Obituaries – 2003 – G

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, January 1, 2003

The Panolian: OBITUARIES (G)

~ 2003 ~
G  
Galimore, Pearl "Danny"
Pearl "Danny" Galimore, 84, of Batesville, died Saturday, Jan. 4, 2003, at Graceland Nursing Home in Oxford.

Funeral services were Saturday, Jan. 11, at 11 a.m. at Mt. Gillion M.B. Church in Sardis. Rev. Walter Newson officiated services. Interment was at Mt. Gillion Cemetery in Sardis. Cooley’s Mortuary had charge of arrangements.

Galimore, born April 8, 1918, in Sardis, to the late Moses Montgomery and the late Shelley Hinds was a housekeeper and a member of Mt. Gillion M.B. Church in Sardis.

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Survivors include one granddaughter, Felecia Long of Tampa, Fla; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.


Garrott, Emily Jane Otken
Emily Jane Otken Garrott, 83, of Batesville, died Sunday, June 22, 2003, at Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi in Oxford of natural causes.

Services were Wednesday at First United Methodist Church. Burial was at Batesville Magnolia Cemetery. Rev. Don Bishop and Rev. Martin Case officiated. Dickins Funeral Home had charge.

Garrott, born March 20, 1920, to the late Dr. Luther Boyce Otken and the late Frances Hodges Otken, attended M.S.C.W. and graduated from the University of Tennessee where she was a member of the Chi Omega Sorority, a member of the D.A.R., P.E.O., a member of the First United Methodist Church in Batesville and a homemaker.

She is preceded in death by her husband William Johnson Garrott and her sister Mary Otken Holms.

Survivors include two sons, Rev. John Garrott and wife Jennifer of Ocean Springs and Dr. Andy Garrott and wife Suzanne of Batesville; one brother Dr. Luther Boyce Otken, Jr. of Clarks Hill, S.C. and five grandchildren, Brian Downing Garrott, Joel Otken Garrott, Rebecca Garrott Thomas and husband Will, Lee Anderson Garrott, Jr. and Joshua Powell Garrott.

Memorials may be sent to The 4 M Foundation, c/o Rev. John Garrott, 3204 N. 3rd Street, Ocean Springs, Miss. 39564. A memorial obituary may be viewed at www.Legacy.com.


Gazaway, Janette Evelyn
Janette Evelyn Gazaway, 81, of Haleyville, Ala., died Friday, Oct. 17, 2003, in Batesville.

Services were Monday at Pinkard Funeral Home in Haleyville, Ala. Burial was at Oak Grove Cemetery in Franklin, Colo. Pinkard Funeral Home had charge.

Gazaway, born to the late Mr. and Mrs. Elderado Cooper, was a member of New Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church.

She is preceded in death by her parents Mr. and Mrs. Elderado Cooper; her husband Olen C. Gazaway and an infant son.

Survivors include one step-son Donald (Bud) Gazaway of Mint Hill, N.C.; one step-daughter Mae Higginbotham of Pearl; one son Jimmy C. Gazaway of Batesville; six sisters, Frances Southern, Angus Southern and Betty Jo Lambert, all of Haleyville, Ala., Geraldine Freshour of Pearl, Emma Lou Glenn of Bessemer, Ala. and Donella Roberts of Eldridge, Ala.; three brothers, Lee Cooper, Jack Cooper and E.R. Cooper, all of Haleyville, Ala.; nine grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.


George, Dale Eugene
Dale Eugene George, 67, of Clarksdale, died Sunday, Jan. 5, 2003, at Northwest Reg. Med. Center in Clarksdale of pneumonia.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, Jan. 7, at National Funeral Chapel at 2 p.m. Rev. Edd Lawrence will officiate the services. Interment will follow in Memorial Gardens Cemetery. National Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

George, born January 26, 1935 in Leroy, Minn., was a retired railroad supervisor for Illinois Central Gulf Railroad and a member of Clarksdale Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Kathryn George of Clarksdale; one daughter, Kimberly Maxcy of Enid; one son, Craig George of Clarksdale; two brothers, Roger George of Morris, Ill., and Bruce George of Shafer, Minn.; and four grandchildren Steven and Whitney George of Clarksdale, and Kristin and Rebecca Maxcy of Enid.

Memorials contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.


George, Kathryn Elaine
Kathryn Elaine George, 66, of Clarksdale, died Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2003, at her residence of cancer.

Funeral services were held Thursday, Jan. 16, at 2 p.m. at National Funeral Chapel in Clarksdale. Interment was at Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Rev. Edd Lawerence officiated services. National Funeral Home had charge of arrangements.

George, born July 9, 1936, in Lyle, Minn. was a retired switchboard operator for Northwest MS Reg. Med. Center. She was a member of Clarksdale Baptist Church and a graduate of Rush City Minn. High School.

Survivors include, one daughter, Kimberly Maxcy of Enid; one son, Craig George of Clarksdale; two sisters, Eleanor Thompson of Minneapolis, Minn., and Phyliss Whitaker of Alexandria, Minn.; and 4 grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Dale George who died Jan. 5, 2003.

The family requests that memorials be made to: The American Cancer Society or Clarksdale Baptist Church.


Gibbs, R.E. Dick
R.E. Dick Gibbs, 91, of Lexington, N.C., died Saturday, July 5, 2003.

Services were Monday at Seven Oaks Funeral Home. Burial was at Memorial Gardens in Memphis. Rev. Clay Baker officiated. Seven Oaks Funeral Home had charge.

Gibbs, born March 20, 1912, was retired from JC Penny Company, a member of the Oakland Methodist Church and past president, member of East Memphis Exchange Club, member of Billy’s Creek Water Association, he was two years board of FHA.

He is preceded in death by his wife Margarette Burke Gibbs.

Survivors include one son Richard Ellis Gibbs Jr. of Memphis and one brother Royce Gibbs of Newport-News, Va.


Gilbert, Aubrey L. "Chink"
Aubrey L. Gilbert, 82, of Farrell, died Feb. 3, 2003, at his residence of cancer.

Services were Wednesday at National Funeral Chapel with interment at Kirkland Family Cemetery in Farrell. Rev. Gene McCraw officiated services. National Funeral Home had charge.

Gilbert, born Dec. 25, 1920, to the late Osie Gilbert and Amos Gilbert, was a retired employee of Dean’s Milk Co. & caretaker for several hunting clubs. He was also a U.S. Marine Corp WW II veteran , a member of Farrell Baptist Church, a member of VFW Post 3936 and a member of the Conservation League.

Survivors include his wife, Martha F. Gilbert of Farrell; one son, Aubrey Paul Gilbert of Orange City, Fla.; three daughters, Edna Cooley of Batesville, Marilyn Marion of Senatobia, and Melinda Gilbert of Farrell; two brothers, Walter Gilbert of Chester, Ill., and Jimmy Gilbert of Memphis, Tenn.; five sisters, Myrtle Nall and Ester Vaughn both of Memphis, Tenn., Nallie Davis and Hazel Davis both of Harmontown, and Alice Belenchia of Collinsville; 10 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Osie and Amos Gilbert; two brothers, Walter Gilbert and Jimmy Gilbert; and three sons, Orville Gilbert, Henry Gilbert, and Virgil Quicksall.


Gillespie, Nannie Katherine
Nannie Katherine Gillespie, 91, of Sardis, died Thursday, Jan. 2, 2003, at Sardis Community Nursing Home of heart failure.

Funeral services were held Saturday, Jan. 4, at 10:30 a.m. at Moore Funeral Home Chapel. Rev. David Smith officiated the services. Interment followed in Rose Hill Cemetery in Sardis.

Gillespie, daughter of the late William R. and Katie Crawford Gillespie, was born March 3, 1911, in Pleasant Grove. She was a retired bookkeeper for F. W. Klyce Co. and a member of Sardis Presbyterian Church.

She leaves no survivors.


Gipson, Banger Houston
Banger Houston Gipson, 93, of Abbeville, died Saturday, Nov. 1, 2003, at Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi in Oxford.

Services are Saturday at 2 p.m. at True Bible Way of Jesus Christ Church in Abbeville. Burial is at Mt. Vernon Cemetery in Abbeville. Rev. James Dawson will officiate. Eddie Robinson and Son Funeral Directors of Water Valley have charge.

Gipson, born March 26, 1910, was a member of True Bible Way of Jesus Christ Church in Abbeville.

Survivors include one son Robert Houston of Abbeville; one daughter Ida Lewis of Abbeville; 17 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren and 28 great-great grandchildren.


Goad, Joseph Matthew (Matt)
Joseph Matthew (Matt) Goad, 16, of Charleston, died Saturday, September 13, 2003.

Services were Monday at the First Presbyterian Church in Charleston. Burial was at the Family Cemetery. Newsom Funeral Home had charge.

Goad, born Sept. 26, 1986, was a student at Charleston High School.

Survivors include his parents, Donald R. Goad Sr. and Debra Tennyson Goad, both of Charleston; one sister Tonya Goad Mullins of Charleston; two brothers, Donald R. Goad Jr. and Mitch Goad, both of Charleston and his grandparents, Joe and Jackie Tennyson and Velma and Dahl Goad, all of Charleston.

Memorials may be sent to the Charleston High School baseball team and the Strider Academy baseball team.


Gooch, Willie Mac
Willie Mac Gooch, 87, of Charleston, died Tuesday, August 26, 2003, at Tallahatchie General Hospital in Charleston.

Services were Wednesday at Friendship East Baptist Church. Burial was at the church cemetery. Newsom Funeral Home in Charleston had charge.

Gooch, born Dec. 4, 1915, worked for Forman-Trucking Company.

Survivors include his wife Ruby J. Gooch of Charleston and one sister, Lura Knox of Alamo, Tenn. and several nieces and nephews.


Goodwin, Frances Elizabeth Anderson
Frances Elizabeth Anderson Goodwin, 79, of Carrollton, died Saturday, September 20, 2003, at her residence of a stroke.

Memorial services will be at a later date. Williams and Lord Funeral Home has charge.

Goodwin, was a member of Malmaison Baptist Church, was a retired registered nurse, a member of the Eastern Star and Mississippi Nursing Association.

She is preceded in death by two sisters and one brother.

Survivors include her husband Marvin Doyle Goodwin Sr. of Carrollton; two sons, Marvin Doyle Goodwin Jr. and Myron Anderson Goodwin, both of Carrollton; one brother Benny Walters of Hernando; two sisters, Pauline Goodwin Scruggs of Batesville and Thelma Jean Taylor of Denver, Colo. and three grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to Malmaison Baptist Church.


Goodwin, Hazeltine
Hazeltine Goodwin, 68, of Como, died Thursday, Oct. 9, 2003, at Tri-Lakes Medical Center of heart failure.

Services were Saturday at Moore Funeral Home Chapel. Burial was at Black Jack Presbyterian Cemetery near Batesville. Rev. Joe Nunnley officiated. Moore Funeral Home had charge.

Goodwin, born Sept. 5, 1935, was a housewife and a member of the Baptist Church.

She is preceded in death by her husband Rufus Goodwin.


Goodwin, Rufus James 
Rufus James Goodwin, 80, of Como, died Friday, Feb. 19, 2003, at Baptist East Hospital in Memphis.

Services were at Moore Funeral Chapel in Sardis. Burial followed in Black Jack Presbyterian Cemetery in Batesville. Moore Funeral Home in Sardis was in charge.

Survivors include his wife, Hazel Collins Goodwin of Como.


Gordon, Laverne Irvin
Laverne Irvin Gordon, 68, of Batesville, died Saturday, Nov. 22, 2003, of heart failure.

Services are today at Victory Baptist Church at 2 p.m. in Batesville. Rev. J.W. Shivers, Rev. Thomas Beard and Rev. Richard Mills will officiate. Burial will follow at Forrest Memorial Park. Wells Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

Gordon, born Jan. 16, 1935, was a homemaker and member of Victory Baptist Church.

Survivors include her husband, Rev. E. K. Gordon of Batesville; five daughters, Sharon Gordon Mills, and Regina Gordon Corley, both of Batesville, Tina Gordon Phillips of Big Creek, Elizabeth Gordon Raynes of Harmontown, Melisa Gordon Williquette of Shawano, Wis. and four sons, Anthony Gordon of Arlington, Texas, John Gordon, and Ernest Gordon, both of Batesville, and Tim Gordon of Cornith; one sister, Theresa Irvin Ball of O’Kean, Ark.; two brothers, Riley Irvin of McHenry, Ill. and Ruben Irvin of Clarksdale; 22 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.


Gordon, Robert Noah Jr.
Robert Noah Gordon Jr., 68, of Courtland, died Monday, May 19, 2003, at his residence.

Services were Thursday at Dickins Funeral Home Chapel. The Rev. Chester Masterson Jr. officiated. Dickins Funeral Home had charge.

Gordon, born August 11, 1934, to the late Robert Noah Gordon, Sr. and the late Roxie Ann Joyner Gordon, was a veteran of the Korean Conflict, a retired welder for General Motors and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Survivors include his wife Mary Portwood Gordon of Enid; two sons, John Gordon of Coffeeville and Raymond Gordon of Memphis; three daughters, Terri Gordon Sexton, Carri Gordon and Katheryn Gordon Osborne, both of Batesville; five sisters, Martha Gordon Masterson of Vicksburg, Bonnie Gordon Thompson of Jackson, Mary Ray Gordon of Memphis, Carolyn Gordon McCaa of Sardis and Patricia Gordon Helems of Courtland; 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to St. Jude. A memorial obituary may be viewed at .    


Graham, James Hugh 
James Hugh Graham, 82, of Oxford, died Tuesday, March 25, 2003, at Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi. in Oxford.

Services are Saturday at 11 a.m. at Blue Spring M.B. Church in Sardis. Burial is at Bluff Spring Cemetery. Rev. Zannie Leland will officiate. Cooley’s Mortuary has charge.

Graham, born April 18, 1920, to Ira Graham Sr. and Maggie Avont Graham, was a retired construction worker and a Veteran of the United States Navy, 1944-1946.

Survivors include two sons, James A. Graham of Flushing, Mich. and Otis Keys of Memphis; one daughter Joann Nickleberry of Memphis; one niece Ella Gardner of Batesville, who was his caretaker; nine grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren.
 


Graham, Mary Grace Sims
Mary Grace Sims Graham, 96, of Batesville, died Tuesday, July 8, 2003, at Baptist Memorial Hospital-East Memphis.

Services were Thursday at First Baptist Church. Burial was at Batesville Magnolia Cemetery. Rev. Dr. Robert Self officiated.

Graham, born Nov. 28, 1906, to the late Aylmer Belton Sims and the late Virgil Vashti Cooper Sims graduated from Mississippi State College for Women in 1929 and taught school for 30 years. She was a Baptist and taught Sunday School for 30 years. She was the president of the Mississippi Vocational Agriculture Teachers Ladies Auxiliary in the late 1930’s. After moving to Batesville, she served as president of the Batesville PTA and served as president of South Panola Teachers Association for two terms. Mrs. Graham was an active member of The James Gilliam Chapter of The Daughters of the American Revolution in which she served as the National Defense Chairman for 20 years. She was a former member of the Colonial Dames XVIIC in which she served as Scholarship Chairman. She was a former member of the Daughter of the American Colonies. She served four years as State President of Mississippi Society of the Dames of the Court of Honor. She was a member of the Stitchers, a sewing club, for more than 50 years. Mrs. Graham was also a member of the Batesville Woman’s Club in which she served as Educational Chairman. She was a member of Friends of the Library and a member of the First Baptist Church.

Survivors include one son H. DeVon Graham Jr. of Houston, Texas; two daughters, Mary Virginia Knapp of Houston, Texas and Elizabeth Ann Butler of Michigan City, Miss.; four grandchildren, Dr. H. DeVon Graham III, Joseph Yancey Butler, Elizabeth Grace Giroir, Mary Elizabeth Hoke and six great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to Mississippi State Development Foundation, P.O. Box 423, Mississippi State, Miss. 39762. A memorial obituary may be viewed at www.legacy.com.


Grant, Jesse Donald Sr. 
Jesse Donald Grant Sr., 62, of Grenada, died Monday, March 7, 2003, at Baptist Hospital East in Memphis.

Services were Wednesday at National Funeral Home Chapel. Burial was at Duck Hill Cemetery. National Funeral Home had charge.

Grant, born to the late Jesse Forrest and the late Nancy Grant, was a member of the Baptist Church and a self-employed contractor.

Survivors include his wife Margie Grant; two daughters, Tammy Harrell of Greenwood and Wendy Gail Grant of Pheonix, Ariz.; one step daughter Tracy Pickett of Batesville; two sons, Jimmy Grant of Grenada and Jesse Donald Grant Jr. of Duck Hill; one stepson Michael Goodwin of Starkville; six sisters, Mary Alice Crenshaw of Winona, Bertha Blakely of Grenada, Sue Blakely of Winona, Ann Alexander of Beaumont, Texas, Jo Hainey of Grenada and Linda Lumley of Winona; four brothers, Floyd Grant of Grenada, John Grant of Duck Hill, Will Henry Grant of Oakland and David Wayne Grant of Grenada and five grandchildren.
 


Gray, Grace Smith
Grace Smith Gray, 79, of Batesville, died Tuesday, September 16, 2003, at Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi in Oxford of heart failure.

Services are today at 10:30 a.m. at Wells Funeral Home Chapel. Burial is at Forrest Memorial Park Cemetery. Wells Funeral Home has charge.

Gray, born Nov. 16, 1923, to the late George Edward and the late Frances Ola Shepard Smith, was a homemaker and a member of the North Batesville Baptist Church.

Survivors include one daughter Bonnie Gray Johnson of Batesville; two sons, Buddy Gray of Batesville and Ronnie Gray of Coffeeville; one sister Marjurie Smith Still of Como; three brothers, George E. Smith of Charleston, James Smith and Buster Smith, both of Knoxville, Tenn.; one granddaughter Jake Johnson Kidder of Batesville and one grandson Will Kidder of Batesville.


Griffin, Jean Morrow
Jean Morrow Griffin, 73, of Southaven, died Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2003, at her residence.

Services were Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2003, at Forrest Hill South Funeral Home. Burial was at Hacks Crossing Cemetery. Dr. Robert Lee officiated. Forrest Hill South Funeral Home had charge.

Griffin was born Sept. 23, 1930, to the late Archie H. and the late Vera Morrow of Batesville.

She is preceded in death by her husband Willis "Rip" Griffin and her brother Homer Morrow.

Survivors include one son Larry Keith Griffin; one sister Robbie M. Still; one brother J. Archie Morrow of Batesville and four grandchildren.


Griffis, Clara Kathryn 
Clara Kathryn Griffis, 84, of Batesville, died Friday, June 6, 2003, at Sardis Community Nursing Home of heart failure.

Services were Sunday at Wells Funeral Home Chapel. Burial was at Blackjack Cemetery. Dr. Robert Self officiated. Wells Funeral Home had charge.

Griffis, born Dec. 1, 1918, to the late John Leland and the late Clara Wilson Griffis, was a retired factory worker and a member of First Baptist Church.

Survivors include a host of nieces and nephews.
    


Grochau, Henry Boyd M.D.
Henry Boyd Grochau M.D., 74, of Greenville, died Tuesday, August 26, 2003, at Delta Regional Medical Center in Greenville of heart failure.

Services were Friday at Boone Wells Funeral Home. Burial was under the direction of Boone Wells Funeral Home. Boone Wells Funeral Home had charge of arrangements.

Grochau, was a radiologist. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict and after his discharge he graduated from the University of Tennessee where he received his doctorate in medicine. He did his internship and residency at John Gaston Hospital, Baptist Hospital and the Methodist Hospital. He had been a resident of Greenville since 1963 where he was a Board Certified Radiologist at King’s Daughters Hospital and Gamble Brothers Clinic, retiring in 1991. He was a communicant of St. James Episcopal Church and a member of the American Medical Association and American College of Radiology.

He is preceded in death by his first wife Rachel Dye Grochau.

Survivors include his wife Helen Stone Grochau of Greenville; two daughters, Rebecca Grochau Sharp of Batesville and Deborah Grochau Garrett of Madison; one son Earl Henry Grochau II of Nashville, Tenn.; one brother Earl S. Grochau of Germantown, Tenn. and three grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital in Memphis.