OAKLAND – Otis “Big O” Austin, 43, died Thursday, October 11, 2012, at his residence. He was the brother of Carolyn Swearengen Powell of Batesville.

Services will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Philadelphia M.B. Church. Pastor Grady McKinney Jr. will officiate. Visitation will be held Friday from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. at Cooley’s Mortuary and Saturday from 10 a.m. -11 a.m. at Philadelphia M.B. Church in Oakland. Cooley’s Mortuary has charge.

Austin, born Oct. 10, 1969, in Sardis, to Floyd Austin and Bertha Lee Clark Austin, was a member of Parrish Grove M.B. Church.

Survivors along with his sister, include: his father, Floyd Austin of Oakland; six sisters, Michelle House, Ora Curtis, Debra Neal, Libby Swearengen and Cantrece Swearengen, all of Oakland and two brothers, Billy Clark and Jimmy Clark, both of Oakland.

SARDIS – Kathleen Billingsley Arnold, 93, died Wednesday, October 17, 2012, at Sardis Community Nursing Home.

Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday at Rose Hill Cemetery in Sardis. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until service time at Ray-Nowell Funeral Home of Sardis. Ray Nowell Funeral Home has charge.

Arnold, born July 2, 1919, to Alfred Claude and Rosa Lee Wynn Billingsley, was a member of Sardis First Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband James Gorr Arnold and one grandchild, Amanda Lyn Arnold.
Survivors include: one son, James A. “Jimmy” Arnold of Tunica; two grandsons and five great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be sent to Sardis First Baptist Church, 108 West Lee Street, Sardis, Miss. 38666.

COMO – Lazaria Tiara Johnson Smith, 10, died Sunday, October 14, 2012, at her residence.

Services were held Thursday at St. Peter M.B. Church. Burial was in New Spring Hill Cemetery. Felix Cauthen Funeral Home had charge.

Survivors include: her mother, Saundra M. Johnson of Como; one sister, Ke’Aundra Simpson of Como and one brother, Lazavier Johnson of Como; her grandfather Jimmy Coleman and aunt and uncle, Rosie and Willie Johnson.

RIDGELAND – Maudine Woods, 85 died Monday, October 15, 2012 at Madison River Oaks Medical Center.  She had grandchildren who live in Panola.

Visitation will be Saturday, October 20 beginning at 10 a.m. until the 11 a.m. memorial service at Breeland Funeral Home in Canton.

Mrs. Woods is survived by her sons, David Nelson and Jerry Nelson; brother, Sam Burks; grandchildren, Robin Nelson, Amanda Bowers, and Greg Nelson; great grandchildren, Cody Bowers, Gavin Bowers, Kaley Nelson, Lee Nelson, Kolby Thomas, Kameron Thomas, and Daniel Willoughby.