Bro. Chester V. Free

GORDO Bro. Chester V. Free, age 88, of 718 11th Avenue NW, Gordo, died Nov. 24, 2005 at Heritage Health Care Center. Services will be 2 p.m. today, Nov. 26, 2005, at Highland Baptist Church with Rev. Travis Free, Rev. Brannon Pinion, Rev. Ralph Smith, and Rev. Eddie Rogers officiating. Burial will follow in Greenhill Memorial Gardens. The graveside service will be completed in the sanctuary and the family will receive friends immediately following the service in the church fellowship hall. Skelton Funeral Home of Reform is directing. The body will lie in state one hour prior to services at the church.He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Euel Free and Troy Free; sisters, Clara Lou Pate and Flossie Gay Sullivan; and grandson, Tony Free.Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Minnie Z. Free of Gordo, Ala.; sons, Verner Leon Free of Oceanview, Calif., James Harold Free (Margie) of Gordo, Ala., and Donald Travis Free (Glenda) of Dothan, Ala.; sister, Dorothy Hollingsworth of Tuscaloosa, Ala.; grandchildren, Tim Free of Gordo, Ala., Brian Free of Oceanview, Calif., Kimberly Kaye "K.K." Free of Auburn, Ala., and Jaime Lavon Noviski of Wellsburg, W.Va.; great grandson, Anthony Free of Jacksonville, Fla.; a number of nieces and nephews; and special friends, C.S. and Myrtle Bostick, Ralph Beard, Alton and Blanche Bonner, Joe Perrigin, James McDaniel, and Harvey Hopkins.Bro. Free was born October 8, 1917 in Pickens County, Alabama to the late Lonnie and Trannie Skelton Free. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge #564 in Gordo and a retired minister. He was called to the ministry in 1951 and was ordained in 1953. Bro. Chester's love for the church and their congregations was demonstrated through his many years of Christian service as pastor for 13 churches in this area which include New Salem, Cross Roads in Gordo, Double Branch, Pine Grove, Ethelsville, Mt. Tabor, Arbor Springs, Cross Roads in Carrollton, Liberty, Friendship, Highland, Flatwoods and Moors Bridge.Pallbearers will be Jack Howell, Bobby Cowart, James Homan, Oliver Junkin, Sonny Yearby and Frankie Cabiness.Honorary pallbearers are Heritage Staff Station #1, all friends and loved ones everywhere.