POPE––Norma Jean Beard, 73, died Friday, January 24, 2014 at Baptist Memorial Hospital – North MS in Oxford.

Services were held Monday at  Dickins Funeral Home. Burial was in Forrest Memorial Cemetery.

Survivors include: two daughters, Bobbie Dover Little of Sardis and Barbara Joyce Beard of Temple, Texas; four sons, Jerry L. Dover of Pope, Thomas King, Jr. of Longtown, Gerald Beard of Batesville and Grady Beard Jr. of Pope; two sisters, Shirley Clark and Nona Weeks, both of Courtland; two brothers, Edwin Bonner of Water Valley, and Joe Patton of Fieldale, Va.; 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Grady Gerald Beard, and her parents, James Edwin Bonner and Nona Alleen Ware.

The family requests that memorial contributions be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718, www.cancer.org.

Rod G. Bolen

ARLINGTON—Rod G. Bolen, 63, died Saturday January 25, 2014.

Services were held Monday at Wells Funeral Home Chapel with burial in Crowder Cemetery. Reverend Eddie Little officiated. 

Bolen, born July 23, 1950 in Lambert, to the late Joseph and Vivian (Neecie) Bounds Bolen, served out of the Highland Station Post Office as a postal carrier for 25 years. He also served his country in the United States National Guard. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Hickory Withe. 

Survivors include: brother, Allen G Bolen of Bartlett, and his sister, Phyllis Johnson of Eads, TN.

Memorial contributions in memory of Rod may be made to Church Health Center, 1115 Union Ave., Memphis, TN 38104. 

Alfred Burt “A.B.” Darby

POPE— Alfred Burt “A.B.” Darby died Monday, January 27, 2014 at Grace Health and Rehab in Grenada.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Thursday, January 30, in Wells Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Greg Harris, Rev. Dan Frakes & Dr. Paul Middleton presiding. Interment will follow in Forrest Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5:00-8:00 p.m. Wednesday evening at Wells.

Darby was born in Enid on May 7, 1920. For many years he worked for Tucker Manufacturing in Batesville. Upon his retirement from Tucker, he began selling fruit and vegetables to the public. He became known to many as the “Apple Man”. Every year, during the Christmas season, Mr. A.B. would share his bounty with local churches and he would visit the jail to give fruit to inmates and employees.
He was a member of Calvary Christian Center in Batesville.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Ruby Jeweline Rodgers Darby, and two sons, Tony Darby and Danny E. Darby.

Survivors include four daughters, Bonnie Darby Dulin and Angie Darby Ledbetter, both
of Batesville; Sue Darby Alred and Shera Darby Horne, both of Pope; four sons, Ray Darby, Billy Darby & Rickey Darby, all of Batesville and Jackie Darby of Southaven; one step son, Tommy Joe Burks of Nesbit; 27 grandchildren, 51 great grandchildren and 11 Great-Great Grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to Blair E. Batson Children’s Hosptial, 2500 N. State St., Jackson, MS 39216 or Calvary Christian Center, 23336 Hwy 6 E., Batesville, MS 38606.

Danny Darby

POPE—Danny Darby died Friday, January 24, 2014 at the Regional Medical Center in Memphis.

Services will be held today at 2:00 p.m. at Bethany Baptist Church near Batesville with burial following in Forrest Memorial Park. Wells Funeral Home has charge.

Danny was born September 3, 1957 in Grenada, to the late Alfred Burt “A.B.” Darby and the late Ruby Jeweline Rodgers Darby. He was a member of Bethany Baptist Church. Danny was an active carpenter/builder. 

Survivors include: his wife, Sherry Tutor Darby of Pope; two daughters, Keisha Darby Austin (Ryan) of Courtland, Chrystal Darby Brower (Josh) of Batesville; four sisters, Bonnie Darby Dulin of Batesville, Sue Darby Alred and Shera Darby Horne both of Pope, Angie Darby Ledbetter of Batesville; four brothers, Ray Darby, Billy Darby, Ricky Darby all of Batesville, Jackie Darby of Southaven; three grandchildren, Sarah Beth Austin, Jacob Dylan Brower, Darby Kate Brower.

Anyone wishing to send memorial contributions may send those to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1905 

Cornelia E. Franklin McCullar

COMO—Cornelia E. Franklin McCullar, 96, died Friday, January 24, 2014, at her residence.

Services were held Monday at the Como United Methodist Church with Dr. Tom Atkins officiating. Burial was in Mt. Olivet United Methodist Cemetery. Wells Funeral Home had charge.

McCullar, born July 23, 1917, to the late Richard and Hattie Anderson Franklin,  was a sales associate in Memphis for M.M. Cohn for 25 years. She was a member of Como United Methodist Church, the Como Home and Garden Club and Como Civic Club, she was a former Founding Family member of the Mt. Olivet Methodist Church.

Survivors include: one daughter, Pamela J. Martins of Como; son, Thomas E. McCullar of Batesville; nine grandchildren: and eight great-grandchildren.

At the families request, memorials may be sent to the American Heart Association, 4830 McWillie Circle, Jackson, Miss. 39206, or the Como United Methodist Church, 101 North Main Street, Como, Miss., 38619. 

Floy Bell Burk Turner

BATESVILLE—Floy Bell Burk Turner, 91, died Thursday January 23, 2014 at her residence. 

Services were held Saturday at Dickins Funeral Home. Burial was in Bethel Cemetery. Dickins Funeral Home had charge.

Turner, born to the late Grover Cleveland and “Pat” Burk Turner, was a founding member of Batesville Assembly of God Church. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. Walter Turner and one great-grandchild.

Survivors include: three daughters, Marie Turner Taylor of Dallas, Linda Turner Brooks of Batesville, and Debbie Turner Lassiter of Brandon; two sons, Herman “Buddy” Turner of Enid and Rev. Larry Turner of Lucedale; one sister, Shirley Havens of Belzoni; 11 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and six great-great grandchildren. 

Memorial contributions may be sent to Batesville Assembly of God, 14922 Hwy 335, Batesville, Miss. 38606. 

Mary Ellen Jones Vinson

MERIDIAN—Mary Ellen Jones Vinson, 82, died Saturday, January 11, 2014, at Anderson’s Hospital. 

Services were held Wednesday at Stephens Funeral Home. Dr. John Temple officiated. Burial was in Union Baptist Church Cemetery in Sardis. Stephens Funeral Home had charge.

Vinson, born Sept. 1, 1931, was a school teacher for 33 1/2 years in Jackson. During her summers she worked at Jackson Paper Company. She was an artist particularly with life-like charcoal drawings. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, George William Vinson.

Survivors include: daughter, Mary Beth Sanders; one brother, Martin Emanuel Jones; one sister, Annie Jones; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks memorial donations be made to Union Cemetery, 5175 Belmont Rd., Hernando, Miss. or Poplar Springs Drive Baptist Church.

Harold “Henry” Lloyd Wallace

COURTLAND—Harold “Henry” Lloyd Wallace, 61, a maintenance worker at the Welcome Center, died January 7, 2014 at his residence.

Services were held Thursday, January 9 at New Life Church of God in Marks with burial in the Chapel Hill Cemetery in Pope. Meredith-Nowell Funeral Home in Clarksdale had charge.

Survivors include: his wife of 24 years Juanita Delgado Wallace of Courtland; brothers, Darrel Douglas and Donnie Norwood both of Marks, and James Wallace of Coffeeville; sisters Joan Luther and Cathy Ashmore both of Marks.