Published: March 07, 2007 10:47 am            

Obituaries for week of March 7, 2007

Ray O. Gray

Services for Ray O. Gray were held Friday at 2 p.m. at McClain-Hays Funeral Service Chapel with the Revs. Lawrence Runnels, Whit Lewis and Mack Alford officiating. Burial was in Sandtown Methodists Church Cemetery in Philadelphia.

Gray, 75, of Philadelphia, died Tuesday Feb. 27, 2007 at Neshoba County General Hospital, in Philadelphia, Mississippi. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and served in Korea. He was a civilian employee at NAS Meridian for 20 years. He owned a barber shop in Decatur for 40 years. He was a member of North Calvary Baptist Church in Philadelphia and served as a deacon for many years.

Survivors include: wife Louise Gray, two daughters Nancy Heidelberg and husband Gary of Glennallen, Ark. and Deedra Munn and husband Robert of Union. He had four grandchildren Kendra Heidelberg of Anchorage, Alas., Clint Heidelberg of Great Falls, Mont., Robert Munn and Meagan Munn both of Union. He had two stepsons Paul Roger Johnson and James Johnson both of Philadelphia, three stepdaughters Betty Winstead of Germantown, Tenn., Sharon Deweese of Philadelphia and Sheila Smith of Tulsa, Okla. He had eight step-grandchildren and a step great-grandchild.

He was preceded in death by wife Hazel Smith Gray, parents Preston and Mary Lou Gray, two brothers Talmadge Gray, Gary Gray, and a sister Mary Daniels.



Johnnie Comans

Services for Johnnie Comans were held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 7, 2007 at Clarke Venable Baptist Church in Decatur. The Rev. Stan Buckley, Rev. Mark Vincent and Rev. Jim Yates officiated with burial in Decatur Cemetery.

Comans, 84, died Monday, March 5, 2007 at his home in Decatur.

Survivors include: Wife of 63 years, Elizabeth Cooper Comans of Decatur; a daughter, Barbara Comans Powers and husband Paul of Kosciusko; a son; Johnnie Wayne Comans and wife Sandy of Decatur, two sisters; Bernice Beyer of Mobile, Ala., Jean Teasley of Ridgeland; three brothers, Hubert Comans of Newton, Gordon Comans of Moody, Ala., Raymond Comans of Decatur; five grandchildren, Paula Powers Yates and husband Jim of Starkville, Jonathan Powers and wife Kelly of Kosciusko, Kristin Comans Slay of Decatur, Kasey Comans Thomas and husband Josh of Hattiesburg, Kody Comans and wife Blair of Decatur; three great-grandchildren, Zach Slay of Decatur, Foster and Joe Paul Yates of Starkville.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John W. and Evie Shaw Comans, two sisters, and one brother.

Pallbearers: Kody Comans, Jonathan Powers, Josh Thomas, Jim Yates, Zach Slay, Kelly Alderman and Billy Yelverton.

Honorary pallbearers included: The PALS Sunday School Class of Clarke Venable as well as Graham Clark, David Ethridge, and Dr. James Yelverton.

Mr. Comans owned and operated Decatur Electric Appliance Store for 33 years. He was an active member of Clarke Venable where he served as a deacon. Some avid hobbies included hunting, fishing and gardening.



Margaret Olivia Lay

Services for Margaret Olivia “Lil” Lay were held Wednesday, March 7 at 1:30 p.m. at the Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery in Newton. Visitation was at Webb Funeral Home in Newton.

Mrs. Lay, 82, died Monday, March 5 at home with her family. The daughter of the late Thomas Carroll Chapman and Josephine Weed Chapman, she was born on June 13, 1924 in Newton County. She was a graduate of Newton High School and Clarke College.

On June 18, 1944, she married Henry Mondel “Hank” Lay in Laurinberg, N. C., thus beginning her career as a devoted Air Force wife. She returned to their cattle farm in Newton County with her husband in 1966 after his retirement. Lil worked for Feldman’s Department Store and the Mississippi State Highway Department until her retirement in 1987. She then became Hank’s full time caregiver until his death in 1990.

Mrs. Lay remained involved in church, community and political activities until her death giving generously of her time and talents to all she met and loved. She is survived by loving family which includes her daughters, Laurel Lay Mayes of Newton and Limon, Costa Rica, Del Lay Pierman and her husband David of Turtletown, Tenn. Lil leaves three grandchildren: Peter Pierman, Newton; Margaret “Molly” Wright and her husband, Jason, Forest Park, Ill.; and Benjamin Pierman, Atlanta, Ga. The apple of her eye, her great-grandson, Henry Walker “Hank” Wright also survives his “GG”. Her family also includes Mary Jo Kinne (sister) of Stephens, S.C. , Thomas Carroll Chapman, Jr. (deceased brother), four dear nieces, and her special nephew, Walter Carroll Chapman.

No one can think of Lil without remembering her love of animals. She leaves one very special cat, Tiger, who has been her constant companion for more than 10 years.

Memorials may be made to the Bethel Baptist Church Building Fund in care of James Rowzee, 5043 Highway 15, Newton, MS 39345.

Officiating the service was Reverend Robert Rowzee and Reverend Mark Gilgore.

Pallbearers were Peter Pierman, Ben Pierman, Jason Wright, Walter Carroll Chapman, Bubba Bonds and Jim Mason.



Marjorie Butler Boyd

Mrs. Marjorie Davis Butler Boyd, 93, died Monday, Feb. 26, 2007 at her residence in Lake. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2007 at Ott and Lee Funeral Home Chapel in Forest with burial in Pace Cemetery. Rev. Ken McLemore officiated.

Mrs. Boyd was born in Lake on Oct. 1, 1913 to Tommy and Lula (Loper) Davis. She was the youngest of seven children; five brothers, Earl, Loyce, Fred, Frank and Perry; and a sister, Wynona Davis (Blanton) who were all reared in the Good Hope Community.

In 1932, she graduated from Lake High School, then attended Decatur Jr. College for two years. Ole Miss in Oxford for one year, then finished up her fourth year at Mississippi Southern in Hattiesburg. After earning a degree in Science and Home Economics, she taught one year at Darbon. From there she moved to D’Lo and taught for two years and also spent several years teaching in Pinola and Mendenhall.

During those years of teaching, on June 17, 1939, she married Robert Jewett Butler. Within the next 14 years they were blessed with four children; Sherrie Lou, Judy Lynn, Nona Sue and Bob Jewett.

When they moved to Lake, around 1950 she stayed at home for a few years taking care of their four children and elderly parents.

She did some substitute teaching in the Choctaw Indian Schools, and then spent several years teaching fourth grade at Lake Attendance Center.

Her last nine years of teaching were with the Choctaw Indians in Conehatta. She said “I never taught a child I didn’t love”.

Survivors include her three daughters, Sherrie Wooten and husband, Wilson of Lake, Judy Busbee and husband, Rush of Brandon, and Nona Renaud and husband Joseph of Lake; son, Bob Jewett Butler and wife, Patricia of Miami, Florida, nine grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren.

Pallbearers were Robert Butler, Jason Massey, Bill Wooten, Billy Wooten, Jeff Wallace and Jared McElhenney.

Memorials can be made to Goodhope Baptist Church, First Baptist Church of Lake or Gideons International.



Edgar ‘Ed’ W.

Hollingsworth

Services for Edgar “Ed” W. Hollingsworth were held Friday, Feb. 3, 2007 at 2 p.m. at Webb Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. John Cash and the Rev. Luke Lane officiating. Burial was in Newton Masonic Cemetery, with James F. Webb Funeral Home of Newton in charge of arrangements.

Hollingsworth, 76, of Newton died Feb. 28, 2007 at his residence in Newton.

Survivors include: wife, Doris Bounds Hollingsworth; a daughter, Susan Shepherd Hollingsworth, Ocean Springs; a son, David Keith and his wife Gale Hollingsworth, Newton; two sisters, Mary Frances Jones, Newton, Ola Mae Amos, Decatur; five grandchildren and four great- grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; James O’Biern and Vada Gressett Hollingsworth, a brother, Marshall Hollingsworth.

Occupation was a retired Electronics Instructor for East Central Community College and Hollingsworth T.V. Repair. Place of birth was Newton County.

He was a member of First Baptist Church, a Veteran of Korean Conflict in the U.S. Marines and a member of the V.F.W.

Pallbearers were David Keith Hollingsworth, Jr., Jamie Hollingsworth, Chris Hollingsworth, Sam Bounds, Alan Amos and Willy Ray Jones.



Mrs. Ruby Lee

Anderson Brown

Services for Mrs. Ruby Lee Anderson Brown were held Friday, March 3, 2007 at 11 a.m. at Webb Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Thomas Surrell officiating. Burial was in Newton Masonic Cemetery with James F. Webb Funeral Home of Newton in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Brown, 93, of Queen City Nursing Home, a former resident of Newton died Feb. 26, 2007 at Heartfelt Hospice of Meridian.

Survivors include: two daughters; Carolyn and her husband Stewart Holloway; Brandon, Ann and her husband Don Weatherfield, Benecia, Calif.; three sons, Joseph and his wife Charlotte Brown of Meridian, Warren and his wife Rita Brown, Collinsville, Jimmy and his wife Jean Brown, Lithia, Fla.; a sister; Cathline Bumpers, Coffeeville, Ala.; 14 grandchildren, and 22 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband; Jerome Brown, a daughter, Lee Brown; and her parents, Eugene and Cornelia Estes Anderson.

She was a retired Seamstress for the Newton Company and was born in Coffeeville, Ala.

She attended Newton United Methodist Church.

Pallbearers were Van Lucas, Bill Freeman, Joey Murphey, J.B. Edwards, Warren Willis and David Kerr.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.