Lisa Strickland

GOLDEN – Lisa Renae Strickland, 25, died Monday, June 8, 2009 at her residence. She was born Nov. 30, 1983, in Mississippi.

Services were held at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 11, at Emmanuel Baptist Church with Bro. Scott Wilson and Bro. Jerry George officiating. Burial was in Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Red Bay, Ala. Deaton Funeral Home of Red Bay was in charge of arrangements.

Survivors include her parents, Dennis and Martha Coats Kennedy of Golden; one son, Christopher Adam Strickland of Golden; one stepson, Jonathan Strickland of Fairview; one brother, Michael Seth Kennedy of Golden; grandmother, Jean Kennedy of Golden; grandfather, Herman Coats of Vina, Ala.; and aunt, Linda Coats of Vina, Ala.



Gladys Davis

MANTACHIE – Gladys Geneva Dickerson Davis, 84, died Sunday, June 7, 2009, at the North Mississippi Medical Center after a brief illness. She was born Aug. 19, 1924, in Itawamba County to George Preston and Lula Dozier Moore. A lifelong resident of Lee County, she was a devoted mother and grandmother and enjoyed cooking for her family and church gatherings. She also enjoyed traveling with her friends from Eggville Free Will Baptist Church, where she was a member, tending to her garden and living life to the fullest. She was retired from Arvin Industries. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

Services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 9, at the Saltillo Chapel of W.E. Pegues with Dr. Gerald Gann and Rev. Ronnie Goodwin officiating. Burial was in Crossroads Cemetery.

Survivors include three daughters, Shelby Jean Ricker (Guy) of Oxford, Arlene Cates (Archie) of Mantachie and Vickie Whitt (Mike) of Memphis; three sons, Tony Dickerson (Debbie) of Mooreville, Tommy Dickerson (Sherry) of Bryan, Texas, and Jimmy Dickerson (Sheri) of Ripley; her stepdaughter, Sue Stokes of Tupelo; two stepsons, Marty Davis (Carolyn) of Pontotoc and Gayle Davis (Kathy) of Tupelo; one sister, Mattie Jean Hendrick (Bobby Joe) of Mantachie; 31 grandchildren, 50 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband and father of her children, Vernon Dickerson; her second husband, Rubal Davis; twin brother, G.W. “Bud” Moore; and two brothers, John and Charles Moore.

Pallbearers were Perry Stanley, Alan Cates, Scotty Martin, Greg Stanley, Terry Dickerson, Jeff Dickerson, Shane Dickerson, Justin Dickerson, Chance Dickerson, Brad Martin, Jamison Dickerson and Zac Brady.

Memorials may be made to Eggville Free Will Baptist Church or The Sanctuary Hospice House, P.O. Box 2177, Tupelo MS 38803.

Edna Stockton

NEW SITE – Edna Ree Moreland Stockton, 85, died Sunday, June 7, 2009, at Sanctuary Hospice House in Tupelo.

Services were held 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 9, at the McMillan Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Mike Fields and Bro. Russell Clouse officiating. Burial was in the Little Brown Cemetery.

Survivors include a daughter, Barbara June (Bill) Wilson of Fulton; two sons, Jim (Judy) Stockton of Millington, Tenn., and Bob (Barbara) Stockton of Rienzi; her sister, Ruby Lee Aldridge of Booneville; 10 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren.

Janice Oxner

BEECH SPRINGS – Nancy Janice Stembridge Oxner, 68, died Monday, June 8, 2009, at the North Mississippi Medical Center after an extended illness.

Services were held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, June 10, at The Jefferson Street Chapel of W.E. Pegues with Rev. Dennis Kizzire and Rev. Earl Langley officiating. Burial was in Beech Springs Cemetery.

Survivors include her husband of 43 years, Sonny Oxner of Beech Springs; two sons, Victor Marvin "Vic" Oxner (Regina) and Jody Michael Oxner, all of Beech Springs; three grandchildren, Michael Dallas Oxner, Sarah Elizabeth Oxner and Lily Annabelle Oxner; one brother, Jimmie A. Stembridge (Jane) of New Albany; two sisters, Jean Stembridge and Martha Robbins, both of Beech Springs; her sister-in-law, Betty Yielding Stembridge of Mantachie. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Jackie Stembridge.

James Royce Moore

FULTON – James Royce Moore, 86, died Sunday, June 7, 2009, at the North Mississippi Medical Center.

Services were held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, June 10 at the McNeece-Morris Funeral Home Chapel in Fulton with Bro. Sammie Washburn and Bro. Darrell Sanderson officiating. Burial was in the New Salem Cemetery with military honors.

Survivors include his wife of 28 years, Joy Moore of Smithville; one daughter, Irene Ausborn (B.W.) of Fulton; one stepdaughter, Phyllis Gaddy (Frank) of Amory; two stepsons, Rick Umfress of Caledonia and Curt Umfress of Fulton; two grandchildren, Amy Tanner (Gerald) of Fulton, and Stuart Ausborn (Robyn) of Florence, Ala.; six step-grandchildren; three great-grandchildren and four stepgreat-grandchildren.



Delbert Hicks

BALDWYN – Delbert Hicks, 66, died Sunday, June 7, 2009, at the North Mississippi Medical Center.

Services were held 3 p.m. Tuesday, June 9, at Waters Funeral Home. Burial was in Ozark Cemetery.

Survivors include two sisters, Bernice Estes of Ozark community and Faye Beck (Clyde) of Mantachie; two brothers, Robert L. Hicks of Savannah, Tenn., and Milburn Hicks (Ophelia) of Thaxton; sister-in-law, Fran Hicks; several nieces and nephews.



Jerry Cossey

EVERGREEN – Jerry Ladell Cossey, 57, died Monday, June 8, 2009, at his home after a long illness.

Services were held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 9, at the Chapel of Tisdale-Lann Memorial Funeral Home in Nettleton with Rev. Rickey Pierce and Rev. Jesse Betts officiating. Burial was in Jones Chapel Cemetery.

Survivors include his wife, Phyllis Gail Randolph Cossey of Evergreen; one daughter, Angel LaGail Cossey Seymore (Chase) of Shannon; one son, Kevin Ladell Cossey of the home; one brother, Larry Cossey (Wanda) of Iuka; a special friend, Loressa Saxon of Nettleton. He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Joyce Tartt; his father- and mother-in-law, Junior and Martha Randolph.

Tetha Billups

FULTON – Tetha Lue Billups, 86, died Sunday, June 7, 2009, at the North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo. A native of Itawamba County, she was the daughter of Edd and Letha Clifton. She was a member of Shiloh CME Church, where she served on the missionary board and the kitchen committee. She love to fish, sew and keep children. She was the widow of Tom Billups.

Services were held at 1 p.m. Friday, June 12, at the Shiloh CME Church. Elder Larry Clifton delivered the eulogy. Burial was in Fulton Community Cemetery. Kenneth I. Roberson Funeral Home of Pontotoc was in charge of the arrangements.

Survivors include three daughters, Annie Bell Clifton of Ypsilanti, Mich., and Laura Buchanan and Mazie “Cookie” Jones, both of Fulton; one son, John Thomas Billups of Ypsilanti; one sister, Alta Roach of Ypsilanti; 20 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren and 41 great-great-grandchildren.

Ralph W. Smith

TUPELO – Ralph W. Smith, 70, died Wednesday, June 10, 2009, at the Sanctuary Hospice House.

Services were held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 13, at Waters Funeral Home with Bro. Rusty Miller officiating. Burial was in Oak Grove Cemetery.

Survivors include his wife, Betty Langford Smith of Tupelo; one daughter, Cathy Riley (Wayne) of Memphis; two sons, Tom Smith (Linda) and Dave Smith (Diane) of Florida; his brother, Royce Lee Smith of Mantachie; five grandchildren, Trevor Smith, Wesley Smith (Naomi), Stephanie Smith, Matthew Smith and Sarah Smith.



Preston Brown

TUPELO – Preston Stanley Brown, 65, died Tuesday, June 9, 2009, at the Gilmore Memorial Regional Medical Center in Amory.

Memorial services were held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, June 13, at the Eggville Freewill Baptist Church with Rev. Richard Gann officiating. E.E. Pickle Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Survivors include his wife, Methel Brown of Tupelo; and one sister, Winona Faye Brown Hicks of Fulton. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Wallace Benson

BREWER – Sam Wallace Benson, 70, died Wednesday, June 10, 2009, at his residence after a brief illness.

Memorial services were held 7 p.m. Saturday, June 13, at Brewer Baptist Church with Dr. Sean Tutor officiating. Burial was in Brewer Cemetery. W.E. Pegues Funeral Directors was in charge of the arrangements.

Survivors include his wife of 38 years, Faye Benson of Brewer; two daughters, Anita Brown (Mitch) and Brandy Lindsey (Michael), all of Brewer; two sons, Lee Benson (Anisa) of Fulton and Sammy Benson (Shawna) of Brewer; one sister, Beryl Carson (Bennie) of Brewer; and eight grandchildren.

Bill Holder

FULTON – William M. “Bill” Holder, 93, died Friday, June 12, 2009, at The Meadows in Fulton. He was born Oct. 27, 1915, to John Alexander and Lucy C. Hale Holder. He was a veteran of World War II. He was a lifelong farmer. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and gardening.

Services were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 13, at the McNeece-Morris Funeral Home Chapel with Minister David Paden Jr. officiating. Burial was in the Tilden Community Cemetery.

Survivors include two sons, Larry Holder (Mary Lou) of Wagner, Okla., and Eddie Holder (Lana) of Fulton; two daughters, Linda Crane (Roger) of Fairview and Laura Nanney (Frankie) of Fulton; one brother, Cecil Holder of Fulton; one sister, Altie Mae Wren of Hatley; 10 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Miriam Holder, in 2004; two brothers, Millard Holder and James Marvin Holder; three sisters, Viola Bridges, Irene Harris and Inez Whitaker; and his parents.

Pallbearers were Stacy Crane, Jeff Nanney, Chris Holder, Gabriel Holder, Alex Nanney and Cody Crane.

Verdie Mae West

FULTON – Verdie Mae West , 98, died Friday, June 12, 2009, at the Courtyards Nursing Facility in Fulton. She was born April 7, 1911, to the late Nathan and Alma Hood Johnson. She was the oldest member of East Fulton Baptist Church. She retired from Blue Bell Manufacturing after many years. She enjoyed going to church and was a giving and loving person. She enjoyed gardening and working with her flowers.

Services were held at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 14, at the East Fulton Baptist Church with Bro. Eugene Digby and Bro. Grover Laird officiating. Burial was in the East Fulton Cemetery. McNeece-Morris Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Survivors include one brother, James W. Johnson (Betty); one sister, Thelma McPherson, both of Fulton; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Alfred West, who died in 1992; her parents; three brothers, Hollis Johnson, Claude Johnson and Troy Johnson; and four sisters, Louise Senter, Euple Wilson, Pearl Dulaney and Mazietta Johnson.

Pallbearers were her nephews, Johnny Wilson, David Wilson, Joey Johnson, Terry Johnson, Wayne Wheeler, Lowell Dulaney and Billy Johnson.