Thursday, May 31, 2007
Published 11:10 pm Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Fannie Lee Chaney
Services for Fannie Lee Chaney will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. at First Union Missionary Baptist Church, with the Revs. Melvin Hendrics and William C. Brown officiating. Burial will be in Okatibbee Missionary Baptist Church beside her beloved son, James E. Chaney, with Clark’s Memorial Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Chaney, 85, of Willingboro, N.J., died Tuesday, May 22, 2007, in Willingboro. She was retired. The daughter of the late Callie and Lonnie Roberts, she was born in Sandflat, Miss. on September 4, 1921.
At an early age, she accepted Christ at Zion Hill Methodist Church and held fast to her faith all of her life. She grew up with four brothers (Caleb, Charlie, Levi, Elijah) and two sisters (Lucy and Mattie). All but Lucy, has proceeded her in ‘Home Going.’ She was an industrious young woman, unafraid of hard work and service. She met and married Ben Amos Chaney and in this union was born five children, Barbara, James, Janice, Julia and Ben Jr. She lived most of her life in Meridian, working and raising her children. She was an active member of Allen Chapel AME Church and diligently served on the usher board. She relocated to New York City after the loss of her son, James, in order to work and educate her youngest son, Ben Jr. Here she worked in the health care field until she became injured on the job. She lived a life filled with family, friends and her church community at Grace Methodist.
In the 1990’s, Fannie had a longing to go back to her hometown, this was not possible, but the Lord provided the Willingboro community of South New Jersey. This filled her need to go back to the earth with trees and flowers outside her front door. Here she embraced the community and the community embraced her.
Although Chaney was not formally educated she possessed the natural wisdom to diligently and creatively organize the donations room at the community center; manage a small cafe and make family historical quilts, some of which have been on display at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C. and Boston. Her love to sew and quilt was a passion she gave to her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, friends and the community.
Survivors include her daughters, Barbara, Janice, Julia; son, Ben; grandchildren, Tammy, Sakita, Missy, Preston, Katrina, James, Tony, Angela, Adraine, Brenda, Juanita; 26 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; many nieces, nephews, cousins and community friends.
She was preceded in death by her son, James E. Chaney.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be made to the James E. Chaney Foundation at the Community Bank.
Repass will be held immediately after the burial at the church.
Visitation will be held Friday from noon until 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Samuel Doby
Mechanical Technician
Services for Samuel “Karl” Doby will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at First United Missionary Baptist Church, with the Rev. Johnny Pierce officiating.
Mr. Doby, 51, died Friday, May 25, 2007, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center. He was born May 24, 1956, in Meridian to Joe Lee and the late Odessa Williams Doby. He was a graduate of Enterprise High School, where he lettered in football and track all four years. He holds the high jump record for the state of Mississippi and is listed in MS State Sports Hall of Fame. He was employed with Burlington Industries for 20 years and later worked for Nazareth — Century Mills and for the town of Stonewall. He was a member of First United Missionary Baptist Church and Enterprise Masonic Lodge 607-A.
Survivors include his devoted wife, Carol Faye King Doby of Stonewall; loving children, Shenika La’Shelle Jackson and her husband, Derrick, of Clinton, Sergeant Antonio Dorsett Doby and his wife, Rebecca, of Hunter’s Army Air Field of Savannah, Ga., Samantha Chelsie “Sunshine” Doby of Stonewall; grandchildren, Christian Hunter Fagen, Jonas, Dorsett Doby, Destiny Alexis Doby of Savannah, Derrick Lamond Jackson II of Clinton; father, Joe Lee Doby Sr. of Stonewall; brothers, Joe Lee Doby Jr. and his wife, Gloria, Stanley Keith Doby and his wife, Paula, both of Houston, Texas; sisters, Maureen Culberson and her husband, Freddie, Frankie Green and her husband, Isaiah, Minnie Thompson and her husband, Alfred, all of Houston, Linda West and her husband, Willie, of Quitman, Alice Faye Doby-Green of New Orleans, Mildred Williams and her husband, Thomas, of Jackson; aunts, Bernice Ray and her husband, Tate, Rosetta Chapman, both of Stonewall, Fannie Louise Williams, Betty Jefferson, both of Houston; sister-in-laws, Sandra Keyes and her husband, M.H., of Meridian, Yolanda Jones and her husband, Kenneth, of Columbus, Hollie Doby of Stonewall; brothers-in-law, Joe King and his wife, Doris, of Huntsville, Ala., Kelvin King of Jackson; and special cousin and friend, Olin “Coon” Davis of Stonewall.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Odessa Doby; brothers, Bennie, Johnny Ray and Timothy Doby; mother-in-law, Henrietta King; and brother-in-law, Carl Ray King.
Visitation will be held Friday from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. at the church.
Claudine Sims Noble
ENTERPRISE, Ala. — Services for Claudine Sims Noble of Enterprise will be held Saturday at 4 p.m. at Cokers Chapel Methodist Church in Vimville, Miss. with the Rev. Phillip Smith officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery with Patterson-Sorrells Funeral Home directing.
Mrs. Noble, 72, died Saturday, May 26, 2007, in Southeast Alabama Medical Center. She was born in Meridian, Miss to the late John Thomas Sims and Ola Mae Beason Sims. She lived in Enterprise for the past several years.
Survivors include her husband, Cesar O. Noble of the Philippines; a daughter, Conchita L. Hall of Meridian; sons, Hipolito G. Domingo Jr. of Enterprise, Julius A. Noble and his wife, Joplin, of Coffee Springs and Cesar O. Noble Jr. of Enterprise; a brother, Kenneth L. Sims and his wife, Margaret, of Meridian; grandchildren, Amanda L. Hall, Thomas J. Hall, Nicholas A. Noble and Julian A. Noble; great-grandchildren, Devon Bronson and Kailton Hall; and nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by a son, Thomas D. Kinard; a grandchild, Nicholas Bronson; and a sister, Geraldine Weir.
Visitation will be held at Cokers Chapel Methodist Church in Mississippi on Saturday from 2 p.m.-4 p.m.
Visit www.sorrellsfuneralhomes.com for more information or to sign a guest register.
Katie Williams
Services for Katie Williams will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at Berry and Gardner Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. William Perry officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Cemetery.
Mrs. Williams, 84, of Meridian, died Sunday, May 27, 2007, at her home. She was a homemaker.
Survivors include her son, Jessie Williams of Hattiesburg; grandchildren, Nicholas Westbrook of Meridian, Jason and Terence Williams of Hattiesburg, Bro. Melvin Brown and his wife, Nellie, of St. Paul, Minn.; and sister, Mary Brown Sterling of New York.
Visitation will be held today from 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Sara M. Hill
Services for Sara M. Hill will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Bethel Baptist Church, with the Revs. Odell Hopkins and Marcus Grant officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Cemetery, with Enterprise Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Hill, 60, of Meridian, died Sunday, May 27, 2007, at Riley Hospital. She was a homemaker.
Survivors include her children, Donnie McMillian of Meridian, Terry McMillian of Stockbridge, Ga., Diane White of Meridian; brothers, J.C. McMillian Jr., Jerry McMillian, Cephus McMillian, Ronnie McMillian, all of Meridian; sisters, Ida McMillian of Pearl, Beatrice Brown of Meridian, Della Gardner, Faye Griffin, both of Meridian, Ida Harris, Flora McMillian, both of Meridian; and five grandchildren.
Visitation will be held Friday from 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Johnny James Wilson
Services for Johnny James Wilson will be held Saturday at noon at E.E. McDonald Community Chapel, with the Rev. Randall Bohannon officiating. Burial will be in Friendly Cemetery in Marion.
Mr. Wilson, 49, of Toomsuba, died Saturday, May 26, 2007, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center. He was employed with the Meridian Public School System.
He was preceded in death by his father and a brother.
Visitation will be held Friday from 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Henry L. Willis
Services for Henry L. “Mole” Willis will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at Berry and Gardner Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. David McKenzie officiating. Burial will be in New Hope Cemetery.
Mr. Willis, 76, of Meridian, died Saturday, May 26, 2007, at his home. He was retired from Magnolia Steel.
Survivors include his sisters, Ezola Hopson Willis, Louise Dillard; brother, J.L. Willis and his wife, Rosie, all of Meridian; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister.
Visitation will be held Friday from 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Lois Terrell
Arrangements were incomplete at E.E. McDonald Funeral Home for Lois Terrell, formerly of Toomsuba, who died Wednesday, May 30, 2007, at St. Vincent Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio.