By Staff
BERTHA SMITH LONG
Nurse
Graveside services for Bertha Smith Long will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at Union Methodist Church Cemetery with the Revs. Mike Vick and Lannis May officiating. James F. Webb Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Long, 68, of Collinsville, died Tuesday, June 26, 2001, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center. She was a member of Union Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband, Richard Long of Collinsville; a daughter, Brenda Parker of Starkville; a sister, Mary Smith White of Aldersgate in Meridian; a brother, Charles Smith of DeKalb; a son-in-law, Bill Parker of Brooksville; a granddaughter, Mallory Parker of Starkville; a grandson, William Parker of Brooksville; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by a son, Charles Richard "Richie" Long and a brother, Curtis Smith.
The family requests memorials be made to the American Cancer Society or a favorite charity.
Pallbearers will be Allen Cross, Kenny Pogue, Johnny Bosman, Rodney Fobis, Marvin Keaton and Scott Davis.
LEE C. ROBERTS SR.
Retired law enforcement officer
Services for Lee C. Roberts Sr. will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. at Barham Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Leon Adams, Mike Russell and Jimmy Jordan officiating. Burial will be in Roberts Cemetery.
Mr. Roberts, 67, of Meridian, died Tuesday, June 26, 2001, in his home. He was a former Meridian police officer, Lauderdale County deputy sheriff and Justice Court Judge. Mr. Roberts was a Shriner, member of Mason St. John Lodge 618 and the Scottish Rite. He was a lifetime member of Fraternal Order of Police and former South Lauderdale Baseball League president.
Survivors include his wife, Patty Roberts, three sons, Lee C. Roberts Jr. and his wife, Denita, Buck Roberts and his wife, Judy, and Ricky Roberts and his wife, Cynthia, a daughter, Alesha Motley, two sisters, Susan Jordan and Lois Bishop, and a brother, Raymond Roberts, all of Meridian; and seven grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Clyde and Eula Roberts and two brothers, Lloyd Roberts and Wayne Roberts.
Pallbearers will be Harold Clark, Bud Robinson, Cecil Crowe, Floyd Spears, Harris Wilder, Mike Myers, Ray Dillard and Frank Gunner.
Honorary pallbearers will be law enforcement officers and Justice Court Judges.
Visitation will be today from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
VELLEDA LEE MCARTHUR OWEN
Services for Velleda Lee McArthur Owen will be held Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the Episcopal Church of the Mediator with the Revs. Mike Dobrosky, Yamily Bass-Choate and Harriet Simmons officiating. Dispersion of the ashes will be done by the family at a future date.
Mrs. Owen, 74, of Meridian, died Monday, June 25, 2001, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center. Since 1952, she was an active member and choir participant at the Church of the Mediator. She was a painter, sculptor and 15-year member of the Sowashee Writers Group. Mrs. Owen was a member of the Meridian Art Museum and Friend of the Meridian Public Library.
Survivors include her husband, Ira Edwin Owen Sr. of Meridian; children, Penelope Dudley and her husband, Bill, and Ira Edwin Owen Jr., all of Meridian, and Sharon Turcotte and her husband, Robert, of Philadelphia; a sister, Evelyn May and her husband, William, of Tallahassee, Fla.; a sister-in-law, Dorothy O. Eberle and her husband, John, of Atlanta; grandchildren, Allen and Aubert Kimbrell and Owen and Matthew Turcotte; great-grandchildren, Addisson and Avery Kimbrell; and several nieces, a nephew, cousins and other family members.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Velleda and Briggs Ellis McArthur.
The family requests memorials be made to the Church of the Mediator Velleda Owen Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 3400, Meridian, MS 39303, or the Meridian Public Library.
Vigil will be kept in the church sanctuary beginning at 5 p.m. today. Friends are invited to join in keeping vigil. Visitation will be Thursday from 5 p.m.-7 p.m. at the church.