Obituaries – 2003 – W

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, January 1, 2003

The Panolian: OBITUARIES (W)

~ 2003 ~
W  

Waldrip, Fannie Mae
Fannie Mae Waldrip, 80, of Como, died Thursday, July 31, 2003, at her residence in Como.

Services were Sunday at First Baptist M.B. Church in Como. Burial was at Mt. Level Church. Felix Cauthen Funeral Home had charge.
Waldrip was an usher, on the mother board and was a choir member at First Baptist M.B. Church.

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She is preceded in death by her husband Hurbert Waldrip.

Survivors include two sisters, Gracie Partee and Willie Mae Renix, both of Como and one brother James Armstrong for Sardis.


Ward, James Elmer
James Elmer Ward, 81, of Batesville, died Saturday, Nov. 22, 2003 at his residence.

Services are today at 2 p.m. at Kimbro Funeral Home in Marks. Rev. Richard Mills will officiate. Burial is at Lambert Cemetery. Kimbro Funeral Home of Marks is in charge.

Ward was born Aug. 17, 1922 to the late Elmer Ward and late Everlina Parker Ward. He was a World War II U.S. Army veteran and a member of the Disabled Veterans of America. He received the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart and a Good Conduct Medal. He was also a member of Victory Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Mary C. Ward of Batesville; one daughter Mary Annette Ward Pauley of Batesville; two brothers, Wade Ward of Memphis and Paul Ward of Little Rock, Ark.; three sisters, Lula Stone of Greenville, Evelyn Jones of Terry, and Mabel Austin of Columbus; and five grandchildren.


Ware, Rev. Dewitt
Rev. Dewitt Ware, 86, of Batesville, died Thursday, May 15, 2003, at Beverly Health Care in Batesville.

Services were Monday at Pope Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church. Burial was at Pope Chapel Cemetery. Rev. William Bailey officiated. Cooley’s Mortuary had charge.

Ware, born Nov. 10, 1916, to the late Tom Ware and the late Eva Burns, was a retired minister, a farmer, and a member of Pope Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church.

Survivors include three daughters, Christine Blackburn of Pope, Farrie Parker of Batesville and Stella L. Wright of Memphis, Tenn.; two sons, Lewis W. Ware and Freddie Earl Ware, both of Memphis, Tenn.; one sister Farrie Mae Hoskins of Chicago, Ill.; 15 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.


Warr, Myron Nelson
Myron Nelson Warr, 40, of Sledge, died Saturday, Jan., 4, 2003, in Las Vegas, Nev. in an automobile accident.

Funeral services were Saturday, Jan.11, 2003 at 2 p.m. at Hollywood Baptist Church in Sledge. Interment was at Pleasant Grove Cemetery in Sardis. Rev. Roy Hartzell officiated services. Wells Funeral Home had charge of arrangements.

Warr, born May 9, 1962, in Clarksdale to Richard Myron and Barbara Nell Aldison Warr, was a self-employed construction worker.

Survivors include two sons, Matthew Warr and William Warr both of Rosamund, Calif.; his mother, Barbara Nell Aldison Young of Sledge; and his father, Richard Myron Warr of Arizona.


Watters, Jim Edward
Jim Edward Watters, 75, formerly of Batesville, died Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2003, at Fort Worth Nursing and Rehab Center.

Graveside services were Saturday at West Camp Cemetery in Batesville. Rev. Nathaniel Frison officiated. Cooley’s Mortuary had charge.

Watters, born April 25, 1928, to the late John E. Watters and the late Mattie Hamilton Watters, was a retired heavy equipment operator.

Survivors include his wife, Altha Watters of Fort Worth, Texas; one son Jearld Watters of Arlington, Texas; three daughters, Sigma Richardson, Forrestine Atkins and Cynthia Shores all of Ft. Worth,  Texas; one brother John Watters of Batesville; 10 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.    


Watts, Peggy Davis
Peggy Davis Watts, 70, of Batesville, died Thursday, May 15, 2003, at her home of heart failure.

Services were Saturday at Wells Funeral Home Chapel. Burial was at Forrest Memorial Park. Rev. Rayford Ables officiated. Wells Funeral Home had charge.

Watts, born July 11, 1932, to the late Bedford and Valeria Woods Davis, was a member of First Baptist Church and a retired secretary of the Engineers Department of Tallahatchie Valley Electric Power Association.

She is preceded in death by her husband James D. "JD" Watts.

Survivors include one daughter Lacey Watts Thornton of Sardis; one son Kevin Watts of Marion, Ark.; one sister Bobbi Nell Stapp of Batesville; one brother Knox Segars of Batesville; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.


Webb, Bonnie Jr.
Bonnie Webb Jr., 80, of Senatobia, died Thursday, August 7, 2003, at Methodist University Hospital in Memphis.

Services were Tuesday at Springfield M.B. Church in Senatobia. Burial was at Cistern Hill. Felix Cauthen Funeral Home had charge.

Webb was a construction worker foreman, a deacon of the church and a former Mason.

Survivors include his wife Lovelle Webb of Senatobia; one daughter Evelyn Jean Burdette of Memphis; two brothers, Charles Webb and Clifton Webb, both of Chicago, Ill.; four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.


Wells, Sarah Dettor
Sarah Dettor Wells, 90, of Amory, died Thursday, August 7, 2003, at the Beverly Healthcare in Amory.

Services were Saturday at the E.E. Pickle Funeral Home. Burial was at Haughton Memorial Park. Rev. Ed Woodall officiated. E.E. Pickle Funeral Home of Amory had charge.

Wells, born Feb. 6, 1913, to the late Frank and Hettie Collier Dettor, was employed at the Family Shop of Amory for 52 years until retiring, a charter member of St. Andrews Church where she was a member of the Caring Sunday School Class.

She is preceded in death by her husband Kenneth E. Wells, her parents, her daughter Peggy and son-in-law Gerald Cox.

Survivors include two sisters, Jane Gowen of Batesville and Margie D. Cagle of New Orleans, La.; two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.


West, Virgil Wayne
Virgil Wayne West, 72, of Beech Springs Community, died Friday, July 11, 2003, at the North Mississippi Medical Center.

Services were Monday at Chapel of Lee Memorial Funeral Home. Burial was at Chapel of Faith Mausoleum in Lee Memorial Park. Bro. Dennis Kizzire and Bro. Baker officiated.

West, born March 3, 1931, to the late Frank and Sophronia McCullough West, was a U.S. Air Force Veteran with service during the Korean Conflict, he was the owner of Capital Bedding Company in Verona, and also owned W.W. Trucking Company and West Rentals, he was an active member of the Beech Springs Freewill Baptist Church where he served as a trustee.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Sophronia McCullough and his brothers, Ray West and Ed West.

Survivors include his wife of 44 years, Janetta Hill West of Beech Springs Community; one daughter Betsy Moore of Saltillo; one son Douglas West of Saltillo; one sister Willie Frances Caldwell of the Old Union Community; two sisters-in-law, Linda West of Verona and Patsy Anthony of Pope.

Memorials may be sent to the Van Fund at Beech Springs Freewill Baptist Church, 155 CR 637, Saltillo, Miss. 38866. 


Westerfield, Nathan D.
Nathan D. Westerfield, 54, of Batesville, died Thursday, Nov. 20, 2003, at Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Miss. in Oxford, of heart failure.

Services were Sunday at Goodway Pentecostal Church. Burial was at Forrest Memorial Park. Wells Funeral Home had charge.

Westerfield, born Jan. 9, 1949, to the late Richard and the late Lee Huff Westerfield, was president of Westerfield Sonic Drive-In, Inc. with locations in Batesville, Sardis, Bruce, Water Valley and Satillo and was a member of Goodway Pentecostal Church.

Survivors include his wife, Lola Westerfield of Batesville; four daughters, Elizabeth Parker Roach and Jennifer Westerfield, both of Batesville, Teresa W. Bryant of Bruce, and Elizabeth Westerfield Motsinger of Houston; two sons, Harold Bert Parker and Michael Daniel Westerfield, both of Batesville; three sisters, Katie Westerfield Shirley and Janelle Westerfield Anderson, both of Morton, and Janet Westerfield Shoemaker of Pelahatchie; one brother, Houston Westerfield of Morton; and seven grandchildren.

All memorials may be sent to Goodway Pentecostal Building fund.


Westmoreland, Ann Elizabeth "Louise" Chambers
Ann Elizabeth "Louise" Chambers Westmoreland, 90, of Denton, Texas, died Wednesday, May 28, 2003, at L.B.J. Medical Nursing Center.

Services were Saturday at Batesville Magnolia Cemetery. Burial was at Batesville Magnolia Cemetery. Rev. Don Bishop officiated. Dickins Funeral Home had charge.

Westmoreland, born August 5, 1912, to the late John Erskine Chambers and the late Myrtle Sanders Chambers, was a member of the First United Methodist Church, a member of the Woman’s Club and a homemaker.

She is preceded in death by her husband William Marion Westmoreland.

Survivors include one daughter Ann Westmoreland Enders of Denton, Texas; two grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

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


Westbrook, Charles R.
Charles R. Westbrook, 46, of Courtland, died Wednesday, May 14, 2003, of heart failure.

Services were Saturday at Wells Funeral Home Chapel. Burial was at Forrest Memorial Park. Wells Funeral Home had charge.

Westbrook, born July 14, 1956, to Donald E. and the late Isabel Carol Schultheis Westbrook, served in the U.S. Coast Guard.

He is preceded in death by his mother Isabel Carol Schultheis Westbrook.

Survivors include two daughters, Lacy Westbrook of Starkville and Tara Westbrook of Gautier; his father Donald E. Westbrook of Oakland; his step-mother Loraine Parish Westbrook of Oakland; two brothers, Bobby Westbrook of Bloomington, Ind. and Donald Westbrook of Batesville; two step-brothers, Gerald and Tommy Parish of Batesville; two step-sisters Laura Herron of Batesville and Sandra McGregor of Trezevant, Tenn.; his aunt Betty Ann Westbrook of San Antonio, Texas; one granddaughter Mallory Westbrook and two grandsons Quinn Westbrook and Jeremy M. Westbrook.


Wilkins, Henry
Henry Wilkins, 80, of Sardis, died Saturday, Oct. 4, 2003, at his residence of cancer.

Visitation is today at Moore Funeral Home from 5-8 p.m. Graveside services are Saturday at Rose Hill Cemetery in Sardis at 12 p.m. Moore Funeral Home has charge.

Wilkins was born Oct. 4, 1923, in Coldwater to the late Haywood Wilkins and the late Josephine Mallory Wilkins.

Survivors include five daughters; two sons; three sisters, Earlee Frazier of Southaven, Lou Ella Wilkins of Horn Lake and Velma Wilkins of Hernando; two brothers, Willie B. Wilkins of Hernando and Sammy Lee Wilkins of Memphis, Tenn.; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.


Williams, Barbara Ann
Barbara Ann Williams, 66, of Senatobia, died Thursday, September 4, 2003, at her residence.

Services were Sunday at C.O. Pate Funeral Home in Senatobia. Burial was at Senatobia Memorial Cemetery. C.O. Pate Funeral Home had charge.

Williams was a member of the First Baptist Church in Senatobia.

Survivors include her husband Dayton Williams of Senatobia; three daughters, Kathy Louise Jones of Nesbit, Deborah Ann Savage of Arkabutla and Elizabeth Jo Massey of Senatobia; one son Byron Dayton Williams of Savage; three sisters, Peggy Scoggins of Strayhorn, Gloria Ward of Pleasant Grove and Linda Carlisle of Fort Smith, Ark.; three brothers, Bobby Lowrie of Buena Vista, Joe Lowrie of Greenwood and Donnie Lowrie of Senatobia; 11 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.


Williams, Rena Mae
Rena Mae Williams, 73, of Lambert, died Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2003, at Quitman County Hospital in Marks of heart failure.

Funeral services will be Friday, Jan. 17, at 10:00 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Lambert. Interment will be at Providence Cemetery at 1:00 p.m. near Grenada. Kimbro Funeral Home of Marks had charge of arrangements.

Williams, born October 15, 1929 in Webster County to the late Sam C. Cooper and the late Helen Stewart Cooper was a retired school teacher. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Lambert.

Survivors include her husband, Thomas L. Williams of Lambert; four daughters, Ann Ikerd of Jackson, Tenn., Sandra Kay Alexander of Crowder, Patsy Keel of Lambert, and Deborah Phillips of Atlanta, GA; two sons, Danny Williams of Hernando and James Randy Williams of Indianapolis, Ind.; three sisters, Odessa Waldrop of Starkville, Jamie Pittman of Calhoun City, and Nancy Jo Cooper of Memphis, Tenn.; 17 grandchildren; and 12 great grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, Lambert, MS. 


Williford, Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth Williford, 89, of Batesville, died Tuesday, July 15, 2003, at Beverly Health Care.

Services are today at Dickins Chapel at 2 p.m. Burial is at Chapel Hill Cemetery. Rev. Jimmy Bryant will officiate. Dickins Funeral Home has charge.

Williford, born Nov. 14, 1913, to the late Seab Rone Williford and the late Hattie Anthony Williford, was a homemaker and a member of Chapel Hill Church.

She is survived by her brother Jack Williford of Pope.


Willingham, Velma Jean "Dutchess"
Velma Jean "Dutchess" Willingham, 44, of Courtland, died Thursday, June 26, 2003, at Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi in Oxford.

Services were Sunday at Shiloh M.B. Church in Courtland. Burial was at Shiloh M.B. Church Cemetery. Rev. Carl Brown officiated. Cooley’s Mortuary had charge.

Willingham, born April 28, 1959, to Essie M. Bobo, was a nursing assistant at Beverly Healthcare, a member of Shiloh M.B. Church in Courtland and attended Patton Lane ITT Technical school.

Survivors include her mother Essie M. Bobo of Courtland; three sons, Orlando Willingham, Anthony Willingham and Charles Mario Walls, all of Courtland; two brothers, George Kenneth Walls of Pope and Calvin Brent Walls of Memphis; three sisters, Carrie Mae Walls and Dianne Roberts, both of Milwaukee, Wis., and Anita Gail Lindsey of Jackson and two grandchildren.


Wilson, Floye Tidwell
Floye Tidwell Wilson, 92, of Batesville, died Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2003, at Fairfield of Batesville of heart failure.

Services were Thursday, at Wells Funeral Home Chapel. Dr. David Ball, Rev. Alan Kilgore, and Rev. Doug Pepper officiated services with interment at Forrest Memorial Park Cemetery. Wells Funeral Home had charge.

Wilson, born July 20, 1910, to the late Alexander and Pearl Vick Tidwell, was a retired Panola County school teacher and homemaker. She was also a member of Mt. Olivet United Methodist Church.

Survivors include one daughter, Mary Pearl Robertson of Batesville; one sister, Myrtis Tidwell Dees of Sardis; two grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and one great-great granddaughter.


Wilson, Leroy
Leroy Wilson, 88, of Ashland, died Monday, Oct. 27, 2003, at Briarcrest Nursing Home in Ashland.

Services were Wednesday at Ashland Baptist Church. Burial was at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Benton County. McBride Funeral Home had charge.

Wilson, born to the late Samuel Thomas and the late Viola Autry Wilson, was a retired Mississippi Department of Transportation employee, a member of Ashland Baptist Church and was a Deacon for more than 40 years.

He is preceded in death by his two brothers, James M. Wilson and Vance E. Wilson.

Survivors include his wife Mary Elizabeth "May" Wilson of Ashland; one daughter Pam W. Thompson of Hickory Flat; three sons, Jimmy G. Wilson of Oxford, William T. "Dub" Wilson of Courtland and David G. Wilson of Marion, Ark.; two sisters, Loreath Edwards and Marie Jackson, both of Hickory Flat.; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.


Wilson, Loraine
Loraine Wilson, 42, of Sardis, died Monday, Oct. 20, 2003, at Tri-Lakes Medical Center.

Services are Saturday at New Rock Hill M.B. Church in Sardis at 2:30 p.m. Burial is at Rose Hill Cemetery. Felix Cauthen Funeral Home has charge.

Wilson, was a custodian, a cafeteria worker and a member of New Rock Hill M.B. Church.

Survivors include her father Earl Wilson of Sardis; one daughter Maranda Lee Wilson of Sardis; two sons, Michael Liron Wilson, Leroy Wilson and Charles Wilson, all of Sardis; two sisters, Carolyn Wilson and Martha Wilson, both of Sardis; three brothers, Earl Wilson Jr., Leroy Wilson and Charles Wilson, all of Sardis and two grandchildren.


Wilson, Mattie Mae
Mattie Mae Wilson, 98, of Sardis, died Wednesday, September 10, 2003, at Senatobia Convalescent Center.

Services are Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Como CME Church in Como. Burial is at Rose Hill Cemetery in Sardis. Rev. Mack Taylor will officiate. Moore Funeral Home has charge.

Wilson, born Dec. 7, 1904, to the late Lewis Walton and the late Mandy House Walton, was a member of Como CME Church and a member of Orient Lodge.

Survivors include her husband Nat Wilson of Sardis; one son Willie McGhee of Crenshaw; one sister Mary Ruth Howard of Seattle, Wash.; nine grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren and 17 great-great-grandchildren.


Wilson, Ora Lee
Ora Lee Wilson, 85, of Water Valley, died Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2003 at Hermitage Gardens in Oxford.

Services are Sunday at 2 p.m. at Everdale M.B. Church in Water Valley. Burial is at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Water Valley. Rev. Rubert Morgan will officiate. Eddie Robinson and Son Funeral Directors have charge.

Wilson, born Sept. 27, 1918, was a member of Everdale M.B. Church in Water Valley.    


Wilson, Polly
Polly Wilson, 90, of Sardis, died Monday, March 24, 2003, at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Desoto in Southaven.

Graveside services were Wednesday at Rose Hill Cemetery. Rev. Jerry Sanford officiated. Moore Funeral Home in Sardis had charge.

Wilson, born May 2, 1912, to the late Charles E. Appleton and Lora Leeton Appleton, was a member of First Baptist Church in Sardis and a practical nurse.

She was preceded in death by her husband Woodrow Wilson.

Survivors include two sisters, Anita Alred of Grenada and Maudie Haley of Oxford and one brother William F. Appleton of Perkinston, Miss., and several nieces and nephews.
 


Winfield, Hazel Geanette
Hazel Geanette Winfield, 61, of Courtland, died Tuesday, July 8, 2003, at Tri-Lakes Medical Center.

Services were Saturday at Shiloh M.B. Church in Courtland. Burial was at Shiloh Cemetery. Rev. Carl Brown officiated. Cooley’s Mortuary had charge.

Winfield, born, May 14, 1942, to the late Winston Joe Winfield and the late Estee Marie Turner, was a retired domestic worker and a member of Pine Grove M.B. Church.

Survivors include her step-mother Hattie Field of Memphis; one daughter Carol Winfield of Courtland; two sons, Thomas Winfield and Kettrick Winfield, both of Courtand; four sisters, Linda Dandridge of Batesville, Ruby Carothers of Courtland, Annie Eva Gaston of Water Valley and Jean Williams of Memphis; three brothers, Kenneth Hoskins of Batesville, Bill Shaw of Water Valley and Lawrence Crozier of Memphis; nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild. 


Wolfe, Larry
Larry Wolfe, 46, of Sardis, died Tuesday, March 18, 2003, at his residence of natural causes.

Services were Saturday at Mt. Zion M.B. Church. Rev. Pierce Lyons of Memphis officiated. Burial was in Rose Hill Cemetery. Henderson Funeral Home in Sardis had charge.

Wolfe, born Nov. 14, 1956, to Leroy Wolfe and Leatha P. Wolfe of Sardis, was a plummer and a member of Mt. Zion M.B. Church.

Survivors include one son Mario Watson of Memphis; four daughters, Jennifer Wren, Jasmine Wren, both of Como, Tamika Jones of Holly Springs and Damicka Danner of Sardis; his mother Leatha P. Wolfe of Sardis; four sisters, Irene Galmore of Batesville, Freddie Wolfe of Sardis, Clara Gipson of Memphis and Annie Wolfe of Sardis and one brother, Leroy Wolfe of Sardis.
 


Woods, Margie Helen Baker
Margie Helen Baker Woods, 71, of Pope, died Monday, July 14, 2003, at her residence.

Services are today at Dickins Chapel at 10 a.m. Burial is at Chapel Hill Cemetery. Roger Hartman will officiate. Dickins Funeral Home has charge.

Woods, born Oct. 22, 1931, to the late William Casper Baker and the late Mary Frances Flynn Baker, was a homemaker and a member of Pope Baptist Church.

She is preceded in death by her son J.C. Woods and one brother Percy Winfred Baker.

Survivors include one son Percy Ray Woods of Crowder; two daughters, Annette Woods and Anita Horton Logue, both of Pope; one brother Otis Baker of Mo.; two sisters, Shirley Terry of Batesville and Barbara Cofer of Memphis; six grandchildren, Heather Horton Brewer, Anna Horton, Cass Woods, Rena Woods, Christopher Woods and Jennifer Woods and one great-grandchild James Michael Brewer.


Woods, Walter Martell
Walter Martell Woods, 68, of Lambert, died Saturday, Dec. 13, 2003 at his residence.

Services are today at Kimbro Funeral Home in Marks. Burial will be at Crowder Cemetery. Rev. Jerry Wages will officiate. Kimbro Funeral Home has charge.

Woods, born on Jan. 24, 1935 to the late George McCoyle Woods and the late Winnie Beatrice Massey Woods, was a retired heavy equipment operator and a member of Calvary Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife Dorothy Sanders Woods of Lambert; two daughters, Betty Woods Moore of Sardis and Mary Woods Wiggs of Como; two sons, James Martell Woods of Lambert and Thomas Earl Woods of Marks; three sisters, Eva Mae Redwine of Coffeeville, Annie Bo Goodwin of Eupora and Shirley Segars of Ripley; three brothers, Robert Granville Woods of Maben, James William Woods of Starkville and Jimmy Wayne Robertson of Crowder; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.


Wooten, Katie Mae
Katie Mae Wooten, 88, of Batesville, died Thursday, May 1, 2003, at Overton Park Health Center in Memphis of natural causes.

Services were Tuesday at Cistern Hill M.B. Church in Como. Burial was at Cistern Hill M.B. Cemetery. Rev. Cedric Richardson officiated. Henderson Funeral Home had charge.

Wooten, born July 4, 1914, to the late Dean Newson and the late Georgia Lock, was a farmer and a member of Hope Well M.B. Independence Church.

Survivors include six daughters, Rosie Mirror Gillard, Mae Georgia Wooten, Mattie Wooten, all of Memphis, Annie Laurie Deans of Las Vegas, Nev., Margie Ann Wooten and Eula B. Wooten, both of Los Angeles, Calif.; two sons, Jeffery Wooten of Memphis and Robert Wooten of Batesville; 31 grandchildren; 50 great-grandchildren; five sisters and two brothers.


Wrenn, Nina Downs
Nina Downs Wrenn, 74, died Thursday , Jan. 23, 2003, at her home in Pope of heart failure.

Services were Sunday at Wells Funeral Home Chapel with interment at Liberty Hill Cemetery in Pope. Rev. Rex Wilburn and Rev. Dianne Lemon officiated services.

Wrenn, born June 11, 1928, was the widow of James Franklin Wrenn, and a homemaker. She was a member of the Pope United Methodist Church.

Survivors include three daughters, Linda Wrenn Tutor of Tunica, Susan Wrenn Milbank of Westland, Mich., and Connie Wrenn Thompson of Pope; five sons, Franky Wrenn of Batesville, Steven Wrenn of Tunica, Terry Wrenn of Belleville, Mich., Joseph Wrenn of Tunica and Bryan Wrenn of Pope; three sisters, Martha Jane Downs Brewer and Ruby Downs Nardozzi, both of Batesville, and Della Quay Downs Whitten of Tupelo; one brother, Billy Sims Downs of Batesville; 21 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Jessie Beckham Downs of Batesville; one son, Ronald Wrenn of Tunica, and one brother, William Marvin "Bud" Downs Sr., of Batesville.
 


Wright, Bessie Reynolds
Bessie Reynolds Wright, 87, of Lambert, died Sunday, July 27, 2003, at Liberty Regional Medical Center in Hinesville, Ga.

Graveside services are today at 2 p.m. at Lambert Cemetery. Burial was at Lambert Cemetery. Rev. Don O’Quin officiated. Kimbro Funeral Home has charge.

Wright, born Nov. 13, 1915, to the late Jesse Reynolds and the late Myrtle Walton Robertson Reynolds, was a retired teacher and a member of First Baptist Church in Lambert.

She is preceded in death by her husband William Oliver Wright and son Wallace Wright.

Survivors include one son Carey Wright of Lambert; one sister Joline Peterson of Gulfport; two brothers, Curtis Reynolds of Conway, Ga. and Marvin Reynolds of Philadelphia; two grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, Lambert, or to the charity of the donor’s choice.


Wright, Countiss Hudson
Countiss Hudson Wright, 84, of Batesville, died Saturday, July 26, 2003, at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson.

Services were Thursday at Dickins Chapel. Burial was at Batesville Magnolia Cemetery. Rev. Doug Pepper and Rev. Glenn Miller officiated. Dickins Funeral Home had charge.

Wright, born Dec. 14, 1918, to the late Alfred Stocker Hudson and the late Josie Ida Baker Hudson, was a member of Terza United Methodist Church, a member of Women Chairman for Panola County Farm Bureau for 20 years, a member of the South Panola Hospital Auxiliary for 21 years and a homemaker.

Survivors include two sons, William Alfred Wright of Houston, Texas and James Gordon Wright of Ellisville; one daughter Ginger Wright Golden of Houston, Texas; four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to Terza United Methodist Church, C/O Rev. Doug Pepper, 36905, Hwy 315, Batesville.


Wright, Earnest Lee
Earnest Lee Wright, 52, of Milwaukee, Wis., died Feb. 12, 2003.

Services were Monday at Mt. Zion M.B. Church in Sardis with interment at Rose Hill Cemetery. Rev. Roy Allen officiated services. Cooley’s Mortuary had charge.

Wright, born Jan. 22, 1951, to William Wright and Lena Kearney, was a veteran of U.S. Marines Corp. and a member of Mt. Zion M.B. Church in Sardis.

Survivors include his wife, Winnie Kelson Wright of Milwaukee, Wis.; two sons, Earnest Wright, Jr. of Milwaukee, Wis., and Madee Wright of Detroit, Mich.; six brothers, Donald Wright, Terry Wright, and Larry Wright all of Como, William Earl Wright of Milwaukee, Wis., Jerry Wright of San Diego, Calif., and McArthur Wright of Tallahassee, Fla.; two sisters, Sherry Madlock of Milwaukee, Wis., and Nancy Taylor of Como; and two grandchildren.
 


Wright, James Alfred
James Alfred Wright, 83, of Millington, Tenn., died Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2003, at Baptist Memorial of Memphis.

Services were Friday at First Baptist Church in Millington. Munford Funeral Home had charge.

Wright, born April 1, 1920, graduated from Bartlett High School in 1937 and the University of Tennessee at Martin in 1940. During WWII he was a B-24 navigator with the 8th Air Force in England, flying 30 combat missions over Germany and France, with his last mission to Calais, France on D-Day, when he saw from altitude the entire Allied invasion fleet below in the Atlantic and English Channel. After the war he farmed for 33 years, and for years was director of the Millington Housing Authority. He was an expert chess player, known as "Ironman Jim." He won the Memphis, Mid-South, Tennessee, and Alabama Open Tournaments. He played in the U.S. Open Chess Tournament 10 straight years and was named to the Tennessee Chess Hall of Fame. He was also a member of the First Baptist Church of Millington since 1949, where he was a deacon and taught Junior Boys and later Men’s Sunday school.

Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Mary Virginia James Wright; four daughters, Mary Lynn White of Covington, Tenn., Catherine Wright Taylor of Como, Rebecca Wright Crosier of Cookeville, Tenn., and Marcia James Thorp of Memphis; one sister Ruth Wright Conn of Memphis; one brother Joseph E. Wright of Nashville; nine grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.


Wright, Melvin
Melvin Wright, 68, of Batesville, died Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2003, at Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi in Oxford of heart disease.

Services were Sunday at Eureka A.M.E. Zion Church. Burial was at the church cemetery. Hodges Funeral Home had charge.

Wright, was a retired farmer.

Survivors include one daughter, Annette Butler of Batesville; his mother Malissa Wright of Batesville; four sisters, Ann Lou Wright of Batesville, Ire Lou Darden of North Carolina, Katherine W. Ford of Memphis and Mary L. Jones of Missouri and two grandchildren.


Wright, William Earl "W.E."
William Earl "W.E." Wright, 80, of Southaven, died Saturday, July 19, 2003, at his residence.
Services were Monday at C.O. Pate Funeral Home in Senatobia. Burial was at Longtown Cemetery. C.O. Pate Funeral Home had charge.

Wright worked 32 years with Illinois Central Railroad and worked 18 years for the Mississippi Department of Corrections, was a veteran of WWII, in the marines, a 32nd degree Mason, a member of the Cordova Masonic Lodge #599, was a Shriner (Wahabi Temple), a member of VFW post #4800 and a member of Courtland United Methodist Church.

Survivors include his wife Juanita Henderson Wright of Southaven; two daughters, Deborah Wright Ashworth of Southaven and Lynn Wright Burt of Scobey; two sons, William E. Wright Jr. of Kansas City, Mo. and Michael Gene Wright of Joplin, Mo.; two sisters, Lurlene Wright Carothers and Anne Wright Handwerker, both of Memphis; one brother Allen Ray Wright of Oxford; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to Courtland United Methodist Church.