Archie Meeks

Archie W. Meeks TUSCALOOSA Archie W. Meeks, age 88, of Tuscaloosa, died Sept. 24, 2012, at the Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center. Graveside services will be 1 p.m. today at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens in Greenville, Miss. with John E. Howard officiating and Magnolia Chapel Funeral Home South directing. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Velma Swarner Meeks; and two brothers. Survivors include his daughters, Shawna Stockton (Bud) and Mary Evelyn Howard (John); his sons, Jessie E. Meeks (Diana) and James O. Meeks (Jenny); his sister, Evelyn McBride; his sister-in-law, Margie Meeks; 11 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps in the Pacific Theater from 1941 to 1945. He received two Purple Hearts. He was very active in his church, where he taught Sunday School and worked in the youth ministry. He enjoyed coaching youth football and baseball. He was extremely charitable and enjoyed giving back to his community. He loved his wife, children, and grandchildren. Pallbearers will be his grandsons and nephews. Honorary pallbearers are George Hodgson, staff of Freedom Hall at the Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center, Second Hand Rose Ministry at First Baptist Church, and the ministerial staff of First Baptist Church.