James Stewart Beasnett

SARDIS–James Stewart Beasnett, 68, died Tuesday, July 20, 2010, at the VA Hospital in Memphis.

Private services will be held at a later date. Ray-Nowell Funeral Home has charge.

Beasnett was the retired grocery store owner of Piggly Wiggly.

He was preceded in death by his father, Barney Beasnett.

Survivors include: one daughter, Anna Graham; his mother, Dot Beasnett of Sardis; one brother, Eddie Beasnett of Sardis and two grandchildren.

Russell Keith “Tex” Conn

SARDIS–Russel Keith “Tex” Conn, 83, died Saturday, July 24, 2010. Graveside services were Sunday, July 25 at Wesley Chapel Cemetery in Sardis with Bro. Hal Johnson officiating.

Ray-Nowell Funeral Home in Sardis is in charge of arrangements.

A retired security guard for Adesa, he is survived by his wife, Jettie Lee Corn, daughters Connie Hubbard and Cindy Harville, sons Lloyd Conn and Wayne Conn; five sisters, Joyce Hale, Ann Spencer, Suzi Adams, Kerri Gans and Dorothy Briggs, eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

BATESVILLE–William Michael Downs, 32, Panola County Deputy Sheriff, passed away Saturday morning, July 24, 2010, at his home.

Funeral services are today, at Batesville Jr. High School Auditorium with burial to follow in Liberty Hill Cemetery in Pope.

Born March 10, 1978 in Batesville, he was the son of William E. and Debbie Pittman Downs of Batesville. He is also survived by a brother, Justin Downs of Batesville and grandmothers, Bettie Mills Pittman and Margie Darby all of Batesville.

Downs was a member of Goodhope Baptist Church. He enjoyed the outdoors and was an avid football fan following both South Panola and Ole Miss.

In high school he served as both chapter and state officer of the Future Farmers of America.

SARDIS–Mary Faye Gayden, 76, died Wednesday, July 21, 2010, at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Desoto.

Services were Saturday at Ray-Nowell Funeral Home. Burial was in Oakwood Cemetery in Tunica. Ray-Nowell Funeral Home had charge.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Claude “Bud” Gayden.

Survivors include: five daughters, Bobbie Floyd of Strayhorn, Brenda Howe of Hernando, Barbara Brownlee of Batesville, Robbie Parrish of Sardis and Patricia Freeman of Hernando; one son, Richard Gayden of Sardis; three sisters, Fran Ray Hardin of Southaven; Sara Ray Baker of Benton, Ky.; and Betty Ray Croft of Grand Valley, Tenn.; one brother, Archie Ray, Jr. of Marion, Ark.; 14 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to Southern Care Hospice, 465 Hwy. 6 E, Batesville, MS  38606.

Jessie M. Monroe

SARDIS– Jessie Hill Monroe, 78, died Wednesday, July 21, 2010, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis.

Memorial services were Saturday at Wells Funeral Home. Rev. Bobby Waydell officiated. Wells Funeral Home had charge.

Monroe, born June 13, 1932, in Marks, to James G. and Mary M. Hill, over the course of her career worked at Sardis Luggage Company, Carrom Manufacturing and Harvey’s Candy Company.

She was a member of Union Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Harvey Monroe.

Survivors include: four daughters, Pat Monroe Eubanks of Cabot, Ark., Charlotte Monroe Evans and her husband, Monroe of Cabot, Ark., Debbie Monroe Ford of Cabot, Ark. and Carla Monroe Edlin of Sardis; one sister, Sarah Force and her husband, Jim of Slidell, La.; 8 grandchildren.

Mary H. Woodruff

BATESVILLE-Mary H. Woodruff, 86, died Friday, July 16, at her residence in Memphis.

She was the grandmother of Luke J. Woodruff of Batesville., a retired Courtland postal worker.

Services were held Monday, July 19 at Dickins Funeral Home Chapel with interment at Antioch Cemetery.  

Mrs Woodruff  was a retired postal worker, having worked until 1986.

Survivors, in addition to her grandson, include her husband of 67 years, Homar F. Woodruff; two  sons,  Homar F. Woodruff III of Hattisburg and  Michael R. Woodruff of Mason, Tenn.; one sister, Mrs Eunice Faulk of Hernando, and one brother, Robert C. Nanney of Memphis.