BATESVILLE — Bobbie Jean Tuttle Pounders, age 76, died at her home March 8, 2012.

Funeral services were Sunday, March 10 at Batesville First United Methodist Church with Rev. Ed Woodall, Rev. Martin Case, Dr. David Ball, Rev. Pat Ludlum and Father Sam Messina presiding. Burial followed in Magnolia Cemetery. Wells Funeral Home had charge.

Pounders was born in Batesville  on December 28, 1935 to Boonie Mae Hopper and Forrest Reed Tuttle.
She was a lifelong member of the Batesville First United Methodist Church where she served as church librarian for over 30 years. She served as president of the United Methodist Women, on the Church Administrative Council and chaired the fundraiser for the extensive addition to the church. She attended Explorer’s Bible Study.

She was a surgical nurse for 52 years serving doctors and patients at the Batesville Clinic. She served as president of the Memphis Chapter of the American Surgical Techs and was on the Board of Directors of South Panola Community Hospital.

Pounders served as alderman for the city of Batesville for 20 years. She served as president and on the Board of Directors of Main Street and was instrumental in the founding of the farmers market.

In 2009 she was named to the Mississippi Municipal League Hall of Fame. She was co-founder of the Panola County Ambassadors and was named Ambassador of the Year for 2003-2004.

Pounders served as vice chairman of both the Panola County Industrial Authority and North Delta Planning and Development. She served on the board of the Panola County Airport and Panola Country Club. She was an active member of Batesville Rotary Club and also served as district president of the Mississippi Federation of Women’s Clubs and was a charter member and president of the Beau Jour Club.
She was on the Board of Directors for the Friends of the Library and was a member of the Humane Society.

In 1989, Batesville Junior Auxiliary named Pounders Queen of the Charity Ball. The JA honored her again in 2001 by proclaiming her Batesville’s Citizen of the Year.

Always interested in sports, she was a cheerleader in high school and a member of the 1954 Batesville High School state championship girls’ basketball team. Throughout her life she remained active, participating in walking,  golf, and church softball. She was a member of the Rebel Club.

She leaves three daughters: Sheila L. Pounders of Batesville, Jackie Pounders Langlow of Birmingham and Amy Pounders Bailey and husband Scott of Crowder; four grandchildren: Caitlin Claire Bailey, Carson Scott Bailey, John Robbins Langlow IV and Jackson Rhodes Langlow and one great granddaughter,Shannon Marie Bailey.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a daughter, Sherrie Lane Pounders.

Memorial donations can be made to the First United Methodist Church, 119 Panola Ave., Batesville, MS 38606 or North Delta Schools, 330 Green Wave Ln., Batesville, MS 38606 or Glenwood School, 150 Glenwood Ln., Birmingham, AL 35201.

BATESVILLE – Robbie Lee Branch Wheeler, 90, died Wednesday, March 7, 2012, at her residence.
Services were held Saturday at Calvary Baptist Church. Rev. Paul Middleton and Rev. Hershel Mooneyham officiated. Burial was in Forrest Memorial Park. Kimbro Funeral Home had charge.
Wheeler, born Sept. 9, 1921, in Vardaman, to the late Lizzie Mae and Ross Branch, was a member of Calvary Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Rev. Orbie Wheeler.

Survivors include: her children, Joan Griffin and Joyce Ware of Batesville, Mackie Dettor of Sardis and her foster son, James Hancock of Decatur, Tenn. and nine grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to Calvary Baptist Church, 305 Keating Rd., Batesville.

COURTLAND – Eddie Wilson, 87, died Sunday, March 11, 2012, at his residence.

Services will be held Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Springhill Asa M.B. Church in Courtland. Victor McDowell will officiate. Vistiation will be held today from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Cooley’s Mortuary and Wednesday from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Springhill Asa M.B. Church. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Cooley’s Mortuary has charge.

Wilson, born April 24, 1924, in Batesville, to the late Wash Andrew Wilson and Earda Kuykendall, was a retired school bus driver and a member of Springhill Asa M.B, Church where he was choir president, chairman of deacon board, choir member and Sunday school school superintendant.

Survivors include: six daughters, Eddie Bell, Lee Ann Baker and Bedeliah Sanford, all of Courtland, Viola Bethel of Memphis, Hannah Fox of Clinton, Conn. and Pearlie Wadlington of Indianapolis; six sons, Pastor Louis Wilson, Rev. Eric Wilson, William Wilson, all of Courtland, Chester Wilson of Elida, Ohio, Charles Wilson of Cleveland and Boyd Ford of Chicago; 25 grandchildren; 37 great-grandchildren and 25 great-great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Pounders served as alderman for the city of Batesville for 20 years. She dedicated herself to restoration of the downtown square and to insuring progress for the hometown that she loved. Through her efforts the city began installing Christmas lights and decorations every year. She served as president and on the Board of Directors of Main Street and was instrumental in the founding of the Farmer’s Market. In 2009 she was named to the Mississippi Municipal League Hall of Fame. In her efforts to bring recognition of her home county, Bobbie Jean was co-founder of the Panola County Ambassadors. Panola Partnership named her Ambassador of the Year for 2003-2004. As a token of appreciation for her efforts to highlight Panola County, henceforth this award will bear her name, the Bobbie Jean Pounders Ambassador of the Year Award.

Bobbie Jean served as vice chairman of both the Panola County Industrial Authority and North Delta Planning and Development. She served on the board of the Panola County Airport and Panola Country Club. She was an active member of Batesville Rotary Club and also served as district president of the Mississippi Federation of Women’s Clubs and was a charter member and president of the Beau Jour Club. Through her efforts the Beau Jour Club helped to found the South Panola Recreation Association. This organization raised the funds to build and operate Batesville’s public swimming pool. She was on the Board of Directors for the Friends of the Library and a member of the Humane Society.

In 1989, Batesville Junior Auxiliary named Mrs. Pounders as Queen of the Charity Ball. Because of her many contributions to her community, this organization honored her again in 2001 by proclaiming her Batesville’s Citizen of the Year.

Bobbie Jean was an avid sports enthusiast. She was a cheerleader in high school and a member of the 1954 Batesville High School state championship girls’ basketball team. Sports followed her throughout her life as she participated in walking,  golf, and church softball. She was a member of the Rebel Club and a faithful supporter of the Ole Miss Rebels.

She leaves Three Daughters: Sheila L. Pounders of Batesville, MS; Jackie Pounders Langlow of Birmingham, AL and Amy Pounders Bailey and husband Scott of Crowder, MS; 4 Grandchildren: Caitlin Claire Bailey, Carson Scott Bailey, John Robbins Langlow, IV and Jackson Rhodes Langlow and one Great Granddaughter: Shannon Marie Bailey.

Bobbie Jean is preceded in death by her parents Forrest Reed and Boonie Mae Hopper Tuttle and a daughter, Sherrie Lane Pounders.

Memorial Donations can be made to the First United Methodist Church, 119 Panola Ave., Batesville, MS 38606 or North Delta Schools, 330 Green Wave Ln., Batesville, MS 38606 or Glenwood School, 150 Glenwood Ln., Birmingham, AL 35201.