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Obituaries

Larnell Ayers

Larnell (Red Cap) Ayers, 75, of Holly Springs, formerly of Lamar, died Nov. 17, 2007 at Alliance HealthCare System. He was a retired farmer.

Services were held at 11 a.m. on Nov. 24 at Hebron MB Church in Lamar, where he was a member. Burial was in the church cemetery. Rev. Adam Gholson officiated. J.F. Brittenum and Son Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

He leaves two daughters, Madie Faulkner of Holly Springs, Margaret Faulkner of Cordova, Tenn.; three sisters, Velma Thompson, Lucy Mae Hampton, both of Holly Springs, Gracie Beard of Chicago, Ill.; two brothers, Thelma F. Ayers of Lamar, Curtis Ayers of Chicago, Ill.; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers were William Ayers, Larry Ayers, Greg Ayers, Gary Ayers, Freddie Hampton, Larry Hampton, Lee Thompson and Willie E. Thompson. Honorary pallbearers were Perrikeile Faulkner, D’Angelo DeBerry, Curtis Ayers, Robert Hampton, Grant Ayers, Beasley Ayers, Brian Ayers, Terrance Faulkner, Thelma Ayers, Joe Ayers, James Hampton, Wallace Beard, Dwight Beard and Jimmy Howell.

Tom Walter Batts

Tom Walter (Pops) Batts, 86, of Elk Grove, Calif., died Nov. 11, 2007 at McKinnley Health Care in Sacramento, Calif. He was born to the late Luther Batts and Janie Crawford Batts in Benton County.

Services were held at 1 p.m. on Nov. 24 at Everette Chapel in Ashland. Burial was in the church cemetery. Rev. Ronnie Franklin officiated. Serenity Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

He leaves six children, Maurice Batts of Atlanta, Ga., Leahmon Batts, Walter Moore, Chrystal Parker, all of Sacramento, Alice Faye McDaniel of Gadsden, Ala., Phyllis Moore-Lewis of Hayward Calif.; two stepsons, Walter Onidas, Eric Robinson; 11 grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren.

Alice Christell Burchette

Alice Christell Burchette, 63, of Williston, Tenn., died Nov. 18, 2007 at Baptist Hospital in Collierville. She was the widow of Boyd David Burchette and cafeteria manager with Fayette County Schools.

Services were held at 11 a.m. on Nov. 21 at Oak Grove Baptist Church. Burial was in the church cemetery. Holly Springs Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

She leaves two sons, Boyd David Burchette Jr. of Bolivar, Tenn., Brian Dale Burchette of Atlanta, Ga.; three daughters, Billie Dawn Koon of Williston, Tenn. Christell Grills Burchette of West Plains, Mo., Anna Burchette of Williston, Tenn.; two brothers, Lesley Holmes of Rossville, Tenn., Thomas Holmes of Missouri; a sister, Lillie Hailey of Williston, Tenn.; a half-sister, Opal Barnes of New York, N.Y.; 17 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by a brother, Curtis Holmes.

Rhetta Sue Fioretti

Rhetta Sue Fioretti, 69, of Holly Springs, died Nov. 21, 2007 at Baptist DeSoto Hospital in Southaven.

Services were held at 1 p.m. on Nov. 28 at Serenity Funeral Home Chapel. Burial was in Bethlehem Cemetery in Potts Camp.

She leaves her daughter, Robin Bearden of Byhalia; her mother, Ella Rhea Whaley of Holly Springs; a sister, Mary Kay Garrison; and two grandchildren.

Thelma Louise Garrett

Thelma Louise Garrett, 80, of Byhalia, died Nov. 1, 2007 in Holly Springs. She was a devoted life-long Christian.

Services were held at 3 p.m. on Nov. 3 at Brantley Funeral Home in Olive Branch. Burial was in Byhalia Cemetery.

She leaves her husband of 60 years, Buford Garrett; her son, Phillip Garrett of Munford, Tenn.; a sister, Betty Overby; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her daughter, Sherry Garrett Cox.

James Herrington

James (Benjy) Herrington, 96, of Byhalia, died Nov. 18, 2007 at his home. He was a member of Fountain Head Methodist Church.

Services were held at 11 a.m. on Nov. 20 at Brantley Funeral Home in Olive Branch. Burial was in Herrington Cemetery.

He leaves his caregivers, Evelyn and Kelly Tidwell and Gene and Jessie Lee Carter; and several other cousins.

Charles B.F. Howell

Charles B.F. Howell, 40, of Holly Springs, died Nov. 16, 2007 at Baptist Hospital in Collierville. He was a self-employed construction worker.

Services were held at 12 noon on Nov. 24 at Pleasant Hill CME Church in Mt. Pleasant, where he was a member. Burial was in the church cemetery. Rev. Willie Huey officiated. Serenity Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

He leaves six brothers, Calvin Howell of Holly Springs, Willie Howell, Edward Howell, both of Memphis, Tenn., Clyde Howell, Carl Howell and James Lee Howell, all of Mt. Pleasant.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and brothers, Chester Howell, Emmanuel Howell Jr. and James Howell.

Carolyn Virginia Johnson

Carolyn Virginia Johnson, 57, of Byhalia, died Nov. 18, 2007. She was the widow of Bobby Gentry. She was a hairdresser and a member of United Pentecostal Church.

Services were held at 1 p.m. on Nov. 21 at Roller-Citizens Funeral Home Chapel in West Memphis, Ark. Burial was in Crittenden Memorial Park.

She leaves a son, Jeffrey Cockrell of Byhalia; and her mother, Dorothy Johnson of Ashland.

Memorials may be made to Sanctuary Hospice House, Inc., Tupelo.

Honor Jones

Honor Jones, 72, of Memphis, Tenn., formerly of Holly Springs, died Nov. 10, 2007 at Methodist University Hospital in Memphis.

Services were held at 11 a.m. on Nov. 17 at Oak Grove MB Church in Memphis. Burial was in Strickland Chapel Cemetery in Byhalia. Rev. James Kendrick, pastor, officiated. E.H. Ford Mortuary was in charge of arrangements.

He leaves his wife, Leegusta Jones; a son, Herbert Wayne Jones of Memphis, Tenn.; three sisters, Poise Mae Kelly of St. Louis, Mo., Lenzell Phillips (Rev. S.A. Phillips) and Maude Gordon, both of Holly Springs; and three grandsons.

He was preceded in death by 10 siblings, Sam Frank Jones, Rosetta Jones, Linnie Jones (stepmother), Famous, Earl, Claude, Bufford, Cleophous, Simpson, Baring, Vera, Era and Arbra.

Sandra Vye Lemly

Sandra Vye Lemly, 59, of Potts Camp, died Nov. 19, 2007 at Baptist Hospital in DeSoto. She was a factory worker with Mulay Plastics.

Graveside services were held at 2 p.m. on Nov. 23 at Hill Crest Cemetery. Rev. Bobby Campbell and Bro. Billy Adair officiated. Holly Springs Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

She leaves her husband, Jerry W. Lemly; a son, Jerry Robert Lemly of Middleton, Tenn.; a daughter, Kayla Lemly of Potts Camp; a sister, Candace Crump of Peoria, Ill.; and two grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Judith Baer; and her mother-in-law, Frances Lemly.

Josephine Mason

Josephine Mason, 82, of Holly Springs, died Nov. 20, 2007 at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Desoto in Southaven. She was the widow of Albert Mason. She was a member of Hopewell No. 1 MB Church.

Services were held at 11 a.m. on Nov. 24 at Chulahoma MB Church. Burial was in the church cemetery. Rev. McArthur King officiated. J.F. Brittenum and Son Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

She leaves her caregiver and niece, Ressie King of Holly Springs; and three nephews.

Pallbearers were Melvin Malone, Mike Royal and friends of the family. Honorary pallbearers were Leslie King, Wesley King and Curtis Malone.

Agnes Corrine McGee

Agnes Corrine McGee, 76, died Nov. 22, 2007. She was a Sunday school and vacation Bible school teacher. She was a member of the Eastern Star, where she served as worthy matron. She was also a member of the Grotto Ladies Auxiliary and volunteered on the charity fish fry team raising funds for cerebral palsy.

Services were held at 2 p.m. on Nov. 24 at Byhalia Baptist Church, where she was a member. Burial was in Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Cemetery in New Albany. Bro. Glenn Bien and Bro. Leon Burton officiated. Brantley Funeral Home in Olive Branch was in charge of arrangements.

She leaves her husband of 58 years, Robert McGee; a son, Ralph McGee; two daughters, Sandra Thompson of Byhalia, Donna McGee of Memphis; a sister, Bonnie Doty of Spring Valley, Calif.; two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by two sisters, Elizabeth Woody and Dorothy Grantham.

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or Byhalia Baptist Church.

Glenn Michael McKinney

Glenn Michael McKinney, 47, of Pearland, Tx., formerly of Holly Springs, died Nov. 10, 2007 at Clear Lake Regional Hospital, Tx. He was a member of Mt. Moriah MB Church in Texas, where he was a deacon and in other positions; a graduate of Holly Springs High School; he attended Rust College, Tougaloo College and Alvin Community College in Alvin, Tx. He was employed with the Federal Bureau of Investigation since 1983.

Services were held on Nov. 24. Burial was in Cottrell Memorial Garden. J.F. Brittenum and Son Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

He leaves his wife, Sharon McKinney; a daughter, Tiffany McKinney of Pearland; a son, Brian C. McKinney of Pearland; his mother, Mary Elizabeth McKinney of Holly Springs; a sister, Carolyn McKinney Harp of Houston, Tx.; and two brothers, Walter H. McKinney Jr. of Dallas, Tx., John M. McKinney of Holly Springs.

He was preceded in death by his father, Walter H. McKinney Sr.

Willie Pearl Rogers

Willie Pearl Rogers, 66, of New Albany, died Nov. 20, 2007 at Sanctuary Hospice House in Tupelo. She was a member of Union Grove Baptist Church.

Services were held at 10 a.m. on Nov. 24 at Pleasant Grove MB Church in New Albany. Burial was in Shiloh Cemetery. Rev. Thomas Wilson officiated. Serenity Funeral Home of New Albany was in charge of arrangements.

She leaves her husband, James (Billy) Rogers; her mother, O’Kattie Barker-Crockett of New Albany; three sons, Reginald Miller, Elijah Russell, both of Tupelo, Kenney Russell of Powder Springs, Ga.; a brother, Rev. Luther Barker of New Albany; a sister, Alfreda Barker of New Albany; 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers were her nephews.

James Earl Turnage

James Earl (Big Red) Turnage, 56, of Potts Camp, died Nov. 23, 2007 at Grenada Lakes Medical Center in Grenada. He was a member of the male chorus, a machine operator with Wurlitzer of Holly Springs and Hill Craft of New Albany.

Services were held at 1 p.m. on Nov. 28 at Reid’s Gift MB Church in Potts Camp, where he was a member. Burial was in the church cemetery. Rev. L.G. Bogard officiated. J.F. Brittenum and Son Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

He leaves his wife, Shelia Rucker Turnage; a daughter, Melissa Ann Turnage of Hickory Flat; two sons, David Turnage of Potts Camp, Jonathan Traylor of Memphis, Tenn.; a sister, Juanita Dillard of Potts Camp; a brother Frank Turnage Jr. of Potts Camp; and eight grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his father, Frank Turnage Sr.; his mother, Willie Earl Miller; a sister, Linda (Dianne) Rucker; and a brother, C.W. Turnage.

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