Edwin G. "Preacher" Evans
Died: Monday, March 29, 2004
Age: 85
Edwin “Preacher” G. Evans, Sr., 85, died Monday, March 29, 2004, at his home in Clinton. Services were held March 31 at 2 p.m. at Anguilla Baptist Church with burial in Mound Cemetery with Dr. Russell McIntire officiating.
Mr. Evans was a native of Lexington. He was a graduate of Mississippi College, graduating in 1941. On June 8, 1942, he married Marguerite Ellis of Houston, Texas. He retired from the military with the rank of Major. Preacher, as he was known to his many friends and his wife, returned to Mississippi where he made his career with Delta Implement Company for 30 years and owned and operated Sunshine Cleaners in Rolling Fork.
Preacher served as a deacon in several churches and was a member of Wildwood Baptist Church.
For the past seven years he had made his home in Clinton.
Survivors include: wife, Marguerite E. Evans of Clinton; son, Edwin G. Evans, Jr. of Little Switzerland, North Carolina; daughter, Karen Cooley of Clinton; four grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the Baptist Children’s Village.
Coyle McGee McCreary
Died: Friday, March 26, 2004
Age: 89
Coyle McGee McCreary of West, 89, died Friday, March 26, 2004 at Montfort Jones Hospital in Kosciusko. Services were Sunday, March 28 at Southern Funeral Home Chapel in Durant at 2 p.m. with burial in Mt. Pleas-ant Baptist Cemetery in West. Rev. Bill McCreary officiated. Southern Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Mr. McCreary was a retired self-employed pulpwood dealer. A World War II veteran and a member of Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth McCreary and son, Ronnie McCreary.
Survivors include: one son, Paul McCreary of Kosciusko and one daughter, Linda Hattaway of Starkville; and four grandchildren.
Pallbearers were: Carter Naugher, Billy Marlow, Joe McCoy, Joe Ellis McCreary, Johnny McCreary, and Bob McCreary.
Eli Abbott, III
Died: Thursday, March 25, 2004
Age: 81
Eli Abbott, III, 81, died of natural causes in Modesto, California, Thursday, March 25, 2004 at Memorial Medical Center. Franklin & Downs-Colonial Chapel Funeral Home of Mo-desto handled arrangements.
Mr. Abbott was a native of Greenwood. Born August 18, 1922, he was a civil engineer for 15 years with the U.S. Government and a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. He was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and the Masonic Lodge F&M in Jackson. He was the grandson of the late Mrs. Harry Watson of Lexington.
Survivors include: his children, Elizabeth Draves of Colorado Springs, CO, Eli Abbott, IV of Margate, Florida and Robert Abbott of Oakland, CA; brother, Guthrie Abbott of Oxford; sister, Martha Lamport of London, England; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife.
Memorials may be made to The American Lung Association, P.O. Box 70381, Stockton, CA 95267-8781.
Morris Young Ables
Died: Wednesday, March 24, 2004
Age: 97
Morris Young Ables of Goodman, 97, died Wednesday, March 24, 2004 at University Medical Center of Holmes County in Lexington. Services were Saturday, March 27 at Southern Funeral Home Chapel in Durant at 11 a.m. with burial in Quiet Ridge Cemetery in Goodman. Rev. James Garner officiated. Southern Funeral Home handled the arrangements.
Mr. Ables was born in Attala County to Thomas Jefferson Ables and Hattie Criswell Ables. He was a retired poultry farmer for Blanton-Smith Poultry and a Baptist. He was preceded in death by his wife, Myrtle Ables.
Survivors include: one son, Sam Guy Ables of Ackerman; one daughter, Frances Bridges of Goodman; a brother, Percy Ables of Byhalia; and a sister, Jewell Ferrell of Jackson; 14 grandchildren; and a host of great-grandchildren.
Active pallbearers were: Ollie Ray Ables, Michael Burrell, Bill Floyd, Trent Holly, Arnold Ables, and Joe Hilton Burrell.
Honorary pallbearers were: Jack Albin and Joe Ward.
William Arnold Brock
Died: Tuesday, March 23, 2004
Age: 73
William Arnold Brock of West, 73, died Tuesday, March 23, 2004 at University Hospital in Jackson. Services were Thursday, March 25 at West Baptist Church at 2 p.m. with burial in West City Cemetery. Rev. James Culpepper officiated.
Mr. Brock was born in Holmes County to Walter M. Brock and Wilna Arnold Brock. He was a retired farmer, an Air Force veteran of the Korea War and a member of the West Baptist Church.
Survivors include: his wife, Carolyn Inman Brock of West; daughter, Mary Elizabeth Jones of Monroeville, Alabama; brother, Walter Michael Brock of Canton.
Active pallbearers were: Horace Bouchillon, Paul Bouchillon, Ralph Bouchillon, Joe McLellan, Owen McLellan, and John McPhail.
Honorary pallbearers were: Dr. Charles Campbell, A.J. Stevens, Bob Ramage, Allen Burrell, Jason White, Jimmy Hand, Charles Wolforth, and B.B. Brock.
Helen Gelston Cade
Died: Tuesday, March 23, 2004
Age: 87
Helen Gelston Cade of West, 87, died Tuesday, March 23, 2004 at University Nursing Center at Durant. Services were held Wednesday, March 24 at Southern Funeral Home Chapel in Durant at 11:00 a.m. with burial in Old Wheeling Cemetery in West. Rev. Gene Richardson and Rev. James Culpepper officiated. Southern Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Cade was a homemaker and a member of Mt. Vernon Baptist Church in West.
Survivors include: two sons, Gerald Gelston of Clinton and Gene Gelston of West; one sister, Shirley Hathcock of Durant; 10 grandchildren, and 16 great grandchildren.
Active pallbearers were: Walter F. Hathcock, George Hathcock, Jimmy Hathcock, Billy Hathcock, Earl Aldridge, and Burke Aldridge.
Honorary pallbearers were: Deacons of Mt. Vernon Baptist Church.
Hunter Mills Heard
Died: Wednesday, December 17, 2003
Age: 9
Hunter Mills Heard of Brandon died Wednesday, December 17, 2003 at Rankin Medical Center in Brandon. He was 9-months- old. Services were Saturday, December 20, 2003 at 10:00 a.m. at Beulah Baptist Church in Lexington with burial in Liberty Chapel Cemetery in Lexington. Bro. Gene Henderson officiated. Southern Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Hunter and his parents attended First Baptist Church of Brandon where he was dedicated.
Survivors include: parents, Bubba and Samantha Heard of Brandon; maternal grandparents Joy and Chris Trease of Hamilton, David Thomas of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Pauline McComas of San Marcus, Texas; paternal grandparents are Jan and Mills Heard of Lexington.
Active pallbearers were Kenny Joiner and Michael Dew.
Honorary pallbearers were Evan Trease, Carson Trease, and Cameron Trease.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital, c/o the Division of Public Affairs, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 North State St., Jackson, MS 39216.
Annie Loye O'Neal Goss
Died: Monday, December 15, 2003
Age: 82
Annie Loye O’Neal Goss of Lexington, 82, died Monday, December 15, 2003 at her residence. Services were Saturday, December 20 at 2 p.m. at Southern Funeral Home Chapel in Lexington with burial in Odd Fellows Cemetery. Rev. Mike O’Brien officiated.
Mrs. Goss was the daughter of Albert O’Neal and Elizabeth Jackson O’Neal. She was a manger of Henson Kickernick retail store and a member of Oregon Memorial Church.
Survivors include: husband, J.E. Goss of Lexington; son, Allen Goss of Crowley, Texas; daughter, Cindy Mansfield of Chesapeake, Virginia; brother, James Ervin O’Neal of Greenwood; sister, Ruth Williams of Avalon; 4 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.
Active pallbearers were: Mac Phillips, Larry Kelly, Terry Williams, Louis Ferrell, Clay Rodgers, and Steve Riley.
Honorary pallbearers were: White Malone, Gilbert Bradley, Billy Zeigler, and Teat Rodgers.
Memorials may be sent to Oregon Memorial Church, c/o Anna Autry, 104 Hillside Street, Lexington, MS 39095.
Jerry Lee Newman
Died: Saturday, December 13, 2003
Age: 24
Jerry Lee Newman, 24, of Lexington died Saturday, December 13, 2003 as a result of injuries sustained in an auto accident. He is the son of Linnie B. Newman and Jerry Lee Jones of Lexington.
A wake will be held Thursday, December 18 at Century Hairston Funeral Home from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Funeral services will be Friday, December 19 at 11 a.m. at Holy City Church in Ebenezer. Repass will follow the service at McGee’s Drive-Inn.
Clara Beall Watson
Died: Tuesday, December 09, 2003
Age: 88
Clara Beall Watson of Lexington, 88, a retired teacher, died Tuesday, December 9, 2003 at Baptist Medical Center in Jackson. Funeral services were held at First Presbyterian Church in Lexington at 2 p.m. with burial in Odd Fellows Cemetery. Rev. Dale VanNess and Rev. Lorance Frost officiated.
Miss Watson, a Lexington native, was a graduate of Belhaven College earning B.S. degrees in English and History, and where she was a member of Chi Omega fraternity. She also attended the University of Mississippi where she received a Master’s degree in guidance and counseling.
During her career, she served as a 38-year veteran teacher at Lexington High School and Central Holmes Academy where she will be remembered by hundreds of students as a dedicated educator and encourager to friends and family.
“Her greatest love in life was to see her students as well as her nieces and nephews, and her great nieces and nephews pursue their education. She encouraged and assisted them to achieve their goals,” said her nephew Julian Watson of Jackson.
Although she retired in 1974, Clara Watson remained dedicated throughout her adult life to her students, says friend and former student Bob Berman of Jackson. “While her primary subject was high school history, her goal in life was to bring out the very best in the students she taught. She was a lady of impeccable dress and her ethics were beyond reproach. Mississippi was fortunate to have such a fine teacher and counselor to its youth,” he added.
Former student Linda Patton MacMorran of Baton Rouge recalls Miss Watson “having taught so much more than subject matter. She inspired those of us with small town lives to dream, set goals, and achieve.”
Active in the Lexington community, Miss Watson was a past president of the Magnolia Garden Club and a member of First Presbyterian Church.
She loved children and supported local students in their private education and college careers. A scholarship fund will be set up in her name at Central Holmes Christian School.
Survivors include two nieces Alice Watson Crull of Metairie, LA and Clara B. Watson Jorrfetz of Jackson; a sister-in-law Juanita Powers Watson of Ridgeland; four nephews Julian Watson, Bill Watson, John Watson and Malcolm Watson, as well as numerous great nieces and nephews.
Active pallbearers were: Nicky Nichols, Thomas B. Nichols, Jim Raley, Forrest (Dusty) Raley, William L. Crull, IV, Charles R. Watson, and Johnny Jorrfetz.
Memorials may be made to Central Holmes Christian School Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 279, Lexington, MS 39095 or to First Presbyterian Church, 103 Church Street, Lexington, MS 39095.
Alice Virginia Bowen
Died: Tuesday, December 09, 2003
Age: 86
Alice Virginia Bowen, born October 8, 1917 to David and Fannie Montgomery in West, Mississippi, died December 9, 2003 in Kingwood, Texas at the age of 86.
Alice graduated from Mississippi University for Women with a BS Degree in Biology and Science and was a member of Beta, Beta, Beta Sorority. She was member of the State Teacher’s
Association and taught school in Columbus, West, and Durant before retiring in 1982. Alice was a member of West United Methodist Church, Friends of the Library, West Garden Club, West Civic Club, and a Charter Member of West Historical and Preservation Society.
Mrs. Bowen is survived by her son, James C. Bowen; stepdaughter, Genell Bowen Taylor; four grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 13, 2003 at West Methodist Church.
Active pallbearers were: Michael Bowen, Scott Doyle, David Montgomery, James McBride, Gary Ainsworth, and Doug Aldridge.
