Obituaries – 2004 – R

Published 12:00 am Thursday, January 1, 2004

The Panolian: OBITUARIES (R)

~ 2004 ~
R  

Ragon, Rome Watson "Watt"
Batesville, Miss.
Rome Watson "Watt" Ragon, 81, died Monday, Oct. 25, 2004, at Baptist Memorial of heart failure.

Ragon, born June 26, 1923, to the late R.J. and Willie Downs Ragon, was retired from Tucker Manufacturing Inc. and a member of Calvary Baptist Church.

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Services were Thursday at Wells Funeral Home Chapel. Burial was in Batesville-Magnolia Cemetery. Rev. Paul Middleton officiated. Wells Funeral Home had charge.

Survivors include his wife Jewel Miller Ragon of Batesville; one daughter Pam Ragon Jones of Cleveland; three sons, Harvey Haney of Jackson, Jim Ragon of Columbus and Larry Haney of Brandon; one sister Chubby Seay of Batesville; seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Calvary Baptist Church Building Fund.


Reed, Jerrick "J.J."
Jerrick "J.J." Reed, 28, of Sardis, died Wednesday, March 17, 2004.

Services were Monday at Viney Creek M.B. Church in Batesville. Burial was in the church cemetery. Rev. Ozine Thomas officiated. Cooley’s Mortuary, Inc. had charge.

Reed, born July 10, 1975, to James Washington of Sardis and Dearia Reed Salter of Sardis, graduated from North Panola High School and Northwest Community College. He was a cashier at Sheraton Casino and a member of Viney Creek M.B. Church.

Survivors include parents, James Washington and Dearia Reed Salter and step-father Jessie Salter, all of Sardis; three sons, Jerrick Jackson of Senatobia, Jaylon Reed and Jerrick Reed, both of Tunica; one daughter LaQushia Jackson of Senatobia; three brothers, Derrick Salter and Lerone Salter, both of Chicago, Ill. and Domingo Harris of Oxford; three sisters, Veronica Reed and Stephanie Washington, both of Sardis and Sonya Gipson of Memphis; grandparents, Charlie and Laura Reed of Sardis and Robert Taylor and Mary Francis Salter, both of Sardis.


Reese, Emily Carter
Emily Carter Reese, 79, of Sardis, died Saturday, Jan. 4, 2004, at Baptist Desoto Hospital.

Services were Tuesday at Sardis United Methodist Church. Burial was at Rose Hill Cemetery in Sardis. Rev. Joe Reese and Dr. Doyce Gunter officiated. Moore Funeral Home had charge.

Reese, born on Feb. 20, 1924, to the late Armstrong and the late Emily Goodnight Carter, was a housewife and a member of Sardis United Methodist Church.

Survivors include her husband Carl Jack Reese of Sardis; two daughters, Donna Norris of Senatobia and Ann Fair of Carrollton; one son Joe Reese of Ontario, Canada; three brothers, Melvin Carter of Sardis, Jim Carter of Little Rock, Ark. and Jack Carter of Birmingham, Ala.; nine grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.   


Reese, Willie Lee 
Willie Lee Reese, 55, of Oakland, died Sunday, September 12, 2004.

Reese, born Dec. 12, 1948, was a contractor.

Services were Wednesday at Newsom Funeral Home in Charleston. Burial was in Oakland Cemetery. Newsom Funeral Home had charge.

He was preceded in death by one grandchild Allison Claire George.

Survivors include one daughter Donna George of Jackson; six sisters, Gracie Mae Messner of Hernando, Betty Jo Reynolds of Greenwood, Mary Katherine Stephens of Scobey, Sarah Jane Goodwin of Memphis, Tenn., Annie Sue Ables and Linda Gene Crocker, both of Coffeeville; four brothers, Harvey Lee Reese of Amory, Robert Earl Reese of Pope, Ted Reese Jr. of Amory and Thomas Reese of Scobey and two grandchildren.


Rice, Howard Edgar Jr.
Howard Edgar Rice Jr., 82, of Batesville, died Thursday, Dec. 2, 2004, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Oxford of heart failure.

Rice, born Jan. 10, 1922, to the late Howard Edgar and the late Helen Neiss Rice, was a retired Chief Master Sergeant for the U.S. Air Force, served in World War II and was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Batesville.

Services were Monday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Father Sam Messiner officiated. Burial was in Magnolia Cemetery. Wells Funeral Home had charge.

Survivors include his wife Edna Womble Rice of Batesville; two daughters, Karen Ann Rice Earnest of McLean, Va. and Helen Elizabeth Rice of Littleton, Colo.; four sons, Howard Keith Rice of Daleville, Ala., Michael Joseph Rice of Austin, Texas, Patrick Edward Rice of Steamboat Springs, Colo. and Timothy Robert Rice of Merritt Island, Fla.; 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.


Robinson, Girtha Marie Mackey
Girtha Marie Mackey Robinson, 68, formerly of Batesville, died Monday, Jan. 5, 2004, at Clear Lake Regional Hospital in Webster, Texas.

Services were Saturday at New Bethlehem M.B. Church in Batesville. Burial was in the church cemetery. Rev. Arthur Davidson officiated. Cooley’s Mortuary, Inc. had charge.

Robinson, born Jan. 19, 1935, to the late Russell Mackey and the late Mildred Luss Mackey, was a homemaker.

Survivors include three daughters, Vera Jean Robinson of Houston, Texas. Eunice Davidson of Pearland, Texas and Vira Copeland of Houston, Texas; one son Melvin Robinson of Houston, Texas; two brothers, Eddie Mackey of Batesville and Willie James Mackey of Columbus, Ga.; and eight grandchildren.


Robison, Donald A. "Don"
Courtland, MS
Donald A. "Don" Robison, 74, of Courtland, died Thursday, June 3, 2004, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Oxford.

Services were Sunday at the Wells Funeral Home Chapel in Batesville. Burial was in Forrest Memorial Park in Batesville. Rev. Don Howie and Rev. Wes Sherman officiated. Wells Funeral Home had charge.
Robison, born June 11, 1929, to the late J.W. "Dick" and Louise McKee Robison, was a retired paint contractor and a member of Blackjack Presbyterian Church.

Survivors include his wife Hattie Petrea Robison of Courtland; one daughter Josie Lynn Robison Rasch of Ava, Mo.; two sons, Phillip P. Robison of Memphis and W. Paul Robison of Batesville; two sisters, Martha Lou Robison McCullar of Batesville and Jean Robison Denham of Saltillo; one brother E.J. Robison of Water Valley; and five grandchildren.


Rockwood, Curell Austin
Curell Austin Rockwood, 84, of Crowder, died Thursday, April 8, 2004, at Quitman County Hospital in Marks.

Services were Friday at Kimbro Funeral Home in Marks. Burial was in Lambert Cemetery. Rev. Larry Kilgore officiated. Kimbro Funeral Home had charge.

Rockwood, born Dec. 7, 1919, to the late Charlie Austin and the late Clyde Craig Austin, was a homemaker and a member of First Baptist Church in Marks.

Survivors include two sons, Paul Rockwood of Crowder and Bill Baskin of Olive Branch; two brothers, Charlie Austin Jr. of Lambert and Gerald Austin of Crowder; two sisters, Mary Jane Hutchens of Clarksdale and Connie Kirkland of Lambert; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.


Rodgers, John Doyle
Batesville, Miss.
John Doyle Rodgers, 86, of Batesville, died Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2004, at Veterans Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.

Rodgers, born Feb. 8, 1918, to the late Dalton Orr Rodgers and Clara Henry Rodgers, was a veteran of WWII and a member of the Sands Springs Presbyterian Church.

Services are at 11 a.m. today at Dickins Funeral Home Chapel. Burial is in Jumpers Chapel Cemetery in Water Valley. Rev. Wesley Nicholas will officiate. Dickins Funeral Home has charge.

He is survived by his sister, Betty Zenor of Courtland.


Rodgers, Vonnie Lucille White
Vonnie Lucille White Rodgers, 98, of Batesville, died Monday, September 20, 2004, at Beverly Health Care in Batesville.

Rodgers, born Aug. 4, 1906, was a member of Crowder Baptist Church and a homemaker.

Services were Wednesday at Enon Baptist Church. Burial was in Crowder Cemetery. Rev. Rusty Fair officiated. Kimbro Funeral Home had charge.

Survivors include one sister Etoyle Helems of Batesville; three sisters-in-law and many nieces and nephews.


Ross, Betty Lucille Simmons
Betty Lucille Simmons Ross, 71, of Charleston, died Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2004, at Tallahatchie General Hospital in Charleston.

Services were Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2004, at Friendship Baptist Church in Charleston. Burial was in Friendship Cemetery. Newsom – Charleston Funeral Home had charge.

Simmons, born June 11, 1932, was a homemaker.

Survivors include three daughters, Brenda P. Johnson of Batesville, Sondra P. Taylor of Enid and Nona P. Smith of Charleston; two sons, William Brooks Pressgrove Jr. of Charleston and Michael Griffin Ross of Pope; two sisters, Bessie S. Flemmons of Batesville and Lillie S. Simmons of Charleston; one brother John William Simmons of Lula; 12 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

All memorials may be made to Tallahatchie American Cancer Society.


Ross, John Edward
Batesville, MS
John Edward Ross, 71, of Batesville, died Monday, May 10, 2004.

Services were Thursday at Seven Oaks Funeral Home in Water Valley. Burial was in Clear Creek in Lafayette County. Rev. Randy Bain officiated. Seven Oaks Funeral Home had charge.

Ross, born Dec. 28, 1932, to the late John Thomas Ross and the late Snoda Mae Brooks, was a self-employed cabinet maker. He also served in the army and was a war veteran.

Survivors include his wife Hilda Sue Ross of Batesville; one daughter Melissa Dawn Downs of Batesville; one son Rodney Lane Ross of Paonia, Colo.; one brother Delbert Ross of Water Valley; and two sisters, Lucille Wrenn and Carline Herring, both of Water Valley.


Rotenberry, Elwood
Sardis, MS
Elwood Rotenberry, 93, of Sardis, died Tuesday, June 1, 2004, at Tri-Lakes Medical Center in Batesville.

Services were Friday at Moore Funeral Home Chapel in Sardis. Burial was in New Cleveland Cemetery. Rev. Jerry Sanford officiated. Moore Funeral Home had charge.

Rotenberry, born Sept. 7, 1910, to the late Charles W. and Elizabeth Allen Rotenberry, was the retired owner of Rotenberry Appliances and a member of First Baptist Church in Sardis.

Survivors include his wife Pearl Townsend Rotenberry of Sardis; two daughters, Dinah Rotenberry of Jackson and Exie R. Pratt of Ridgeland; one sister Lois Honeycutt of Birmingham, Ala.; and one grandchild.


Rudd, Addie Thornton
Addie Thornton Rudd, 88, of Pope, died Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2004, at Tri-Lakes Medical Center.

Rudd, born Dec. 12, 1915, to the late Anderson and Mary Thornton, was a housewife and a member of Springhill M.B. Church in Pope. She was also a member of the Mother Board.

Services were Saturday at Springhill M.B. Church in Pope. Burial was in Springhill Cemetery. Rev. Stephen P. Walker officiated. Cooley’s Mortuary had charge.

Survivors include two sons, Willie Rudd and Jessie Rudd, both of Pope; one daughter Nora Adams of Memphis, Tenn.; three grandchildren; one great-grandchild and one great-great grandchild.


Rudd, Steven
Steven Rudd, 26, of Senatobia, died Monday, Feb. 16, 2004, at North Oak Regional Medical Center in Senatobia..

Services will be Saturday, Feb. 21 at 11 a.m. at Cooley’s Mortuary Chapel with interment in Rock Hill Cemetery. Cooley’s Mortuary has charge of the arrangements.

Rudd was employed as an assistant manager for Taco Bell in Senatobia and was a member of the Sardis Church of Christ.

Survivors include his father Arthur D. Rudd of Batesville, Bessie Lee Gassion of Batesville; one daughter Ta’Meria Bailey Rudd of Senatobia; two brothers, Jerry Rudd of Florida and Edward Butler of Sardis; and one sister Cynthia Butler of Memphis.


Russell, Jeffery Sr.
Batesville, Miss.
Jeffery Russell, 48, of Batesville, died Sunday, Oct. 3, 2004, at his residence.

Russell was an auto mechanic.

Graveside services were Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2004, at Blackjack Presbyterian Cemetery. Felix Cauthen Funeral Home had charge.

Survivors include his wife Tammy Russell; his son Jeffery Russell Jr. of Sardis; his mother Frances Lovelady of Batesville; two sisters, Beverly Britt and Patricia Putman, both of Batesville; three brothers, Jamie Russell, Johnny Russell, both of Batesville and Tommy Russell of Water Valley; and four grandchildren.