Monday, June 18, 2007

Published 11:50 pm Sunday, June 17, 2007

Charles W. Hopkins



Graveside services for Charles W. Hopkins will be held today at 10:30 a.m. at Magnolia Cemetery, with the Revs. Jimmy Harrison and Greg Proctor officiating. James F. Webb Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Hopkins, 81, of Meridian, died Sunday, June 17, 2007, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center. He was employed as a real estate broker, member of Central United Methodist Church and a WWII veteran of the U.S. Marine Corp.

Survivors include his wife, Vera Kathleen Hopkins of Meridian; children, Chuck Hopkins of Meridian, Ellen Riley and her husband, John, of Meridian, Cindy Hopkins of Meridian, Dianne Hopkins of Meridian; grandchildren, Robert Ross, William and Mathew, Alex Ruth Maiden, Woody Turner, Sam Hopkins; step-children, Delena Davidson Barrett of Meridian, Melvin Warren of Marion, Raxdall Warren of Starkville; step-grandchildren, Christina Warren and Harrison Warren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth Pearce Hopkins.

Pallbearers will be Melvin Warren, James Harwell, John Riley, William Blanton, Matthew Blanton and Phillip Roberts.

Visitation will be today from 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. at the funeral home.



Marillyn J. Foxall



Graveside services for Marillyn J. Foxall will be held today at Forest Lawn Cemetery, with Barham Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Miss. Foxall, 82, of Meridian, died Saturday, June 16, 2007, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center.

Survivors include her niece, Virginia Lee Hagard and her husband, Dee, of Meridian; nephew, William Lee Gilcrease and his wife, Patricia, of Meridian; grandchildren, Jeanie and Scott Sanders, David and Debra Haggard, Mark and Roxan Haggard, Mike Myers, Jennifer and Matt Tucker, David Haggard, Witt Haggard, Mark Andrew Haggard, Anna Beth Sanders and Katlyn Partridge.



Phillip Stokes



PHILADELPHIA — Memorial services for Phillip Stokes will be held today at 2 p.m. at McClain-Hays Funeral Service Chapel, with the Rev. Tim Mowdy officiating.

Mr. Stokes, 67, of Duson, La., died Thursday, June 14, 2007, in Duson.

Visitation will be held today at 1 p.m. until the time of the service at the funeral home.



Mickey Warren



PHILADELPHIA — Services for Mickey Warren will be held today at 4 p.m. at McClain-Hays Funeral Service Chapel. Burial will be in Ocobla Baptist Church Cemetery.

Mr. Warren, 70, of Philadelphia, died Saturday, June 16, 2007, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center.



Margaret Hays Walker



UNION — Services for Margaret Hays Walker will be held Tuesday at 10 a.m. at Union Methodist Church. Burial will be at Union Cemetery with Stephens Funeral Home in Union in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Walker, 91, died Saturday, June 16, 2007, at her home. She was surrounded by loving family and friends.

Margaret was born to George Frederick and Alma Pruitt Hays in Union on June 24, 1916. She graduated from Union High School in 1934 and met her future husband while at East Central Junior College the year after. She married Glenn David Walker, then an assistant coach at Mississippi College on June 7, 1941.

As the World War II mobilization began, she was devoted to her husband and began her career as a military wife. Like many military wives, she managed her household and cared for her children through numerous separations and many transfers. As the wife of the commander of Soldiers, she assisted many wives and families on posts all over the world, from China to Berlin to Camp Gordon, Ga. Margaret and Glenn returned home to Union upon their retirement from the Army in 1974, culminating in command of the First United States Army, and from their second retirement as Adjutant General of the State of Mississippi in 1979. Margaret was married for 61 years to Glenn, Lieutenant General, U.S. Army, who retired in 1974 after 34 years of service, and predeceased his wife on May 3, 2002.

Walker served her nation with distinction as an Army wife, volunteering with the Gray Ladies of the Red Cross and with the Army Community Service. She was a member of the 4th Infantry Division Association, and was active in many community activities, including United Methodist Women of both Union and Forest, and the Home and Garden Clubs of Union and Forest.

As the wife of a commander on overseas assignments, Margaret entertained foreign dignitaries, senior U.S. government officials, and military officers, all while training and supervising the Army staff assisting her. She visited women’s groups, schools and hospitals while traveling throughout the country. In performing these duties, she was a role model for young Army wives, mentored many, and befriended all.

Walker viewed her achievements modestly and was a consummate and gracious hostess. She was a thoughtful friend and avid gardener, and she tended to both with great care and devotion. She never forgot a face or name.

She is survived by her sons, LTC (U.S. Army, retired) Glenn David Walker Jr. and Kathy Chambliss of Jackson; Dr. Michael James Walker and Dr. Barbara Allen of Forest; and B.G. Keith C. Walker and Valerie Jane Walker of Oakton, Va. Grandchildren, Glenn David Walker III, Holt Joseph Walker, James Madison Walker, Kathleen Walker Thorne, Laura Margaret Walker, Brian Christopher Walker, Duncan Gregory Walker, Audrey Michelle Walker, and great-grandchildren, Reese Walker and Campbell Walker.

Visitation will be today from 6 p.m.-9 p.m. at Stephens Funeral Home in Union.



Cora Lee Barber Young



BUTLER, Ala. — Services for Cora Lee Barber Young will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Bumpers Funeral Home Chapel, with the Revs. James Bonner and Dan Nixon officiating. Burial will be in Butler City Cemetery.

Ms. Young, 84, of Butler, died Sunday, June 17, 2007, at Rush Foundation Hospital. She was self-employed.

Survivors include her children, Benjamin W. Barber Jr., Henry Lee Barber, Cheryl Williams, Belinda Mozingo, Anita Jo Tyson; ten grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. at the funeral home.



Mary Frances McAlpine



Services for Mary Frances McAlpine will be held Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Sharlene N. Chaney officiating. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery, with Enterprise Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. McAlpine, died Friday, June 15, 2007 at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center. She was a retired cook at News Restaurant.

Survivors include her son, Tyrone McAlpine and his wife, Gloria; daughter, Frances Gail Jones and her husband, Preston, both of Meridian; brother, Connie Youngblood of Rockford, Ill.; sisters, Nannie Edison of Freeport, Ill., Virginia Lyons of Baton Rouge, La., Ruby Davis of Alexandria, La., Ida Jean Turner of Freeport; four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.



James E. Boyd Jr.



FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. — Memorial services for James E. “Bwana Jimmy” Boyd Jr. were held June 5, 2007, in Fort Walton Beach. A memorial is planned in the fall the weekend of Thanksgiving in Meridian. Davis Watkins Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Boyd, of Fort Walton Beach, formerly of Meridian, died Monday, May 28, 2007, in his home. He was born in Atlanta in 1953, and moved to Stonewall in 1962. He made lifetime friends in Stonewall and later Meridian. He graduated from Meridian High School in 1971, already a veteran radio personality.

Many people remember Jimmy Boyd for his celebrated career as a prominent radio personality in Meridian, Hattiesburg, Jackson, Tuscaloosa, Ala. and Birmingham, Ala. as well as Louisiana and Florida.

He was known across many music genres, from being the late-night 16 year-old rock D.J., in Meridian and in the seminal music years of 1969 and early 1970’s, to country markets and even soul.

He was heralded by powerful radio station owners as “the best production man ever”, he made a career of creating some of the most clever, funny and inventive radio commercials the South has ever heard. He literally created and produced sound effects and multiple voices of his own in a way that set him apart from many of his peers.

He interviewed many prominent entertainers, community leaders, and politicians. He introduced world famous bands at large arena venues. When Led Zeppelin took a weekend off in New Orleans to rest when on tour, Jimmy was invited to hang out with them at the Maison Dupuy Hotel…He entertained as D.J., at countless sock-hops across Mississippi and Alabama, and broadcast live from countless “remote” venues.

Mr. Boyd was one of the most well-remembered radio “morning men” ever in Mississippi, with one character he created, “Red Neckly”, even running for mayor of Meridian (“Red” received more votes than some of the official candidates.)

He has a tremendous long-term base of good friends and associates spread across the south

Survivors include his brother, Greg Boyd and his wife, Laurie, of Missoula, Mont.; his uncle Don Grimes and his wife, Faye Grimes, of Memphis, Tenn., nephews, Joey Boyd and Daniel Smith, both of Missoula, David Grimes, Chris Grimes and Doug Grimes; cousins, Vicki Simpson, Debbie Willingham, Kim Grimes, Kevin Grimes, Brian Grimes and aunt Delores Grimes, of Georgia.

An online memorial and guestbook may be viewed and signed at www.daviswatkins.com. The guestbook will be used to contact everyone for the date and time of the Thanksgiving memorial service. His brother, Greg Boyd may be reached by e-mail at gregboyd2007@yahoo.com.



Billy Joe Byrd

Self-employed



QUITMAN — Services for Billy Joe Byrd will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. at Enterprise United Methodist Church with the Revs. Don Harrison and Taylor Wallace officiating. Burial will be in Enterprise Cemetery. Wright’s Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Byrd, 76, of Black, Ala., died Thursday, June 14, 2007, in his home. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and served in the Korean War. He was a self-employed electrician.

Survivors include his wife, Gwen Byrd of Black, Ala.; a son, Joe Kevin Byrd, of Boone, N.C.; step-daughters, Brenda Gainey and her husband, Mark, of Geneva, Ala., Pattie Butler and her husband, Mark, of Black, Sherry Frymire and her husband, Wayne, of Defuniak Springs, Fla.; a step-son, David Holmes of Dothan, Ala.; a brother, Sam Wood and his wife, Barbara, of Cape Coral, Fla.; 19 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; a nephew, Ronald Byrd and his wife, Gwen, of Richland.

Memorials may be made to Enterprise United Methodist Church.

Pallbearers will be Mark Gainey, Wayne Frymire, Nathaniel Frymire, Mark Butler, David Holmes and Sam Wood.

Visitation will be today from 5 p.m.- 8 p.m. at the funeral home and Sunday one hour prior to the service at the church.



Rex R. Bodenhamer



Arrangements were incomplete at James F. Webb Funeral Home for Rex R. Bodenhamer, 74, of Meridian, who died Saturday, June 16, 2007, at Regency Hospital.



Frances Faust



Arrangements were incomplete at James F. Webb Funeral Home for Frances Faust, 87, of Meridian, who died Saturday, June 16, 2007, at Heartfelt Hospice of Meridian.





Carolyn Kennedy



Arrangements were incomplete at James F. Webb Funeral Home for Carolyn Kennedy, 88, of Meridian, who died Sunday, June 17, 2007, at Poplar Springs Nursing Home.