Merle Drinkwater

Jessie Merle Hobbs Drinkwater

Merle Drinkwater, age 96 of Ashford died early Thursday morning February 21, 2019 at the home of her daughter after an extended illness and under the care of Alacare Hospice.

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 P.M. Saturday February 23, 2019 in the Union Springs Free Will Baptist Church in Pansey with the Rev. S.E. Newberry and Rev. Thomas Kirkland officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery with Family First Funeral & Cremation Care directing. The family will receive friends in the church sanctuary from 2:00 P.M. until service time.  Her grandsons will serve as active pallbearers.  Flowers will be accepted or contributions may be made to Alacare Home Health & Hospice 3379 W. Main Street Dothan, AL 30305.

Mrs. Drinkwater was born in Houston County daughter of the late Andrew Jackson Hobbs and Willer Aman Hobbs.  Merle loved cooking especially for her family and enjoyed vegetable gardening.  She supported the war effort during WWII by working in an airplane parts manufacturing company in Mobile.  She was a member of Union Springs Free Will Baptist Church.  Other than her parents she was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years Thurman Drinkwater, a granddaughter Katie Nell Drinkwater, her brother Roy Hobbs and 2 sisters Carrie Mae Cosby and Cumelia Bruner.

Survivors include 2 sons Kenneth (Wanda) Drinkwater, Terry (Rose) Drinkwater her daughter Phyllis (Addeth) Folkes, a sister Mary Lou Forehand all of Ashford, 11 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

The family would like to express their special thanks to a close family friend and caregiver Joanie Hopkins and the Alacare Nursing staff.

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