Thomas “T.W.” Warren Bailey of Starkville, and formerly of Batesville, passed peacefully in his sleep at the age of 93 on Aug. 1, 2019. He was born April 5, 1926 to the late Morton Turner Bailey and Sammie Dowdle Bailey in Charleston, and grew up in Grenada.

He served during WW11 as a B24 Waist Gunner for the Army. Following his service, he attended Northwest Junior College in Senatobia, and then began his career as an Agent Operator for the Illinois Central Railroad working in Batesville, Hollandale, Grenada, West Point, and Starkville.

He also served as the General Secretary- Treasurer of the Transportation Communications International Union, President of  Batesville Civitan Club, and a Youth Sunday School Teacher.   He was one of several men who worked tirelessly to help bring the vision of Kirk Academy in Grenada to fruition.

He was a loving and devoted husband and father who greatly enjoyed sponsoring and attending special events involving his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

He and his wife retired in Batesville and later relocated to Starkville in 2005 to be near their daughters. They were members of First Baptist Church.

Thomas was predeceased by his wife of 62 years,  Dorothy “Dott” Tuttle Bailey, his brother James Terrell Bailey of Grenada, sisters Rosetta Bloodworth and Dorothy Bailey of Grenada, and Jeffie Filgas of Fredericksburg, Va..

Thomas is survived by his daughters, Olivia (Ted) Loftis and Donna (Alvis) Deford of Starkville.  He is also survived by five grandchildren and their families:  Bailey (Adrienne) Anderson, Davis, Warren and Claire of Starkville: Neal (Sonya) Anderson, Neely and Taylor of Cleveland:

Kevin (Hope) Anderson and Carol Grace of Mathiston; Meredith (Aaron) Adams, Audrey and Austin of Missoula, Mont.; and Ben (Sandra) Loftis, Tessa and Carson of Nolensville, Tenn.

A graveside memorial service, led by grandson Bailey Anderson, was held Saturday, Aug. 3, at Magnolia Cemetery in Batesville. Special tributes were also given by his daughters, and beloved family member, Rev. Brownie Tohill of New Albany.

 

James Leroy Booker, 81, died Aug. 1, 2019, at Quitman County Nursing Home in Marks. He was born Feb. 8, 1938, in Batesville to Edwin Booker and Sarah L.  Thomas.

Funeral services are today (Aug. 9) at 1 p.m. at Second Concord M.B. with Pastor H.P. Washington, Sr., officiating. Cooley’s Mortuary will have charge of burial in the church cemetery.

Visitation was Thursday at Cooley’s.

 

Funeral services for Nellie Pearl Carr, 94, will be held Sunday, Aug. 11, at 11 a.m. at Rocky Mt. Primitive Baptist Church in Sardis with Elder Earl Richardson officiating. Burial will follow at Ballentine Family Cemetery under the direction of Cooley’s Mortuary.

She died Aug. 2, 2019, at her home in Batesville. She was born Sept. 8, 1924, in Sardis to Galvester Hughes and Gracie Allen.

Visitation will be Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for friends, and 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., for family members.

 

Marilyn Harrelson,  64, died Monday, Aug. 5, 2019, at Regional One Medical Center in Memphis from complications of her extended stay in the hospital.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, at Hosanna Family Worship Center.

She was born Jan.12, 1955 in Clarksdale to Bobby Jean Harrelson and T.L. Harrelson. She attended West Panola School. She was a member of Hosanna Family Worship Center in Pope.

 

Virginia Hance Martin, 73, died Monday, Aug. 5, 2019 at her daughter’s home in Oxford. She was the wife of Tony Martin of Batesville.

Funeral services were held Thursday, Aug. 8, in the Martin Willingham Memorial Chapel of Wells Funeral Home in Batesville. The family received friends Wednesday evening at Wells Funeral Home. Interment will follow the service at Forrest Memorial Park. Rev. Eugene Bramlett will officiate.

She was born April 1, 1946 to the late Frances Richardson Hance in Memphis. She was a homemaker during her lifetime and of the Methodist Faith.

 

Jaxon Tate Roberson, infant son of Cayla and Josh Roberson, died Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019, at Panola Medical Center.

There will be a graveside service at 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 11, at Hebron Baptist Church Cemetery. A visitation will be an hour prior to the graveside at Wells Funeral Home.

Survivors include his mother and father, Cayla Marie and Joshua “Josh” Gordon Roberson of Sardis; a brother, Braylen Gordon Roberson; maternal grandparents, Derek and Lisa Roberson of Sardis; paternal grandparents, Mary and Terry Franklin of Sledge; maternal great-grandmother, Barbara Skaggs; paternal great-grandmother, Doris J. Roberson; and paternal great-grandfather, Charles Cook.

 

Mrs. Mary Tomlin Rushing, 67, of Como, passed away on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2019, at Senatobia Convalescent Center. Mrs. Rushing was a member of Harmontown Baptist Church where she served as the financial secretary for many years.

She formerly worked at Chromcraft and Whitten Insurance. Mrs. Rushing loved her family and friends dearly and was known for her kind disposition. She will be missed deeply by those who knew and loved her.

Mrs. Rushing leaves behind her loving husband of 49 years, Thomas E. Rushing of Como; her daughter, Terri Renee Archer (Jacob) of Independence; and three brothers, David Leon Tomlin (Fay) of Waterford, Leonard Loys Tomlin (Elizabeth) of Como, and Albert Allen Tomlin (Fay) of Coldwater.

She was preceded in death by one grandchild, Sutton Lane Archer, and her parents. Funeral services were held  Thursday, Aug. 8,  at Harmontown Baptist Church with Bro. Jim Pinkerton officiating.

Interment was at Harmontown Cemetery. Visitation was held on Wednesday in the Senatobia Chapel of Ray-Nowell Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Harmontown Baptist Church.