RICHARDSON, Texas—Perry Glenn Darby, 94, formerly of Courtland, died on August 14, 2009 in Garland, Texas.

 A memorial service will be held at Shiloh Methodist Church in Courtland at 11 am on Saturday.

 Darby was born on April 25, 1915, in Courtland Mississippi to the late “Pa” Jake and “Mama” Jenny Darby.  He received his bachelor’s degree from Asbury College and master’s degree from Peabody College in Nashville, Tenn. He worked for Arkansas-Missouri Power Company and rose from line boss to personnel director. He served in the Navy during WWII.

He moved to Austin in 1962 where he attended Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest. In 1964, he found service in teaching seventh grade Texas Social Studies at Fullmore Junior High where he retired in 1979.

Survivors include: his wife of 63 years, Bessie Marie Darby of Richardson; one sister, Alice Moss Stout of Bartlett, Tenn; sons Stephen Perry Darby of Oklahoma City, and Roger Earl Darby of Garland, Texas; three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.   

OXFORD— Dr. Joseph Sam, 86, retired Dean of the Graduate School and Associate Vice Chancellor for Research at the University of Mississippi, died Saturday, October 3, 2009 at his home in Oxford.  He was the father of Suzanne Sam Garrott of Batesville.

Services will be today at 2 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Oxford with Rev. John Semmes officiating.  Burial will follow in Oxford Memorial Cemetery.  

Visitation will be prior to the service from noon until 2 p.m. at the church.  Waller Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

 Born in Gary, Indiana, Dr. Sam served as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy during World War II.  He was a member of First Presbyterian Church and Rotary Club.  

He was former chairman of Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Mississippi, a member of Rho Chi, Phi Lambda Upsilon and Phi Kappa Phi.  

He worked as a Senior Scientist for E.I. Depont, Research Chemist for McNeil Laboratories, Research Group Leader of Bristol Myers and Fulbright Lecturer at Cairo University.  

In 1968, Dr. Sam received the Research Achievement Award in Pharmaceutical Medicinal Chemistry from the American Pharmaceutical Association.

 Survivors along with his daugther Sue and son-in-law Andy Garrott include: his wife, Frances Adickes Sam of Oxford; one daughter, Sherrie Sam Rikard and her husband, Robert of Oxford; one son, Dr. Joseph A. Sam and his wife, Denise of McKenzie, Tenn.; two sisters, Flora Sam Scott and Sophie Sam Grennes of Portage, IN; three brothers, Paul Sam of Portland, OR, Daniel Sam of Portage, IN and David Sam of Salt Lake City, UT; nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

 The family has asked that expressions of sympathy or memorial contributions in Dr. Sam’s memory be made to First Presbyterian Church, 924 Van Buren Avenue, Oxford, MS 38655.

MacKenzie Leshay Osman, the daughter of Kevin and Candace Leshay Roper Osman, was stillborn on September 29, 2009, at The University Medical Center in Jackson.

Graveside services were held Saturday at Peachcreek Cemetery in Sardis. Wells Funeral Home had charge.

She was preceded in death by her great-grandparents, Russell and Margie Roper.

Survivors along with  her parents include: one sister, Madison Layne Osman; two brothers, Landon Matthew Osman and Tyler Gene Roper, all of Clarksdale; her grandparents, Edgar and Anglia Wells of Clarksdale and Paul Roper of Clarksdale, Elzie and Joyce Winters of Greenville and her great-grandparents, Marjorie and Floyd Golden of Sledge.