BATESVILLE – Kenneth C. Crawford, 87, widower of Frances Stroupe Crawford, died Sunday, December 25, 2011, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis.

Services were held Thursday, December 29, at Wells Funeral Home with  interment at Forrest Memorial Park. Rev. Zane Crawford officiated. Pallbearers were Hal Poston, Alex Poston, Kirk Crawford, Vaughn Crawford. Mr. Crawford was buried with military honors. Wells Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

    Mr. Crawford was born October 30, 1924 in Cotton Plant, Ark. to Ernest and Cora Kirk Crawford. He was a 45 year veteran River Boat Captain traveling the Mississippi, Ohio, Cumberland and Tennessee rivers. Mr. Crawford was a World War II veteran serving his country in the U.S. Navy. He was a Baptist in faith.

    Survivors include his daughter, Rebecca Crawford of Hernando; two sons, Reverend Zane Crawford of Houston, Texas and Vaughn K. Crawford of Memphis; his step-daughter, Barbara Taylor of Memphis; 10 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren and four great-great Grandchildren.

    The family request memorials to be sent to St. Jude Children Research Hospital 262 Danny Thomas Place Memphis, TN 38105.

Sardis– Lois H. Deramus, 84, died Thursday, December 22, 2011 at the Regional Medical Center at Memphis.  

Deramus was a homemaker and is survived by a nephew, several nieces.

She was preceded in death by her husband, the late William Deramus.  Graveside services were held Tuesday at Wesley Chapel Methodist Church Cemetery near Sardis.  Memorial contributions may be made to Wesley Chapel Methodist Church Cemetery Fund.  Ray-Nowell Funeral Home of Sardis had charge of arrangements.

SARDIS – Amy Nell Bryant Furniss, 77,died Monday, December 26, 2011, at her residence.

Services were held Wednesday at Wells Funeral Home. Rev. James Furniss and Rev. James Everade officiated. Burial was in Forrest Memorial Cemetery. Wells Funeral Home had charge.

Furniss, born Sept 15, 1934, to the late Andrew Jackson and Era May Perry in Senath, Mo., was a member of Blackjack Baptist Church. She worked as a merchant.

Survivors include: her husband, Rev. James R. Furniss of Swanton, OH; 3 daughters, Fran Bryant Lewis of Clarksdale, Karen Bryant McFarland of Sardis, Connie Bryant Long of Sardis; one son, Jimmy L. Bryant of Aberdeen; three sisters, Helen Perry McCullough of Mountain View, Ark., Kathy Perry Manuel of Batesville, Sue Perry McGuire of Clarksdale; two brothers, Bobby Perry of Sardis, and Carl Perry of Cleveland; 15 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Quincy R. Bryant; one daughter, Carolyn Bryant Dye and one son, Charles R. Bryant.

    SARDIS – Alice Maxine Stone Johnson, 89, died Friday, December, 23, 2011, at Sardis Community Nursing Home. 

    Johnson was preceded in death by her husband, George M. Johnson, Jr., brothers Hal R. Stone and Hunter D. Stone, and sister Louise (Baby Stone) Mathias.

    Johnson was born June 5, 1922, in Starkville on the A&M campus, to the late Hugh Cowden Stone and Ruby Cofield Stone. A graduate of Sardis High School, where she was chosen Miss Sardis High, Johnson spent most of her life growing friendships and raising a family in Sardis. In her golden years, she enjoyed traveling with her sisters, aka The Rolling Stones. 

    Johnson was a member of the Sardis Presbyterian Church, Daughters of American Revolution, and worked with the Heart Association and the Heflin House. She was passionate about family and genealogy, made legendary pimento cheese and never left a dance card unfilled.

    Survivors include children Douglas M. Johnson and Rebecca J. Bickerstaff; granddaughters Alice Pierotti, Julia Collins, and Celia Trevathan; great grandchildren Cofield Collins, Owen Collins and Stone Trevathan; and sisters Marie Porch and Billie Hugh Carmen, both of Waverly, Tenn. 

    Friends and family gathered at a reunion celebration on Wednesday, December 28 at the Heflin House in Sardis.  A graveside service followed at 3 p.m. at St. Peters Cemetery in Oxford.  Ray-Nowell Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

    Memorials may be made to Heflin House or Panola Playhouse in Sardis.

CROWDER– Felisha Hunt, 39, died Thursday, December 22, 2011, at Quitman County Hospital in Marks.

Services will be held Friday at 2 p.m. at Cooley’s Mortuary. George Douglas will officiate. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery. Cooley’s Mortuary has charge.

Hunt, born Dec. 7, 1972, in Marks, to John Smith and Birda Hunt, was a cashier for Wal-Mart and a member of New Bethel M.B. Church.

Survivors include: her mother, Birda Hunt of Crowder; one daughter, Lephaedra Hunt of Batesville; one son, Rashad Ortiz Huntz; her grandmother, Sallie Hunt; two sisters, Brenda Hunt and Linda Hunt; one brother, Elliott Hunt and two grandchildren, all of Crowder.

    BATESVILLE – Harold McFarling, 54, died Wednesday, December 21, 2011, at Tri-Lakes Medical Center.

    Services were held Thursday at Mt. Zion M.B. Church with interment at New Hope Cemetery in Batesville.  Pastor Jacob Hentz officiated. Cooley’s Mortuary had charge.

    Mr. McFarling was born November 29, 1957, in Batesville, Earl McFarling and Marie Thornton. He was a retired truck driver for the Corps of Engineers and member of New Hope  M.B. Church.

    Survivors include his father, Earl McFarling of Milwaukee; one daughter, Jelesia Young of Batesville; one sister, Freddie McFarling and two  step-sons, Marco Lamar and Eglin Lamar, both of Batesville.

SENATOBIA – Eleanor Murphree, formerly of Batesville, died December 29. She was a longtime Batesville school teacher and was the widow of Travis Murphree Sr.

Funeral arrangements were incomplete at press time. Dickins Funeral Home has charge.

Mrs. Murphree is survived by her son Travis Murphree Jr. of Senatobia and her daughter Ann Haraway of Olive Branch and six grandchildren.