Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Published 11:29 pm Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Alfred L. Ford

Farmer and retired plumber



Services for Alfred L. Ford will be held today at 11 a.m. at Center Grove Baptist Church with the Rev. Edward Smith officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Barham Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Ford, 85, of Meridian, died Monday, Jan. 29, 2007, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center. He was a member of Center Grove Baptist Church where he taught Sunday school. He will be remembered as a wonderful and loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He was known by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren as “Big Daddy”.

He deeply loved the Lord, his family and his church family. He made a difference in many lives and will be greatly missed. He was a veteran of the U.S. Military and served in World War II. He was self-employed as a plumber and farmer.

Survivors include his wife of 46 years, Pauline Ford of Meridian; children, Paul Singley and his wife, Robin, Donnie Singley and his wife, Ann, and Diane Townsend, all of Meridian; eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; sisters, Sally K. Sollie and her husband, Raymond, of Starkville, Mary Frances Hughes and her husband, Franklin, of Prentiss and Margie McCoy of Pensacola, Fla. and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his son, Larry Singley; parents, Luther and Mary Etta Ford; sisters, Emma Claire Shirley and Louise Bunyard.

Pallbearers will be Randy Shirley, Steven Shirley, Patrick Singley, Kurt Singley, Kyle Singley and Ronnie Singley.

Honorary pallbearers will be James Cross, Kieffer Townsend and Teddy Townsend.

Visitation will be today 30 minutes prior to the service at the church.



Ollie P. Bryant

Retired



Services for Ollie P. Bryant will be held Thursday at 1 p.m. at Greater Calvary Baptist Church with the Rev. Sylvester Horne officiating. Burial will be in Pleasant Grove Cemetery in Toomsuba. Clark’s Memorial Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Bryant, 69, of Meridian, died Thursday, Jan. 25, 2007, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center. She was born on April 26, 1937 to the late Lula Mae Jones McKinnis and L.T. McKinnis of Toomsuba. She was a member of Greater Calvary Missionary Baptist Church and served in many capacities in the church including, a member of the choir, the Missionary Society, Pastor’s Aide and especially on the Fellowship Committee. She was a graduate of T.J. Harris High School in the class of 1955. She retired from Riley’s Cleaners after more than 37 years and she also was employed by the Woodall Family for many years.

Survivors include her daughter, Vickie Hall Thomas of Meridian; sons, Carl Hall, Jake Hall Jr., and Gregory Hall, all of Meridian; sisters, Gloria Cole, Linda Horne, and Mary Naylor, Brenda Avery, Barbara Benjamin; brothers, Robert L. Horne, the Rev. Sylvester Horne, James Horne and Castor Horne; seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a step-father, the Rev. R. L. Horne; her husbands, Jake Hall and Larry D. Bryant and a grandson, Marcus Loper.

Visitation will be today from 6 p.m.-7 p.m. at the funeral home.



Edna Ouida Shirley

Retired



Graveside services for Edna Ouida Shirley will be held today at 10:30 a.m. at Memorial Park Cemetery with the Revs. Dr. Jason Bird and Dr. Bob Simmons officiating. James F. Webb Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Shirley, 103, of Meridian, died Monday, Jan. 29, 2007, at Poplar Springs Nursing Center in Meridian. She retired as a salesperson from Harry Mayer. She was a member of Fifteenth Avenue Baptist Church. She was also preceded in death and survived by a host of boyfriends. She loved fishing and fine clothes, but most of all she loved the Lord and faithfully and constantly served Him by serving others as long as her health allowed.

Survivors include her grandson, Victor Quentin; a niece, Dorothy Bullen; cousins, Helen Smiley and Dave Hughley and several other family members and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Julian Shirley; daughters, Anita and Merle Shirley and a son, Victor Shirley.

Memorials may be made to Fifteenth Avenue Baptist Church in Meridian.

Honorary pallbearers will be Phillip Price, Greer Goldman, Harry Mayer, Red McKinney, Fred Snowden, Dr. Vince Smith, Fred Poitevent and Billy Blaine.



Robert Walter Dean

Mississippi Construction Education Foundation president



Services for Robert “Bob” Walter Dean will be held today at 2 p.m. at Barham Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Wayne Anderson and Earl Wheatley officiating.

Mr. Dean, 60, of Brandon, died Sunday, Jan. 28, 2007, at River Oaks Hospital. He was a former member of Riverchase Community Church in Birmingham, Ala. He had been a resident of Birmingham prior to moving to Brandon. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and served in Vietnam and with the Marine Corps as a medic.

Survivors include his wife, Gretchen Buntyn Dean of Brandon; a son, Michael Edward Dean of Houston, Texas; a daughter, Katherine Elise Dean, of Tuscaloosa, Ala.; a sister, Mary Whitty of St. Simons, Ga.; brothers, Franklin Dean of Garner, N.C. and Thomas Dean of Frisco, Texas; parents-in-law, Alston and Comilla Buntyn of Meridian.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Franklin and Marie Dean.

Pallbearers will be Mark Buntyn, Russ Buntyn, Kip Cole, Greg Dean, Bodie McAuley, Lee Newman and David Whitty.

Honorary pallbearers will be the staff and board members of the Mississippi Construction Education Foundation.

Abram Clayton



Services for Abram Clayton will be held Friday at 3 p.m. at Union Kemper Springs Baptist Church in DeKalb with the Rev. Robert Coats officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Clark’s Memorial Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Clayton, 64, of San Diego, died Sunday, Jan. 28, 2007, in San Diego.

Visitation will be Thursday from 6 p.m.-7 p.m. at the funeral home and Friday one hour prior to the service at the church.



G.W. Lanear

Retired city of Meridian employee



Services for G.W. Lanear will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Berry and Gardner Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Larry D. Reed officiating. Burial will be in New Hope Blackwater Cemetery.

Mr. Lanear, 70, of Meridian, died Friday, Jan. 26, 2007, in his home.



Elvester Richardson



Services for Elvester Richardson will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at Berry and Gardner Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be in Okatibbee Cemetery.

Mr. Richardson, 72, of Meridian, died Sunday, Jan. 21, 2007, in his home.

Visitation will be Friday from 6 p.m.-7 p.m. at the funeral home.



Laura J. Derrick

Retired Dietitian



Services for Laura J. Derrick will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at Sherman Hill United Methodist Church in Lake with the Rev. Robert Brown officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Clark’s Memorial Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Ms. Derrick, 83, of Lake, died Monday, Jan. 29, 2007, in her home.

Visitation will be Friday from 6 p.m.-7 p.m. at the funeral home in Newton and Saturday one hour prior to the service at the church.



Hattie Mae Hudson



Arrangements were incomplete at Berry and Gardner Funeral Home for Hattie Mae Hudson, 54, of Meridian, who died Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2007, in her home.



Corine Evans



Arrangements were incomplete at Enterprise Funeral Home for Corine Evans, of Meridian, who died Monday, Jan. 29, 2007, at Riley Hospital.