SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Hartie “Cummins”  Blake Sr., 103, died Sunday, April 1, 2012, at his residence.

Services were held Saturday, April 7, at Faith Apostolic Ministries  with internment in Highland Cemetery.  Clark-O’Neal Funeral Home had charge.

Blake was born on February 14, 1909, to the late Robert and Louella Avant in Como. On December 23, 1939, he was united in   marriage to Louise (Owens) Blake. He moved to South Bend, Ind., with his wife, Louise and five children, in 1946. Blake’s  employment history included the Studebaker Corporation, Cummins, and  Allied Products South Bend Stamping.

He retired from Allied Products  at the age of 77 in 1987.  Shortly after he retired he started his  own lawn service and mowed lawns until the age of 100.

Along with his parents he was also preceded in death by one  daughter, Louise Lewis; a grandson, Leon Johnson, a great- grandson, Lionel Caldwell Jr.

Survivors include: his wife, Louise Blake; six sons: Bemis Blake, Pastor Hardie Blake Jr., David Fred Blake, all of South Bend; Walter Blake of Westfield, Ind. and Robert Blake of West Hollywood, Calif.;  10 daughters, Varner Johnson of Memphis,  Emmer Caldwell of South Holland, Ill., Creasie White of  Chicago, Ill., Bernice Baul-Freeman, Gladys Muhammad,   all of South Bend, Bessie Dickson of Gary, Ind., Dorine Blake- Smith, Sharon Macon, Jessie Whitaker and Forestine  Jackson, all of South Bend; 51 grandchildren; 86 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great grandchildren.

SARDIS  –  Malachi Carter, 72, died Wednesday, April 11, 2012.

Services were held Saturday, April 21 at Mt. Zion M.B. Church in Sardis. Burial was in Walton Chapel C.M.E. Church cemetery. Pastor Zannie Leland Jr. officiated.

Cooley’s Mortuary had charge.

Carter, born Oct. 27, 1940, to the late Mr. and Mrs. Joe and Mose Etta Nunley Carter, was a member of Viney Creek Missionary Baptist Church in his younger years then joined the Walton Chapel Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in Sardis. He attended Viney Creek Elementary School and was a 1960 graduate of Walton Chapel High School.

He graduated from Coahoma Junior College in Clarksdale where he received an associate of arts degree. He was a 1965 graduate of Mississippi Industrial College in Holly Springs where he received a bachelor of science degree in social studies. He furthered his studies at Delta State University, Alcorn State University and the University of Mississippi.

He taught school at Lyon Elementary School in Clarksdale and Oakland Elementary in Oakland. He retired from Panola Mills as a bundle clerk inspector after 25 years.

Survivors include: four brothers, Ottowa Carter Sr., Joe Carter Jr., Frank Carter and Albert Carter, all of Sardis; five sisters, Edna Jackson of Preston, Nennie Reed of Coldwater, Joyce Walker of Memphis, Mattie Brownlee of Batesville and Annette Carter Pierce of Fayette.

BATESVILLE  –  Samuel Earl Little, 81, died Wednesday, April 25, 2012, at  his residence.
Services were held Monday at Crowder Baptist Church. Rev. Larry Kilgore officiated. Burial was in Crowder Cemetery. Dickins Funeral Home had charge.

Little, born March 8, 1931, in Crowder, to the late John Henry Little and Emma Mae Thomas Little, was a retired farmer, cotton gin owner, steamboat worker and a member of Crowder Baptist Church.

Survivors include: his wife of 25 years, Maxcine Ray Little of Batesville; six daughters, Margie Ann Taylor of Highland, Texas, Charlotte Joan Banks of Coldwater, Patricia Ann Warren of Newport, N.C., Emma Faye McInty of Southaven, Glenda Kay Kennedy of Batesville and Brenda Gay Crocker of Oakland; three sons, David Earl Little of Batesville, John Everette Little of Augusta, Ark. and John Edward Kennedy of Batesville; one sister, Alice Roberson of Batesville; 21 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Memorials may be made to the Crowder Baptist Church, P.O. Box 156, Crowder, MS 38622.

SARDIS  –  Bobby Gene Scruggs, 81, died Saturday, April 28, 2012, at his residence.
Services were held Monday at Union Baptist Church. Burial was in the church cemetery near Sardis. Wells Funeral Home had charge.

Scruggs, born Jan. 3, 1931, to the late Lorenzo Dowell and Esma Lawley Scruggs, was the former owner of Bob’s Barbecue in Sardis. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force having been honorably discharged in 1958. He attended Union Baptist Church.

Survivors include: his wife, Bobbie Moore Scruggs of Sardis; one daughter, Debbie Scruggs Cornelison of Bartlett; three sons, Roger Scruggs of Sardis, Doug Scruggs of Nesbit and Jeff Scruggs of Southaven; one brother, Billy Eugene Scruggs of West Point; seven grandchildren, Brandy Arnold, Amanda LaMasters, Stephanie Boyett, Sarah Cornelison Kindyl Scruggs, Levi Scruggs and Taylor Scruggs and six great-grandchildren, D.G. Arnold, Zachary Carrico, Shane Carrico, Gage Scruggs, Beanna Henderson and Emily Boyett.

Anyone wishing to send memorials may send them to Union Baptist Church, 3623 Union Road, Sardis, 38666 or the American Heart Association, 2170 Business Center Dr., Suite 1, Memphis, Tenn. 38134.

BATESVILLE  –  Gaines Byron Smith, 84, died Thursday, April 26, 2012, at Tri-Lakes Medical Center.
Services were held Monday at St. Mary’s Catholic Community Church. Burial was in Magnolia Cemetery. Wells Funeral Home had charge.

Smith, born Aug. 23. 1927, to Myrtle Dawson Smith and Elmer Sydney Smith Sr., in Roosevelt, La., was a retired jewelry and watch maker having worked in the industry over 60 years. He opened a family business, known as Plaza Jewelers in Batesville. He served in the U.S. Navy during WWII and was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Community.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Ruth Deaton Smith.

Survivors include: his daughter, Lisa Smith Gray of Batesville; one son, Mark Deaton Smith of Batesville; one brother, Stanly G. Smith of Vicksburg; four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

The family asks that memorials be made to St. Mary’s Catholic Community, P.O. Box 569, Batesville, MS 38606, or the charity of the donor’s choice.