Obituaries for Saturday, Aug. 9, 2003
By Staff
PHILADELPHIA Services for Bennie E. Gray Sr. will be held today at 10 a.m. at McClain-Hays Funeral Service Chapel with the Revs. Dr. Eugene Dobbs and Mack Alford officiating. Burial will be in Cooks Chapel Cemetery in Neshoba County.
Mr. Gray, 83, of Philadelphia, died Thursday, Aug. 7, 2003, in his home. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and served in World War II.
Survivors include his wife, Helen Gray of Philadelphia; a son, Eddie Gray; a sister, Ellen Hall; brothers, Earl W. Gray Jr., Guy Gray and Luke Gray, all of Philadelphia and Cliff Gray of Huntsville, Ala.
He was preceded in death by his brothers, James Gray and Sterling Gray.
NEWTON Services for Mary Nell King Webb will be held today at 2 p.m. at Decatur United Methodist Church with the Rev. Johnny Crosby officiating. Burial will be in Decatur Cemetery. Barham Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Webb, 78, of Decatur, died Thursday, Aug. 7, 2003, at Gulfport Memorial Hospital. She was a member of Decatur United Methodist Church and was active and supportive of her husband throughout his political career.
Survivors include her children, Bill Webb and his wife, Tiffany, of Gulfport, Pamela Jackson and her husband, Mack, of Philadelphia and Tammy Dilorenzo and her husband, Ben, of Long Beach; five grandchildren, Cassidy Elliott and her husband, Chris, David Jackson, Hank Jackson, Adam Dilorenzo and Emily Dilorenzo; five great-grandchildren; a sister, Linda Miller and her husband, Bobby, of Bassville and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Webb; parents, William McKinley King and her Erline King and an aunt, Stella.
Memorials may be made to Decatur United Methodist Church.
Pallbearers will be Mark Miller, Don Waldorp, Bill Briedinger, Homer Burton and Charles Boggan. Honorary pallbearers will be Jimmy Garner and Matt Miller.
Visitation will be today from 9 a.m. – noon at the funeral home and 30 minutes prior to the service at the church.
Services for Rosemary L. Mejia will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church with the Rev. Matthew Simmons officiating. Burial will be in St. Patrick's Cemetery. Barham Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Mejia, 72, of Meridian, died Friday, Aug. 8, 2003, at Heartfelt Hospice. She was a member of Maranatha Christian Church and was known as "Aunt Rose" to all.
Survivors include her brother, Joseph Harrison Leatherwood of Buchanan, Ga.; four sisters, Helen Beck of Meridian, Sylvia Enriquez of Colts Neck, N.J., Martha Haarala of Meridian and Nancy Leatherwood of Dallas; 36 nieces and nephews and 36 great-nieces and great-nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Auturo Mejia; parents, Daniel and Mary Crane Leatherwood; brothers, Daniel Freeman Leatherwood Jr. and his wife, Loretta, and Walter E. Leatherwood and Catherine and Robert Gray.
Pallbearers will be Carey Walker, Bo Haarala, Chris Short, and Randy Cook.
Visitation will be today from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at St. Joseph's Catholic Church.
GRENADA Services for Dorothy Barbara Jones will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. at National Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Bob Self and Trent Jaudon officiating. Burial will be in Lee Memorial Cemetery in Verona.
Mrs. Jones, 80, of Grenada, died Thursday, Aug. 7, 2003, in Grenada.
Survivors include her daughter, KayCee Brogan and her husband, Jackie, of Grenada; a son, Steve Jones and his wife, Janet, of Tupelo; nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, Douglas Grantham, a son, Leland Douglas Jones, one infant son, Gregory Wayne Jones , two great-grandchildren, Skyler McKenzie Sneed and Ashley Brooke Pepple and her husband, Leland Grady Jones Jr.
Visitation will be today from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
NEWTON Services for Barbara Jane Gressett will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. at Liberty Baptist Church with the Revs. J. B. Costilow, Scott Vaughn, and Joey Lang officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. James F. Webb Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Gressett, 68, of Newton, died Friday, Aug. 8, 2003, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center. She was a member of the Eastern Star Newton Chapter No. 65, Liberty Baptist Church. She was a loving wife, mother, sister and grandmother. She was a very special friend to Simmie Dee Godwin. She was a retired supervisor of more than 30 years with La-Z-Boy Chair Company.
Survivors include her husband, Billie W. Gressett Sr. of Newton; daughter, Peggy Tisdale of Jackson; son, Billy W. Gressett Jr. of Chunky; two sisters, Carolyn Burnett of Stone Mountain, Ga., and Susan Pierce of New Orleans; brothers, James "Jim" Pierce, Bradley Pierce and William Pierce, all of Newton; four grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents Bonnie and Betty Chapman Pierce and a son Bobby Gressett.
Visitation will be today from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
BUTLER, Ala. Private memorial services for Claire Strain O'Neal will be held Monday.
Mrs. O'Neal, 89, of Lisman, died Friday, Aug. 8, 2003, in Lisman.
Survivors include her sons, Robert H. O'Neal of Lisman, Stephen F. O'Neal of Columbus, Ga., and Gordon K. O'Neal of Lisman; a daughter, Carolyn F. O'Neal of Montgomery; a brother, Ben Kelly Strain of Brewton; a sister, Mary Laura Strain Sanford; four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
SEBASTOPOL Services for Nannie Isaac Willis will be held Monday at 11 a.m. at Pearl River Baptist Church with the Rev. Travis Willis officiating. Burial will be in Hope Baptist Church Cemetery. Milling Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Ms. Willis, 82, of Choctaw, died Thursday, Aug. 7, 2003, in her home.
Survivors include her three grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren and nine great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, William B. Willis and a son, Andrew Willis Sr.
Arrangements were incomplete at Berry &Gardner Funeral Home for Leonard Jones, 74, of Meridian, who died Friday, Aug. 8, 2003, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center.