Dr. Robert Lawrence Jordan
Dr. Robert Lawrence Jordan, 85, died Tuesday, October 27, 2015, at Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi.

  Memorial services were held Friday at Waller Funeral Home with The Reverend Ann Kelly officiating.  Burial was in Eastover Memorial Cemetery.

Born in Kosciusko, to the late John Lawrence and Katherine Beckham Jordan, Dr. Jordan was a retired professor of music at the University of Mississippi. He played the trumpet in the United States Army Band. He received his Bachelor of Arts and his Master’s in Education from the University of Mississippi and earned his Doctor of Education degree from Mississippi State in 1967. He began his teaching career as a high school band director in Canton. He returned to the University of Mississippi in 1969 as professor of Music and head of the Music Education department. During his teaching career, Dr. Jordan mentored countless musicians, future band directors, was instrumental in starting the Ole Miss Jazz Band, directed the State Lions’ Bands and judged many band contests around the state. He played drums in numerous jazz bands around this area.

Survivors include two daughters, Allison Jordan McCord of Batesville and Ashley Jordan Hill of Oxford and one grandchild.

Memorial contributions in Dr. Jordan’s memory may be made to Camp Hopewell, 24 CR 231, Oxford, MS or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1905.

Emma Jean Sorrells Griffis
SARDIS––Emma Jean Sorrells Griffis, 91, died Sunday, November 1, 2015, at her residence.
Services will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Wells Funeral Home. Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. until services. Wells Funeral Home has charge.

Emma Jean was born to Gladys Brannon and Clyde Sorrells in Pleasant Grove, Mississippi on December 27, 1923. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Batesville. During her life, Mrs. Griffis was accountant for H.R. Ford in Memphis, Tennessee until her retirement. She enjoyed many activities which included bird watching, fishing, gardening and reading. Her most cherished past time, however, was spending time with her family and her many grandchildren.
Besides her parents, Emma Jean was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years Leland Griffis; two sons Johnny C. and Dickey Griffis; one grandson, Scott Griffis.

Survivors include: two children, Carolyn G. Lusk of Germantown and Mark Griffis of Sardis; two sisters, Lorraine Sorrells Tramell, Sue “Gertrude” Sorrells Proctor; one brother, Jesse Sorrells; eight grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers the family ask that memorial donations be made in Mrs. Griffis honor to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, PO Box 1893, Memphis, TN 38101.

Kim Skillion
Ms. Kim Skillion, 59, died Wednesday, October 28, 2015 in Batesville.
Services were held Friday at West Marks Baptist Church

Ms. Skillion was employed as a speech pathologist for Senatobia, Quitman County and Kentucky School Districts.

 She was preceded in death by her father, James K. Gardner.

Survivors include: daughter, Hallye Skillion of Senatobia; mother, Charles Evelyn Gardner of Marks; brother, Kelly Gardner of Oxford.Memorial Contributions may be made to Haven House in Oxford, MS.

Thessalonia Webster
SARDIS––Thessalonia Webster, 82, died Wednesday, October 21, 2015, at her residence.
Services were held Saturday at New Greater Light Church. Pastor Bobby Walker officiated. Burial was in Mt. Level Cemetery. Hodges Funeral Home had charge.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence Webster.

Survivors include: sons,  James Burdette, Kenneth Webster and Ulysses Edward of Milwaukee, Wis. and Timothy Edwards of Sardis; three step-sons, Leon Porter of Southaven and Johnny Edwards; six daughters, Jonneedvar Edwards, Ruby Ellis, Barbara Webster of Sardis, Brenda Edward, Terren Webster-Austin and Lizzie Webster of Milwaukee, Wis.; two sisters, Ruthie Mae Hemingway of Batesville and Izola Heard of Como.