Obituaries
Olive Vaughn McDowell
The homegoing service for Mrs. Olive Vaughn McDowell will be 2:00 p.m., Sunday, January 27, 2019,
at New Prospect Baptist Church, with interment at Roseland Cemetery in Gloster, MS. Friends may
visit with the family from 5:00-8:00 p.m., Saturday, January 26, at Riverwood family and will resume at
New Prospect from 1:00 p.m. until time of the service.
Mrs. Olive Vaughn McDowell entered the presence of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on January 25, 2019,
surrounded by her family, and the angels that have ministered to her during her illness. She was a resident of
Brookhaven and was 79 years young. Mrs. Olive was the “Proverbs 31” woman, “who can find a virtuous woman?
For her price is far above rubies…” She was the glue that held her family together, loving each one of
them equally. She also treasured her calling as a faithful servant, working in the kitchen at New Prospect,
and serving the Lord in any position she was asked as well as her WMU group. Mrs. Olive found pleasure
in her keeping up flower beds and in cooking tremendous meals for her family. She retired from work as an
Office Manager in the Medical Field and was a treasured member of New Prospect Baptist Church. She
will be greatly missed by all who loved her.
Mrs. Olive is preceded in death by her husband, Robert McDowell; parents, Vaughn and Dorothy Campbell;
infant sons, Robert, Jr. and John Lamar McDowell; brother, Harris Campbell; sisters, Dotty Hansen,
Laverne Temple; and son-in-law, Patrick Carter.
Those left here to hold sweet memories of her are her sons, James McDowell, Timothy McDowell and wife,
Becky, and Jonathan McDowell and wife, Kimber; daughter, Angela McDowell Carter; brothers, John Campbell
and wife, Silvia and Steve Campbell and wife, Yvonne; and her sister, Minnie Campbell. She is also survived
by her ten grandchildren, Hunter McDowell, Emily Torres, Jennifer Radzewicz, Melissa Carter,
Wilson McDowell, Brennan McDowell, Tyler McDowell, Allison Carter, Robbie McDowell,
Wayne McDowell and three great grandchildren, Kyler McDowell, Hayden McDowell, and Parker Torres.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice Ministries of Ridgeland.
Ralph Covington, Sr
The funeral service for Mr. Ralph Covington, Sr., will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, January 26, 2019,
at Riverwood Family with interment at New Sight Cemetery.
Visitation will be at Riverwood, from 5:00-8:00 p.m., Friday, January 25, and will resume at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, until the time of service.
Mr. Ralph Covington, 84, of Wesson, passed away January 23, 2019, at Merit Health Central.
He was born on June 11, 1934 to Wiley and Winnie Covington. He was an oilfield worker until his retirement.
Mr. Ralph was an avid sports fan, and he also enjoyed the outdoors, running his dogs and turkey hunting.
He was a member of Heucks Retreat Baptist Church.
He is preceded in death by his wives, Mattie Merle Thompson Covington and Frances Jewel Cowart Covington;
his parents; brother, Grady Covington; and sister, Elaine Holland.
Those left to cherish his memory are, his sons, Ralph Covington, Jr. (Mary), Bobby Glen (Kelly);
daughters, Barbara Moak (Joel), Mary Sue Devorss (John), Patsy Nations (Wade); sister, Geneva Moak (Delos);
11 grandchildren, Jaime (Todd), Colt, Chase, Lee, Olivia (Ryan), Dara, Jedd (Heather), Kaitlin (Justen), Amber, Charles, and Sarah.
He is also survived by his church family at Heucks Retreat and also his friends at Rebel Testers.
James Brayden Anthony
Funeral services for James Brayden Anthony will be held at Riverwood Family on Friday,
January 25, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. The visitation will be held on Thursday at Riverwood Family from
5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. and will resume on Friday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service.
James Brayden Anthony, age 17 and a resident of Bogue Chitto, went to be with his Lord on Tuesday,
January 22, 2019. He was an excellent defensive football player, as well as an outstanding student,
which included accolades such as the honor roll, scoring exceptionally high on his ACT and being
in the 25 & Up Club, and being a recipient of the Dean’s List Scholarship at Co-Lin Community College.
James also enjoyed playing video games and farm work. He was a kind and caring gentleman
that will be missed by all of those who knew him.
He is preceded in death by his great-grandparents, H.C. and Anna Bell Smith.
Those left to cherish his memory are his father, Lerone Bouldin and wife Yolanda; mother,
Belinda Anthony; brothers, Marcus Davis, Jamal Jones, Eric Fisher, II, and Devin Bouldin; sisters,
Indeya Womack, Lianna Williams, and LeVonda Fisher. He is also survived by his paternal grandparents,
Caleana and Frank Brown; and maternal grandparents, Pearlean and Wayne Johnson, and Jimmie Anthony;
as well as a host of aunts, uncles, nieces and cousins.
William Terrell Sistrunk
Services for Mr. William Terrell Sistrunk of Brookhaven are 11 am Thursday, January 24, 2019
at Faith Presbyterian Church with visitation from 9:00 until time of service.
Interment will be at Moaks Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.
Mr. William Terrell Sistrunk, 95, went to be with his Lord on January 21, 2019 at Haven Hall Nursing Home.
He was born in Frankfort Kentucky on March 29, 1923 to the late Steen and Mary Sistrunk.
He served in the United States Coast Guard Merchant Marines from 1941-1945
and worked as purser for 47 years with Delta Steamship Line.
Mr. Sistrunk was also a member and Elder of Faith Presbyterian Church. His hobbies were hunting and fishing.
Preceding him in death are his parents.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife Jimmie Hodges Sistrunk; daughter, Mary Jane Sistrunk,
and a host of nieces and nephews and other family members.
Lisa Wanette Joseph Wilson
Services for Mrs. Lisa Wanette Joseph Wilson will be held on January 22, 2019, at 11:00am
at Mt. Zion Church of Christ with interment in the Church cemetery.
Visitation will be held prior to the service starting at 9:00am. Riverwood Family is in charge of arrangements.
Lisa Wanette Joseph Wilson, 52, of Brookhaven, went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on January 19, 2019.
She was born in Natchez on February 11, 1966, to Robert “Bob” Shelton Joseph, Sr. and Orilla Day Joseph.
Mrs. Wilson was a Respiratory Therapist and was a member of Mt. Zion Church of Christ.
She loved animals, especially her dogs. Lisa had a passion for serving pediatric patients.
Preceding her in death was her father, Bob Joseph.
Those left to cherish her memory is her husband, Kirk Wilson; mother, Orilla Joseph;
brothers, Tommy Joseph and wife Andrea and Robert Joseph; sister, Sue Sullivan and husband Steve
along with a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in her name to
Berean Children’s Home, 1180 Berea Trail SE, Bogue Chitto, MS 39629,
or Blair E. Batson Children’s Research Hospital, 2500 N. State Street, Jackson, MS 39216.
Constable Ronald Earls
The funeral service for Constable Ronnie Earls will be 11:00 a.m., Thursday, January 24, 2019, at
Riverwood Family Funeral Service with interment at Sylvarena Baptist Church Cemetery in Wesson.
Friends may visit the family from 5:00-8:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 23, at Riverwood Family and
will resume on Thursday beginning at 9:30 a.m. until time of the service.
Mr. Virgil Ronald Earls, 68, of Wesson, passed from this life on January 20, 2019 at Forrest General Hospital
in Hattiesburg. He was born on May 13, 1950 to the late Lee Virgil Earls and Margurette Furlow Earls.
Mr. Earls began serving as Copiah County Constable, Post 2, in Wesson, MS, in 1982. He also worked
in the carpentry business and he received the Wesson Chamber of Commerce Community Service Award.
He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend. Mr. Ronnie was a member of Zion Hill Baptist Church,
he will be missed by all those who loved him.
Preceding him in death are his parents; brothers, Randolph, George, and Mitchell Earls; sister, Irene Earls Ramsey;
nephew, Jerry Earls, Jr.; niece, Kay Blalock; and brother-in-law, Jimmy Purser, Sr.
Those left behind to cherish his memory are, his wife, Debbie Bennett Earls; daughter, Lisa Smith and husband, Briley;
brothers, Jerry Earls, Sr. and Lee V. Earls, Sr.; sisters, Ina Taylor, Genice Inabnet, and Donnis Renfroe and sister-in-law,
Patricia Purser. He is also survived by two grandchildren, Aubree Lee Smith and James Brantley Smith,
his special friends, Phillip and LeaAnn Knight; and a host of special nieces, nephews and other loving family members and friends.
Joe Curtis Harris
Services for Mr. Joe Curtis Harris will be held on Wednesday, January 23, 2019 at 2:00pm at
Riverwood Family with interment at Little Bahala Baptist Church Cemetery. Visitation will be on
Wednesday, January 23, 2019 from 12:00pm til service time at 2:00pm.
Joe Curtis Harris, 65, of Wesson, passed from this life on January 18, 2019, at King’s Daughters Medical Center.
He was born in Brookhaven on January 7, 1954, to Joe T. Harris and Vera Mae Hamilton Harris.
Preceding him in death were his parents and sister, Mary Lee Harris.
Those Left to cherish his memory are his cousins, Amelia Warrick, Thomas Harris, Alvin Steen, and James Harris.
Carl Jay Hedglin
Services for Mr. Carl Jay Hedglin are 11:00 am Monday January 21, 2019 at Riverwood Family Funeral Service with visitation from 9:30 until time of service.
Burial will be at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church.
Mr. Carl Jay Hedglin, 86, of Bogue Chitto passed away on January 17, 2019 at his residence.
He was born on September 28, 1932 to the late John William Hedglin and Thelma Summers Hedglin.
Preceding him in death are his parents; and sister, Linda Smith.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Margaret Price Hedglin
and sons, John Hedglin and wife Kay, Mike Hedglin and wife Cherri and Tommy Hedglin and wife Judy.
He is also survived by 7 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.
Karen White Adams
Funeral services for Ms. Karen W. Adams will be 2:00, Friday, January 18, 2019, at Riverwood Family,
with interment at Riverwood Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m., Thursday, January 17, at Riverwood.
Karen White Adams, 67, of Brookhaven, passed from this life on January 15, 2019. She was born on September 10, 1951
to Earl Quitman White and Billie Merle Waldrop. She was a self-employed business owner and a member
of Easthaven Baptist Church. Karen "Mamaw K," as everyone knew her, was nothing short of a family woman.
She spent every passing second thinking of what she could do for her daughters and grandchildren.
Every ballgame, awards day, and milestone, she was always there to make sure she could be the biggest supporter she could be.
Her care and compassion knew no bounds because the love in her heart ran deeper than any ocean. You could always catch her
out and about wearing a smile while she filled you in about everything her grandchildren were up to and how proud of them she was.
Her second passion was walking with nature as she loved to keep her yard and flowerbeds perfect. The love for her will forever
be immeasurable and unfathomable.
Preceding her in death are her parents; her grandmother, Annie Merle Waldrop; sister, Debra Susan Brown; and nephews, Sid and Brad Beasley.
Those left here to cherish and remember her are, her daughters, Karla Adams Gerald and Kala Adams; brothers, Ronnie White, Robert Brown;
sisters, Diane Beasley, Lisa Rudesill; three grandchildren, Nickolas Burns, Megan Gerald, and Tucker Gerald; and her special nieces and nephews
along with other loving family members and friends.