SQUAW VALLEY – Kenneth Randall Hawkins, formerly of Batesville, died Friday, January 6, 2012 at age 69.

Graveside services will be held Friday at 10 a.m. at Squaw Valley Cemetery. Farewell Funeral Services of Fresno, Calif. has charge.

Kenneth was born on May 27, 1942 in Fort Benning, Georgia. He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Mattie Hawkins and brother, Melvin Clarance Hawkins.

Kenneth worked for Silicon Graphics as an engineer for 10 years.

Kenneth served in the U.S. Army from 1962 to 1966 in Berlin.

He is survived by his wife, Alice Hawkins of Squaw Valley; sons, Ricky Joe French of Fairfield and Kenny Joe Hawkins of Squaw Valley; daughters, Nancy Jo Stine of Berkley and Billie Jo Salazar of Farmersville; grandchildren, Franny, Marlez, Christina, Budjer, Makayla, Isaac, Sammy, Wesley and Rose and 15 great grandchildren.

COMO – Doris Marie Nunley, 69, died Wednesday, January 4, 2012, at Tri-Lakes Medical Hospital.

Services were held Tuesday, January 10, 2012, at St. James Church of God in Christ in Como with interment at Independence Cemetery. Felix Cauthen was in charge of arrangements.

Survivors include her special friend, Chester Wooten; six daughters, Joyce Nunley of Los Angeles, Calif., Sherry Nunley, Darlene Hunt, Marline Nunley, Teresa Ware and Katisha Nunley, all of Como; four sons, James Nunley of Houston, Texas, Phillip Nunley, Elvis Nunley and Gregory Nunley, both of Como; two sisters, Devonua Nunley of St. Louis, Mo. and Katheleen Ware of San Mareus, Calif.; seven brothers, Cecil Ray Nunley, Johnnie Nunley, Karlester Nunley, Gleen Nunley, John Nunley, Tracy Nunley and Sylvester Nunley, all of St. Louis, Mo.; 33 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren.

SOUTHAVEN – Sara Simmons Richardson, 94, widow of Ellis E. Richardson, died Tuesday, January 10, 2012, at her residence.

Services will be held  Friday, January 13, at 11 a.m. in the chapel of Wells Funeral Home with Interment in Charleston City Cemetery in Charleston. Visitation will be one hour before service time. Wells Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Richardson was born July 28, 1917, in Denison, Texas to William A. and Johnnie Moore Simmons. She was a homemaker and a Baptist in faith.

Survivors include three daughters; Alice Richardson Hickey of Senatobia, Faye Richardson Purser of Southaven and Betty Jane Richardson Knight  of Brandon; one son, Thomas Richardson of Senatobia; two sisters, Inez Simmons Baker of Batesville and Nellie Simmons Anthony of Arlington, Texas; two brothers, J.E. Simmons of Millington, Tenn. and John Simmons of Eads, Tenn.

BATESVILLE – Linda Morrow Strom, 65, died Tuesday, January 10, 2012, at Tri-Lakes Medical Center.

Services will be held Friday at 2 p.m. in the Chapel of Wells Funeral Home with burial in Forrest Memorial Park. Rev. Kevin Crofford will officiate. Wells Funeral Home has charge.

Strom, born Nov. 25, 1946, in Batesville, to the late Julius and Annie Lee Mills Morrow, was a truck driver and was a Baptist.

She was preceded in death by her step-father, Albert P. “Daddy Pate” Mlls and one daughter, Linda Gale “Buffy” Morris Terry.

Survivors include: one son, Rusty Johnson of Chulouta, Fla.; one brother, Buddy Mills of Batesville; half-brothers, David Mills and Ricky Mills, both of Batesville and four grandchildren.

BATESVILLE – Mr. Joe Tidwell, husband of Denise Mills Tidwell, died Tuesday, January 10, 2012, at Baptist Memorial Hospital North Mississippi. He was 54.

A private family service was held Wednesday at Wells Funeral Home. Wells Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Tidwell was born March 20, 1957 in Batesville, to the late Billy Wayne and Mary Louise Appleton Tidwell. He was a retired self-employed construction worker and member of Bethany Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife of 33 years, Denise Mills Tidwell; one daughter, Chesley Tidwell of Oxford; two sons, Whit and Chad Tidwell, both of Batesville and two brothers, Steve and Phil Tidwell of Batesville.

William Henry “Bill” Watkins, Jr., 76, of Beaumont TX, stepped into heaven on January 4, 2012. A memorial service will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, 1/14/2012 at Wells Funeral Home Chapel.

Bill was born October 29, 1935, in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The eldest of six children of Bill and Bessie Mae Watkins, he was an honor student at South Park High School. He went on to attend Texas A&M University where he was a member of outfit AAA of the Corp of Cadets.

Bill Watkins was a born leader with a brilliant mind and a caring, generous heart. He respected people for who they were, and they respected him. Also known as “Hat,” Bill had experience as a manager of a poultry farm, electrician, carpenter, auto sales, shrimp boat owner, founder and owner of Watkins Company in Beaumont, co-owner of ACI Building Systems, Inc., in Batesville, Mississippi, and founder and owner of Precision Steel Buildings. As the ultimate entrepreneur, Bill worked endless hours for the success of the many organizations with which he was involved.

Family and friends meant the world to Bill and he often looked out for others in unexpected ways. He was quick to notice if someone was in need and would always lend a helping hand or kind word. Every day, even after a long day’s work, he baked cakes to give to people. Bill was an excellent cook who delighted in serving others special delicacies that only he could conjure up. His love and compassion will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved him.

Bill Watkins was also an avid sportsman who loved hunting and fishing. He was a great marksman and earned many trophies to show for his adventures. Hunting and fishing with family and friends included trips all over the United States, Canada, Alaska, Cuba, and the Panama Canal. When Bill was in his fifty’s, he decided to pursue his childhood dream of flying. He rapidly progressed through flight school, acquired his pilot license, and enjoyed getting places quickly while exploring the wild blue yonder.

Survivors include his wife of thirty-nine years, Margie Watkins of Beaumont, TX; his daughter, Jo Lynn Leal and her husband, Steve of Vidor, TX; his daughter, Lorraine Davenport and her husband, Mike of Silsbee, TX; his son, Charlie Watkins and his wife, Darcie of China; his son, Billy Baird and his wife, Carla of Beaumont, TX; and his son, Mark Baird of Beaumont, TX; twelve grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; brothers, Jim Watkins and Tom Watkins of Beaumont, TX; sister, Peggy Martin of Friendswood, TX; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Bill was preceded in death by his sons, Michael Watkins and Bobby Watkins; his parents, Bill and Bessie Mae Watkins; and his brothers, Larry Watkins and Terry Watkins.

The family has requested in lieu of flowers that a donation be made to the Bill Watkins Memorial Fund, at First Security Bank, P.O. Box 690, Batesville, MS 38606. Continuing in Bill’s desire to help others, the fund will be used to help a local charity.