Helen B. Sanders
Helen Boone Sanders of D'Lo, 82, died Dec. 5 at Simpson General Hospital in Mendenhall.
Services were Dec. 7 at D'Lo Baptist Church in D'Lo with burial in Puckett City Cemetery in Puckett. Colonial Chapel Funeral Home in Mendenhall handled arrangements.
Mrs. Sanders was born Nov.19, 1922. She was a member of D'Lo Baptist Church. She was a retired cafeteria worker. Mrs. Sanders was preceded in death by her husband, William Leon Sanders; sons, Robert Blackwell and Charlie Sanders; daughter, Jimmie Donnell; grandson, Bruce Donnell; granddaughter, ReNee Lee; parents, Ellis and Nola Cook Boone; brothers, J.W. Boone and Chesteen Boone.
Survivors include her sons, James Blackwell (Judy) of Magee, Lloyd Sanders (Madge) of Mendenhall, Ralph Sanders (Brenda) of Wiggins and Jerry Sanders of Richland; daughters, Faye Lee of Prentiss, Katie Shows of Mendenhall, Era Lee Hilton (Phillip) of D'Lo, Joyce Croxton and Judy Cole of D'Lo, and Vivian Martin (Clyde) of Clinton; brother, Ray Boone of Mendenhall; 35 grandchildren and 61 great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the Baptist Children's Village, P.O. Box 27, Clinton, Miss. 39060-0027.
W.C. Gillis
W.C. Gillis of Jackson, 90, died Dec. 4 at the Central Mississippi Medical Center.
Services were Dec. 8 at Wright & Ferguson Funeral Home with burial in Shelton Cemetery in Copiah County.
A native of Ackerman, Mr. Gillis had lived in Jackson for many years. He was a retired engineer with Mississippi Highway Department with 42 years service. He was a charter member and past president of the 60-Plus Group at Alta Woods United Methodist Church. He was a veteran of World War II having served in the United States Army.
Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Elsie Shelton Gillis; son, Shelton Gillis of Germantown, Tenn.; two grandchildren, Bill and Chris Gillis; and his sisters; Nona G. Fortenberry of Clinton and Maude G. Furr of Ackerman.
Memorials may be made to a charity of the donor's choice.
Karen Louise Mumbower
Karen Louise Mumbower, 48, experienced her final healing early Dec. 11 at her home. Family, friends and a host of loved ones are grateful for a life that was unselfishly lived in donation and service to her God, her family and her friends.
Funeral services were Dec. 15 at the sanctuary of First Baptist Church Jackson. Burial was in Lakewood Memorial Park.
Karen was born in Albuquerque, N.M., but found her way to her adult home in Mississippi in 1983. She and her husband Ron moved to the Jackson area when Ron joined the staff of First Baptist Church, and they established their first home.
Karen's life was spent in building a home that nurtured not only her own family, but also countless others who were drawn to the warmth and tenderness that her loving kindness radiated. Among the many roles that she lived were wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, Sunday school teacher, Bible drill director, beekeeper, gourmet cook, gardener, hostess, designer, PTA president, classroom teacher, artist, room mother and cherished friend.
Her favorite color was yellow — the light of the sun, the stripe of the bee, the glow of the candle, her favorite rose, and the universal color of happiness.
Multiple sclerosis robbed Karen of her mobility for the last 11 months of her life, but her praying heart and unselfish caring for the many, many people that she loved allowed her to travel depths of understanding and perception that few have experienced in this life.
She leaves her husband, Ron; four sons, Ryan, Alan, Evan, and Landon; her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Russell Maxwell; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Cheryl and husband, Faraj Ghanbari, and Shirley and husband, Danny Campbell; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Gary and wife, Carolyn, and Dale and wife, Nikki. She also has 6 nieces and 3 nephews.
The family asks that donations be given to the Counseling Ministry of First Baptist Church or the Mississippi chapter for Multiple Sclerosis.
Helen Boone Sanders
Helen Boone Sanders of D'Lo, 82, died Dec. 5 at Simpson General Hospital in Mendenhall.
Services were at D'Lo Baptist Church in D'Lo with burial in Puckett City Cemetery in Puckett. Colonial Chapel Funeral Home of Mendenhall handled arrangements.
Mrs. Sanders was born Nov. 19, 1922. She was a member of D'Lo Baptist Church. She was a retired cafeteria worker.
Mrs. Sanders was preceded in death by her husband, William Leon Sanders; sons, Robert Blackwell and Charlie Sanders; daughter, Jimmie Donnell; grandson, Bruce Donnell; granddaughter, ReNee Lee; parents, Ellis and Nola Cook Boone; brothers, J.W. Boone and Chesteen Boone.
Survivors include her sons, James Blackwell (Judy) of Magee, Lloyd Sanders (Madge) of Mendenhall, Ralph Sanders (Brenda) of Wiggins and Jerry Sanders of Richland; daughters, Judy Cole of D'Lo, Faye Lee of Prentiss, Katie Shows of Mendenhall, Era Lee Hilton (Phillip) of D'Lo, Joyce Croxton of D'Lo and Vivian Martin (Clyde) of Clinton; brother, Ray Boone of Mendenhall; 35 grandchildren and 61 great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the Baptist Children's Village, P.O. Box 27, Clinton, Miss. 39060-0027.
Betty Lewis Townsend
Betty Lewis Townsend of Madison, 76, a retiree, died at home Dec. 6 after a long battle with cancer.
A memorial service was held Dec. 9 at Wright & Ferguson Funeral Home in Ridgeland.
Born in Jones County, Mrs. Townsend grew up in Sanatorium. She graduated from Magee High School and attended the University of Southern Mississippi. She was an Air Force veteran of the Korean Conflict.
After her marriage to Robert W. Townsend in 1955, she lived in Jackson, Tupelo, Meridian and was a then long-time resident of Clinton before moving to Madison four years age. Raised in the Methodist faith, she was a devoted wife and mother, and dearly loved her grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Delmas P. Lewis and Sarah Hawkins Lewis, and her sister, Sarah Simpson.
She is survived by her husband of 49 years, Robert W. Townsend; daughter, Ann Krischer and husband David of Delmar, N.Y.; son, Robert C. (Chris) Townsend and wife Pam of Clinton; grandchildren, Jesse and Elana Krischer, Sarah Townsend-Stewart, Ashley Hasie and Jeremy Townsend, and great-granddaughter, Adrienne Stewart.
The family would like to give special thanks to Penny Jackson for her devoted, loving care and the home-care staff of Hospice Ministries for their kindness and compassion.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice Ministries, 450 Towne Center Blvd. Ridgeland Miss. 39157.
Claudia Brownlee Beck
Claudia Brownlee Beck of Brandon, 59, died Dec. 6 at St. Dominic Jackson Memorial Hospital.
Memorial services were held Dec. 9 at Covenant Presbyterian Church. A private graveside was held by the family. Wright & Ferguson Funeral Home handled arrangements.
Mrs. Beck was born in Lindsborg, Kan., and raised in West Hartford, Conn. She graduated from Hall High School in West Hartford and from Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pa.
She was an elementary school teacher in Warren, Ohio and Dartsmouth, Ma. After living in Virginia and Ohio, the family moved to Brookhaven. Mrs. Beck was active in civic affairs and was associated with a local radio station. She and her family had lived in Clinton for many years and was associated with the Clinton public schools.
Mrs. Beck was preceded in death by her parents and an infant daughter.
Survivors include her husband of 37 years, Allan Beck of Brandon; daughter, Kathryn Snodgrass and husband Paul; granddaughters, Kristen and Kaylee of Luling, La.; son, Stewart Beck of Ridgeland; and brother, Stewart Brownlee of Rowayton, Conn.
Memorials may be made to First Union Presbyterian Church, 134 Lakewood Drive, Luling, La. 70070.
Mary Kathryn Allen
Mary Kathryn Allen of Clinton, 86, departed this life Dec. 7 at the Mississippi Baptist Medical Center in Jackson.
Services were Dec. 10 at Lakekwood Funeral Home with burial in Lakewood Memorial Park.
Mrs. Allen was born in Durant, Holmes County, in 1918. Her parents were the late Will E. Durham and Mary Ellen McElroy Durham. She was a longtime resident of Clinton and a former resident of Jackson.
Mrs. Allen was a secretary for Belhaven College working in the business office. She enjoyed her work and was very dedicated. She retired after some 20-plus years.
Mrs. Allen was a longtime member of Parkway Baptist Church, very active in the Faith Sunday school class, and worked with the Homebound Ministry as long as her health allowed.
Mrs. Allen's children said she liked to read, was a wonderful cook and a great homemaker. Always putting her family first, she enjoyed taking care of them and keeping a very close relationship to them and her grandchildren. She was a gentle and kind loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend.
She leaves behind her two daughters, Jane Allen McIntosh and husband Jim of Madison and Linda Kay Allen Stone and her husband Jerry of Clinton; two brothers, Vernon Durham of California, W.E. Durham of Durant; two sisters, Dot Barham of Clinton and Shirley O'Quin of Osyka; and her five precious grandchildren, Anna Given, Allen and Adam McIntosh, Doug Stone and Julie Estes; and six great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 61 years, Walter E. Allen.
The family asks that donations to be made to the "Sanctuary Fund" at Parkway Baptist Church in Clinton.
Thomas L. Wright Jr.
Lt. Col. (ret.) Thomas L. Wright Jr. of Brandon, 87, died Dec. 8 at Central Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson.
Services were Dec. 10 at Baldwin-Lee Funeral Home in Pearl with burial in Lakewood Memorial Park.
Lt. Col. Wright had lived in Brandon for 10 years moving here from Jackson, where he graduated from Central High School. He was a member of Crossgates United Methodist Church.
He retired from the US Air Force, he served in World War II and the Korean Conflict, and also retired from the Mississippi Employment Security Commission.
The hobbies he loved were to play bridge and chess.
Survivors are his wife, Pauline "Polly" Wright, Brandon; sons, Thomas L. Wright III and wife Teresa of Brandon, Michael Allan Wright and wife Debra of Jackson, Steven Trent Wright and wife Mary of Brandon; brother, Dan Wright, Clinton; sister, Martha Wright, Meridian; grandchildren, Tommy Wright, Kevin Wright, Jamie Wright, Josh Wright, Thea Wright and one great-grandchild, Ian Wright.
Lillian L. Fortenberry
Lillian Lukasiewicz Fortenberry of Clinton, 75, of Holyoke, Maine and Clinton, passed away Dec. 9 at Select Specialty Hospital, Jackson, after an extended illness.
Memorial services were held Dec. 11 at Wright and Ferguson Funeral Home in Clinton.
Mrs. Fortenberry is survived by her husband, William S. (Bill) Fortenberry; sons, Rick Stewart Fortenberry of East Dennis, Maine, Mark Webster Fortenberry of Brevard, N.C., Ralph K. Fortenberry of Meridian; daughters, Sally Adams of Meridian, Lizbeth Stamey of Houston, Texas, Marti Kay (Casey) Fortenberry of Seattle, Wash., and six grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that Memorials be made to The Tree House Fund c/o Scott and Mary Welsh, 218 Kitchens Drive, Clinton, Miss. 39056.
Rosa Lee Warren
Rosa Lee Warren of Clinton, 68, baker, died Dec. 6 at Central Mississippi Medical Center.
Services were Dec. 11 at Holy Ghost Missionary Baptist Church in Clinton with burial in Brownsville Cemetery.
Westhaven Memorial Funeral Home handled arrangements.
Annie Faye Trenholm
Annie Faye Dampeer Trenholm of Jackson, 83, died Dec. 9 at Clinton Health and Rehabilitation Center.
Graveside funeral services were held Dec. 11 at Cedarlawn Cemetery.
Mrs. Trenholm previously served as receptionist for Broadmoor Baptist Church where she was a longtime member. She was a loving sister and aunt and wonderful friend to all who knew her.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles L. Trenholm, and brother, C.B. Dampeer Jr.
She is survived by sisters, Sue Rouse of Clinton and Nell Northern of Jackson; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be made to Broadmoor Baptist Church, 1531 Highland Colony Parkway, Madison, Miss. 39110.
Blanche Mary Genthon
Blanche Mary Drohan Genthon of Clinton, 82, followed her beloved husband in death Dec. 10 at Central Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson.
A memorial Mass was held Dec. 13 at Holy Savior Catholic Church in Clinton. Lakewood Memorial Funeral Home handled arrangements.
Mrs. Genthon lived her life dedicated to her God, her husband and her family. She was a veteran, having served in the Navy during World War II. Mrs. Genthon was active in St. Mary's Parish, and was the first woman president of their Home School Association.
She worked for the Catholic Diocese in several capacities including AV coordinator for Mississippi Catholic Schools. She was also Public Relations Coordinator at the Mississippi State Veterans Home.
Her smile and her heart will be treasured and remembered by many.
Mrs. Genthon is survived by her daughter, Michele Loriot Genthon and husband Gary A. Zimmerman of Seattle, Wash.; daughter, Stephanie Genthon Kilpatrick of Brookhaven; son, James Samuel Genthon and wife Patricia of Lafayette, La.; daughter, Deirdre Genthon Morgan and husband Tony of Birmingham, Ala.; three grandchildren, Brant Weldon Allen, Sharmel Rene Genthon and Devon L. Morgan; and sister, Barbara Massey of Norwood, Mass.
Mrs. Genthon was preceded in death by her husband of 44 years, Rene' Marius Genthon.
Memorials may be made to the Baptist Breast Cancer Services, 1225 N. State St., Jackson, Miss. 39202.
