Ray White, 66
Charles Ray White, 66, of Saltillo, died Wednesday, Sept 24, 2003, at his home.
He was a retired employee of the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol and a former employee of the Lee County Sheriff's Department. He also served as an interim constable, completing Ralph Coggins' term. He was a Baptist.
Services were at 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26, at Waters Funeral Home with Dr. Ken Anderson officiating. Burial was in Springhill Cemetery.
Survivors include his wife, Maylene Taylor White of Saltillo; five children, Billy Ray White of Vine Grove, Ky., Jimmy Ellis White and Tommy Craig White, both of Saltillo, Tracy Brock White of Pontotoc and Marlena Elizabeth White of the home; two brothers, Olen White of Pontotoc and Robert White of New Albany; 10 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Brenda Joyce Brock White, in 1978; his parents, George Ellis and Clara Nell Ashmore White; and a brother, Curtis White.
Pallbearers were members of the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol.
Eulus V. Fitts, 90
Eulus V. Fitts, 90, of Pontotoc, died Thursday, Sept. 25, 2003, at Graceland Care Center in New Albany.
He was a retired farmer, plumber and cafe operator. He was a member of Liberty Baptist Church.
Services were at 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, at Browning Funeral Home chapel with Bro. James Lewis and Bro. Tommy Inmon officiating. Burial was in Oak Forest Cemetery.
Survivors include his wife of 68 years, Rennie Mae Fitts of Pontotoc; three daughters, Frances Henry of New Albany, and Dorothy Hodges and Elizabeth Sledge, both of Pontotoc; two sons, Dalton Fitts and Joe Fitts, both of Pontotoc; two brothers, Wayne Fitts and Lowell Fitts, both of Pontotoc; 13 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by twin daughters, one sister, one brother, his parents and one grandchild.
Pallbearers were David King, David Baumbaugh, Shane Faulkner, Andy Black, Bro. Randy Clark and Billy Bagwell.
Virgie Murry, 73
Virgie Lee Roberson Murry, 73, died Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2003, at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County.
She was born July 25, 1930, to the late Robert Lee Roberson and Mattie Frances Crawford Roberson. She was a member of Northside Baptist Church, where she was a former Sunday school teacher, former WMU director and former WMU Association director. She was the Tupperware district manager with Country Land Sales.
Services were at 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26, 2003, at United Funeral Service chapel with Bro. Randy Hamilton and Bro. Terry Rodgers officiating. Burial was in Vista Memorial Park.
Survivors include a daughter, Robbie Murry Milam of New Albany; a son, Larry Murry of Blue Springs; two sisters, Tommye Laster of Savannah, Tenn., and Marybelle Akins of Ripley; a brother, Jimmy Edd Roberson of New Albany; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence Murry; her parents; and two sisters, Pauline Dixon and Jamie Bryant.
Pallbearers were Jimmy Wayne Roberson, Steve Roberson, Ricky Roberson, Richie Bryant, Lloyd Ellis Akins and Stacey Childs.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Northside Baptist Church Mission Fund, 782 Hwy. 15 N., New Albany, MS 38652.
Barbara Richey, 54
Barbara Louise Richey, 54, died Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2003, at Rest Haven Nursing Home in Ripley.
She was born Dec. 9, 1948, to the late Benjamin Arnold Richey and Nannie Ruth Anderson Richey. She was a member of Mission Outreach Church.
Services were at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, at United Funeral Service chapel with Bro. Kenny Adair officiating. Burial was in Glenfield Memorial Park.
Survivors include two daughters, Dr. Lisa Chriss of Orlando, Fla., and Corrine Ruth Browning; a brother, James E. Richey of New Albany; and two grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Pallbearers were Buddy Rowland, Ray Rowland, Mike Armstrong, Bobby Armstrong and Tommy Turner.
Flora McKnight, 72
Flora Hicks McKnight, 72, of Blue Mountain, died Friday, Sept. 26, 2003, at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County.
She was a retired clinical nurse. A pastor's wife, she was an active member of the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. She was the daughter of the late John William Hicks and Eddith Mary Ann Aaron Hicks.
Services were at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28, at the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ in Blue Mountain with the Rev. Steve Wilson and the Rev. Jack Batson officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery. Ripley Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
Survivors include her husband, Richard F. McKnight of Blue Mountain; her children, Glenda Batson of Ashland City, Tenn., Richard McKnight of Gallatin, Tenn., Jim McKnight of Tupelo, the Rev. Joe McKnight of Blue Mountain, Ron McKnight of Camden, Tenn., and Steven McKnight of Blue Mountain; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; two sisters, Malera Callahan of Iowa and Lucille Griggs of Parsons, Tenn.; and two brothers, Orville Hicks and the Rev. O. L. Hicks, both of Parsons, Tenn.
Bessie Brandon, 84
Bessie Lee Brandon, 84, died Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2003, at her home.
She was a retired employee of Irwin B. Schwabe, where she worked for 40 years. She was a member of Bethany Primitive Baptist Church.
Services were Thursday, Sept. 25, at Bethany Primitive Baptist Church with Elder Larry Wise and Elder Roger Browning officiating. Burial was in Shady Grove Cemetery in Pontotoc County. Mortimer Funeral Home of Ecru was in charge of the arrangements.
Survivors include a daughter, Joyce Trentham of New Albany; a sister, Lavada Tackett of Pontocola; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John W. Brandon; her parents, Rufus T. and Serena Davis Duckworth; a son, James Edward Brandon; and a brother, Rufus Duckworth.
Pallbearers were Bobby Dan Tackett, Douglas Trentham, Glen Duckworth, Merle Williams, Robert Mahan and Steve Williams.
Mary Thomas
Mary Essie Thomas died Thursday, Sept. 25, 2003, at Graceland Care Center.
She was a beautician and storeowner. She was a member of Ball Hill Church, where she was a Sunday school teacher and member of the choir. She was a Matron of the Heroines of Jericho. She was the widow of Hermon L. Thomas.
Services were at 1 p.m. Monday, Sept. 29, at Foster and Sons Funeral Home chapel in Ripley with the Rev. Robert Minor officiating. Burial was in Ball Hill Cemetery.
Survivors include two sons, Charles Thomas and Sammie L. Thomas; a sister, Virginia Hines Parker; six grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
Gene Fields, 65
Harvey Eugene "Gene" Fields, 65, of Pontotoc, died Friday, Sept. 26, 2003, at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo.
He was a truck driver for AAA Cooper and a member of West Heights Baptist Church.
Services were at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28, at Browning Funeral Home chapel in Pontotoc with Bro. David Hamilton officiating. Burial was in Pontotoc Memorial Gardens.
Survivors include his wife, Margaret Fields of Pontotoc; two daughters, Rhonda Miller and Kim Moore, both of Pontotoc; a brother, Jimmy Fields of Manila, Ark.; five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Tat Fields and Johnnie Boatner Fields; and a sister.
Pallbearers were Danny Weatherly, Jimmy Stegall, Donald Stegall, Ronald Stegall, Bobby Forman and Brad Owen.
Honorary pallbearers were the men's Sunday school class at West Heights Baptist Church.
Memorials may be made to West Heights Baptist Church Family Life Center, 328 W. Oxford St., Pontotoc, MS 38863.
Mattie Massey, 86
Mattie Patterson Massey, 86, of Dumas, died Friday, Sept. 26, 2003, at her home in Dumas.
She was a homemaker and a former employee of Rest Haven Nursing Home in Ripley. She was a member of Pine Grove Baptist Church.
Services were at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28, at McBride Funeral Home chapel in Ripley with Bro. Bill Baker and Bro. Russell Hamm officiating. Burial was in Box Chapel Cemetery in Dumas.
Survivors include two sons, Ronnie Massey of Dumas and Rickey Massey of Wheeler; a sister, Wilma Davis of Ripley; a brother, Gaston Patterson of Anacoca, La.; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Troy Massey; her parents, Will and Alma Turner Patterson; five sisters; and two brothers.
Bill Englebert, 65
William Clayton "Bill" Englebert, 65, of Ripley, died Saturday, Sept. 27, 2003, in New Albany.
He was a truck driver and a Baptist.
Services were at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28, at Ripley Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Jesse Cutrer officiating.
Survivors include his wife, Barbara Englebert; four sons, Billy Englebert of Uma, Ariz., Bobby Englebert of New Albany, Bryan Englebert of Walnut and Bruce Englebert of New Albany; and a sister, Dorothy Ingersol of French Camp.
Lawrence J. Morris, 84
Lawrence J. Morris, 84, of Potts Camp, died Saturday, Sept. 27, 2003.
He was born Dec. 31, 1919, in Monroe County to William Arthur Morris and Mamie Pepper. He was a barber and a member of The Dawn Church. He was the husband of the late Thomasine Hollingsworth Morris.
Services were at 2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 29, at Holly Springs Funeral Home with Bro. Neenan officiating. Burial was in Chewalla Cemetery at Potts Camp.
Survivors include three sons, James L. Morris and Gary W. Morris, both of Germantown, Tenn., and Danny Morris of Potts Camp; a sister, Angela House of Biloxi; nine grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
