OBITUARIES – 9/5/2014
Published 12:00 am Friday, September 5, 2014
Randy Anderson Brassell
COURTLAND––Randy Anderson Brassell, 44, died Saturday, August 30, 2014, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident on Hwy. 35 South.
Services will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. at Batesville Junior High School. Pastor Larry Keys will officiate. Burial will be in Shiloh Church Cemetery. Visitation will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at Cooley’s Mortuary. Cooley’s Mortuary has charge.
Brassell, born April 16, 1970, to E.W. Brassell of Batesville and Sue Tunson of Courtland, was a self employed carpenter. He was a member of Shiloh M.B. Church in Courtland.
Survivors along with his parents include: his wife, Phyllis A. Brassell of Courtland; three brothers, Bruce Tunson, Perkins Brassell, both of Courtland and Micheal Robinson of Batesville; three sisters, Pamela Tunson Brassell of Courtland, Michelle Hamilton of Batesville and Lisa Stewart of Memphis; six sons, Randre C. Armstead, Kedrick Turner, Jeremy Turner, all of Courtland, FaJayron Flowers of Memphis, Dekeitan A. Battle and DaMarion Shaw, both of Batesville; five daughters, T’Myra Ranee’ Brassell and April Turner, both of Courtland, ShanTwanza Adams of Oxford, Markiela Edwards of Water Valley and Ranashia Battle of Batesville and nine grandchildren.
Ervin Lee Butler
CHICAGO––Ervin Lee Butler, 55, formerly of Sardis, died Monday, August 25, 2014.
Services will be held Saturday, September 6 at 2 p.m. at Mount Gillion Missionary Baptist Church in Sardis. Visitation will be held from noon until services. Cooley’s Mortuary has charge.
Butler, born Oct. 27, 1958, in Sardis, to Rev. Jesse and Mrs. Glennie Butler (Hardy) of Batesville, graduated from Sullivan High School in 1976. After graduating from Sullivan, he attended the School of Engineering at the University of Illinois-Chicago. He was a member of Living Word Christian Center in Forest Park, Ill. He was a member of Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Batesville before moving to Illinois.
Survivors include: one daughter, Shanee Denise Butler of Chicago, his father and mother Jesse and Glennie Butler of Batesville; two sisters, Sharon Bryant (Nathaniel), and Sheneather Butler of Chicago.
Gertrude Byars
PARIS––Gertrude Elizabeth Johnson Byars, 99, died Saturday, August 30, 2014 at her home.
She was born February 11, 1915 in Water Valley, to the late Lawrence and Gertie Mae Summers Johnson. She was of the Baptist faith and was fondly known as “Sister.”
From age 93 to 95 she worked alongside her daughter, Lottie at Harmon’s Restaurant.
Funeral services were held Monday at Seven Oaks Funeral Home with Bro. R.W. Moffett officiating. Burial was in the Pine Flat Cemetery in Lafayette County
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Harvey Byars, her daughter, Nancy Thompson; her son, J.W. Byars; six grandchildren, Cynthia Harmon, Diana Lynn Harmon, Regina Harmon Fielder, Jimmy Byars, Gloria Jean Byars and Darby Thompson Shelton.
Survivors include: her daughter, Lottie Harmon of Banner; her son, Harvey “Sonny” Byars of Lillian, Ala.; one sister, Margie Darby of Batesville; one brother, Billy Johnson of Huntsville; 19 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; 32 great-great-grandchildren and six great great great grandchildren.
Loyd W. Dobbins
SARDIS––Loyd W. Dobbins, 88, died Tuesday, September 2, 2014, at Sardis Community Nursing Home.
Services were held Thursday at Sardis Lake Baptist Church. Burial was in Helen Criger Cemetery in Munford, Tenn. Kevin Crofford officiated. Wells Funeral Home had charge.
Dobbins, born Oct. 9, 1925, to the late William P. Dobbins and Ida Mae Dobbins of Kerrville, Tenn., was a deacon for Sardis Lake Baptist Church since 1998 and served his country in the U.S. Air Force.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 43 years, Lena Lawrence Dobbins; two step-daughters and two step-sons.
Survivors include: his wife, Inez Besenger Dobbins of Memphis; three step-daughters, Janie Benefield of Memphis, Jimmie Pannell of Munford, Tenn. and Sandra Thompson of Memphis; one step-son, James Lawrence of Olive Branch.
Sandra Robison Davenport
ALEXANDER CITY, Ala.–Sandra Robison Davenport, 71, formerly of Batesville, died at home with family and friends Wednesday, August 27, 2014.
She fought a 10-year battle with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP).
A memorial service was held September 2 at Ridout’s Valley Chapel in Homewood, Ala.
She was the daughter of the late Lawrence Santifer Robison, Jr. and Sallie Mae Robison. A graduate of Millsaps College, she held a Bachelor of Arts degree in education. She was also a Ruling Elder and Women of the Church leader in the First Presbyterian Church of Alexander City, serving also as bookkeeper of the church day school.
Survivors include: her husband, William E. (Gene) Davenport; a son, Will Davenport; two brothers Larry Robison and Rocky Robison and two granddaughters.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests gifts to either: UAB Department of Neurology for PSP Research, in support of the Sandra Davenport Program for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Patient Care and Research, to 1720 2nd Ave South, Suite 360B, Birmingham, AL 35294-0017; or Children’s Harbor, 1 Children’s Harbor Hwy., Alexander City, Ala. 35010.
Corey Terrell Henderson
BATESVILLE––Corey Terrell Henderson, 28, died Monday, September 1, 2014, at his residence.
Services will be held Wednesday, September 10, at 2 p.m. at Cooley’s Mortuary Chapel. Visitation will be held Tuesday 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. at Cooley’s Mortuary. Burial will be in New Hope Church Cemetery. Pastor Melvin Ellis will officiate.
Henderson, born May 5, 1986, to Connie Henderson of Batesville and the late Randy Lee, was employed at McDonald’s in Batesville.
Survivors along with his mother include: one son, Corey Terrell Henderson Jr.; one daughter, Shakirra Wilkins; one brother, Curtis Henderson; sisters, LaWonda Henderson, Portia Henderson and Ralaisha F. Smith, all of Batesville, Yasmine Pulliam and Shaquille Pulliam, of Calhoun.
Harold Dean Holliman
SARDIS––Harold Dean Holliman, 87, died Sunday, August 31, 2014, at his residence.
Services were held Wednesday at Wells Funeral Home Chapel. Burial was in Forrest Memorial Park. Wells Funeral Home had charge.
Holliman, born June 22, 1927 in Kerrville, Tenn. to the late Lewis and Essie Greenleaf Holliman, was a retired farmer and also retired after 40 years of service to Transport Services as a tanker truck driver. He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and served his country in the U.S. Army.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Maxine E. Holliman and daughter, Delores C. Holliman.
Survivors include: four daughters, Brenda Graves of Batesville, Elizabeth Ann Henson and Vera L. Friend, both of Sardis, Theresa K. Speece of Pensacola; two sons, Barry “Butch” W. Holliman of Oxford, Larry L. Holliman of Barlett; three sisters, Faye Brandon of Hattiesburg, Diane Yarborough of Ripley, Tenn., Jeanie Stubberfield of Hernando; one brother, Stan C. Holliman of Bells, Tenn.; 13 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
Cloyce A. Kemp
SARDIS––Cloyce A. Kemp, 61, died Sunday, August 31, 2014 at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis.
Services were held Wednesday at Ray Nowell Funeral Home. Burial was in Davis Chapel Cemetery in Sardis. Ray Nowell Funeral Home had charge.
Kemp, born May 17th, 1953 to the late Arthur E. Kemp and Mildred Allen Kemp, was a member of First Baptist Church in Sardis and participated in Racers for Christ.
Survivors include: his wife, Jeanne Earl Kemp; one daughter, Jennifer LeAnn Kemp, of Sardis; one son, William Arthur Kemp of Southaven; two sisters, Wanda Kay Stewart of Louisiana and Beth Ellis of Greenville; and one granddaughter
Memorial contributions may be sent to First Baptist Church, 108 West Lee St., Sardis, Miss. 38666.
