TUSCALOOSA. Betty Jo Richardson Bishop, age 71, of Tuscaloosa, died Dec. 31, 2012, at DCH Regional Medical Center.
She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Imogene Ashcraft Adams and Arthur Richardson; her stepfather, Wallace Hartley; and her sister, Joyce Bonner.
Survivors include her husband, Cecil Hayes Bishop of Tuscaloosa; her daughters, Beth Bishop Eisenbeis (Jason) of Mobile and Betsy Hayes Bishop of Anchorage, Alaska; her sister, Mary Jean Whisenant of Fultondale; her brothers, Derek Hartley (Sam) of Tuscaloosa and Dickie Hartley (Shannon) of Milton, Fla.; and her grandchildren, William Hudson, Colton Hayes, and Gracie Elizabeth Eisenbeis, all of Mobile.
Betty Bishop was born January 31, 1941, in Pickens County, Alabama. She was a graduate of Tuscaloosa High School Black Bears Class of 1959 and earned her associate's degree in business at the Alabama Institute of Business in Tuscaloosa. She was employed by Tuscaloosa Warehouse (IWS) for 35 years, retiring in 2003, and recently celebrated her 46th wedding anniversary. She enjoyed Sunday mornings in fellowship at Taylorville Baptist, Friday nights at the Elks with friends, weekly hair appointments at Linda's, monthly cousin luncheons, and beach trips to the coast. Betty was a remarkable woman: funny, loyal, strong, and kind, but mostly a beloved “BB” to her three adored grandchildren.
Special thanks to her primary physician, Dr. Ross Vaughn, for his exceptional care and love for Betty.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Hospice of West Alabama or the Lewis
and Faye Manderson Cancer Center at DCH.
THS 1959 - Gerald Reid Douglas
ST. CHARLES, Mo. Gerald Reid Douglas, age 69, of Saint Charles, Missouri, died August 13, 2010. Friends and relatives will gather at a later date to celebrate Gerald's life with Rev. Jerry N. Douglas officiating. Gerald's body was donated to science for the study of cancer.
He was preceded in death by his infant children, William and Doris Douglas; father, Noel Alexander Douglas; and grandparents, George Earnest Reid and Crissie Lou Starnes Reid and Ademar Alonzo and Velma Douglas.
Survivors include his wife, Lynda Jeanne Birdsong Douglas, St. Charles, Mo.; daughter, Noel Alexandra Douglas and husband David Oleksa, Chesterfield, Mo.; son, Ryan Scott Douglas, St. Charles, Mo.; grandchildren, Katherine Elizabeth, Max Douglas, and Anna Noel Oleksa; mother, MayBelle Reid Douglas Beavert, age 96; and brother, Rev. Jerry N. Douglas and wife Nelle Douglas of Northport, Ala.
Gerald graduated from Tuscaloosa High School, class of 1959, and the University of Alabama, class of 1963. He had a satisfying and productive career as an Industrial Engineer with Continental Can Company, later Crown, Cork and Seal. Gerald was an active member of Swift Presbyterian Church in Foley, Ala.
As a conscientious citizen who actively followed world news and politics, Gerald could change his perspective based on the facts. He traveled and scuba dived in six of the seven continents. A gourmet cook, he loved serving beautifully presented foods and good wines for his family and friends. Gerald was an active member of Master Gardeners and Wolf Bay Water Watch. He served as a volunteer educator teaching environmental education lessons on world water issues. He volunteered with Habitat for Humanity.
With the help of Dr. Bart Barlegie, a true genius, and the gifted, dedicated, highly skilled staff of the Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy, UAMS, Little Rock, Ark., Gerald lived happy, quality years more than predicted. He is now alive in Christ Jesus and will remain so in the hearts of the many who so love and miss him.
Linda B. (FORD) Wheat
NORTHPORT, AL.
Linda B. Wheat, age 67, of Northport, died April 20, 2008, at Hospice of West Alabama. Burial
at Memory Hill Gardens
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Ulysses Bryant, her daughter, René Shuford, and
her granddaughter, Lauren Swinney.
Survivors include her husband of 25 years, Ed Wheat of Northport; her daughters, Cathy Hill of
Crestview, Fla., Becky Bryant of Northport, and Misty Owens (Darrell) of Northport; her son,
David Bryant of Northport; her sisters, Gayle Yeager of Tuscaloosa and Connie Mullins of Coker;
her mother-in-law, Ruth Wheat of Northport; 11 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.
Linda was born on December 21, 1940, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. to the late Earl and Dixie Ford. She
was a graduate of Tuscaloosa High School, Class of 1959, and a longtime member of Carroll's
Creek Baptist Church. Linda was a lady of the highest integrity who strived to live by
the "Golden Rule" and encouraged her children and grandchildren to do the same. She was a
fighter whose courage, determination, and faith in God inspired all who knew and loved her.
* September 04, 1997 - Tuscaloosa, Alabama *TUSCALOOSA - Martha Louise Wilson, 55, of Juniper Lane, died Sept. 4, 1997, at DCH Regional Medical Center.
Burial at Tuscaloosa Memorial Park
She was born and raised in Tuscaloosa. She was a graduate of Tuscalosa High School, class of 1959. She was employed by the University Of Alabama for 15 years as the Assistant Comptroller in the Bursar's Office. She retired in 1991 and has spent the past few years serving as secretary and treasurer of the 5th Alabama Regimental Band.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Archie Leland and Zora Bell Sherrill.
Survivors include her husband, Max Wilson; sons, Jeff and his wife Kathy, grandchildren, Ian, Erin and Morgan Wilson; Scott and his wife Sheri, Grandchildren, Jeremy and Ali Wilson; and John and his wife Lynn, grandchildren, Kaine: all of Tuscaloosa. She is also survived by her father and mother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Wilson; two uncles, O. L. Sherrill and his wife Ruth, and Red Sherrill and his wife Hazel; four sister-in-laws, numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Honorary friends are Dr. Mark Ricketts, nurses and staff of DCH Acute Cardiac Care Unit, The 5th Alabama Regimental Band, the employees of Uniroyal Goodrich, The Globe Restaurant, The Tuscaloosa City School System, Capitol Park Real-Estate Company, Tuscaloosa High School Class of '59, friends, neighbors, James Dean and Elvis Presley.
Anna Elizabeth Brown August 07, 2004
TUSCALOOSA | Beloved schoolteacher Anna Elizabeth Brown died August 4, 2004 at her home. Burial at Evergreen Cemetery.
Miss Brown was born October 31, 1908, the daughter of Pelham D. Brown and Carrie Hamner Brown, both whom preceded her in death. She is survived by one first cousin, Ruth Green of Sheffield, Ala., Lucy Jackson, whom she thought of as a niece, of Montgomery, Ala. and many other relatives and friends.
During Miss Brown’s declining years, Jean Ousley of Tuscaloosa was not only a caregiver but also a special and close friend.As a member of First Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa for 85 years, she participated in the W.M.U. and taught in the Adult Sunday School Department. She was actively engaged in many community organizations, serving twice as President of the Tuscaloosa Pilot Club and participating in the Colonial Dames of the 17th Century.
Miss Brown was educated in the Tuscaloosa Public Schools and except for one brief Educational Work Shop in Kentucky, she received all of her formal education at the University of Alabama, earning her bachelors degree in 1930 and her Masters degree in 1932. She was a member of Delta Delta Delta social sorority.She is most fondly remembered by the many generations of Tuscaloosa students she called “her little lambs", whose lived were touched during her teaching career with the English Department at Tuscaloosa High School and Tuscaloosa Junior High, beginning in 1930 and continuing for 40 years, retiring in 1970. She required hundreds of students to spell “separate" and memorize from MacBeth lines “ double, double, toil and trouble", “out, out brief candle" and “tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow". In recent years, she softly recited “What Is So Rare As A Day In June" and “Tell Me Not In Mournful Numbers". She recalled seeing students leave for WWII, Korea, and Vietnam, and their requests for her to send her study sheets “to give us something to keep our minds on". In 1999, she was honored on her 90th birthday by Tuscaloosa declaring “Miss Anna Brown Day" with a reception attended by over 1,400 former students and well wishers hosted by the THS class of 1952 dedicating the Anna E. Brown classroom in the historic Tuscaloosa High School on 21st Avenue.
Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Tuscaloosa .
Harold E. Greer November 07, 2004
RICHMOND, Va. | Harold Edward Greer, age 95, a long time Tuscaloosa resident, passed away November 4, 2004, in Richmond, Virginia. Mr. Greer was admired for his lifelong commitment to public education, community service and his church, Calvary Baptist of Tuscaloosa.
He was born in Edwardsville, Alabama, October 26, 1909, and graduated from Cleburne County High School in Heflin. He earned his A.B. and M.A. degrees from Howard College in Birmingham (now Samford University) and the A.A. from University of Alabama.
Upon completion of his work at Howard, he taught math in Heflin for three years before being named principal at Ranburne, Alabama, for six years. He then served as Superintendent of Cleburne County Schools for three years. Taking a break from education, he bought and ran a business in Heflin for two years before returning to education as Principal of Gordo, Alabama, schools in 1946. In 1949 he was employed as Assistant Principal of Tuscaloosa High School where he was to serve for fourteen years, the last three as Principal.
He was for many years a member of the Board of Deacons at Calvary Baptist Church and taught adult Sunday School. A lifetime member of the Lions Club, he served in many capacities including president. He was recognized for 30 years of perfect attendance and was recognized for his outstanding work and service by being named Lion of the Year in 1965.
Mr. Greer had resided in Richmond, Virginia, since the year 2000 to be near his son. He is predeceased by his wife, Esther Hall Greer. He is survived by two sons, Harold Edward Greer, Jr. and spouse Laura of Richmond, Virginia, and Franklin Owen Greer and spouse Stephanie Solien of Seattle, Washington, and Washington, D.C.; four grandchildren, Harold E. Greer, III of Richmond, Catherine Greer OBrion of Blacksburg, Virginia, Jacqueline and Lillian Greer of Seattle, Washington; five great grandchildren; and sisters, Bobbie Turner, Jeanette Owen, and Joyce Gallahar, all of Oxford, Alabama. There was a memorial service at the chapel of Calvary Baptist Church Monday, November 8th.
Burial at Evergreen cemetery.
Friends may contribute to the Harold Greer School of Education Scholarship for a Tuscaloosa student (P.O. Box 870101, University Advance, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487) or to Calvary Baptist Church.
Juarine Berrey Van Tassel
February 01, 2005
TUSCALOOSA | Juarine Berrey Van Tassel died January 30, 2005. Born in Bay Minette, Alabama, on May 27, 1915, she was the only child of William Selden Berrey and Roberta Williams Berrey. Both of her parents died before Van Tassel was three years old, and she ultimately came to live with and be raised by her aunt, Lucy Berrey, and her grandmother, Aida Berrey. In 1930, they moved to Tuscaloosa, to give young Juarine an opportunity for a better education. Upon arriving in Tuscaloosa, Juarine joined Calvary Baptist Church, where she remained an active member for seventy-five years. She graduated from Tuscaloosa High School in 1932, and promptly enrolled in the University of Alabama. There she met a fellow student, George M. Van Tassel, of Millerton, New York. They fell in love and married July 17, 1934. Mrs. Van Tassel graduated in 1936. She would return years later and obtain a Masters Degree, as well as follow up with other post graduate studies.Mrs.
Van Tassel began a long career in the Tuscaloosa City Schools when she went to work in the office at the Tuscaloosa Junior High School. Her interaction with students quickly demonstrated an aptitude for teaching, and she became a classroom teacher, beginning at Tuscaloosa Junior High School, and then moving to Tuscaloosa High School.
Mrs. Van Tassel brought a high degree of preparation and professionalism to her classes. As a teacher of business courses, she taught by example what was expected in the business world. Thousands of Tuscaloosans owe their typing skills and their image of a professional to her. She believed that every student could learn and she worked hard so that every student in her classes did learn.
Mrs. Van Tassel also had a soft side, as many of her students discovered. She was a person to whom many troubled students turned with their problems, and she was never too busy to take the time to work with those students, whether the problems were academic or personal. It is no wonder that she was voted by the students as “Favorite" or “Outstanding" teacher on numerous occasions. Although she retired in 1979, after 32 years of service in Tuscaloosa’s school system, her children report that they are still regularly told by her former students of the positive influence that Mrs. Van Tassel had on their lives. To the end of her life, Mrs. Van Tassel enjoyed hearing these things, and took enormous pride in all of her former students.
As a teacher, Mrs. Van Tassel sponsored many school organizations, but none was closer to her heart than the Future Teachers of America. Her example inspired many students to become teachers themselves. Likewise, because of her reputation with the School of Education at the University of Alabama, she was always assigned a full roster of student-teachers, who were profoundly influenced by her.Mrs. Van Tassel was active in numerous professional and social organizations, some of which are PEO-Chapter I, Modern Culture Study Club, Delta Kappa Gamma Education Honorary and Delta Zeta social sorority. She was an accomplished bridge player and a member of several bridge clubs. Further, during her husband’s terms as Mayor of Tuscaloosa from 1956 through 1969, she assisted him in numerous official functions and gracefully represented the City both locally, state-wide, and nationally.Juarine Van Tassel is survived by her husband of seventy years, George M. Van Tassel; her son, George M. Van Tassel, Jr. and his wife, Lee of Birmingham, and her daughter Indy Ayers, of Tuscaloosa; her grandchildren, Martin Van Tassel, III, of Nashville and Susan Van Tassel Colvin and her husband, Andrew, of New York City.
Burial at Tuscaloosa Memorial Park.
