Geneva Duvall Appleton
BATESVILLE—Geneva Duvall Appleton, 94, died Sunday, February 9, 2014 at Golden Living Nursing Home in Batesville.

Services were held Thursday at Wells Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Tommy Snyder officiating. Burial was in Forrest Memorial Park Cemetery. Wells Funeral Home had charge.
Mrs. Appleton was born to Charlie Watson and Leona V. Edwards Duvall in Sunflower County on November 24, 1919.

She worked as a licensed practical nurse and was a member of the First Baptist Church of Batesville.

She was preceded in death by one daughter, Linda Sorrells; two sons, Pete Sullivan and Phillip Appleton; and one grandson, Joseph Sullivan.

Survivors include: two sons: Billy Wilson of Walls,  and Charles Appleton of Batesville; eight grandchildren, six great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.

Judge Dennis Murphree Baker
BATESVILLE—Dennis Murphree Baker 86, died February 10, 2014 in Oxford.
Services will be held today at 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church. Dickins Funeral Home has charge.

Baker, born July 1, 1927 in Pope, to the late Noah Frank Baker and Dora Carlean Flowers Baker, graduated from Enid High School where he was valedictorian.  After serving overseas in the Army during World War II, he attended Northwest Junior College and the University of Mississippi where he earned a law degree.  He served two terms in the Mississippi House of Representatives and one term in the Mississippi Senate.  Additionally, he served as Batesville city attorney, and attorney for the Batesville Housing Authority and the Panola County Board of Education.  He was a member of the Mississippi State Park Commission.  In 1978 he became chancellor for the State of Mississippi Third Chancery Court District where he served for over 25.  He took further studies at the National Judicial College and conducted panels for the Mississippi Judicial College. 

In 2001 he was elected a Fellow of the Mississippi Bar Association.  He supported the University of Mississippi School of Law as a member of the Lamar Order.  He was a member of the Panola County Bar Association, Mississippi Bar Association, and the American Bar Association and belonged to the Batesville Rotary Club where he was a Paul Harris Fellow.  He served as king of the Junior Auxiliary Charity Ball and was chairman of the Official Board of the First Untied Methodist Church as well as a lay speaker, member of the Methodist Men, and for many years taught the Adult Sunday School Class. 

He was preceded in death by his son, Dennis Murphree Baker II (Connie) of Batesville.
Survivors include: his wife of 63 years, Sarah Janelle Anthony Baker; daughter, Jonell Baker Beeler (Jesse) of Brandon; daughter, Kathleen Baker Cruzen (Philip) of Germantown; and brother, Bobby Gene Baker (Nell) of Batesville and six grandchildren: Philip Warren Cruzen, Jr. (Whitney) of Memphis; Sarah Ann Williamson of Jackson; Stephen Baker Cruzen (Vickie) of Memphis; Robert Chapman Williamson III of Los Angeles; Julia Cruzen Scales (Mark) of Suffolk, Va.; and Brenden Graves Baker of Batesville.

The family requests that memorials be sent to First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 797 Batesville, MS 38606; or the University of Mississippi School of Law, P.O. Box 1848, University, MS 38677. 

Robert L. McMillan Jr.
BATESVILLE—Robert L. McMillan, 66, died Tuesday, February 11, 2014, at Baptist Memorial-North Mississippi.

Services will be held Monday at noon at West Camp M.B. Church in Batesville. Pastor Melvin Jones will officiate. Burial will be in West Camp M.B. Church Cemetery. Visitation will be held Sunday 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. at Cooley’s Mortuary. Cooley’s Mortuary has charge.

McMillan, born Aug. 13, 1947, in Batesville, to Robert McMillan Sr. and Sammie Lee Smith McMillan, was a car detailer at Heafner Motors. He was a member of West Camp M.B. Church and was a veteran of the United States Army.

Survivors include: his wife, Louisa Cole McMillan of Batesville; two sons, Myron McMillan and Reginald McMillan, both of Courtland; one daughter, Alanna Norwood of Batesville; two brothers, Charles McMillan and Willie Garner, both of Batesville; three sisters, Jo Ann McMillan, Shirlee McMillan Hicks and Debra McMillan, all of Batesville; seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

James H. Morgan
OXFORD—James H. Morgan, 66, died Friday, February 7, 2014, at Mississippi Veteran’s Home.
Services will be held Sunday at 1 p.m. at Spring Hill Pope M.B. Church. Pastor Willie Forest Jr. will officiate. Burial was in the church cemetery. Cooley’s Mortuary has charge.

Morgan, born Oct. 4, 1947, in Batesville, to Lonzia Morgan and Shirley Ward Morgan, was a member of Spring Hill Pope M.B. Church. He was a veteran of United States Army.
Survivors include: one daughter, Priscilla Bobo of Sardis; two brothers, Jessie Orr of Sardis and Rufus Morgan of Batesville; two sisters, Rosie Fox of Memphis and Retha Morgan of Batesville; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Major Jack W. Parker
POPE—Major Jack W. Parker, 79, died January 27, 2014, in Fayetteville, N.C.

He retired from the U.S. Air Force where he served as a flight navigator. He lived the last 20 years at Choctaw Ridge and attended Pope Baptist Church.

Survivors include: his wife, LaRita Aspland Parker of Fayetteville; daughter, Laurie P. Noyles of Memphis and Lori S. Wiles of Foot Hill Ranch, Calif. and grandchildren, Spencer Wiles, Keenan Wiles, Nolan Wiles and Katherine Wiles and niece Kaye Parker Smythe (Stan) and nephew Keith G. Parker (Debbie) of Batesville.

Marilyn Small
MARKS—Marilyn Small, 59, died Thursday, February 6, 2014, at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Desoto.

Services will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Quitman County School in Marks. Pastor Jimmy Glasper will officiate. Burial will be in Heavenly Rest Cemetery in Lyons. Visitation will be held today 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. at Cooley’s Mortuary.

Small, born Jan. 30, 1955, in Belen, to Willie H. Strong and Lee Ethel Strong, was a school teacher at Batesville ICS Headstart. She was a member of Mt. Zion M.B. Church in Belen and a veteran of the U.S. Army. She was  member of Women of Destiny Club.

Survivors along with her parents include: her husband, L.V. Small of Marks; one son, Lexavier Small of Marks; two daughters, Stephanie Small of Southaven and Larietha Wilbourn of Sledge; three brothers, Anthony Strong and Derrick Strong, both of Jonestown and Wilie H. Strong of Kentucky; six sisters, Alice Robbins of St. Paul, Minn., Lynette Strong and Annette Muhammad and Enda Strong all of Jonestown, Jo Ann Henley of Marks and Joyce Strong of Clarksdale; and five grandchildren.

Ethel James Taylor
BATESVILLE—Ethel James Taylor, 81, died Sunday, February 10, 2014, at Tri-Lakes Medical Center in Batesville.

A native of Panola County, he was the son of Clemmie and Ceola Taylor. He was a member of Hammond Hill B Church where he was past musician. He loved playing his guitar, and painting.
Celebration of life service will be 12 Noon, Friday, February 14, 2014, at Hammond Hill MB Church. Rev. Issac Slack will officiate. Burial will be in Hammond Hill Cemetery. Kenneth I. Roberson Funeral Home of Sardis is in charge of the arrangements.

He is survived by his wife – Jacqueline Taylor of Sardis; five daughters – Darlene Taylor-Jackson of Senatobia, Lorraine Shorter, Gloria Young, Nakitia Buford and Loubertha Jones all Como; three sons – Darrius Buford of Como, David Taylor and James Taylor both of Batesville; one sister – Wilma Taylor of St. Louis, MO; one brother – Clemmie Taylor, Jr. of Chicago, IL; forty-five grandchildren, and a host of great grandchildren.

Glenda Daugherty Tutor
BATESVILLE—Glenda Daugherty Tutor, 56, died Monday, February 10, 2014, at Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi.

Graveside services will be held Monday at Magnolia Cemetery. Wells Funeral Home has charge.
Tutor, born Nov. 22, 1957, to Haywood and Freindna Daugherty Cook, was a factory employee.
Survivors include: her husband, Robert R. Dees of Batesville; one son, Christopher Eugene Tutor of Batesville; two sisters, Shelia Tutor and Joy Tutor, both of Heber Springs, Ark. and one brother, Jim Price.

Jimmie “Tut” Wilder
ECRU—Jimmie “Tut” Wilder, father of South Panola Superintendent of Education Tim Wilder, age 83, died Monday, February 10, 2014 at his residence.

He was a member of Ecru Baptist Church. He retired from Landmark Furniture Factory in 1997 after working in the cutting department of several furniture factories for 55 years.

Services were Thursday, February 13 at Ecru Baptist Church with Rev. Frank Wilder officiating. Burial was in Ecru Cemetery with Browning Funeral Home of Pontotoc in charge of arrangements.

Survivors other than his son and daughter-in-law Sherri, include: a daughter: Joyce Lindsey of New Albany; sister, Myzette Roberts of Tupelo;  brother: Dewitt Wilder of New Albany; three  grandchildren and three step-great grandchildren.

Larry A. Wright
MILWAUKEE, Wis.—Larry A. Wright, 45, died Sunday, February 2, 2014.

Services will be held Saturday at 3 p.m. at Eureka A.M.E. Zion Church. Pastor James Wright will officiate. Burial will be in Eureka A.M.E. Zion Church Cemetery. Visitation will be held Saturday 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. at Cooley’s Mortuary.

Wright, born April 11, 1968, to Lawrence Wright and Annie Lou Wright, attended South Panola High School and was a member of Calvary Temple M.B. Church.

Survivors include: his wife, Patricia Wright of Milwaukee; four sons, Antonio Market, Bernard Market, Lawrence Market and Latarrius Market, all of Milwaukee; six daughters, Sonika Wright and Monika Wright, both of Batesville, Savanna Wright, Monica Wright, Santanna Young and Annie Jane Market, all of Milwaukee; three brothers, Everett J. Wright, Mckinley Wright, both of Batesville and Lamar Wright of New York; two sisters, Marion J. Wright of Virginia and Valerie R. James of Island, S.C.; grandmother, Malissa Wright of Batesville and 31 grandchildren.