Toma L. Witcher Ward
Services for Toma L. Witcher Ward, 83, of Henderson, will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at Antioch Baptist Church in Henderson.
The Revs. E.J. Roberts and Claudell Anderson and Terry McAllister, Altara Tyiska and H.S. Robinson will officiate.
Burial will be at Antioch Memorial Gardens in Henderson under the direction of Jenkins-Garmon Funeral Home in Henderson.
Mrs. Ward died Saturday at a Tyler hospital.
She was born Dec. 7, 1918, in Henderson. She attended Rusk County public schools and Prairie View A&M College. She was a retired registered private duty nurse. After retiring, she moved to Jacksonville and was a member of Church Hill CME Church.
Mrs. Ward was preceded n death by her parents, Hessie and Anna Witcher; and brother, Silas Witcher.
Survivors include her sisters and brothers-in-law, Odessa and John Harris of Henderson and Verion and Wardell Starling of Jacksonville; special friend, Mary Johnson of Henderson; many nieces nephews and other relatives and friends.
Pallbearers will be Leon Harris, Roosevelt Williams, Larry Witcher, Tommy Starling, Wardell Starling Jr., Glen Witcher, Rodney Witcher and Bobby Witcher.
Honorary pallbearers include Terry Williams, Julian Williams, Mike Williams, Reginald Sampson, Norman Witcher, John Harris and Wardell Starling.
Published Tuesday, July 10, 2002
William Francis Rogers
Services for William Francis Rogers, 71, of Jacksonville and formerly of Houston are pending at Thompson Funeral Home in Jacksonville.
Mr. Rogers died Tuesday at a Jacksonville hospital.
Published Tuesday, July 10, 2002
Odis Bass
Services for Odis Bass, 74, of Jacksonville are pending under the direction of Thompson Funeral Home in Jacksonville.
Mr. Bass died Wednesday at a Tyler hospital.
Published Tuesday, July 10, 2002
Elsie Starkey Lassiter
Elsie Starkey Lassiter, 91, of Texas City, passed away Tuesday, July 9, 2002, in Texas City.
Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, July 10, at Emken-Linton Funeral Home. A graveside service will be held 1 p.m., Friday, July 12, at the Old Jacksonville City Cemetery in Jacksonville, Texas.
Ms. Lassiter was born December 14, 1910 in Jacksonville, Texas. She was a resident of Texas City for 50 years. Her career began with Western Union — traveling all over Texas, Louisiana, and to California. When she moved to Texas City in 1952, she worked for several newspapers.
Her husband, Joe Roy, and parents, Edward and Ann Starkey, preceded her in death.
Survivors include her son, Joe Edd Lassiter Sr. and wife, Vicki; daughter, JoAnn Lassiter; grandson, Joe Edd Lassiter Jr., all from Texas City; sister, Lillian S. Metcalf, of San Antonio, Texas; nephews, Earl Fowler and Bill Grizzard; and niece, Betty Moore.
Published Tuesday, July 10, 2002
Graveside services for Julia E. Cook, 96, of Jacksonville will be at 1 p.m. today at San Marcos Cemetery in San Marcos under the direction of Thompson Funeral Home in Jacksonville.
Mrs. Cook died Thursday in a Jacksonville hospital. She was born July 20, 1905, in Portland, Ore.
She was a retired secretary employed by T.C. Wilson Public Accountant for six years. She was founder of the Jacksonville Animal Shelter and a member of the Trinity Episcopal Church where she was organist for many years.
Mrs. Cook was preceded in death by her husband, Walter E. Cook.
Survivors include, Richard L. Coontz of Newport Beach, Calif.; niece, Elizabeth Joseph Burnett of Corpus Christi; nephews, Thomas R. Joseph Jr. of Hamilton and Donald R. Joseph of Austin; and friend Sue A. Trimble.
Published Sunday, November 4, 2001
Services for Sharon Vaillencourt, 64, of Frankston, formerly of Indiana will be held at 3 p.m. today in the Thompson Funeral Home Chapel in Frankston with the Rev. J.A. Griffin officiating.
Mrs. Vaillencourt died Friday in a Tyler hospital. She was born Jan. 27, 1937, in Bluffto, Ind. She was a homemaker.
Survivors include spouse, James Vaillencourt of Frankston; sons, Burce Foreman and Mark Foreman, both of Indiana; step son, James Vaillencourt Jr. of San Antonio; daughter, Jovanaha Vaillencourt Rhodes of Tyler; step daughters, Rebecca Knight of Brownsboro, Sarita Lynn Thomas of Grand Saline and Sonja Rene Taylor; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Published Sunday, November 4, 2001
Services for D.J. Sessions, 90, of Atoy near Rusk will be at 2 p.m. Sunday in Wallace-Thompson Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Donnie Howard officiating.
Burial will be in Atoy Cemetery near Rusk with Masonic Graveside Rites under the direction of Wallace-Thompson Funeral Home in Rusk.
Mr. Sessions died Nov. 2, 2001 at East Texas Medical Center in Jacksonville.
He was born Jan. 7, 1911, in Atoy and was a life long resident. He was a farmer and a Baptist.
Mr. Sessions was also a member of Rusk Euclid Masonic Lodge #45 in Rusk and a life member of the Veterans of Foreign War Post in Jacksonville.
He served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
Survivors include wife of 62 years, Iva Lou Sessions of Atoy; son and daughter-in-law, James and Jackie Sessions of Elkhart; brother, Berryman Sessions of Lovelady; five grandchildren; nine great-great children; two great-great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.
Family received friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
Published Sunday, November 4, 2001
Services for Myrtle Tarrant, 93, of Bullard, are scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday at Boren-Conner Funeral Home Elliott Memorial Chapel, Bullard, with Brother Johnny Anders officiating.
Burial will be in the Tarrant Family Cemetery, south of Bullard.
Mrs. Tarrant died November 1, in a Tyler hospital. She was born December 2, 1907 near Frankston to the late Francis Marion (Boss) and Lovetta Elizabeth (Taylor) Levassar. She grew up in Frankston and lived most of her life Bullard.
She was in the Frankston High School Class of 1926. She was a homemaker and a retired postal employee.
Having served in the Frankston, Houston main office and in the Mount Selman and Bullard offices, she retired with over 25 years of service.
She preceded in death by her brothers, Jack, Bill and Cooter and sister, Arzie.
Survivors include her husband of 73 years, Robert L. Tarrant of Bullard; son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Mary Anne Tarrant of Bullard; two grandsons, Jim Tarrant Jr. of Bullard and Ken Tarrant of Bullard; and five great-grandchildren, all of Bullard.
Pallbearers are Jack Cheek, Howard Cables, Pete Westbrook, Don Wager, Jack Tarrant and Dub Riza.
Mrs. Tarrant was related to two past presidents of Baylor University, Dr. W.R. “Bill” White and Dr. Herbert H. Reynolds.
Family received friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the Boren-Conner Funeral Home, Bullard.
Published Sunday, November 4, 2001
Graveside services for Estelle L. Ham, 64, of Jacksonville and formerly of Rusk, will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Cedar Hill Cemetery. The Rev. Don Copeland will officiate.
Burial will be at Cedar Hill Cemetery under the direction of Wallace-Thompson Funeral Home in Rusk.
Mrs. Ham died April 2, 2002, at a Jacksonville Hospital. She was born May 1, 1937, in Rusk.
She graduated from Rusk High School in 1955.
She retired from Cherokee County Electric Cooperative Association in Rusk as an administrative assistant in 1992 after 36 years of service.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Claudia O. Oliver; father, Jewell M. Bowman; step-father, Robert E. Oliver; and brother, George A. Bowman.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Jana and Skeeter Irby of Jacksonville; two granddaughters, Juliann Irby of Jacksonville and Carly Irby of Jacksonville; brother, Jewell M. Bowman of Tyler; brother, Larry J. Bowman of Jacksonville; sister, Charlotte Dixon of Alto; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers include Dax Bowman, Cole Bowman, Steve Bowman, Allen Bowman, John Dixon and Paul Dixon.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Published Wednesday, April 4, 2002
Services for Ronnie Spencer, 59, of Berryville will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Thompson Funeral Home Chapel in Frankston. The Revs. Chuck Myers and Harry Olson will officiate.
Mr. Spencer died Tuesday at Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler. He was born Dec. 19, 1942, in Richmond.
A retired truck driver, he was employed by Safeway Grocery Company.
He was a member of First Assembly of God Church in Whitehouse, where he was a former leader and commander of Royal Rangers in the Assemblys of God Church, former board member and had served as a deacon.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Faye and Birdie Spencer and sister, Patsy Rhoades.
He is survived by his wife, Gloria Spencer of Berryville; sons and daughter-in-law, Ronnie and Kathy Spencer of Willis and Dale Spencer of Berryville; daughter and son-in-law, Luann and Tony Forson of Jacksonville; sister, Janis Olson of Duncanville; grandchildren, Halee Spencer, Spencer Atkinson, Ryan Spencer, Travis Atkinson, Kyle Spencer and Emilee Spencer; step-grandchildren, Tara Forson, Lauren Forson and Stephen Forson; step-great-grandson, Logan Forson; and several nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers include Nat Smoker, David Mauser, Nathan Smoker, David Fricault, Harley Wilcox and Harry Olson Jr.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Thompson Funeral Home in Frankston.
Published Wednesday, April 4, 2002
Services for Jerry G. Williams, 69, of Rusk was held at 10 a.m. today at Wallace-Thompson Funeral Home in Rusk. The Rev. Don Copeland officiated.
Burial was at Cedar Hill Cemetery under the direction of the funeral home.
Mr. Williams died Monday at a Jacksonville hospital. He was born Dec. 12, 1932, in Mixon.
A resident of Rusk for 49 years, he was formerly of Tyler.
He was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Rusk, and owned and operated Jerry Williams Plumbing Company in Rusk from 1981-1996. After retirement, he became the plumbing inspector for the City of Rusk. He was a former member of the Rusk Chamber of Commerce. He was also a former member of Model Railroads Association.
He served in the Navy during the Korean Conflict.
He is survived by his wife, Sarah Nell Williams of Rusk; sons and daughter-in-law, J.D. Williams of Spring and David and Zenaida Williams of Whitehouse; daughter, Sarah Ann Williams of Rusk; brother, James Williams of Rusk; sister, Ann Kubicek of Little Elm; grandchildren, Monica, Morgan, Angela and Matthew; and several nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers were Chris Broach, Gary Starkey II, Johnny Williams, Kenny Koop, Dan Keels and David Beard.
Honorary pallbearers included Gary Starkey, Jack Ball, Hayne Ray, Dennis Slaton and City of Rusk employees.
Published Wednesday, April 4, 2002
Services for Margaret Ann Winborne, 68, of Rusk will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Wallace-Thompson Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Don Copeland officiating.
Burial will be at Cedar Hill Cemetery under the direction of Wallace-Thompson Funeral Home in Rusk.
Mrs. Winborne died Sunday in Santa Fe. She was born Aug. 1, 1933, in Fort Worth. She was a resident of Rusk for five years and she was a Baptist.
Survivors include her husband of 51 years, Joe Winborne of Rusk; daughter, Dianna Rhea Werner of Santa Fe; ex-son-in-law, Richard Werner of Texas City; brothers and sisters-in-law, Milton and Ruby Blankenship of Cleburne and J.D. and Dorothy Blankenship of Cleburne; granddaughters, Jodi Montemayor of Santa Fe and Jill Saenz of Port Lavaca; two great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be Tommy Blankenship, Billy Blankenship, Mike Blankenship, Milton Blankenship Jr., Erik Montemayor and Karl Saenz.
Published Wednesday, April 4, 2002
Services for Landon Wade Wilcox, infant, of New Summerfield, will be at 3 p.m. Thursday at Thompson Funeral Home Chapel in Jacksonville. Ty Fleming will officiate.
Burial will be at McDonald Cemetery in New Summerfield.
Landon died Sunday at Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth. He was born March 16 in Nacogdoches.
He is survived by his parents, Jason and Kellie Wilcox of New Summerfield, and grandparents, Larry and LaNelle Wilcox of New Summerfield and Ronald and Thresia Kee of Concord.
Pallbearers will be Ryan Jones, Brian Gaddis, Johnny Davis and John Griffith.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Published Wednesday, April 4, 2002
Graveside services for Inis Arnold, 80, of Jacksonville will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Union Grove Cemetery under the direction of Thompson Funeral Home.
Mrs. Arnold died Tuesday at Mother Frances Hospital in Jacksonville. She was born March 12, 1922, in Paris. She was a homemaker.
Survivors include her daughters and sons-in-law, Wanda and Billy Glover and Susan and James Chandler, all of Jacksonville; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Published Wednesday, April 4, 2002
Services for Veda L. Grandberry, 45, of Jacksonville will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Sweet Union Baptist Church. Tony Johnson, Daniel Brown and L.T. Session will officiate.
Burial will be at Resthaven Cemetery under the direction of Mercy/McGowan Funeral Home.
Mrs. Grandberry died Wednesday at her home. She was born Jan. 1., 1957, in Cherokee County.
She attended Jacksonville High School and was a lifelong resident of Jacksonville.
She was a member of Saint Paul Baptist church.
She worked for Snoke’s Special Products and for a home healthcare agency.
She was a member of Saint Paul Baptist Church, where she sang in the choir and was a program announcer.
She was preceded in death by her father, Roscoe Lee.
She is survived by her husband, Willie L. Grandberry of Jacksonville; parents, Lafayette and Earlene Ragsdale of Jacksonville; brothers, Larry Roberts of Jacksonville, Don Ragsdale of Austin and Rodney Ragsdale of Jacksonville; sisters, Cynthia Lee of Portland, Ore., Mary Ann Story of New Summerfield and Vickie Ragsdale of Jacksonville.
Pallbearers will be Terry Roberts, Billy Charles Roberts, Rodney Ragsdale, Van Jeril Roberts, Tommie Rusk and Micheal Rusk.
Honorary pallbearers will be Darwin Roberts, Steve Grandberry, Jimmy Grandberry Jr., Charles Roberts, LaMarcus Rusk, Kizel Brown, Ken Roberts, Tedrick Rusk and Antonio Mason.
Visitation will be from 5 to 6 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to Sweet Union Baptist Church, 302 N. Main St., Jacksonville, TX 75766.
Published May 24, 2002
Services for Joseph Elton Alford, 86, of Bullard will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Elliott Memorial Chapel. The Revs. Gary Davenport and Mary Dowdy will officiate.
Burial will be at Bullard Cemetery under the direction of Boren-Conner Funeral Home of Bullard.
Mr. Alford died Tuesday at a Tyler hospital after a lengthy illness. He was born Sept. 4, 1915, in Lone Oak, Ark.
A lifelong Bullard area resident, he was also a heavy equipment operator and laborer.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Louise Jonas.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Kate Alford of Bullard; three sons, Elton Lavon Alford of Frankston, Gary lee Alford of Houston and Joe Andrew Alford of Bullard; two daughters, Diana Cromer of Bullard and Margie Covey of Bullard; 15 grandchildren; and 22 grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be grandsons: Michael Scarbough, Harvey L. Covey II, Harvey Lee Alford, Gary Wayne Alford, Charley Covey and Kenneth Cromer.
Honorary pallbearers will be James Cromer, Elton J. Covey, Jason Jonas and Adam Jonas.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Published Thursday, November 1, 2001
Services for Edwin Wayne Sexton, 74, of Jacksonville will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Beall Chapel Baptist Church in Jacksonville. The Rev. Ken McEachern officiating.
Burial will be at Rocky Springs Cemetery in Dialville under the direction of Thompson Funeral Home.
Mr. Sexton died Monday at a Tyler hospital. He was born Feb. 15, 1927, in Jacksonville.
He was retired from Kelly-Springfield in Tyler after 22 years of service, where he worked in Quality Control.
He served in the U.S. Army during World War II in Japan. He was a member of Beall Chapel Baptist Church, where he was a deacon.
Mr. Sexton was preceded in death by his son, Sam Sexton.
He is survived by his wife, Udell Sexton; his son, Tony Sexton; his daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Charles Allbright, all of Jacksonville; his sisters, Dorothy Goldman of Denver, Colo. and Barbara Jay of Waco; three grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; two great-grandsons; and several nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be Bryan Duncan, Chris Allbright, T. J. Sexton, Robby Dillard, Steve Comte and David Jay.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Published Thursday, November 1, 2001
