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Gilmer Lee Fordyce
Gilmer Lee Fordyce, 81, of Byhalia, died Jan. 30, 2009 at his home. He graduated from Tupelo High School in 1945. He served during World War II in Europe and again in the Korean War as a member of the U.S. Marine Corp, during which he fought in the Battle of Chosin and was awarded a Purple Heart for his bravery. He was a member of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local #1529. He was a butcher for 34 years. He retired from Burrow’s Big Star in Byhalia. After retiring, he worked in his son’s store, Davis Grocery. He was a member of Byhalia United Methodist Church for 26 years, where he was a faithful member of the Fellow Workers Sunday school class. He served as the chairman of the Marshall County Cluster for the United Methodist Conference for many years. He was a Pilgrim on the North Mississippi Walk to Emmaus #189.
Services were held on Feb. 1 at “The Flame” at Byhalia United Methodist Church. Rev. Dr. Jim Biedenharn officiated. Burial was in Byhalia Cemetery. Coleman Funeral Home of Oxford was in charge of arrangements.
He leaves his wife of 26 years, Eleanor Davis Fordyce; three stepchildren, Cheryl Mokry of Fayetteville, Ga., Greg Davis of Ashland, Linda McKinney of Byhalia; a sister, Lois Ray Holland of Huntsville, Ala.; and six grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Laverne Fordyce.
Memorials may be sent to Byhalia United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 6, Byhalia, MS 38611.
Gracie Mae Johnson
Gracie Mae Johnson, 89, died Feb. 21, 2009 at Alliance Healthcare. She was the widow of Charles Bennett Johnson. She was a member of Evangel Full Gospel Assembly and a nurse’s aid at Care Inn.
Services were held at 3 p.m. on Feb. 25 at Holly Springs Funeral Home Chapel. Burial was in Abbeville Cemetery. Bro. M.G. Scherff and Bro. Wade Hall officiated.
She leaves two sons, Benny Ray Johnson, Jesse Earl Johnson, both of Potts Camp; two daughters, Evie Jean Hunter of Holly Springs, Bettie Earnest of Middleton, Tenn.; two sisters, Joyce Smith of Waterford, Loyce Smith of Bartlett, Tenn.; 10 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by children Billy Wayne Johnson, Dorothy Louise Owens, Shirley Ann Ford; and a grandson, David Ray Johnson.
Pallbearers were Joey Hailey, Byron Hailey, Ronald Wayne Bumpas, Leslie Wayne Ford, Michael Wayne Johnson and Kevin Wayne Johnson. Honorary pallbearer was David Ray Johnson Jr.
Judy Lynn Lassiter Johnson
Judy Lynn Lassiter Johnson, 40, formerly of Marshall County and West Memphis, Ark., died Feb. 16 at Jackson-Madison Co. General Hospital in Jackson, Tenn. She was a registered nurse.
Graveside services were held at 3 p.m. on Feb. 20 at Hollywood Cemetery, Hot Springs, Ark. Roller-Citizens Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
She leaves her husband, W. Mark Johnson of St. Petersburg, Fla.; her parents, Linda and Bobby Harris of Henderson, Tenn.; her father, Marion Lassiter of Millington, Tenn.; sister, Cynthia Dianne Bonicelli of Henderson, Tenn.; half-brother, Don Lassiter of Poplar Bluff, Mo.; and half-sister, Sharon Thompson of Poplar Bluff, Mo.
Annie Mae Smith Payne
Annie Mae Smith Payne, 62, of Holly Springs, died Feb. 14, 2009 at Baptist Hospital-North Mississippi in Oxford. She was the widow of Eddie Payne. She was a retired cook with Rust College.
Services were held at 11 a.m. on Feb. 21 at Rust College Doxey Auditorium. Burial was in Yarbrough Chapel CME Church Cemetery. Rev. Jerry Christian Jr. officiated. J.F. Brittenum and Son Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
She leaves a daughter, Shequeta Yevette Payne of Holly Springs; a son, Eddie Levell Payne of Holly Springs; five sisters, Betty Jean Smith Arnold, Stella Hall, both of Holly Springs, Lennie L. Sykes of Olive Branch, Beauty Beard of Virginia Beach, Va., Judy LaRose Ross of Memphis, Tenn.; and a brother, Gaston Johnson Smith of Holly Springs.
She was preceded in death by siblings Lydia B. Smith and Lem Johnson Smith Jr.
Pallbearers were Darrin Smith, Gaston Smith Jr., Lester Mull, Edward Sims, Travis Coleman and Anthony Sykes.
Mary Ruth Vanzant
Mary Ruth Vanzant, 81, of Holly Springs, died Feb. 21, 2009 at Baptist Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. She was a member of First United Methodist Church and a school teacher with Benton, Marshall and Union counties.
Services were held at 11 a.m. on Feb. 24 at Holly Springs Funeral Home Chapel. Burial was in Hill Crest Cemetery. Rev. David Shackelford officiated.
She leaves her husband, Martain Vanzant; two sons, Raymond Vanzant of Dallas, Tx., Fred Martain Vanzant of Billerica, Ma.; and a daughter, Rebecca Vanzant of Germantown, Tenn.
Myra Ruth Young
Myra Ruth Young, 82, of Waterford, formerly of Vermilion, Ohio, died Feb. 14, 2009 at Christopher’s Care Center in Holly Springs. She was the widow of Nelson Young. She worked at “The Pit” restaurant in Vermilion. She was a member of Lakeview Baptist Church in Vermilion and Spring Hill Baptist Church in Waterford.
Burial was in Spring Hill Cemetery. Holly Springs Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
She leaves three sons, Danny Young of Vermilion, Ohio, Jesse (Mark) Young of Wakeman, Ohio, Edward Young of Southaven; a stepdaughter, Jocelyne Lespagnol of Stourbridge, England; two sisters, Hazel Wilson of Holly Springs, Pauline Cardwell of Waterford; seven grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, Eugene Saxon and Jesse Saxon Jr.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Spring Hill Baptist Church Cemetery Fund.
Cathy Mae Bartlett Abernathy
Cathy Mae Bartlett Abernathy, 46, of Red Banks, formerly of Ridgely, Tenn., died Feb. 14, 2009 at her home. She attended Byhalia Assembly of God Church.
Services were held at 1 p.m. on Feb. 18 at Ridgely Chapel of Curry Funeral Home. Burial was in New Haven Cemetery in Ridgely, Tenn. Rev. Don Layman officiated.
She leaves her husband, Marvin Abernathy; a daughter, Jennifer Ruth Swearingen of Dyersburg, Tenn.; a son, Joshua Keith Stewart of Henning, Tenn.; a sister, Jacqueline Bartlett of Henning; six brothers, Mark Bartlett of Searcy, Ark., Kenny Bartlett of Walls, Gary Bartlett of Mt. Home, Ark., David Bartlett of Covington, Tenn., Tim Bartlett of Parma, Mo., Johnathan Bartlett of Hornbeak, Tenn.; and five grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Roy Hassel and Peggy Sue Glozier Bartlett.
Pallbearers were Gary Bartlett, David Bartlett, Tim Bartlett, Johnathan Bartlett, Mark Bartlett and Roger Dale Bartlett.
Gay Diane Boren Bell
Gay Diane Boren Bell, 64, of Holly Springs, died Feb. 13, 2009 at her home. She was a member of Byhalia United Methodist Church.
Memorial services were held at 3 p.m. on Feb. 15 at The Flame, located at Byhalia United Methodist Church. Rev. Dr. Jim Biedenharn officiated. Coleman Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
She leaves her husband, James A. Bell; two daughters, Lisa O’Dell Hickman of Holly Springs, Teresa Bell Vannelli of Olive Branch; two sons, Jimmy Bell of Slidell, La., Dennis Bell of New Albany; two sisters, Barbara Rikard of Victoria, Vera Curl of Munford, Tenn.; nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Mark Boren.
Pallbearers were Evan Hickman, Everett (Blue) Hickman, Keith Owens, Ricky Taylor, Roy Carpenter, Ronnie Shaw, Ronnie Hangey and Rick Hickman.
Memorials may be made to The Flame at Byhalia United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 6, Byhalia, MS 38611.
