Alan Eugene Miller was convicted of the 1999 murders of Christopher Scott Yancy and Lee Holdbrooks, who were killed at Ferguson Enterprises in Pelham, and Terry Lee Jarvis, who was slain at Post Airgas, located just down the street.
o allow the execution to move forward. The appeals court has yet to issue a ruling. Efforts by AL.com to reach relatives of the three men killed by Miller were unsuccessful prior to publication of this story.
But immediately after the slayings, some friends did talk to The Birmingham News about the men and how they would be missed.Yancy was 28 when he was gunned down, shot three times with the first causing paralysis. An article published in the days after the shooting by The Birmingham News quoted Yancy’s pastor, Rev. Chris Joiner of Elliottsville Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He called Yancy a dedicated family man and friend who didn’t seek attention for his many good deeds.The pastor said Yancy liked to joke with him. “He used to always rib me... that I only worked one hour a week on Sunday mornings,” Joiner said. “I’ll miss that about him most of all.”Shelby County ReporterYancy and Holdbrooks were close friends, and both graduated from Thompson High School; Holdbrooks in 1985 and Yancy in 1989, according to the former principal. Friends and family told the newspaper in 1999 that Yancy liked to talk about his job at Ferguson and loved spending time at his church, where he chaired the church maintenance committee. Reports say he was gentle, despite his large frame of 6 feet and 6 inches. “He was a very large giant of a man with a heart as big as he was,” said church secretary Nancy Gill. Ferguson’s Atlanta branch sent two Japanese maple trees that were planted in front of the Pelham office in memory of Yancy, a 10-year employee, and Holdbrooks. Officials from the company declined to comment in 1999 after the shootings, saying they were focusing on letting their employees grieve. In December 1999, a Ferguson executive said employees in Pelham and working in branches across the country had donated to a trust fund for Yancy’s children. A page from The Birmingham News on August 7, 1999, shows Christopher Scott Yancy and his family. His killer could be executed this week, 23 years after the slaying. Holdbrooks was 32 when he died. He suffered six gunshot wounds, with the sixth being the fatal shot fired at close range. According to reports at the time of the slayings, he had recently celebrated his fourth anniversary with his wife. The couple had no children, but The Birmingham News reported Holdbrooks doted on his dog, Oreo. He had just taught the pet to catch a Frisbee from a long distance. A friend called Holdbrooks humble and religious. “If I mentioned doing something around the house, he was right there asking, ‘Hey, you need any help?’” Keven Blankenship, who attended church with Holdbrooks, said. Friends said Holdbrooks was a member of Amazing Grace Worship Center, serving as a youth sponsor and chaperoning field trips for church youth. He also worked the church’s sound system and helped with the softball team. “Everybody just lost a fine person,” said James Boothe. ‘’He was a godly person. I never heard him say a bad word to anybody and there’s not anything bad to say about him.” A counselor at Thompson High School who knew both Holdbrooks and Yancy said they were “wonderful young men” and “fantastic students.” “I just don’t understand why things like this happen,” she said. “The innocence you looked at all your life is gone.”Jarvis was 39, working at Post Airgas in Pelham when he was shot five times, also once at close range. Witnesses said, before he was shot, Miller confronted Jarvis about spreading rumors. Jarvis denied the accusation, but was shot seconds later.He was described as “jolly” and his sister said later in August 1999 that, if Jarvis was alive, he would likely be deep-sea fishing in Florida. “You couldn’t find a better person,” brother-in-law Bobby Mac Lawley said to The Birmingham News. “I don’t guess he had no enemies.” Jarvis grew up near Montevallo and attended Montevallo High School. He liked dirt-track racing, but his sister said Jarvis’ true passions were hunting and fishing. “He’d do anything for you if he could,” a friend said. At a joint memorial service for the three men held in August 1999, Jarvis’ pastor said the community must hold out hope. Rev. Donald Vanderslice of Macedonia Baptist Church said, “In the midst of this tragic time, we must have courage; courage for today, courage for tomorrow.” Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Judge Blocks Upcoming Lethal Injection Of Alabama InmateAlan Miller, sentenced to die for a 1999 workplace shooting, says he requested to be executed by nitrogen hypoxia but that the state lost his paperwork request.
Read more »
Ala. attorney general appeals after federal judge blocks upcoming lethal injection in AlabamaTHIS JUST IN: On Tuesday Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall filed a motion to appeal a Monday order that blocked the state from executing an inmate who says the state lost his paperwork requesting an alternative to lethal injection.
Read more »
Beauty and the Beast TV Special Adds David Alan Grier as Major CharacterABC's BeautyAndTheBeast 30th Celebration Special casts David Alan Grier as a beloved Disney character:
Read more »
Eagles fan’s phone blows up after ‘Monday Night Football’ appearance'Yo,' lifelong Eagles fans Alan Leimberg said to start a 15-second love letter to the Birds on 'Monday Night Football.'
Read more »
Death penalty opponents ask Ivey for halt on executionsAn organization opposed to capital punishment called PHADP says Alabama’s lethal injection method secretive and undocumented. Their protest comes amid new questions about how Alabama carries out capital punishment.
Read more »
Unilever's Alan Jope says company 'will not back down' on sustainability agendaUnilever's CEO reaffirmed the company's sustainability agenda at an event, saying it 'will not back down' despite 'anti-sustainability' and 'anti-woke' backlash.
Read more »