Mountain Eagle April 16, 2002.