BATESVILLE – John Keith Butler, 53, died Tuesday, October 2, 2012.

Memorial services were held Friday at Golden Living Center.

Butler, born Sept. 14, 1959, in Memphis, to Gene and Mary Butler, worked in the antique business. He worked at the Tri-State Antique Auction in Southaven in his teens where his father was auctioneer. He was diagnosed with early onset of Parkinson’s Disease requiring him to receive nursing care. He moved to Golden Living Center where he met Paulette Mask. They were married on February 14, 2011.

Survivors along with his wife include: his siblings, Lynda See of Penscacola, Reb Butler of Brunswick, Tenn. and Cathy McCasldand of Dickson, Tenn.

CLEVELAND – Sarah Dean Cummins, 84, formerly of Batesville, died Friday September 28, 2012 at the Joy Health and Rehabilitation Center in Cleveland.  

Services were held Monday at Cleveland Funeral Home. Burial was in the Drew Cemetery. Rev. John Thomas officiated.

She was born on March 14, 1928 to the late Stan Lee and Cleva Brown Long in McComb.  She attended French Camp Academy and the Presbyterian Children School. She was a former assistant manager at the Delta State University Book Store and for some 20 plus years she had been the assistant manager for the Crystal Club in Greenwood. She was a member and former State President of the VFW Auxiliary.  

She was preceded in death by her husband Audrey E. Cummins.

Survivors include: two sons, William “Bill” Cummins of Boyle Son, Larry Cummins of Batesville; six grandchildren Christopher Cummins of Batesville, Adam Cummins of Batesville, Wilson Cummins of Boyle, Joshua Prestage of Cleveland, Dawn Ellis of Memphis, and Brandy Cummins of Bartlett; and four great-great-grandchildren.

MEMPHIS — Barbara Williams Ruff, 64, died October 4, 2012. She was the sister of Ken Williams and the sister-in-law of Debbie Williams of Courtland.

Services were held Monday at Second Presbyterian Church Chapel. Burial was in Memorial Park Cemetery. Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens had charge of arrangements.

Ruff was a retired teacher with Memphis and Shelby County Schools. She was a graduate of Whitehaven High School and the University of Memphis. She was a member of Second Presbyterian Church where she participated in various international mission trips. She was also a volunteer at Su Casa and other organizations serving the community.

Survivors along with her brother and sister-in-law, include: two daughters, Melissa Laskaris of Nashville and Julie Bratcher of Jackson; her mother, Georgiana Williams of Southaven; brother, Wayne Williams of Knoxville and four grandchildren.  

 In lieu of flowers memorials may be sent to the Second Presbyterian Church World Missions Fund.

COURTLAND – Winford Appleton, 66, died Friday October 5, 2012, at his residence.

Services were held Sunday at Wells Funeral Home Chapel. Burial was in Forrest Memorial Park Cemetery. Wells Funeral Home had charge.

Appleton, born in Sardis, on February 2, 1946, to James Arnold and Mary Belle Martin Appleton, was a technician for AT&T. He was a member of Sardis Lake Baptist Church.

Survivors include: Patty Daugherty of Batesville, two daughters, Patty Lewallen of Batesville and Kim Tiner of Courtland; five sons, Jamie Appleton and Len Appleton, both of Courtland, Johnny Appleton, Danny Appleton of Desoto County and Randy Hudson of Southaven, one sister, Patricia Segars; one brother, Richard Appleton; 11 grandchildren and one great granddaughter.

Linda S. Sorrells, age 63, died Saturday, October 6, 2012 at Community Hospice House in Verona.

Services will be held Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. at Wells Funeral Home. Reverend Terry Tribble will officiate. Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. until service time. Burial will be in Hebron Cemetery in Sardis. Wells Funeral Home has charge.

Sorrells, born in Batesville, on May 10, 1949, to Geneva Grace Duvall Sullivan of Batesville and the late J.W. Sullivan, was a registered nurse and a member of Hebron Baptist Church.

Survivors include: her husband, Bob Sorrells of Sardis; one daughter, Stacy Sorrells Mills of Sarah; three sons, Jason Sorrells of Sarah, Andrew Sorrells of Enid and Shane Sorrells of Greenwood. She also leaves her mother, Geneva Grace Duvall Appleton of Batesville,, three brothers, Billy Wilson of Walls, Charles Appleton of Batesville, and Mike Sullivan of Illinois, 10 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

The family asks that anyone wishing to make memorial donations, please make those to the American Cancer Society.

ACKERMAN – James A. Townsend, 93, formerly of Batesville, died Saturday, October 6, 2012.

Services will be held today at 1 p.m. at Louisville United Methodist Church. Burial was in Parkway Cemetery in Koscuisko. Coleman Funeral Home of Ackerman had charge.

Townsend, born April 20, 1919, to the late Boyd and Grace Townsend, was a veteran of WWII as an assistant in a field hospital and as assistant to the Chaplain. He served in the ministry of United Methodist Church for 33 1/2 years. He was a graduate of Ethel High School, Wood Junior College and Delta State University.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy Douglas  Townsend and his later wife,  Bonnie Reeves Townsen.

Survivors include: two daughters, Mary Grace Chambers and LaFonda Poland of Batesville; two brothers, Carl Townsend and Cliff Townsend of Kosciusko; two sisters, Nell Turnipseed of Weir and Lucille Hathcock of Kosciusko and four grandchildren, Ben and Hannah Chambers of Ackermaan, Brannon Poland of Newton and Anne Claire Henson of Batesville and two great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers send memorials to United Methodist Pension Program or the American Heart Association.