Obituaries
John Garry Smith
The funeral service for John Garry Smith will be 2 p.m., Thursday, May 16, at Monticello Baptist Church with burial in the Smith Family Cemetery. Visitation is from 12:30 p.m. until the time of the service.
Mr. Smith, 79, of Monticello, died May 14, 2024, at Lawrence County Hospital. He was born in Brookhaven, MS, November 1, 1944, to Hollis and Marie (Allgood) Smith. He was retired from Georgia Pacific after 40 years.
Mr. Smith was a faithful and loving husband, father and grandfather. He enjoyed traveling and trying new restaurants, but his favorite pastime was being present at ball games and rodeos to support his children and grandchildren. Mr. Smith lived life to the fullest and enjoyed making others laugh and was a well-known "piddler". He will be greatly missed by those who loved him.
He is preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Lamar Smith, Ted Smith, and Mike Smith; and his father and mother-in-law, Henry and Myrtle Smith.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 58 years, Jobeth Smith; sons, Chad Smith (Kathleen), Shannon Smith (Stephanie); five grandchildren, Stran Smith (Audrey), Cody Smith, Kelly Smith, Sage Smith, and Sadie Smith. He is also survived by a host of other loving family members and friends.
Paula Jean Leahey Cothern
Funeral service for Paula Jean Leahey Cothern will be 10 a.m., Saturday, May 18, at Topeka Baptist Church in Jayess with burial in Jayess Baptist Church Cemetery. Visitation is from 5-9 p.m., Friday, May 17, at Topeka.
Mrs. Cothern, 71, of Jayess, MS, passed away May 14, 2024, at Lawrence County Hospital. She was born in Independence, LA, on June 19, 1952.
Mrs. Cothern was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She was a friend to many and liked to spend time with those she loved. She enjoyed being outdoors, tending to plants and flowers as well as mowing grass and gardening. She also liked working on crossword puzzles. Mrs. Cothern was a faithful member of Topeka Baptist Church. She will be greatly missed by all who loved her.
Mrs. Cothern is preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Catherine Leahey.
Those left to cherish her memory are her husband of 50 years, Shelton Lee Cothern; son, Sam Cothern (Lesa); two grandchildren, Caleb Rutland and Dalton Cothern; and a host of other loving family members and friends.
Sherry Ann Campbell
Sherry Ann Campbell, 61, of Brookhaven died Sunday, May 12, 2024, at University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. She was born May 18, 1962, to Leroy Campbell and Lorene Campbell. She was employed with Walmart Distribution in the inventory department.
She is preceded in death by her parents.
Sherry is survived by her brothers, David Campbell and Steve Campbell; sister, Susan Martin; and three nieces, Lauren McDonald, Leslie Flowers, and Jennifer Phillips.
Honoring her wish, she shared the gift of life with others as an organ donor.
Stephanie Elizabeth Wilson
The funeral service for Stephanie Elizabeth Wilson will be 11 a.m., Thursday, May 16, at Riverwood Family with burial in Ramah Baptist Church Cemetery in McCall Creek, MS. Visitation is from 9 a.m. until the time-of-service Thursday.
Mrs. Wilson, 58, of Brookhaven, passed away May 10, 2024, at her residence. She was born in Jackson, MS, October 17, 1965, to Edwin Jackson “Jack” Springs and Martha Elizabeth Monte Springs. She worked as the receptionist at the Children's Clinic in Brookhaven.
Stephanie was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, and friend. Psalm 133:1 says, “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” Stephanie was a pleasant person and treated everyone like they were her family, she cared deeply for all with no conditions attached. In her spare time, she sold Paparazzi Jewelry and enjoyed that. While at home she tended flower beds and hummingbird feeders and took great pleasure in watching them both. Her hobby was collecting “glass chickens”. Stephanie will be greatly missed by all who loved her.
She is preceded in death by her father, Jack Springs and stepfather, Robert Carroll Allbritton.
Those left to cherish her memory are her husband of 25 years, Charles Thomas Wilson; mother, Martha Elizabeth M. Allbritton; children, Tara Elizabeth Vincent (Justin) and Jessie Carroll Wilson (Hunter Cothern); brother, Michael Springs (Kathy King), four grandchildren, Lankston Vincent, Ainsleigh Vincent, Valerie Vincent, and Monte Vincent. She is also survived by other loving family members and friends.
Reese Lynn Kyle
The funeral service for Reese Lynn Kyle will be 11 a.m. Thursday, May 9, at Riverwood Family, with burial in Riverwood Memorial Park. Visitation is from 5-8 p.m., Wednesday, May 8th at Riverwood and will resume from 10 a.m. until the time-of-service Thursday.
Justin and Brittany Kyle welcomed a baby girl to their family on December 17, 2008, and named her Reese Lynn. She was born in Mobile, AL.
Of all the things that can be said about the unique person that God made Reese to be, in regards to hobbies, interests, activities and personality, and her life, the most important and the eternally lasting, glorious truth that defined her was this: She belonged to and is with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:7: In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace....). God drew her to salvation in Christ several years ago, repenting of her sin, totally trusting in Jesus alone for forgiveness, submitting her life to Him as Lord (Acts 20:21: testifying... of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ). According to His Grace, which Biblically, means "unmerited favor", God drew her to salvation, forgave her and made her a new creation in Christ for His Glory (Ephesians 2:8-9: For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.; 2 Corinthians 5:17: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.) God gave her a heart to follow Him as a new creation through His Spirit, and to give Him glory. He gave her a heart of love, compassion and mercy that He displayed in and through her life to share the Gospel message of forgiveness through Christ, with those that God brought into her life. We thank God that she is with Him (2 Corinthians 5:8: ...we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.), that He gave us such a beautiful gift for 15 ½ years and that we will see her again one day! This is not a false, fickle or imagined hope, but a sure, steady and solid Hope that cannot be shaken, because our Hope has a name, and His Name is JESUS. Therefore, as we do grieve and will for the rest of our lives, we do so with the GRACE and MERCY given to us in THE LORD JESUS CHRIST as well as a great JOY that only those who belong to CHRIST can know (1 Thessalonians 4:13: But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.) We pray that all would know this HOPE for God's Glory and the sake of their own eternity.
Please join with us in celebrating God's glory as we praise Him for all He is and has done in Christ. He made our beautiful daughter a unique person who loved horse riding, 4H activities including showing goats, rabbits, shooting sports. She enjoyed hunting, fishing and animals. She loved her family, her brothers and sisters in Christ and most importantly her Lord (1 John 4:19: We love because he first loved us.) She had a dream to do horse therapy with others, especially those who were incarcerated, sharing the love and message of the Gospel with them and others. The Lord has chosen greater things according to His will and we praise Him that she left with her dream of the Gospel being shared, but in a beautiful way that none of us could have possibly imagined. We love and miss Reese and praise the Lord for such an undeserved and beautiful gift as her.
2 Peter 3:18: To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
Reese will forever be remembered by her parents; her siblings, Eli Kyle and Paisley Kyle; and paternal grandparents, Mitchell Kyle and Charlotte Kyle; maternal grandparents, Christopher Ballance, Melinda Burton, and Richard Burton. She is also survived by other friends and family, and a host of aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Mary Dell King Moak
The funeral service for Mary Dell King Moak will be 11 a.m., Wednesday, May 8, at Riverwood Family with burial in Easthaven Cemetery. Visitation is from 5-8 p.m., Tuesday, May 7, at Riverwood and will resume Wednesday from 10 a.m. until the time of service.
Mrs. Moak, 82, of Bogue Chitto, MS, passed away May 4, 2024. She was born August 17, 1941, to Floyd King and Delia Smith King. She was retired from Kux Jewelry where she worked as a bookkeeper for many years.
Mrs. Moak and her husband, Joe, were active members of Easthaven Baptist Church. She also attended Gum Grove Baptist Church. She was a faithful servant of her Lord and loved Him with all her heart. She loved her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren and would defend them with her life. She was an excellent cook. She entered and won many categories of the Wooden Spoon Cookbook contest. She enjoyed the beauty of the outdoors too, from the beautiful flowers to having a fresh cut lawn. Mrs. Mary collected angels for many years, she has many different sizes and colors.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Carl “Joe” Moak; her parents; and her sisters, Bernice King and Rachel Eitel.
Those left to cherish her memory are her children, Tracy Moak (Larry Strickland), Mike Moak (Lisa), and Chad Moak (Aileen); four grandchildren, Colbey Moak, Kayla Moak, Chanie Fagan, and Saylor Moak; and four great grands, Will, Remi Kate, Rocky and Creed, and she has another great grand on the way, Wesley. She is also survived by her PCA, Kawaina Minor and her cousin, Maxine Porter as well as other loving family members and friends.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to Dignity Hospice and Nova York, for all their care and help.
Timothy Perry Roberts
Timothy Perry Roberts, 48, of Georgetown, passed away on April 29, 2024.
He was born on August 1, 1975, to the late Franklin Roberts and Charlene Chadwick Roberts.
Tim was an LSU Fan at heart, but he loved seeing his children play even more.
He graduated from Salem High School in 1993. He studied history at Southwest for two years to become a history teacher. He was a proud father of three and foster parent to 28 children.
Preceding him in death were his parents, and brothers, Frankie Roberts and George Chadwick.
He is survived by his wife of 7 years, Kimberly Roberts; children Korbyn Roberts, Johnathan Kelly, Anthony Kelly, and 28 foster children; brothers, Frankie Roberts, George Chadwick, Chad Chadwick, Al Roberts and sisters, Cindy Dunaway, Beverly Smith, and Carmen Williamson.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made directly to the family.
Kathleen Kelly McGehee
The funeral service for Kathleen Kelly McGehee will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 1, at Clear Branch Baptist Church with burial in the church cemetery. Visitation is Tuesday, April 30, from 5-8 p.m. at Clear Branch and will resume Wednesday from 10 a.m. until the time of service.
Mrs. McGehee, 71, of Brookhaven, died April 27, 2024, at Silver Cross Health and Rehab Center in Brookhaven. She was born in Wichita Falls, TX, May 2, 1952, to William Edward Johnston Kelly and Joan Elizabeth Jacks Kelly.
Mrs. McGehee was retired after serving 39 years with Trustmark National Bank, as an assistant vice president.
She is preceded in death by her parents and grandparents, D.M. & Josie Jacks.
Those left to cherish her memory are her husband of 52 years, James Russell “Jay” McGehee; daughter, Kimberly Eubanks and husband, Shannon; brother, Michael Kelly; two grandchildren, Kelly Eubanks and Aerin Eubanks; and other loving family members, Jan Kelly, Jacks Kelly, Will Kelly, Caroline Kelly Duffy and husband, Cameron. She is also survived by a host of other loving family members and friends.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be sent to Louisiana Boxer Rescue, www.louisianaboxerrescue.org.
Debbie "NaNa" Coleman
Memorial Services for Mrs. Debbie “Nana” Coleman of Brookhaven are 2:00 pm, Thursday, May 2, 2024, at Riverwood Family with visitation from 5:00-8:00 pm, Wednesday, May 1, also at Riverwood Family.
Nana had many hobbies. Cross-stitching, crocheting, golfing, reading, puzzling, woodworking. She loved drag racing, Mustangs, and going fast. Working on cars with Len and the boys was her happy place. She turned wrenches and did body work right with them.
Out of all her hobbies the one she loved the most was ball. She loved to watch her kids play ball: She was everyone’s Nana at the ball field. She packed a cooler for all her boys. She never missed a game and was their biggest fan. Her “baseball family” will miss her dearly. But most of all she loved her family fiercely: her boys and her grandbabies were her life. She left us far too soon and left a hole that will never be filled. But the memories we have will last a lifetime.
She was born on February 29, 1956, and passed away on April 27, 2024, at University Medical Center.
Preceding her in death were her husband, Len Coleman; parents, Rip Robbins and Shirley Butler; grandson, Rodrigo Coleman; grandmother, Fannie Griffin; and brother, Bobby Robbins.
Those left to cherish her memory are her children, Travis Coleman (Shae), and Michael Coleman; brother, Scotty Dix (Karen); sister, Diane Miller (Jim) and grandchildren, Brayden, Patrick, Bryce, Brooke, Sophia, and other family members, Aunt Betty Forman, and niece Nikki Wilbanks.
In lieu of flowers please send support to your local Rec League
Johnathan Loyd Neal
Johnathan Loyd Neal, 46, of Jayess, MS died April 24, 2024. He was born in Tylertown, MS, May 14, 1977, to Gordon Neal and Bobbi Stephans Davis.
Johnathan was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying floating the river, kayaking and riding 4 wheelers. He also enjoyed working on vehicles.
Johnathan is preceded in death by his father and one brother, Gordon Neal.
He is survived by his daughter, Katie Fortenberry; mother, Bobbi Davis; brother David Neal; and two sisters, Shannon Burkhart and Barbara Anderson.
