This news in from Joyce O’Brien. Be sure to update your family address books.

[M]y daughter Nancy and her husband Lee Borders are relocating to Alabama.  Nancy has retired from teaching in Clarksville, TN, and they have built a new home on my grandparents' home place in Santuck, which is out from Wetumpka.  They plan to move into their new home on July 15.  Their new address will be:  

Lee and Nancy Borders
85 Powell Loop
Wetumpka, AL 36092

Nancy Anne O’Brien Borders is the daughter of Seth Michael “Mickey” and Joyce Graham O’Brien and granddaughter of Joseph Nathaniel and Dorothy Dixson Johnson O'Brien (Aunt Dot and Uncle Joe/“Peanut”). Welcome back to Alabama, Lee and Nancy!

Also, if you haven’t already, be sure to update/add your contact information for Lee and Nancy’s son Lee and daughter Neva and their families.

Lee G. Borders, Jr. (Heather)
3025 Hendricks Avenue
Jacksonville, FL 32207

 Neva (Borders) Huddleston (Brian, husband;  Zach, son)
900 South Dean Road
Auburn, AL 36830

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This in from Parley Phillip Johnson, Jr. ...

Please pray for our cousin Charlie Brewer. He was involved in a horrible car accident, to my knowledge the driver of the car was speeding well over the normal limit, after losing control of the vehicle, both driver and passenger were brutally ejected from the car. The car flipped 4x once they became airborne throwing each person in different directions. Charlie was air lifted from the hospital in Monroe, LA and taken to LSU Medical Center in Shreveport, LA. Some of his injuries consist of bleeding of the brain, broken neck, bruised lungs and several server cuts throughout his body. His condition is critical! Any prayers and greatly needed and appreciated!!

Charlie Brewer is the son of Chuck Brewer, grandson of Pete and Neva Leota O’Brien Brewer and great-grandson of Joseph Nathaniel and Dorothy Dixson Johnson O’Brien (Uncle Joe, “Peanut”, and Aunt Dot.)

Charlie is in our in our most urgent prayers. Thank you for sharing, Parley! More information ASAP. Family members can send their love get well wishes for Charlie to Neva Leota:
      Mrs. Neva O. Brewer
      126 Cedarbrook Drive
      Monroe, La. 71203

Note that the above is a new address for Neva Leota (changed from 4890 Highway 16 E., Clinton, AR 72031-8863). She is now (as of this writing, 7/7/11) living with her granddaughter Kristen Gilliland. Please change in your address books.

UPDATE 6/17/11 -- The accident happened about midnight, 6/16-17/2011. Charlie is in stable condition but is suffering from brain swelling.

UPDATE 6/24/11 -- Parley Phillip Johnson, Jr. - with a a big “Praise the Lord ! The Power of Prayer….” - forwarded the following update on Charlie from Tana Rountree. (Tana is a first cousin of Charlie’s father Chuck Brewer.)

6/21/11

I just wanted to let all of you know that I received a message from Kristen Gilliand (Kathy Gilliand's daughter, Aunt Neva Brewer's granddaughter) about Charlie Brewer (Chuck Brewer's son) & it looks like he's going to be ok although he does a long road to recovery ahead of him. She said that Aunt Neva actually spoke to him on the phone yesterday.

It looks like the prayers helped.

Tana

This is wonderful news! Please continue to keep the family posted, Parley and Tana, and we will continue our prayers.

UPDATE 7/3/11 -- This update in today from Charlie’s great aunt Joyce O’Brien...

I talked with Neva Leota on Thursday.  Charlie is home from the hospital, but he is not thinking clearly yet, and he has no memory of the accident.  The best person to keep in touch with for current and accurate updates is probably Neva's daughter, Kathy.  Her e-mail address is gillilan(at)ulm(dot)edu.

UPDATE 7/7/11 - This update from Kristen Gilliland Jones (Charlie’s first cousin)...

Charlie is doing a lot better. He still has a ways to go but improves everyday.

UPDATE 7/25/11 - From Joyce O’Brien - a conversation with Charlie’s grandmother Neva Leota (O'Brien) Brewer tell us that “he continues to improve.” Keep up those prayers!

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We are proud to announce that on Thursday, 26 May 2011, Clifford Kostmayer graduated from Ocean Springs High School in Ocean Springs, MS. Clifford is the son of Tana Lynn Rountree and Louis Kostmayer, grandson of Josephine Pierson “Josie” O’Brien Rountree and great-grandson of Joseph Nathaniel and Dorothy Dixson Johnson O’Brien (Uncle "Joe" and Aunt "Dot"). Tana shared several nice photos of the family at the happy event. See those photos.

Congratulations, Clifford! Best of luck for the future! Family members can send their love and congratulations for Clifford to mother Tana at

Ms. Tana Rountree
237 Saratoga
Ocean Springs, MS 39564

Or to her email address at tlr1462(at)yahoo(dot)com

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On Tuesday evening, 25 May 2010, Jaden Ashley Rountree will graduate from Ocean Springs High School. Commencement exercises will be held at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, MS. Jaden is the daughter of Jeffrey Scott Rountree and June Henderson Edmiston, granddaughter of Josephine Pierson “Josie” Rountree and great granddaughter of Joseph Daniel and Dorothy Dixson Johnson O’Brien (Uncle Joe and Aunt Dot)

Congratulations, Jaden! Family members can send love and congratulations to Jaden to her home address:

Jaden Ashley Rountree
702 Ridgewood Circle
Ocean Springs, MS 39564
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Zachary Lee Huddleston was baptized on Sunday, April 25, 2010, during the morning worship service at First Presbyterian Church in Wetumpka.  Zach is the son of Neva (Borders) and Brian Huddleston of Auburn.  He is the grandson of Nancy (O'Brien) and Lee Borders, and the great-grandson of Joyce and Mickey O'Brien and great-great-grandson of Dorothy and Joe O'Brien (Aunt Dot and Uncle Joe). ...


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The birth of Zachary Lee Huddleston is not the only news in the O’Brien Family. Joyce O’Brien gave us a health update on her daughter Belinda Joyce "Lindy" O'Brien Mastin. ... Lindy’s knee has healed, and she is continuing rehab!... Joyce also had some great news about her great-niece Jaden Ashley Rountree! She is planning to attend college at Huntingdon next year, and she will be playing soccer there....

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The headline news in the O’Brien family is the birth of little Zachary Lee Huddleston! He was born on 29 January 2010 at 1:26 p.m. at East Alabama Medical Center in Auburn, Lee County, AL. He weighed in at 8 pounds and was 20 inches long. Proud mama and daddy are Brian and Neva Catherine Borders Huddleston. [See Zach’s photo album here!] ...

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The Trebus Family is making quite a splash in theater in North Alabama! Read this note from Joyce O'Brien...

My great-granddaughter, Emily Anne Trebus, is Toto in The Wizard of Oz production at Snead State Community College in Boaz, AL. Her brother, Jake, is one of the Munchkins, and her mother, Melissa, is in the chorus. Melissa, who is a regular actress with The Whole Backstage little-theatre group in Guntersville, AL, is getting her children started early, and they love it. Check out Toto in the poster [at right].

Joyce O'Brien

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[NOTE: See update at bottom of this post for a special message from Josephine’s daughter Tana Rountree and Josephine’s obituary.]

We are very sad to report that Josephine “Josie” Pierson O’Brien Rountree passed away this morning. This from her sister-in-law, Joyce O’Brien.

Josephine died about 12:30 P.M. today, October 9, 2009, at the nursing home in Ocean Springs, MS.  Please keep the family in your prayers.   They are planning to have a memorial service, and the plans will be on the website as soon as they are completed.

Josephine was the daughter of Joseph Nathaniel and Dorothy Dixson Johnson O'Brien (Uncle "Joe" and Aunt "Dot"). Wylie Pierson Johnson (Uncle Wylie) adds this remembrance of Josephine’s birth and family history:

Josephine Pierson O'Brien was the first baby born in Montgomery, Al in 1940, She was born 1 January 1940, New Years Day, shortly after midnight, while people were still singing Auld Lang Syne. The Montgomery Advertiser did a feature article on her arrival as the first child born in Montgomery in 1940.

 Josephine's mother, my sister Dot, told me she named her Pierson after me. I always accepted the fact that I shared that honor with my father's sister, my aunt Mary Larkin Johnson Brockway Pierson,  after whom I was named Pierson.

...

UPDATE: The following sent from Tana this afternoon (10/9/09)...

I want to let everyone know my sweet little mama, Josephine O'Brien Rountree, passed away today. She showed her strength & courage til the very end. There are not enough words to say how very proud of her I am.

As of right now, we are planning a memorial service for her on Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009, at 4:00 pm with a visitation at 3:00 pm at the First Presbyterian Church in Ocean Springs, MS. Scottie & I are going to the funeral home this afternoon to take care of the arrangements.

We are asking that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the American Cancer Society &/or the Humane Society of South Mississippi.

Thanks for all of the prayers, cards, & visits. I cannot tell you how much they meant to Mama.

Love,
Tana, Scottie, & family

Following is Josephine’s obituary to appear in the Ocean Springs, MS newspaper, The Sun Herald, on 11 October 2009.

Josephine “Jo” Pierson O’Brien Rountree, age 69, of Ocean Springs, MS, died Friday, October 09, 2009 in Ocean Springs after a very courageous battle with cancer.

Josephine was the first baby born on January 1, 1940, in Montgomery, AL.Josephine retired from the Air Force Reserves in 2000 and she was very proud of her military life.

Josephine is preceded in death by her parents, Joseph N. and Dorothy J. O’Brien and by her brother, Seth Michael “Mickey” O’Brien.

Survivors include her daughter, Tana Rountree; her son, Scott Rountree; her five grandchildren, Ricky Rountree, Brandi Rountree, Jaden Rountree, Clifford Kostmayer, and Dustin Kostmayer; her sister-in-law, Joyce G. O’Brien; her sister, Neva L Brewer and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be on Tuesday, October 13, 2009 from 3pm – 4pm with a memorial service immediately following, all at First Presbyterian Church of Ocean Springs in Ocean Springs, MS.

In lieu of flowers, the family request donations to the American Cancer Society and/or the Humane Society of South Mississippi.

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Following is an update on the condition of Josephine “Josie” Rountree from her daughter, Tana Rountree. Josie was diagnosed in April, 2009 as having cancer. Tana has been kind enough to keep the family informed about her mother over the last months. For those who would like to read more about Josie’s condition, see those postings on the “Health Updates” pages. Josephine Pierson O’Brien Rountree is the daughter of Joseph Nathaniel and Dorothy Dixson Johnson O'Brien (Uncle "Joe" and Aunt "Dot").

Not really sure where to start, but here it goes. Hospice has been called in to begin caring for Mama. It appears that during the last week, Mama has started to make a turn for the worse. The hospice nurse talked with Scottie & me & then spent some time with Mama. Afterwards Scottie visited with Mama & she told him that she's not afraid anymore, that the way she is living now is no way to live. She is finally at peace with things.Please keep her in your prayers, especially now as we go into the final stages of the illness.I'm sorry to say that this is the last update that I will be sending.Please just keep her in your prayers!!Love,Tana, Scottie, & family

Tana, we certainly will keep your mother in our prayers. Family members can send their messages of caring and love to Josie’s home and the family will see that she gets the mail:

Josephine Rountree
2810 Belmont Dr.
Ocean Springs, MS 39564

Send email to Tana at:
tlr1462(at)yahoo(dot)com

We are sad to report that on 7 August 2009, at 1:25 P.M., Bennie Doyle “Pete” Brewer passed away in Monroe, LA. You may have read in earlier Health Updates about Pete that he suffered from serious heart problems, pulmonary fibrosis and pneumonia....

UPDATE: The following information about Pete’s funeral service from Joyce O’Brien. Thank you, again, Joyce.

The visitation will be Sunday [9 August 2009] from 5:00 - 7:00 P.M. (4:00 family gathering) at Mulhearn Funeral Home on Highway 165 North in Monroe, LA.  The funeral will be Monday morning [10 August] at 10:00 A.M. at the funeral home. Share this with any other family members that you can.

Thank you, again, Joyce....

UPDATE 2: Joyce and daughters Lindy Mastin and Nancy Borders will not be able to attend Pete’s funeral after all due to getting to and getting ready for school. They are very sad about this. Lindy and Nancy must get back to their schools. Joyce and Lindy just returned from getting grandson/son Alex settled in at Auburn, too. Joyce sends this...

Mulhearn Funeral Home also has a Flower shop, which will be open after 9:00 A.M. today.  Nancy has already sent flowers, and Lindy and I are sending some this morning.  If any of you want to do so, the phone number is 1-800-442-4385.  The funeral home also has a website and condolences can be sent to the family online, www.mulhearnfuneralhome.com.

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Joyce O’Brien shares the following with us.

Pete Brewer, husband of Neva O'Brien Brewer, is seriously ill and in ICU in the hospital in Monroe, LA.  He has pneumonia and heart failure and is on a ventilator.  Pete was diagnosed a couple of months ago with pulmonary fibrosis, and he has serious heart problems.  Keep Pete, Neva, and their family in your prayers.

Joyce

Pete’s wife Neva is the daughter of Joseph Nathaniel and Dorothy Dixson Johnson Brewer (Uncle Joe, “Peanut”, and Aunt “Dot”). This will be posted in the Health Updates, also, along with updates as received. We don’t have a current address for the Brewers but will post if/when we can. Please do keep Pete, Neva and family in your prayers.
UPDATE: Pete and Neva’s daughter Kathy Gilliland sent her parents’ address:

Pete and Neva Brewer
1412 University Avenue
Monroe, LA 71203

Read more in Health Updates. Read More...

On 22 May 2009, Jared Michael "Jake" Cross graduated from Clinton High School in Clinton, AR. ...



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We are sad to hear that Josephine "Josie" Pierson O'Brien Rountree has been diagnosed with cancer. Her daughter Tana Lynn Rountree has been very good about keeping family members up to date on her mother's health status. ... Read More...

As we reported last month, Tana Rountree asked for the family's good luck and best wishes for her pending singing performance on April 23 in a talent competition at the Imperial Palace in Biloxi, MS. Not only were we thinking of her, but she also had cousins there to cheer her on in person! In this picture, left to right are Tana's daughter, Brandi Rountree, Tana Rountree, Terri Murphy O'Neal, & Terri's daughter, Leigh Anne Collier.... Read More...