Charles Franklin Blanton
Funeral: 10 a.m. today at Nowell Funeral Home Chapel in Kosciusko.
KOSCIUSKO - Charles Franklin Blanton, 84, died Sunday, April 30, 2000, at Montfort Jones Memorial Hospital in Kosciusko of heart failure.
Mr. Blanton was born Sept. 19, 1915, in Attala County and was a retired highway patrolman. He was a member of Jerusalem Baptist Church. He was a Mason, a member of the Mississippi and Tennessee Peace Officers Association, the Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers Association and the NRA.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Willie T. and Cadda Oden Blanton.
Survivors include his wife, Francis Munn Blanton of Kosciusko; a daughter and son-in-law, Beverly and Jim Adams of Ocean Springs; a stepdaughter and son-in-law, Bobbi and Jerrol Hamilton of Clarksdale; his grandchildren, David and Chris Wells and their children Travis and Chelsea of Charlottesville, VA, and Scott and Tracy Wells and their son, Zachary of San Antonio, TX; a stepgranddaughter, Michelle and Jerry Byrd and their children, Jeremy and Mary Kathryn of Columbus, MS; two brothers, Elwood Blanton of Natchez and James Blanton of Kosciusko; and two sisters, Nellie Gary of Kosciusko and Ellen Brown of Ethel, MS.
Services will be Tuesday, May 2, 2000, at 10 a.m. at Nowell Funeral Home Chapel in Kosciusko with the Rev. Johnny Parks officiating and Rickey McKay and R.C. Gray assisting. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery in Winona.
Pallbearers will be deacons of Jerusalem Baptist Church. Honorary pallbearers will be Bobby Jolly, Al Malone, Cecil Bennett, Pete Pope, Joe Price, George Saxon and other former and active members of the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol.
Bobbie Burns
Funeral: 2 p.m. Saturday at Poteet West Chapel in Augusta, Ga.
NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. - Bobbie Hayes Burns, 85, died Saturday, April 29, 2000, in Augusta, Ga.
Mrs. Burns was a native of Mt. Pleasant, S.C., and was a bookkeeper and former model. She was a member of Alpha Beta Phi Sorority in Gulfport, a member of the Orange Grove Church of Christ and a member of the Augusta Church of Christ for eight years.
Survivors include a son, Jere Roberson of Oklahoma City; four daughters, Lora Coeing of San Ramon, Calif., Mary Louise Moore of Smyrna, Tenn., Clara Richardson of Nashville, and Barbara Jenkins of Lavergne, Tenn; a half-brother, Austin Hayes of Columbia, Tenn.; a half-sister, Shiela Holt of Columbia, Tenn.; 12 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren.
A service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Poteet West Chapel in Augusta. A graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Evergreen Cemetery in Paris, Texas.
Nell Cockrell
Funeral: 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Moore Funeral Home Chapel in Wiggins.
PERKINSTON - Mrs. Nell Cockrell, 56, died Sunday, April 30, 2000, in Lucedale.
Mrs. Cockrell was a homemaker and a member of Bethel Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband, Malcolm Cockrell; two sons, John Cockrell and Brent Cockrell, all of Wiggins; two daughters, Teresa Bowers of Janice and Sharon Maulden of Saucier, and 11 grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 6 to 9 tonight at Moore Funeral Home in Wiggins. A service will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in the funeral home chapel with burial in Big Level Cemetery.
Floyd Carter
Funeral: 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church of Biloxi.
BILOXI - Floyd Carter, 75, of Biloxi, died Sunday, April 30, 2000, in Ocean Springs.
Mr. Carter was born in Biloxi and remained a lifelong resident. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II. He worked as service department manager of Combel's Hardware in Biloxi for 22 years. He then owned and operated Carter's Appliance Service for 20 years. Mr. Carter was a member of the First Baptist Church in Biloxi for 65 years. After serving as deacon for many years, he was honored as a lifetime deacon.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Alpha and Maude Carter; and a sister, Wilda Bitner.
Survivors include his wife, Lou Carter of Biloxi; two daughters, Elizabeth (Mrs. Charles) Allen of Mobile, AL, and Jeanie (Mrs. Mack) Fuqua of Ethelsville, AL; one sister, Maybelle Stryker of Ocean Springs; and four grandchildren, Todd Allen, Drew Allen, Lisa Fuqua and Paul Fuqua.
Visitation will be Tuesday, May 2, 2000, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Howard Avenue Chapel of Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Homes in Biloxi. Services will be Wednesday at the First Baptist Church of Biloxi at 10:30 a.m. Friends may call one hour prior to service time. Burial will be in Biloxi National Cemetery.
The family prefers memorials to the First Baptist Church of Biloxi Building Fund, 917 Howard Ave., Biloxi, MS 39530 or Quality Hospice, 1001 Howard Ave., Biloxi, MS 39530.
Edna Farve
BAY ST. LOUIS - Edna Richardson Farve, 86, died Sunday, April 30, 2000, in Bay St. Louis.
Arrangements are incomplete at Edmond Fahey Funeral Home in Bay St. Louis.
Louise Annamay Hampton
Funeral: 2 p.m. Wednesday at New Palestine Baptist Church in Picayune.
PICAYUNE - Mrs. Louise Annamay Gros Hampton, 80, died Monday, May 1, 2000, in Picayune.
Mrs. Hampton was a native of Labadieville, La., and was a homemaker.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles R. Hampton Sr.
Survivors include a son, Charles Rudolph Hampton Jr.; a daughter, Pamela H. Randall, both of Picayune; a brother, Lesley Gros of Newport, R.I.; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 tonight and from 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday at McDonald Funeral Home in Picayune. A service will follow at 2 p.m. at New Palestine Baptist Church in Picayune where friends may call one hour before service time. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Olivia Hunter
Funeral: 11 a.m. today at Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church in Pass Christian.
PASS CHRISTIAN - Mrs. Olivia Piernas Hunter, 70, died Friday, April 28, 2000, in Gulfport.
Mrs. Hunter was native and lifelong resident of Pass Christian and was a member of Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church in Pass Christian.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Jules and Matilda Piernas; four brothers, Jules Piernas, Lynch Piernas, Roman Piernas and Roy Piernas; and three sisters, Margaret Guyot, Mary Louise Piernas and Eliska Piernas.
Survivors include her husband, Steve Hunter Jr.; a son, Steve Hunter III; a daughter Christine Hunter, all of Pass Christian; two brothers, Henry Piernas Sr. and Lucien Piernas, both of Pass Christian; one sister, Anna Swanier of New Orleans; and a grandson.
A service will be at 11 a.m. today at Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church in Pass Christian where friends may call one hour before service time. Burial will be in Baptist Cemetery in Pass Christian. J.T. Hall Funeral Home in Gulfport is in charge of arrangements.
Clarine Jackson
GULFPORT - Mrs. Clarine Jackson, age unavailable, died Monday, May 1, 2000, in Gulfport.
Arrangements are incomplete at J.T. Hall Funeral Home in Gulfport.
Anita Johnson
GULFPORT - Anita Goodson Johnson, 72, died Sunday, April 30, 2000, in Gulfport.
Arrangements are incomplete at Riemann Funeral Home, 25th Avenue, Gulfport.
L.D. Kellar
Funeral: 3 p.m. today at White Funeral Home Chapel in Poplarville.
POPLARVILLE - L.D. Kellar, 70, died Monday, May 1, 2000, in Poplarville.
Mr. Kellar was a retired carpenter and an Army veteran of World War II. He was of the Pentecostal faith.
He was preceded in death by a son, Donald Wayne Kellar; and his parents, Sam and Lula Kellar.
Survivors include his wife, Betty Jean Kellar of Poplarville; six sons, Johnny Ray Kellar of Ozona, Ronnie Kellar of Nicholson, Stanley Dale Milner of Waveland, Kent Milner of Poplarville, Brent Milner of Hattiesburg and Paul Milner of Bogalusa, La.; five sisters, Eloise Brewer and Irene Culpepper, both of Bogalusa, Ollie Culpepper and Mary Jane Saucier, both of Poplarville, and Pauline Klein of Missouri; two brothers, T.C. Kellar of Lucedale and Alvin Kellar of Bogalusa; 16 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
A service will be at 3 p.m. today at White Funeral Home Chapel in Poplarville with burial in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Jessie Kennedy
Funeral: 2 p.m. today at Colonial Chapel Funeral Home in Mendenhall.
BILOXI - Mrs. Jessie Barnes Kennedy, 90, died Sunday, April 30, 2000, in Biloxi.
Mrs. Kennedy was born Aug. 19, 1909, in Simpson County and was a homemaker. She was a member of D'Lo Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Willie Barnes; her second husband, G.H. Kennedy; a son, Bernell Barnes; and her parents, Willie Jessie and Tabbie Woods Bright.
Survivors include a son, T.J. Barnes of D'Lo; a daughter, Hazel Cole of Biloxi; nine grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
A service will be at 2 p.m. today at Colonial Chapel Funeral Home in Mendenhall with burial in Mt. Zion Cemetery in Magee.
Kenneth Duane Kuhlmann
Funeral: 2 p.m. Wednesday at Roseland Park Baptist Church.
PICAYUNE - Kenneth Duane Kuhlmann, 35, died Sunday, April 30, 2000, in New Orleans.
Mr. Kuhlmann was a native of Port Sulphur, La., and was a truck driver. He was an Army veteran of Desert Storm and was a member of Roseland Park Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Rebecca Simmons Kuhlmann of Picayune; a son, Jace Kuhlmann; a daughter, Page Kuhlmann, both of Chalmette, La.; two stepdaughters, Angeliana Head of Pearl River, La., and Amanda Williams of Panama City, Fla.; his parents, Kenneth K. and Myra Kuhlmann of Picayune; five sisters, Tammy Severson of Houston, Texas, Myra Oubre and Carolyn Ritchey, both of Picayune, Melissa Kuhlmann of New Orleans, and Cathy Butler of Bellchase, La.; his grandmother, Clyde Nettles Corkern of Tylertown; and two grandchildren.
A service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Roseland Park Baptist Church where friends may call from oon until service time. Burial will be in New Palestine Cemetery. McDonald Funeral Home in Picayune is in charge of arrangements.
John Lewis
ENDICOTT, N.Y. - John Lewis, 75, died Sunday, April 30, 2000, in Endicott.
Arrangements are incomplete at the Howard Avenue Chapel of Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Homes in Biloxi.
Albert Mullins Sr.
GULFPORT - Albert Mullins Sr., age unavailable, died Sunday, April 30, 2000, in Gulfport.
Arrangements are incomplete at Lockett-Williams' Mortuary in Gulfport.
Annginette R. Noland
Funeral: 11 a.m. Monday at Riemann Memorial Funeral Home Chapel on Beauvoir Road in Biloxi.
BILOXI - Annginette R. Noland, 69, died Saturday, April 29, 2000, in Biloxi.
Mrs. Noland was a retired national sales executive with WLOX-TV, a sales associate at McRae's Department Store in Edgewater Plaza, and was a member of the Kappa Delta Sorority-NU Chapter at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Okla. She was a member of the National Association of Female Executives, the Daughters of the American Revolution, the United Daughters of the Confederacy, U.S. Daughters of 1812, Magna Charta Dames, Colonial Order of the Crown of Charlemagne and the Biloxi Yacht Club.
She was preceded in death by her father, Cecil Andrew Roberts; her mother, Gladys Leah Woods Roberts; and her husband, Thomas V. Noland Sr.
Survivors include a daughter, Nanette Noland Crocker-Holmdohl of Birmingham, Ala.; two sons, Thomas V. Noland Jr. and Bruce Andrew Noland of Biloxi; a sister, Jill A. Roberts of Ft. Worth, Texas, and four grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Riemann Memorial Funeral Home on Beauvoir Road in Biloxi. A service will be at 11 a.m. in the funeral home chapel with burial following at 11:30 a.m. at Biloxi National Cemetery.
Alvin Savarese
Funeral: 11 a.m. Wednesday at Mississippi City United Methodist Church in Gulfport.
GULFPORT - Alvin Savarese, 75, a lifelong resident of Gulfport, died Sunday, April 30, 2000, in Gulfport.
Mr. Savarese was an Army veteran of World War II, and served as Master Sergeant of the 31st Infantry Division. He owned and operated Handsboro Plumbing Company for 30 years. After serving as plumbing inspector for the City of Gulfport for eight years, he became Public Works Commissioner, Post II, from 1971 to 1977. He was an active member and participant of Mississippi City United Methodist Church and presided over the Men's Club, Finance Committee, Trustees, and numerous other committees. He was also involved in many other church functions. Mr. Savarese was a Shriner and a Master Mason and a 32nd degree Mason, a member of Polar Star Lodge No. 154 F&AM. He was also a charter member and honorary member of Chapter No. 374, Order of the Eastern Star in Handsboro.
Mr. Savarese was preceded in death by his sons, Charles and Robert Tinsley, his parents, and umerous siblings.
Survivors include his wife, Lucille Bass Savarese; two daughters, Mrs. Ray (Pam) Davis of Opelika, AL, and Mrs. Dan (Janice) Goodwin of Gulfport; three brothers, Ralph Savarese, and Russell Savarese, both of Gulfport, and Bidwell Savarese of Long Beach; three sisters, Daisey Mitchell of Long Beach, Mae Hayes and Helen Graves, both of Gulfport; and nine grandchildren, Angy, Tripp, Danny, Stacy, Mitch, Mike, Terry, Gary, and Brian.
He was a beloved husband, Daddy, Paw-Paw and brother. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
Visitation will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 3, 2000, at Mississippi City United Methodist Church on Courthouse Road in Gulfport. A service will follow at 11 a.m. Friends and relatives are invited to join with his family in our heavenly celebration. Burial will be at Floral Hills Memorial Gardens in Gulfport.
In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations to Mississippi City United Methodist Church, Alvin Savarese Memorial Fund, 219 Courthouse Road, Gulfport, MS 39507.
Riemann Funeral Home, 25th Avenue in Gulfport, is in charge of arrangements.
Mary Jane Steele
Funeral: 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Emma Township Methodist Church in Emma, Ill.
GULFPORT - Mrs. Mary Jane Steele, 84, died Saturday, April 29, 2000, in Gulfport.
Mrs. Steele was born in Emma, Ill., and was a former resident of Mt. Carmel, Ill. She was a homemaker and was the owner of Jane's Beauty Shop in Mt. Carmel. She was a Methodist.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter Ronald Steele.
Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Ed "Patricia A." Keuhling of Gulfport and Mrs. Steve "Deborah Dean" Douglas of Atlanta; a stepdaughter, Mrs. Dale "Sylvia Joan" Bateman of Virginia, Ill.; two grandchildren; nine stepgrandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and six stepgreat-grandchildren.
Mrs. Steele was sent from Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home in Gulfport to Kittinger-Fair Funeral Home in Carmi, Ill., for services at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Emma Township (Concord) Methodist Church in Emma. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
The family prefers memorials to the Humane Society of South Mississippi-SPCA, 13756 Washington, Ave., Gulfport, MS 39502.
Leonard Frank Tench
Funeral: 1 p.m. today at Holder-Wells Funeral Home Chapel in Moss Point.
GAUTIER - Mr. Leonard Frank Tench, 81, died Sunday, April 30, 2000, in Gautier.
Mr. Tench was born Feb. 23, 1919, in Beckley, W.Va., and was retired from Union Carbide. He was an Army veteran of World War II and was a member of VFW Post No. 3373.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence and Mary Tench; three brothers, Darius Tench, Boyce Tench, and Jesse Tench; and a sister, Leola Carter.
Survivors include his wife, Willene Tench of Hurley; three daughters, Gwen Kronek of Gautier, Becky Harrison of Benecia, Calif., and Melissa Tench of Willard, Ohio; four sons, Greg Tench of Lakewood, Ohio, Jim Tench of Brunswick, Ohio, Jeff Tench of Albertville, Ala., and Timm Tench of Gulfport; a brother, Howard Tench of Fresno, Calif.; 20 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
A service will be at 1 p.m. today at Holder-Wells Funeral Home Chapel in Moss Point with burial in Serene Memorial Gardens with VFW military honors.
The family prefers memorials to Hospice of Light, 4341 Gautier-Vancleave Road, Gautier, MS 39553.
Rev. Ray I. Wagner
Funeral: 1 p.m. Wednesday at Northside United Pentecostal Church in Ft. Smith.
FT. SMITH, Ark. - Rev. Ray I. Wagner, 70, died Sunday, April 30, 2000, in Ft. Smith.
Rev. Wagner was a retired Air Force veteran of the Korean War and the Vietnam War and was a member of Northside United Pentecostal Church in Ft. Smith. He had been the pastor of the United Pentecostal Church of Ulysses, Kan., for three years.
Survivors include his wife, Betty Jean Wagner of Ft. Smith; three daughters, Judy Dianne Cooper of Rogers, Ark., Janice Elaine Brook of Waynesville, Mo., and Rhonda Jean Jones of Greenwood, Ark.; two sons, Tommy Ray Wagner and Dana Lynn Wagner, both of Ft. Smith; a sister, Doris Thurston of Watervelit, Mich.; three brothers, Rex Wagner of Rogers, Mickey Wagner of Biloxi and Rev. Roger Wagner of Fremont, Neb.; 13 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. today at McConnell Funeral Home in Greenwood, Ark. A service will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Northside United Pentecostal Church in Ft. Smith with burial in the U.S. National Cemetery in Ft. Smith with full military honors.
Annie Bell Waltman
Funeral: 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Homes.
VANCLEAVE - Mrs. Annie Bell Waltman, 85, died Monday, May 1, 2000, in Pascagoula.
Mrs. Waltman was a lifelong resident of Jackson County and was a member of Oak Grove Baptist Church in Vancleave.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank Waltman Sr.; and a son, Bradford Waltman.
Survivors include a daughter, Bernice Dobson of Lyman; three sons, Frank S. Waltman Jr. and Freddie Waltman, both of Ocean Springs, and Dennis Waltman of Gautier; a sister, Tiny Ladnier of Ocean Springs; a brother, Tom Eley of Vancleave; 21 grandchildren; 48 great-grandchildren; and 12 great-great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 6 to 9 tonight at the Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Homes. A service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the funeral home chapel with burial in Beulah Cemetery in Vancleave.
Dorothy P. Willingham
GAUTIER - Dorothy P. Willingham, 69, died Sunday, April 30, 2000, in Pascagoula.
Mrs. Willingham was born Jan. 5, 1931, in Nauvoo, Ala.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Royce Willingham; and a sister, Betty Young.
Survivors include three daughters, Robin Albair of Pascagoula, Janet Williams of Leaf and Lula Stubbs of Lucedale; four sons, Robert Winningham and Phillip Norgrove, both of Gautier, Russell Norgrove of Bullhead City, Ariz., and Royce Willingham Jr. of Crestview, Fla.; a sister, Judy Boyd of Oklahoma; two brothers, Jack Bowden of Hueytown, Ala., and Bobby Bowden of Pleasant Grove, Ala.; 10 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
A service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at O'Bryant-O'Keefe Funeral Home Chapel in Pascagoula where friends may call from noon until service time.
John H. Winstead
Funeral: 11 a.m. today at Colonial Chapel Funeral Home in Mendenhall.
BRANDON - Mr. John H. Winstead, 71, died Saturday, April 29, 2000, in Brandon.
Mr. Winstead was born March 22, 1929, and was a retired meat cutter. He was an Army veteran and a Baptist.
He was preceded in death by his parents, T.J. and Bessie Crain Winstead.
Survivors include a daughter, Kristina Rouse of Gulfport; two brothers, Webb "Fuzz" Winstead of Brandon and Jack Winstead of Albany, Ga.; two sisters, Erma Harrell of Mayton and Sybil Mitchell of Picayune; two grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.
A service will be at 11 a.m. today at Colonial Chapel Funeral Home in Mendenhall with burial in Union Baptist Church Cemetery in Puckett.
Becky Welch Blankenship
SAUCIER - Becky Welch Blankenship went to be with our Lord on Saturday, April 11, 1998, in Florence, Miss., after a long battle with cancer.
Mrs. Blankenship was born July 26, 1971, in Gulfport, Miss., and had been a resident of Saucier for 16 years. She attended Harrison Central High School.
She was preceded in death by her father, Theo Welch Jr.; her son, Trey Blankenship; and her maternal grandparents, Grace Seymour Parse and Herbert Parse.
She is survived by her husband, Tommy Blankenship; three daughters, Ashley, Krystal and Shelby Blankenship; two brothers, Theo Welch III and Joey Mason; two sisters, Vicky Philpot and Jennifer Mason; two nieces, Cecelia and Chelsey Philpot; and many caring friends.
Becky chose to be cremated and asked that in lieu of flowers memorials be made to St. Jude's Children Research Hospital, 332 North Lauderdale Street, Memphis, TN 38105.
Clifford Jerome Carver
BAY ST. LOUIS - Clifford Jerome Carver, 74, died Saturday, April 18, 1998, in Bay St. Louis.
Arrangements are incomplete at Edmond Fahey Funeral Home in Bay St. Louis.
Wanda Engelke
Funeral services: 11 a.m. Thursday at Diamondhead Community Church.
DIAMONDHEAD - Mrs. Wanda Engelke, 71, died Saturday, April 18, 1998, in New Orleans.
Mrs. Engelke was a native of St. Louis and had been a resident of the Mississippi Gulf Coast since 1969. She was an Account Executive with Southwestern Bell for over 35 years and was a member of Eastern Star in Bay St. Louis.
Survivors include her husband, Fred Engelke of Madison, Wis.; a son, Larry Hale of Copperas Cove, Texas; a stepson, David Engelke of Madison; a stepdaughter, Patricia Engelke of Appleton, Wis.; four grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.
Visitation will be from 7 to 9 tonight at Riemann Funeral Home in Bay St. Louis. A service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Diamondhead Community Church, with burial in St. Joseph Cemetery in Rotten Bayou.
