Bobby Gene Cook

Bobby Gene Cook, 69, passed away Monday morning, August 1, 2016, in Batesville following an automobile accident.
Funeral services for Mr. Cook were held in the Martin Willingham Memorial Chapel of Wells Funeral Home in Batesville Thursday, August 4. Interment was at Forrest Memorial Park. Rev. Raymond Aven officiated.
Bobby was born October 13, 1946 in Tate County, to the late Harold W. Cook and Myrtle Medlin Cook.
Bobby was a farmer during his lifetime and a member of the Baptist faith. He enjoyed working in his garden, fishing and playing with this grandkids in his spare time.
Those left to cherish his memory include his daughters, Rhonda Cook Sanders and Donna Jean Cook Aven, both of Batesville, his sister, Linda Cook Bryant of Marks, and his brother Larry Cook of Batesville, and two grandchildren.

William Scott Downs

William Scott Downs, infant son of Rachel Lynn Smith of Batesville, and James Robert Downs of Batesville passed away at Baptist Hospital in Oxford, on July 30, 2016.
The family held a graveside service for Baby William on Thursday, August 4, at Goodhope Cemetery in Batesville. Rev Dale Beaver officiated.
Survivors include: his parents, James Robert Downs, and Rachel Lynn Smith; Maternal grandparents, Terry and Tracie Smith of Batesville; paternal grandparents, Gene and Jennifer Downs of Batesville; maternal great-Grandmother, Betty Tutor of Batesville; paternal great-grandfather Eugene Downs; paternal great-great-grandmother, Margie Darby.
William is preceded in death by his maternal great-grandfather, Charles Tutor, paternal great-grandmother, Carolyn Bright, maternal great-grandparents, William and Patricia Smith.

Cynthia Faye Greene

SARDIS – Cynthia Greene, 52, died Sunday, July 31, 2016, at University Medical Center in Jackson.
Funeral services were held Thursday at Wells Funeral Home with interment in Longtown Cemetery near Crenshaw.
Cynthia was born August 6, 1963 in Marks, to Margie Sexton Luther of Batesville and the late Jesse David Boyette.
She was a homemaker.

Elizabeth Jones

SARDIS – Elizabeth Jones, 64, died Wednesday, July 27, 2016, at her residence.
Services will be held Saturday, August 6 at 11 a.m. at Cooley’s Mortuary. Pastor Earl Richardson will officiate. Visitation will be held Friday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. at Cooley’s Mortuary. Interment will be at Cistern Hill Church Cemetery.
Jones, born Sept. 15, 1951, in Como, to James Etta Nelson Jones of Sardis  and the late King David Jones Sr., was an employee of Parker Hannifan and a member of Rockey Mountain Primitive Baptist Church.

Maggie Sanders Oliver

SARDIS––Maggie Sanders Oliver, 94, died Tuesday, August 2, 2016.
Services will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. at St. Peter’s Church located at 433 Fondren Road in Sardis. Visitation will be held Saturday from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. also at the church. Rev. Odell Draper will officiate. Townes Funeral Home has charge.
Mrs. Oliver, born April 16, 1922, to the late Henry Sanders and Ida Jones Sanders, was a homemaker and a member of St. Peter’s Church.

Jerry Tanksley

Jerry Curtis “Curt” Tanksley, Jr., 45, died Tuesday, August 2, 2016 at Baptist Hospital in Oxford after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m.. Saturday, August 6, at Lakeview Funeral Home Chapel with interment to follow in Lakeview Memorial Gardens in Longview, Texas. The family will be receiving friends Friday evening, August 5, 2016 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lakeview Funeral Home. The family will also be having a memorial service in Batesville, at a later date, which is yet to be determined.
Curt was born May 17, 1971 in Greenwood to the late Jerry Curtis Tanksley, Sr. and Clara Jones Tanksley. He was the former owner of Superior Flooring, having worked in the Longview area, as well as in Mississippi for many years before his cancer diagnoses.
Full obituary information will be provided at a later date.

Bobbie Moore Scruggs

Bobbie Moore Scruggs, age 78, passed away Sunday afternoon, July 31, 2016 at Baptist Desoto Hospital in Southaven. Ms. Scruggs was the widow of the late Bobby Gene Scruggs of Sardis.
Funeral services for Ms. Scruggs were Wednesday, August 3 at Union Baptist Church in Sardis. Burial was in the church cemetery.
Bobbie was born in Pope on April 11, 1938 to the late Chester Ray Moore and Catherine Brewer Moore. She along with her late husband, Bobby, were the owners of Bob’s Bar-B-Que in Sardis.
Bobbie enjoyed painting, gardening, and on her culinary side, she enjoyed cake decorating. She was a member of Union Baptist Church.
She is survived by her daughter, Debbie Scruggs Cornelison of Bartlett, Tenn.; three sons, Roger Scruggs and wife Vicky of Sardis, Doug Scruggs of Nesbit, Jeff Scruggs of Southaven. She also leaves behind seven grandchildren, Brandy Arnold, Amanda LaMasters, Stephanie Boyett, Sarah Cornelison, Kindyl Scruggs, Levi Scruggs and Taylor Scruggs; also six great-grandchildren, and one great great-grandchild.
For anyone wishing to honor Mrs. Scruggs, the family requests you send memorials to Union Baptist Church, 3623 Union Road, Sardis, MS 38666.

Phillip A. Tennyson

Phillip A. “Andy” Tennyson, age 59, passed away July 30, 2016 at Merit Health in Batesville.
Funeral services will be held Friday, August 5, at 11 a.m. with visitation beginning one hour prior to the service in The Martin Willingham Memorial Chapel of Wells Funeral Home in Batesville. Interment will follow the service at Oak View Memorial Park in Alamo, Tenn. Rev. Jeff Tankersly and Dr. Courtney Selvy will officiate.
Andy was born July 22, 1957, to Carolyn Privett Steinwinder and the late Phillip Afton Tennyson in Memphis.
Andy was a truck driver during his lifetime and proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy. He was a former member of Rose Hill Baptist Church, and had most recently been attending Enid Lake Baptist.
Those left behind to cherish his loving memory include: his mother, Carolyn Steinwinder of Pope; his son, Phillip Andrew Tennyson Jr. of Goldsboro, N.C.; his daughter, Candice Marie McCraken, of Memphis; his sister, Cindy T. Griffin of Pope; and five grandchildren: Tyler Tennyson, Samantha Raithel, Elizabeth McCraken, Michael McCraken, and Brenda King.

Sara R. Watkins

Sara R. Watkins, 87, passed away July 31, 2016 in Tupelo.
Services were held Thursday at Forest Hill Funeral Home and Memorial Park-South of Memphis.
She was preceded in death by her husband Floyd Watkins and her parents.
Survivors include her children: Dawayne Watkins, Mary Rose Habit, Helen Dean, Susan Carpenter, William (Billy) Watkins, and Lisa Schultz; 14 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren, and six great-great grandchildren.
Sara was a member of First Baptist Church of Southaven. She enjoyed crocheting and worked as a crossing guard at Hope Sullivan School. She was named a Mississippi Ageless Hero by former First Lady Pat Fordice.
She enjoyed delivering meals as a bus driver for the Meals on Wheels program, and was known as the “Pie Lady” for her work in delivering over 500 pies a year to the Mississippi State Legislature.