Obituaries for Tuesday, April 23, 2002

By Staff
JORDAN BONNER SR.
Retired
Services for Jordan Bonner Sr. will be held Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church with the Rev. Timothy Graham officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Berry and Gardner Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Bonner, 87, of Meridian, died Saturday, April 20, 2002, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center. He was born May 19, 1914, in Toxey (Choctaw County), Ala., to Lula Odom Bonner and Bennie Bonner Sr. He was a self-made man and had a successful career as a truck driver for more than 50 years, working with Hardin's Bakery for more than 30 years. He made history at Hardin's as the first black truck driver hired by the company. After retiring at age 70, he continued to keep busy with his lawn and gardening service.
He was a member of Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church for more than 66 years and faithfully served as deacon and on the Trustee Boards.
He was a member of the Masonic Lodge #439 for more than 40 years and was a valued and respected member of the community.
Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Jannie "Honey" Bonner; four children, Daisy Purnell of Gary, Ind., and her husband, John, Christine Young of Meridian and her husband, Mozell, Jordan Bonner Jr. and his wife, Rose, of Gary, and Georgia "Baby" Sims and her husband, James, of Meridian; eight grandchildren, Jeanna Thornton of Ranch Cucamonga, Calif., and her husband, Raymond, James Holliday III of Chicago, Jennifer Bonner of Indianapolis, Ind., Marcia Longmire and her husband, Eric, of Southfield, Mich., LaChaundra "Tina" Clark and her husband, Demetrius, Elana "Frenchie" Thames, Eris Sims and Jamese "Banesee" Sims, all of Meridian, Bennie Bonner Jr. and Bill Bonner; 10 great-grandchildren and several other relatives and friends.
Pallbearers will be, Billy Jo Brantley, Jonas Crenshaw Jr., Demetrius Clark, Charles Crowell, William Crowell, George Hood, Nolan Hudson, Aquilla Pack, James Pearson and Willie Pearson.
Honorary pallbearers will be the deacons and trustees of Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church. Flower bearers will be the Sweet Spirits Inspirational Choir of St. Paul United Methodist Church.
To all who have supported us in the death of my husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, we are eternally grateful. Your prayers and other tokens of love have lifted our spirits. May our Lord Jesus Christ who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.
Visitation will be today 6 p.m.-7 p.m. at the funeral home.
MARY LOU RHODES
Homemaker
Services for Mary Lou Rhodes were held Monday at Duffee Baptist Church with the Revs. Terry Goodman and Ken Rhodes officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery with Stephens Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Rhodes, 87, of Meridian, died Friday, April 19, 2002, at Rush Foundation Hospital. She was a member of Duffee Baptist Church and taught children's school for 62 years. She was a church clerk for more than 30 years and served many years as director of W.M.U., discipleship director and vacation Bible school director. She began and directed the Duffee Senior Citizens Club and wrote the Duffee news for both the Newton Record and the Union Appeal. She was a 4-H leader for more than 25 years and president of the Suqualena School Reunion for more than 15 years.
Survivors include her son, Ken Rhodes and his wife, Elaine, of Jackson; a daughter, Beverly A. Rhodes of Meridian; two grandchildren, Chris Rhodes of Petal and his wife, Laurie, Sheri Engle of Purvis and her husband, Stephen; three great-grandchildren, Olivia Rhodes, Adam Engle and Jacob Rhodes; two sisters, Julia Alice Smith and Nannie Mae Bowden, both of Meridian; and a brother, Robert Earl McCann of Horn Lake.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John Purvis Rhodes.
Pallbearers were Chris Rhodes, Greg Clements, Roger Earl Strange, Barney McCann, Bob McCann, Michael Bowden, Tommy Strange, and Grant Goodman.
Honorary pallbearers were Zack Steel, Cody Steel, Jessie Dean and Ryan Davis.
WILLARD IRBY NICHOLS
Retired seamstress
Services for Willard Irby Nichols will be held today at 3 p.m. at Cokers Chapel United Methodist Church with the Rev. Jessie Long officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery with James F. Webb Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Mousey Brown

News

Russellville First Baptist Church receives historical marker

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Meeting a higher standard – Russellville High School JROTC

News

RCS BOE announces new superintendent  

News

Miss Dream Girl Pageant names winners

Franklin County

First Metro Bank hosts FAME Girls’ Ranch donation drive

News

PCHS holds annual Shelby Grissom Memorial Fashion Show

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: VFW Post 5184 – ‘No One Does More For Veterans’

Features

Supporting students’ futures

Features

Red Bay Garden Club discusses amaryllis planting

Franklin County

UA announces local students for fall 2023 President’s, Dean’s, graduation lists

News

School news

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Troy Oliver

Franklin County

Appropriations bill passes, allots more than $3 million for new Russellville library/multipurpose center 

Franklin County

Franklin County Cattlemen’s Association names Cattleman of the Year 

Franklin County

Franklin County votes: Unofficial March 5 primary election results 

Franklin County

Funding for new Russellville library, multipurpose community center expected this week

Features

Faces of Franklin County: BTCPA

News

GFWC Russellville Book Lovers Club sponsors downtown art crawl

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Cody Bragwell

Franklin County

42nd annual Miss RHS pageant names winners 

News

Miss RHS pageant takes place Friday

Franklin County

Political announcement: David Hester speaks about run for reelection as county commissioner

Franklin County

BTCPA auditions for final production of season take place March 3-4 

x