Obituaries

James Edwin Brown

SARDIS–Mr. James Edwin Brown, 95, passed away on Monday, February 20, 2017, at North Delta Hospice House in Southaven.
Mr. Brown was born on October 17, 1921 to the late Mildred Arnold Brown and James Madison Brown, at his home in the very bedroom where he slept for over 93 years.
A native of Sardis, he was a former member of the North Panola School Board of Trustees and was a member of Union Baptist Church where he served over 50 years as an ordained deacon, and taught Sunday school and served as Sunday School Superintendent.
He proudly served his country from 1942-1946 in the United States Army Air Force in the 959th Army Base Security Battalion. As a World War II veteran, Corporal Brown served in Iceland as a radio operator who put lost planes back on course.
During his service, he was awarded commendations which include the Honorable Service Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal, American Theater Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, and Rifle Sharp Shooter Medal, which he was most proud of.
For over 65 years, he was a member of American Legion, Post 127 in Sardis, where he served as Commander of his post for many of those years and also served 65 years with the Disabled American Veterans, where he served 16 years as state Chaplain, and logged over 3,000 visitation hours at hospitals.
Mr. Brown was a member of Gideons International where he also served as Chaplain. As a cancer survivor for over 35 years, he was recognized through the Panola County Cancer Society.
He was an avid musician who enjoyed playing the guitar and fiddle, and loved to sing. He was especially proud of his family band and of his family in general.
He leaves behind his loving family which includes his two daughters, Wanda Brasher (Bobby) and Carol Darby (Jimmy), both of Hernando; two sons, Milton Brown (Fern) of Sardis and Charles E. Brown (Audrey) of Looxahoma; two sisters, Alene Brown Houston of West Memphis, and Frances Jewel Brown Burch of Denham Springs, La.; his “adopted son” Kenny Crawford (Vicki) of Sardis; thirteen grandchildren; and thirteen great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Juanita O’Neal Brown; his brother, Rawdon Brown; and his first cousin who was like his sister, Mary Ethel Brown Ladner.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, February 24 at 11 a.m. in Union Baptist Church. Interment will follow, with military honors, in Union Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Disabled American Veterans, Attn: Gift Processing, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301; American Legion – Post 127, c/o Jim Hardin, Sardis, MS 38666; or to Union Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, P.O. Box 344, Como, MS 38619.
Ray-Nowell Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Larry Ray Campbell

POPE–Larry Ray Campbell, 71, died February 19, 2017, at Merit Health in Batesville.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on February 24 at Liberty Hill Baptist Church in Pope.  Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. prior to the service.  Interment will follow at Liberty Hill Cemetery.  Rev. Derrick Simmons will officiate the service.
Mr. Campbell was born March 6, 1945 to the late Lister William Campbell and Lea Whitten Campbell of Pope.
He was a heavy equipment operator and a member of Liberty Hill Baptist Church.

James Lynn Elliott Sr.

BATESVILLE–James Lynn Elliott Sr., 69, died February 19, 2017 at Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi in Oxford.
Funeral services were held February 22 at Hosanna Family Worship Center in Pope.  Rev. Damon Plummer, Rev. Bruce Wilkes, and Rev. Rayford Ables officiated.  Interment was February 23 at St. Jerome Cemetery in Fancy Farms, Ky.
Mr. Elliott was born January 5, 1948 to the late Thomas Edwin Elliott and Mary Ruth Cash Elliott in Fancy Farms, Ky.
He was a business owner and entrepreneur and had served in the Army.  He was a member of Hosanna Family Worship Center.

Clemmie Johnson Flowers

CRENSHAW–Clemmie Johnson Flowers, 90, died February 16, 2017. She was a member of St. Joseph M. B. Church.
Services will be held Saturday, February 25 at St. Joseph M. B. Church at noon.

Milton Gross

SARDIS– Milton Gross, 87, died February 17, 2017 at Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi.
Visitation will be February 24 from 2-6 p.m. at Henderson Funeral home in Sardis.  Funeral services will be February 25 at 11 a.m. at Henderson Funeral Home.  Interment will follow at Senatobia Memorial Cemetery in Senatobia.
Mr. Gross was born November 8, 1929 to Lucious and Eddie Lee Gross of Como.

Eugene Ray Weatherspoon

CROWDER–Eugene Ray Weatherspoon, 69, died February 15, 2017 at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta.
Visitation will be Friday, February 24 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Cooley’s Mortuary.
Funeral services will be February 25 at 11 a.m. at 1st Oak Grove M.B. Church in Crowder.  Pastor Allen Johnson will officiate.  Interment will follow at 1st Oak Grove Church Cemetery.
Mr. Weatherspoon was born November 2, 1947 to the late Eugene Ray Weatherspoon, Sr. and Ida Mae Powell Weatherspoon.
He was a member and usher at New Life Church in Georgia.