Beverly Clark Hanson
BATESVILLE––Beverly Clark Hanson, 79, formerly of Omaha, Neb., passed away at her daughter’s home in Batesville. She is the widow of the late Donald V. Hanson.

The family will be having a private family service at a later date.

Mrs. Hanson was born April 20, 1936 in Falls City, Neb. to the late Ralph M. and Lorena Clark. Beverly was a sales representative for Avon and was a member of the Disabled Veterans of America.

In addition to her parents and husband, she is preceded in death by her son, Ralph J. Masek.
Mrs. Hanson is survived by her two daughters, Roxanne Goodson of Batesville, Ramona Ventling of Columbus, Ohio; sister, Glenda Gleason of Sedalia, Mo; seven grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.

Doris C. Hunt
Doris C. Hunt, age 84, died Monday, July 27, 2015, at her daughter’s home in Peachtree City, Ga.

Services were held Thursday at Wells Funeral Home. Burial was in Oakland Cemetery in Oakland. Rev. Keith Gaugh and Rev. Robert Allen officiated. Wells Funeral Home had charge.
Hunt, born October 14, 1930 in Merigold,  to the late Ira Castle and Lucille Stoker Castle, was retired after 28 years from the Memphis City School System as an administrator. She was a member of Mt. Olivet United Methodist Church and The Mississippi Homemakers Association, where she served two years as secretary and two years as state president. She willfully volunteered for the Cancer Society and Hospital Auxiliary.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Hugh R. Hunt.

Survivors include: her daughter, Beverly Hunt Witkowski (John) of Peachtree City, Ga.; one son, Dennis Tims (Linda) of Bells, Tenn.; one sister, Eyvonne Johnson of Memphis; four grandchildren; five great-grandchildren and one great-great granddaughter.

Lawrence Kuykendoll
BATESVILLE––Lawrence “Bo” Kuykendoll Sr., 82, died Tuesday, July 21, 2015, at Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi.

Services will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at Mt. Olive M.B. Church. Pastor C. Jerome Battle will officiate. Visitation will be held today 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Cooley’s Mortuary and 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. at St. Paul U.M. Church. Burial will be in New Bethlehem Church Cemetery. Cooley’s Mortuary has charge.

Kuykendall, born Feb. 8, 1933, to the late Ed Kuykendoll Sr. and Altha Henderson Kuykendoll, was a retired farmer and a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church.

Survivors include: one son, Roy Lee Kuykendoll of Batesville; one daughter, Loretta Kuykendoll of Batesville; one brother, Henry Kuykendoll of Grenada; three sisters, Margaret Kuykedoll Poe and Sarah “Ressie” Galimore, both of Chicago and Minister Minnie Holmes of Compton, Calif.; 11 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.

Azria “Bobby” Lewers
SARDIS–Azria “Bobby” Lewers, 70, died Wednesday, July 29, 2015, at his residence. He was the former Mayor of Como.

Services will be held Sunday at 1 p.m. at Cistern Hill M.B. Church in Como. Visitation will be held Saturday 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. at Felix Cauthen Funeral Home. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Felix Cauthen Funeral Home has charge.

Lewers served two terms as alderman in Como before becoming the first African American to be elected to the mayor’s post. He was a veteran of the U.S. Marine service during the Vietnam War. He was a deacon at Cistern Hill Baptist Church, a 32nd Degree Master Mason and a Shriner.

Survivors include: his wife, Ester Lewers of Como; two sons, Derric Lewers of Nashville, Tenn. and Cornelius Black of Como; two sisters, Jeanie Lewers of Como and Ilene Hunt of Memphis and four grandchildren.

Joyce Marie Merriman
SARDIS––Joyce Marie Merriman, 67, died Friday, July 24 2015, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis.

 Memorial services will be held today at 4 p.m. at Dickins Funeral Home in Batesville.  Rev. Paul Middleton will officiate. Visitation will be at 3 p.m. prior to the services at the funeral home.  Dickins Funeral Home has charge.

 She was preceded in death by her parents, Hazel Irene Goodwin Merriman and Adrian Wade Merriman; one sister, Dorothy Jean Woodruff and one brother, Billy Wade Merriman.

She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church and was a house parent at the Baptist Children’s Village in Water Valley. She loved children and loved her job.

Survivors include: one brother, Robert L. “Bobby” Merriman (Linda) of Batesville.

W. Joe Reid
BATESVILLE––W. Joe Reid, 80, died Wednesday, July 29, 2015, at Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi. He is the husband of Sally Greenlee Reid and former Panola County Circuit Clerk.

Services will be held today at 11:00 a.m. at Batesville First United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Magnolia Cemetery in Batesville. Wells Funeral Home has charge.

Mr. Reid was born in Curtis Station and was the only child of Richard Clyde Reid and Eva Mae Sorrells. When Joe’s father died suddenly at the age of 50, Joe left Ole Miss one semester short of graduating to go back home to help his mother run the family store and farm in Curtis Station. As a young man, he shouldered the responsibility of taking care of his mother and family business while raising a young family. He was a successful farmer and farmed in the area surrounding Curtis Station for decades until he found his true calling in politics. In 1991, he was elected Circuit Clerk of Panola County, and he loved every minute of his job.

 Joe was a people person and he could strike up a conversation with anyone and had a God-given gift of telling great stories. He cherished his relationships with the numerous judges, attorneys, law enforcement, and courthouse personnel. After serving five 4-year terms in office, Joe retired in 2011 and was honored to have served the great people of Panola County. He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Batesville where he served on the Pastor-Parish Committee. He also served on the Bobo Bayou Drainage District Board for several years.
Survivors include: his wife of 54 years, Sally Greenlee Reid, of Batesville; his loving children Richard Clyde Reid (Laura) of Grenada, Robin Reid Boswell (Todd) of Ocean Springs and William Joseph Reid (Stephanie) of Springfield, Mo.; and his grandchildren, Sydney Caroline Reid, Sally Reid Boswell, Sloane Carlisle Reid, Evan Mackenzie Reid, Russell Joseph Reid, Jackson Thomas Reid, and Garland Todd Boswell, Jr.

The family asked for those wishing to make memorial contribution to please forward those to the First United Methodist Church of Batesville, 119 Panola Ave. Batesville, Miss. 38606.