Wilcox Progressive Era owner Glenda Curl passes away

Glenda Williams Curl, owner of Wilcox Progressive Era and resident of Camden, passed away on Sept. 3 at the age of 88.

Funeral services were held on Saturday at Canton Bend Methodist Church with Pastor Braxton Eldridge officiating and Dunklin Funeral Home directing.

Glenda took over full ownership of the Progressive Era in 2010 after her husband Hollis died at age of 74. He had been publisher of the Progressive Era since 1969 after a newspaper career in Tennessee and Alabama. He was known for helping resurrect the Gee's Bend Ferry, which started running again in 2006.

He was given the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003 from Alabama Press Association.

Glenda Curl was preceded in death by her parents Glenn and Mildred Williams; her husband, M. Hollis Curl; son, Mark Hollis Curl; grandson, Ethan Landres VanSice; brother, Richard Williams.She is survived by her daughter, Julie Curl VanSice Baker (Michael); grandsons, Mark Hagan Curl, Matthew Hunter Curl, John Wesley “Ley” Curl (Lauren), Tyler Edward Tait; great grandchildren, Matthew Hollis Curl, Ashlyn Ember Tait, James Edward Tait, John Wesley (Wells) Curl, Mary Emerich Curl, William Scott Curl; daughter-in-law, Sandy Curl (Billy Davis).

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in her memory to Canton Bend Methodist Church.