Deaths
Published 6:00 am Friday, July 30, 2010
Bertha Lee Echols Atterberry
JACKSON – Services for Bertha Lee Echols Atterberry will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at New Galilean Missionary Baptist Church Chapel in Jackson.
Mrs. Atterberry, 89, of Clinton and formerly of Meridian, passed away Saturday, July 24, 2010. She was born June 13, 1921, in Alabama to the late Lela and Louis Echols. She was the last born of five children. She married the late Louis Atterberry at the age of 18 in Meridian. At an early age, she joined Ebenezer Baptist Church in Meridian, pastured by the late Rev. D. L. Bell. What she loved most was family events and her church family. When asked to speak to the family at reunions, she would always talk about the Lord and loving one another. She joined New Galilean Missionary Baptist Church, pastured by Nathaniel V. Booker, in 1994 after moving to Clinton. She later served as an active and dedicated mother on the Mother Board.
Survivors include her children, Saundra Hill of Clinton, Stephen Atterberry and his wife Linda, Jeffery Atterberry and his wife, Heather, both of Jackson, Shirleigh Wood of Portsmouth, Va.; daughters-in-law, Savannah Atterberry and Patricia Atterberry; 31 grandchildren; 39 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren. Also special to her were Mary Atterberry and Mary Brooks. She leaves a special friend, Millie Austin, a loving nephew, and a host of nieces, cousins and dear friends.
She was preceded in death by her sons, Walter Atterberry and Odell Charles Atterberry Sr.; and special friends, Odell Charles Dyess and Helen Armstrong.
Visitation will be today, from 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. at Jackson Memorial Funeral Home located at 922 Woodrow Wilson Avenue in Jackson.
James Douglas “Doug” Spears Jr.
Facility Technician, AT&T
Services for James Douglas “Doug” Spears Jr. will be held today at 1 p.m. at Robert Barham Family Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Jack Kern officiating. Burial will be in Meridian Memorial Park with Robert Barham Family Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Spears, 45, of Meridian, died Wednesday, July 28, 2010, at his residence. He was a member of Antioch Baptist church. He was a facility technician with AT&T for the past 10 years. He was a graduate of Neshoba Central High School, an avid sportsman and was always helping others. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, son and friend.
Survivors include his wife, Cathy Spears; daughters, Amy Jamieson and Angie White; grandchildren, Keaton and Lily Kate Jamieson; and father, James Douglas Spears Sr., all of Meridian; mother, Becky McDaniel; and sister, Cathy Cole, both of Philadelphia; and numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, T.J. and Thelma Spears and David and Pauline Smith.
Pallbearers will be Charles Pickett, Joseph White, Keith Jamieson, Chris Jamieson, Chuck Jamieson and Buck Winstead.
Honorary pallbearers will be AT&T employees.
The family requests that memorials be made to the American Cancer Society.
Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at robertbarhamffh.com.
Charles E. Tibbetts Sr.
“Blue Blazer”
Graveside services for Charles E. Tibbetts Sr. will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at Forest Lawn Cemetery with the Rev. Gary Blaire officiating. Robert Barham Family Funeral Home will be in charge of the arrangements.
Mr. Tibbetts, 86, of Meridian, died Thursday, July 29, 2010, at his residence. He was retired from Mitchell Neon Signs. He was a member of Faith Baptist Church, was a veteran and was an avid bicyclist.
Survivors include his wife, Genell Tibbetts; sons, Charles E. Tibbetts Jr. and his wife Dot and Terry Tibbetts and his wife Kathy; and a daughter, Polly Smith and her husband, Dennis, all of Meridian; eight grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and a brother, O.S. Tibbetts and his wife, Dottie, of Pennsylvania.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Otto and Mabel Tibbetts; and his sisters, Judy Springer and Margaret Hodge.
Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at robertbarhamffh.com.
Visitation will be today, from 5 p.m.-7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Lanora “Lee” Ward
Memorial services for Lanora “Lee” Ward will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Central United Methodist Church with the Rev. Jimmy Harrison officiating. Robert Barham Family Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Ms. Ward, 67, of Meridian, died Wednesday, July 28, 2010, at Anderson Regional Medical Center. She was a retired bookkeeper. She was also an active member of Central United Methodist Church, as well as Aldersgate, where she resided.
Survivors include her daughter, Nora Maddox and her husband, Marshall, of Batavia, Ill.; son, Travis Ward of San Antonio, Texas; grandchildren, Tiffanie Deal, Jaymi Ward, Hannah Maddox and Victoria Maddox; one great-grandchild, Haelea Deal; sister, Elaine Schantz of Chesterfield, Mont.; and a brother, Ed Hulse of Nashville, Tenn.
She was preceded in death by a grandson, Grant Connor Maddox.
The family requests that memorials be made to Central United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 1706, Meridian, MS, 39302.
Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at robertbarhamffh.com.
Visitation will be Saturday, from 9:30 a.m.-10:45 a.m. at the church.
Johnnie Jackson
BUTLER, Ala. – Services for Johnnie Jackson will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. at St. John C.M.E. Church in Mt. Sterling with the Rev. Samuel Duff officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery with Weatherly-Studdard Memorial Chapel of Butler in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Jackson, 68, passed away Tuesday, July 27, 2010, at Regency Hospital in Meridian.
Visitation will be today, from 3 p.m.-6 p.m. at the funeral home and Saturday, one hour prior to services at the church.
Damon Thomas Brooks
Services for Damon T. Brooks will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at Mt. Zion Baptist Church with the Rev. Odell Hopkins officiating. Burial will be in New Hope Blackwater Cemetery with Berry and Gardner Funeral Home in charge of the arrangements.
Mr. Brooks, 33, of Meridian, died Sunday, July 25, 2010, in Muskogee, Okla.
Visitation will be today, from 6 p.m.-7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Jo Ann Knotts Duchock
Memorial services for Jo Ann Knotts Duchock will be held Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at Robert Barham Family Funeral Home with Dr. John Temple officiating. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery with Robert Barham Family Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Duchock, 63, of Terrytown, La., passed away Wednesday, July 21, 2010, at her residence in Terrytown, La. She graduated from Meridian High School in 1964.
Survivors include her daughters, Michele Duchock of Terrytown, La. and Christa Lopez and her husband Nolan Lopez; granddaughter, Carson Thomassie; and grandson, Nick Thomassie, both of Haughton, La.; and sister and brother-in-law, Donna and Charles Maggard of Meridian.
She was preceded in death by her husband, P.S. “Pete” Duchock on June 14, 2010; her mother and father, Ilene Knotts and H.O. Knotts; and her grandmother, Ila Brooks.
Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at robertbarhamffh.com.
Visitation will be Saturday, one hour prior to services at the funeral home.
Bonnie Hurt Gilbert
Services for Bonnie Hurt Gilbert will be held Monday at 10 a.m. at Robert Barham Family Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Chad Young (her grandson), Lewis May and Tommy D. Gilbert officiating. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery with Robert Barham Family Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Gilbert of Meridian, died Thursday July 29, 2010, at her residence.
Visitation will be Sunday, from 3 p.m.-5 p.m. at Robert Barham Family Funeral Home.
Vance Munnings Sr.
Arrangements are incomplete at Clarks Memorial Funeral Home for Vance Munnings Sr. of Meridian, who died Thursday, July 29, 2010, at his residence.