Obituaries

Blaylock
David Lawson Blaylock, Sr., age 75, formerly of Ashland and Holly Springs, died Tuesday, March 8, 2005, at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, Florida.

Mr. Blaylock was currently living in Foley Alabama. He was retired from the United States Army. While serving in the Korean War, he was the recipient of the Silver Star, Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.

He is survived by a son, David L. Blaylock, Jr. of Houston, Texas, two daughters, Melanie Causey of Tyler, Texas, Debbie Thompson of Elm Grove, Louisiana, a brother, Kenneth L. Blaylock of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, two sisters, Louise Strickland and Mary Nell Blaylock of Southaven, Mississippi, seven grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life service was held Sunday, March 13, 2005, at 2 P. M. at Wolfe Bayview Funeral Home in Foley, Alabama.

Strauther Bell, Jr.
Strauther Bell, Jr. 60 of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, formerly of Byhalia and Holly Springs, died Saturday, February 28, 2005 at his home. He was a former employee of Standley Bin and General Sign Co. in Chicago, Ill. for 23 years. He was a member of IBEW Electrical workers of Cape Girardeau.

Survivors include his wife, Avis Jenkins Bell; three sons, David Bell of Elgin, Ill., Strauther Bell, and Isaiah Bell, both of Lithonia, Ga.; three daughters, Denise Strauther of Aurora, Ill. Leslie Robinson of Jonesboro, Ga., and Tiffany Taylor of Suwanee, Ga.; his parents, Mattie and Willie Lucas of Holly Springs; six brothers, LaQuinton Lucas of Huntsville, Ala., Vacaro Bell of Maywood, Ill., Willie Bell and Willie Lucas Jr., of Chicago, Ill., John and Wilford Lucas of Holly Springs; three sisters, Annie Hallaway of Chicago, Ill., Jean Lasenby of Bolingbrook, Ill., Patricia Lucas of Holly Springs; and 12 grandchildren.

Services were held at 1 p.m. March 5 at Ford and Sons Sprigg Street Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau. Rev. Johnny Thomas officiated. Burial was in Lorimier Cemetery.

Joseph Johnny (Joe J.) Cassatta
Joseph Johnny (Joe J.) Cassatta, 65, of Holly Springs, died March 7, 2005, at Baptist Desoto Hospital in Southaven. He was a Catholic, and the original “voice” of WKRA Radio in Holly Springs as well as the former co-owner and operator of the radio station. He was a past member of the Rotary Club, the Lions Club, the Jaycees, and a member of Sons of Italy.

Services were held March 10, at 10 a.m. at Holly Springs Funeral Home Chapel. Burial was in Hill Crest Cemetery.

He leaves his wife, Nell Cassatta; two sons, Joe Cassatta of West Point, and Johnny Cassatta of Carrollton; two daughters, Angela Scott of Somerville, Tenn., and Frances Blessike of Holly Springs; his mother, Lucy Deaton Cassatta of Holly Springs; seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Pallbearers were Heath Bolden, Anthony Blessike, Jay Blessike, and Jamar Alexander.

Curtis Edward Cowan
Curtis Edward Cowan, 49, of Chicago, Ill., formerly of Holly Springs, died March 4, 2005 at his home.

Services were held at noon on March 10, at Strawberry M.B. Church in Holly Springs, where he was a member. Rev. Willie Jeffries officiated. Burial was in Cottrell Memorial Gardens. Serenity Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

He leaves a son, Carlos R. Cowan of Memphis, Tenn.; his parents, Cliff Cowan, Jr. and Bessie V. Cowan of Holly Springs; five sisters, Betty Cowan, Patricia Harris, Linda G. Cowan and Joyce Thomas, all of Holly Springs, Sandra Dawkins of Waterford and Dorothy Oliver of Waterford; four brothers, Cliff Cowan III, Michael Cowan, both of Holly Springs, Roger Cowan of Norfolk, Va., and Jackie Cowan of Memphis, Tenn.

Pallbearers were Ronnie Luellen, Lonnie Luellen, Melvin Luellen, Kent Beard, Rickey Hughes and Ronnie Collins.

Milton Lowrensy Hubbard
Milton Lowrensy (Boot) Hubbard, 60, of Potts Camp, died March 11, 2005 at his home. He was a retired engineer for Illinois Central Railroad in Chicago, Ill.

Services will be at 11 a.m. on March 16 at J.F. Brittenum and Son Funeral Home with burial in Mt. Olive MB Church Cemetery in Potts Camp. Rev. Leroy Harris will officiate.

He leaves his wife, Ossie Mallory Hubbard of Memphis, Tenn.; a daughter, Barbara Texnellia Hubbard-Parrish of Marion, Ark.; two sons, MIlton Lowrensy Hubbard Jr., Darryl Fredrick Hubbard, both of Memphis, Tenn.; and five grandchildren.

Jim Mills
Jim Mills, 85, of Holly Springs, died March 7, 2005, at Baptist Desoto Hospital, in Southaven. He was a Baptist and a retired truck driver.

Services were held at 11 a.m. on March 11 at Holly Springs Funeral Home Chapel. Bro. Oscar Geeslin officiated. Burial was in Byhalia Cemetery.

He leaves his wife, Mary Sides Mills; a daughter, Renee Mills of Holly Springs; three brothers, Lawrence Mills of Byhalia, Hubert Mills and Robert Mills, Jr. both of Barton; three sisters, Rudel Parker, Mabel Parker, both of Byhalia, and Mary “Susie” Brigance of Barton.

Charles Allen Wolfe
Charles Allen Wolfe, 62, of Olive Branch, died March 9, 2005 at Baptist Hospital in Collierville, Tenn. He was a Pentecostal and in the construction business.

Graveside services were held at 3 p.m. on March 11, at Byhalia Cemetery. James Wolfe officiated. Holly Springs Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

He leaves a son, Clyde Wolfe of Victoria; two brothers, Harry Wolfe of Olive Branch, Julian Wolfe of Victoria; and a sister, Cheryl McCord of Blytheville, Arkansas; and two grandchildren.

Donald Lee (Heyman) Wilkerson
Donald Lee (Heyman) Wilkerson, 73, of Hickory Flat, died March 7, 2005, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Union County. He was a member of the VFW in Holly Springs, a retired truck driver for Chromcraft, and a paratrooper in the U.S. Army.

Services were held at 2 p.m. at Faith Baptist Church in Hickory Flat, where he was a member. Bro. Larry West, Bro. Steve Wilson, and Bro. Brownie Towhill officiated. United Funeral Service was in charge of arrangements. Burial was in Bluff Springs Cemetery.

He leaves his wife, Mary Frances Gorden Wilkerson; four daughters, Janet Lee Joyner of Hickory Flat, Mary Jo Rutherford of Holly Springs, Myra Sue Clarkson of Hickory Flat, Sherri Diane Smith of Gulfport; six sons, David Lee Wilkerson of Booneville, Steve Lynn Wilkerson of New Albany, Robert Young of Muscle Shoals, Ala., Richard Eugene Clark of Hickory Flat, Tony Clark of New Albany, Austin Tyler Wilkerson of Hickory Flat; one sister, Ann Moffitt; two brothers, Stanley Wilkerson and Wilburn Wilkerson, 18 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Johnny Wilkerson and Malcolm Wilkerson.

Pallbearers were Lawrence Winburn, James Mardis, Arnie McMullen, James St. John, Alfred Steward, Chris Clarkson, Dusty Steward, and Robert Chad Gorden. Honorary pallbearers were Tyler Wilkerson, Bryan Clark, Bryan Rooker, Derek Siddall, James Moffitt, Lamar Frazier, Mike Anglin, and Robert Dean Gorden.

Mario Mares
Mario Mares, 49, of Holly Springs, died March 7, 2005. He was a Catholic and a woodworker at Old Mississippi Brick.

Private services were held March 8. Burial was in Monterrey, Mexico.

He leaves two sons, Luis Mares and Horge Mares, both of Mexico; a daughter, Mayra Mares of Dallas, Texas; a brother, Antonio Mares of Mexico, a sister, Reyes Blanca Natalia Josefina Mares of Mexico, and four grandchildren.

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