SARA RUTH GRESSETT
Homemaker
Services for Sara Ruth Gressett will be held Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at Barham Funeral Home Chapel, with the Revs. Dr. Raymon Leake, Erie Nelson and Curt Pace officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Gilead Baptist Church Cemetery.
Mrs. Gressett, 88, of Marion, died Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2000, at Riley Hospital. She was a very active and dedicated member of Mt. Gilead Baptist Church. She was church pianist for 17 years. In later years she was active in Pine Forest Baptist Church in Collinsville.
Survivors include two daughters, Faye G. Lee and her husband, Jimmy, of Collinsville, and Sara E. Gressett of Orlando, Fla.; a son, Wayne M. Gressett and his wife, Jan, of San Antonio, Texas; a brother, Cecil L. Jones of Meridian; a very special friend and caretaker, Alice Parker of Collinsville; four grandchildren, Melanie Lee, Michelle Smith, Michael Lee and his wife, Jennifer, Shane Gressett and his wife, Kathryn; three great-grandchildren, Breanna Lee, Regan Smith and Peyton Lee; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Monroe Jackson Gressett; and her parents, Homer and Eliza Jones.
Visitation will be today from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
ZOIE MARIE MANNING
QUITMAN - Graveside services for Zoie Marie Manning will be held today at 11 a.m. at Zion Rest Cemetery, with the Rev. Leo Smith officiating. Wright's Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Manning, 73, of Shubuta, died Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2000, at Rush Foundation Hospital.
Survivors include two sons, Vernon Manning of Greenwood and Ernie Manning of Quitman; a daughter, Diane Walley of Shubuta; a sister, Wilma Graham of Eucutta; six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
INEZ G. BEDDINGFIELD
Retired Delco Remy employee
Graveside services for Inez G. Beddingfield will be held today at 2 p.m. at Meridian Memorial Park Cemetery. James F. Webb Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Beddingfield, 71, of Meridian, died Thursday, Oct. 12, 2000, at King's Daughters and Sons Rest Home. She was a member of State Boulevard Baptist Church. She will be remembered by her daughters as being a very self-sacrificing mother who loved her family unconditionally, and showed kindness to everyone who knew her. She will be missed greatly by many.
Survivors include two daughters, Lou Davis and her husband, T.K., and Melodie Gressett, all of Meridian; a brother, Dan Gully and his wife, Sarah, of Denham Springs, La.; a granddaughter, Summer Gressett of Meridian; a grandson, Marc Davis and his wife, Trina, of Meridian; her devoted companion of 24 years, Sonny McLemore of Meridian; several aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.
She was formerly married to Jessie Beddingfield and they remained friends through the years. She was preceded in death by her mother, Louise Brown Gully; her father, Samuel E. Gully; and a brother, Bill Gully Sr.
JOHNNY WHIGHAM
Construction worker
QUITMAN - Services for Johnny Whigham will be held Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at Centeridge Baptist Church in Shubuta, with the Rev. Lorenzo Carter officiating. Burial will be in Centeridge Cemetery with Turner Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Whigham, 87, of Shubuta died Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2000, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center.
Survivors include his wife, June Whigham of Shubuta; three daughters, Tina Reed of Shubuta, Judy Caldwell of Sacramento, Calif., and Carolyn Sites of Walley, Texas and one sister, Addie L. Roberts of Shubuta.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
WILLIAMS DABBS LONG JR.
Petroleum geologist
DEKALB - Graveside services for Williams Dabbs Long Jr. will be held today at 3 p.m. at Magnolia Cemetery, with the Rev. Allen Singletary officiating. Stephens Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Long, 75, of DeKalb, died Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2000, at Mississippi Care Center in DeKalb. He was a retired petroleum geologist.
Survivors include his wife, Helen Long, of Meridian; two sons, Clayton Long of Carlsbad, Calif., Matt Long of Germantown, Tenn..; and two grandchildren.
REGINALD W. FAULKNER
Factory worker
DEKALB - Services for Reginald W. Faulkner will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at Haven Chapel United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Phillip Heidelberg officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens with E.E. McDonald Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Faulkner, 49, of Meridian, died Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2000, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center.
Survivors include his wife, Yolande M. Faulkner and a daughter, Regina T. Faulkner, both of Meridian; three sons, Wynton Myles, Kelinsk Myles and Broderick Myles, all of Mobile, Ala.; his father, Leo B. Faulkner Sr. of Meridian; two brothers, Bobby E. Faulkner of Mid West City, Okla., and Leo B. Faulkner Jr. and his wife, Annie, of Florrissant, Mo.; three sisters, Carolyn Johnson and her husband, Ford, of Detroit, Constance Jackson and her husband, Jimmie, of Canogo Park, Calif., and CasSandra Bryant and her husband, James, of Meridian; two grandchildren; several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his mother and a brother.
Visitation will be today from 2 to 8 p.m. at E.E. McDonald Community Chapel in Meridian.
BETTY LONG
Clerk with Piggly Wiggly
YORK, Ala. - Services for Betty Long will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at Bumpers Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. Leon Ballard officiating. Burial will be in York Cemetery.
Mrs. Long, 69, of York, died Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2000, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center.
Survivors include her husband, Donald E. Long and a son, Donald Long, both of York; a daughter, Cindy Blackwood of Cullman; a brother, Earl Clem of Alexander, Va.; and three grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 7 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
LEONA BONNER
Arrangements were incomplete at Berry and Gardner Funeral Home for Leona Bonner, 87, of Meridian, who died Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2000, at Guardian Angel Hospice.
ROBERT SPEED
Arrangements were incomplete at Stephens Funeral Home for Robert Speed, 63, of Chunky, who died Thursday, Oct. 12, 2000, at Guardian Angel Hospice.
GEORGE DOVE
Arrangements were incomplete at Berry and Gardner Funeral Home for George Dove, 76, of Newton, who died Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2000, at R.P. White Nursing Facility.
JAY LUCY
Retired U.S. Navy
Services for Jay Lucy will be held Thursday, April 12, at Barham Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Dr. Thad Moore and Arthur Middleton officiating. Burial was in Forest Lawn Cemetery.
Mr. Lucy, 88, of Meridian, died Monday, April 9, 2001, at Guardian Angel Hospice. He was retired from the U.S. Navy with 20 years of service and Kennedy Space Center with 20 years of service. He and his wife, celebrated 55 years of matrimony on March 23, 2001.
Survivors include his wife, Grace Dearman Lucy and a son, Curtis D. Lucy and his wife, Gail, all of Meridian; a daughter, Linda K. Middleton and her husband, Arthur, of Olympia, Wash.; grandchildren, Joseph Lucy and his wife, Jennifer, Theresa Lucy, Joy Middleton and Faith Middleton; great-grandchildren, Laurin, John David, Katie, Joey and Christopher; a brother, Mack Lucy of Orlando, Fla.; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and seven siblings.
The family requests memorials be made to Poplar Springs Drive Baptist Church.
Pallbearers were Don Lucy, Murray Clark, Pat Harris, Sydney Gibson, Steven Lucy, Ronnie Byrd, Hapin Byrd and Bill Blanks.
Honorary pallbearers were Joey Lucy and Doc Davis.
CHARLES LAVELLE LIGHTSEY
Cattle farmer
QUITMAN — Services for Charles Lavelle Lightsey were to be held today at 10 a.m. at Wright’s Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. George Pugh and Dr. Tommy Davis officiating. Burial was to be in Pachuta Cemetery.
Mr. Lightsey, 77, of Pachuta, died Saturday, April 14, 2001, in his home. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Marines.
Survivors include his wife, Mary McGowan Lightsey and a son, Charles Dale Lightsey, both of Pachuta; two brothers, Beverly Lightsey of Quitman and Howard Lightsey of Pachuta; three sisters, Charlene Jones of McLean, Va., Bertilde Patterson of Memphis, Tenn. and Velda Roberts of Meridian; and two grandchildren.
FLORENCE ESTELLE RICH
Retired seamstress
Graveside services for Florence Estelle Rich were to be held today at 10 a.m. at Meridian Memorial Park Cemetery with the Rev. Russell Luquire officiating. Barham Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Rich, 92, of Meridian, died Sunday, April 15, 2001, at Guardian Angel Hospice.
Survivors include a son, Virgil Harris and a daughter, Dorothy Kelly, both of Meridian; two granddaughters, Elizabeth Manning of Lafayette, La. and Rebecca Worrell of Jackson; three great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
FLOYD MCGEE
Retired foreman for Entex Gas Company
NEWTON — Services for Floyd McGee will be held today at 2 p.m. at James F. Webb Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Steve Robinson and James Galloway officiating. Burial will be in Cedar Grove Baptist Church Cemetery.
Mr. McGee, 67, of Newton, died Sunday, April 15, 2001, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center. He was employed 34 years with Entex Gas Company. Mr. McGee was a member of Cedar Grove Baptist Church, served as a Deacon and was a member of the Cedar Grove Singers. He served in the U.S. Air Force.
Survivors include his wife, Martha McGee of Newton; a brother, James McGee of Decatur; three nieces, Gwen VanSeiver of Biloxi, Margaret Russell of Newton and Susan Gamble of Nashville; two great-nieces, Ellen Little and Jessica Russell, a great-nephew, Eric Russell and a great-great-niece, Chloe Little, all of Newton.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Sylvester and Lillie Mae Skinner McGee and a brother, Lloyd McGee.
Pallbearers will be Brent Mayes, Douglas Mayes, Butch Meaders, Donnie Powell, Chris Craven and Paul Craven.
Honorary pallbearers will be Tom Craven, Bud Williams, Terry Tedder, Pat Finnegan, Wiley Walker, Bill Eldridge and friends of Cedar Grove Baptist Church.
RUBY WILLIAMS
Eye Clinic doctor’s assistant
Services for Ruby Williams will be held today at 11 a.m. at Union Baptist Church in Clarke County with the Rev. John Edward officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery with Barham Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Williams, 85, of Clarke County, died Saturday, April 14, 2001, in her home.
Survivors include three sons, James F. Williams and his wife, Virginia, of Starkville, Reece Williams of Columbus and Larry Williams and his wife, Faye, of Meridian; three daughters, Esther Moulds and her husband, Morris, of Meridian, Carolyn Hudson and her husband, Will, of Dallas and Linda Jordan and her husband, Buddy, of Pinehill, Ala.; a brother, Bill Denham of Hattiesburg; 15 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James E. Williams; her parents, Will and Maude Denham; and a sister, Evelyn Scott; and a grandson, Donny Moulds.
The family requests memorials be made to Union Baptist Church Cemetery Fund.
JAMES SNOWDEN
Retired machinist and service station owner
Services for James “Mac” Snowden will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Stephens Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Jimmy Williams officiating. Burial will be in Fellowship Baptist Church Cemetery.
Mr. Snowden, 84, of Meridian, died Sunday, April 15, 2001, at King’s Daughters and Sons Rest Home. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific. The family would like to thank the staff of King’s Sons Rest Home for their special kindness.
Survivors include a son, Robert D. Snowden and his wife, Emily, of Meridian; a granddaughter, Katherine Melissa Richardson of Allen, Texas; a brother, H.C. Snowden and a sister, Mary Helen Parker, both of the Center Hill Community; three nephews, Jerry Snowden and Sonny Parker, both of the Center Hill Community, and Tommy Kellys Parker of Bailey; and a niece, Peggy Mayatt of Hattiesburg.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Ann Snowden and his parents, T.F. and Lottie Snowden.
Pallbearers will be John Howell, Grady Richardson, Tommy Kellys Parker, Jerry Snowden, Bob Conner and Richard Gough.
Visitation will be today from 5-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
WINNIE HILDA PERSONS
Bookkeeper, secretary with McGregor Printing
BUTLER, Ala. — Services for Winnie Hilda Persons will be held Wednesday at 11 am. at First United Methodist Church of Butler with the Rev. Gary Williams officiating. Burial will be in Resthaven Memorial Gardens with Bumpers Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Persons, 66, of Columbus, died Monday, April 16, 2001, at Baptist Golden Triangle Hospital in Columbus.
Survivors include her husband, Edwin A. Persons Sr. and a son, Edwin A. Persons Jr., both of Columbus; a stepbrother, Walter Friday III; three grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
Visitation will be today from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
