All Tributes

A Visitation will be held on Friday, January 24, 2020 from 4:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M. at Emerald Coast Funeral Home.  A funeral Mass will take place on Saturday, January 25, 2020 at 12:00 P.M. at Corpus Christie Catholic Church in Destin, Florida.  Interment to follow at Beal Memorial Cemetery.  Please check back for a full obituary.

Arrangements are pending. Ship Out 1/20/2020 to Riverdale Funeral Home – 1-212-942-4000 New York, NY.

Tom was born on August 13, 1948 in Atlanta, Ga.; the son of Eula and Glen Bennett. He was raised in Philadelphia, Pa. where he graduated from West Philadelphia High School and joined the United States Air Force. On December 25, 1970, Tom married Patricia Ann Burnette, in Martinsville, Va. They went on to have four daughters; Kajuana, Kali, Kaeina and Kenya. Tom was a soul on fire every day of his life. Whether he was celebrating his children or showering his wife with love; cheering for...

John “Duard” Roberts, age 88, of Destin, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Sunday, January 12, 2020.  Duard was born on April 13, 1931 to parents, John Duard “Duke” Roberts and Irene Thomas.  He was married to Essie Anderson Roberts on April 14, 1956 and enjoyed 63 wonderful years of marriage.  He graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University and was a devoted LSU fan.  He served his country proudly in the United States...

H. French Brown, Jr. 1930-2020      H. French Brown, Jr., age 89, of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, passed away on January 11, 2020 after a 12 year battle with prostate cancer.  French was born at home in Nashville, TN on October 21, 1930 to the late Kate McMurry Brown and H. French Brown, Sr.  He moved with his family to Destin in 1948 and attended school at the Fort Walton School that housed grades 1-12.   He was the high school quarterback and...

Lieutenant Colonel John Grainger, USAF Retired, passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 11, 2020 at his home in Shalimar, Florida at the age of 78. John was born in Clarendon, NC, the first son of John W. and Rowena Grainger.  He worked on the farm enough to know he did not want to pick tobacco for a living. He graduated from North Carolina State University (NCSU) with a degree in Business.  He found his first and only love along with his calling at North Carolina State...

James Talmage Draughn, age 73, passed away Friday January 10, 2020 in Miramar Beach, Florida.  He was born 1946 in Hazard, Kentucky to the late Talmage and Martha Draughn.  James retired as a Chief Master Sergeant after 30 years of service in the United Sates Air Force.  He enjoyed old classic cars especially his own 72 Monte Carlo and 70 El Camino.   James leaves his memories to his daughter Nicole Draughn and granddaughter Kaiya Eliasson. The family will receive...

Ruth Annetta Ward McCann Cullen died on January 9th, 2020 in Fort Walton Beach from complications of a viral infection.  She was born in Delight, Arkansas to Floyd and Lottie Ward on March 8th, 1937. Ruth was first married to her hometown sweetheart, George McCann, with whom she had three sons – Brad, Greg and Mark. She found love again with William “Bill” Cullen and together they owned a successful tax consulting business, Cullen Accounting and Tax Service, until...

The family appreciates all thoughts and prayers at this time.  Services will be private.

Stephen Alan Carroll, (better known as Steve or “Grumpy”), of Shalimar, FL was called home to his Heavenly Father Tuesday morning, January 7, 2020. He was born in Bessemer, Alabama.  He was 65 years of age. Steve attended University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB).  At the age of 19 he joined the Air Force and continued his education while traveling to many countries and states until he was stationed at Hurlburt Field, Florida and after 28 years of service, he retired...