J.W. Sentell of Ashland, AL: A Life Woven Into Clay County’s Story

Business builder, civic volunteer, church leader, and champion for local youth in 20th-century Ashland.

Ashland’s setting: a courthouse town with deep roots

Ashland is the county seat of Clay County, Alabama, and its identity has long been shaped by community institutions—especially the courthouse square. The Clay County Courthouse was completed in 1906 and was later listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Clay County was created in 1866, and the county seat was named “Ashland” after Henry Clay’s Kentucky home.

Who was J.W. Sentell?

Johnie Wesley “J.W.” Sentell (1909–1998) spent his life closely connected to Ashland and Clay County. He was a 1930 graduate of Auburn University and remained a widely recognized figure in the region. He died in Ashland in July 1998 and was laid to rest in Ashland City Cemetery.

A local economy kind of legacy: oil, autos, and lumber

In a small Alabama county seat, businesses tied to transportation, fuel, and building supplies often serve as the backbone of daily commerce. J.W. Sentell became associated with that foundation through ownership and leadership connected to several enterprises, including Sentell Oil Company, Ashland Motor Company, Lineville Motor Company, and Sentell Lumber Company.

Service wasn’t a side project—it was part of the job

Beyond business, Sentell was active in organizations that shaped community life. He was described as a charter member of the Ashland Rotary Club and the Clay County Historical Society, a long-time Mason, and a trustee of Clay County High School. He also served in Boy Scouts leadership and received the Silver Beaver Award. In church life, he was recognized as a deacon emeritus at First Baptist Church in Ashland.

The Sentell family partnership (and why it matters to local history)

Local history is often family history. J.W. Sentell’s story is closely connected to his wife, Nettie Coleman Sentell, who taught history and social studies at Clay County High School in Ashland during the 1930s and remained active through church and cultural organizations, including work tied to preserving local heritage.

What J.W. Sentell represents in Ashland’s bigger story

You can’t tell Ashland’s 20th-century story without acknowledging people who built dependable local businesses, invested in schools and youth programs, served through churches and civic clubs, and helped preserve local memory. J.W. Sentell fits that pattern—rooted in Ashland, engaged across key institutions, and remembered through records that connect commerce, service, and community leadership.

Sources

• Clay County Courthouse (NRHP / history references)
• Clay County, Alabama (formation date and naming)
• Published biographical/obituary summaries for Johnie Wesley “J.W.” Sentell (1909–1998)
• Published obituary summary for Nettie Coleman Sentell (teaching and community involvement)

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