MEMPHIS  –  John P. Billingsley, 85, died Tuesday, September 18, 2012, at St. Francis Hospital in Memphis.

Graveside services will be held Sunday, September 23 at 3 p.m. at Rose Hill Cemetery in Sardis. Rev. Tom Atkins will officiate. Visitation will be held Saturday from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. at Ray-Nowell Funeral Home in Sardis.

Billingsley, born Feb. 10, 1927 in Mississippi, was a member of Boulevard Baptist Church in Memphis. He was a tire builder for Firestone in Memphis.

Survivors include: his wife, Margaret Ruby Billingsley of Memphis; one son, Bobby Billingsley of Como and one step-son, Woods Huff of Washington, Ga.

BATESVILLE –  Dennis R. Draper, Sr., 53, died Friday, September 14, 2012 in Sardis.

Services start at 11 a.m. today at Pilgrim Rest M. B. Church in Batesville with Pastor Melvin Ellis officiating. Vistation will be one hour before services at Pilgrim Rest. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Cooley’s Mortuary has charge.

Draper was born February 6, 1959 in Sardis to James and Bernice Chapman Draper of Batesville. He was a silverline supervisor for D&W Plating Company and a member of Pilgrim Rest M.B. Church.

In addition to his parents, he is survived by three daughters, Erica Draper of Flowood, Kayla Draper and Ja’Tia Draper, both of Batesville; three sons, Dennis Draper Jr. and Marcus “Shun” Christon, both of Crowder, and Eric Love of Memphis; four sisters, Benetta Hall, Jacqueline Glover and Terri Draper, all of Batesville, and Joyce Avant of Memphis; two brothers, Stacy Draper of Batesville and Joe Draper of Memphis; and five grandchildren.

BATESVILLE –  Louise Chapman, 88, died Tuesday, September 18, 2012, at Methodist University Hospital in Memphis.

Services will be held Sunday, September 23 at 2 p.m. at Armstrong Street Church of God. Minister Larry Chapman will officiate. Visitation will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Cooley’s Mortuary has charge.

Chapman, born May 8, 1924, in Batesville, to the late Willie Cooper and  the late Hattie Adair, was a homemaker and a member of Armstrong Street Church of God.

Survivors include: six daughters, Sarah Crump, Hattie Flowers, Lehoma Chapman, all of Batesville; Eva Mae Thomas and Jearldine Johnson, both of Milwaukee; and Mae Edna Kinnard of Memphis; five sons, Robert Lee Chapman, Rev. Ray Chapman, Min. Larry Chapman, Ivory Joe Chapman, all of Batesville and Rev. Willie Chapman of Milwaukee; two sisters, Eva Mae Hentz of Pope and Mary Turner of Batesville; 56 grandchildren; 105 great-grandchildren and 23 great-great-grandchildren.

CHARLESTON – Robert Anderson Pride, 32, died Friday, September 14, 2012 in Charleston. He was formerly of Crowder.

Visitation will be held today from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. at Cooley’s Mortuary and again Saturday, and an hour before services on Saturday. Services start at 11 a.m. at Concord M.B. Church in Batesville with Rev. James Lawson officiating. Burial will follow at the church cemetery.

Pride was born May 29, 1980, in Charleston to Robert Suggs of Crowder and Brinder Pride Somerville of Covington, Tenn. He was a member of Oak Grove M.B. Church.

Survivors, in addition to his parents, include: a son, Jamarious Stanton of Crowder; his step-father, James Somerville of Covington; his step-mother, Little Ann Suggs of Crowder; his grandmothers, Willie Pride of Covington and Dollie Edwards of Oakland; a sister, Veronica Suggs of Crowder; a brother, Keith Holmes of Crowder; and a god-brother, Derrick Jones of Crowder.

COURTLAND – Shirley B. Segars, 72, died Monday, September 17, 2012, at Baptist Desoto Hospital in Southaven.

A graveside service was held Wednesday, September 19, at Forrest Memorial Park Cemetery.  Rev. Roger Howell officiated. Wells Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Segars was born in Batesville, on May 30, 1940, to the late V. H. and Eunice Thelma Jaudon Chrestman. She was a Baptist by faith and a retired bookkeeper.

Survivors include her daughter, Kim Segars Ostheimer of Germantown; two sons, Charles “Chuck” Segars and Kelly Segars, both of Batesville and three grandchildren.

MEMPHIS- George David Burnell Walker, 99 died Monday, September 17, 2012, in Memphis.  He was the uncle of Tammy Bailey Williams and great-uncle of Emily Darby Williams of Batesville.

He was the brother-in-law of the late Bill Bailey of Batesville.

Visitation will be held today from 2:00-2:45 p.m. at Garner Harper Funeral Home with graveside services to follow at 3 p.m. at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Grenada.

Walker was born July 19, 1913, in Magee, and graduated from Grenada High School in 1933, and was one of the few males to attend classes at Grenada College.  He retired from the Illinois Central Railroad after many years of service in the Forest Products Division. He was a veteran of World War II and served as a Master Sergeant in the Army stationed in Prince Rupert, B.C.    

He was one of the first Boy Scout masters in Grenada.  He was the recipient of the Silver Beaver Award in Scouting; was a long time member of the Exchange Club of Grenada and served as a District Director.  He was active in the Exchange Club’s Toys for Tots in the 1950’s and 60’s.  He and his late wife, Pauline, helped inspire the toys for tots program, St. Nicholas Treasure Chest, at All Saints Episcopal Church. In 1978, he received the Book of Golden Deeds award for community service. He was a master woodworker and donated many of his works to his family, friends, shut ins and to his church. He was a former member of the First Baptist Church in Grenada and currently a member of Colonial Baptist Church in Memphis.

  He was preceded in death by his wife of 40 years, Pauline Bailey Walker; his parents, George Julius Walker and Eva McKinsey Walker; sisters, Hettie Walker and Eva Mae Kelly; brother Julius Lavelle; his stepsons, William and Richard Tomlinson.

He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Edwynia Tomlinson Walker of Memphis; his brother, Wayne M. Walker of Panama City, Fla.; his sister-in-law, May Bailey Whitaker of Grenada; his daughters-in-law Drenda Tomlinson and Marilyn Tomlinson; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

 Memorials may be given to Colonial Baptist Church, Memphis; First Baptist Church, Grenada; St. Nicholas Treasure Chest, c/o All Saints Episcopal Church, Grenada; or a charity of the donor’s choice. Garner-Harper Funeral Home has charge.