On Tuesday September 17th, Jim Dyess, loving father and faithful member of First Baptist Church Brookhaven,
passed away at the age of 71. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends and community.
Jim was born on Oct 24th, 1947 in Greenwood, MS and spent his childhood in the Mississippi Delta.
He studied Industrial Engineering at Mississippi State and was inducted into Tau Beta Pi,
an honorary Engineering society, before graduating in 1969. 26 years later, he watched with pride
as both of his sons received the same honors at the same institution.
During his career, Jim traveled around the US as a gifted Biomedical Engineer.
He enjoyed forestry and was a part-time cattle farmer, a trade he learned from one of the greats, Baker Rogers.
In retirement, he kept his skills sharp and transitioned from fixing dialysis machines to fixing lawn-mowers
and almost anything else that you could come up with. He was certainly not known for his business model,
though, as rebuilding and tuning your weed eater might only cost you the price of a blue plate lunch.
Jim had a huge heart for helping others and was humbled to receive the Brookhaven Exchange Club’s 2017 Golden Deeds award.
Jim is survived by his two sons, Matt and Mark Dyess, and a community grateful for his many years of friendship and service.
A celebration of his life will be held at the Riverwood Family Funeral Service facility on Tuesday September 24th from 2-4pm.
In lieu of flowers or donations, Jim would probably just encourage everyone to do a kind deed for a neighbor or even a complete stranger.
Services for Mr. Thomas Ezekiel Lofton of Brookhaven are 11:00 am Friday, September20, 2019
at Riverwood Family Funeral Service with burial at Ramah Baptist Church Cemetery.
Visitation is from 5:00-8:00 pm on Thursday, September 19 at Riverwood.
Mr. Thomas Ezekiel Lofton, 87, went to be with his Lord on September 16, 2019 at his residence.
He was born on May 26, 1932 to the late James Marshall Lofton and Sofia Louise Montgomery Lofton.
Mr. Lofton served in the Air Force Reserve during the Korean War. He worked as an Electrician Supervisor
for Texaco Refinery for 38 years and member of LLL at First Baptist Church and enjoyed gardening, carpentry and traveling.
Thomas was a devout Christian man with unwavering faith who devoted his entire life caring for his family and others.
It was remarkable how much he loved his wife and dedicated his life caring for her. He was a very generous man,
never met a stranger and always willing to lend a hand to someone in need.
His favorite quote “You are only as good as your word”.
Preceding him in death were his parents; brothers, Joe Lofton, Jerry Lofton, Gordon Lofton
and sisters, Peggy Davis and Julia Ratcliff.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 66 years, Elsie Lavon Lofton; sons, Thomas E. Lofton, Jr.,
Darren Shane Lofton and wife Laurie Ann; daughter, Pamela Sue Ayers and husband Butch;
sisters Eva Allen and husband N.S., and Marie Hilton and husband Glynn; and sister-in-law, Geraldine Lofton.
He is also survived by his 5 grandchildren, Patrick Ayers, Laci A. Lindsey and husband Jon,
Aaron Ayers, Hailey Doty and husband Brennan, Sarah Ayers and great grandson, Lofton Beau Lindsey.
Services for Mrs. Doris Gandy Armstrong of Wesson are 11:00 am Thursday, September 19, 2019
at Stronghope Baptist Church with visitation from 10:00 until time of service. Interment will be at the church cemetery.
Mrs. Doris Gandy Armstrong, 94, went to be with her Lord on September 15, 2019 at the Beehive Assisted Living.
She was born on March 28, 1925 to the late Abijah Clarence Gandy, Jr. and Estelle Florence Moore Gandy.
She was a member of Stronghope Baptist Church. As a talented homemaker, she loved to sew, to arrange flowers and to cook.
She loved her family and genealogy was a special interest of hers.
She will be missed by all that knew her and loved her.
Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, Byron Armstrong, Sr., brothers, Wayne Gandy
and Leman Gandy and sisters, Wilda Davis and Nancy Ashley.
Those left to cherish her memory are her son, Byron Armstrong and wife, Ann of Vicksburg, MS;
and daughter, Nancy Dykes and husband, Jerry of Wesson, MS.
She is also survived by her 3 grandchildren, Carole (Justin) Bass, of Wesson, MS., Jeff (Katie) Armstrong, of Wynnewood, OK.,
Alyson (Garrett) Doles, of Vicksburg, MS. and great grandchildren, Avery Bass and Zachary Doles.
A special thanks to The Beehive Assisted Living of Brookhaven and Deaconess for the loving care of our mother.
In lieu of flower, the family requests that donations be made to Stronghope Baptist Church.
Services are incomplete at this time
Services for Mrs. Ruby Helen Nations of Brookhaven are 3:00 pm on Saturday,
September 14, 2019 at Riverwood Family Funeral Service with burial at Easthaven Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 2:00 pm until time of service.
Mrs. Ruby Helen Nations, 96, went to be with her Lord on September 12, 2019.
She was born on September 26, 1922 to the late Edward Lee Nations and Carrie Gibson.
Mrs. Helen was a member of First Baptist Church Brookhaven, the Civitan Club, the Joy Choir and the L.L.L. of First Baptist.
Preceding her in death were her parents; husband, James Nations; brother, E.L. Nations; sisters, Nellie Smith,
Juanita Williams, and her beloved dog, Lady Bird.
Those left to cherish her memory are her nephew, Rusty Williams and wife Lisa; niece, Tammy Smith;
step-son, Jimmy Nations; step-daughter, Sally McKee; 2 great nieces, Jessica Hutchinson and Ashton Farr;
2 step grandchildren; 4 great-great nieces and one great-great nephew.
The family wishes to thank the Diversicare, Hospice Ministries and special friend, Craig Crozier,
and ask that memorials be made to Hospice Ministries in her memory.
Patricia Ann Swartz, 40, of Monticello, passed away September 1, 2019 at Forrest General Hospital.
She was born on December 5, 1978 to the late Edward and Ann Swartz.
Preceding her in death were her parents; brother, David Swartz and aunt, Myrtle Barnett.
Those left to cherish her memory are her brothers, Edward, Keith and Charles and sister, Karen Thornhill.
She is also survived by her Aunt Edna Thornhill and many close friends, cousins and friends.
She will be missed by all those that loved and knew her.
The funeral services for Mrs. Sissy will be at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 14, 2019 at Union Hall Baptist Church.
There will be a visitation from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the services. Bro. Nick Hodges and
Bro. Eric Moak will be officiating and interment will follow in the church cemetery.
Thelma “Sissy” Delaughter Wilkinson, age 83 and a resident of Bogue Chitto, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, September 11, 2019.
She was born March 1, 1936 to the late Eddie and Emily Skaggs Jordan. Mrs. Sissy enjoyed cruises, playing cards with her family and friends,
and watching game shows on TV. She was a loving and caring lady who will be dearly missed by all of those who knew her.
She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ralph Delaughter and husband J.M. Wilkinson; son, Larry Delaughter; daughter, Patsy Williams;
sisters, Geneva Hux, Lordale Keen, Irene Boswell, Earlene Sharon; brothers, James Jordan, Elmer Jordan; grandson, Dale Delaughter and great-grandson, Peyton Banks.
Those left to cherish her memory are her sons, Steve Delaughter and wife Sarah, Ricky Delaughter and wife Angie; daughters, Sheila Forrest and husband Danny,
Tina Mazer and husband Corkey, Theresa Weeks and husband Tim, Stacy Montgomery and husband Mike; daughter-in-law, Sheila Ann Delaughter; brother-in-law, Dale Williams;
brother, Joe Jordan and wife Betty; as well as 20 grandchildren, and a host of great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends.
There will be a Memorial Gathering for Mr. Gabriel Seth Hodges, Thursday evening,
September 12, from 5-8 p.m., at Riverwood Family. Friends may visit the family at this time.
Seth Hodges, 22, of Summit, MS, died September 9, 2019, in McComb, MS. He was born in Jackson, MS,
February 28, 1997. He was an outdoorsman, enjoying hunting most of all, but spending time with
his friends was special to him. Seth loved his brothers and show it by a heart that was bigger
than he was. He will be missed by all that loved and knew him.
He is preceded in death by his grandfather, Bud Clark and his grandmother, Diane Hodges.
Those left to hold his memory close are his parents, Tony Hodges (Dee-Dee) of Decatur, MS and
Cheri Clark Moak (Glen) of Bogue Chitto, MS; brothers, Joseph Clark of Liberty, MS, Tyler Hodges
of McComb, MS, and Samuel Ethridge of Bogue Chitto, MS. He is also survived by his MeMe,
Debbie Hodges of McComb, MS; grandparents, J.L. and Mary Jones of Liberty, MS, and James E. “Bo” Hodges
of Bogue Chitto, MS, Buddy and Wanda Dean of Decatur, MS; uncles and aunts, Charley and Christy Clark,
Jay and Chelsea Clark, Les Hodges, Chris Jones (Lori), Ranonda Conley (Jason); as well as cousins, Jaden Clark,
Jacob Clark, Emma Hodges, Audrey Mulkey, Amelia Mulkey, Canaan Mulkey, Aman Mulkey, Bryson Jones,
Taylor Jones, Harrison Conley, Madelyn Conley; and step brothers and sisters, Carey Stephens, Ian Stephens,
Shelby Stephens, Chase Cook (Bethanie), Christopher Cook and Jordyn Hill; and his special pup, Bud.
Services for Mrs. Sondra Dawn Case Smith of Brookhaven are 11:00 am Monday,
September 9, 2019 at Mt. Zion Church of Christ. Visitation is Sunday, September 8
at Riverwood Family Funeral Service from 5:00 pm-9:00 pm with a
Lie in State visitation from 10:00 am-11:00 am Monday at the church.
Interment will be at the Mt. Zion Church of Christ Cemetery.
Mrs. Sondra Dawn Case Smith, 49, went to be with her Lord
on September 7, 2019 at University Medical Center in Jackson, MS.
She was born on September 9, 1969 to Gerald Case and Betty Williams Case.
Sondra was a member of Mt. Zion Church of Christ and was the manager of the Cotton Patch.
Preceding her in death were her grandparents, Shelton and Audrey Case
and Ray and Ruby Williams; and her mother-in-law, Joy Smith.
Those left to cherish her memory are her husband, Keith Smith;
sons, Zachary Brett Smith and Rustin Lance Smith; daughter, Taylor Beth Bordelon and husband Brandon;
her parents, Gerald and Betty Case; and her brother, Jerry W. Case and wife Nicky.
She is also survived by 1 grandchild, Miley Grace and expecting another grandchild,
Drake Stone, as well as a host of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Mr. Charles Edward West will be 11 a.m., Wednesday, September 11, 2019,
at Harmony Baptist Church, with interment in the church cemetery. Visitation is from 5-9 p.m.,
Tuesday, September 10, 2019 at Riverwood Family and will resume at Harmony Baptist Church
at 10 a.m. Wednesday until time of the services at Harmony.
Mr. West, 75, of Brookhaven, passed from this life, September 6, 2019, at King’s Daughters Medical Center in Brookhaven, MS.
He was born in Brookhaven, MS, September 19, 1943, to his parents, C.H. West and Elizabeth Bessonette West.
He was a 1962 graduate of Brookhaven High School where he lettered in football, baseball and track.
He loved the Lord Jesus and was a member of Harmony Baptist Church where he served as a deacon and Sunday School teacher.
He was a wonderful husband, father, and PawPaw that loved watching his children and grandchildren play sports.
He enjoyed golfing, gardening and hunting with his family. He retired from Delphi after 30 years.
Mr. West is preceded in death by his parents, C.H. & Elizabeth West.
Those who are left to cherish his memory are his wife of 57 years, Linda Butler West;
sons, Chuck West and wife, Cindy, of Raymond, MS, Chad West and wife, Sheila, of Portsmouth, RI,
Sean West and wife, Amy, of Brookhaven, MS; brother, Bobby West and wife, Barbara, of Madison, MS;
sister, Maxine Welch and husband, Danny, of Magee, MS.
He is also survived by seven grandchildren, Shelby West Hillery and husband, Scott, of Picayune, MS, Sydney West,
of Jackson, MS, Ashby West and Lakin West of West Point, NY, Austin West and wife, Kaitlyn, of Brookhaven, MS,
Nathan West, and Katie West, of Brookhaven; three great grandchildren, Emma, Anna, and Peyton West,
of Brookhaven, MS; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and other loving family members and friends.
Pallbearers for the service will be Ryan Irving, Charlie Welch, Ashby West, Lakin West, Austin West, and Nathan West.
Serving as honorary Pallbearers will be, James Ray Hemby, David Bowers, Phil Hemby, and Jeff Butler.