Marty Parson

BERTHA COMMUNITY…Mr. Marty Parson, a resident of the Bertha Community, died late Monday afternoon, July 28, 2025, in a Dothan hospital. He was 60.

Celebration of Life Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, August 2, 2025, at Ozark First Assembly of God Church with Pastor Brian Presley and Pastor Matt Sasser officiating. The family will receive friends from 10:00 until 11:00 A.M. Saturday at the church. Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home of Ozark is in charge of arrangements.

Marty was born on August 3, 1964, in Alabaster, Alabama, and spent his childhood in the historic town of Selma. He graduated from Selma High School in 1983, and those who knew him back then would tell you he was the kind of guy who made friends easily—always quick with a smile, a joke, or a helping hand.

In 1989, Marty made Dale County his home, and it didn’t take long for him to become part of the fabric of the community. He worked at Sanders Plumbing & Electric in Ozark and Ozark Health & Rehabilitation Facility, where his caring nature made a real difference in the lives of those around him. Whether he was fixing something or lending a hand, Marty was the kind of person you could count on.

He was a die-hard University of Alabama football fan—Saturdays in the fall were sacred, and you could always count on him to be cheering on the Crimson Tide with passion and pride. But Marty’s favorite places weren’t just stadiums or living rooms with the game on—they were quiet lakesides with a fishing pole in hand or his own backyard garden, where he found peace in the soil and joy in watching things grow.

Faith was a cornerstone of Marty’s life. He was an active member of Ozark First Assembly of God Church, where he found strength and brotherhood in the Men’s Prayer Group. He didn’t just show up—he showed up with heart, always ready to pray, listen, and support those around him.

Above all else, Marty was a family man. He loved his family fiercely and deeply. Whether it was a phone call, a shared meal, or just sitting together in the quiet, he made sure the people he loved knew it. And if you ever saw him with his dog Gunner, you’d know that love extended to his four-legged family too. Gunner wasn’t just a pet—he was a companion, a buddy, and a source of comfort and joy.

Marty was preceded in death by his father, Marshall O’Neal Parson, Sr., and his beloved dog, Gunner. Their absence left a hole in his heart, but he carried their memory with him every day.

Surviving relatives include his wife, Tammy Barefield Parson, Bertha Community; his children, Blake Parson (Katie), Ozark, Mary Jo McCollough, Auburn, Jackob Wright (Rachel), Bertha Community, and Summer Wright, Ozark; his mother, Mary Franklin, Bertha Community; sister, Vicki Grammar, Dothan; three grandchildren, Aries Wright, Charlie Cluck, and Mary Tyler Cluck and one on the way, Marshall Parson; sister-in-law, Sandy Yarberry (Buddy), Ozark; nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Serving as honorary pallbearers will be the Men’s Group of Ozark First Assembly of God, Alex Spears, Chris Yarberry, and Ryan Tanner.