Walter Clayton “W.C.” Evans

BATESVILLE– Walter Clayton “W. C.” Evans Jr., 89, died Thursday, August 2, 2007.

Services will be at 1 p.m. today at the First United Methodist Church. Graveside services will be at  3:30 p.m. at Oakwood Cemetery in Tunica. Visitation will be today noon – 1:00 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church. Dickins Funeral Home in Batesville and Memorial Funeral Home in Tunica are in charge of arrangements.

W. C., “Dub” to his friends, born June 16, 1918, in Tunica to the late Walter Clayton Evans Sr. and Marie Le Jeune des Nayer Evans, was the youngest of nine children. He was a graduate of Tunica High School where he played high school football. He had farming interests in Tunica and Batesville for many years. He later was co-owner of Evans Custom Frame Shop with his wife, Mary McLean Evans. He was a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church in Batesville.  

He was preceded in death by six sisters, Marie Evans Kramer, Alyce Evans Barnes, Dorothy Evans Fisher, Gladys Evans Lofton, Lottie Evans Anderson, and Elizabeth Evans Boyd, and two brothers, John Clayton Evans and Richard Clayton Evans.  

Survivors include: his wife of 67 years, Mary Lou McLean Evans; one daughter, Sue Evans Lobrano of Jackson; two grandchildren, Edward Posey Lobrano III and wife Christine of St. Louis, Mo. and Suzanne Lobrano Lindsey and husband Scott of McComb and six great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 119 Panola Avenue, Batesville, MS 38606.  

Janice Inez Lawton

SARDIS– Janice Inez Lawton, 53, died Friday, August 3, 2007, at her residence.

Services are Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Union Baptist Church in Sardis. Rev. Robert Hickey will officiate. Visitation will be 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Moore-Nowell Funeral Home has charge.

Lawton, born Aug. 7, 1953, in Memphis to the late Herbert Augustine and Dorothy Cooley LaCroix, was a homemaker.

Survivors along with her mother include: her husband John Lawton; one daughter, Sandi Mitchell of Olive Branch; one son, David Comstock of Memphis; one sister, Patricia Cockman and seven grandchildren, Morgan, Savannah and Cole Mitchell, Riley Comstock, Payton and Grant Erricson and Gabriel Lawton.

Memorials may be made to the National Cancer Foundation.

David Wayne Ruthelford

GRENADA– David Wayne Ruthelford, 26, died, Sunday, Aug. 5, 2007, from injuries received in an automobile accident in Oakland.

 Services are Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. at Dickins Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be in Bethel Cemetery. Rev. C.H. Newcomb  will officiate. Visitation will be Tuesday 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. at Dickins  Funeral Home Chapel. Dickins Funeral Home has charge.

Ruthelford, born March 24, 1981, in Wichita, Kan. to Jerry Wayne Ruthelford and Charlotte Davis Ruthelford, both of Charleston, was a truck driver and a member of Faith Gospel Assembly of God.

Survivors along with his parents include: his wife Bobbi Jean Ruthelford of Grenada; his grandmother, Mary Davis of Oakland; two sons, Austin Ruthelford of Elliott and Dylan Ruthelford of Clearwater, Fla.; two daughters, Chelsea Ruthelford and Haley Ruthelford of Elliott;  one brother, Jerry Wayne Ruthelford Jr. of Coffeeville and one sister, Heather Hardin of Waterford.

William Franklin “Billy” Wilson

BATESVILLE– William Franklin “Billy” Wilson, 72, died Saturday, August 4, 2007, at his residence.

Services are today at 10 a.m. at Wells Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be in Forrest Memorial Park. Wells Funeral Home has charge.

Wilson, born Feb. 18, 1935, in Sardis to the late Robert Allen and the late Ruby Mitchell Wilson, was a member of Calvary Baptist Church. He retired as chief operator at Tennessee Gas Pipeline after 31 years.

He was also a U.S. Army veteran.

Survivors include: his wife, Patricia Pitcock Wilson of Batesville; two daughters, Sharon Wilson Rodriguez of Saltillo and Rita Wilson Dye of Batesville; one son, William F. “Bill” Wilson Jr. of Paris, Tenn.; one sister, Mae Wilson Bumpas of Hernando; one brother, Robert Allen Wilson Jr. of Sardis; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.