Obituaries
Donald Wilford Spence
A memorial service will be held for Mr. Donald Wilford Spence 2 p.m., Saturday, June 8, 2019, at Riverwood Family.
Friends may visit the family from noon until time of service on Saturday.
Mr. Spence, 84, of Monticello, passed from this life June 2, 2019 at Country Brook Nursing Facility. He was born May 7, 1935
to Ellis A. Spence and Ada May Kemp Spence. He was a Taxidermist by trade and he also worked with
the Mississippi Game and Fish Commission for many years.
He is preceded in death by his parents and siblings.
He is survived by his wife, Jody Spence; sons, Johnny Wayne Spence and Toby Michael Warner;
daughters, Susan Rene Spence, Florence Angelina Spence White, and Donna Jo Spence Nulisch;
and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren
Gwendolyn Mercier Dixon
Services for Mrs. Gwendolyn Mercier Dixon of Bogue Chitto are 11:00 am Monday, June 3, 2019
at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church with burial at the church cemetery.
Visitation is from 5:00-8:00 pm Sunday, June 2 at Riverwood Family Funeral Service
and will resume on Monday from 10:00 until time of service at the church.
Mrs. Gwendolyn Mercier Dixon, 63, went to be with her Lord on May 30, 2019 at Countrybrook Living Center.
She was born on August 11, 1955.
She was a homemaker and a member of Mt. Moriah Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School and Bible School.
She enjoyed fishing and spending time with family, friends and her 4 grandchildren.
Preceding her in death were her father, Howard E. “Bud” Mercier; mother, Toni Mercier and
brothers, Howard E. “Pee Wee” Mercier, Jr. and Louis Mercier.
Those left to cherish her memory are her husband, Jimmy Dale Dixon; son, Jeremy Dixon;
daughter, Jody White and husband Jonathan; and brother, Brian Mercier and wife Susie.
She is also survived by her grandchildren, Morgan Dixon, Hunter Dixon, Gannon White, Olivia White
and special sister-in-law, Kay Dixon.
Claude McCaffrey
Services are incomplete at this time
Catherine Day Batson
Services for Mrs. Catherine Day Batson of Brookhaven are 3:00 pm Sunday June 2, 2019
at Lucien Baptist Church with visitation from 1:00 until time of service.
Burial is at the Church Cemetery. Riverwood Family Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.
Mrs. Batson, 88, passed away on Thursday, May 30, 2019, at her residence.
She was born on October 11, 1930, to Emery Abner and Myrtia Jane Day.
She graduated from McCall Creek High School and attended Co-Lin Jr. College.
As co-owner of Betty Anns's for 38 years, she shared her talent of sewing and design to clothe and inspire all of her customers of their beauty from the inside out.
Throughout the years, she has especially touched the lives of countless brides, mothers of brides, queens, pageant contestants,
and others in finding and fitting them with their perfect dresses.
Mrs. Batson was a lifelong member of Lucien Baptist Church where she proudly served as the President of the Homecoming Cemetery Committee for many years.
She also attended First Baptist Church with her family.
Being called "Gee Gee" not only by her grandchildren, but to all she had the pleasure of knowing always brought a smile to her face.
Sugar, her longtime Pomeranian companion, rarely left her side and was always dressed in an outfit that was custom designed especially for each occasion.
Mrs. Batson was preceded in death by her husband, Billy Gene Batson, her parents,
Mr. and Mrs. E.A. Day, her brother, Emery Abner Day, Jr. and her sister, Dot Porter.
She is survived by her daughter, Cathy Batson McDonnieal and her granddaughter, Mary Catherine Franklin and husband, Keith Franklin,
and grandson, Grant McDonnieal and wife, Allyson McDonnieal, and several nieces and nephews, and many special friends.
Wayne J. Spring
Services for Mr. Wayne J. Spring of Brookhaven are 2:00 pm Saturday, June 1, 2019 at Riverwood Family
with burial Mt. Gilliad Baptist Church Cemetery.
Visitation is 5:00 -8:00 pm Friday, May 31 at Riverwood.
Mr. Wayne J. Spring, 83, went to be with his Lord on May 28, 2019 at his residence.
He was born on July 27, 1935 to the late George W. Spring and Gertrude Nunnery Spring.
Preceding him in death were his parents; son, Chris J. Spring; and brothers, Warren Spring and Ralph Spring.
Those left to cherish his memory are his son, Kirk Spring and wife, Darlene; brothers, A.J. Spring and wife Janie,
Eddie Spring and wife Pat; sister, Frances Berch. He is also survived by 3 grandchildren, Courtney Tate and husband Chris,
Kaitlyn Spring and Kimberly Spring and 3 great grandchildren, Camden Datz, Britton Bercegeay and Connor Tate.
With gratitude the family wishes to express a special thanks to St Luke’s Hospice Team,
Leanna and Vella and to his loving caregiver, April Prather.
Claudene King Fuller
The funeral service for Mrs. Claudene King Fuller will be 11 a.m., Tuesday, May 28, 2019, at
Riverwood Family, with interment at Bethel Temple Cemetery. Visitation is from 5-9 p.m.,
Monday, May 27, at Riverwood and will resume at 10 a.m., Tuesday, until time of the service.
Mrs. Fuller, 73, of Brookhaven, passed away May 26, 2019, at her residence. She was born
December 11, 1945, to Lonnie J. King, Sr. and Laura Jane King. She was self-employed in the
upholstery business and she was a member of Oak Grove Pentecostal Church. Mrs. Claudene
was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Those she leaves behind
will forever feel the void her presence once held.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Tommy Joe Fuller, Sr.; parents; and one son, Glen Ray Fuller.
Those left to cherish her memory are, her sons, Tommy Joe Fuller, Jr. (Pam), Terry Fuller; daughter,
Peggy King (Craig), Donna King (Tim); brothers, Robert King, Lonnie King, Jr., Eugene King (Lanell),
Larry King (Jennifer), Daryel King, Raymond King (Karren), Tony King; sister, Margie Olline Jones.
She also leaves 14 grandchildren, Matthew King (Jessica), Michael King, Scott King (Hope), Daniel King (Chelsey),
Gabby Fuller (Samuel Jennings), Andrew Fuller, Gage Fuller, Alex Fuller, Austin Fuller, Emilie Fuller, Eli Fuller,
Joseph Fuller, Danielle Jackson, and Miriam Reid, as well as 12 great grandchildren
and other loving family members and friends.
Doris Tisdale
The funeral service for Mrs. Doris G. Tisdale will be 3 p.m., Sunday, May 26, 2019, at
Damascus Baptist Church with interment in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from
1:30 p.m. until time of the service at Damascus.
Mrs. Tisdale, 89, of Brookhaven, ended her journey here May 24, 2019, at
Camellia Etates in McComb. She was born September 4, 1929, to Marvin and Eunice Crane.
Mrs. Doris enjoyed making all things beautiful, being a cosmetologist by trade
but also working in her flowers and gardening as well as preparing meals and
sharing her gifts with her family and friends. She will be missed by all who loved her.
She is preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Lonnie Tisdale;
brother, Malcolm Crane; and sister, Elizabeth Pickering.
Those left to cherish her memory are her brother and sister-in-law,
Jerry and Margaret Crane and a host of nieces and nephews.
Rhonda Jean Rials
Services for Mrs. Rhonda Jean Rials of Brookhaven are 11:00 am Monday May 27, 2019
at Victory Baptist Church with burial at the Church Cemetery.
Visitation is from 5:00-9:00 pm on Sunday May 26 also at Victory Baptist Church.
Mrs. Rhonda Jean Rials, 47, went to be with her Lord on May 23, 2019 at University Mississippi Medical Center.
She was born on December 24, 1971 to William “Curley” Thompson and Doris Grice Thompson.
Rhonda worked as a Client Service Representative for Miller & White Inc.
She was a member of Victory Baptist Church where she served on various committees and as Church treasurer.
Preceding her in death were her grandfather, W.B. Thompson; grandparents, Shellie & Ruby Grice; and father-in-law, Billy Joe Rials.
Those left to cherish her memory are her parents; husband, Johnny Rials; sons, Jake Rials and wife Abby, and Sawyer Rials;
daughter, Madison Rials; brothers, Lance Thompson and wife Jobeth, Shane Thompson and wife Lori and Justin Thompson and wife Bonnie.
She is also survived by her grandmother, Betty Jean Thompson; mother-in-law, Jo Ann Rials; sisters-in-law, Missy Carraway and Sandra Rials
and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
Sandra Gail Cook
Services for Mrs. Sandra Gail Cook of Brookhaven are 2:00 pm Saturday, May 25, 2019
at Big Springs Baptist Church with burial at church cemetery.
Visitation is from 12:00 pm until time of service on Saturday at the church.
Mrs. Sandra Gail Cook, 61, went to be with her Lord on May 24, 2019 at her residence.
She was born on May 14, 1958 to the late Cecil Cantrell and Margie Hux Cantrell.
Sandra was a member of Big Springs Baptist Church and was a mother to many that she loved with all her heart.
To know Sandy, was to know love and laughter.
Preceding her in death were her parents; husband, Rickey Cook; sister, Shan McCullough, brother-in-law, Charles Thomas and nephew, Mickey Thomas.
Those left to cherish her memory are her sons, Gage Cook and Casey Vanderslice “whom she loved like a son”;
daughter, Hanna Hux and husband Chris “whom she loved like a daughter”; brother, Kenny Cantrell and wife Kayla; brother-in-law, GW McCullough;
sisters Joyce Thomas, Carolyn Laird and husband, Dwaine and 1 granddaughter, Kali Gail Cook and a host of nieces, nephews and extended family members.
Mary E. Berret
Services are incomplete at this time