Obituaries
Mable Lee Gibson
Visitation will be on Wednesday, January 13, 2021, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Riverwood Family, 76 Highway 51 South, Brookhaven, MS.,
Graveside services to follow at Easthaven Cemetery, Highway 84 E, Brookhaven, MS. Services to be officiated by Rev. Ron Ballard.
Mable Lea Gibson, 95, went to be with her Lord and Savior on January 10, 2021. She was born on September 18, 1925 in Brookhaven, MS to the late Addie and J.C. Tarver. She graduated from Brookhaven High School in 1944. Mable was a member of Union Hall Baptist Church.
She went to beauty school after working at Stahl Urban for seven years. She had a beauty shop at her home for 45 years. Some of her favorite hobbies were crocheting, gardening, fishing, and sewing. She used her sewing skills to make items for hospice patients. She also made clothes for children on the mission field.
Preceding her in death are her parents, her husband of 64 years, Charles Gibson, and all of her siblings: Louis Tarver, Guy Tarver, Buddy Tarver, Frank Tarver, Clarence Tarver, Bill Tarver, Baby boy- Russell Tarver, Eula Mae Howell, Rita Fay Hill, Ruth King, Ida Mae Lofton.
Those who remain to cherish her memory are her daughters, Dianne Sunman, Kay Gibson, and Sarah Boyd (Ken Boyd). She also leaves behind four grandchildren: Stacey Boyd Jackson, Brian Boyd (Karissa Boyd), Michael Sunman (Jennifer Sunman), and Jeffrey Sunman (Michelle Luecking Sunman).
She has 11 great grandchildren: Kendall Jackson, Cade Jackson, Chloe Boyd, Brianna Claire Boyd, Addison Boyd, Adeline Boyd, Hayden Sunman, Connor Sunman, Rory Sunman, Jillian Sunman, and Annabeth Sunman. She was also survived by a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Serving as Pallbearers will be Kendall Jackson, Cade Jackson, Marcus Jackson, Jeffrey Sunman, Tony Rogers, and Brian Boyd. Serving as Honorary Pallbearer will be Lee Berry.
*** In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in Memory of Mable Lea Gibson to Union Hall Baptist Church, 1242 Nola Road, Brookhaven, MS 39601.
Christopher Ryan Spear
Services for Christopher Ryan Spear are 11:00 am Wednesday, January 13, 2021
at Springs of Praise Church with burial at Ashley Cemetery in Hazlehurst MS.
Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 pm Tuesday, January 12 at the Church.
Christopher Ryan Spear, 25, was born on May 31, 1995.
He left his earthly home on January 7, 2021. He was the
first born of four boys. Most will remember Ryan as a
passionate musician, who played the guitar in his church,
Springs of Praise,as well as spending countless hours
making music and performing for crowds.
Ryan graduated from Wesson Attendance Center in 2013
where he enjoyed playing football and spending time
with his friends.
He pursued a career in the Marine transportation industry.
Ryan never met a stranger and he brought smiles to every
face he met. He was a big hugger so whenever you saw him,
there was no doubt you were getting a huge hug.
Most of all and most importantly, Ryan was a God-fearing man
and Christian. He spent most of his Sundays, if not all,
in church with his youth group and friends.
Preceding him in death were his maternal grandparents,
Joseph and Marie Brewer Cooper, and James Louis Spear;
and his maternal great-grandmother, Jeanette Brewer.
Those left to cherish his memory are his loving parents,
Jeanette and Jason Cheroni; his three younger brothers,
Noah Spear, James Spear and Ashley Cheroni; his
great-grandfather, John “PawPaw Doc” Brewer; and his
paternal grandparents, Lynn and Newton Starnes and Freddie
and Evelyn Cheroni; an uncle, Christopher Berry;
a great-aunt, Cathy Sanders; a great-uncle Ernie Brewer; and a host
of cousins and other family members and friends.
Sandra Kimble Smith
Graveside Service for Sandra Kimble Smith of Brookhaven are 11:30 am Friday, January 15, 2021,
at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 5:00-8:00 pm on Thursday, January 14, at the church.
Sandra Kimble Smith, 50, went to be with her Lord on January 10, 2021 at Kings Daughters Medical Center.
She was born on March 12, 1970 to James Louis Kimble and Marjorie Parden Kimble.
Sandra worked as a Loan Processor for Bank of Brookhaven. She was a loving mother, daughter, sister and friend,
and will be missed by all who loved and knew her. She was a faithful member of Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church.
Preceding her in death were her father; husband, Stacey Smith; mother-in-law, Glenda Smith, and father-in-law, James “Jimmy” Smith.
Those left to cherish her memory are her mother, Marjorie Parden Kimble; daughters, Hannah Smith, Hollie Smith and Heidi Smith;
sisters, Elaine Boyd and husband, Danny Ray, and their children, Danielle Beckham, Chelsea Boyd, Michelle Boyd, Matthew Boyd
and Nathan Boyd, Kathy Hitchner and husband, David, and their children, Shannon Hitchner, and Ian Hitchner, and Karen Kimble,
she is also survived by brother-in-law, Jeff Smith and a host of other family and friends.
Charles Ray Boyd
Charles Ray Boyd age 67 a resident of Cleveland passed away Friday January 8, 2021
at the family residence. He was preceded in death by his father Charles Cecil Boyd.
Charles worked as a heavy equipment operator for several years at Charlie Crisp Construction.
He is survived by his wife Maria Boyd, his children, Robert “Bo Jak” Rutland,
and his daughter, Cindy Thompson, his grandchildren, Kristina Dyess and Christopher Dyess,
his mother Mary Ellen Boyd, his step-son Timothy John Legaspi and his fiancé Judy Macale,
his step grandchild, Charles Theodore Legaspi, his brothers, Everett, Stanley and Ronnie Boyd
and his sisters, Judy Hux and Evelyn Boyd.
A Remembrance of Life Service will be held Tuesday at 2pm CST at Calvary United Pentecostal Church,
969 Holmesville Rd., Jayess MS 39641 with Pastor Elliot Rutland officiating.
The burial will follow at Powells Grove Pentecostal Church in Jayess, MS. The family will receive friends Monday
after 5 at the church.
Billie Carroll Johnson
Billie Carroll Johnson, 78, of Meadville, passed from this life January 07, 2021,
in Meadville. She was born in Natchez January 2, 1943 to her parents, William Rogers
and Mattie Stokes Rogers. She was retired from William Carter Company where she
worked as a Shipping/ Product Analyst. She was a member of Zion Hill Baptist Church.
Mrs. Johnson enjoyed crafting and spending time with her pets.
She is preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, W. G. Johnson; parents; and sister,
Virginia Sebille.
Those left to cherish her memory are, her son, Jonathan Johnson (Angie) of Crosby; daughters,
Cheryl Fullerton, of Natchez, Katherine Jackson (Rockey), of Gloster, Melissa Lemoine (Preston),
of Bude; a faithful sister-in-law and friend, Ann Johnson, of Crosby; nine grandchildren,
Kimberly Johnson, Jenifer Harvey (Kevin), Justin Arnold (Jessica), William Aubrey Smith,
Ethan and Laura Baxter, Anastasia, Dakota, and Dominic; six great grandchildren, and
six great, great grandchildren, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and other loving family
members and friends.
A graveside service is to be held at a later date in Crosby, Ms.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, P.O. Box 1000
Dept 142, Memphis, TN 38148-0142
Edna Aline Wilson
Graveside service for Mrs. Edna Aline Wilson will be 11 a.m., Monday, January 11, 2021,
at Macedonia Baptist Church Cemetery.
Mrs. Wilson, 76, of Brookhaven, passed from this life January 6, 2021, at her residence.
She was born in Millport, Alabama August 11, 1944. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother,
and great grandmother. Mrs. Edna cared for her family and lived to be an example to all
the ones she loved. She had also retired as a Caregiver. She was faithful to the Lord and was
a member of Brookhaven Church of God. Her favorite pastime was having garage sales. She
will be greatly missed by all those who loved her.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Olen Edmond Bowman and Velma Lee Campbell Bowman
and her husband, Louis Eugene “Gene” Durr; brothers, Dennis Bowman, Joe Bowman, M.D. Bowman,
Retus Bowman; and sister, Annie Alexander.
Those left to cherish her memory are her husband, Americus Hobart Wilson; sons,
Kenneth Durr (Della), Mark Durr (Amy), Stanley Durr (Heather), and Jamie Durr (Janice);
daughter, Brenda Briknell; brothers, Clatus Bowman, Rayborn Bowman, R.B. Bowman, Ted Bowman,
Bully Bowman, and Kenneth Bowman; sisters, Jeanette Green, Inez Bowman, Ellette Bowman, Billie Jo Bownman;
nine grandchildren, Ashley, Hope, Charity, Kaitlin, Janelly, Andrew, Austin, Anthony (Hannah),
Aaron (Briteny); and nine great grandchildren as well as other loving family members and friends.
Ruby Ezell Crane
Graveside service for Ruby Ezell Crane will be 1 p.m., Friday, January 8, 2021, at
Bethel Methodist Church Cemetery. Service will be officiated by Rev. Cody Warren
and Rev. Chad Yarborough.
Mrs. Crane, 85, of Brookhaven, passed from this life January 6, 2021, at King’s Daughters
Medical Center. She entered life May 20, 1935, Mrs. Crane was a member of Friendship
Baptist Church. She will be greatly missed by all her family and friends.
She is preceded in death by her mother, Louvenia Roberts; her husbands,
Archie Ezell and W.J. Crane; brother, C.L. Day; sister, Bonnie Pepper and brother-in-law,
Marlon Pepper; infant child, Baby Ezell; and sister-in-law, Carolyn Roberts.
Those who remain to cherish her memory are, her son, Gillis Ezell (Debbie) of Summit;
daughter, Judy Warren (Donald) of Brookhaven; brother, Roy Roberts; and sister-in-law,
Catherine Day. She also leaves behind five grandchildren, Ryan Ezell (Megan), Tate Warren (Meg),
Todd Warren (Emily), Cody Warren (Kendra), and Jennifer Swindle (Mark), as well
as other loving family members and friends.
Serving as Pallbearers will be Ryan Ezell, Tate Warren, Todd Warren, Cody Warren, Ty Forman, Mark Swindle.
Claude Wayne Van Norman
Private family service.
John Townsend
Graveside service for Mr. John Larry Townsend will be 11 a.m., Saturday, January 9, 2021, at Easthaven Cemetery.
John, 83, was born at his home, March 11, 1937, in Lincoln County, Brookhaven where he would marry his wife
Lorraine and start a family. After graduating from high school, he joined and served his country in the United States Army.
John also lived in Metairie, LA where he was a homebuilder and was a member of the Home Builders Association
where he received many awards. He built beautiful homes in the New Orleans surrounding areas. John had a
passion for Tractor Pulling, he competed, promoted and enjoyed the camaraderie of the sport. He returned to
Lincoln County where he would marry Janice and enjoy the remainder of his life spending his retirement
cattle farming and trail riding in covered wagon to the Dixie National Rodeo. John was a great pillar and friend
to the community and would not hesitate to help anyone ever. John loved his family and friends and will be
missed and remembered forever as an amazing and wonderful man.
He is preceded in death by his wives, Marcia Lorraine Smith Townsend and Janice Carol Oliver Townsend;
parents, Henry Otho Townsend and Lucinda Hall Townsend; siblings, Fannie Lou Townsend Price and Pink Corbit Kyzar.
He is survived by his children, Joyce Diane Townsend Adams and Johnny Tim Townsend; sister, Patsy Ruth Townsend Denson;
three grandchildren, Kevin Ortego, Jr., Valerie Ortego, Wesley Adams; four great grandchildren, Alissa, Kylie,
and Kegan Ortego and Nolan House as well as other loving family members and friends.
Gladys B. Ivey
Graveside services for Mrs. Gladys Ivey are 11:00 Saturday, January 9, 2021, at Roseland Cemetery in Gloster MS.
Mrs. Gladys B. Ivey, 83, of Wesson, passed from this life January 5, 2021, at University of Mississippi Medical Center.
She was born December 7, 1937, to her parents, Tommie Parks Craddock and Willene Marie Bell Craddock.
After graduation she pursued a career in Bookkeeping and later, Realty. After retirement, Mrs. Ivey enjoyed
time off from work with several hobbies, painting and cross stitching, and she also was an excellent cook.
Her faith and family were the most important part of her life. Spending time with family and friends
brought her great joy. She was a member of the Brookhaven Congregation of Jehovah’s Witness, and will
be missed by all that knew and loved her.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Huey Ronald Ivey; her parents; and her brother, Steven Robert Wisner.
Those left to cherish her memory are her daughters, Karla Grady (Scott) and Sandy Thorne; four grandchildren,
Matthew Grady, Nicholas Grady, Kelly Cash and Jimmy Thorne; six great grandchildren; an adopted granddaughter,
Maria Meza (Christian); three adopted great grandchildren, Jordan Meza, Alex Meza, and Isaiah Meza; as well as
a host of dear and special friends.
