Published: January 31, 2007 12:08 pm            

Obituaries for week of Jan. 31, 2007

NEWTON — Georgia Rebecca Smith

Services for Georgia Rebecca Harris Smith were held Friday, Dec. 22, 2006 at 10:30 a.m. at Clarke Venable Baptist Church in Decatur with Revs. Mark Vincent and Richard Etheridge officiating. Burial was in the Decatur Cemetery. Barham Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Smith, 92, of Decatur, died Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2006, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center in Meridian. She will be remembered as a loving and devoted wife and sister, who loved her numerous nieces and nephews.

Survivors include her brothers, Charles Harris and wife, Marguerite of Decatur and Jesse Harris and wife, Bonnie, of Roswell, Ga; sisters, Frances Smith of Newton, Evelyn Stafford and husband, Art, Arlington, Tenn., Mildred Gibbons and husband, George, Memphis, Tenn.; a brother-in-law, Louis Wooley, Deatsville, Ala.; several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jeff Smith; parents, Monroe and Nellie Harris; brothers, James C. “Jerry” Harris, William Weston “Bill” Harris and a sister, Dorothy Wooley; a sister-in-law, Lois Reeves Harris and a brother-in-law, J. B. Smith of Decatur.

Pallbearers will be her nephews and great-nephews.



Marcus A. Whitehead

Marcus Adair Whitehead, 47, died Sunday, Jan. 21 at the home of Matthew Whitehead in Newton. Memorial services are not yet finalized and to be announced at a later date.



Willard Byrd Rainey

Services were held at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 30 at Moore Funeral Chapel in Hattiesburg for Willard Byrd Rainey, 77, of Hattiesburg, who died January 27 at the Veteran’s Home in Collins. Burial followed in Dixie Cemetery. Rev. Bobby Holder officiated.

Rainey was retired from the U.S. Air Force and was a member of Dixie Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara Ann Rainey.

Survivors include: three sons, Terry Rainey of Houseon, Kenneth Rainey of Clinton and Keith Rainey of Petal; two sisters, Carrie McWilliams of Bridgeport, Texas and Naulene Richardson of O’Fallon, Ill.; five grandchildren.



Floyd O. Seal

Services for Floyd O. Seal were held Thursday, Jan. 25 at 11 a.m. at Conehatta Baptist Church. The Revs. Steve Moore and Rick Wilcher officiated. Burial was at Conehatta Methodist Cemetery.

Seal, age 74, died Jan. 23 at his home.

Survivors include his wife Ann Anderson; two daughters, Genie Seal Chadwick of Brandon and Debbie Seal Tanner of Forest; two sons, Ronnie Seal and wife Geraldine of Newton and Louie Seal and wife Susan of Forest; six grandchildren, Eric Seal and wife Jessica of Decatur, Jenny Seal of Ridgeland, Brian and Brad Chadwick of Brandon and Tommy and Brenda Seal of Forest; two great-grandchildren, Lake and Kailee of Decatur; three brothers, Lloyd Seal and wife Clarice of Conehatta, Doyle Seal and wife Tommie Jean of Shreveport, La. and Roy Seal and wife Betty of Conehatta.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Will Ivy and Ruby Archie Seal.



Fannie Odom Wheeler

Services for Mrs. Fannie Odom Wheeler were held Wednesday, Jan. 31 at 2 p.m. at Webb Funeral Home Chapel in Newton with the Rev. Tom Sorrell officiating. Burial was in Newton Masonic Cemetery with Webb Funeral Home of Newton in charge of arrangements.

Wheeler, age 85, of Pearl, died Jan. 29 at her residence in Pearl.

Survivors include: five daughters, Sallie Catlett Dalmasso of Pearl, Betty Catlett Martin of Carthage, Dorothy Catlett Holloway of Pearl, Ruth Catlett McLeroy of Pearl and Ruby Catlett Zimmerman of Monita, Va.; 10 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband Algie Wheeler and parents George and Charlotte Meek Odom.

Mrs. Wheeler was born in Newton County and was a homemaker and member of Lawrence Methodist Church.

Pallbearers were Troy Dalmasso, Shane Holloway, Jonathan Hollis, Paul Rainer, Jackie Rainer and John Martin.



Mary Lee Valentine

Services for Mrs. Mary Lee Valentine were held Tuesday, Jan. 30 at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Newton, with the Rev. Dr. Hardy Denham and the Rev. Luke Lane officiating. Burial was in the Newton Masonic Cemetery with James Webb Funeral in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Valentine, age 91, from Kosciusko, died Jan. 28 at Montford Jones Hospital in Kosciusko.

Mrs. Valentine was born in Newton County. She was a retired clerk for Upton’s Drugs and a member of First Baptist Church in Newton where she taught Sunday School for 40 years, was a member of the Hospital Committee, a member of the WMU, a member of the Nity Woman’s Circle, R.A. Leader, Order of the Eastern Star and charter member of the Music Lover’s Club. She also worked for White’s Hardware for over 35 years.

Survivors include: a daughter, Sue V. Dorrill and husband George of Kosciusko; a son, S.L. “Bubba” Valentine and wife Kaye of Laurel; three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Selmer Louis Valentine and an infant daughter, Martha Elaine Valentine and parents Buren and Mittie Nelson.

Pallbearers were Johnny Upton, Scotty Upton, James McCraney, Joel Nelson, Dr. John David Valentine, Nelson Valentine, Mike Paul and Ed Williams.



Charles Lamont Pace

Charles Lamont Pace, 69, died Tuesday, Jan. 23 at his residence in Conehatta. Graveside services were held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 25 at Conehatta Methodist Cemetery with Rev. Mark Ingram officiating. Ott and Lee Funeral Home in Forest handled arrangements.

        

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