Obituaries

Robert Aubrey French, 78, of Augusta, Ga., died Nov. 5, 2009 at the University Hospital. He was the son of the late Aubrey and Mauveline French of Byhalia. He graduated from Byhalia High School and the University of Mississippi, where he received a BS degree in industrial engineering and was a member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. He was employed at Proctor and Gamble for 40 years, a member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church, the Kiwanis Club and the August Country Club.

He leaves his wife, Jane; four sons, Randall, Dennis, David, and Barry French; a daughter, Janet McKnight; two sisters, Billie Horton of Ft. Worth, Tx., Joan McKay of Memphis, Tenn.; and 14 grandchildren.

Earl Garner, 79, of Grand Rapids, Mich., formerly of Benton County, died at his son Rev. Roger Garner’s home in Grand Rapids Dec. 4, 2009. He was the widower of Dovie Holt Garner and a retired farmer.

Services were held at 1 p.m. on Dec. 11 at Royston Chapel CME Church in Benton County, where he was a member. Burial was in the church cemetery. Rev. Roger Garner officiated. J.F. Brittenum and Son Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

He leaves three sons, Rev. Roger Garner, Larry Garner, both of Grand Rapids, Jessie Garner of Hickory Flat; eight grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers were Ronald Garner, Rodrick Garner, Ricky Garner, Randy Garner, Mark Garner, Wayne Tucker, Alonzo Tucker and Mark Tucker. Honorary pallbearers were Roger Garner, Larry Garner, Reginald Garner, Jessie Garner, Charles Tucker, Tennyson Royston, William Porter, Calvin Lewis and Ronnie Royston.

Mildred E. Holbrook, 87, of Ashland, died Dec. 11, 2009 at her home. She was the widow of John Robert Holbrook.

Services were held at 11 a.m. on Dec. 14 at Liberty United Methodist Church, where she was a member. Burial was in the church cemetery. Bro. William Kemp officiated. Holly Springs Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

She leaves her son, Jerry Holbrook of Ashland; her daughter, Patsy Flippin of Catoosa, Okla.; four brothers, Granville Miller, Eugene Miller, Bobby Joe Miller, Luther Adam Miller; four sisters, Ezell Mills, Sara Poff, Vera Clark, Mary Jewel Scoggins, all of Memphis; six grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Stewart Alan Howell, 37, of Myrtle, died Dec. 12, 2009 at his home. He was an employee of Riverside Traffic Systems, Inc. and a member of Amaziah Baptist Church.

Services were held at 1 p.m. on Dec. 16 at United Funeral Service Chapel in New Albany. Rev. Jason Howell and Rev. Randy Futral officiated. Burial was in Temperence Hill Cemetery.

He leaves his wife, Jane Smithey Howell; two daughters, Angel Howell, Maddison Laher-Howell, both of Myrtle; two sons, Chris Howell of Hickory Flat, Ethan Howell of Myrtle; his father and stepmother, Clyde and Anasticia Howell of Hickory Flat; his mother and stepfather, Marion and George McCallen of Walls; and two sisters, Michele Haley of Red Banks, Krystal Chism of Hickory Flat.

Pallbearers were William Carpenter, Chris Burks, Wayne Pruitt, Billy Jack Rodgers, David Farr and Booker Farr.

Darlene Joy Falkner Jackson, 51, of Holly Springs, died Dec. 9, 2009 at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo. She was a member of Jordan Temple of Deliverance Church and a graduate of M.I. College and Holly Springs High School. She was disabled.

Services were held at 1 p.m. on Dec. 12 at Adolphus Chapel CME Church, where she was a former member. Rev. Earnest Jordan officiated. Burial was in Cottrell Memorial Garden. J.F. Brittenum and Son Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

She leaves her mother, James E. Howell Falkner of Holly Springs; her father, Clayton Falkner of Holly Springs; two sisters, Machelle Walton, Erma Jean Howell, both of Holly Springs; and a brother, Larry Falkner of Holly Springs.

Pallbearers were Sammie L. Walton Jr., Michael D. Walton, Lester E. Jones Jr., Christopher Wilkins, Clayton Campbell Sr., Clayton Campbell Jr. and Aaron Wilkins IV. Honorary pallbearers were Larry Falkner, Leon Sims, Desmond R. Howell Sr. and Allen Martin Jr.

Cleveland Jones, 80, of Senatobia, died Dec. 6, 2009 in Southaven. He was a retired construction worker.

Services were held at 12 noon on Dec. 12 at Thyatira Family Life Center in Senatobia. Burial was in Independent-Tyro Church Cemetery. Rodgers Funeral Home in Coldwater was in charge of arrangements.

He leaves his wife, Esther Jones; five daughters, Alice Jones, Vuanita McArthur, both of Memphis, Tenn., Cora Jones, Genise Jones, Classie Mack, all of Senatobia; six sons, David Avant, Kenya Jones, Cleveland Jones Sr., all of Senatobia, Jaye Jones of Atlanta, Ga., Jessie Jones of Greenwood, Willie Jones of Como; a brother, Emmit Jones of Senatobia; 22 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.

Henderson Milan

Henderson Milan, 88, of Holly Springs, died December 14, 2009 at Baptist DeSoto Hospital in Southaven. He was a member of Hopewell No. 1 MB Church, where he served as church clerk, Sunday School teacher, church treasurer and deacon. He was a board member of the Holly Springs Baptist Association and reporter for the association. A member of the NAACP, he was also a member of American Legion Post No. 250 and the Masonic Lodge. He was an Army veteran of World War II. A retired school teacher, he taught in the Marshall County School System for 30 years. He also wrote a column in The South Reporter from the age of 12; writing for 72 years before his retirement in 2005.

Visitation will be held December 18 at J.F. Brittenum and Son Funeral Home, 125 Memphis St., from 2-7 p.m. The family will receive visitors from 5-7 p.m. Mr. Milan will lie in state at Rust College, in the Doxey Auditorium on Saturday from 10 until 10:55 a.m.

Services will be held at 11 a.m., December 19 at Rust College Doxey Auditorium. Burial will be in Hill Crest Cemetery. Rev. Leroy James will officiate. J.F. Brittenum and Son Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

He leaves his wife, Mary Jackson Milan. He was preceded in death by his parents and 10 siblings.

Garland Keel, 86, of Coldwater, died Dec. 12, 2009 at his home. He was a Baptist, a truck driver and a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II.

Services were held at 11 a.m. on Dec. 15 at Holly Springs Funeral Home Chapel. Burial was in Magnolia Cemetery. Dr. Jim McCullough officiated.

He leaves his wife, Lois K. Keel; his son, Bobby Keel of Coldwater; five daughters, Martha Robertson of Tucson, Az., Ruby Lawson of Senatobia, Joyce Elkins of Memphis, Tenn., Loyce Keel of Memphis, Barbara Carpenter of Bartlett, Tenn.; his sister, Pearl Kesler of Abbeville; 12 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

James L. Pearson, 66, formerly of Potts Camp, died Nov. 27, 2009 at the KoBaker House in Columbus, Ohio.

Services were held at 12 noon on Dec. 4 at the Corinthian MB Church in Columbus, Ohio.

He leaves his wife, Bernice Pearson; his son, Kelly Pearson; two stepchildren, Bernard Anderson, Jewellyn Kubi; two brothers, John Moton, Elizah Whaley, all of Columbus, Ohio; four sisters, Mary Houston, Sherry Evans of Potts Camp, Shirley Christian of Memphis, Tenn., Frances Johnson of Columbia; and six grandchildren.

Pallbearers were nephews. Honorary pallbearers were brothers and brothers-in-law.

Melissa Pugh, 22, of Porter, Tx., formerly of Hickory Flat, died Dec. 9, 2009 in New Caney, Tx. She was a lead sales associate manager for Dollar General Store in Texas.

Services were held at 12 noon on Dec. 16 at Winborn U.M. Church in Hickory Flat. Burial was in Hopewell Cemetery in Walnut. Rev. Brownie Tohill officiated. Serenity Funeral Home of New Albany was in charge of arrangements.

She leaves her mother, Patricia Kennedy of Hickory Flat; a son, Adrian Michael Tijerina; fiance, Mike Tijerina of Porter, Tx.; grandmother, Annie Mae Mardis of Benton County; and two brothers, Christopher Rutherford of Byhalia, Bradley Kennedy of Jacksonville, Fla.

Sylvester Williamson, 76, of Senatobia, died Dec. 8, 2009 in Batesville. He was a retired construction worker.

Services were held at 11 a.m. on Dec. 12 at Mt. Calm Baptist Church in Coldwater. Burial was in the church cemetery. Rodgers Funeral Home in Coldwater was in charge of arrangements.

He leaves his wife, Norma Renfroe; two daughters, Donna Williamson of Southaven, Patricia Parker of Memphis, Tenn.; three sons, Kirby Montgomery of Chicago, Ill., Dennis Williamson of Memphis, Tenn., Michael Williamson of Madison, Ala.; five sisters, Sadie Irby of Coldwater, Mae Jones, Martha May Massey, Atline Faulkner, all of Memphis, Tenn., Mary Eubanks of Buffalo, NY; five brothers, Jim Williamson Jr., Huston Byno, both of Senatobia, Hosea Williamson of Sardis, Earnest Byno, Jimmy Lee Williamson, both of Memphis, Tenn.; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.


Thursday, December 17, 2009
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