Obituaries

Shirley Kay Ayers

SARAH– Shirley Kay Ayers, 57, died Sunday, March 19, 2017 at her residence.
Visitation is Saturday, March 25 from 12-2 p.m. at Longtown Church of God in Sarah.  Funeral services will immediately follow the visitation.  Interment will follow at Askew Grove M.B. Church.  Felix Cauthen Funeral Home has charge of the arrangements.
Ms. Ayers worked in a warehouse.

James Wayne Franks

MARKS–James Wayne Franks, 54, died Tuesday morning March 21, 2017 at Merit Health in Clarksdale. Funeral services were held at Kimbro Funeral Home March 23. Interment was in Crowder Cemetery.
Mr. Franks was a roofer.

Jeramie Goodson

BATESVILLE—Jeramie Goodson, 46, died Monday, March 20, 2017 at Merit Health Center in Batesville.
Visitation will be held Friday, March 24 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Cooley’s Mortuary in Batesville.
Funeral services will be Sat., March 25 at 11 a.m. at Cooley’s Mortuary.  Michael Cathey will officiate the service.  Interment will follow at West Camp Cemetery in Batesville.
Mr. Goodson was born December 16, 1970 in New Jersey to William Thomas Holman and Jane Goodson Bradley.  He was a forklift driver for Strohm Engineering.

Gary J. Hankins

CROWDER–Gary J. Hankins, age 75, passed away March 19, 2017 at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Oxford.
Gary was born May 30, 1941 in Greeley, Iowa.  Gary was the son of Cecil and Vera (Voshell) Hankins from Littleport, Iowa.
On July 23, 1961 he and the former Bonnie Adams were married in Lamont, Iowa.
Rev. Hankins’ first church was in Washburn, MO.  The Hankins family evangelized for 10 years before pastoring in Crowder.  He loved playing music and passing on his legacy to his family.  He also enjoyed writing his autobiography.
Gary is survived by Bonnie, his wife of almost 56 years, and four children, Michael (Janey) Hankins of Crowder, Angela (Tim) Williams of Independence, IA, Kris Hankins of Crowder and Jeremy (Joy) Hankins of Pope.
He is also survived by 10 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.  He is also survived by two brothers, Larry (Lavon) Hankins of Maquoketa, IA and Cecil (Tina) Hankins of Marion, IA and stepmother Patricia Hankins of Strawberry Point, IA.
He was preceded in death by his parents Cecil and Vera Hankins, a brother, Terry Joe Hankins, and grandson, Seth Gentry.
The funeral service will be held at 10 A.M. Friday March 24 at Trinity Lighthouse Church in Crowder, with burial in the Crowder Cemetery.  Meredith-Nowell Funeral Home in Clarksdale is handling the arrangements.

Vera D. Stokes

CRENSHAW—Vera D. Stokes, 61, died Saturday, March 18, 2017 at her residence.
Visitation will be today from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Cooley’s Mortuary.  Funeral services will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Holly Grove M.B. Church in Crenshaw.  Pastor Prez Jackson will officiate.  Interment will follow at Longtown Cemetery.
Mrs. Stokes was born September 16, 1955 to J.B. Dellard and Buleuah Crump in Chicago.   She was a retired factory worker and a member of Pleasant Grove M.B. Church in Crenshaw.

Betty Jean McBroom Wilson

BATESVILLE–Mrs. Betty Jean McBroom Wilson, 84, passed away at Baptist Hospital in Oxford March 20, 2017.
Funeral services for Mrs. Wilson were held Thursday, March 23, at First United Methodist Church in Batesville. Interment followed at Magnolia Cemetery. Rev. Ed Woodall officiated.
Betty was born December 10, 1932 to the late Archie F. McBroom and Minnie Mills McBroom in Batesville. Betty was a retired teacher’s assistant for South Panola School District and a member of First United Methodist Church. In her leisure time she enjoyed growing day lilies, cross stitching, reading, Bible Study, playing cards and cooking for her family and friends.
Those she leaves to cherish her memory include her husband, James L.  “Scoot” Wilson; two children, Brenda Wilson May of Memphis,  and James L. “Jimmy” Wilson of Batesville; six grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
In addition to her parents, Betty is preceded in death by one son, John “Johnny” Wilson.