Bonnie Jean Clarke



Services for Bonnie Jean Clarke were held Wednesday at noon at Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church in Blytheville, Ark., with the Rev. Clarence Pilgrim officiating. Services also will be held today at 2 p.m. at Clark’s Memorial Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. W.R. Clark officiating. Burial will be at Union Kemper Springs Baptist Church Cemetery, DeKalb.

On March 3, 2006, Bonnie Jean Clarke, 71, of Blytheville, ended her worldly journey at Great River Medical Center, and swiftly entered into God’s kingdom to begin her eternal journey praising and serving the Lord Jesus.

She was born Sept. 10, 1934, in Lauderdale County, to the late William and Elizabeth Burton Clark. The fifth born child, Bonnie graduated from Whisenton High School in DeKalb and T.J. Harris Junior College, Meridian.

On June 28, 1958, Bonnie joined in holy matrimony with Lee Ollie Clarke of Lost Gap. To this union, two children were born: Linda Yvette and Carlos Jerome. The couple spent 26 years serving our country in the United States Air Force.

“Yea, though I walk through the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff shall comfort me.”

Bonnie accepted Christ at an early age and served Him faithfully until her health began to fail. In 1975, she and her family moved to Blytheville, where she soon became a working member of Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church, serving as Sunday School teacher and being active in the church’s mission. She was “on call” and happily served in any other capacity she was needed.

Bonnie loved people. She worked actively in the community, spending many hours in the local nursing homes.

She was a lifelong member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, where she served as president of the district and Post #7057. She was a member of the NAACP, serving as president of the local chapter; The American Legion Auxiliary, Blytheville Social Arts Club, and volunteered for The American Red Cross in Guam and The Philippines.

“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies; thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.”

Bonnie worked for the health department in Meridian, the Army Air Force Exchange and was a faithful employee of the E.O.C. Parent Center and the Mississippi Headstart program.

Survivors include her devoted husband of 47 years, Leo O. Clarke of Blytheville; a daughter, Linda Campbell and her husband, J.C.; a son, Carlos Clarke and his wife, Sharon; six grandchildren, Mia Campbell, Twjuan Clarke, Gladys Campbell, Isabella Campbell, Trimaud Clarke and Chloe Campbell, all of Blytheville; three sisters, Ollie Bailey and Thelma Hickman, both of Jackson, and Bobbie Clark of Newark, N.J.; and a brother, Obie Clark of Meridian and his wife, Melba.

Visitation will be held today from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be her nephews, Cedric D. Clark, Virgil B. Cole Jr., James Clark, Tracey Dove, Tony Dove and Trimaud Clarke.



Garnet Burks Whitaker

Retired



Graveside services for Garnet Burke Whitaker will be held today at 10:30 a.m. at Liberty Baptist Church Cemetery, with the Revs. Dennis Kennedy and Joseph Hallman officiating. Barham Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Whitaker, 87, of Meridian, died Monday, March 6, 2006, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center.



Ruby May Taylor Self

Homemaker



Graveside services for Ruby May Taylor Self will be held today at 11 a.m. at Magnolia Cemetery, with the Revs. Jimmy Harrison and Rhett Payne officiating. James F. Webb Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Self, 99, of Meridian, died Tuesday, March 7, 2006, at Poplar Springs Nursing Home. A native of Greenwood, S.C., Mrs. Self was a graduate of Lander University in South Carolina, and was the oldest living member of her class at the time of her death. She was a member of Central Methodist Church and had been active in several literary, garden and bridge clubs.

Survivors include a son, Daniel P. Self Jr. of Meridian and his wife, Barbara; a daughter, Anne Self Dowdle and her husband, Andy; four grandchildren, Susan Self of Atlanta, Daniel Self III of Meridian, Courtney Milan of Madison and Jennifer DuPont of Meridian; four great-granddaughters, Ally Self, Elizabeth Self and Megan DuPont, all of Meridian, and Miriam Milan of Madison.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, D.P. Self Sr. of Meridian.

The family requests memorials be made to the Ruby and D.P. Self Scholarship Endowment at Meridian Community College or the Meridian/Lauderdale County Public Library.

Visitation will be one hour prior to the services at the cemetery.



Louis Virgil Covington Jr.

Self employed



Services for Louis Virgil Covington Jr. will be held today at 11:30 a.m. at Barham Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Davey Wilkinson and Howard McKee officiating. Burial will be in Briggs Chapel Cemetery in Porterville.

Mr. Covington, 54, of Porterville, died Tuesday, March 7, 2006, at Riley Hospital. He was a member of Porterville United Methodist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Jackie Hopper Covington of Porterville; a son, Charlie Louis Covington, of Porterville; daughters, Amy Covington of Ocala, Fla., and Lee Ann Covington Golson and her husband, Nick, of Ocala; grandson, Nathan Golson of Ocala; his mother, Juanita Skipper Covington of Meridian; a brother, William Covington of Meridian; a sister, Barbara Covington Burnside and her husband, Norris, of Meridian; his mother and father-in-law, Betty and Bill Kirby, of Porterville; nephews, Will Covington of Meridian and Bryan Burnside and his wife, Julie, of Houston, Texas and a niece, Kimberly Burnside of Meridian.

He was preceded in death by his father, Louis Virgil Covington Sr.

Pallbearers will be Daniel Allen, Casey Atkinson, Austin Dudley, Colby Sanderford, Luke Moore, Canaan Sharp, Zac Clay, Louis Leonard, Jonathan White and Brandon Key.



Donald J. Heiden



Services for Donald J. Heiden will be held Friday at 10 a.m. at Mt. Horeb Baptist Church with the Revs. Nick Holden and Richard Coats officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. James F. Webb Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Heiden, 66, of Meridian, died Tuesday, March 7, 2006, at Rush Foundation Hospital. He was a member of Mt. Horeb Baptist Church and was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force.

Survivors include his wife, Donna Heiden of Meridian; a son, Joe Heiden and his wife, Marla, of Foley, Ala.; daughters, Misty D. Cooper and her husband, Casey, of Purvis, Sherri Heiden of Memphis, Tenn. and Brandi Jackson of Olive Branch; a brother, Bill Heiden of Meridian; grandchildren, Zach Heiden, Layton Cooper, Lawson Cooper, Athene Heiden, Jordan Heiden, Bell Heiden, Deserae Heiden and Wesley Jackson; and two great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Katie and William Heiden.

Pallbearers will be Tim Richardson, Chris Richardson, Jerry Coleman, Casey Cooper, Matt Raines, Shannon Salters and Jeremy Smith.

Visitation will be today from 5 p.m.-7 p.m. at the funeral home.

Johnny Merle Skinner



GILBERTOWN, Ala. — Graveside services for Johnny Merle Skinner will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at Brightwater Cemetery in Toxey. Phillips Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Skinner, 73, of Needham, died Tuesday, March 7, 2006, at Rush Foundation Hospital.

Survivors include her son, Danny Skinner; daughters, Lynn Thompson and Leta Koen; one sister; seven grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband and a son.

Visitation will be today from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home.



Pearl S. Barton

Retired



Services for Pearl S. Barton will be held Friday at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Stonewall with the Rev. Joey McGill officiating. Burial will be in Stonewall Cemetery. Stephens Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Barton, 94, of Quitman, died Wednesday, March 8, 2006, at Lakeside Living Center in Quitman. She was a retired textile worker for Burlington Industries.

Survivors include her son, Jerry Barton and his wife, Brenda, of Stonewall; a daughter, Gail Farr and her husband, Don, of Rienzi; grandchildren, Robert and Richard Morrison of Brandon, Kaye Donald and her husband, Dud, of Brandon, Jason Farr and his wife, Karen, of Rienzi, Kris Emerson of Corinth, Tina Keenan of Stonewall, Lyle Keenan and his wife, Angie, of Rose Hill; eight great-grandchildren; sisters, Lois McDonald of Shreveport, La., and Nellie Downs and her husband, Pat, of Meridian.

She was preceded in death by two brothers and five sisters.

Visitation will be Friday from noon until service time at the church.



Willie M. Mitchell



Services for Willie M. Mitchell will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Alpha and Omega Holiness Church in Toomsuba with the Rev. Freddie Ford officiating. Burial will be in Morning Star Cemetery. Berry and Gardner Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Mitchell, 61, of Porterville, died Wednesday, March 1, 2006, in her home.



Lela B. Ford



Services for Lela B. Ford will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at Berry and Gardner Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. André Harris officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

Mrs. Ford, 89, of Meridian, died Monday, March 6, 2006, at Rush Foundation Hospital.

Visitation will be Friday from 7:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. at the funeral home.



Judith Ann Abate

Homemaker



Memorial services for Judith Ann Abate were held Tuesday at 10 a.m. at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center chapel with the Revs. Cosgrove and Tom Sikes officiating.

Mrs. Abate, 63, of Meridian, died Tuesday, March 7, 2006, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center. She will be remembered as a loving mother and devoted wife.

Survivors include her husband of 39 years, Samuel J. Abate of Meridian; a son, Michael A. Abate and his wife, Cindy, of Orlando; a daughter, Katherine A. Warren of Bailey, and Margie L. Smith and her husband, Charles, of Meridian; a sister, Lotelle Chisolm; five grandchildren; one great-grandchild and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Woodrow and Dessie Chisolm.

The family requests a tree be planted in memory of Mrs. Abate.



Charles D. Orr



NEWTON — Arrangements were incomplete at James F. Webb Funeral Home for Charles D. Orr, 82, of Newton, who died Wednesday, March 8, 2006, at Riley Hospital.