A celebration of the life of Loyd Estes, age 85, will be at 3:00pm Sunday March 13, 2011 at Crestwood Funeral Chapel, Gadsden, AL who passed away Tuesday, March 8, 2011. The Rev. J.T. Harrell will officiate. Burial will be in Crestwood Cemetery. Crestwood Memorial Funeral Home will direct service.
Mr. Estes was born in Landrum, South Carolina on October 3, 1925 to Napoleon Bonaparte Estes and Amy Fox Estes. His family moved to Gadsden in 1930. Mr. Estes served in the Navy on the Clamagore submarine from 1943 to 1945. He worked as an electrician at Republic Steel for over 30 years. Upon his retirement on 1984 he enjoyed being a "fix it man" for many including volunteering with electrical and mechanical operations at First Baptist Church of Gadsden, where he had been a long time deacon and member. He is preceded in death by his parents and his loving wife, Betty Wells Estes.
He is survived by his daughters, Sherry (John) Black, Scottsboro, AL, and Marsha (Rickey) Johnson, Gadsden, AL; brother Russell (Bobbie) Estes, Alex City, AL, grandchildren Lisa Annette Black, Dalton, GA, Julie Johnson (Jeff) Brock, Dacula, GA, Wesley Samuel (Sally) Black, Scottsboro, AL, Clint Estes (Shannon) Black, Scottsboro, AL, and Philip Richard Johnson, Huntsville, AL; and five great grandchildren Kaitlyn Marie Brock, Meredith Aleese Black, Hunter William Brock, Kaleb Samuel Black, and Judd Samuel Black.
Pallbearers will be Wesley Black, Clint Black, Philip Johnson, Jeff Brock, Scott Ford, and Dick Grimes.
Honorary Pallbearers will be the Dick Grimes Sunday School Class at First Baptist Church, Gadsden.
Special thanks to Dr. Elquis Castillo, Gadsden, AL, Dr. Ali Ahmed, Birmingham, AL, and the ABC Hospice team of Rainsville, AL.
In Lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Music Ministry of First Baptist Church, 235 South 5th Street, Gadsden, AL. 35901.
The family will receive friends from 1 until 3pm on Sunday, March 13 prior to the funeral service at Crestwood Funeral Home.