Louise Herbert Dean, 87, of Mesquite, Texas, died Wednesday, July 18, 2001.

Services will be at 2 p.m., Sunday, July 22 at Dillard Funeral Home Chapel in Troy with the Rev. Kevin McLeod officiating. Burial will be at Green Hills Memorial Park in Troy with Dillard Funeral Home of Troy directing.

Survivors include son and daughter-in-law, Eddie and Jill Dean of Mesquite; two grandsons, Clint Dean of Houston, Texas and Craig Dean of Dallas, Texas; brother, Kyser Herbert of Brundidge.

Visitation will be 1-2 p.m. today at Dillard Funeral Home in Troy.

John Robert Gibson

John Robert Gibson, 81, of Goshen, died Thursday, July19, 2001, at his home.

Services will be 4 p.m. Sunday, July 22, at Dillard Funeral Home Chapel in Troy, with Rev. Steve Carson officiating. Burial will be at Old Lebanon Baptist Church with Dillard Funeral Home directing.

Memorials may be made to Old Lebanon Baptist Church.

He is survived by his wife, Madge Gibson of the Ansley Community, son and daughter-in-law, Larry and Kathy Gibson of Milton, Fla., grandchildren, Allen Gibson, Leigh Brooks, Rachel (Paul) McLeod, all of Milton, Fla. Five great grandchildren, Kay Leigh gibson, Aaron Gibson, Austin Gibson, Austin and Parker Brooks, Madison McLeod.

James Michael Youngblood

James Michael Youngblood, 55. On July 17, 2001, Mike Youngblood got out of his wheelchair and walked through the gates of heaven. He died in Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, North Carolina, from complications caused by his lifelong disease of Friedreich’s Ataxia, a neuromuscular disease. Because of his mother’s and his sister’s diligent care, Mike lived 30 years beyond his expectancy. to the end, despite the fact the he was blind and could not feed himself, he was witty and mentally alert. Recently he commented, "I have a wonderful life!"

Mike was born on September 12, 1945, in Troy . He grew up in Shelhorn and Ansley. Mike attended Shelhorn Junior High School, Charles Henderson High School, and received a Bachelor of Science degree from Troy State University in 1972. He worked for the Alabama Revenue Department in Montgomery until he was 38, when he took an early retirement.

Mike’s passions in life were his nephew, his nieces, national politics, and sports, especially Alabama football. He loved to eat his Tiger meat!

He is preceded in death by his beloved mother, Susie Key Youngblood, who devoted her life to his care. He is survived by his father, Thomas H. Youngblood, Src, Montgomery; older sister Suzanne Youngblood Lawrence, Lenexa, KS; older brother. Thomas H. Youngblood, Jr., Oakridge, TN; sister Sharon Youngblood Williams and her husband, Steven Paul Williams, Charlotte, NC; nephew Zachary Lawrence, Lenexa, KS; niece Cassie Lawrence, New York, NY; niece Jessica Williams, Charlotte, NC; niece Kelley Williams, Charlotte NC; five aunts; three uncles; and many cousins and friends.

Honoring his often made statement, "I am not taking this body with me. There are no wheelchairs in Heaven," Mike’s body has been cremated. A graveside burial service will be held at Elam Cemetery in Goshen with the date and time to be announced.

Contributions can be made in honor of Mike Youngblood, with a notation "for FA research" to:

The National Ataxia Foundation, Suite 119, 2600 Fernbrook Lane, Minneapolis, MN, 55447.

Rest in God’s peace, precious son, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin and friend. We are so grateful we had you with us and now we rejoice in your wholeness.