Funeral services were held Monday, May 27, at 11 a.m. at Wells Funeral Home Chapel. Rev. E. K. Gordon and Rev. Ben James officiated the service. Burial was in Magnolia Cemetery. Wells Funeral Home had charge of arrangements.

Bailey, daughter of the late Arthur and Birdie Hamblin Oliver, was born February 9, 1930, in Houlka. She was a retired factory worker and a member of Crowder Baptist Church.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, April 9, at 2 p.m. at Wells Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be in Memorial Gardens in Clarksdale. Wells Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

Bailey, daughter of the late Floyd and Bertha Lauderdale Coleman, was born September 8, 1912, in Lafayette County. She was a homemaker and a member of Batesville Church of Christ. She was the widow of the late Leslie Edgar Bailey.

Funeral services were held Sunday, December 29, at 2 p.m. at Crowder Baptist Church. Interment was at Crowder Baptist Cemetery. Rev. Ben James and Rev. Truman Scarborough officiated services.

Bailey, born February 29, 1934, to Victor Earl Bailey and Maggie Meuirhead Bailey, was a farmer and a member of Crowder Baptist Church, where he served as a Deacon. He was also a former Quitman County Supervisor.

Survivors include his wife, Joan Card Bailey of Crowder; one daughter Cheryl Bailey Wilson of Senatobia; two sons, Perry Wasson Bailey, Jr. and Mark Anthony Bailey, both of Crowder; four sisters, Earline White of Crowder, Louise Wimberly of Lambert, Shirley Vowell of Batesville, and Sue Sutton of Crowder; two brothers Harold Wayne Bailey, and James Bailey both of Crowder; 10 grandchildren.

Ballard, Hattie Mae
Hattie Mae Ballard, 73, of Cascilla, died Monday, July 1, 2002, at her home of heart failure.

Funeral services were held Sunday, July 7, at 3 p.m. at New Town M.B. Church in Charleston. Rev. William Jones officiated the service. Burial was in Jerusalem M.B. Church in Paynes. Cooley’s Mortuary, Inc. had charge of arrangements.

Ballard, daughter of the late Solon Pittman and Idella Knox, was born May 11, 1929, in Charleston. She was a homemaker and a member of Union Grove M.B. Church in Cascilla.

Funeral services were held Saturday, Dec. 14, at 10:30 a.m. at Moore Funeral Home in Sardis. Interment was in Fulmer Cemetery near Como.

Barmer, daughter of the late, Robert Clyde and Mahala Bray Britt, was born Dec. 13, 1930 in Como. She was the widow of Rev. Louis Barmer.

Funeral services were held Monday, February 18, at 2 PM at Wells Funeral Home Chapel. Rev. George Buell officiated the service. Burial was in Forrest Memorial Park. Wells Funeral Home had charge of arrangements.

Barnett, daughter of the late Ben Alston and Georgie Moore Harris, was born May 1, 1919, in Yalobusha County. She was a retired merchant and homemaker, and a member of Eureka United Methodist Church in Courtland. She was the widow of the late James B. Barnett.

Barnes, Ester Lee
Ester Lee Barnes, 83, of Iuka, formerly of Osceola, Arkansas, died Sunday, August 25, 2002, of heart failure.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, August 27, at 2 p.m. at Family Funeral Care in Memphis, Tennessee. Burial was in Memorial Park Cemetery in Memphis. Wells Funeral Home had charge of arrangements.

Barnes, widow of the late Willis Mack Barnes, was born March 23, 1919, in Wayne County, Tennessee. She was a homemaker.

Survivors include a son, Willis Tim Barnes of Iuka; two daughters, Dorothy Peters of Memphis and Nancy Cazenave of Lompoc, California; a brother, Sam Murphy of Rogersville, Alabama; eight grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Bell, Willie Gene
Willie Gene Bell, 71, of Marks, died Friday, May 17, 2002, at Northwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center in Tupelo of heart failure following a lengthy illness.

Funeral services were held Sunday, May 19, at 2 p.m. at West Marks Baptist Church. Rev. Mike Smithey and Rev. Laurie Jones officiated the service. Burial was in Marks Cemetery. Kimbro Funeral Home had charge of arrangements.

Bell, son of Roxie Bell of Arkabutla and the late Malcom M. Bell, was born March 12, 1931, in Water Valley. He was a retired vo-tech teacher and master carpenter. He was a member of West Marks Baptist Church, a Mason and a retired volunteer firefighter. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II.

Survivors, other than his mother, include his wife, Dorothy Bell of Marks; two sons, Robert Bell of Horn Lake and Keith Bell of Marks; a daughter, Carolyn Womble of Marks; a sister, Peggy Rotenberry of Arkabutla; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
 

Benson, Edward
Edward Benson, 87, of Senatobia, died Friday, Nov. 15, 2002, in Portland, Oregon of heart failure.

Funeral services were held Nov. 16, 1 p.m. at Pleasant Green M.B. Church in Water Valley. Burial was in the church cemetery. Felix Cauthen Funeral Home had charge of arrangements.

Benson was a retired farmer.

Survivors include his daughter, Veteree Armstrong of Senatobia; three sons, Willie F. Benson of Horn Lake, Herman Benson of Sardis, and J.D. Benson of Memphis, Tenn.; five sisters, Azella Legan, Elnora Wright, Mattie Booker, all of Portland, Essie B. Oliver of Flint, Mich., and Laura M. Butler of Chicago, Ill.; two brothers, Jessie W. Austin of Chicago, Ill.., and Rev. Theadis Austin of Water Valley; 58 grandchildren, and 40 great-grandchildren and 10 great, great-grandchildren.

Bickerstaff, Geneva Inez
Geneva Inez Bickerstaff, 81, of Batesville, died Friday, June 28, 2002, at Baptist Memorial Hospital – North Mississippi in Oxford of heart failure.

Graveside services were held Sunday, June 30, at 2 p.m. at Batesville Magnolia Cemetery. Rev. Dr. Bob Self officiated the service. Dickins Funeral Home had charge of arrangements.

Bickerstaff, daughter of the late Alonza Jordan and Minnie Elizabeth Ellett Williams, was born August 20, 1920, in Tallahatchie County. She was a retired nurse and a member of First Baptist Church of Batesville.

Survivors include four daughters, Joyce Brasell and Judy Wardlaw, both of Batesville, Brenda Outlaw of Cleveland and Becky Brand of Plano, Texas; two sons, William "Buddy" Bickerstaff of Franklin, Tennessee, and Charles "Chuck" Bickerstaff of Batesville; a brother, Reginald Williams of Batesville; a sister, Elizabeth Spaur of Batesville; 13 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Batesville Magnolia Cemetery, P.O. Box 302, Batesville, Mississippi 38606.

A memorial obituary may be viewed at .
 

Graveside services were held Monday, December 9, in Spring Hill Asa Cemetery. Rev. Coya Blackburn officiated services. Cooley’s Mortuary had charge of arrangements.

Blackburn was the daughter of Albert Blackburn of Pope and Stephanie Benson of Sardis.

Blake, Nezzie
Nezzie Blake, 89, of Water Valley, died Sunday, November 3, 2002, at Yalobusha General Hospital in Water Valley of heart failure.

Graveside services will be held Friday, November 8, at noon at West Springhill Church cemetery in Oxford. Nicholson Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

Blake, daughter of the late Robert and Luella Blake, was born September 20, 1913, in Lafayette. She was a farmer.

Survivors include her two daughters, Ruby Rockett of Memphis, Tenn., and Minnie Chalmers of Oxford; one brother, Hardy Blake of South Bend, Ind.; five grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and seven great, great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Thursday, April 11, at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Batesville. Burial was in Forrest Memorial Park. Wells Funeral Home had charge of arrangements.

Blair, son of the late Iverson Hargis and Ida Tramel Blair, was born September 28, 1925, in Panola County. He was retired from Riteway Cleaners and a member of North Batesville Baptist Church. He was a disabled U.S. Army veteran of World War II. He was the widower of the late Dovie Perkins.

Boling, Lena Mae Belk
Lena Mae Belk Boling, 83, of Sardis, died Thursday, July 18, 2002, at Baptist Memorial Hospital – DeSoto in Southaven of heart failure.

Funeral services were held Saturday, July 20, at 2 p.m. at Wells Funeral Home Chapel. Rev. Jerry Sanford officiated the service. Burial was in Rose Hill Cemetery. Wells Funeral Home had charge of arrangements.

Boling was the retired owner of Lena Mae’s Beauty Shop of Sardis and a member of the First Baptist Church, also in Sardis. She was the widow of the late Clarence Monroe Boling.

Survivors include a number of nieces and nephews.

The Mass of Christian Burial was held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17, at St. Peter the Apostle Cathedral with burial in Greenwood Cemetery in Pascagoula. Wright and Ferguson Funeral Home in Jackson had charge of arrangements.

Boyce was born January 22, 1941, in Pascagoula. He was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Natchez-Jackson May 28, 1966, at our Lady of Victories Church in Pascagoula.

Boyce was a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Jackson. He served the Diocese as an assistant pastor at St. Alphonsus in Ocean Springs until April 1970 when he became the Temporary Administrator until September of 1970. At the time he left Mississippi to serve the United States as a chaplain in the U.S. Army in Vietnam. In Oct. of 1973, he returned to serve the Diocese again as an assistant pastor at St. Peter Co-Cathedral in Jackson. During this time he also served as the Diocesan Coordinator for campus ministry.

In June of 1974 he was appointed to serve as the director of vocations. In August of 1977 he was appointed pastor of St. Michael Parish in Vicksburg. He served there until September 1980 when he was named pastor of All-Saints parish in Belzoni. He was appointed pastor of St. Jude parish in Pearl in January 1983. In January 1993 he was appointed to serve as pastor of St. Mary in Batesville and its mission St. John the Baptist in Sardis.

Survivors include a first cousin, May Katherine Brannan of Grand Bay, Ala.

Boyles, Elsie
Elsie Boyles, 76, of Lake, died Thursday, August 29, 2002, at Lackey Memorial Hospital of heart failure.

Funeral services were held Saturday, August 31, at 2 p.m. at Ott & Lee Funeral Home Chapel in Forest. Rev. Jerry Holmes and Rev. Victor Vaughn officiated the service. Burial was in High Hill Methodist Cemetery in Lake. Ott & Lee Funeral Home had charge of arrangements.

Boyles was a native of Louin and had been a resident of the Norris community in Scott County for over 49 years. She was a member of the High Hill Methodist Church and the Norris Homemakers Club. She had worked as a sales clerk for various stores in Forest throughout the years and had retired as a food service worker with the Forest Municipal School District. She was preceded in death by her husband, George "Mr. Sam" Boyles in 1994.

Survivors include a son, George Boyles of Lake; a daughter, Zylphia Perkins of Batesville; a sister, Maxine Walters of Ovett; two brothers, Terrell Lee Simmons of Louin and Billy Simmons of Magee; two grandchildren, Amy Perkins and Courtney Perkins, both of Batesville.

Bowles, Charles Laverne Sr.
Charles Laverne Bowles, Sr., 58, of Sledge, died Saturday, August 3, 2002, at his home of heart failure.

Funeral services were held Monday, August 5, at 4 p.m. at Goodwill Church of God. Rev. Jerry Hill officiated the service. Burial was in Peach Creek Cemetery in Sardis. Wells Funeral Home had charge of arrangements.

Hill, son of the late Alvis L. and Mattie West Bowles, was born June 21, 1944, in Quitman County. He was disabled and a member of Goodwill Church of God. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Larry Bowles, James Bowles and Edgar Bowles.

Survivors include his wife, Deley Nancy Bowles of Sledge; two daughters, Cynthia Bowles Stephens and Pamela Sue Bowles Doggen, both of Sledge; a son, Charles Laverne Bowles, Jr. of Sardis; three sisters, Ann Bowles McGregory and Christine Bowles Stewart, both of Batesville, and Ruby Bowles Turner of Water Valley; a brother, Douglas Bowles of Sledge; and five grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Saturday, April 13, at 1 p.m. at Simon Chapel No. 2 M.B. Church in Sardis. Rev. David Kraft officiated the service. Burial was in the church cemetery. Henderson Funeral Home had charge of arrangements.

Bradley attended Panola County schools. She was a housewife and a member of Simon Chapel No. 2 M.B. Church.

Brahan, Beulah A.
Beulah A. Brahan, 83, of Lula, died Thursday, July 25, 2002, at Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi in Oxford of heart failure.

Funeral services were held Saturday, July 27, at Kimbro Funeral Home. Rev. Bo Thompson officiated the service. Burial was in Marks Cemetery. Kimbro Funeral Home had charge of arrangements.

Brahan, daughter of the late James David and Pearl Douglas Abercrombie, was born August 17, 1918 in Maysville, Ark. She was a homemaker and a member of Lula Methodist Church.

Survivors include her husband, Weakley Brahan of Lula; one son Woody Woods of Lula; and two grandsons.

Margaret Lillian Branscome, 94, of Quitman, died Sunday, April 21, 2002, at Graceland Nursing Home in Oxford of heart failure.

Graveside services were held Tuesday, April 23, at 11 a.m. at Bethel Cemetery in Enid. The Rev. Dianne Lemmon officiated the service. Dickins Funeral Home had charge of arrangements.

Branscome, daughter of the late Gilbert Acey and Mamie Willis Bridges, was born December 22, 1907, in Quitman. She was a homemaker and a member of the Methodist Church.

Survivors include two daughters, Josie "Jo" B. Benett of Pontotoc and Martha B. Fielder of Oxford; six grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Thursday, April 18, at 2 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Batesville. Rev. Alan Kilgore and Rev. Bob Self officiated the service. Burial was in Magnolia Cemetery. Parker Memorial Funeral Home in Bruce and Wells Funeral Home had charge of arrangements.

Brasher, daughter of the late Joe Longest and Bertha Mae Crawford, was born January 27, 1943. She graduated from Bruce High School in 1960. She was a graduate of Hines Junior College and Mississippi State College for Women. She was a member of the First Baptist Church, where she was a member of the choir and handbell choir, and a member of the Batesville Garden Club. She was a homemaker and a business associate.

Visitation will be held Friday, April 12, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at South Hopewell M.B. Church in Oxford. Funeral services will follow at 2 p.m. Rev. Fonzo Milan will officiate the service. Burial will be in Orrwood Cemetery in Batesville. Cooley’s Mortuary, Inc. has charge of arrangements.

Brassell, son of the late Melvin Bibbs and Alberta Jones, was born June 7, 1938, in Lafayette County. He was a retired painter and a member of Sandy Spring A.M.E. Zion Church.

Funeral services were held Thursday, February 21, at 10 a.m. at East Toledo Baptist Church. Burial was in Lake Place Cemetery in Walbridge, Ohio. Witzler-Shank Mortuary in Walbridge had charge of arrangements.

Brister, daughter of Ollie and Edna Arendale, was born in 1932 in Panola County. She was a graduate of Crowder High School and Blue Mountain College. After college, she did missionary work in New Mexico. She moved to Toledo in the mid-1950s. She taught elementary school for 27 years in the Toledo Public Schools, retiring in 1991. She also taught Sunday School at East Toledo Baptist Church, where she was a charter member. She was a former president of the women’s missionary association, and was a former church clerk and librarian.

Brower, Keely Juanita
Keely Brower, 18, of Crowder, died Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2002, at her home.

Funeral services were held Monday, Nov. 25, at 2 p.m. at Wells Funeral Home Chapel. Internment was at Crowder Cemetery. Wells Funeral Home had charge of arrangements.

Brower, daughter of Kenny and Phyliss Brower, was born Sept. 22, 1984 in Batesville. She was member of Crowder Assembly of God.

Survivors include her three sisters, Tiffany Marie Brower and Veronica Renee Brower both of Crowder, and Amanda Charisse Red of Batesville; grandparents, Bobby Dean Holcombe of Crowder, Annie Bell Brower of Rosedale; two nephews, Kenneth Thomas Brown, Chance Fisher Brown; and one niece, Kristina Inez Red.

Brown, Audrey H.
Audrey H. "Bud" Brown, 80, of Sardis, died Saturday, April 27, 2002, at his home of heart failure.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, April 30, at 11 a.m. at Wells Funeral Home Chapel. Burial was in Sardis Lake Cemetery. Wells Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

Brown, son of the late James Audrey and Maude Ethel Herron Brown, was born June 10, 1921, in Panola County. He was a retired shop foreman for Harvester International and an U.S. Army veteran of World War II. He was a member of Sardis Lake Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Louise Hope Brown of Sardis; three daughters, Frances Audrey of Glenburnie, Maryland, Ethel Marie Grimes of Hernando and Martha Louise Lunsford of Sardis; a son, Charles H. Brown of Southaven; a brother, Homer G. Brown of Sardis; three half-brothers, Bill Brown of Como, Jack Brown and Andy Brown, both of Senatobia; a step-sister, Mary Ellen Joslin of Sardis; a step-brother, Butch Merriman of Sardis; 14 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and two great, great-grandchildren.
 

Brown, Darick L.
Darick L. "Polo" Brown, 27, of Oxford, died Wednesday, June 26, 2002, at Baptist Memorial Hospital – North Mississippi in Oxford of heart disease.

Funeral services were held Saturday, June 29, at 1 p.m. at New Enon M.B. Church in Batesville. Burial was in the church cemetery. Hodges Funeral Home had charge of arrangements.

Brown, a native of Lafayette County, was a laborer.

Survivors include his mother, Martha J. Bibbs of Oxford; step-father, James E. Bibbs of Oxford; a brother, Jermaine L. Bibbs of Oxford; grandmother, Gennie Burt of Oxford; and step-grandmother, Susie Lee Ivy of Oxford.
 

Brown, George W.
George W. Brown, 70, of Batesville, died Wednesday, October 9, 2002, at Tri-Lakes Medical Center of heart failure.

Funeral services will be held Monday, October 14, at 2 p.m. at Wells Funeral Home Chapel. Rev. Robert Rawson will officiate the service. Burial will be in Crowder Cemetery. Wells Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

Brown, son of the late George Willie and Agness Sibley Brown, was born August 22, 1932, in Benoit. He was a construction worker. He was preceded in death by a son, William Eddie Brown.

Survivors include his wife, Ora O. Brown of Batesville; three daughters, Sandra White of Batesville, Patricia Sexton of Strayhorn and Betty Jean Haas of Pembroke Pines, Florida; three sons, George Danny Brown of Locke Station, J.W. Jackson and Donald Eugene Jackson, both of Pittsburg, California; two brothers, Bill Brown and John Brown, both of Starkville; 18 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and 17 great, great-grandchildren.

Brown, Ursula Gertrude
Ursula Gertrude Brown, 82, of Oxford, died Monday, May 27, 2002, at the Alzheimers Home in Natchez of heart failure.

Memorial services were held Thursday, May 30, at 11 a.m. at St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church in Oxford. Dr. John Staggs officiated the service. Wells Funeral Home had charge of arrangements.

Brown, daughter of the late Ernst and Marianne Rote, was born April 4, 1920, in Keonigsburg, East Prussia, Germany. She was a teacher and a member of St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church. She spent her retirement years volunteering her time at the church, as well as attending classes at the University of Mississippi. She was a member of the Oxford Book Club and attended brown bag luncheons. She was the widow of the late Lt. Col. Ross C. Brown. She was preceded in death by a son, Fred P. Brown.

Survivors include two daughters, Minerva Brown Bowen of Oxford and Susan Brown Wittenberg of Galway, Ireland; a son, Ernest M. Brown of Natchez; a sister, Irmgard Kellner of Gottingen, Germany; and two granddaughters.

Memorials may be made to St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church or the Oxford-Lafayette County Humane Society.

Brown, William Eddie
William Eddie Brown, 42, of Copper City, Florida, died Saturday, May 4, 2002, at his home of heart failure.

Survivors include his wife, Judy Brown of Copper City; his parents, George and Ora Brown of Batesville; Sandra White and Danny Brown, both of Batesville; Betty Jean Haas of Pembroke Pines, Florida, Pat Sexton of Strayhorn, J.W. Jackson and Don Jackson, both of Pittsboro, California.
 

Funeral services were held Saturday, February 23, at 1 p.m. at Pine Grove M.B. Church in Oakland. Rev. Clarence Alexander officiated the service. Burial was in the church cemetery. Nicholson Funeral Home had charge of arrangements.

Brown, son of Rubie Brown of Oakland and the late Daniel Garner, was born February 27, 1954, in Marks. He was the assistant manager of AutoZone and a member of Pine Grove M.B. Church, where he was a deacon. He was also a veteran of the U.S. Army.

Browning, James H.
James H. "Scrubby" Browning, 51, of Batesville, died Sunday, September 1, 2002, at his home of heart failure.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, September 3, at 11 a.m. at Shady Grove Baptist Church. Rev. Terry Tribble and Sammy Lansdell officiated the service. Burial was in the church cemetery. Wells Funeral Home had charge of arrangements.

Browning, son of Lois Johnson Browning of Batesville and the late Gaither Curtis Browning, was born September 16, 1950, in Panola County. He was a retired water treatment technician for the City of Batesville, where he worked for 20 years. He was employed with Tri-State Pest Control and a member of Shady Grove Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by a brother, Billy Wayne Browning.

Survivors, other than his mother, include his wife, Teresa M. Browning of Batesville; two sons, Timothy J. Browning and Keith A. Browning, both of Batesville; two step-sons, Scott Brewer of Cascilla and Jeffrey Brewer of Batesville; six sisters, Betty Jean Manning of Batesville, Bessie Marie Scruggs of West Point, Sarah Graham of Dorsey, Ila Mae Clark of Tupelo, Margie Dale Harris of Oxford and Alma Lansdell of Saltillo; two brothers, Charles David Browning of Ecru and Gaither Douglas Browning of Batesville; and three step-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Shady Grove Cemetery Fund.

Bruce, Angela Nicole
Angela "Angie" Nicole Bruce, 28, of Sardis, died Sunday, August 25, 2002, at her home of heart failure.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, August 28, at 11 a.m. at Wells Funeral Home Chapel. Rev. Clay Baker officiated the service. Burial was in Forrest Memorial Park. Wells Funeral Home had charge of arrangements.

Bruce, daughter of James William and Barbara Ann Martin Wells of Sardis and the late Danny Lee Still, was born October 31, 1973, in Panola County. She was a homemaker.

Survivors, other than her parents, include a son, Kevin Nicholas Bruce of Sardis; and grandparents, James A. and Edith Pauline Martin of Oxford and Virgie Aileene Wells of Pope.

Bulimore, Richard Malone
Richard Malone Bulimore, 65, of Sardis, died Saturday, May 25, 2002, at Tri-Lakes Medical Center of heart failure.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, May 28, at 11 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Sardis. Rev. Jerry Sanford officiated the service. Burial was in Longtown Cemetery. Moore Funeral Home had charge of arrangements.

Bulimore, son of the late Richard M. and Annie Matthews Bulimore, was born March 13, 1937, in Tunica. He was a retired parts house owner and a member of the Sardis First Baptist Church, where he was a deacon and a former Sunday school superintendent.

Survivors include his wife, Juanita Armstrong Bulimore of Sardis; a daughter, Rhonda Spencer of Horn Lake; and three sisters, Ruby Clark of Arkabutla, Betty Clark of Holly Springs and Mary Patton of Pensacola, Florida.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church, Sardis, Mississippi.
 

Funeral services were held Monday, July 29, at 11 a.m. at Harrisonville M.B. Church in Oxford. Rev. C. M. White officiated the service. Burial was in the church cemetery. Nicholson Funeral Home had charge of arrangements.

Buford, son of the late John and Ora Buford, was born May 31, 1932, in Oxford. He was a member of Harrisonville M.B. Church.

Survivors include five sons, Clinton Buford, Jr., Mark A. Buford, and Jeffery L. Buford, all of Alton, Illinois, Lorenzo N. Buford of West Hollywood, California, and Daryll E. Buford of Miami, Florida; two brothers, Clarence Buford of Alton, Illinois, and Willie H. Buford of Jacksonville, Illinois; 11 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Burdette, Mary R. Watkins
Mary R. Watkins Burdette, 97, of Oxford, formerly of Browningsville, Maryland, died Monday, September 30, 2002, at her daughter’s home in Oxford of heart failure.

Funeral services will be held Friday, October 4, at 2 p.m. at Bethesda United Methodist Church in Browningsville, Maryland. Rev. Martin Case and Rev. David Dawson will officiate the service. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Wells Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

Burdette, daughter of the late Maurice and Martha King Watkins, was born April 12, 1905, in Browningsville. She was a homemaker and a life-long member of Bethesda United Methodist Church. She was the widow of the late Milton W. Burdette.

Survivors include a daughter, Betty S. Case of Oxford; a brother, Harold Watkins of Browningsville; four grandchildren, Randall Freysz, Sandra Johnson, Donna Vickroy and David Case; 12 great-grandchildren and three great, great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Saturday, March 2, at 2 PM at Thyatira Church of Christ. Burial was in Thyatira Cemetery. C.O. Pate Funeral Home had charge of arrangements.

Burford was a senior at Summertown High School, and a member of Summertown Church of Christ. He was a former student of South Panola High School.

Survivors include his parents, Bernard, Sr,. and Sheila Burford of Summertown, Tennessee; a brother, Jeremy Burford of Summertown, Tennessee; grandparents, Clara and Joe Burford of Thyatira, Beverly Moore of Batesville, and Bertha and Hugh Lee Moore of Batesville.

Burkhalter, Claudine Snow
Claudine Snow Burkhalter, 75, of Enid, died Monday, September 23, 2002, at Tri-Lakes Medical Center of heart failure.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, September 25, at 3 p.m. at Dickins Chapel. Rev. Clay Baker officiated the service. Burial was in Oak Hill Cemetery in Enid. Dickins Funeral Home had charge of arrangements.

Burkhalter, daughter of Alma Sides Snow of Birmingham, Alabama, and the late Richard J. Snow, was born February 8, 1927, in Birmingham. She was a homemaker, and a member of the Miss. Homemaker Volunteers Club. She was also a member of Enid Union Church.

Survivors, other than her mother, include her husband, Walter Guy Burkhalter of Enid; two sons, Walker Guy Burkhalter, Jr. of Indianola and Jimbo Burkhalter of Enid; two daughters, Kathy Burkhalter Roberson and Betty Sue Burkhalter Callihan, both of Enid; and eight grandchildren.

A memorial obituary may be viewed at www.legacy.com.

Burlison, Carl T. Jr.
Carl T. Burlison, Jr., 50, of Batesville, died Thursday, July 18, 2002, at The Med in Memphis, Tennessee, of injuries received in an automobile accident.

Funeral services were held Monday, July 22, at 11 a.m. at Wells Funeral Home. Rev. Jimmy Chapman officiated the service. Burial was in Center Hill Cemetery. Wells Funeral Home had charge of arrangements.

Burlison, son of the late Carl T. Burlison, Sr. and the late Rachel Burlison Hawkins, was born July 4, 1952, in Crowder. He was a disabled carpenter.

Survivors include a son, Danny Burlison of Batesville; a step-father, Carl E. Hawkins of Batesville; three sisters, Mary Burlison, Betty Burlison Hadorn and Linda Burlison Tubbs, all of Batesville; and two brothers, Bobby E. Burlison and Lonnie E. Burlison, both of Batesville.

Burnett, Edna Robertson
Edna Robertson Burnett, 75, of Batesville, died Saturday, August 24, 2002, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, of heart failure.

Funeral services were held Monday, August 26, at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Batesville. Rev. Alan Kilgore officiated the service. Burial was in Forrest Memorial Park. Wells Funeral Home had charge of arrangements.

Burnett, daughter of the late Daniel Young and Nina Gant Robertson, was born May 18, 1927, in Oxford. She was a homemaker and a member of the First Baptist Church in Batesville.

Survivors include her husband, Thomas B. Burnett of Batesville; two daughters, Janice Burnett Blair of Batesville and Brenda Burnett Womble of Nesbit; a son, Steven "Bubba" Burnett of Batesville; a sister, Allie Pearl Robertson Waldrip of Batesville; two brothers, Daniel Young Robertson, Jr. of Memphis and Homer Robertson of Batesville; eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church, 104 Panola Avenue, Batesville, Miss. 38606.

Burns, Wayne Bailey Sr.
Wayne Bailey Burns, Sr., 65, of Batesville died Saturday, May 25, 2002, at Tri-Lakes Medical Center in Batesville of heart failure.

Funeral services were held Monday, May 27, at 2 p.m. at Wells Funeral Home Chapel. Burial was in Chapel Hill Cemetery in Pope. Wells Funeral Home had charge of arrangements.

Burns, son of Margaret Fowler Burns of Batesville and the late Hayward Burns, was born June 24, 1936, in Batesville. He was a construction worker and a Baptist. He was the widower of the late Edna Moore Burns.

Survivors, other than his mother, include two daughters, Teresa Burns Boucher of Sardis and Evelyn Burns Crutcher of Greenwood; four sons, Wayne Bailey Burns, Jr. of Courtland, David Burns of Batesville, James Michael Crutcher of Booneville and Tommy Crutcher of Water Valley; six sisters, Yvonne Burns Odom and Peggy Burns Melton, both of Courtland, Linda Burns Paige and Bernice Burns Fox, both of Sardis, Lona Burns Porter of Coldwater and Brenda Burns Caggle of Memphis, Tennessee; two brothers, Roy Burns of Courtland and Gary Burns of Memphis; and nine grandchildren.

Burrell, Mary Whittle
Mary Whittle Burrell, 74, of Crowder, died Sunday, December 8, 2002, at her residence in Crowder.

Funeral services were Thursday, December 12, at at 2 p.m. Kimbro Funeral Home. Interment was in Crowder Cemetery. Kimbro Funeral Home had charge of arrangements.

Burrell, daughter of the late Charlie and Arry Whitworth Whittle, was born May 6, 1928 in Calhoun County. She was a retired bank teller.

She is survived by several nieces and nephews.
 

Burt, Marie
Marie Burt, 85, of Oxford, died Friday, Nov. 15, 2002, at Baptist Memorial Hospital-East in Memphis, Tenn. of heart failure.

Funeral services were held Saturday, Nov. 23, at 11 a.m. at Clear Creek M.B. Church. Rev. L.C. Kelson officiated the services. Interment was in the church cemetery. Cooley’s Mortuary, Inc. had charge of arrangements.

Burt, daughter of the late Willie and Mae Lizer Morgan, was born Dec. 26, 1916, in Oxford. She was a housewife and a member of Clear Creek M.B. Church where she served on the mother board.

Survivors include six daughters, Hattie Mae Fondren of Batesville, Margaret Burt, Dessie Jones, both of Oxford; Mary Market, Gwen Trotter, both of Chicago, Ill. and Lois Burt of Aurora, Ill.; four sons, James Burt of Oxford, Johnnie Burt, Ulysees Burt, Andrew Burt, all of Aurora; four sisters, Mamie Morgan of Oxford, Edna Morgan Young of Gary, Ind., Tersa Wells of Decatur, Ga., Forestine Montgomery of Waterloo, Iowa; three brothers, Arron Morgan of Waterloo, Mitchell Morgan of Los Angeles, Cal., and Bonnie C. Morgan of Memphis, Tenn.; 42 grandchildren; 86 great-grandchildren; 21 great, great-grandchildren; and one great, great, great-grandchild.

Burt, Robert
Robert Burt, 84, of Memphis, Tennessee, died Friday, June 21, 2002, at St. Peter Villa Rehab and Nursing Center in Memphis of heart failure.

Funeral services were held Thursday, June 27, at 2 p.m. at Clear Creek M.B. Church in Oxford. Rev. Darrell Shack, Jr. officiated the service. Burial was in the church cemetery. Cooley’s Mortuary, Inc. had charge of arrangements.

Burt, son of the late Mose Martin and Lucille Johnson, was born December 25, 1917, in Lafayette County. He was a retired farmer and a member of Clear Creek M.B. Church. He was a U.S. Army veteran.

Survivors include a son, Tommy Fondren of Memphis; a brother, T.D. Johnson of Toledo, Ohio; eight grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
 

Burt, Vina
Vina Burt, 88, of Marks, died Thursday, August 8, 2002, at Quitman County Hospital in Marks of heart failure.

Funeral services were held Saturday, August 10, at 2 p.m. at West Marks Baptist Church. Rev. Mike Smithey officiated the service. Burial was in Marks Cemetery. Kimbro Funeral Home had charge of arrangements.

Burt, daughter of the late Warn and Ada Young White, was born July 2, 1914, in Pontotoc. She was a retired clerk and a member of West Marks Baptist Church. She was the widow of the late Emmett Thomas Burt. She was preceded in death by a son, Tommy Burt.

Survivors include two sons, Emmett Burt of West Memphis, Arkansas, and Raymond Burt of Jonesboro, Georgia; four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Burt, Willie Lee
Willie Lee Burt, 65, of Oxford, died Thursday, May 23, 2002, at Baptist Memorial Hospital – North Mississippi in Oxford of heart disease.

Funeral services were held Monday, May 27, at 1 p.m. at Mt. Gillion M.B. Church. Burial was in the church cemetery. Hodges Funeral Home had charge of arrangements.

Burt, a native of Lafayette County, was a retired mechanic for Aurora Trucking Company.

Survivors include three daughters, Margaret Shaw of Aurora, Illinois, Lucinda Burt of Oxford and Ella Health of Batesville; two sons, Todd Burt of Courtland and Troy Burt of Batesville; his mother, Marie Burt of Oxford; six sisters, Hattie Fondren of Batesville, Margaret Burt and Dessie Jones, both of Oxford, Marie Market and Gwen Trotter, both of Chicago, Illinois, and Lois Burt of Aurora; four brothers, James Burt of Oxford, Johnny Burt, Andrew Burt and Ulyses Burt, all of Aurora; 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Burton, Ivin
Ivin Burton, 52, of Como, died Tuesday, October 1, 2002, at Methodist Hospital – Central in Memphis, Tennessee, of heart failure.

Funeral services were held Saturday, October 5, at noon at Ebenezer in Como. Burial was in Ebenezer. Felix Cauthen Funeral Home had charge of arrangements.

Burton was a farmer and a church member.

Survivors include his mother, Ileaver Burton; five sisters, Ora Lee Love of Sardis, Massie L. Garrett, Annie Freeman and Ilene Thomas, all of Senatobia, and Faye Burton of Como; two brothers, B.W. Burton of Senatobia and C.P. Burton of Como.

Butts, James Andrews
James Andrews Butts, 78, of Batesville, died Wednesday, May 29, 2002, at his residence of Parkinson’s Disease.

Funeral services were held Sunday, June 2, at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church. Rev. Alan Kilgore and Rev. Aubrey Moore officiated the service. Burial followed in Rose Hill Cemetery in Sardis. Dickins Funeral Home had charge of arrangements.

Butts, son of the late Oscar Powell and Jessie Mae Andrews Butts, was born December 12, 1923, in Batesville. He was a cashier clerk for Illinois Central Railroads and a member of the Batesville First Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Ruby Lee Boatright Butts of Batesville; two daughters, Betty Sue Hopper of Little Rock, Ark.; and Donna Lynn Carnes of Seattle, Washington; two sons James Lee Butts of Ripley and Leslie Powell "Smiley" Butts of Batesville; seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, 710 West 168 St., New York, NY 10032-9982, 1-800-457-6676.

A memorial obituary may be viewed at www.legacy.com.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 16, at 1 PM at Liberty Hill C.M.E. Church. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Felix Cauthen Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

Butts was a housewife and was a member of Liberty Hill C.M.E. Church, where she was on the usher board. 

Funeral services were held Saturday, April 20, at 2 p.m. at Moore Funeral Home Chapel. Rev. Norman Holliday officiated the service. Burial was in Emory Cemetery near Como. Moore Funeral Home had charge of arrangements.

Byrd, son of the late Blye and Lenora Jackson Byrd, was born November 10, 1961, in Memphis. He was a horticulturist at Memphis Botanic Gardens and a Methodist.