Obituaries

William M. Banks Jr.
William M. Banks Jr., 77, of McKees Rocks, Penn., formerly of Oxford, died July 21, ,2005 at Green Tree, Penn. He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Green Tree, a graduate of Oxford Training School, a member of the football team of Alcorn College, a member of the basketball team. He became a priest in the Aaronic Priesthood and an elder in the Melchizedek Priesthood. He was a retired truck driver with Star Furniture, and Serta Mattress for 40 years.

Graveside services were held at 10:30 a.m. on Aug. 1 at St. Peters Cemetery in Oxford. Rev. Leroy Wadlington officiated. J.F. Brittenum and Son Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

He leaves his wife, Arlene Johnson Banks; two sons, Marcel Coleman of Harrisburgh, Penn., William Banks III of Pittsburg, Penn.; two sisters, Elizabeth Rogers of Oxford, Doris Spruille of Memphis, Tenn.; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Jack Byrd Sr.
(Doc) Jack Byrd Sr., 73, of Holly Springs, died July 27, 2005 at Alliance HealthCare Systems. He was a member of New Harmony Baptist Church and a road worker with Marshall County Road Department.

Services were held at 2 p.m. on July 30 at Holly Springs Funeral Home Chapel. Burial was in Clear Creek Cemetery in Lamar. Bro. Frank Feathers officiated.

He leaves his mother, Nellie Byrd of Holly Springs; a brother, Walker Byrd of Olive Branch; and a sister, Effie Bolden of Holly Springs.

Pallbearers were Heath Bolden, Derrick Byrd, Jesse Stewart, Chris Bolden, Joe Byrd, Bo Byrd, Tim Cothern and Randy Byrd.

Eddie Lee Hughes
Eddie Lee Hughes, 52, of Marshall County, died July 29, 2005 at Alliance HealthCare in Holly Springs. He worked for Roura Iron Works for 21 years. He was a painter.

Services were held at 12 noon on Aug. 3 at St. Matthew Baptist Church in Byhalia. Burial was in the church cemetery. Serenity Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

He leaves two daughters, Toya Hughes of Holly Springs, Jessica Everette of Michigan City; five brothers, Fred Hughes of Willoughby, Ohio, William Hughes of Noblesville, Ind., Robert (Bob) Hughes of Huntsville, Ala., Larry Hughes of Byhalia, Lee Roy Hughes of Indianopolis, Ind.; six sisters, Lillie Spight of Holly Springs; Cora Jones of Byhalia, Bonnie McGee of Rose Hill, Johnnie Ingram of Holly Springs, Deborah A. Scales of Holly Springs, Veanna Taylor of Norcross, Ga.; and two grandchildren.

Martha Anne Greer
Martha Anne Greer, 75, of Holly Springs, died July 31, 2005 at her home. She was a Methodist, a member of the Town and Country Garden Club and The Thursday Club.

A private family service was held. Burial was in Hill Crest Cemetery. Holly Springs Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

She leaves her husband, A.Q. Greer; two sons, Curtis Greer of Holly Springs, John Robert Greer of Oxford; and five grandchildren.

Lena Mae Koonce
Lena Mae Koonce, 82, of Memphis, Tenn., died July 31, 2005 at St. Francis Hospital in Memphis. She was a Baptist and a retired nurse.

Services were held at 3 p.m. on Aug. 3 at Holly Springs Funeral Home Chapel. Burial was in Byhalia Cemetery. Bro. Frank Feathers officiated.

She leaves a son, Howard Sowell of Byhalia; two stepsons, Herman Sowell of Coldwater, Leon Sowell of Slayden; eight grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.

Jimmy Thompson Mason
Jimmy Thompson Mason, 62, of Michigan City, died July 26, 2005 at his home. He was a lineman with Illinois Central Railroad.

Services were held at 11 a.m. on July 28 at Holly Springs Funeral Home Chapel. Burial was in Valley Grove in Michigan City. Chaplain Andy Dozier officiated.

He leaves his mother, Dorothy C. Mason of Michigan City; six brothers, Donovan Mason, Billy Mason, both of Michigan City, Daniel Mason of Holly Springs, Larry Mason, Dennis Mason, Mike Mason, all of Michigan City; four sisters, Sue Rhodes, Betty Hobson, both of Ashland, Patricia Graves of Grand Junction, Twanda Owens of Clinton.

He was preceded in death by his sister Margaret Carlisle; and his father, Armstead Mason.

Velita Griffin McKinnon
Velita Griffin McKinnon, 56, of Holly Springs, died July 27, 2005 at Alliance HealthCare. She was a teacher at Fayette County, a retired teacher from Marshall County Schools and Holly Springs School District, a member of Anderson Chapel C.M.E. Church, a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority and Eastern Star.

Services were held at 1 p.m. on July 30 at Anderson Chapel CME Church. Pastor Denise Anders-Modest officiated. Serenity Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

She leaves her husband, Anthony McKinnon; a daughter, Alena McKinnon of Memphis, Tenn.; her mother, Joan Griffin of Elgin, Ill.; a brother, John Arnold Griffin of New York, N.Y.; and two sisters, JoAna Danois, Ingrid Morgan, both of Long Island, NY.

Tony Anthony Tally
Tony Anthony Tally, 44, of Tupelo, died July 27, 2005 at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo. He was a 1980 graduate of Holly Springs High School.

Services were held at 1:30 on July 31 at Lane Chapel CME Church in Tupelo. Burial was in Cotrell Memorial Gardens in Holly Springs. Serenity Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

He leaves a daughter, Tymerria Vonsha Gorman of Holly Springs; two sisters, Jacqueline Tally Jennings of Tupelo, Florene Tally LeSueur of Holly Springs.

He was preceded in death by his father, Curtis Tally, and his mother, Mary Thomas Tally.

Yvonne Luellen Williams
Yvonne Luellen Williams, 73, of Slayden, died July 25, 2005 at Methodist Germantown Hospital. She was the widow of Jessie Lee Williams. She was a former member of the church choir.

Services were held at 1 p.m. on July 30 at Roberts Chapel CME Church in Slayden, where she was a member. Burial was in the church cemetery. Rev. Arthur Fitzpatrick officiated. J.F. Brittenum and Son Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

She leaves three sons, Anthony Lee Williams of Mt. Pleasant, Michael Williams of Slayden, James Williams of Memphis, Tenn.; two sisters, Addie Roberts of Holly Springs, Queen Anderson of Chicago, Ill.; and six grandchildren.

Pallbearers were Michael Hunter, James Williams Jr., Antonio Rainey, Rickey Franklin, Earl Roberts, Michael Anderson. Honorary pallbearers were Clyde Thompson, Charles Stevenson, Carlos Cowan, Aaron Jones, James Franklin and Rickey Matthews.

Vickie Lynn Yeager
Vickie Lynn Yeager, 47, of Waterford, died July 27, 2005 at Baptist Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. She was a member of Church of Christ and a housekeeper with Wall Doxey State Park. She was an active member of the Waterford Fire Department.

Services were held at 1 p.m. on July 31 at Holly Springs Funeral Home Chapel.

She leaves her husband, Rex Yeager; a daughter, Lacie Cothern of Waterford; two brothers, Henry Wright of Byhalia, Timothy Wright of Ashland; two sisters, Judy Russell of Biloxi, Danyeall Gentry of Waterford; and two grandchildren.

Pallbearers were Scotty Cothern, Henry Wright, Timothy Wright, Michael Gentry, Roger Hunsucker, Derek Hunsucker, Anthony Yeager, Jackie Yeager, Cory Yeager and Tony Wright.

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