A memorial service will take place at Riverwood Funeral Service in Brookhaven, MS on Saturday August 24th, 2024.  Visitation will be held at 2 pm and Memorial Service at 3 pm. Brenda wants you to wear bright colors!!  Pastor Lonnie Case will officiate, and burial will take place at Ramah Baptist Church cemetery in McCall's Creek afterwards. 

Brenda Carol Lofton Tasselli was born October 30, 1943, in Brookhaven MS and passed away on July 24, 2024, in Brookhaven MS.  She was the daughter of Zack and Hazy Moak Lofton and the youngest of 10 children. Their home was in the McCall Creek area of West Lincoln County. Ramah Baptist Church is and was central to their community where many family members and ancestors are buried.

She graduated from West Lincoln High School in 1961. She kept up with some of her classmates from 63 years ago.

Brenda made her home in many places across the country during her life.  She lived in Hickory, North Carolina, Dallas, Texas, Phoenix Arizona, Huntington Beach, CA and Loveland, Colorado before returning to Lincoln County in her last years. 

Brenda was known for her spunk and quick wit. She loved to laugh and appreciated a good story. Her holiday decorations were always on target, and she celebrated every holiday with flourish. "Anything worth doing was worth over doing"

Her favorite sports teams were the Dallas Cowboys, second only to The Denver Broncos.

When asked what she enjoyed most in her life, she said that it was spending time with her family and friends. Her last years were spent at Diversicare in Brookhaven where she created yet another community of nurses and caregivers and other residents.

She is preceded in death by her parents: Zach and Hazy Lofton; Her Brothers and Sisters: Irene Lofton Brister (M.L. Brister), Joseph Thomas (J.T.) Lofton (Ruby Smith), James Allen Lofton (Gladys Smith), Shirley Lofton Whittington (W.A. Whittington),  Agnes Marie Lofton (J.R. Moak, Doug Foreman  Amolene Lofton,  Mike Lofton (Patsy Cross), Peggy Omega Lofton (Ashford Impson); and her Children:  J. Kevin Wilkinson, Susan Wilkinson Denison.

She is survived by her brother, Rev Pat Lofton (Annie Katherine Arnold); her daughter: Carolyn Wilkinson Sloan of Portland, OR; her Son in Law: Jeff Denison of Rapid City, SD; her grandchildren; Tyler Wilkinson  of Boone NC, Logan Wilkinson of Port Washington WI ,Brody Wilkinson of Port Washington WI, Matthew Sloan  (Taylor Reynolds) of Portland Oregon, Jordan Sloan   of Portland Oregon; Kate Denison Lee (Ben Lee)  Rapid City, SD

She loved her numerous nieces and nephews, and they loved her.

She had some significant friends that were a part of her life in her early years and in her later years. Sue Laird, Barto Laird, Deborah Allred, Chris Smith, and Ashley Newell, to name a few. The family wishes to thank them for their loving care. 

In lieu of flowers, contributions to the perpetual upkeep of Ramah Baptist Church Cemetery Fund are requested.  Checks can be sent to Ramah Baptist Church, 1455 Ramah Road, McCall's Creek, MS 39647 (Denote "Cemetery Fund " on the check).

Jack Stanley Smith, Jr., 87, of Bogue Chitto, died July 29, 2024, at his residence. He was born February 24, 1937, to Jack Stanley Smith and Ethel Terry Smith.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Lee Bowman Smith.

Sheila Mary Price Graves, aged 77, passed away peacefully on July 10^th, 2024, in Bossier City, Louisiana. Born with a heart full of kindness, Sheila dedicated her life to serving others, embodying the virtues of selflessness and generosity. She was a devout individual, always putting the needs of others before her own.

A loving family survives Sheila: her husband, John Graves: sons, John III (Amber) and Matthew (Tisa); Sheila was a cherished grandmother to Cody, Kyler, Kaden, Jack, River, Taylor and Madison and great-grandmother to James, Eren and Sage. Sheila's legacy also lives on through brother, Jerry (Cindy) and sisters, Bethany, Melanie, and Amy... and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and great nieces and great nephews, both here in the USA and abroad in England.

She is preceded in death by her parents Jack and Irene Price, brothers Robert Price and Bruce Price, sister Jenna Boyles and her beloved daughter, Emily Wicker.

Sheila had a vibrant passion for life, evident in her hobbies which included reading, painting, cooking, pottery, golf, beach trips and cruises, attending family events, caring for her much loved dogs Luka, Maggie, and grandpuppy Rocky. Each activity was a testament to her creativity and love for beauty in all its forms.

Friends and family are invited to gather and celebrate Sheila’s life on August the 3^rd, 2024 at Riverwood Memorial in Brookhaven MS. Visitation will be held from 12:00 to 2:00 PM, with memorial service to follow immediately after.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital in memory of Sheila Mary Price Graves. Donations can be made online at www.stjude.org/donate or by mail to 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105

A Celebration of Life for Mr. Franklin Alfred Howington, Jr. will be Sunday, July 28, 2024, at Kingsborough Community Center from 12:00 – 2:00 pm. 502 Silver Cross Dr. in Brookhaven.

Mr. Howington, 44, passed away on July 22, 2024, at his home in Summit. He was born on February 21, 1980, in Iola MS, and grew up in Brookhaven, MS. Franklin graduated from Enterprise High School. He worked various jobs and was an avid fisherman. He loved to have fun and joke around.

Preceding him in death are his father, Alfred Howington, Sr., and mother, Margaret “Nanny” Howington.

Those left to cherish his memory are his mother, Joyce Yelm; siblings, Stevie Veltman and husband, Mike, Marie Alesich, Tammy Wilson and Nikki Pace and husband, Aric; his Aunt, Mary Gandy, Aunt Jackie Cheney, Aunt Margie Treadway, Aunt Tracy Wilder; his Uncle Alva Klucker and Uncle Mitchell Vowell; one nephew, six nieces, and numerous great nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The family would like to thank the Accent Care Home Heath of Brookhaven and Sheena Barnes, NP.