Cecil W. Burford Jr.
MADISON––Cecil W. Burford, Jr., 79, formerly of Como, died Thursday, January 15, 2015 in Madison.

Services were held Sunday at Wells Funeral Home. Burial was in Magnolia Cemetery. Wells Funeral Home had charge.

Burford, born, January 19, 1935 in Memphis, to the late Cecil W. Burford, Sr. and Josephine Saunders Burford. He attended Como Public School through his junior year and then attended Columbia Military Academy in Columbia, Tenn. his senior year.

He attended The University of Mississippi on a four-year baseball athletic scholarship as a pitcher. In 1956 he pitched a no-hit no-run game against Vanderbilt and in the 1956 College World Series he pitched and won one game and lost one game, the first ever for the University of Mississippi baseball team. In the 1956 College World Series the team placed 3rd, the highest ranking of any University of Mississippi baseball team to-date. In college he was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity, Committee of 100 and the M-Club. In 2007 he was inducted into the M-Club Athletic Hall of Fame.

After graduating from The University of Mississippi he played professional baseball with the Milwaukee Braves minor league for three years when an arm injury ended his baseball career. He won the last game he played in with a one-hitter.

He was preceded in death by one son.

He was employed by Entergy Corporation (Mississippi Power and Light Company) for 34 years, past President of the Senatobia Rotary Club and had been active in the Coldwater First Baptist Church in Coldwater.

Survivors include: his wife, Elizabeth Rowsey; two sons Cecil W. Burford, III, of Atlanta and Christopher H. Burford and two grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Alzheimer’s Association, or a charity of your choice in his honor.

Harriett Ruth Hubbard Karatassos
STARKVILLE–Harriet Ruth Hubbard Karatassos, 61,  of Starkville, formerly of Batesville, passed away at Sanctuary Hospice House on January 16, 2015. 

She is the sister of Christine Fleming of Batesville and was the daughter of the late Fisher and Harris Hubbard.

She is also survived by her husband Straton Karatassos; daughter Mary Straton Karatassos Smith; daughter Harris Karatassos Carruba; and two grandchildren.

A native of Batesville she attended South Panola Schools, graduated from the University of Mississippi and Mississippi State University where she received a Master’s Degree in Education. She was an elementary teacher at Starkville Academy for 36 years and was a dedicated member of First Baptist Church in Starkville.

Services were Monday, January 19, 2015  followed with a memorial service. Memorials can be made to Sanctuary Hospice House in Tupelo, MS, 5159 W. Main St., Tupelo, MS 38801.