Willie G. Ball

NEW ALBANY– Willie G. Ball, 57, died Sunday, November 30, 2008, at his residence. He was the father of Steavan Ball of Batesville.

Services are Saturday at 11 a.m. at The Sanctuary Church in New Albany. James Dawson will officiate. Visitation is today 1 p.m. – 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Serenity Funeral Home has charge.

Ball, born Jan. 27, 1951, in Pontotoc to the late Willie G. Meadow and the late Mavis Ball, graduated from East Union High School where he played on the basketball team. He was pastor for 18 1/2 years and founder of The New Beginning True Bibleway Church.

He was preceded in death by his step-father, Louie Finley.

Survivors along with his son include: his wife, Marvie Ball; one daughter, Monica Tarver of Atlanta; three sons, Willie F. Ball, Timothy Ball of West Virginia and Justin Ball of Senatobia; his god son, William Freeman of Memphis and nine grandchildren.

Lillian Johnson Childs

BATESVILLE– Lillian Johnson Childs, 95, died Wednesday, December 3, 2008, at her residence.

Visitation is today at 1 p.m. at Dickins Funeral Home. Graveside services will follow visitation at Magnolia Cemetery. Dickins Funeral Home has charge.

Childs, born July 25, 1913, to the late David R. Johnson and Daisy Thorne Johnson, was a retired sales clerk and a member of First Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence Childs; three sisters, Dean McCullar, Cuebelle McMinn and Velma Barnett and three brothers, Audley Johnson, Cecil Johnson and Harvey Johnson.

Survivors include: one son, Jimmy Childs of Batesville; two grandchildren, Chesley Childs and Brett Childs and one great-grandchild, Kaitlyn Childs.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church in Batesville.

Junior Lee Towns

BATESVILLE– Junior Lee Towns, 51, died Friday, November 28, 2008, at Tri-Lakes Medical Center.

Services are Saturday at 2 p.m. at Coleman Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church. Rev. Zannie Leland Jr. will officiate. Burial will be in Batesville Cemetery. Visitation is today 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. at Cooley’s Mortuary. Cooley’s Mortuary has charge.

Towns, born May 28, 1957, to the late David Twons Sr. and the late Annie Ruth Ellis Towns, was a food server for Batesville Intermediate School.

Survivors include: his wife, Geraldine Towns of Batesville; two daughters, Monica Towns of Batesville and Denise Green of Camp Casey, Korea; his god daughter, Kianna Leland Thompson of Batesville; one son, Montra Towns of Batesville; three god sons, Tejuah Leland of Chicago, Kendrick Barr of Batesville and Montineze Green of Rock Island, Ill.; two sisters, Rubye Turner of Sardis and Shirley Hewlette of Batesville and three brothers, Eddie Harris of Chicago, Joe Lee Towns and Earnest Towns, both of Batesville.