Don Livingston

HOUSTON – William Donald Livingston, 74, died Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009, at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo. He was born Aug. 3, 1935, in Lee County to Roy Livingston and Lois (Dolly) Whitt Livingston. He was a U. S. Army veteran and served his country in the Cuban Crisis. He was a retired Vice President of Purchasing and Facilities at Franklin Corporation and a member of First Baptist Church in Houston.

Services were held Sunday, Aug. 30, 2009 at Memorial Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Jonathan Childress officiating. Burial was in Chickasaw Memorial Gardens in Houston.

Survivors include his wife, Glenda Doss Livingston; two daughters, Joy Earp (Jamie) of Houlka, and Gail Pettit of Houston; one son, Anthony Livingston (Dalonda) of Houston; 10 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; one brother, Gene Livingston (Peggy) of Atlanta, Ga.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Dolly Livingston; and one brother, Thomas Parker.

Pallbearers were Derek Earp, Dex Earp, Levi Livingston, and Alex Livingston.

Ralph Sanford

MANTEE – Ralph Lee Sanford, 83, died Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2009, at the VA Resident Home in Kosciusko. He was born Aug. 27, 1926, in Webster County to William L. Sanford and Johnnie Estelle Pate Sanford. He was a World War II Army veteran. He was a retired salesman for Union Camp and a member of Mantee Baptist Church.

Services were held Friday, Aug. 28, 2009 at Mantee Baptist Church with Bro. Bo Farrior officiating. Burial was in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Mantee. Memorial Funeral Home of Houston was in charge of the arrangements.

Survivors include one daughter, Kathy S. Forrester of Mantee; two sons, Ralph David Sanford and William “Billy” F. Sanford of Mantee; seven grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Betty Stout Sanford; two brothers and one sister.

Pallbearers were Heath Sanford, Lance Sanford, Bill Gilliland, John Carter, Johnny Burton and Jake Huffman.

Honorary pallbearers were Conner Burton and Carson Gilliland.

Darnell Cox

ABERDEEN - Darnell Cox, 41, died Sunday, August 23, 2009 at Central MS Medical Center.

Services were held Saturday, August 29, 2009 at Belle Memorial Funeral Chapel in Aberdeen. Rev. Avis Shelton officiated. Burial followed at Palo Alto Cemetery. He was preceded in death by his father, Willie B. Cox.

Survivors include his mother, Thelma Lee Cox; 6 brothers, Willie Charles (Loretta) Cox, Richard (Betty) Cox, James (Hazel) Cox, Albert (Lillie) Cox, Larry (Marilyn) Cox, Derrick (Rosalind) Cox; five sisters, Flora (Curtis) Outlaw, Dorothy (Roosevelt) Fears, Thelma Lou Cox, Nichole Cox-Shaw, and Felecia (Chad) Lenois.

Samuel Steven

Jordon Edwards

OKOLONA – Samuel Steven Jordon Edwards, newborn infant, died Friday, Aug. 28, 2009, at Gilmore Memorial Hospital. Graveside services were held Monday, Aug. 31, 2009, at Fulton City Cemetery. Senter Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Stan Nabors

STARKVILLE - Stanley (Stan) Erwin Nabors, 73, passed away on August 20, 2009, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Columbus, MS. He was a retired Business Administrator for Starkville Buses and a member, deacon and trustee of Calvary Baptist Church in Starkville.

He is survived by his wife, Betty Doss Nabors of Starkville; two daughters, Sharon Brewer and husband, Leroy, of Asia and Jenna Shook and husband, Larry, of Starkville; grandchildren, Valerie Hawthorne and husband Geoffrey, Lee Brewer and wife Emily, Nathan Brewer, Staci Shook and Kyle Shook; brothers, Rev. Jimmy Nabors and wife, Gayle, of Bedford, KY, Joe Nabors and wife, Diane, of Prattville, AL and Kermit Nabors and wife, Priscilla, of Concord, N.C.

Service were held Saturday, Aug. 22, 2009 at Calvary Baptist Church in Starkville with the Rev. Dr. Grant Arinder, Rev. Dr. Leroy Brewer and Rev. Lee Brewer officiating. Burial was in Oddfellows Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Calvary Baptist Church Building Fund or to the Gideons.

You may go online and sign the guest register at: www.welchfuneralhomes.com.

Myrtis Mitchell Hicks

VARDAMAN- Mrs. Myrtis Mitchell Hicks, 87, died Thursday, August 27, 2009 at Calhoun Health Services in Calhoun City. She was born in Calhoun County on August 29, 1921. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Vardaman, assisted her husband in farming, and babysat for area families and collected water bills for the town of Vardaman for many years.

Services were held Friday, August 28, 2009 at Parker Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Vardaman. Rev. Dale Easley officiated and burial followed in Hillcrest Cemetery.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James Howard Hicks, on April 22, 1975; her parents, Thad Simon Mitchell and Frances Emma Roberts Mitchell; two brothers, Lonzo Mitchell and Henry Mitchell; a sister, Lottie Mae Vanlandingham; and a son-in-law, James Franklin Swanson.

Survivors include three daughters, Monette Gann (Hubert), Frances Simmons (James), both of Vardaman, and Sara Swanson of Oxford; two grandchildren, Angela (John) Williams and James “Jim” Swanson, all of Oxford; and 4 great grandchildren, Dayka, Kara, Cassie, and J.P. Williams of Oxford.

Pallbearers included Kevin Stafford, Bill Edmondson, Tim Hicks, Calvin Barnett, Derrick Taylor, Kirby Thames, Chip Moore, and David Mitchell.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church building fund; P.O. Box 173, Vardaman, MS 38878.

Dot Walker

VARDAMAN – Dorothy May Denley Walker, 79, died Monday, Aug. 24, 2009, at the North Mississippi Medical Center. She was born March 17, 1930, in Greenwood. She was a retired employee of the Shannon Manufacturing Company and a member of New Providence Baptist Church.

Services were held Thursday, Aug. 27, 2009 at Pryor Funeral Home Chapel in Calhoun City with the Rev. John Stewart officiating. Burial was in the New Providence Cemetery in Calhoun City.

Survivors include one son, William Walker (Angie) of Vardaman; two brothers, Harold Denley (Augusta) and G.L. Denley (Rebecca), both of Carrollton; and three grandchildren, Brandie Walker, Bradley Walker and Brandon Walker.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer Randolph Walker, and her parents, Hosea Denley and Maggie Koonce Denley.

Pallbearers were Gerald Denley, Ronald Denley, David Denley, Bradley Walker, Boyd Walker and Jason Walker.

Irene Lyles

OKOLONA – Irene Foard Lyles, 57, died Thursday, Aug. 20, 2009, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Columbus. She was born Oct. 31, 1951, to Willie E. Foard and the late Josephine Townsend Foard. She was a former employee of Indian Creek and Rose Hill.

Services were held Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009 at Pleasant Plain M.B. Church. Burial was in the church cemetery. Williams Memorial of Okolona was in charge of the arrangements.

Survivors include her father, Willie E. Foard of Dallas, Texas; three daughters, Katrina Howard (Ruben II) of Houston, Texas, Angie N. Foard of Oxford, Ala., and Rokisha Foard of Columbus; two sons, Reggie D. Foard and Sheffrey Foard, both of Columbus; two sisters, Lessie (Levester) Cannon of Florence and Shirly Foard of Dallas; three brothers, Rev. Willie Foard (Overia) of Prairie, Rev. Roosevelt Foard (Leomia) of Aberdeen and James E. Foard of Dallas, Texas; four grandchildren.

William Brand

VARDAMAN – William Clarence Brand, 87, died Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2009, at the VA Medical Center in Memphis. He was born Aug. 26, 1922, in Calhoun County. He was a retired farmer and a member of New Liberty Baptist Church. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. He was a resident of the Sunshine Inn at Myrtle.

Services were held Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009 at New Liberty Baptist Church at Vardaman with the Rev. Jeff Harmon officiating. Burial with military honors was held in New Liberty Cemetery. Parker Memorial Funeral Home of Vardaman was in charge of the arrangements.

Survivors include a host of nieces and nephews; and a special friend, Barry Hood.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William Brand and Ivy Brannon Brand; two brothers, Ralph Brand and Carl Brand; and one sister, Ernestine Hicks.

Pallbearers were James Foster, Barry Hood, Keith Havens, Lance Massey, Donnie Orr and Parker Orr.

Carolyn Brown

MOOREVILLE - Carolyn Mask Brown, 68, died Sunday, Aug. 30, 2009, at The Meadows in Fulton. She was born April 11, 1941, in Shelby County, Tenn., to Arlis and Milvertis (Smith) Mask. She married Billy Gene Brown of Pontotoc on Nov. 24, 1960, and shared 36 joyful years with him until his passing. She was a loving mother and grandmother. Her greatest joy was spending time with her grandchildren.

Services were held Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2009 at Baldwin-Nowell Funeral Home of Pontotoc with Bro. Wallace Strawn officiating. Burial followed in Carey Springs Cemetery.

She is survived by one daughter, Alissa Brewer (Phillip) of Mooreville; two sons, Billy Brown Jr. (Sheila) of Tupelo and Timothy Reid Brown (Dina) of Mooreville; three sisters, Patricia Dykes of Pontotoc, Belinda McKinney of Hattiesburg and Mary Dykes of Amory; four brothers, Jimmy Mask, Randy Mask, Ricky Mask and Wayne Mask, all of Pontotoc; eight grandchildren, Meghan and Neely Brown of Tupelo, April, Adam, Amber and Aaron Brown of Mooreville, and Jessica and Emily Brewer of Mooreville.

She is preceded in death by her parents and stepmother, Mary Lou Mask, who raised her after her mother's death; her sister, Martha Stegall; and two brothers, Donald Mask and Tommy Mask.

Pallbearers were family members.

Esterlene Morgan

OKOLONA - Esterlene Morgan, 97, died Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009, at Shearer Richardson Nursing Center in Okolona where she had resided the past two years. Miss Morgan was born in Chickasaw County on July 24, l912, the daughter of the late Thomas C. and Trannie Cox Morgan.

She grew up in the Buena Vista Community of Chickasaw County and lived 69 years in Okolona.

Until her death, she was the oldest living member of the Buena Vista United Methodist Church and was employed during World War II at the Gulf Ordinance Plant in Prairie. Her remaining working life included being a seamstress at Delta Trousers and Indian Creek Apparel. She enjoyed sewing and growing flowers, and was a beloved sister, aunt and friend.

Services were held Monday, Aug. 31, 2009 at the Okolona Chapel of Holland Funeral Directors with the Rev. Steve Lampkin officiating. A private burial followed in Lee Memorial Park.

Survivors include her two sisters: Ara Mae Garner of Houston and Annie Marie Massey of Aberdeen; her nieces and nephews, Marvin Massey (Mariden) of Tyler, Texas, Lloyd Massey (Jean) of Aberdeen, Robert Garner (Dell) of Houston and LaNelle McMillen (Bobby) of Columbus, and their families.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas C. and Trannie Morgan; her brothers, Lewis and Floyd Morgan; a sister, Maggie Morgan; and one nephew, Jerry Massey.

Memorials may be made to the Buena Vista United Methodist Church, 451 CR 169, Houston, MS 38851.

Wilma Tucker

HOUSTON – Wilma Griffin Tucker, 90, died Thursday, Aug. 27, 2009, at the Floy Dyer Extended Care Center.

Services were held Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2009 at Houston Chapel CME Church in Houston with the Rev. Willie Frank Howell officiating. Burial was in Houston Cemetery. Belle Memorial Funeral Home of Aberdeen was in charge of the arrangements.

Survivors include five sons, Robert Frank (Judy) and Henry Gus (Robbie), both Beloit, Wis., Dennis Ray Tucker (Martha), Willie Rogers Tucker (Martha) and Frankie Lee Tucker, all of Houston; one daughter, Sarah Ann Blanchard (Ferdinand) of Aberdeen; one sister, Lorraine Alexander of St. Louis, Mo; two grandchildren she reared as her own, Stephon Ray (Hope) and Stacey Roxanne (JB III); 28 grandchildren and a host of great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her spouse, Willie Frank Tucker; a daughter, Shirley Ann London; a grandson, Maurice Tucker; her parents; and three brothers, Dan Griffin, Jessie Lee Griffin and Jack Griffin.

Her grandsons served as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were her sons.

James T. Simmons III

HOULKA - James T. "Nip" Simmmons III, 41, died Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009 at his home in Houlka. He was a 1986 graduate of Houlka High School and was a member of Houlka First Baptist Church. He was a former employee with Waste Management. He loved his family and friends and his community and was willing to help anyone at anytime. He always said that he would never get married and after 40 years he met his soul mate, Greta, whom he married on January 6, 2009.

Services will be held Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009 at Houlka First Baptist Church with the Rev. David Blackwell and the Rev. Chris Aldridge officiating. Interment will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery in Houlka. Tutor Memorial Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Survivors include his wife, Greta Simmons of Houlka; his daughter, Alexis; his son, Cody; his mother, Annette Simmons of POntotoc; his father, Chickasaw County Sheriff Jimmy Simmons of Houlka; his brother, Chad Simmons; nieces, Lauren Roseberry of Corinth, Briana Simmons of Houlka; nephew Ethan Sherrill; great-niece, Blakelyn; great-nephew, William Levi.

He was preceded in death by his grandfathers, Buren Walls and James Travis Simmons; his step-grandfather, Theo Easley; grandmother Venita Buchanan Alexander; great-grandmother, Venia Lindsay.

Pallbearers will be Dr. Pete Wisniewski, Michael Paden, Ethan Sherrill, Steve Ford, Mike Ford, Bubba Edwards, Brad Chrestman, Sam Russell, Brian Barnes.

Ethel O’Barr

WOODLAND – Ethel Lee O’Barr, 98, died Thursday, Aug. 27, 2009, at Sanctuary Hospice House in Tupelo. She was born April 27, 1911, in Lee County to Thomas Dallas “Boss” Curry and Lizzie Jane Gregory Curry. She was a homemaker and farmer, taking care of her cows and garden. She was a Baptist. She knew for sure she was saved, and she looked forward to seeing her husband and children again.

Services were held Sunday, Aug. 30, 2009 at Arbor Grove Baptist Church with Rev. Mike Mathena officiating. Burial followed in Arbor Grove Baptist Church Cemetery. Memorial Funeral Home of Houston was in charge of the arrangements.

Survivors include one daughter, Jeannie Sparks of Woodland; 16 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren, 22 great-great-grandchildren; two brothers, Hugh Curry of Woodland and Charles Curry of Tupelo.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Jodie L. O'Barr three daughters, Mary Brown, Louise Darden and Elizabeth Easley; and two sons, J. L. O'Barr and Buddy O'Barr.

Pallbearers were her grandsons.

Mavis Helen Bell

YUCAIPA, Calif. - Mavis Helen Gann Bell, 76, formerly of Houston, died Monday, Aug. 24 in Yucaipa, Calif. She was born Oct. 4, 1932 in Chickasaw County to Bobbie Lee and Gertrude Gann. She was a 1951 graduate of Houston High School, a veterans of the WAC's (Women's Army Corps) from 1951 and 1955, a retired business owner, and a member of the Church of Christ.

Graveside services were held Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2009, at Elmira Cemetery in Vacaville, Calif. A memorial service will be held Sunday, Sept. 6, 2009 at 3 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Houston. Houston Funeral Home is in charge of memorial arrangements.

Survivors include a daughter, Joann Patterson (Phil) of Yucaipa, Calif.; one son, Bruce Bell of the home; her mother, Gertrude Gann of Houston; three grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; two sisters, Mary Jo Baird (Tommy) of Houston, Barbara Ann McKibben (Don) of Algoma; a sister-in-law, Sue Gann of Houlka; three brothers, William F. Gann (Mable) of Houston, Hubert Gann (Monette) of Vardaman, Bobby L. Gann (Barbara) of Starkville.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward Bell; her father; two brothers.

Friends and family may sign the online register at houstonfuneralhomems.com.