Gerald Rushing

MANTACHIE - Gerald Clay Rushing, 73, died Monday, Nov. 16, 2009, at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo following a short illness. He was born April 3, 1936, to Clay and Alice Farrar Rushing. He worked for Rockwell International and for Tombigbee Electric Power Association, where he retired in 1998 with 38 years of service. He was an active and dedicated member of First Baptist Church in Mantachie for more than 50 years and served as a deacon.

Services were held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18, at First Baptist Church in Mantachie with Dr. John Adams officiating. Burial was in Center Star Cemetery. McNeece-Morris Funeral Home of Mantachie was in charge of the arrangements.

Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Ellen O'Callaghan Rushing; two daughters, Donna (David) Kelso of Mantachie and Betsy (Scott) Smith of Cincinnati, Ohio; four grandchildren, Jack Kelso and Lee Kelso of Mantachie, and Lane Smith and Vaughn Smith of Cincinnati; two sisters, Sue Abernethy of Tupelo and Coleen (Jim) Vlach of Madison; two brothers, Rev. Buddy Rushing (Janice) of Mantachie and Rev. Danny Rushing (Vicki) of Tupelo; one brother-in-law, John O'Callaghan (Linda) of Trussville, Ala.; many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

His nephews served as pallbearers. Members of his Sunday School class, and current and retired employees of TEPA were honorary pallbearers.

The family requests that memorial donations be made to the Building Fund of First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 159, Mantachie, MS 38855.

Drew Baker

FULTON - Drew Baker, 23, died Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009, in Portsmouth, Va. He was born in Chadron, Neb., and moved to Philadelphia early in life. He was a graduate of Philadelphia High School. He had served in the U.S. Coast Guard for the past 3 1/2 years and was currently stationed in Portsmouth, Va., as Operations Specialist 3rd Class, assigned to Coast Guard Cutter USCGC Bear. He was a Baptist by faith.

Services were held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, at McClain-Hays Funeral Home in Philadelphia with Rev. Dennis Duvall officiating. Graveside services with military honors were held at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in Dorsey Cemetery in Fulton.

Survivors include his mother, Dawn Nicholson Baker Stewart of Fulton; his father, Allen Stewart of Fulton; one sister, Meredith Jean Baker of Fulton; his fiancampée, Nicole Herbert; four stepbrothers, Chris Stewart of Fulton, Josh Stewart of Fulton, Ryan Klauck of Huntsville, Ala., and Adam McBrayer of Philadelphia; his grandmother, Katherine Stewart of Fulton; his great-grandmother, Delphia Hood of Fulton; aunts, Debbie Hodges of Philadelphia and Leah Adkison of Ridgeland; uncle, William Hodges of Philadelphia; great-uncle, Fred McEachin of Philadelphia; and cousins, Brittany Hodges, Brooke K. Wells and Charlie Wells.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, David Allen Nicholson and Jean McEachin Adkison.

Honorary pallbearers were his shipmates of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Bear.

Memorials may be made to Philadelphia High School athletic football program.

Willie Mae Whitworth

FULTON - Willie Mae Whitworth, 91, died Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009, at the Golden Living Center in Winfield, Ala.

Services were held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22, at the McNeece-Morris Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Don Baggett officiating. Burial was in Itawamba Memorial Gardens.

Survivors include one niece, Martha Estes Farrar; one great-niece, Karen Martine (John); one great-nephew, Jeff Farrar (Teresa), all of Winfield; two great-nephews; and numerous cousins and other family members.

James Nolen Moore

FULTON - James Nolen Moore, 77, died Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009, at The Meadows in Fulton. He was born Sept. 20, 1932, in Itawamba County to Edgar Houston and Ethel Wood Moore. He was a graduate of Itawamba Agricultural High School, Itawamba Community College and Louisiana State University's Banking School of the South. He retired from Deposit Guaranty in Fulton as an officer and manager. He was a member of the American Legion, Rotary Club and United Way. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean Conflict.

Services were held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, at Senter Funeral Home Chapel in Fulton with Bro. Martin Jameson officiating. Burial was in Dorsey Cemetery.

Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Ann Devaughn Moore of Dorsey; one daughter, Carol Rutland (Ricky) of Dorsey; one son, Phillip Moore (Carol) of Baton Rouge, La.; four grandsons, Matthew Rutland (Rosa) and Joseph Rutland (fiancampée, Elise Pearce), both of Dorsey, Brett Lanphere (Hillary) of Birmingham, Ala., and Samuel Moore of Baton Rouge; one great-granddaughter, Isabel Rutland of Dorsey; one sister, Marilyn Christian (Thomas) of Dorsey; two brothers, Holland Moore (Joyce) of Tupelo and Wood Moore of Oxford, Ala.

He was preceded in death by three sisters, Arva Rae Hayes, Beulah Sheffield and Fleta Olean Moore.

Pallbearers were Jerry Moore, Bob Moore, Greg Christian, Steve Hill, Mike Bunch, Jon Hill, Michael Blalock, Vic Nigri and Roddy, Dudley, Mark and Tony Sheffield, Steve King and Jim Beachum.

Polly Hutson

TUPELO - Ola Fae "Polly" Hutson, 89, died Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009, at the North Mississippi Medical Center after an extended illness.

Services were held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18, at Wesley United Methodist Church with Rev. Raymond Rooney officiating. Burial was in Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Cemetery in Tremont. W.E. Pegues Funeral Directors was in charge of the arrangements.

Survivors include four daughters, Nelda Hutson Gray of Memphis, Janet Hutson of Tupelo, Betty Conaway (Gerald) of Tupelo and the Rev. Mary Hutson of Ruleville; one son, David Hutson (Trudy) of Tupelo; one sister, Mae Barrett of Shuqualak; one brother, Ray Stevens of Tremont; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.