Sgt. Maj. Alfred C. Wickham, US Army, Ret., age 75, passed away September 14, 2021, at his home in Ponce de Leon, Florida, with family and friends by his side. He was born July 19, 1946 in Pequot Lakes, Minnesota to Frank and Sarah (Carver) Wickham. Al was drafted into the Army and decided to make a career out of it, serving for 25 years. During his years in the Army, he served two tours of duty in Vietnam and other multiple duty assignments in the United States and overseas. He retired in January 1991 as a Personnel Administrative Sergeant Major (E9) from Fort McClellan, Alabama. With his father being a Command Sergeant Major, Al was very proud to follow in his footsteps in serving his country. After his retirement, he moved with his family to Ponce de Leon to be a full time manager and co-owner of Morrison Springs Dive Site for the next 14 years. He very much enjoyed meeting and "visiting" with the local folk and all of the dive instructors and students that would dive at the springs. Al loved his family, both immediate and extended, most of all. He said, "You don't have to be related by blood to be a family." He was so proud of his daughter who became an amazing special education teacher and his son who served in the U.S. Army and is now a Deputy Sheriff in Gulf County.
He is survived by his loving wife of 31 years, Melinda Smith Wickham; his daughter, Tabitha Green and husband Joey, of Crawfordville, Florida; his son, Paul Young and wife Jenny of Wewahitchka, Florida; seven wonderful grandchildren, twins Austin and Cheyenne Young, Jordyn Ashby-Young, Jaden, Callie, Averi and Uriah (U-Joe) Green. He is also survived by the cousin he grew up with as a sister, Carol Watson; cousins who are like nieces and nephews, Denise Stanley, her husband Bill and children Madison and Alex Stanley and Sonja Burton, who live in South Carolina; his best buddy of 29 years Bill Gregg from Louisiana; and extended family members of the Ronnie and Amaryllis Scott family.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to Fisher House.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, September 18, 2021 in the chapel of Davis-Watkins Funeral Home, 1474 State Highway 83 North, DeFuniak Springs, Florida 32433, beginning at 6 p.m. with Minister Shane McGowan officiating. A time of visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Committal services will be held Thursday, September 23, 2021 at Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola beginning at 11 a.m. with full military honors provided by the United States Army.
Arrangements and services are under the direction of Davis-Watkins Funeral Home.