Joe Eckford

BATESVILLE­— Joe Eckford, 67, formerly of Corinth, died Sunday, February 7, 2010, at Sanctuary Hospice House in Tupelo.

Services will be held today at noon at Cooley’s Mortuary Chapel. Rev. Roosevelt Gooch will officiate. Burial will be in the Batesville Cemetery. Cooley’s Mortuary has charge.

Eckford, born June 16, 1942, in Corinth, to the late Willie Howard Eckford and Lula Mae Ball, was a factory worker.

Survivors include: his wife, Annie Eckford of Batesville; seven sons, Reginald Leon Bledsoe, Anthony Maurice Bledsoe and Timothy Wardell Bledsoe, all of Batesville, Joe Earl Eckford of Tuscon, Ariz., Melvin Earl Bledsoe of Goshen, Ind., Undray Delann Bledsoe of Indiana and Christopher MairQue Bledsoe of New York; two daughters, Lula Jean Griffin of Marks and Martha Jean Eckford of Tuscon, Ariz.; two sisters, Gean Alice Land of Marks and Lue Stella Johnson of Lambert; five brothers, E.Q. Eckford and Willie Howard Eckford Jr., both of Marks, Howard Eckford of Sledge and Henry Earl Eckford of Indiana and Ozell Eckford of Fremont, Ohio; 20 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

MEMPHIS— Woodson “Son” Parker, formerly of Batesville, died Tuesday, February 2, 2010.

Services will be held Saturday at Second Concord Missionary Baptist Church.

Survivors include: three brothers, William Parker Sr. of Batesville, Brady Parker of Memphis and James Parker of Chicago; one step-son, Willie James Madison of Batesville and four foster sons, all of Memphis

GOLDEN— Bonnie Sarah Anne Reeves Mattox Townsend, 89, died Saturday, February 6, 2010, at her daughter’s residence in Batesville.

Services were Monday at Old Bethel United Methodist Church. Rev. Donnie Riley officiated. Burial was in the Old Bethel Cemetery. Senter Funeral Home had charge.

Townsend, born Oct. 14, 1920, in Itawamba County, to Noah S. and Minnie Mae Montgomery Reeves, was a kindergarten and elementary school teacher. She was the oldest member of the Old Bethel Methodist Church. She was active in the UMW, was a Sunday school and vacation Bible school teacher and served on various church committees. She was a girl scout leader.

Survivors include: her husband, Rev. James Townsend of Golden; two daughters, La Fonda M. Poland of Batesville and Mary Grace Chambers of Ackerman and four grandchildren.

Billy Scott “Scotty” Tucker

BATESVILLE— Billy Scott “Scotty” Tucker, 48, died Monday, February 8, 2010.

Services were Thursday at Dickins Funeral Home. Burial was in Forrest Memorial Park. Dickins Funeral Home had charge.

Tucker, born Jan. 28, 1962, to Irma Jean Pinkston Tucker and the late Billy Fay Tucker, was a construction worker. He was a member of North Batesville Baptist Church, Mid-South Glove Champion, Golden Glove Champion, Jr. Olympics Champion, Tough Man Champion and loved Boxing.

Survivors along with his mother include: his fiancee, Cindy Anderson; five daughters, Summer Tucker, Krystal Tucker, Brittany Tucker, Laken McGee and Megan McGee all of Batesville; one sister, Shelia Perkins of Batesville; one brother, Romney Tucker of Southaven; and one grandchild, Tucker Goddard of Batesville.