SARDIS–Katherine “Kate” Sturgis Basford, 85, died Sunday, September 7, 2008, at her residence.

Services are today at 11 a.m. at Ray-Nowell Funeral Home Chapel. Rev. Jerry Sanford will officiate. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery. Visitation is today 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. at the funeral home. Ray-Nowell Funeral Home has charge.

Basford, born March 19, 1923, to the late Floyd Sturgis and Corrie Butler Sturgis, was a member of First Baptist Church in Sardis. She was a tape librarian-Earth Sciences in Alexandria, Va.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Lucian Basford and three daughters, Carolyn Basford, Linda Woodruff and Judy Troxell.

Survivors include: one son, Raymond L. Basford of Yorktown, Va.; seven grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

BATESVILLE– Nellie Ruth McCray Chapman, 73, died Saturday, September 6 2008, at Golden Living Center.

Services are Saturday at 11 a.m. at Pilgrim Rest M.B. Church. Rev. Melvin Ellis will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation is today 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. at Cooley’s Mortuary. Cooley’s Mortuary has charge.

Chapman, born to Rosetta Jones Holmes of Batesville and the late Elmer McCray, was a member of Pilgrim Rest M.B. Church where she was a choir member. She was a homemaker.

Survivors along with her mother include: one daughter, Josie McCray Mathis of Batesville; three step-daughters, Virginia Martin, Anna Stewart, both of Milwaukee and Wanda Chapman of Dallas; two sons, Howard McCray of Batesville and Raymond Chapman of Tacoma, Wash.; three step-sons, Robert Chapman and James Wesley Chapman, both of Batesville and Charles David Chapman of Kingsport, Tenn.; two sisters, Clara White and Mary Lillian Holmes Reed, both of Memphis; one step-sister, LaVerda Burns of St. Louis; three brothers, David Holmes, Hebert Holmes, both of Batesville and Earl Holmes of Memphis and one step-brother, Eddie Holmes of St. Louis.

BATESVILLE– Thomas Wesley Reed, 15, died Saturday, September 6, 2008, at St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

Services are Saturday at 2 p.m. at St. Peter M.B. Church in Sardis. Rev. Odell Draper Jr. will officiate. Burial will be in Antioch Cemetery in Courtland. Visitation is today 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. at Cooley’s Mortuary. Cooley’s Mortuary has charge.

Reed, born Feb. 21, 1993, in Clarksdale, to Tommie Turner of Batesville and Shirley Reed of Batesville, was a member of Shiloh M.B. Church in Courtland. He was a student at South Panola Jr. High School.

Survivors along with his parents include: eight sisters, Angie Turner, Shona Turner, Tiffany Smallie, Tekela Smallie, Tameka Flowers, Monique Wright, Debbie Wright and Denise Wright, all of Batesville; and four brothers, Antoino Wright, Daryll Wright, Kentry Wright and Tommy Wright, all of Batesville.

COURTLAND– Maurice McGregory Tutor, 72, died Wednesday, September 10, 2008, at her residence.

Services are Saturday at 11 a.m. at Bethany Baptist Church. Rev. Tim Ellis will officiate. Burial will be in Crowder Cemetery. Visitation will be today 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. at Wells Funeral Home. Wells Funeral Home has charge.

Tutor, born March 12, 1936, in Vardaman, to the late Hubert and Vester Odell McGregory, was a member of Bethany Baptist Church. She was a retired factory worker.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Herman Tutor.

Survivors include: two daughters, Wanda Tutor Anderson and Shelia Tutor, both of Batesville; five sons, Ronald Tutor, Troy Tutor, Travis Tutor and Terry Tutor, all of Batesville and Randall Tutor of Como; two sisters, Laurice McGregory Donaldson of Enid and Dorothy McGregory Ellis of Batesville; five brothers, Mack Latham McGregory and Alvis McGregory, both of Pontotoc, Jimmy McGregory and Steve McGregory, both of Batesville and Joe McGregory of Thaxton; 17 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

BATESVILLE– Arthur Roy Thomas, 70, died Thursday, September 4, 2008, at Golden Living Center in Batesville.

Services were Wednesday at Concord M.B. Church in Batesville. Rev. Zannie Leland officiated. Burial was in Concord Cemetery. Cooley’s Mortuary had charge.

Thomas, born July 10, 1938, in Batesville, to the late Edward Thomas Jr. and the late Eddie Love, was a member of Concord M.B. Church and a factory worker.

Survivors include: three daughters, Benettra Sheral Thomas of Batesville, Mashunda Corruth of Enid and Frances Thomas of Evanston, Ill.; four sisters, Anna Thomas Chapman of Batesville, Vivian Henderson of Memphis, LaJoyce Dixon of Evanston, Ill. and Vernan Earl of Chicago and six grandchildren.

MEMPHIS– Samuel Watson, 77, died Thursday, September 4, 2008, at Court Manor Nursing Home.

Services are Saturday at 11 a.m. at St. Mark Baptist Church, 940 South Lauderdale St., Memphis. Burial will be in Antioch Church Cemetery. M.J. Edward Funeral Home has charge.

Survivors include: his wife, Addie M. Watson of Memphis; four daughters, Bobbie Burks, Dorothy Wilburn of Memphis, Shirley Jackson of Crowder, Earnestine Watson of Augusta, Ga.; four sons, Willie Watson, Sammie Watson Ernest Watson, Michael Watson, all of Memphis; 25 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.

POPE– Naomi Louise Bartley Williford, 83, died Wednesday, September 10, 2008, at her residence

Services are Saturday at 3 p.m. at First United Methodist Church. Rev. Pat Ludlam and Rev. Martin Case will officiate. Burial will be in Chapel Hill Cemetery in Pope. Visitation is Saturday 1 p.m. until services at the church. Pallbearers include: Charles Lee Chambers IV, Joshua Williford, Jacob Williford, Clint Williford Jr., Hart Williford and Kelly Martin.

Williford, born Aug. 23, 1925, to the late Cecil Edward Bartley and the late Lallie Mae Bradberry Bartley, in Memphis, was a member of First United Methodist Church. She was a retired registered nurse, member of the Pope Women’s Club where she served as secretary. She was a member of the Crazy Eight Rook Club and a volunteer for the North Mississippi Hospice of Oxford.

Survivors include: her husband, Clint W. Williford of Pope; one son, Clint W. Williford Jr. of Pope; four grandchildren, Chaeli L. Chambers, Charles L. Chambers, Jacob A. Williford and Joshua P. Williford.

Memorials may be made to North Mississippi Hospice of Oxford, 104 Skyline Dr., Oxford, Miss. 38655; First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 797, Batesville, Miss. 38606 or Wesley Foundation, P.O. Box 755, University, Miss. 38677.

BATESVILLE– Ruthie Ree Williams, 82, died Sunday, September 7, 2008, at St. Francis Hospital-Memphis.

Services are Sunday at 2 p.m. at Olive Ray M.B. Church in Pope. Rev. L.C. Smith will officiate. Burial will be in Olive Ray Cemetery. Visitation is Saturday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. at Cooley’s Mortuary. Cooley’s Mortuary has charge.

Williams, born Dec. 23, 1925, to the late Ed Lloyd and the late Cora McGhee, was a homemaker and a member of Olive Ray M.B. Church.

Survivors include: six daughters, Pamela Rudd, Racheal Baker and Clara Wyatt, all of Batesville, Annie Hartwell of Pinole, Calif., Ethel Taylor of Courtland and Leora Williams of Memphis; four sons, Perry Williams of Batesville, Larry Williams of Pope, Robert Williams of Courtland and Lank Williams Jr. of Oakland, Calif.; two sisters, Annie Lee Smalley of Enid and Clara Shaw of Pope; one brother, Eddie Lloyd of  Pope; 20 grandchildren and a host of great-grandchildren.