Esther Dillard Russell, 78, of Troy died Friday, Feb. 16, 2001 at her residence.

Services were held at 1 p.m., Monday, Feb. 19, at Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Troy with the Rev. C.L. Sankey officiating. Burial was at the church cemetery with Harrison Funeral Home directing.

Mrs. Russell was born Aug. 12, 1922 in Pike County to Moses Lee and Susan Ginyard. She was a custodian at Troy State University.

Survivors include three children, Leroy Russell, Willie James Russell, both of Troy, and Annie Dorothy Eddins of Stone Mountain, Ga.; four sisters: Mattie Lou Reynolds, Pearl Mitchell, both of Troy, Lula Bell Ginyard of Midway and Shelly Ginyard of Los Angeles, Calif.; two brothers, E.L. Ginyard of Tampa, Fla. and James Davis Ginyard of Troy.

Effie Trotter Potts

Effie Trotter Potts, 86, of Shady Grove died Friday, Feb. 16, 2001.

Services will be at noon, Wednesday, Feb. 21 at Rock Elvy Missionary Baptist Church in Shady Grove with the Rev. Raymond Franklin officiating. Burial will be at Rock Elvy Cemetery. George F. Grubbs Funeral Home is directing.

Mrs. Potts was born March 22, 1914 in Shady Grove to George W. and Anna W. Trotter. She was a housewife and member of Rock Elvy Baptist Church and Order of the Eastern Star.

Survivors include two stepsons, John C. Potts of Ansley and Robert Potts of Detroit, Mich.; stepdaughter, Bertha Jones of Ansley; two sisters, Leola Weatherly and Amanda Wright, both of Shady Grove; one brother, Will Trotter of Luverne; two sisters-in-law, Catherine Boothe of Ansley and Alice Wingard of Elizabeth, Ohio; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John Potts.

Friends of the family will serve as pallbearers and floralbearers.

Visitation will be today beginning at noon.

Morris Hays

Morris Hays, 69, of Opelika died Sunday, Feb. 18, 2001 at his residence.

Services will be at 11 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 20 at Dillard Funeral Home Chapel in Troy with the Rev. J.C. Turner officiating. Burial will be at Enon Cemetery at Banks with Dillard Funeral Home in Troy directing.

Survivors include his daughter, Shirley Guess of Opelika; three sisters and brothers-in-law, Ruth Senn of Opelika, Ruby and Eugene Turner of Enon, Winnell and Melvin Peacock of Ozark; four brothers and sisters-in-law: Edward and Bonnie Hays of Camp Hill, Fred and Maggie Hays of Ozark, Lamar and Dorothy Hays of Dothan, Marvin and Brunese Hays of Phenix City; grandchildren, Barry Grier, Brenda Tatum and Benjamin Grier, all of Opelika; four great-grandchildren, Amanda Thomas, Jay Grier, Kaytlyn Grier and Carolina Grier.

Mr. Hays was preceded in death by his wife, Lillie Mae Hays.

James Gilbert Austin

James Gilbert Austin. 74, of Daleville died Sunday, Feb. 18, 2001 at Dale Medical Center.

Services will be at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 21 at Dillard Funeral Home Chapel in Troy with Dr. James Kilpatrick officiating. Burial will be at Union Hill Cemetery in Troy with Dillard Funeral Home of Troy directing.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Martha Austin of Daleville; sons and daughter-in-law: Myron James Austin, Lewell Gilbert Austin, R. Phillip and Anita Ann Austin, Sidney Clayton Austin, all of Daleville, Arthur Lane Austin of Grand Canyon, Ariz.; grandchildren: James Eric Austin, Rebecca Lynn Austin, Rachel Jean Austin, Joseph Robert Austin, James Phillip Austin, all of Daleville, Mellisa Diane Austin of Glen Rose, Texas, Valerie Marie Austin and James Gilbert Austin, both of Hartford; seven stepgrandchildren; sisters and brothers-in-law: Julia Mae and Dick Allen of Valley, Neb., Carolyn and Dale Ryder of Green Valley, Ariz., Virginia and Roland Olson of Alexandria, N.M., Sharon Hinson of Selma, Emma Jewel Bass of Troy, Patricia Ann Neal of Columbiana; brother, Hubert Turner Austin of Coden and brother-in-law, Carlos Botts of Troy.

Mr. Austin was preceded in death by his sister, Jean Botts.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Visitation will be today from 6-8 p.m. at Dillard Funeral Home in Troy.

George Welton Connor

George Welton Connor, 84, of Troy died Friday, Feb. 16, 2001 at Noble Manor.

Services were held at 3 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 18 at Dillard Funeral Home Chapel in Troy with the Rev. Ken May officiating. Burial was at Green Hills Memorial Park with Dillard Funeral Home of Troy directing.

Survivors include his wife, Mary L. Connor of Troy; two daughters and sons-in-law, Martha and Roddy Custer of El Park, N.C., Frances and Joe Peffer of Crofton, Md.; two sons and daughter-in-law, Charles and Mardra Conner of Harvest, Louis Connor of Huntsville; six grandsons and three great-grandchildren; two sisters and brother-in-law, Annette and Ben Hall of Orlando, Fla., Sara Cobb of Lafayette, La.

Memorial contributions may be made to Southside Baptist Church.

Pallbearers were Patrick Connor, Bain Custer, Jason Connor, Jared Conner, Adam Connor and Ricky Connor.

Agnes Harris Senn

Agnes Harris Senn, 91, of Troy died Friday, Feb. 16, 2001 at her daughter’s residence.

Services were held at 11 a.m., Monday, Feb. 19 at Dillard Funeral Home Chapel in Troy with the Revs. J.P. Morgan and Ken May officiating. Burial was at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Troy with Dillard Funeral Home of Troy directing.

Survivors include three daughters and sons-in-law, Elmar Jean Snoddy of Troy; Geraldine and Chester Hudson of McMinnville, Ore., Linda and Billy Joe DeRamus of Troy; son and daughter-in-law, Edge and Louise Senn of Andalusia; brothers and sisters-in-law: Gafford Harris of Troy, Clarence and Jackie Harris of Avon Park, Fla., Odis and Lucille Harris of Seale, Lacy Ray Harris of Hartselle; 14 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; 11 great-great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Senn was preceded in deatha by her husband, William Admiral Dewey Senn; a sister, Jewell Etheredge and brother, Charlie Harris.

Pallbearers were Greg Burnette, Heath DeRamus, David Senn, Wesley Senn, Troy Snoddy and William Snoddy. Honorary pallbearers were from Wiregrass Hospice.

Grover C. Smith

Grover C. Smith, 93, of Troy died Saturday, Feb. 17, 2001 at Enterprise Medical Center.

Services were held at 2 p.m., Monday, Feb. 19 at Dillard Funeral Home of Troy with the Revs. Martha Baxter, Ralph Medley and Harold Smith officiating. Burial was at Center Ridge Cemetery with Dillard Funeral Home of Troy directing.

Survivors include his wife of 72 years, Willie S. Smith of Troy; daughter of son-in-law, Betty Jenn Smith and Will Helton of Troy; two sons and daughters-in-law, Herman and Mary Jane Smith of Orlando, Fla., Jimmy and Remonia Smith of Troy; two sisters, Avis Savyno of El Paso, Texas, Myrtle Allen of Brundidge; two brothers, Ernest Smith of Montgomery and T. A. Smith of Jack; 10 grandchildren; a number of great and great-great-grandchildren.

Mr. Smith was preceded in death by a daughter, Sara Lou Moorman and son, Homer Clyde Smith.

Col. (Ret.) David Wallace Partin

Col. (Ret.) David Wallace Partin, 69, formerly of Troy died Thursday, Feb. 15, 2001.

A private memorial service was held at Mish Funeral Home in Bakersfield, Calif. on Monday, Feb. 19.

Col. Partin ws born Dec. 19, 1931 in Troy to Minnie Lee Senn Partin and William Gervas Partin. In 1950, he entered the Army as an enlisted man, then went to Officer Candidate School and received a commission as a Second Lieutenant in 1956. Highlights of his military career included attending the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in 1969-70 and the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pa. in 1976. During this span of time, he also obtained his bachelor of arts degree in sociology from St. Benedict College in Atchison, Kan. and a master’s degree in public administration from Shippinsburg State College in Pennsylvania. He, among other military assignments in the U.S. Army, commanded the 11th Signal Group at Fort Huachuca, Ariz. and the 93rd Signal Brigade (Corps) in Stuttgart, Germany.

Upon completion of his military career in 1985, he became an employee of All American Pipeline, which later became Celeron Corporation, a subsidiary of Goodyear Tire and Rubber Corporation.

Survivors include his wife, Joyce A. Stanley of Fort Smith, Ark.; three sons and daughter-in-law, David W. and Jan Partin Jr., Daniel W. Partin and Donnell W. Partin; three grandchildren; two brothers and two sisters.

A memorial stone honoring him will be placed in the Partin family plot near Troy.