Woodie Kuykendall

GOLDEN – Woodie Kuykendall, 68, died Friday, May 22, 2009, at his residence.

Services were held at 1 p.m. Sunday, May 24, at Deaton Funeral Home Chapel in Red Bay, Ala., with Bro. Billy Nichols officiating. Burial was in Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Red Bay.

Survivors include two daughters, Karen Kuykendall of Ladson, N.C., and Sharon Williams of Red Bay; two sons, Ronnie Kuykendall and Craig Kuykendall, of Red Bay; a stepdaughter, Rhonda Fancher of Golden; one brother, Ray Kuykendall of Red Bay; one sister, Nellie Jean Strickland of Red Bay, Ala.; six grandchildren, Anna Brooke Mason of Golden, and Kacey Williams, Kelsie Williams, Kayla Williams, Koty Williams and Christian Kuykendall, all of Red Bay.

Euple Colburn

CUMMINGS, Ga. – Euple “Gary” Colburn Jr., 38, died Saturday, May 16, 2009, at his home after a sudden illness.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. Waters Funeral Home of Baldwyn is in charge of local arrangements.

Survivors include his mother, Mary Elizabeth Botts Nash of Sherman; his son, Gary Colburn of New Orleans; three daughters, Jennifer Colburn Smith of Sherman, and Kayla Lollar (Jeffrey) and Kellie Colburn of Mantachie; his grandchildren, Gabi and Ethan Smith, Charity, Benjamin and Christian Colburn; two sisters, Linda Johnson of Blue Springs and Debra Thompson (Mac) of New Albany; several nieces and a nephew.

Nellie Hargett

NETTLETON – Nellie Pruitt Hargett, 73, died Thursday, May 21, 2009, at her home after a long illness.

Services were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 23, at the Chapel of Tisdale-Lann Memorial Funeral Home in Nettleton with Rev. John McAlister officiating. Burial was in Jones Chapel Cemetery.

Survivors include her husband, Leroy Hargett of Nettleton; one daughter, Donna Humble of Nettleton; two sons, Junior Smith and Frankie Smith (Debbie) of Golden; one sister, Elaine Ashley of Golden; five brothers, Gene Pruitt, Jimmy Pruitt, Jerry Pruitt (Tom), Ruble Pruitt and Johnny Pruitt (Debbie), all of Golden; five grandchildren, four great-grandchildren.

W.T. Mathis

OZARK – William T. "W. T." Mathis, 64, died suddenly Friday, May 22, 2009, at his residence in the Ozark Community of Itawamba County.

Per his request, there was no formal service or visitation. A brief graveside committal service was held at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 24, at the Ozark Cemetery in Itawamba County with Bro. Buddy Rushing officiating. Holland-Harris Funeral Directors, Tupelo Chapel was in charge of arrangements.

Survivors include his wife, Joyce Powell Mathis, whom he married May 23, 1981; two sons, Britt Mathis (Jennifer) of Tupelo and Chris Spigner (Connie) of Ozark; his daughter, Amy Mathis of Wren; a brother, Junior Mathis (Jean) of Verona; and seven grandchildren.

Priscilla Patterson

MANTACHIE – Priscilla Patterson, 53, died Tuesday, May 19, 2009, at the North Mississippi Medical Center. She was born March 11, 1956, to Richard B. and Margarette Adams Patterson. She was a graduate of Clarksdale High School and Coahoma Junior College. She was a registered nurse who worked primarily in the Clarksdale and McComb areas. She worked for seven years as a manager for Litco Petroleum. She was a Jehovah’s Witness and an avid reader.

Services were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 30, at the Iuka Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witness with William Hayden officiating. McNeece-Morris Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Survivors include her stepdaughter, Ashley Patterson of Mantachie; four brothers, Richard Patterson Jr. of Minneapolis, Minn., Herman Patterson of Clarksdale, David Patterson of Paris, Tenn., and Joseph Patterson of Pritchard, Ala.; four sisters, Teretha Gooch of Cleveland, Ohio, and Dornis Ruffin and Bertha Lee Patterson, both of Mantachie and Mary Alice Russell of Belwood, Ill.; and several nieces and nephews.

Robert Griffiths Sr.

FULTON – Robert Anthony “Griff” Griffiths Sr., 65, died Friday, May 22, 2009, at his residence. He was born May 22 , 1944, in California to Joseph and Annette Griffiths. He was a retired electrician from Westmont, Ill., a suburb of Chicago. He had been a resident of Fulton the past nine years. He was an avid boater and he loved staying on the computer and even was a beta tester for Microsoft. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends and his dog, Hooch.

Services will be held at a later date. McNeece - Morris Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Survivors include his wife, Beverly Griffiths of Fulton; two daughters, Debbie Buendjen of Naperville, Ill., and Carol Struffert of Plainfield, Ill.; two sons, Alan Griffiths of Tupelo and Robert Griffiths Jr. of Texas; two sisters, Ruth Agronov of Roanoke, Va., and Gerri Surratt of Bellingham, Wash.; one brother, Joseph Griffiths of Bellingham, Wash.; and four grandchildren.

William Golden

TITUS, ALA. – Major William Golden, 39, died Thursday, May 21, 2009.

Services were held at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 24, at St. John’s Episcopal Church with Rev. Robert Wisnewski Jr. officiating. Burial was Tuesday, May 26, at 2 p.m. at Adaton Baptist Church Cemetery in Adaton. Leak-Memory Chapel was in charge of the arrangements.

Survivors include his mother, Adanne C. Golden of Montgomery, Ala.; grandmother, Dorothy J. Cain of Fulton; grandfather, Charles H. Golden of Pine Bluff, Ark.; uncle, Frankie Golden; cousin, Jordan Golden, both of Pine Bluff, Ark.; Heather Lord, Taylor Lord, and Katlyn Lord, all of Montgomery; and the Hellums family.

Memorial contributions can be made to St. John’s Episcopal Church.

Davis Dillard

MANTACHIE – Davis Allen Dillard, 69, died Sunday, May 24, 2009, at the North Mississippi Medical Center. He was born Oct. 29, 1939, to Mitchell and Mable Dearman Dillard. He was a salesman for Triangle Distributors for over 25 years. He then was owner and operator of Dillard Supply Company for past 25 years. He enjoyed his work in the building supply industry the past 50-plus years. He loved being around his family.

Services were held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 27, at the McNeece-Morris Funeral Home Chapel in Mantachie with Rev. Ronnie Goodwin and Bro. Clint Smith officiating.

Survivors include his wife, Cherry Dale Dillard; two sons, Greg Dillard of Mantachie and Mitch Dillard (Chanda) of Tupelo, and their mother, Carolyn; one daughter, Cindie White of Tupelo; three stepsons, George DeVaughn Jr. (Denise), Geoffrey DeVaughn (Angie )and Scotty DeVaughn (Brenda), all of Mantachie; four grandchildren, Blair White, Blake Dillard, Miles Dillard and Sarah Grace Dillard; one great-grandchild, Cora Westmoreland; five stepgrandchildren, Caleb DeVaughn, Brent DeVaughn, Allie DeVaughn, John Curtis DeVaughn and Seth DeVaughn; several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Joyce Burton.

JoEtta McClain

SELMER, TENN. - JoEtta Sweat McClain, 82, died Saturday, May 23, 2009.

Services were held at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 28, at Shackelford Funeral Directors in Selmer with J.E. Sims, Jim Adkins and Joel Sweat officiating. Burial was in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Selmer. Shackelford Funeral Directors was in charge of the arrangements.

Survivors include her sister-in-law, Louise G. Sweat of Saltillo; niece, Deborah Blaylock of Guntown; nephews, J.E. Sims of Mantachie and Mike Sims and Joel R. Sweat, both of Saltillo; and a host of great-nieces and nephews.

W.T. Summers

BELDEN – Walter Troy “W.T.” Summers, 86, died Wednesday, May 27, 2009, at the Golden Living Nursing Center in Tupelo.

Services, with military honors, were held at 2 p.m. Friday, May 29, at the Tupelo Chapel of Holland-Harris Funeral Directors with Dr. Don Baggett and Bro. Owen Riddick officiating. Burial was in the Belden Cemetery. Holland-Harris Funeral Directors was in charge of the arrangements.

Survivors include his daughter, Janice S. Leach of Belden; two sons, David Summers (Janice) of Tupelo and Walt Summers (Ginger) of Belden; nine grandchildren, Chad Leach and Dana Langley (Joseph), both of Belden, Ryan Summers (Angela) of Corinth, Mark Summers (Amanda) of Mantachie, Clay Taylor (Whitney) of Hattiesburg, Shawn Summers (Jennifer) of Tupelo, Chris Summers (Kelly) of Belden, Landon Summers (Jennifer) of Starkville and Katie Gann (Scott) of Tupelo; nine great- grandchildren; one sister, Annie Lou Roebuck of the Furrs Community; and one brother, Trent Summers (Martha) of Belden.

Memorial donations may be made to the Belden Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 92, Belden, MS. 38826.

Arlie F. Spencer

FULTON - Arlie F. Spencer, 83, died May 26, 2009, at the Veterans Home in Oxford. He was born Aug. 23, 1925, in Itawamba County to the late Van K. and Chessie Moore Spencer. He was a member of the Fulton United Methodist Church and was a master craftsman in woodwork. He served on the SS Momac Wren in the Pacific Campaign of World War II. He received an honorable discharge from the Navy on Jan. 18, 1946. After the war ended, he lived in California and worked training to be an engineer for the railroad. He later returned home to assist his parents on the family farm. He was a devoted son, brother and uncle.

Graveside services were held at 2 p.m. Friday, May 29, at Hillcrest Masonic Cemetery in Fulton with Mike Deaton officiating. Senter Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Survivors include one sister, LeFray Spencer Reese of Fulton; one niece, Ramona O’Shields (Wayne) of Memphis; seven nephews, Joe and Bobby Reese of Tupelo, Ray Reese of Pontotoc, Earl Reese of Fulton, Sonny Reese of Memphis, and Dr. Vaughn P. Cable and Brian S. Cable, both of Venice, Calif.; five great-nieces; 11 great-nephews; and two great-great-nieces.

Emogene Walton

FULTON – Emogene Walton, 78, died Friday, May 29, 2009, at her home. She was born Aug. 17, 1930, in Lee County to Jerry and Elizabeth Pate. She was a member of Ballardsville Baptist Church and a retired employee of Reed’s Manufacturing. She enjoyed gardening and cooking for family and friends.

Services were held at 4 p.m. Sunday, May 31, at Ballardsville Baptist Church with Bro. Thelbert Hill and Bro. Roger Franks officiating. Burial was in Dorsey Cemetery. Senter Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Survivors include two daughters, Joyce Loague (Junior) of Fulton and Betty Franks (C.G.) of Mantachie; two grandchildren, Misty Sheffield (Justin) and Sonya Loague of Fulton. She was preceded in death by her husband, Noon Walton, and her parents.

Pallbearers were Tyrone Bell, John Franks, Larry Walton, Jerry Walton, Larry Guess and Jerry Guess.

Dearcie Franks

PHILADELPHIA – Dearcie Franks, 98, formerly of Fulton, died Wednesday, May 27, 2009, at the Choctaw Residence Center. She was born April 23, 1911, in Franklin County, Ala., to Willis Reese and Florence Afee Ozbirn. She was the oldest member of Mantachie Baptist Church. She was a factory worker and a seamstress. She enjoyed working in her yard.

Services were held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 30, at Senter Funeral Home Chapel in Fulton with Bro. Harold Ozbirn and Bro. Dewitt Bain officiating. Burial was in Ridge Cemetery.

Survivors include two daughters, Betty Moody (Robert) of Mantachie and Bobbie Mills (W.T.) of Zion, Ill.; two sons, E.J. Bolding of Kenosha, Wis., and David Franks (Rozella) of Florence; 11 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; a daughter-in-law, Beverly Bolding; a sister-in-law, Mary Ozbirn of Southaven. She was preceded in death by her husbands, William Edgar Bolding and Garrison Franks, and a son, Ed Bolding.

J.C. Bennett

FULTON – J.C. “Hollywood” Bennett, 82, died Thursday, May 28, 2009, at the Sanctuary Hospice House. He was born April 15, 1927, in Fulton to Rural and Mauveline Dozier Bennett. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II. He was a retired heavy equipment operator for Rowe Construction and a member of Move of God Fellowship in Hudson, Ill., American Legion Post 0653 in Illinois and Local Union 649.

Services will be held in Bloomington, Ill., at a later date. Burial will be in East Lawn Memorial Garden in Bloomington. Senter Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Survivors include four daughters, Betty Jean Peugh (Steve) of Fulton, Oleda Punke (Herman) of Hudson, Ill., Jennie Compton (Clyde) of Hope, Ill., and Melba Wilson (Keenan) of Cheona, Ill.; one son, Rockey Lee Bennett (Regina) of Fulton; 21 grandchildren, 54 great-grandchildren, 14 great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Emma Umfress and Eva Lois Tucker, and three brothers, Bobby Bennett (Irene), Sammy Bennett (Nell) and Joe Bennett (Ann), all of Fulton. He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Grace Bennett; a son, Charles Jay Bennett; his parents; two sisters, Thelma Sims and Mary Ellen Bennett; and three great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers were Denny Herald, Don Follick, Fred Rickert, Trey Shickel, Dustin Hodges, Cody Seilier and Damien Rickert.

Vickie Gillard

FULTON – Vickie Louise Patterson Gillard, 56, died Thursday, May 28, 2009, at the North Mississippi Medical Center after an extended illness. She was born March 1, 1953, in Tupelo to James Raymond Patterson and Ruby Tackett Patterson. She lived most of her life in Northeast Mississippi, the last years in Itawamba County. She was a graduate of Shannon High School. She resided in Washington D.C. and New Orleans for about 10 years, where she worked in the theater. She was a Catholic. She enjoyed football, especially the LSU Tigers and the New Orleans Saints; catching catfish; parades, especially Mardi Gras and St. Patrick’s Day parades; and her three dogs and a cat. She will be sorely missed by all.

Services were held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 30, at the Tupelo Chapel of Holland-Harris Funeral Directors with Father Tom Lollar officiating. Burial was in the Gilvo Cemetery in the Skyline community.

Survivors include her husband, Kevin Gillard of Fulton; one daughter, Laura Ann Gillard and her former husband, James Dill (Linda) of Saltillo; four brothers, Roy Justice of St. Petersburg, Fla., Tony Patterson of Saltillo, Johnny Patterson of Shannon and Jamie Patterson of Tupelo; two sisters, Tommie Braggs and Gail Petrie of Tupelo; a host of nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Kenneth Patterson.

Clara Riley

MANTACHIE – Clara Thomas Riley, 51, died Friday, May 29, 2009, at the North Mississippi Medical Center. She was born Dec. 14, 1957, in Texas. She was a nurse for 27 years and a member of the Mississippi Nurses Association. An avid reader, she enjoyed helping people. She loved her animals and cherished her grandchildren.

Services were held at 1 p.m. Sunday, May 31, at Senter Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Shane Crawford officiating. Burial was in Harden’s Chapel Cemetery.

Survivors include her husband, Johnny Riley of Mantachie; one daughter, Jessica Riley of Mantachie; two sons, Jeremy Riley of California and Jered Riley (Shelley) of Mantachie; her parents, Max and Ramona Thomas of Dallas, Ga.; five grandchildren, Chacie Funderburk, Keleigh Funderburk, Case Riley, Caelan Riley and Issac Riley; two sisters, Paula Culver of Dorsey and Tammy Loague of Baldwyn; one brother, Clayton Thomas (Jayne) of Atlanta, Ga.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Shirley Thomas.

Pallbearers were Matt Lesley, Jacob Thomas, Brian Funderburk, Victor Umfress Jr., Ricky Smith and Larry Culver.