Friday, September 21, 2007
Published 10:29 pm Thursday, September 20, 2007
Howard B. Smith
Retired
SEBASTOPOL — Services for Howard B. Smith will be held today at noon at Milling Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Chester Estes officaiting. Burial will be in Salem Cumberland Presbyterian Church Cemetery.
Mr. Smith, 91, of Carthage, died Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2007, at Beverly Living Center in Carthage. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and served in World War II.
Survivors include his brother, Wood C. Smith; five nieces and four nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife of 73 years; one sister and three brothers.
Larine Parker Jackson
Homemaker
PHILADELPHIA — Services for Larine Parker Jackson will be held today at 11 a.m. at Spring Creek Baptist Church with the Revs. Curtis Cain and Whit Lewis officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. John E. Stephens Chapel Funeral Services is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Jackson, 81, of Purvis, died Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2007, at Forrest County General Hospital in Hattiesburg.
Survivors include her daughter, Annette J. Savell; a brother John L. Parker of Philadelphia; two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, the Rev. B.P. Jackson Jr.
Perry Michael Dearman
BAY SPRINGS — Services for Perry Michael Dearman will be held today at 1 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Rose Hill. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Colonial Chapel Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Dearman, 34, of Rose Hill, died Monday, Sept. 17, 2007, in Paulding. He was a member of the U.S. Marine Corps.
Survivors include his parents, Albert Dearman and Grace Bentley Robb, of Rose Hill; brothers, Brandon Robb and Shannon Dearman and a twin sister, Sherry Chancelor.
Bernice Terrell Lewis
Retired nurse
Services for Bernice Terrell Lewis will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Church of the Resurrection of Omaha, Neb. with the Rev. Judith Yeates officiating. Roeder’s Mortuary in Omaha is in charge of arrangements. Berry and Gardner Funeral Home is in charge of local arrangements.
Mrs. Lewis, of Omaha, formerly of Meridian, died Friday, Sept. 14, 2007, in her home.
Survivors include her daughters, Vivian Davis, Evelyn Hannah; a son, Lorenzo Lewis; two sisters; five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren and other relatives.
Visitation will be today from 6 p.m.- 8 p.m. at the funeral home in Omaha.
Joseph Miller Boswell Sr.
Retired
Services for Joseph Miller Boswell Sr. will be held Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at Barham Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Dr. Bob Schwanebeck and Robert Moore officiating. Burial will be in the Ward Family Cemetery at Honeysuckle Farm.
Mr. Boswell, 75, of Meridian, died Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2007, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center.
He was born in Butler, Ala., on Oct. 31, 1931, to Ira and Annie Ray Boswell. He grew up in the Meridian Public School System and obtained a football scholarship and chose to play for East Mississippi Junior College in Scooba during the years of the now late Coach “Bull” Sullivan. Joe recently compiled a scrapbook of memorabilia from those days.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He later was a sales representative for wholesale clothing manufacturers and formerly the vice-president of Southeast Wholesale Chothing Manufacturers.
Mr. Boswell was a member of Northpointe Presbyterian Church and a former charter member of Druid Hills Methodist Church. He was a volunteer with Big Brothers and LOVE’s Kitchen. He was a member of Meridian Little Theatre. He will be remembered as one who was a in-touch and loving a husband, father, grandfather and uncle. His many friends will remember his easy going personality and happy outlook on life. It was said that once you entered his life, you were forever his friend.
Survivors include his wife of more than 42 years, Nancy; sons, Roy Boswell of Del Mar, Calif., Tony Boswell and his wife, Barbara, of Oceanside, Calif., Jeff Zachary of Rancho Mirage, Calif. and Joey Boswell and his wife, Misha, of Austin, Texas; daughters, Lee Ann Royal Barley and her husband, Steve, and Paije Royal Sieber and her husband, Bob, all of Birmingham, Ala.; grandchildren, Chase Boswell, Brock Boswell, Matthew Barley, Ryan Bayley and Harrison Barley, Colby Seiber, Tate Sieber, Aubrey Boswell and Payton Boswell; his brother, Billy Boswell; nieces, Sela Ward, Jenna Ward, Vicky Gunter, Valerie Hampton, Vanessa Abler, Linda Sholer, and Susan Boswell; nephews, Slay Boswell, Billy Wayne Boswell, Wesley Boswell, Berry Ward, Brock Ward and a brother-in-law, G.H. Ward Sr.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ira and Annie Ray Boswell; brothers, Ira Boswell and Carl Boswell and a sister, Annie Kate Ward.
Memorials may be made to Hope Village for Children, P.O. Box 26, Meridian, MS 39301 and Northpointe Presbyterian Church, 920 Windmill Drive, Meridian, MS 39305.
Pallbearers will be Matthew Barley, Ryan Barley, Harrison Barley, Colby Sieber, Chase Boswell, Brock Boswell, Berry Ward, Brock Ward, Slay Boswell and Billy Wayne Boswell.
Honorary pallbearers will be Al Veach, Jim Luke, Ken Willis, Billy Henderson, Hank Florey, Sonny Morgan, Jim Townsend, Leslie Watkins, Johnny Rawson and Bill Newman.
Visitation will be Saturday from 9 a.m. until service time at the funeral home.
Robbie Thomas
Services for Robbie Thomas will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. at Central United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall with the Revs. Steve McDonald, Jimmy Harrison and Jim Wall officiating. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery. Barham Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Thomas, 39, of California, died Thursday, Sept. 13, 2007, at Marina Del Ray, Calif. He was a member of Central United Methodist Church and was a native of Meridian. He began his acting career at age 13 with the Meridian Little Theatre. He entertained and toured around the world. He had worked for several cruise lines as well as numerous theme parks. He was employed with Stiletto Entertainment in Los Angeles as production manager for their cruise line division.
Survivors include his parents, George and Glenda Thomas of Meridian; sisters, Tiffanie Roberts and her husband, Glen, and Elizabeth Thomas, all of Meridian; beloved nieces, Cassie Thomas and Heather Roberts and special friends, Capt. Frank and Mary Alpha Donnelly of Meridian.
Memorials may be made to the drama or choir departments of Meridian High School.
Pallbearers will be his cousins, Bob Brown, Bill Brown, and Jim Brown, Nickie Abdo, Larry Abdo, Mark Abdo, Burl Crocker, Jack Suddeth, Justin Ballard, Wesley Ballard and David Syner.
Visitation will be today from 5 p.m.- 8 p.m. at the funeral home and Saturday one hour prior to the service at the church.
Juanita Simmons Blanks
MCCOMB — Services for Juanita Simmons Blanks will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at Magnolia United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dr. Phil Gerber officiating. Burial will be in the Magnolia Cemetery. Hartman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Blanks, 88, of Magnolia, died, Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2007, at a nursing home in Gulfport, MS. She was born in Magnolia, MS on Feb. 17, 1919. She was the daughter of the late Jones and Euna Simmons of Magnolia.
She was a graduate of Magnolia High School and the University of Southern Mississippi, working as a teacher most of her life. She taught high school home economics in Enterprise, Jackson County, and Magnolia. During World War II, as a civilian employee of the U.S. Army Air Corps, she instructed pilots at Keesler Air Base in reading the instrument panels of their airplanes. In the 1960s, she operated a kindergarten school in Magnolia. For the last segment of her working career, she was an employee of the Mississippi Department of Human Services.
Always involved in the activities of her children, she was an elementary school room mother for all of her children, a cub scout den mother, a brownie scout leader, and a girl scout leader. Her enthusiasm resulted in both sons becoming Eagle scouts.
Her other passion was her participation in the Magnolia community, such as the United Methodist Church, the Garden Club, the Beautification Committee, and the Historical Society.
Survivors include her children, Marvin Blanks III and his wife, Mary Louise, of Philadelphia, Steve and Wendell Lyn Miller of Osyka, and Dr. Tom and and his wife, Donna Blanks, of Long Beach; two sisters-in-law, Anna Simmons of Magnolia and Evelyn Clay of Collinsville; one brother-in-law, A.M. McPhail of Collinsville; grandchildren, Amanda Miller Martin of Tylertown, Beth Blanks of Valley Glen, Calif., Abby Miller McCallum, of Tylertown, Adam Blanks of Loveland, Colo., Stewart Miller of McComb, Marshall Blanks and his wife, Jennifer, of Oxford, and Alan Blanks of Clinton; great-grandchildren, Bentley Martin, Blaire Martin, Mason McCallum, and Addison Blanks; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 53 years, Marvin Blanks, Jr.; and two brothers, W. J. Simmons, Jr. and Wendell Simmons.
The active pallbearers will be her grandsons, Adam Blanks, Stewart Miller, Marshall Blanks, and Alan Blanks; her nephew, Walter Simmons, III; and her nephew-in-law, Dr. Joe Mass.
Memorials may be made to the Bible ministry of Gideons International.
Visitation will be 5 p.m.- 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home and Saturday one hour prior to the service at the church.
David L. Ingram
Retired
Services for David L. Ingram will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at James F. Webb Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Dennis Marks officiating. Burial will be in Pine Springs Methodist Church Cemetery.
Mr. Ingram, 66, of Meridian, died Thursday, Sept. 20, 2007, at Neshoba County Nursing Home. He was a former deputy for Lauderdale County. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and retired as a Master Sgt. He was a Mason.
Survivors include his daughter, Teresa L. Anderson and her husband, Ralph T. of Philadelphia; a step-daughter, Karen Dawkins and her husband, Barry, of Glenn Allen, Va.; sons, Dave Ingram and Christopher R. Ingram and his wife, Melissa, all of Meridian and Thonie W. Ingram of Philadelphia; a step-son, Brad Kueven and his wife, Cheri, of Meridian; grandchildren, Jessica Ingram, Megan Ingram and Thomas Ingram; step-grandchildren, Lauren Dawkins, Gilbert Dawkins, Brianna Dawkins and April Dawkins, John Kueven and his wife, Maggie and Jennifer Kueven; sisters, Nettie White and Margie White; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Nellie Crenshaw Ingram and Dave Ingram and a son, David L. Ingram Jr.
Visitation will be today from 5 p.m.- 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Austin L. Smith
Retired
QUITMAN — Services for Austin L. Smith will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church with the Revs. Grady Crowell, Gene Neal and Dennis Coats officiating. Burial will be in Odd Fellows Cemetery in Quitman. Wright’s Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Smith, 89, of Quitman, died Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2007, at Lakeside Living Center. He was born in Choctaw County, Ala., He was a deacon, church clerk and Sunday school teacher for more than 40 years and will be remembered as a man of God. He loved sports of all kinds and he played baseball, basketball, football and golf.
He was a member of the Civil Conservation Corporation-Oregon. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and served in World War II. He retired from the Air National Guard.
Survivors include his wife, Faye Smith of Quitman; sons, Steven Smith and his wife, Kathy, of Atlanta, Alan Smith and his wife, Tena, of Quitman, John Smith and his wife, Cynthia, of Galveston, Texas and Andrew Smith and his wife, Deborah of Raleigh, N.C.; a daughter, Nancy Head and her husband, Darrell, of Covington, Ga.; 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Olen Baynes and Ola Gavin Smith.
Pallbearers will be his sons and grandsons.
Honorary pallbearers will be the members of the Disciples Sunday School Class from First Baptist Church.
Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Quitman or to the Clarke County Baptist Center.
Visitation will be today from 5 p.m.- 7 p.m. at the funeral home and Saturday one hour prior to the service at the church.
Willie Tildon Beason
Retired
PHILADELPHIA — Services for Willie Tildon Beason will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. from the McClain-Hays Funeral Service Chapel with the Revs. Mack Alford and Kenan Ryan officiating. Burial will be in Henry’s Chapel Cemetery.
Mr. Beason, 64, died Thursday, September 20, 2007 at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center in Meridian.
He was born and raised in the Fork community of Neshoba County where he made his home all of his life. He was a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church. Mr. Beason was a member of the Philadelphia Rotary Club where he had served as president. He had served in many community organizations including the Phiiladelphia-Neshoba County Economic Development Association. Mr. Beason was a graduate of Mississippi State University. He was a veteran of the Korean War. He was a member and past president of the Rotary Club.
Survivors include his daughter, Linda Weir of Meridian; his son, Mark Beason and his wife, Sandi of Byram; three granddaughters, Kyndall Weir and Camden Weir, both of Meridian, Adeline Beason of Byram; one sister, Bobbie Seal of Philadelphia.
Visitation will be held today, from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
William Earl Collins
Graveside services for William Earl Collins will be held Saturday at 3 p.m. at Memorial Park Cemetery with the Rev. Melvin Boles officiating. Barham Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Collins, 83, of Meridian, died Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2007, at Heartfelt Hospice. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and served in World War II. He received the Medal of Honor.
He was an accomplished musician and served as minister of music at Briarwood Baptist Church for several years. He was a retired paramedic and also served as a volunteer fireman in York, Ala. He served two terms as Constable in Sumter County, Ala. He was a Mason and a graduate of University of West Alabama.
Survivors include his daughters, Sheryl Humphrey and her husband, Billy, of Meridian and Deborah Collins of Ridgeland; grandchildren, Edward James “Jimmy” Donaldson IV and his wife, Tracy, Lori Elizabeth White, Hollyanne N. Humphrey all of Meridian, Tiffany Jerra Armstrong, of Jackson, Katherine Tara Armstrong Currie of Flowood; great-grandchildren, Kayla Elizabeth Walton, Brock Lamar Walton, Brice Keith Walton, Lyla Ann White, Kassily Kathleen Donaldson, Edward James “EJ” Donaldson V, James Gray Harrison, Lian Elliott Currie and Lillie K. Matos-Humphrey and special friend, Edward Fairchild.
He was preceded in death by his parents, James Henry and Nannie Melisia Collins; sisters, Louise Robinson and Ozzie Mae Collins and a brother, Wallace Ables.