Services for Ms. Vivian Rushing of Wesson are 10:00 am Monday, March 4, 2019 at Riverwood Family.

Visitation 5:00-8:00 pm Sunday, March 3, at Riverwood.

Ms. Vivian Rushing, 76, passed away February 28, 2019 at Merit Health in Jackson.

She was born on January 29, 1943 to the late Jessie James and Velma Rushing.

She was a loving mother, grandmother, sister and friend, and will be missed by all that loved and knew her.

Preceding her in death are her parents; brother, T.H. Rushing: and sisters, Bobbie Rushing and Margie Rushing.

Those left to cherish her memory are her sons, Jesse Rushing and Tiffany and Stacy Rushing;

daughter, Judy Lee and husband Frank; brothers, James Lee Rushing, Mike Rushing, Julius Rushing;

sisters, Diane Rushing and Elaine Rushing.

She is also survived by grandchildren, Sabrina Teasley, Annie and Matthew Baltazar, Rachel and Daniel Brewer,

Tonya and Ryan Lott, Danielle Callendar and Hunter Callendar and great-grandson, Isaac Higgins.

Services for Mrs. Sue Ford Moak of Brookhaven are 3:30 pm Sunday, March 3, 2019 at Riverwood Family Funeral Service.

Visitation is Saturday, March 2 from 5:00-7:00 pm at Riverwood Family.

Sue Ford Moak was born on September 14, 1930, to Thelma Reeves Ford and James Franklin Ford in Bude, Mississippi.

A move to Norfield followed her early childhood years in Bude.   Sue graduated from Brookhaven High School

and then attended Whitworth College and graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi.  

She married the love of her life, Tom Moak, on June 12, 1949.  

Their 64 year marriage showed all those who knew them a picture of a couple completely devoted to one another.

Sue was preceded in death by her husband, Tom, and her young daughter, Susan.

She is survived by her son, Frank, and wife, Terri, and her daughter, Sarah Pruet, and husband, Ron.

She is also survived by grandchildren and their spouses, Emily and David Reeves, Tripp and Morgan Pruet,

Elizabeth Moak, Andrew and Casey Pruet, and Amanda Moak.

A recent joy is the addition of great-grandchildren Claire and John Reeves and Quinn Pruet.

Sue educated many children over a 30-year teaching career at Bogue Chitto School, Brookhaven High School,

Alexander High School, and Lipsey Junior High. She always loved books and talked often about how she prayed that

she would not lose her ability to read. God granted that request. Her love of the written word contributed to her

being perfectly suited to teach English and serve as a librarian.

She enjoyed travel and was so thankful when they visited places she had only read about before.

Sue and Tom loved their home and made it a place of welcome for family and friends.

The “joy of the hunt” in finding furnishings that needed her meticulous restoration skill was a source of happiness.

Sue passionately loved First Baptist Church. Sue taught Sunday School for many years,

and her longest teaching commitment was to the oldest women in the church.

She loved and cared for that class with service and care that saw her being the hands and feet of Jesus.

During the last four years when Sue was unable to attend church, she and Frank watched the broadcast of the service almost every Sunday.

Sue is a glorious example of a life well lived.   “Well done, thy good and faithful servant. . . .Enter thou into the joy of the Lord.” Matthew 25:21.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to First Baptist Church Brookhaven Building Fund.

Bonnie Erle Holland Byrd, 85, of Meadville, MS, died February 26, 2019 in Jackson at University of Mississippi Medical Center.

Visitation will be held at the McNeely Road Church of God in Natchez on Friday, March 1^st from 5-8pm and Saturday, March 2^nd from 1-2pm.

The funeral will begin at 2PM followed by interment at the Byrd’s Chapel Cemetery in Meadville, MS.

Riverwood Family Funeral Services of Brookhaven is assisting the family with the Revs. Brian Monehan and Kelcie Messer Henderson officiating.

Pallbearers are David Byrd, Daniel Byrd, Charles Stroup, Michael Messer, Frank Holland and Luke Brumfield. In lieu of flowers,

charitable contributions may be made to the Smoky Mountain Children’s Home at 800-654-1622 (http://smch.org/donate), or to a charity of your choice.

Bonnie was born January 14, 1934 and leaves behind a loving husband of 67 years, John Lloyd Byrd,

three sons, Bill and Linda Byrd of Shreveport, La, Bob and Susan Byrd of Hope Mills, NC, Ken and Debbie Byrd of Fort Worth, TX

and seven grandchildren: Ashley Thibodeaux, Danielle and Stephen Kozikowski, Michelle And Corey Snyder,

Arielle and Cody Hughes, Zack Byrd, David and Katherine Byrd and Daniel and Katherine Byrd.

She is also survived by her sisters Opal Messer of Natchez, MS, Brenda Williams of Meadville, MS

and sister-in-law, Ruth Holland of Natchez, MS.  She leaves behind numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and close special friends,

Benny and Betty Gorum. She is preceded in death by her parents, Monroe and Gertrude Holland,

brothers, Paul Holland, Arliss and Artie Holland, Bernard and Jo Riece Holland,

and sisters, Lillian and William Pittman, Itasca and Randall Brumfield, and Clara and Lester Browning. 

Bonnie had various jobs throughout her life: keypunch operator, bookkeeping, sales clerk at a dress shop, country furniture store,

outlet store, and was undercover security at a department store and could easily detect shoplifters.

Bonnie was a servant.  She served her family by keeping them grounded while her husband served our country for 20 years in the US Air force. 

She always made sure her three boys were loved, fed, clean and well dressed. 

She served as a taxi driver delivering her boys to Cub Scout and Boy Scout activities,

piano lessons, swim lessons, sporting events, youth camp, etc. She was a caregiver,

opening her home during Hurricanes Camille and Katrina, providing meals and a dry bed to people less fortunate.

  She also hosted a new pastor and their family for three months while they waited for a home. 

Bonnie served her country:  She was a Red Cross Volunteer during the 1960's, was an active member of the USAF Officer's Wives Club,

and the American Legion Auxiliary.  Bonnie faithfully served Franklin County District 5 as their Election Commissioner from 2000-2008.

Bonnie served her Lord and Savior. She was a faithful member of the Church of God for over seventy years,

playing the piano at church for many years and instilled her love for music in her children and grandchildren;

she prepared countless chicken dinners, peanut brittle, taught Sunday School and served on various church committees.

She showed her children how to “trust in the good Lord”. Her faith in God carried her through Rheumatoid Arthritis, Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma,

breast cancer and colon cancer, and numerous health issues throughout her 85 years. 

Bonnie loved to cook, sew, knit, garden, work puzzles and arrange flowers.  She took classes in cake decorating,

flower arranging, reupholstery and computers. She studied at numerous colleges as she traveled with her husband’s military career. 

She owned her own ceramic shop and loved to collect teapots, crosses, little shoes, etc. But more than any of this, she loved to shop.  

Services for Mrs. Debra June Blackwell of Monticello are 10:00 am Saturday, March 2, 2019

at Divide Memorial Methodist Protestant Church with burial at Antioch Baptist Church Cemetery.

Visitation is from 5:00-9:00 pm Friday, March 1, at Divide Memorial Methodist Protestant Church.

Debra June Blackwell, 60, went to be with her Lord on February 27, 2019 at her residence.

She was born on April 16, 1958 to the late Clarence Glen Whitlow and June Marie Whitlow.

She was a Cosmetologist and a member of Divide Memorial Methodist Protestant Church.

She will be missed by all that loved and knew her.

Preceding her in death are her parents; brother, Thomas Whitlow; and sister-in-law, Debbie Whitlow.

Those left to cherish her memory are her husband, Rodney Blackwell; daughter, Amy VanVuren;

brothers, Clarence G. Whitlow and John A. Whitlow. She is also survived by

4 grandchildren, Veronica VanVuren, Vanessa VanVuren, Thomas Whitlow and James Whitlow;

son-in-law, David VanVuren, sisters-in-law, Pam Whitlow and Margaret Whitlow;

nephews, Jason Whitlow, Steven Whitlow and Charlie Whitlow and niece, Ashley Whitlow.