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Obituaries

Jean Armour Burrow

Jean Armour Burrow, 78, of Byhalia, died Dec. 10, 2008 at her home. She was the widow of Wade L. Burrow. She was a member of Women of the Church, an active member of the Byhalia Chamber of Commerce, where she received the “Leader of the Year” award in 2007. She was active with several youth groups in Marshall County. She was instrumental in the historic preservation of Byhalia Main Street. She was an employee of Williams Medical Clinic.

Services were held at 11 a.m. on Dec. 13 at Byhalia First Presbyterian Church, where she was a lifetime member. Burial was in the Byhalia Cemetery. Brantley Funeral Home in Olive Branch was in charge of arrangements.

She leaves her daughters, Cindy Dunning of Byhalia, Sylvia McCandless of Jackson, Twinkie Moore of Senatobia; a son, Wade Burrow of Byhalia; seven grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

The family prefers memorial gifts be made to Byhalia First Presbyterian Church, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Palmer Children’s Home.

Isolde M. Davis

Isolde M. Davis, 75, of Byhalia, died Dec. 12, 2008 at her home. She was Baptist.

Services were held at 2 p.m. on Dec. 14 at Brantley Funeral Home Chapel in Olive Branch. Burial was in Byhalia Cemetery.

She leaves her husband, Lawrence A. Davis; three daughters, Sharon Robbins of Cabot, Ark., Brenda Henderson, Linda Galloway, both of Byhalia; four sons, Walter Davis of Ft. White, Fla., John Davis, Steve Davis, Mike Davis, all of Byhalia; two sisters, Erika Alberson of Byhalia, Petra Rhoder of Germany; two brothers, Harold Reimer, Hans Reimer, both of Germany; 22 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.

Marie Davis

Marie Davis, 72, of Blue Mountain, died Dec. 12, 2008 at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo. She was keypunch operator for the Board of Education in Robbins, Ill. In 1995, she and her husband moved to Blue Mountain. She was legally blind.

Services were held at 1 p.m. on Dec. 20 at Union Prospect Baptist Church. Burial was in the church cemetery. Rev. John Johnson officiated. Serenity Funeral Home of New Albany was in charge of arrangements.

She leaves her husband, Henry Davis; a daughter, Antoinette (Toni) Lloyd of Stafford, Va.; and three grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her uncle and aunt, baby Davis, and a son, Henry Lowell Davis.

Geneva Frances Derenski

Geneva Frances Derenski, 81, of Middleton, Tenn., died Dec. 14, 2008 at Jackson/Madson County General Hospital. She was the widow of Dave Derenski. She was a member of Beech Hill Church of Christ and a real estate agent with Century 21.

Services were held at 2 p.m. on Dec. 15 at Holly Springs Funeral Home Chapel. Burial was in Clayton Family Cemetery in Potts Camp. Tim Hester officiated.

She leaves four sons, Luther Bumpas of Middleton, Tenn., Stanley Pitts of Alabama, Ken Nolan of Olive Branch, Stephen Nolan of N. Aurora, Ill.; five brothers, Robert Clayton, R.C. Clayton, Leland Clayton, Raybon Clayton, Purvis Clayton; four sisters, Cleora Crowell, Violet Lessel, Fair Lee Hall, Dorothy Smith; 10 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren and 15 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two brothers and three sisters.

Mable Merlene Rogers Ferrell

Mable Merlene Rogers Ferrell, 74, of Holly Springs, died Nov. 28, 2008 at her home. She was the widow of James R. Ferrell. She was a retired grocery store owner. She was a member of the Philadelphia Baptist Church.

Services were held at 11 a.m. on Dec. 1 at United Funeral Service Chapel. Burial was in Philadelphia Cemetery. Rev. Kenny Adair officiated.

She leaves a daughter, Robyne Earnest of Collierville, Tenn.; a son, Roger Ferrell of Cordova, Tenn.; three sisters, Donnie Evelyn Garrison of Southaven, Mildred Churchill of New Albany, Rebecca Jenkins of New Albany; a brother, Donald Rogers of Etta; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers were her nephews.

She was preceded in death by two sisters and a brother.

Murray Grady

Murray Grady, 86, of Byhalia, died Dec. 12, 2008 at Trinity Mission Byhalia. He was a Baptist, a millwright with Morgan-Thornburg and an Army veteran.

Services were held at 10 a.m. on Dec. 15 at Holly Springs Funeral Home Chapel. Burial was in Forest Hill Midtown Cemetery in Memphis, Tenn. Bobby Campbell officiated. Holly Springs Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

He leaves his wife, Mary Grady; a son, George M. Grady of Elizabethtown, Ky.; two daughters, Pat Raines of Byhalia, Ann Underwood of Pryor, Okla.; 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by two sons, Robert Fred Grady and Jimmy Grady; and one daughter, Carolyn Annette Grady.

Emily Mae Harbin

Emily Mae Harbin, 64, of Cayce, died Dec. 11, 2008 at her home. She was a member of Fisherville Baptist Church.

Services were held at 3 p.m. on Dec. 13 at Collierville Funeral Home Chapel. Burial was in Fisherville Baptist Church Cemetery. Collierville Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

She leaves her husband, William H. Harbin; a daughter, Ida Parmely of Byhalia; two sons, Anthony Wayne Harbin of Rossville, Tenn., Eddie Williams of Byhalia; a sister, Elizabeth Ann Burnham of Corinth; a brother, Cecil E. Roberson of Memphis, Tenn.; and four grandchildren.

Doris Janette Hayman

Doris Janette Hayman, 59, of Hattiesburg, died Dec. 10, 2008 at her home. She was a school teacher and a member of Parkway Heights United Methodist Church.

Graveside services were held at 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 13 at Hill Crest Cemetery. Moore Funeral Home in Hattiesburg was in charge of arrangements.

She leaves her husband, Del Hayman; three daughters, April Hayman Munier of Collierville, Tenn., Amanda Hayman Norton of Olive Branch, Melissa Ellen Sims of Hattiesburg; a sister, Jean Doxey of Holly Springs; and eight grandchildren.

James Fletcher Joyner

James Fletcher Joyner, 82, of Olive Branch, died Dec. 9, 2008 at Magnolia Hospital. He was a member of Church of Christ, a stone mason at Mid-South Specialties and an artillery veteran of World War II. He was a member of the Scottish Rite Masonic Lodge 772 and the Brick Layers Local #1

Services were held at 11 a.m. on Dec. 11 at Holly Springs Funeral Home Chapel. Burial was in Hill Crest Cemetery.

He leaves his wife, Elsie Wilder Joyner of Olive Branch; his daughter, Donna Walker Carns of Iuka; two brothers, Grady Joyner of Memphis, Tenn., Herman Joyner of Southaven; two sisters, Bernice Warren, Hazel Fay Kettler, both of Southaven; and two grandchildren.

Deborah Ar-Lean Scott James

Deborah Ar-Lean Scott James, 36, of Byhalia, died Dec. 9, 2008 at Victoria. She was a member of Mt. Pisgah CME Church in Cayce, a member of Ministers Spouse Organization and a shipping clerk with Thomas & Betts.

Services were held at 2 p.m. on Dec. 14 at H.W. Byers High School Auditorium. Burial was in Mt. Pisgah CME Church Cemetery. Rev. Hubie Nelson officiated. J.F. Brittenum and Son Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

She leaves her husband, Rev. Michael Paul James Sr.; a daughter, Precious Rogers of Cayce; three sons, DeMarius Scott, Rondericquez Beard, Michael Paul James Jr., all of Cayce.; two stepchildren, Algerron James, Malcom James, both of Holly Springs; her mother, Mattie Mae Scott of Cayce; her father, Elton Moore of Memphis, Tenn.; her grandmother, Lucille Scott of Cayce; a sister, Renae Moore of Memphis, Tenn.; and two brothers, Kenneth Jerome Scott of Cayce, Michael Moore of Memphis, Tenn.

Pallbearers were H.W. Byers Class of 1990. Honorary pallbearers were Michael Hughes, Kenneth Scott, DeMarius Scott, Rondericquez Beard and Michael Paul James Jr.

Raymond Royston

Raymond Royston, 74, of Charlotte, N.C., formerly of Holly Springs, died Dec. 7, 2008 in Cleveland, Ohio. He was a U.S. Army veteran; a faithful member and business manager of the Majestic Nine, a group he established with his GMAC-UAW co-workers and friends. He was an assembly line worker with General Motors Chevrolet Plant for 33 years until he retired in 1997.

Services were held at 2 p.m. on Dec. 14 at Royston Chapel CME Church in Benton County. Burial was in the church cemetery. Rev. Gwen Nelson officiated. J.F. Brittenum and Son Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

He leaves his wife, Lugenia Royston of Charlotte, N.C.; children, Antonio Mays, Jerome Royston, Vernon Royston, all of Cleveland, Ohio, Michelle Shafau of Eucild, Ohio, Christopher Crowder and Chairmain Crowder, both of Charlotte, N.C.; two sisters, Agnes Floyd of Holly Springs, Naomi Nevels of Cleveland, Ohio; a brother, Tennyson Royston of Holly Springs; a goddaughter, Marie; a dear friend, Lee Miller; and nine grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Murphy Royston; and a sister, Thelma McAllister.

Pallbearers were friends and family.

Nellie Lucille Sheppard Shelby

Nellie Lucille (Nell) Sheppard Shelby, 86, of Holly Springs, formerly of Ashland, died Dec. 10, 2008 at Trinity Mission Health and Rehab of Holly Springs. She was the widow of Stacy Blair Shelby.

Services were held at 2 p.m. on Dec. 13 at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Benton County, where she was a member. Burial was in the church cemetery. Bro. Edd McCafferty officiated. McBride Funeral Home in Ripley officiated.

She leaves four daughters, Irene Dickerson, Dorothy Bramlett, both of Holly Springs, Ruth Chainey of Blue Ridge, Ga., Lisa Smith of Ashland; a son, Robert Shelby of Ashland; two sisters, Wilma Rankin, Ann Housen, both of Texas; 10 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a daughter, Cathy Shelby; two brothers, James (Shep) Sheppard and Thomas (Bubba) Sheppard; two grandsons, Chad Dickerson, Austin Hopkins; and a granddaughter, Jennifer Bramlett.

Pallbearers were Ken Allen, Shane McGreger, Shane Bramlett, Randy Hangey, Sullivan Chainey, Waymon (Buster) Samples, Bobby Shelby and Billy Shelby.

Eloise Gates Williams

Eloise Gates Williams, 86, of Erie, Penn., died Nov. 26, 2008 at Millcreek Community Hospital. She was the widow of Willie (Plucum) Williams. She was a resident of Erie for 60 years, relocating from Akron, Ohio. She was a life member of the International F.&A.M. Masons, Order of the Eastern Star, Ozeil Temple No. 317, where she was past daughter ruler, vice daughter, ruler, chaplain, past president of the Pennsylvania State Association, past local director of the PA State Education Department and past president of the United Past Daughters Ruler Council of Northwest PA. She was a member of Friendship Baptist Church, where she was on the Mother’s Board and a member of the Pastor’s Aide Club. She was a former charter member of Second Baptist Church, where she served on the Usher Board and Nurses Guild, and a charter member of Community Missionary Baptist Church, where she served on the Usher Board and Nurses Guild.

Services were held at 1 p.m. at Friendship Baptist Church. Rev. Dr. Allen B. Green officiated. Burial was in Erie County Memorial Gardens. Law Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

She leaves her children, Rev. Joseph Stone, Rose Stone of Holly Springs, Willie G. Williams Jr., V. Kanani Choy Williams of San Francisco, Calif., George Edward Williams of Clinton, Md., Birda Duck and Floyd Duck of Erie, Pa., Charles Lee Williams of Erie, Pa., Charity Mae Livingston, Terry Livingston of Cincinnati, Ohio, Joyce Ann McNair, Clifton Barney of Erie, Pa; James Mark Williams, Rose R. Williams of Baltimore, Md.; Cora Audrey Smoot and Donald Smoot of Cincinnati, Ohio, Debbie Ruth Williams of Nashville, Tenn.; Brenda Carol Crosby and James Crosby of Eri, Pa.; Katrina Marie Williams of Yonkers, N.Y., Luvetria Holmon of Erie, Pa.; a sister, Lou Della Reid of Akron, Ohio; a goddaughter, Kathy Falbo of Erie; 30 grandchildren, 60 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by siblings Ruby Gates Banks, Robert Gates, Charity Hill, Benjamin Gates, Coy Gates and Mary Ruth Gates; a granddaughter, Stacy Johnson; and a stepdaughter, Victoria McCann.

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