Obituaries

Henry Earl Aven

Henry Earl Aven, age 80, passed away early Tuesday morning, May 2, 2017 at the Tallahatchie General Hospital in Charleston.
Services for Mr. Aven will be held on today at 2 p.m. in Martin Willingham Memorial Chapel of Wells Funeral Home, who has charge of arrangements.
Interment will follow the service at Forrest Memorial Park in Batesville.
Rev. Raymond Aven will officiate.
Henry was born October 23, 1936 to the late Earnest Seale Aven and Minnie Lee Marter Aven in Charleston.
During his lifetime he proudly served his country in the U.S. Army.
He worked as a mechanic and performed body work for Magnolia Sales in Pope.
Henry was a member of Park Bayou Baptist Church in Drew. During his spare time he enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping.
He leaves behind his wife, Billie Aubrey Morris Aven of Parks Bayou, MS; children, Daphney Trusty (Allen) and David Aven (Donna), all of Batesville, LeAnne Pierce (Rusty) of Courtland, Vernon “Butch” Aven (Donna) of Horn Lake; sisters, Frances Gentry and Joyce Gentry, both of Cowart; brother, Troy Aven of Batesville, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, Henry is preceded in death by his wife, Earlene Aven, three brothers, Travis, Roy, and Robert Aven; sister, Kathleen Aven Roberson, and one grandson, Wesley Earl Aven.

Betty S. Bowlin

CROWDER – Mrs. S. Betty Bowlin, 66, died at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Oxford on Tuesday, May 2, 2017.
Funeral services will be held today at 11 .m. with visitation beginning at 9 a.m. at Wells Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Crowder Cemetery. Rev. Larry Kilgore will officiate the service.
Betty was born October 9, 1950 to the late Homer Nix and Pauline Hodges Nix in Quitman County. She was a homemaker and member of Crowder Baptist Church.

Eugene W. Crouch

BATESVILLE–Eugene “Gene” W. Crouch, 98, of Batesville passed away on Friday, April 28, 2017, at his home.
Mr. Crouch, a retired contractor and cattleman, was born on September 27, 1918 in Batesville to the late James Monroe Crouch and Edna Bankston Crouch.
He was a lifelong member of Pisgah Methodist Church and served on the board of Farm Bureau for many years. He loved the outdoors and gardening.
Mr. Crouch leaves behind his loving family which includes his daughters, Patricia C. Prince, Barbara C. Pound, and Brenda C. Brown; one sister, Lucile C. Inman; five grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren and six great- great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 73 years, Clarene Crouch; one sister, three brothers, two grandchildren, and his parents.
Funeral services were held on Tuesday, May 2, in the chapel of Dickins Funeral Home, who had charge of arrangements. Burial was in Pisgah Cemetery.

Lionel G. Henderson

ELK GROVE, Calif.–Lionel G. Henderson died at his home Wednesday, April 26, 2017. Memorial services will be held Saturday, May 6, 2017 at 11 a.m. at Calvary Chapel in Elk Grove, Calif.
Lionel G. Henderson graduated high school from Patton Lane High School in 1967 and graduated college from The University of Mississippi in 1971.
He entered the U.S. Air Force as a second lieutenent and served at Kincholoe Air Force Base in Michigan.
After completing this tour of duty, he began working for American Hospital Supply in Evanston, Ill. as an accountant. He would later become a partner in Washington, D.C.  Lionel founded Lionel Henderson and Co. in 1986 and has offices in multiple states.
Lionel G. Henderson was born to the union of Ida M. Henderson and the late Lionel G. Henderson Sr. on November 20, 1948.
Lionel leaves to cherish his memories: wife, Sophy Chung, Elk Grove, CA; mother, Ida Henderson, Cordova, Tenn.; daughter, Lisa Thomas-Smith, Thorthon, Col.; brothers, Ron Henderson (Lene), Stone Mt., Ga. and Michael Maiden, Chicago; sister, Abigail Maiden-Hughes, Cordova; eight nieces; seven nephews; and a host of relatives and friends.
Lionel was preceded in death by one son, Lionel G. Henderson III.

Sherry Groner Hollowell

WATER VALLEY–Mrs. Sherry Groner Hollowell, 59, passed away at her home Tuesday, May 1, 2017.
Services were held May 4 at Coleman Funeral Home in Oxford. Adam Smith officiated.
She was the widow of James Burlin Hollowell.

Robert Lee Jones

BATESVILLE—Robert Lee Jones, 78, died Saturday, April 29, 2017, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Oxford.
Visitation will be today from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Cooley’s Mortuary. Funeral services will be Saturday, May 6 at 11 a.m. at Macedonia M.B. Church.  Pastor Zannie Leland will officiate.  Interment will follow in the church cemetery.
Mr. Jones was born September 8, 1938 to the late Eddie D. Jones and Mozella Fox Jones of Batesville.
He was a retired supervisor at MOOG Automotive in St. Louis and a member of Macedonia M.B. Church.
He was a Mason, a supporter of the Boys & Girls Club of Crenshaw, and a youth league baseball and softball coach.

Georgia Haynes Lee

BATESVILLE—Georgia Haynes Lee, 48, died at Merit Health in Batesville on Thursday, April 27, 2017.
Visitation will be Friday, May 5 at Cooley’s Mortuary from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  Funeral services will be Saturday, May 6 at 2 p.m. at Power House Church of God.  Elder Randell Haynes will officiate.  Interment will follow at Batesville Cemetery.
Mrs. Lee was born March 6, 1969 to Leroy Jenkins and Betty Haynes Stewart of Sardis.  She worked at Fred’s and was a member of Power House Church of God.

Cheryl Alexandria Menzie

BATESVILLE—Cheryl Alexandria Menzie, 44, died Monday, May 1, 2017 in Hinds County.
Visitation will be Saturday, May 6 from 4-6 p.m. at Hughes and Sons Funeral Home in Batesville.  Funeral services will be Sunday, May 7 at 1 p.m. at the Batesville Jr. High School Auditorium.  Interment will be at Macedonia Cemetery in Batesville.
Miss Menzie was born October 9, 1972 to Henry Menzie and Lacey Smith-Menzie of Clarksdale.
She was a restaurant owner and a member of Second Concord M.B. Church in Batesville.

Aline Taylor Wagner

COMO – Mrs. Aline Taylor Wagner, 95, passed away, peacefully, at her apartment at The Forum in The Woodlands, Texas on Tuesday, April 25, 2017.
Mrs. Wagner, a retired kindergarten teacher, was born in Como on October 2, 1921 to the late Mary Sherman Taylor and Tom Shelton Taylor. After attending Como High School, Mrs. Wagner graduated from The University of Mississippi where she was a member of Chi Omega sorority.
She married Robert Wagner of Ardmore, Pennsylvania on January 21, 1944, and with his overseas military service during World War II being the exception, they spent over 50 years of their married life in Como.
Mrs. Wagner was a life-long member of Como United Methodist Church where she was faithful and dedicated as a member of the choir, Sunday school teacher, and Vacation Bible School Director.
Her beautiful needlepoint can be seen adorning the center altar chair, kneelers, and in some of the banners that hang in the sanctuary, even today.
She was the first Como librarian, a life member of the Como Garden Club, a member of the Study Club and the Como Civic Club. She served her community as the Secretary of Friendship Cemetery for 40 years.
Mrs. Wagner leaves behind her loving family which includes three daughters, Mary Sherman Willson of Houston, Texas, Sue Hearne of The Woodlands, Texas, and Anna Wargo of Charlotte, North Carolina; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Wagner and her parents.
Funeral services will be held in Como United Methodist Church on Sunday, May 7 at 2 p.m. with Rev. Phillip Dearman officiating, and with Bobby Billingsley, Sledge Floyd, Sledge Taylor, Ken Kairit, Bobby Lipscomb, and Robert Carter serving as pallbearers.
Interment will follow in Friendship Cemetery in Como. Visitation will be held on Saturday, May 6 in the Senatobia Chapel of Ray-Nowell Funeral Home from 5 to 7 p.m.
The family requests that memorial contributions be made to Como United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 277, Como, MS 8619 or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
Ray-Nowell Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.