Obituaries
John McEvoy Behan, Jr
Services for John McEvoy Behan, Jr. of Clinton are at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, February 27, 2020,
at St. Francis Catholic Church in Brookhaven, with interment at Riverwood Memorial Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. at Riverwood Family on Wednesday, February 26 from 4-7 p.m. at Riverwood Family.
Mr. Behan, 42, passed away on February 22, 2020, at St. Dominic Memorial Hospital in Jackson due to a pulmonary embolism.
John was born in Brookhaven on July 14, 1977, to John McEvoy Behan Sr. and Kathryn Herbig Behan.
He attended St. Stanislaus Boarding School in Bay St. Louis before graduating from Brookhaven High School.
He attended Copiah-Lincoln Junior College and Mississippi State University. John was an avid outdoorsman and an enthusiastic gun collector.
He loved all kinds of hunting and fishing and spent many happy times with friends and family at hunting camps in the area.
John was a fourth-generation lumberman and was the owner of Miller Lumber in Richland. He was a communicant of Holy Savior Catholic Church in Clinton.
Johns's proudest achievements were being a wonderful father to his two beloved daughters and a devoted husband to his wife.
He was a great family man and was very close to his mothers and his sisters, as well as a large extended family.
Preceding him in death were his father, John M. Behan, Sr.; his father-in-law, John Bush; his paternal grandparents,
Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Behan, Jr., and maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Robert Herbig.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Julie Bush Behan; daughter Hannah Behan; daughter Piper Behan;
sisters, Jennifer Behan Hernandez (Luis) and niece Lucy Hernandez, from Destin Florida;
and Courtney M. Behan and husband Pat Gagen from San Francisco, California. He is also survived by his mother-in-law,
Jackie Bush; and Ginny Sims, mother of Hannah Behan.
Memorials may be made to St. Dominic Memorial Hospital in Jackson or to St. Jude Research Center.
Charles A. Cunningham
Services for Mr. Charles A. Cunningham of Brookhaven are 11:00 am Friday, February 28, 2020,
at Riverwood Family and burial will be at a later date at Wanilla Baptist Church Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 10:00 am until the time of service on Friday.
Mr. Charles A. Cunningham, 68, went to be with his Lord on February 22, 2020.
He was born on July 20, 1951.
Charles was the proud father of Christopher and Tony; and the son of George and Pearl Cunningham.
He was a Master Electrician and a 32-year member of ABATE. He also loved to race and build motorcycles.
Preceding him in death were his parents; and son, Tony Cunningham.
Those left to cherish his memory are his son, Christopher Cunningham and wife Andrea; sister, Judith Cunningham;
4 grandchildren, C.J. Cunningham, Caelin Gavriel Cunningham, Conner Charles Cunningham, and Case Levi Cunningham.
He is also survived by a niece, “Girl Youngin” Carmen Hill and niece Holly Clem.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make donations to ABATE of Mississippi Southwest Chapter.
Thomas Owen Williford
Thomas Owen Williford, 54, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, February 21, 2020 of severe complications from type 2 diabetes.
Visitation will be held at Riverwood Family Funeral Service in Brookhaven, Mississippi on Thursday, February 26 at 10:00am
with the service following at 11:00.
Owen was born in Jackson, Mississippi on June 4, 1965 to Ed and Sallie Williford, the fourth of five children. He attended
First Presbyterian Day School and graduated high school from Jackson Preparatory School. He attended Mississippi State and
Belmont University, pursuing what became a life-long interest in music. Through the years, Owen enjoyed living and working in
some of our country’s most beautiful natural settings. He worked in the service industry at Acadia, Grand Canyon, Yosemite and
Mt. Rainier National Parks. He also worked in Nashville, Savannah, Maui, and Seattle. Due to diabetes-related health issues,
Owen moved from Seattle, Washington to Brookhaven, Mississippi in 2018.
From a young age, Owen’s deepest passions were expressed through music, both through listening and creating poetic
musical compositions. Throughout his life, his love of music was inspired by the lives and work of other musicians.
In addition to music, the simple pleasures of Owen’s life centered around exploring through photography the landscapes
in which he lived and worked. His life was also enriched by the many close friendships he formed everywhere he lived,
and his devotion to staying in touch through the years. Having lived away for most of his adult life, Owen’s family cherished
the time spent together in Brookhaven with daily card games, shared meals, and lots of laughter.
Owen is survived by his parents, Edward Hines Williford, Sr. and Sallie Thomas Williford and siblings, Sallie Myhr Williford,
Helen Williford Lynch (John), Edward Hines Williford, Jr., and Julie Bolton Williford.
Memorials may be sent to the Jackson Preparatory School Music Department, P.O. Box 4940, Jackson, Mississippi, 39296.
Daisy Renae Stevens
Mrs. Daisy Renae Stevens, 56, of Wesson, went to be with her Lord on February 15, 2020
at Baptist Medical Center.
She was born on February 27, 1963.
Daisy enjoyed collecting anything and everything and hanging out with her dogs.
Preceding her in death were her parents,
George and Billie Jean Schwindling; brothers,
David Schwindling and George Schwindling and sisters, Denna Schwindling and Tammy Groves.
Those left to cherish her memory are her husband, Timothy Stevens; son, Konner Stevens,
and daughter, Kristen Case. She is also survived by her brother, Steve Eyre, Sr.;
and sister, Billie Joe Westbrooks and granddaughter, Emery Grace Stevens.
Stacy Shane Rippy
The funeral service for Stacy Shane Rippy will be 2 p.m., Friday, February 21, 2020,
at Riverwood Family with interment at Mt. Olive Church of Christ Cemetery.
Visitation is from 5-8 p.m., Thursday, February 20, at Riverwood.
Mr. Rippy, 32, of Derma, MS, passed from this life on February 14, 2020. He was born November 29, 1987,
to Donnie Ray Rippy and Beverly Kendall.
He was an outdoorsman, enjoying fishing, riding 4-wheelers and collecting arrowheads.
He is preceded in death by his grandparents, Robert “Bob” Rippy and Helen Jenkins and Irene Alford;
uncles, Charles Ray Rippy, Luther Rippy James “Jimmy” Rippy, Billy Ray Rippy, Cecil Kendall,
Johnny Ray, Robert Kendall; and aunt Sally Womack.
He is survived by his parents and one brother, Matthew Rippy.
Barbara Lea White
Funeral Services for Mrs. Barbara Lea White of Brookhaven are 1:00 pm Thursday, February 20, 2020,
at Riverwood Family with burial at Easthaven Cemetery.
Visitation is Wednesday, February 19 from 5:00-8:00 pm at Riverwood.
Mrs. Barbara Lea White, 74, went to be with her Lord on February 17, 2020.
She was born on December 30, 1946, to the late John Troy Robinson, Sr. and Ruby Lea Robinson.
She was a homemaker and a member of Easthaven Baptist Church.
Mrs. White was preceded in death by her parents; husband, James Otis White, and brother, John Troy Robinson, Jr.
Those left to cherish her memory are her sons, James White and wife, Donna, and Kevin White;
daughters, Brenda Hammack and Cathy Tanner and husband, Bruce; and daughter-in-law, Danielle White
She is also survived by her sister, Ann Boswell, and 8 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren; along with a host of nieces and nephews.
Hugh McCallum Dowling Jr
Services for Mr. Hugh McCallum Dowling Jr., of Brookhaven are 2:00 pm, Wednesday, February 19, 2020,
at Riverwood with burial at Riverwood Memorial Park.
Visitation is Tuesday, 5:00-8:00 pm at Riverwood Family and also 1:00 pm until the time of service.
Mr. Hugh McCallum Dowling, Jr.,65, went to be with his Lord on February 13, 2020, at Baptist Hospital. He was born on March 4, 1954,
to the late Hugh McCallum Dowling, Sr. and Gloria Britton Barr.
Mr. Dowling was a member of Easthaven Baptist Church and was a pharmacist for
40 years.
Preceding him in death were his parents.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 43 years, Helen Mullen Dowling;
daughter, Mandy Milstead and husband Taz; brother, Richard Dowling; and grandchildren, Kahlen Milstead and Owen Milstead.
Shirley Lytle Piper
Shirley, 82, went home to be with the Lord on February 11, 2020. She was born on
September 10, 1937 in Biloxi, Mississippi.
She was a loving wife and mother.
She was a faithful member of Brookhaven First United Methodist Church, where she met
Jack, her husband of 60 years. She was a member of the Brookhaven Junior Auxiliary,
The Climbers Club, KDMC Foundation, Wildwood Garden Club, and Rosehill Cemetery Restoration Foundation.
She enjoyed gardening, puzzling of all types, and loved listening to Steve Russell play the church organ.
She is survived by her three children, Sheri (Steve) Richardson of Madison, Louann (Jeff) Porter,
and Michael Piper, both of Brookhaven. Seven grandchildren, Jessica, Chad, Cody, Devin, Torri,
Gracie and Colt: 2 Great-grandchildren, Hadley and Stevie: brothers, Don(Velma) Parks,
and Marty(Marlene) Sczepaniak, both of Biloxi: Sister-in-law, Kathleen (Jerry) Smith,
also of Brookhaven, and a host of nieces and nephews. She is also survived her is her loyal companion, Sugar.
She is preceded in death by her loving husband, Jack in 2018.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice Ministries or Brookhaven Animal Rescue League
(BARL) in honor of Sugar Piper,
We will celebrate Shirley’s life Thursday, February 13 at First United Methodist Church, Brookhaven.
Visitation beginning at 1:00, with a service at 3:00. Following, there will be a private graveside service at Rosehill Cemetery.
William Edward Hathorn
The funeral service for Mr. William Edward Hathorn will be 11 a.m., Friday, February 14, 2020, at Heucks Retreat Baptist Church. Visitation is from 5-8 p.m.,
Thursday, February 13, at Riverwood, and will resume Friday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at Heuck's Retreat.
Mr. Hathorn, 76, of Brookhaven, passed from this life on February 10, 2020, at St. Dominic Medical Center in Jackson, MS.
He was born on October 12, 1943, in Columbia, MS. His parents were the late Richard Carlos Hathorn and Sallie Bell Haynes Hathorn.
Mr. Hathorn served his country in the United States Air Force. He was a graduate of the University of Mississippi, where he earned both his Juris Doctorate a
and his Bachelor of Business Administration. He practiced law as a member of the Mississippi Bar Association and was an entrepreneur who
founded many business enterprises. His career spanned decades and intertwined law, banking, and several business ventures including oil and gas.
Mr. Hathorn is preceded in death by his parents; brother, Alford Hathorn; and son-in-law, Dean Boutwell; and father and mother-in-law,
Michael O’Roarke Speights and Beulah Courtney Speights
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Dianne Speights Hathorn; son, William Michael Hathorn, and wife, Jana; daughters,
Elizabeth Anne Hathorn, Kimberley Kaye Calcote and husband, Preston, Courtney Dianne Owens and husband, Chuck, and
Carla LeAnne Boutwell; sister, Mary Nell Patterson, and husband, Charles; 17 grandchildren, Lauren, Lindsay and Lanie Heffker,
Ryan, Rachel and Ross Calcote, Trace, Turner, and Trent Owens, Bo, Owen, Oliver, Anna Claire, and Cooper Boutwell,
Bonnie Hutcheson and husband, Blake, Adalyn Kate and Grayson Hathorn. He is also survived by his brother-in-law, Bobby Speights.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Heucks Retreat Baptist Church, Sanctuary Renovation Fund, 2167 Heucks Retreat Road NE, Brookhaven, MS 39601
Patricia Patterson Jacobs
After a full long and eventful life of almost 99 years, Patricia Patterson Jacobs peacefully passed away Sunday evening at St Catherine's Village in Madison, Mississippi leaving behind her family and a host of friends both young and old. As she stated in her personal papers – "I am off on another trip, another adventure. I have had a wonderful lifetime – blessed beyond belief."
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, February 12 from 4:00 pm to 7:00 at Riverwood. A second visitation will be held on Thursday, February 13 from 10:00 am to ll:00 am with a memorial service following at Riverwood. There will be a private family burial in Rose Hill Cemetery. The Reverends Sam McDonald and Chad Scott will officiate the service.
Born on April 22, 1921 in Winnetka, Illinois to Mildred Rogers Patterson and Robert Waller Willis Patterson she married the love of her life, Charles Robinson Jacobs on March 19, 1942. She and Chuck began their marriage in Charleston, South Carolina during World War II. Following the war they moved to Meredith, New Hampshire, and on to Wauseon, Ohio where they owned and operated weekly newspapers. After a brief stint in Sarasota, Florida they moved to Brookhaven in 1958 after purchasing the then named Brookhaven Leader - Times. Over the next 37 years the dynamic pair grew their small bi-weekly newspaper into a regional daily newspaper, serving a four-county area in southwest Mississippi, until their retirement in 1995. The family sold their newspapers, direct mail and web printing operation in 2012.
In between the never-ending deadlines of the newspaper business, where she learned and honed her award-winning photography and writing skills as well as handling the bookkeeping chores, she maintained a household raising three boys – Randy, Don and Bill. In her spare time, she was active in community social and civic affairs serving for 34 years as a board member, including multiple terms as board chairman, of the Lincoln, Franklin and Lawrence County Library System. She was appointed to the five-member board of the State Mississippi Library Commission.
She also served as a member of the Willing Hearts Circle where for over 35 years she completed multiple terms of service as a board member of the King's Daughters Hospital including a term as board chairman. She was appointed to the Mississippi Board of Hospital Trustees.
In 1976 she co-chaired the Lincoln County 1776 Bicentennial Committee, which created the Bicentennial Park in Brookhaven.
She was a dedicated member of the Ole Brook Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution; a charter member of the Lincoln County Daughters of the Confederacy; the Colonial Dames 17th Century; The Wildwood Garden Club; the Mother's Culture Club; the Climbers Club; The Krewe of Ceres; the Junior Auxiliary where she was awarded the Golden Crown Award. In her later years, she was a member of the Brookhaven Regional Artists Guild (BRAG) and the Friends of the Library.
With a deep love of genealogy, the arts, history, as well as world affairs, she was a seasoned traveler with multiple visits to Central America, South America, Europe, the Near East, Africa and all points in-between. She climbed the Peruvian Andes, rode elephants in India, survived an earthquake in Iran and walked the trails of Nepal. She barged the boat canals of France as well as the motorways of the United Kingdom, Germany and Italy. Realizing she never made it to Egypt, in recent months she plotted a solution.
Pat co-authored two books of local architecture history TREASURES OF BROOKHAVEN and LINCOLN COUNTY AT THE TURN OF THIS CENTURY with good friend and fellow Brookhavenite Kay Calcote. They also produced two architectural photographic displays of the area – a traveling exhibit shown in libraries in Southwest Mississippi. In her 90's she became an accomplished potter, which she would deny.
Ever the encourager, she made it her mission to find the best in people to encourage them to seek higher goals in whatever their endeavor.
She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Brookhaven.
She is preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, Charles Robinson Jacobs; her parents, Mildred Rogers Patterson and Robert Waller Willis Patterson; a brother Robert Waller Patterson Jr.; and an infant son Thomas Orton Jacobs.
She is survived by her sons: Randall Woodruff Jacobs and his wife Fontaine Richbourg Jacobs of Friendswood, Texas; Sheldon Truesdale Jacobs of Jackson; William Orton Jacobs and his wife Amy Alexander Jacobs of Brookhaven and two granddaughters Ann Kirkpatrick Harris and her husband Neil of Memphis, Tennessee; and Meredith Alexander Jacobs of Charleston, South Carolina.
The family wishes to thank the nurses and staff of St Catherine's Villages in Madison, her sitters Linda (Angela) Thompson, Lucile Sutton and Robin Moore for their loving support, attention and patience.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the King's Daughters Medical Center Foundation, The Mississippi School of the Arts Foundation or the Lincoln-Lawrence-Franklin County Library.