OBITUARIES 12/10/2014

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Harmony Bonner

BATESVILLE––Harmony Bonner, infant daughter of Shakeshia Lewis of Batesville and Braddeus Bonner of Sardis, died Saturday, November 29, 2014, at Tri-Lakes Medical Center in Batesville.

Graveside services were held Tuesday, December 2, 2014, at Pleasant Green MB Church Cemetery in Sardis. Rev. Franklin Bowden officiated. Kenneth I. Roberson Funeral Home of Batesville handled the arrangements.

Survivors in addition to her parents include: by grandmothers, Tracy Bonner of Sardis and Leavern Lewis of Batesville; grandfathers, Billy Bonner of Como and Ricky Waldrup of Como; and great grandparents, Mary Ann Clay and Alma and Leroy Lewis all of Sardis, Lillie Towns of Como and Avester Bonner of Nesbit.


Lenora P. Benson

Sign up for our daily email newsletter

Get the latest news sent to your inbox


OAKLAND––Lenora P. Benson, 68, died Thursday, December 4, 2014, at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Desoto.

Services will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at Persimmon Hill M.B. Church in Enid. Pastor Andrew Fluker will officiate. Visitation will be held Friday 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. at Cooley’s Mortuary. Burial will be in Persimmon Hill Church Cemetery. Cooley’s Mortuary has charge.

Benson, born Aug. 29, 1946, in Enid, to Rochild Purnell and Ella Mae Tellis, was a member of Persimmon Hill M.B. Church.

Survivors include: her husband, A.C. Benson of Oakland; two sons, Hal Dewayne Purnell of Topkea, Kansas and Allen Charles McKinney of Oakland; three daughters, Stacy McKinney of Horn Lake, Cynthia Harden of Okland and Diane Purnell of Louisville, Ky.; two brothers, Kenny Ray Purnell of Enid and Jerry L. Purnell of Detroit; five sisters, Rosie Pearl Purnell of Enid, Colettie Alexander of Southaven and Dorothy Moore of Detroit, Bobbie Ezell and Mildred Laundale, both of Gary, Ind.; 15 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Willie E. Jones


BATESVILLE––Willie E. Jones, 78, died Tuesday, December 9, 2014, at Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi.

Services will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Spring Hill Asa M.B. Church in Courtland. Pastor Louis Wilson Sr. will officiate. Visitation will be held Friday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at Cooley’s Mortuary. Burial will be in Spring Hill Asa M.B. Church Cemetery. Cooley’s Mortuary has charge.

Jones, born March 24, 1936, in Batesville, to the late Riley Jones Sr. and Gladys Brassell Jones, was self-employed and a dye and ink maker at Acme Ink Company. He was also a member of Spring Hill Asa M.B. Church.

Survivors include: one son, Delarian Jones of Yorkville, Ill.; five daughters, Cansadra Paden of Oakland, Calif., Marsha Shepherd of Harvey, Ill., Kimberly Jones of Markham, Ill., Marnita Jones of Chicago and Natasha Willingham of Courtland; one brother, Riley Jones Jr. of Chicago; 20 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren.