Obituaries
James Bennett Thompson
James Bennett Thompson, 68, of Hazlehurst, passed away August 4, 2022, at Silver Cross Nursing Home.
He was born June 16, 1954, to the late James Shelby (Monk) Thompson and Nora Rea Blackmon Thompson.
Mr. Thompson was a member of Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Explorers, AA Degree Drafting Design.
He was a stamp and coin collector, model and rocket builder; CB’er (KTV-6270) and Ham Radio Tech. (KC5-SNC), L.P. Gas Tech. (#5258),
Lawrence Co. Appraiser (1982-1984), Wesson Policeman (#4), Pendleton Detectives of MS., and Wells Fargo Guard Service of Metairie, LA.
Those left to cherish his memory are his son, James Bradley Thompson and wife Brittany; daughter, Kelly Leanne Thompson; brother, Perry Lynn Thompson
and sister, Sue Sills; and three grandchildren, David Austin Cramer, Alyssa Jean Dickerson and Elijah Taylor Malbrough.
He will be missed by all that loved him.
David Gary Powers
Services for David Gary Powers of Hattiesburg, MS, will be held in Brookhaven, MS, at Riverwood Family Funeral Home on Saturday, August 6. The visitation will be at 10 a.m. with service at 11 a.m. and burial immediately following at Riverwood.
David died from complications of Parkinson’s disease at Asbury Hospice in Hattiesburg, on July 30, 2022. He was born at Vicksburg’s Mercy Hospital on August 2, 1947, to Elizabeth ‘Sis’ Gary Powers and Spencer Byrd Powers, Sr. He lived in Cary, MS, on the Powers Family Farm and attended Cary Consolidated Line School and then Rolling Fork High School where he played football. He was a member of the 1963 Delta Valley Conference Championship team and was a 1965 graduate of Rolling Fork High School.
David also played football at Millsaps College and was a member and officer of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. He graduated from Millsaps in 1969 with a sociology degree. Bobby Kennedy spoke at Millsaps in 1967 and David was strongly influenced by his message as well as by President John F. Kennedy’s inaugural speech that called on citizens to “ask what you can do for your country.” David began his lifelong service as a soldier in the War on Poverty when he took a job as a caseworker with the Mississippi Department of Public Welfare, now Department of Human Services. In 1973 he earned a Master’s in Social Work from Tulane University.
David spent his life attempting to right injustices, including giving away a week’s worth of his roommate’s groceries to neighborhood trick-or-treaters while a college student. Reflecting on his nearly thirty years at the Department of Human Services, he often said that he aspired to be a “good bureaucrat” with his typical self-deprecating and dry sense of humor. His real calling was as a front-line social worker, going above and beyond to love people in whatever way he could. There are too many stories of the good work he did, from helping his clients file their taxes to get the refunds they deserved, to working with churches to get rent covered, to ending his sessions with clients by asking a question not found on any of the forms: “What other needs do you have?” When he eventually became a Regional Director, he mentored social workers in the field, encouraging them to treat people with respect and meet them where they were. He continued this work after retirement, helping people looking for assistance at Parkway Heights United Methodist Church, volunteering with Edwards Street Fellowship Center distributing food to families in need, and delivering Meals On Wheels.
David was an American Contract Bridge League Ruby Life Master and member of the Hattiesburg Duplicate Club and Robert Kirkpatrick Club, where he welcomed and mentored new players, devoting himself to the game he learned from a woman he considered his “best feature” - his mother Sis Powers - and from his Aunt Epp. He won sixth place at the World Championship Domino Tournament in 1990. A mystery book aficionado, he passed on his love of reading to his children and grandchildren. He was a founding member of the Just Over the Rainbow Theater company as well as one of the founders of the Episcopal Church of the Ascension’s Annual Crawfish Boil. An actor on local stage and screen, he was perhaps best known for the role of “Earl” in the Big Buck Sporting Goods commercials. He maintained a lifelong devotion to the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers. He often claimed to be the original inventor of the McDonald’s Sausage Egg and Cheese McMuffin sandwich, although his role has never been confirmed in the official histories.
David is survived by the love of his life, Bettie Hatcher Cox; his children Amanda Clay Powers, Mitchell Sampson Powers (Liberty), Matthew Flynn (Allison), Joye Cox Anestis (Mike), and Kris Lee; his brother-in-law Steve Reisinger; his nephew Spencer Reisinger (Sunee Claud) and nieces Stephanie Kidwell and Laura Reisinger Watts (Hassan Houmani). David’s beloved grandchildren, to whom he was known as Pop, are Bryce Touchstone; Hansford “Hank” and Coretta “Coco” Powers; Noah, Eli, and Joshua Flynn; and Jonah and Mary Anestis. He is also survived by too many longtime friends to list. He is preceded by his parents, Sis and Spencer Byrd Powers, Sr.; his brother Spencer Byrd Powers, Jr.; and his sister Elizabeth Anne Reisinger.
Memorials may be made to the Edwards Street Fellowship Center, 1919 Edwards Street, Hattiesburg, MS 39401; the Sharkey-Issaquena County Library, 116 Robert Morganfield Way, Rolling Fork, MS 39159; the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, www.michaeljfox.org; or to a food bank in your community.
Linda Lou Davis
Funeral service for Mrs. Linda Lou Davis will be 11 a.m. Friday, August 5, at Riverwood Family, with burial in the
Riverwood Memorial Park. Visitation is from 9:30 until the time of service at Riverwood.
Mrs. Davis, 85, of Brookhaven, passed from this life August 1, 2022. She was born May 13, 1937, in Monticello, MS.
Upon graduating Monticello High School, she was voted the Friendliest Girl in “Who’s Who”. She was a member of
the Order of the Eastern Star Chapter No.1 of Brookhaven, where she received a certificate for being a 50-year member.
She was a member of First United Methodist Church and a member of the Adventurers Sunday School Class. She served
on the church council and was a past treasurer of the United Methodist Women. She loved her church family. She loved to
travel with her husband to many different places, but loved Branson, Missouri the best. But she always said, “it is good to
come back home to Brookhaven.” She always had a love for people and made many friends. She was a loving mother, grandmother, and great grandmother.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Luther Collins and Emma Fuller Lambert; sisters, Polly Collier of Mineola, TX and Dorothy Summers of Jackson, MS.
She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Mitchell Davis; daughter, Cheryl Davis May and husband, Donald of Brookhaven, MS; grandsons, Allen Davis May and wife, Leigh Ann of Meadville, MS, Trent Collins May of Clinton, MS; great grandchildren, Adalynn Kay May and Layne Freeman; and brother-in-law, Julius Davis of Houston, TX. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Deaconess Hospice for their care and compassion, especially, Jaci and Shana.
In lieu of flowers, please make memorials to First United Methodist Church, PO Box 358, Brookhaven, MS 39602.
Sterling Lloyd Ross
Mr. Sterling Lloyd Ross, 48, of McComb, passed from this life July 31, 2022. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama,
October 24, 1973, to Lloyd and Maxine Ross.
He is preceded in death by his father.
He is survived by his mother and one brother, Stewart Wyatt Ross. Other family members include Wayne Sterling,
Peggy Sterling O’Quin, Mary Ann Sterling, and Bobbie and Jerry Padgett.
A memorial service will be held for Mr. Ross at a later date.
Margaret Fay Price
Graveside service for Margaret Fay Price, of Brookhaven, will be held Thursday, August 4, 2022, at 1 p.m.,
with the Reverend David Moree presiding.
Miss Price, 86, passed away peacefully, at her home. She was born June 27, 1936, and was the eighth of nine daughters, born to
Howard Marshall Price and Maud Ellen Smith Price. Her siblings included Evelyn Ross, Edith Stephens, Lavon Luna, Helen Nix,
twins, Jane Nutt and Jean Wright, grace Parnell, and her identical twin, Martha Price.
She was baptized as a young girl in the Baptist faith. At age nine she became active in the Junior and Intermediate Girls Auxiliary.
She graduated from Byram High School in 1955, and she and her sister, Martha, were both named Salutatorian of their graduating class.
She then attended Mississippi College, where she graduated in 1960, earning a Bachelor of Science and a degree in education.
She spent the summers between the last two semesters of college serving as a student for the Baptist Home Missions.
Miss Price never married but devoted her early adult life to the to the education of first grade students. She taught in multiple locations
throughout Mississippi but ended her teaching career at a Private School in Clinton.
She and her sister moved to Jackson in 1967 and lived there for forty years before returning to Brookhaven in 2008, where they
remained until the time of her death.
She is preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Evelyn, Edith, Lavon, Helen, Jean, and Grace.
She is survived by her sisters, Jane and Martha, as well as 16 nieces and nephews and numerous great nieces and great nephews.
The family wishes to thank the staff of Deconess Hospice and all at home personal care and respite services. A special heartfelt thank
you to our dearest friend, Mr. Chuck Price for all his kindnesses during a time of need.
Martin Eugene Moore, Sr.
Funeral service for Mr. Martin Eugene Moore, Sr. will be 11 a.m., Wednesday, August 3, at Riverwood Family,
with interment in the Stewart Cemetery. Visitation is from 5-8 p.m., Tuesday, August 2, at Riverwood and will
resume Wednesday from 10 a.m. until the time of service.
“Marty”, as he was known by most, was born July 10, 1964, to Tommy and Emma Jean Ratcliff Moore. He was a
1982 graduate of Bogue Chitto High School, and earned his Associates Degree in 1986, from Copiah Lincoln Community College.
Marty worked in the paint departments of Wall Lumber, Home Hardware, and Perkins Hardware in Brookhaven,
and with Hunington Hardware in Hazlehurst. In his more than 20 years with the hardware he was most thankful for
the customers and the friendships he made with them. He also enjoyed the time he spent as a member of the
Brookhaven Exchange Club, where he was known by the kids as “The Roller Coaster man.” He loved the smiles
on their faces and would say, “that is what the fair is all about.” He was a member of Macedonia Baptist Church,
where he taught RA’s. Martin had always had a strong faith in Jesus and told his family, whom he loved deeply,
“do not cry for me, shed no tears, because I have won my victory and I will be with my Lord and Savior.”
He will be greatly missed and fondly remembered.
He is preceded in death by his parents; brother, Tommy “Bud” Moore; sister, Betty Joann Moore; half-brother,
Alvie Chandler, Jr.; paternal grandparents, William and Beckie Moore; and his maternal grandparents, Lattiemore and Gladys Ratcliff.
Those left to cherish his memory are, his wife of 31 years, Claudette Moore; sons, Martin Moore “MJ”, Jr.,
Mason Donovan Moore (Tabitha),and Matthew Moore; brothers, Mike Moore (Kay), Billy Moore; sisters,
Betty Jean Thompson (Allen) and Margaret Thomas (Mark); he is also survived by several loving nieces, nephews,
great nieces and nephews and other loving family members and friends.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Brookhaven Exchange Club, PO Box 486, Brookhaven, MS 39602
Shirley S. Cotten
Memorial service for Shirley S. Cotten will be 3 p.m., Thursday, August 11, 2022, at Riverwood Family with burial in
Riverwood Memorial Park. Visitation is from 1 p.m. until the time of service.
Mrs. Shirley S. Cotten passed away on July 11th, 2022, in Sevierville TN, at
the age of 73. She was born October 13, 1948, in Lincoln County, to May
Ruth Young and Marley Wayne Scott.
She was the wife of Larry J. Cotten, they shared 54 years together. She
was a graduate of Brookhaven High School 1967. She worked as a
bookkeeper for several years early in her career until she and her husband
began their own business and traveled the South for thirty years attending
arts and crafts shows selling their ceramic hummingbird feeders.
Mrs. Cotten is survived by her husband Larry J. Cotten, her two daughters,
Cindy Hart (Len), Melanie McCreary (Rob); grandchildren, Marley Hart
Andrews, Michael Hart, Caleb, Josh and Anna Grace McCreary plus two
great grandchildren, Zollie and Grayson Andrews; and nephew, Jeff Brister.
She is preceded in death by her parents, granddaughter Hannah Hart;
nephew Scott Brister; sister Elaine Brister and brother-in-law Glen Brister.
William Louis Burns
Dr. William Louis Burns, 70, passed away peacefully in Natchez, MS on July 22, 2022, surrounded by his family. Dr. Burns was
born in Laurel, MS on Oct. 1, 1951, and grew up in Natchez. Dr. Burns received his MS from University of Southern Mississippi.
He was married in Natchez to Michele Colbert prior to moving to Arkansas where he received his PhD in Economics from the University of Arkansas in 1978.
They were married for nearly seventeen years and had two children before divorcing in 1991. He would spend over thirty years of his life working in
finance in New Orleans, LA. He was designated a Chartered Financial Analyst in 1981. From 1979-1983, Dr. Burns was a Professor of Finance at the
University of New Orleans. He moved from UNO to Howard, Weil, Labouisse, Fredrichs Inc., in 1984 and would depart as their Vice President in Public Finance
in 1997. Dr. Burns then became the Senior Equity Security Analyst for Johnson, Rice & Co. until his retirement in 2012. Upon retirement, Dr. Burns returned
to Natchez to spend his days with his best friends, Evie and Dano, (his Dobermans) sitting beside his pool or frequenting the many restaurants he
visited in his weekly routine to chat with the locals and tourists of his hometown.
He is preceded most recently in death by his mother, Pasty Hill Burns, who passed away in Natchez on February 16, 2022. He is also preceded in death by his father,
Louis Maxwell Burns as well as his son, Dylan Conor Burns.
He is survived by his daughter, Megan Anna Burns and his three grandchildren, Mina, Blaise and Issa Brinks, all of whom live in New Orleans. He is also survived
by his younger sister and her husband, Tammy and Steve Whittington as well as his younger brother, John Burns. He is also survived by his cousin, Skippy Haik,
nephews: Stephen Whittington, Cory Whittington, and John Michael Burns as well as his nieces: Haley Whittington, Anna Peyton Whittington and Olivia Burns.
His daughter would like to recognize the many residents of Natchez, especially among his favorite haunts such as Magnolia Grill, Pearl Street Pasta, the Natchez Brewery,
and Hallelujah who made the last years of my father’s life such a joy as he felt welcomed (And felt missed if he ever missed a night out!) at his favorite spots chatting
with his favorite bartenders, waitresses, and owners. His family will honor his memory in Natchez at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Natchez County Humane Society as dogs really are some of the best friends we can know in this life.
Helen Melissa Boyd
Services for Mrs. Helen Melissa Boyd of Bogue Chitto are 11:00 am, Tuesday, August 2, 2022, at Riverwood.
Visitation will be from 5:00-8:00 pm, Monday, August 1, at Riverwood with interment at Twin Oaks Cemetery in Bogue Chitto.
Mrs. Helen Melissa Boyd, 73, passed away July 28, 2022, at her residence.
She was born on May 10, 1949, to the late Clifton E Bales, Sr. and Helen Katherine Reid Bales.
Melissa loved her church family, shopping, the beach, cooking and baking.
She especially loved her grandbabies and trying to always to keep everyone in line while keeping her princess status.
Preceding her in death were her parents; parents-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Shelton Boyd; brother, Clifton E Bales, Jr., and his wife, Vivian Bales and niece, Marriah Barren.
Those left to cherish her memory are her husband of 53 years, Billy Boyd; daughters, Paula Welch (Ricky) and Deann Crosby (Brad).
Brothers, Bruce Bales and Kevin Bales; sister, Melinda Hughs Bales; along with five grandchildren,
Devon Winborne (Jeremy), Rheagan Holden (Garrett), Shelby Reid (Dylan), Allie Grace Crosby, Rainie Welch, and six great grandchildren,
Oaklyn Winborne, Kysen Reid, Elliot Winborne, Piper Reid, Ann Nelson Winborne and soon to be grandson, John Briggs Holden, and a host of nieces and nephews.
Patsy Young Posey
Services for Mrs. Patsy Young Posey of McCall Creek are 12:00 pm Monday, August 1, 2022,
at Riverwood Family, with visitation from 10:00 am until the time of the service.
Burial will be at Wright’s Chapel in McCall Creek.
Mrs. Patsy Young Posey, 71, passed away July 28, 2022, at her residence.
She was born on October 24, 1950, to the late Ford Young and Geraldine Kyzar Young.
Mrs. Posey was a homemaker and enjoyed spending time with her family.
She will be missed by all that loved her.
Preceding her in death were her parents; husband, Robert Posey;
son, Curtis Posey and sister-in-law, Diane Young.
Those left to cherish her memory is her daughter, T.J. Grice and husband, Stacy;
three grandchildren, Hunter and wife, Marissa, Emma and Johnny Grice;
she is also survived by brothers, James Young and Glenn Young and wife, Ann;
sister, Lynne Ezell and husband, David and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.
Obituaries
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Beverly Rose Lowery
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Jackie M. White Laird
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Helen Margaret Walters
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Sherra Crawford Smith
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Linda Fay Williams
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Dennis K. Cotten
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John Patrick Hodge
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Ronny Wayne Thompson
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Charles Glenn "Chuck" Laird
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