By Staff
WILLIAM HENRY LAVENDER
Retired
YORK, Ala. Services for William Henry Lavender were to be held today at 10:30 a.m. at Boligee Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Raymond Colgrove officiating. Burial will be in Mesopotamia Cemetery in Eutaw. Bumpers Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Lavender, 79, died Tuesday, May 21, 2002, in Atlanta. He was a retired farmer, and salesman for Northrup-King Company. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army.
Survivors include his children, Tom Lavender and his wife, Sunee, of Tuscaloosa, Rick Lavender of Boligee, Lisa Foley and her husband, Chuck, of Marietta, Ga. and Dodie Lavender of Memphis, Tenn.; six grandchildren; three sisters, Mary Russell, and Erma "Shug" Hitt, both of Boligee, and Neenie Long of Okalona, Miss.; a brother, Buddy Lavender of Boligee.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Mary Lavender and a sister, Ella "Snooks" Ozment.
SAM TUCKER
Truck driver
Services for Sam Tucker will be today at 11:30 a.m. at Barham Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Bob Wilkerson and Douglas Stone officiating. Burial will be in Meridian Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mr. Tucker, 70, of Meridian, died Wednesday, May 22, 2002, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center. He was a truck driver and heavy equipment operator, working many years in construction of roads and pipe lines. .He was a member of Trinity Assembly of God and the U.S. Army Reserve for over 10 years.
Survivors include his wife, Jewel Dean Tucker of Meridian; a son, Ira Gene Tucker and his wife, Christina, of Meridian; a daughter, Carol Lang of Meridian; grandchildren, Marie Nicholas and her husband, Allen, of Bay St. Louis, Samuel Lang and his wife, Lacey, Matthew Tucker, Daniel Tucker and April Lang, all of Meridian; three great-grandchildren, Amanda Johnson, Jasmine Lang and Anastasia Nicholas.
He was preceded in death by his father Henry and step mother, Maudie Tucker, his mother, Myrtle Atkins and step-father, Ray Atkins; a brother, Tom Tucker; a sister, Eunice Sullivan, son-in-law, William Lang; father and mother-in-law, Clarence and Emma Sullivan.
Pallbearers will be Roy Johnson, Mike Clark, Elkus Dyess, Donald Key, Samuel Lang, Daniel Tucker, Matthew Tucker, Chris Branning, Austin Bishop, Allen Nicholas, Drew Sullivan and Stevie Sullivan.
ELSIE B. HINTON
Retired teacher
Services for Elsie B. Hinton will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at Stephens Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Robert Horel officiating. Burial will be in Magnolia Cemetery.
Mrs. Hinton,96, of Meridian, died Wednesday, May 22, 2002, at Kings Daughter's and Sons Nursing Home. She was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church and was a charter member of Oakland Heights Presbyterian Church (now Westminster) where she served as president of Women of the church. She was a member of Eastern Star 241, and served as a worthy matron.
Mrs. Hinton received her bachelor of arts degree in English from MSCW in 1927 and earned her master's degree in education from the University of Southern Mississippi. She attended Meridian School of Music. She retired as a teacher from Oakland Heights School in 1970. She also taught at Long Creek, Center Hill Schools and also taught in Tennessee and North Carolina.
Survivors include her sons, Mallie Vernon Hinton Jr. of Meridian, William Spears Hinton and his wife, Susan, of Gulfport; a daughter, Frances Hinton of Meridian; a sister, Mary Faye Rhodes of Everett, Wash.; and four nieces.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph Spears Buchanan and Fannie Alford Buchanan; two brothers, Joseph Spears Buchanan Jr. and Winfield Featherstone Buchanan.
Memorials may be made to Palmer House or Meridian Symphony.
Visitation will be today from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
BESSIE LOUISE STOKES
Services for Bessie Louise Stokes will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at Barham Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Ricky Watkins officiating. Burial will be in Meridian Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mrs. Stokes, 79, of Springfield, Mo., died Tuesday, May 21, 2002, at Maranatha Lodge Nursing Home. She was born in Winston County, Mississippi. She lived in Yazoo City from 1949 until 1993 when she and her husband, Ray, moved to Springfield, Mo. to live next door to their daughter.
She lived a Christ-centered life. She was known for her gift of encouragement to others. Sweet, gentle and kind are words that fall short to describe her life of giving to others. She will be missed dearly by her family and everyone who knew and loved her.
Survivors include her husband of 60 years, Ray Stokes, of Springfield, Mo.; a daughter, Arlene Stokes Patterson and her husband, Bob Patterson, of Springfield; sons, Dr. Billy Stokes and his wife, Beverly, of Birmingham, Ala., and Chuck Stokes and his wife, Judy, of Huntsville, Ala.; a brother, the Rev. Richmond Watkins and his wife, Odell, of Morton; six grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, other special family members and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, George Fillmore Watkins and Nellie Huff Watkins; brothers, Vincent "Cotton" Watkins and George Watkins.
Pallbearers will be Dr. Stokes Patterson, Josh Stokes, Joel Stokes, Neil Melancon, Tom Batts, Charlie Wade, Dennis Foster, and Larry Stokes. Honorary pallbearer is Lee Patterson.
DANIEL BUSBY
Graveside services for Daniel Busby will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. at Forest Lawn Cemetery. Barham Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Busby, 71, of Meridian, died Thursday, May 23, 2002, at Guardian Angel Hospice.
Visitation will be held today from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
EVELYN WELLS
Services for Evelyn "Tunie" Culpepper Wells will be held Saturday at 7 p.m. at Barham Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be Sunday at 2 p.m. in Big Rock Methodist Church Cemetery.
Mrs. Wells, 77, of Meridian, died Thursday, May 23, 2002, at The Specialty Hospital of Meridian.
Visitation will be held today from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
ALFORNIA KELLEY
Retired
Services for Alfornia Kelley will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church on Highway 45 South, with the Rev. Robert E. Hopson officiating. Burial will be in Okatibbee Cemetery. Berry &Gardner Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Kelley, 59, of Meridian, died Tuesday, May 21, 2002, at The Specialty Hospital of Meridian. He was a retired employee and truck driver with Newell Paper Company.
Survivors include three children, Tijuana Kelley and Terrance Kelley, both of Meridian and Tiffany Pickens and her husband, Byron, of Quitman; his mother, Abbie D. Kelley of Meridian; three grandchildren, T'Aundra La'Shea Kelley, Tommy Joshua Kelley and Tobias Griffin all of Meridian; one great-grandchild, Ty Tianna Kelley of Meridian; two sisters, Burta Fitch of Meridian and Lottie Ramsdell and her husband, Eric, of Virginia Beach, Va.; two brothers, Edward Kelley of Meridian and Eugene Kelley of Southfield, Mich.; his mother-in-law, Helen Lewis of Meridian; and several nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Ann Kelley and his father, Burton Kelley.
Visitation will be held Saturday from 7 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home and one hour prior to the service at the church.
GEORGE CUMMINGS SR.
Arrangements were incomplete at James F. Webb Funeral Home for George Cummings Sr., 86, of Meridian, who died Thursday, May 23, 2002, at his home.
OLIVER SPIVEY
Arrangements were incomplete at Barham Funeral Home for Oliver Spivey, 54, of Daleville, who died Thursday, May 23, 2002, at his home.