Clyde W. “C.J.” Johnson 

Decatur 

Graveside funeral service and interment for Clyde W. “C.J.” Johnson, 79, were July 11 at 2 p.m. at Burningtree Memorial Gardens with Peck Funeral Home directing. 

Mr. Johnson died July 8 at Decatur Morgan Hospital. He was born Feb. 28, 1940, in Morgan County to Jake F. Johnson and Annie B. Melson Johnson. He was an owner and operator of C.J.’s Painting Company prior to his retirement. He was preceded in death by his wife, Margie Johnson, and his parents. 

Survivors include one daughter, Sandra Nance; two sisters, Barbara Johnson and Martha Johnson Crow; two grandchildren, Brittany Evans and Tyler Nance Stringer; and four great-grandchildren, Caden Evans, Conner Sullivan, Annistyn Stringer and Audrey Stringer. 

Gwendolyn “Billie” Porter Stephenson 

Decatur 

Funeral for Gwendolyn “Billie” Porter Stephenson, 90, of Decatur was July 7 at 2 p.m. at Ridout’s Brown-Service Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Rick Stark officiating, and burial was at Roselawn Cemetery. 

Mrs. Stephenson was born Jan. 4, 1929, in Mt. Hope to John and Lydia Porter. She passed away July 5 at Decatur Morgan Parkway campus. 

She is preceded in death by her sister, Elsie Mae Tollison, and her husband, Henry Stephenson. She is survived by son Roger Stephenson and wife Vicki; daughter Freda Thompson and husband Myron; son Ken Stephenson and wife Gina; son Paul Stephenson and wife Michele; brother Danny Porter; grandchildren Jud Stephenson and wife Emily, Dan Stephenson and wife Lauren, Nichole Poole and husband Michael and Russell Stephenson; and great-grandchildren Mack, Noah, Lou Ella, Hadley and Ainsley. 

Pallbearers were Johnny Porter, Tony Stephenson, Robbie Stephenson, Michael Poole, Freddie Stephenson and Gerald Payne. Honorary pallbearer was Johnny Stephenson. 

The family would like to thank the Westminster Assisted Living staff and Parkway Nursing staff for the wonderful care given to their mother. The family requested memorials be made to the local chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. 

Brian L. Nelson 

Falkville 

Funeral service for Brian L. Nelson, 47, was July 14 at 3 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Tim Kinney officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in Union Hill Cemetery. 

Mr. Nelson passed away July 9 at Huntsville Hospital from complications of a tragic accident. 

He was born June 13, 1972, in Cullman County to William Lavern Nelson and Bertha Presley Nelson. He was self-employed as a construction worker and landscaper. He was a fun-loving outdoorsman and loved living life to the fullest. 

He was preceded in death by his father; a brother, Kelly Don Nelson; and a sister, Cherry Nelson. 

Survivors include one son, William “Will” Brody Nelson; mother, Bertha Presley Nelson; one brother, Randy Nelson; and four sisters, Sheilah Horton, Nada Wood (Gary), Jennifer Bennett (Jeff) and Robbie Garmon. 

Pallbearers were Tony Holmes, Anthony Holmes, Sean Paul, Eric Craig, Roger Young, Jordan Beasley and Ryan Nelson. 

Jack Landis Burns 

Decatur 

Funeral service for Jack Landis Burns, 7, was July 14 at 4 p.m. at Trinity Baptist Church with Bro. Jamin Grubbs officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in Mt. Tabor Cemetery. 

Jack passed away July 9 at Children’s Hospital. He was born Sept. 7, 2011, in Madison County to Dustin Brent Burns and Lecia Hill Burns. 

Jack was preceded in death by his grandparents, Buddy and Cathie Keen and Johnny Burns. Survivors include his parents, Brent and Lecia Hill Burns; one sister, Harmony Burns; and grandparents, Barbara and Kenneth Hill. 

Pallbearers were Lynn Burns, Chad Burns, Frank Hill and Kenneth Hill. 

Cheryl Lee (Gully) Slaughter 

Madison

Cheryl Lee (Gully) Slaughter, 58, of Madison passed away at Huntsville Hospital at 11:45 p.m. July 4 after a valiant battle with cancer. 

Cheryl was born in Huntsville Aug. 17, 1960, to the late Virgil S. Gully Jr. and Mary Margaret (Griggs) Gully. She married Jerry Edward Werner Slaughter of Nurnberg, Germany, July 30, 1988, in Hartselle. 

Cheryl obtained an associate’s degree in nursing from Calhoun Community College and a Bachelor of Science in nursing from the University of Alabama – Huntsville. Cheryl worked as a registered nurse in a number of settings over the years, to include the emergency department, cardiac care and home health and was last employed by H.P.M. Corporation providing occupational health services at the NASA/Marshal Clinic on Redstone Arsenal. 

Cheryl is survived by her husband of more than 30 years, Jerry, and their beloved redbone hound, Elmo; her son Andrew and his wife Cachet, Madison; daughter Rachel Slaughter-Thury and her husband Mike, Nashville; mother Mary Gully, Hartselle; brother Virgil (Sam), Gully, III., Hartselle; nephews Clark and wife Macey, Birmingham; Clay, Hartselle; and Conner, Hartselle. There are numerous members of the extended Gully, Griggs, Slaughter and Domnick families as well. 

Cheryl was a natural caregiver who always placed others’ needs ahead of her own. She was all about her family and wanted nothing more than to see them all happy, successful and taken care of. She was the binding force for our entire extended family and touched many lives. She enjoyed Auburn football, Braves baseball and her Jeep. She will be greatly missed. 

The family held a celebration of her life at Cornerstone Word of Life Church, 3783 Sullivan St., Madison, July 13 at 4:30 p.m. We ask that in lieu of flowers you consider making a donation to the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org) in Cheryl’s name. 

Diann McNeill 

Decatur 

Ms. Diann McNeill, 61, of Decatur, passed away July 10 at Decatur Morgan Hospital. She was born Feb. 25, 1958, in Morgan County to Billy Joe Bowen and Barbara IreneTaylor Bowen. 

Diann had worked for Walmart as a customer service manager and was a store manager for Jack’s at the Somerville location. 

She had a love of writing and drawing and loved writing poetry. She loved her Alacare nurses, and her family would like to express their appreciation to them and Dr. Reddy for their loving care. 

She was preceded in death by her daughter, Kristy Phillips, and her parents. 

Survivors include one son, Justin McNeill; two daughters, Stacey Fowler and Melissa Dixon; one brother, Michael Joe Bowen (Cheryl); one sister, Debbie Tanner; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and her aunts and uncles, Gean and Ray Haddock, Kathy and Howard Taylor, Elaine Brakeman, Sheila and David Brakeman Joe Taylor and Charles Taylor. 

No services are scheduled at this time. 

Cordis Blackwood

Hartselle

Funeral service for Cordis Blackwood, 91, of Hartselle, was July 16 at 11 a.m. at Peck Funeral Home. Burial was at Crossroads Missionary Baptist Cemetery in Vinemont. 

Mr. Blackwood died July 12. He was born Dec. 4, 1927, in Cullman County to Willie Burton Blackwood and Ettie Belle White Blackwood. 

Mr. Blackwood was a U.S. Army veteran and was retired from Redstone Arsenal where he worked as a mechanic foreman. 

Mr. Blackwood was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Otha Dee Blackwood and Leroy Francis Blackwood. Survivors include his wife, Sarah Blackwood, of Hartselle; two sons, Dale Blackwood (Debi) of Niceville, Fla., and Steve Blackwood of Hartselle; two grandsons, Justin Blackwood and Jeremy Blackwood (Brandy); six great-grandchildren, Ariel, Alexis, Gwynn, Heidi, Hunter and Bailey Blackwood; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Don and Sue Scheinert; and numerous nieces and nephews. 

Pallbearers were family and friends.