Funeral service for Donald Laron “Ronnie” Rutland will be 2 p.m. Sunday,

February 14, 2021 at Calvary Pentecostal Church with burial in the church cemetery.

Visitation will begin at 5 p.m. Saturday, February 13, at Calvary.

Mr. Donald Laron “Ronnie” Rutland, 59, of Jayess, passed from this life and entered

eternity February 12, 2021. He began his walk here on earth March 15, 1961, born to

John Thomas “Buck” Rutland and Sarah Evon Dunaway. He was employed as a

heavy equipment operator in the construction business. He was a member of Calvary Pentecostal Church.

Mr. Rutland is preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Joe “PeeWee” Rutland and

John Patrick “Pat” Rutland; and sister, Birdie Mae Temple.

Those left to cherish his memory are his son, Jonathan Rutland of Jayess; daughters,

Laronda Boyd (Richie) of Jayess, MS, Lanita Blaylock (Craig) of Caledonia, MS; brothers,

Wendell Rutland (Sue), Braxton “Shorty” Rutland (Sandra), and Thomas “Tommy” Rutland (Cathy);

sisters, Barbara Janette Perry, Bonnie Phillips, and Glenda Marberry. He is also survived by ten grandchildren,

Cohen Boyd, Trenton Boyd, Declan Boyd, Dawson Boyd, Maddox Blaylock, Jaylen Blaylock, Khloe Blaylock,

Chapel Blaylock, Haven Rutland, and Honor Rutland, as well as a host of nieces and nephews.

Graveside service for Nellie Rie Dodd will be 11 a.m., Monday, February 15, at

Mt Olive Church of Christ Cemetery. Visitation is 10 a.m. at Riverwood Family.

Ms. Dodd, 76, passed from this life February 9, 2021. She was born February 8, 1945,

to Marley Burnell Bowman, Sr. and Gertrude Linton Bowman.

She worked over 20 years at Sanderson Farms and retired from there. She was busy even

after her retirement by caring for her family and enjoying her hobbies which included

gardening and collecting Navajo Indian relics. Ms. Dodd was always known as a

kind and gentle soul. She was a loving mother, sister, and aunt. She will be greatly

missed by all who loved her.

She is preceded in death by her parents and one sister, Coraline Bowman Davis.

Those left to cherish her memory are her son, Michael Dodd; brother, Marley Bowman, Jr.;

and sister, Mary Lee Smith, as well as other loving family members and friends.

Phillip Stephen Myers of Brookhaven, MS, passed away peacefully on February 9th 2021 of complications from

Covid-19. He was preceded in death by his mother, Martha Pendergrass Myers and his father, Phillip Jacob Myers.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy Hanks Myers, his daughter, Stephanie Leanne Myers-Boone, his sister, Martha

Phillis Myers-Thompson as well as many nieces, nephews and extended family, and his chihuahua pack: Bella, Chico

and Brown Chico. 

Steve recently retired after almost 60 years working in the waterworks industry in the Southeastern U.S. Many

considered him to be "The King" of the business because there wasn't a pipe, valve, fitting, manhole ring or storm

drain that he didn't know the specifications of or a serial number he didn't have memorized. He enjoyed taking his

customers deep sea fishing in the Gulf of Mexico and hunting in Hill Country, Texas. 

Steve met Nancy when he pulled the blue GTO he had named "Bernadette" up alongside her while she was

walking down the street in Brookhaven, MS. He asked where he could smoke a cigarette without the Whitworth College

faculty seeing. She felt sorry for him and accompanied him to a local park. Over the years, they left Mississippi,

lived all over the South, but eventually returned to Brookhaven where they first met. 

He was happiest when he was fixing something whether it be a classic automobile, furniture or a lawnmower he

found in a junk pile somewhere. He was a handyman of the highest order. Everyone who knew him was aware

there was a right way, a wrong way, and the Myers way, which was the best way. He enjoyed wearing his

signature guayabera shirts while repairing things because there were four pockets: one for the small notebook

and pen he carried everywhere and the rest for tools.

He owned many classic cars over the years including a Maserati and a Jaguar. His favorite was a red 1972 Datsun 240z he

named "Gertrude" who he meticulously restored to greatness and eventually allowed his daughter to drive even

though he thought she always shifted it into second gear too soon. 

Steve had an affinity for chihuahuas, especially the ugly ones no one else wanted and even owned multiple three-legged dogs.

He was a lover of Heinz ketchup and dark chocolates. He still played 8-tracks and vinyl on vintage stereo equipment.

He was a Doors fan of the highest order. He also believed Mississippi State Edam cheese was an appropriate Christmas

gift for all. Sometimes on a Saturday night after a cookout, he would go outside and bray like an ogre at the moon. 

A celebration of his life will be held later this spring at his little cabin in Felixville when Covid-19 wanes and the weather

brightens. In the meantime, start a home improvement project in his honor, but remember it will take three times as long,

cost twice as much, and at least three trips to Home Depot will be involved. In lieu of flowers, please feel free to send a donation

to The Tunnel to Towers Foundation or at least be bothered to change the lightbulbs in the house whenever they burn out.

Graveside service for Mrs. Viola Rae Smith Dunn Reeves will be 11 a.m., Saturday, February 13, at Friendship Baptist Church Cemetery.

Mrs. Reeves, 86, of Bogue Chitto, passed from this life and entered eternal life February 8, 2021.

She began her walk here August 3, 1934, born to Ernest Smith and Mamie Dell Callender Smith.

She was a School Bus driver for many years and then retired from the United States Postal Service

where she worked as a mail deliverer. Mrs. Reeves was a member of Friendship Baptist Church and taught in

Discipleship Training Classes there. She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Aubrey Dunn; sons, Michael Stephen Dunn (Becky)

and Timothy Ray Dunn (Susan); brothers, Roger Smith and Ernest Dale Smith; and sister, Mersades Smith Knight Dunnaway.

Those left to cherish her memory are her husband, Billy Joe Reeves; sons, Jeffery Keith Dunn (Linda)

and Mark Patrick Dunn (Cindy); brothers, David Smith (Anita), Leo Smith (Kay), Carl Andrew Smith;

sister, Janice Lynn Smith Falvey; 11 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren as well as other loving family members and friends.