Michael Breedlove

Michael Mayton Breedlove died at his home in Jackson Sunday evening, July 18, 2021. He was 81. He was born July 15, 1940 in Birmingham, a son of Charles and Helen Breedlove. He grew up in Prattville and graduated from Autauga County High School.
He served in the U.S. Marine Corps. He and his wife, Linda, married in December 1961 shortly after he completed basic training at Paris Island, S.C. He was in the newspaper business for 55 years. At the time of his death, he was one of the owners and publishers of The Thomasville Times. He owned and published The South Alabamian in Jackson for 29 years.
He started working at The Montgomery Advertiser in 1966 selling newspaper advertising. That same year, his wife, Linda, went to work for the Prattville Progress, the town's weekly newspaper, as office manager. Mike later moved to the Prattville Progress where he sold ads and covered sports.
In the early 1970s, they moved to Fairhope to operate the Fairhope Courier. In 1974, they purchased The South Alabamian and moved to Jackson. The Breedloves, along with Jim and Suzanne Cox, purchased The Thomasville Times in 1996 where Mike and Jim have been co-publishers. In 2003, the Breedloves sold The South Alabamian to the Coxes but retained their interest in The Times.
Breedlove was active in the community and the newspaper community. He was president of the Alabama Press Association in 1985. His wife would later be president of the group. In recent years, he and Linda were awarded the association's Lifetime Achievement Award.
Mike Breedlove was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in 1986 and served one four-year term. He later worked as a legislative liaison for Gov. Guy Hunt. As a state legislator, Breedlove sponsored legislation to create the St. Stephens Historical Commission and served on the commission's board as well as chairman.
He also was a hands-on participant in archeological work there that uncovered a lot of the old town that was Alabama's territorial capital. An archeology work building at the St. Stephens Historical Park was named for Breedlove in honor of his work and support of the park.
Mike always regretted not completing his college education from Auburn University. In the 1990s, he attended night classes at the University of Mobile, earning a bachelor of science degree in 1999.
He was a past president of the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce and was a member of the Jackson Lions Club and active in other community organizations. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Jackson and was active until his health failed due to Parkinson's disease.
Mike loved Auburn football and fishing in Mobile Bay near Fairhope where he and Linda lived part time. He loved his family. His parents died just six days apart of cancer at the age of 55 and two younger brothers came to live with his family; one a freshman at Auburn and the other an eleven-year-old.
Mike Breedlove is survived by his wife, Linda Hayes Breedlove of Jackson; son, Michael Mayton (Cammie) Breedlove, Jr. of Jackson; sister, Celia Breedlove of Knoxville, TN; brothers, Charles Randall (Libby) Breedlove of Baton Rouge, LA, Gregory Buford (Pam) Breedlove of Mobile, Scotty Garland (Donna) Breedlove of Willix, TX; grandson, Logan Hayes (Alana) Breedlove of Pike Road; granddaughter, Jordan (Kyle) Bailey of Carnesville, GA; two great-grandchildren, Averiett Elise Breedlove and Mary Hayes Breedlove of Pike Road.
A memorial service will be conducted at 2 p.m. on Thursday, July 22, 2021 at Jackson First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Jim DuFriend and Rev. Dr. Ralph Wooten officiating. Jim Cox and Ed Williams will be the eulogists. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service.
Honorary pallbearers are Bill Pearce, Ed Williams, Jim Cox, Gaines McCorquodale, Mike Whitehead, Buddy Boykin, William Keller, Fred Huggins, David Vesely and Dr. Norman Stevens.
Donations in his memory may be made to Jackson First United Methodist Church
Condolences may be offered at www.lathanfuneralhome.com.