Obituaries | Week of April 27, 2026
WALTER LEWIS ROSS
Mr. Walter Lewis Ross, 87, of Camp Hill died Monday, April 20, 2026, at his residence. Funeral services were held on Saturday, April 25, at St. John United Methodist Church, in LaFayette, with The Rev. Ed Vines officiating. The interment was in the church cemetery. Public viewing was held on Friday, April 24 at Vines Funeral Home.
Mr. Ross is survived by his loving wife: Mae Doris Ross; five daughters: Jacqueline Perry, Lanett; Brenda (Donald) Preston, Opelika; Carol (Tony) DeSilva Hamilton Parish, Bermuda; Temeki Tolbert, Montgomery; and Tracey Wilson, San Antonio, Texas; nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; three sisters: Lillian Stevens, Elyria, Ohio, Emma Ross and Bessie (Tony) Madden, both of LaFayette; one brother: Walter James Ross, LaFayette; and a host of nieces, nephews, in-laws, cousins and friends.
To share your online condolences, please visit our website at www.vinesfuneralhome.com.
Vines Funeral Home Inc., in LaFayette handled the arrangements.
RONALD “RON” LEE ENGEL
Mr. Ronald (Ron) Lee Engel, 67, of Notasulga died Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Montgomery. A memorial service for him will be announced at a later date.
Ronald was born in Allegan, Michigan and was affectionally known as “Ron.” He graduated from Wayland High School, the Class of 1976. He had a deep love for basketball and served as president of the Basketball Association for many years in Alabama, South Florida and Michigan. Ronald was a plumber by trade and a very good one. It was there that he met and married the boss’s daughter, Jo Ann, whose father was also a plumber. Jo Ann was his friend, his sweetheart and the mother of his children. They did everything together. Ronald was a devoted husband, father, brother and friend who never met a stranger. If you called him day or night, he always answered.
Ronald is survived by his lovely wife of 47 years, Jo Ann Engel; two sons: Matthew and Gregory Engel, both of Notasulga; one brother: Edward (Lois) Engel, Dorr, Michigan; one sister: Ruth (Elwin) Powers, Wayland, Michigan and a host of nieces, nephews, in-laws, other relatives and many friends.
To share your online condolences, please visit our website at www.vinesfuneralhome.com.
Vines Funeral Home Inc., in LaFayette handled the arrangements.
WILLIE RUFUS JAMES
Mr. Willie Rufus James, 85, of Wadley died Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Lynridge of Huntsville Assisted Living & Memory Care. Funeral services were held on Saturday, April 18, at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, in Wadley with The Rev. William Russell officiating. The remains will lie in state at the church from noon until the funeral hour. The interment will be in the church cemetery. Public viewing was held on Friday, April 17, at Vines Funeral Home.
Mr. James is survived by his beloved wife: Drucilla James, Huntsville; his children: Tarcia James, Augusta; Georgia, Kenya James, Tampa, Florida; Dexter James (Markae), Huntsville, and Lashekia Wilson (Michael), Sylacauga; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; two sisters: Gwendolyn Boykin, Pasadena, California and Joyce Green, Carson, California; one brother: Michael James, Wadley; one sister-in-law: Brunette Burden, Roanoke and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family members and friends.
To share your online condolences, please visit our website at www.vinesfuneralhome.com.
Vines Funeral Home Inc., in LaFayette handled the arrangements.
CONNIE BURNS TAI
Mrs. Connie Burns Tai, 55, of Dadeville died Thursday, April 16, 2026, at her residence. Funeral services were held on Wednesday, April 22, at Vines Funeral Home Chapel with The Rev. G. H. Pulliam officiating. The remains will lie in state at the chapel from noon (CST) until the funeral hour. The interment will be in the Ozias Baptist Church cemetery, Camp Hill.
Mrs. Tai is survived by her devoted husband, Christopher Allen Tai; her beloved children: Tempest Merissa Burns, Brandi Clarissa Burns, and Corie Allen Burns, all of Dadeville; five grandchildren; her siblings: Vanessa Moore (Frank Dawson), Rita Faye Moore, Kenneth Burns (Jodi Eastridge), Phyllis Denise Burns (Tommy Darby) and Tracy (Rodney) Alvies, all of Dadeville; and a host nieces, nephews, in-laws, cousins and other relatives and friends.
To share your online condolences, please visit our website at www.vinesfuneralhome.com.
Vines Funeral Home Inc., in LaFayette handled the arrangements.
