The funeral service for Ronnie Dale Porter will be 11 a.m., Monday, August 14, at Riverwood Family, with burial in New Prospect Baptist Church Cemetery. Visitation is from 9 a.m. until the time of service at Riverwood.

Ronnie Dale Porter, age 74, left us way too soon on August 10, 2023.  He was born on August 22, 1948, in Brookhaven, MS, the son of Eloyce and Pat Porter.  Ronnie grew up and lived most of his life in Brookhaven, Mississippi, graduating from Brookhaven High School in 1966.  He continued his education at Co-Lin community college where he obtained his degree in architectural drafting and during which time he met the love of his life, Charlotte Jackson Porter.  Their 56 years of companionship is a testament to the power of loves enduring flame. After their marriage on July 28, 1967, he took a drafting job in Baton Rouge, Louisiana for a short period of time.   Soon after he realized that he wanted to begin and raise his family in Brookhaven. In 1968 Ronnie and Charlotte moved back to Brookhaven where he joined his family working at Porter’s Body Shop and where he continued the family business for 55 years. Ronnie was so devoted to the body shop that Charlotte would say to him “that if the body shop was a woman, I would have something to worry about”.  Anyone who knew Ronnie knew he loved hunting, fishing, gardening, traveling and woodworking.  He could fix anything. Above all he treasured the moments he spent with his family.  Every shared experience became a lesson in bonding, teaching his family the immeasurable value of togetherness.  He enjoyed working at the farm with the boys to get ready for hunting season, and this will be the first time in 23 years that he will not be the one planting the food plots.

Ronnie had been an active member of Central Baptist Church for many years, where he taught Sunday school and was a Deacon. Ronnie was a loyal husband, father, son, brother, boss, and friend to many.  He was that one phone call you would make when you needed to count on someone for help. 

Ronnie and Charlotte loved traveling and they shared that love with their three boys, Tim, Brad and Patrick.  They have many great memories of family vacations traveling across country from the Grand Canyon to the Smokey Mountains.  They made it a priority for their family to spend quality time together. 

Known as Peppaw to his grandchildren, he spent many days and nights attending their activities, celebrating their birthdays, and doing pretty much anything that they asked of him.  They have great memories of him teaching them how to ride a bike right in his front yard.  He was selfless in that way putting others first above himself.    He leaves behind a legacy of love and commitment to family that has made an impact in their lives as well as their future generations to come.

He is survived by his wife Charlotte Porter; son, Timothy Porter (Samantha) of Ridgeland, MS, Patrick Porter (Annette) of Brookhaven, MS; Father, Pat Porter;  three brothers, Randy Porter (Ruby), Jeff Porter(Lou Ann) and Terry Porter; Eight grandchildren, Madeline Leifeste (Will), Dallas, TX; Savannah Thomas, Detroit, MI; Harrison Porter, Jackson, MS; Carlisle Porter, Memphis, TN; Jarod Porter, Jalen Porter, Jillian Porter and Jaxson Porter all from Brookhaven, MS.

He was preceded in death by his son Brad Porter and his mother, Eloyce Porter.

Graveside service for Donnie Ray Smith will be 2 p.m., Thursday, August 10, at Stoneville Cemetery in Leland, Mississippi.

Mr. Smith, 69, of Brookhaven, passed away Monday, August 7, 2023, at Ruleville Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. He was born July 23, 1954, to Cecil Earl Smith and Doris Elizabeth Wood Smith. He made his living driving a Milk Truck. Mr. Smith enjoyed singing and playing the trombone.

He is preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Doris Foster, Gladys Weathersby, Helen Jones and Sandy Zeigler.

He is survived by his daughters, Heather Smith and Amanda Smith; stepdaughters, Bobbie Jo Landress and Amber Dawn Landress; brothers, Lonnie Smith and Charles Smith; sisters, Dorothy Montgomery and Bonnie Barber; and a host of grandchildren, nieces, nephews and other loving family members and friends.