Obituaries, Wednesday, January 24, 2024

Published 6:43 pm Tuesday, January 23, 2024

Joseph Franklin Walters III

Joseph Franklin Walters III, known as “Tripp,” went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on January 22, 2024, after a heroic battle with cancer.  We will celebrate his life at 11:00am on Thursday, January 25, 2024, at Green Hills Funeral Home with Pastor Rick Hayes officiating. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at Green Hills Memorial Cemetery with Casey Walters, Wyatt Walters, Brock Ellis, Conner Wood, Zack Wood, and Trent Ellis serving as pallbearers.

J.Walters III

Tripp was born in Troy, Alabama to the late Joe Frank and Alice Walters.  Tripp attended Charles Henderson High School and John M. Patterson Technical School in Montgomery, Alabama.  Tripp worked for Chapman Oil Company for a short time prior to his employment with Wiley Sanders Truck Lines, where he worked for 33 years.  His genuine humility and dedication to work was evident to all who knew him.  Tripp loved the Lord, the outdoors, nature, hunting and in his spare time he volunteered with local Volunteer Fire Departments for many years.  He loved all animals and had several pets on his farm in Pike County.

Tripp’s greatest joy was being a grandfather to his two granddaughters, Jaylynn and Lydia.  He loved his family unconditionally and will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Tripp is survived by his sons, Wyatt Walters and Casey Walters (Kelly); granddaughters, Jaylynn Walters and Lydia Walters; sisters, Elizabeth Hudson (Paul) and Ellen Sanders (Steve); and aunt, Rosa Cornell; as well as several nieces and nephews.

The family would like to acknowledge Terrin Pearson, Mary Mahone, Pootie Hooten, Ossie Burden, Alvin Rodgers, and Bobby Jewell for their love and faithfulness in caring for Tripp.  Appreciation is extended to the Doctors, Nurses, and staff of Compassus Hospice for their excellent and compassionate care.  Memorials may be directed to Hephzibah Baptist Church, 2701 Henderson Highway, Troy, AL 36079, or Union Hill Methodist Church, Troy, Alabama 36081.   

The staff of Green Hills Funeral Home is honored to serve the Walters family.

James Aubrey “Booty” Bruce

James Aubrey “Booty” Bruce, friend to all, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, January 21, 2024.  Funeral services will be at Green Hills Funeral Home on Saturday, January 27, 2024, at 1:00pm with visitation beginning at 10:00am.  Burial will follow at Green Hills Cemetery.

James Bruce

Loving survivors include his wife, Elisa Boswell Bruce; daughters, Kathleen Mackenzie “Daisy” Bruce, Alexandra Bruce Rychlak (Joseph); granddaughter, Daisy James Henriette Rychlak; brother, Gene Bruce (Debbie); and lifelong friend, Fitz Lee, as well as many extended family members.  Booty was preceded in death by his parents, Eugene Elmer Bruce and Edith White Bruce; and his sister, Cheryl Bruce Kragh.

Booty was born in Bartow, Florida and initially came to Troy to play football for the Troy State University Trojans.  That developed into a lifelong love for Troy University and the town of Troy.  In his career with Horn Beverage, Booty was widely recognized in the community as the “Bud Man” and loved nothing more than being in the business of “making friends”. In 2015, he was honored as Troy University’s Alumni of the Year and, in 2019, he was named as a BSA Golden Eagle Honoree. He also served as the Troy Rotary Club President in 2018.  He was a devoted husband to Elisa, his wife of 42 years, and a loving father to his daughters, Daisy and Alex.  Booty was also a dedicated grandfather to his granddaughter and beloved namesake, Daisy James.   

The staff of Green Hills Funeral Home is honored to serve the Bruce family.