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Maxine Beasley Morris
Wesson
Florence Maxine Beasley Morris, 82, passed from this world to her eternal resting place with her God and Savior April 25 while residing at Copiah Living Center in Crystal Springs.
Services were at Strong Hope Baptist Church with burial in the church cemetery. Stringer Family Funeral Home in Hazlehurst handled arrangements.
Born Jan.28, 1923, in Copiah County, Mrs. Morris was the daughter of Jesse and Edna Brent Beasley. She married Marvin Jessie Morris March 29, 1941.
Mrs. Morris was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. She touched all who knew her with her positive attitude and genuine inner beauty, exhibiting virtues of selfless charity, modesty and long-suffering.
She lived each day as Jesus commanded, loving and serving God and loving others more than herself. Mrs. Morris touched an untold number of lives with her greeting card ministry. Quietly reaching out to others, she often sent as many as 20 greetings each day.
She also took pleasure in cooking and as long as her health allowed, her joy was preparing meals for her loved ones and friends, always insisting that all share her table.
Mrs. Morris was preceded in death by her husband, Marvin Jessie Morris; her parents; and sisters, Lillie Beasley Patterson, Jessie Pauline (Tincy) Sadler; and her brother, John William Beasley.
She is survived by her daughters, Marvene Morris Bross and husband Michael of Brandon, Sharron Morris Malpass and husband Mel of Clinton; sons, Vernon Stanley Morris and wife Deania and Jerry Dean Morris and wife Carla, all of Wesson; grandchildren, April Bross Mann of Clinton, Jessica Bross Ketchum and husband Trey of Brandon, Brooke and Ben Malpass of Clinton, Greg and Seth Morris of Hazlehurst, Jeremy Morris and wife Sissy of Wesson, Deania Morris Waldrop and husband Joey of Ruth; and great-grandchildren, Taylor and Trent Mann, Cole Ketchum and Jake Waldrop. She is also survived by a brother, Glenn Beasley and wife Joan, and a sister, Joy Beasley Keys, all of Wesson.
Johnny 'Lee' Humphrey
Clinton
Johnny "Lee" Samuel Humphrey, 77, a construction worker, died April 21 at home.
Funeral services were April 30 at Holy Temple Baptist Church in Clinton with burial in St. Paul Cemetery. Westhaven Memorial Funeral Home in Jackson handled arrangements.
Emma Sue Nichols
Clinton
Emma Sue Nichols, 90, died April 27 at her home in Clinton.
Services were April 29 in the chapel at Lakewood Funeral Home. Burial was in Lakewood Memorial Park.
Mrs. Nichols was born in 1914 in Ellisville to the late William A. Ruffin and Lou Willie Horn Ruffin. She was a longtime resident of Columbia and Jackson, and has made Clinton her home for the past 10 years.
While living in Columbia during WW II, she worked at a factory that made parachutes for the military. After moving to Jackson, she enjoyed her time being a homemaker and taking care of her family.
She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother, Always most generous and kind, having an unselfish spirit by putting others' needs before her own, especially her family's. She was most happy when she was spending time with her grandchildren.
She was a member of Van Winkle Methodist Church, where she was very active as long as her health would allow. Her friends were very faithful in visiting her after she became unable to attend church.
Mrs. Nichols was a great cook and loved to travel, especially to the Ozark, Appalachian and Smoky Mountains. She loved spending time outdoors, where she would enjoy bird watching and the humming birds feeding, but her most favorite hobby was fishing.
Preceding her in death was her loving husband of 57 years, Wiley "WJ" Nichols; son, James A. Nichols Sr.; three sisters, Mary Nutt, Wilma Bradshaw and Nell White; and a brother, Bill A. Ruffin.
Survivors include two daughters, Betty and Anita from Clinton, daughter-in-law, Margaret; brother, Gerald Ruffin; sisters-in-law, Peggy and Melba; grandchildren, Jimmy and Jan and extended grandchildren, Penny, Paula, Pam and Sherry, numerous great-grandchildren and a host of relatives and friends.
Pat D. Barnett
Madison
Pat D. Barnett, 70, died April 27 at St. Dominic/Jackson Memorial Hospital.
Funeral services were held April 29 at the Wright & Ferguson Funeral Home in Ridgeland.
Mr. Barnett was born in Dowdville Sept. 29. He attended Mississippi Tax Commission. She retired in June 2000 as executive secretary to the director of equalization. During these years, she also worked part time at Gayfer's, serving as a bridal consultant.
Nan was a devout Christian. She was a firm supporter of every church she attended. James loved the poem, Safely Home, no author listed. The last two stanzas are his favorite: There is work still waiting for you (James). So you must not idly stand; Do it now while life remaineth; You shall rest in Jesus; When that work is all completed, He will gently call you home; Oh, the rapture of that meeting; Oh, the joy to see you come (said Nan).
WAYNE 'REGGIE' DAVIS
Clinton
Wayne Reginal "Reggie" Davis, 67, died Jan. 28 at Central Texas, on Sept. 29, 1961, and he was raised in Schlater. He is a 1980 graduate of Pillow Academy. After high school, he attended the University of Mississippi School of Law.
He was a partner at Upshaw, Williams, Biggers, Beckham, & Riddick, LLP in Green wood until 1997, when he went into private practice.
Richard lived to hunt.
He is survived by his wife, Wendy Benz of Schlater; his daughter, Mary Gregory Porter of Sidon; his son, Richard Benz III of Schlater; his father, Dick Benz of Clinton; his brother, Howard Benz of Memphis; his grandmother, Florenze Benz of Clinton; and his nephews, Walker and Hudson Benz of Memphis. Also survived by his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Dr. and Mrs. Charles Purifoy, and sister-in-law, Maggie Purifoy.
Pallbearers were Garner Falls, Bill Sheppard, Don Johnson, Henry Flautt, Jr., Tripp Jones, Pierce Brown, Bill Brown, Craig Brown, Woody Sawyer, David Young, Ricky Banks, Jim Cole, Reed Trusty, Al Chadick, Will Raiford, and Brian Callaway.
Honorary pallbearers were Gray Evans, Richard Smith, William Patridge, Jason Colquitt, Paul Mueller, Trey Evans, and the Leflore County Sheriff's Department.
Memorials may be made to Beacon Harbor.
