Panama City News Herald
Sunday, Nov. 16, 2008
Luther Edward Menifee Jr. died Monday, Nov 10, 2008. He was born on March 2, 1936, in Birmingham, Ala., to the late Anna Mack Jackson-Menifee and Luther Menifee Sr. He received his education through the Birmingham school system. Attending Hudson Elementery School and graduating from Parker High School in 1954 with many honors, such as salutatorian, as well as awards of excellence in oratory and spelling. While attending high school, he worked as a butcher.
Mr. Menifee joined the Air Force in 1956 and trained as a weapons control systems technician, and later became a supervisor in radar maintenance. During his military service, he traveled to the Netherlands, Labrador and many other parts of the world.
Tech Sgt. Luther E. Menifee Jr. retired in 1979 after receiving the Good Conduct Medal, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award and the Long Service Award. After retirement from the Air Force, he returned to school to further his education.
He received degrees in air conditioning and refrigeration from Tom P. Haney Technical School, graduating in 1980. Mr. Menifee became employed with the Naval Coastal Systems Center as a security guard. In 1985, he became a federal employee as an electronics technician in a transducer development laboratory. He was indispensable to many Marine Corps projects.
While serving in the military, Luther met and married Ms. Willie Mae McNeil, and to this union, seven children were born.
"Bubba" as he sometimes was called, was a friend to all and had a heart that surpassed the width and depth of the Grand Canyon. Catholic by faith, he was a man of extreme intelligence, integrity, morals and values.
Mr. Menifee enjoyed crossword puzzles, trivia, long conversations and old movies.
He is preceded in death by one son, Patrick Menifee; his parents; maternal grandparents, Katie and Arthur Jackson; two sisters, Eunice Woods and Gladys Owen; and one brother, Alphonso Menifee. He leaves to cherish his memories his wife; three sons, Luther III (Linda) of Memphis, Tenn., Chief Petty Officer Christopher (Victoria) and Anthony (Aleah), all of Panama City, Fla.; three daughters, Darlene (David) Goff of North Charleston, S.C., Brenda (Wesley) Smiley of Panama City, Fla., and Arlene (Tech Sgt. Daryl) Brzezinski of Altus, Okla.; 10 grandsons, Patrick, Christopher, Travaris, David, Tory, Brandon, Danzell, Shawn, Sean II and Damyan; eight granddaughter,s Edwina, Arlene, Angel, Shamika, Dawnisha, KaTanna, Precious and Alyssa.; Six great-granddaughters, four great-grandsons; one sister, Patricia Menifee of Birmingham, Ala.; two brothers, William and LaRoi Menifee, both of Buffalo, N.Y.; mother-in-law, Willie Esther McNeil of Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.; and an adopted brother, Joseph Murray of Birmingham, Ala.; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, neighbors and friends.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2008, from 6-8 p.m. at Brock's Home Town Funeral Home Chapel. A Celebration of Life will be held Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008, at 10 a.m. at Brock's Home Town Funeral Home. The family will receive friends at Parker Community Center located on 2nd Street after services. Lunch will be served.
Brock's Home Town Funeral Home, 5907 Highway 22, Callaway, Fla. 32404