Gloria M. Griffin, 45, of Troy died Sunday, Sept. 30, 2001 at Jackson Hospital in Montgomery.

Services for Mrs. Griffin will be at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 2 at Skeen Funeral Home Chapel in Troy with the Revs. Harry L. Pace and Earl Oakes officiating. Burial will be at Griffin Cemetery with Skeen Funeral Home of Troy directing. She will lie in state from 9-10 a.m., prior to the service.

Survivors include husband, William Titus Griffin; son, William Jeremy Griffin; daughter, Meredith Leigh Griffin, all of Troy; father, William Mathew Meredith; mother, Irene Meredith; brother, William Michael Meredith; sister, Pam Sanders; mother-in-law and husband, Oline and Buren Thompson, all of Banks; father-in-law and wife, Emory and Evelyn Griffin of Troy; several nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the American Cancer Society.

Gladys Lurleane Harden

Gladys Lurleane Harden, 96, of Banks died Sunday, Sept. 30, 2001 at her home.

Services will be at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 3 at Dillard Funeral Home Chapel in Troy with Elder Cary Sanders and the Rev. Averyt Walker officiating. Burial will be at Ramah Cemetery in the Josie Community with Dillard Funeral Home of Troy directing.

Survivors include her husband of 76 years, J.C. Harden of Banks; daughter and son-in-law, Lurlean and Alex Crowers of Front Royal, Va.; five sons and daughters-in-law, Alfred and Helen Harden, Thelton and Martha Harden, Jerrell and Jeanette Harden, all of Banks, Doyle and Elvita Harden of El Paso, Texas, Leo and Pat Harden of Orange, Va.; 18 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Clay Harden, Dale Harden, Joe Harden, Ronald Harden, Russell Harden and Wyman McWaters.

Memorial contributions may be made to Wiregrass Hospice or the Ramah Cemetery Fund.

Visitation will be 6-8 p.m., Tuesday at Dillard Funeral Home in Troy.

James William Key

James William Key, 87, of Greensboro died Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2001 at DCH Regional Medical Center.

A Celebration of Life service was held at 10 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 29 at Greensboro Baptist Church with Dr. Brooks Barkley and the Rev. Desmond McGuire officiating. Visitation followed the service at the church until 12:30 p.m. Interment was in the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Cemetery in Fayette County at 3:30 p.m. The Rev. Charles Powell assisted with the graveside service.

A native of Pike County, he was the son of the late Samuel Elbert Key and Maggie Lee Jackson Key. He was preceded in death by a brother, Raiford Jackson Key, of Troy.

Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Imogene O’Mary Key; two daughters, Mila Key Johnston (John F. Jr) of Greensboro and Rebecca Key Wetzel (Richard C. Jr.) of Lancaster, Pa.; one son, J. Frederick O. Key (Melanie Skidmore) of Northport; two grandsons, Richard C. Wetzel III of Arlington, Va. and Matthew Edward Wetzel of Washington, D.C.; three granddaughters, Jessica Marie Boler, Christa Ann Boler and Mila Rebekah Key of Northport; one sister, Margaret Key Biggs (Wayne) of Heflin; three nephews, Dr. John Key, Paul Key and David Key of Troy; and one niece, Virginia Key Hunter (Ward) of Peachtree City, Ga.

Mr. Key was a graduate of Troy State Teachers College and the University of Alabama. From 1941 to 1945, he was a member of the U.S. Marine Corps, serving during some of World War II’s fiercest fighting. From 1945 until 1977, he was a teacher, coach and administrator in Alabama schools. After teaching in Marion and Hale counties, he retired as evening director at Shelton State Community College.

In 1996, he was inducted into the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame. The following year, Coach Key was inducted into the Marion County Hall of Fame.

Honorary pallbearers included member of the Men’s Bible Study Class at Greensboro Baptist Church, Choate-Elmore teammates from Troy State, Brilliant High School athletes from 1945-1949, James Burns Morrison, Mr. and Mrs. William Walker, Mr. and Mrs. Ottis Harris, Mr. and Mrs. Victor Poole and Mrs. Oscar Payne.

Active pallbearers included Jimmy Arrington, Dr. Ronald Clements, Mike Compton, Wayne Hoggle, Lawrence Kirk, Lenson Montz, Craig Osborn, Larry Taylor and Tommy Washburn.

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to: The Choate-Elmore Weight Room Fund, c/o Dr. Ken Blankenship, Troy State University, Troy, AL 36081.

Kirk Funeral Homes of Greensboro directed the services.