Jean Cooper

TUPELO – Jean Wellman Thickens Francis Cooper is also survived by her first husband, Ke Francis.

Tommy Abernathy Sr.

Okolona – Tommy Abernathy Sr., 79, died Saturday, April 21, 2012, at Golden Living Center in Ripley. He was born July 26, 1932, in Kevil, Ky., to Jack and Sallie Abernathy. He was a decorated Korean War veteran serving in the United States Army. He was a longtime truck driver and worked for MTD as a security guard. He was a member of the Baptist Church and enjoyed bowling, fixing up cars and spending time with his family.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Lee Memorial Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Tommy Whaley officiating.

Survivors include his wife, Ann Abernathy of Okolona; one daughter, Pamela Abernathy of West Point; one son, Tommy Abernathy Jr. (fiancée Rhonda K. Smith) of Okolona; two grandchildren; and his mother-in-law, Leona Norwood of Tupelo.

He was preceded in death by his parents and five siblings.

Visitation will be 1 to 2 p.m. Tuesday.Brenda Mann

AMORY – Brenda Cowley Mann, 68, died on Sunday, April 22, 2012, at Gilmore Memorial Regional Medical Center. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by E. E. Pickle Funeral Home.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at eepicklefuneralhome.com.Angelia Nichols

TUPELO – Angelia Nichols, 36, died Saturday, April 21, 2012, at North Mississippi Medical Center. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by N.L. Jones and Son Funeral Directors of Tupelo.

Ruth Jackson

BILOXI – Ruth Jackson died Saturday, April 21, 2012 in Biloxi. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by Williams Memorial of Okolona.Johnnie Linville

RIPLEY – Johnnie Mae Casteel Linville, 70, died Saturday, April 21, 2012, at her home in Ripley. She was born June 15, 1941, to Lula Mae and John H. Casteel. She was a 1961 graduate of Pine Grove High School and former employee of Blue Bell Inc. in Ripley, for many years. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She was a Baptist.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Ripley Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Trent Spencer and Bro. Gary Linville officiating. Burial will be in Pine Grove Cemetery.

She is survived by two sisters, Geraldine Thomas (Cornelius M. Thomas Jr.) of Ripley and Ella Sue Walden (Wayne) of Booneville; one brother, Rex Casteel of Ripley; one granddaughter, Anna Lauren Barkley of Ripley; grandson, Shane E. Barkley (Brieannon) of Saltillo; great-granddaughter, Landri Barkley; and son-in-law, Jerry Barkley of Ripley.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Billy Linville; son, Timothy Neal Linville; daughter, Carla Barkley; her parents; and brother, James Harold Casteel.

Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. today at Ripley Funeral Home.

To view obituaries online and sign guest book, visit www.ripleyfuneralhome.com.

Leista Maddox

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Leista Anita Maddox, 81, died Saturday, April 21, 2012, at Hospice of West Alabama in Tuscaloosa. She was born Jan. 21, 1931, to Gabriel and Maudie Gilley Moreland. She was a retired Head Start teacher. She was a member of Roaring Hollow Church of Christ.

Funeral will be at 1 p.m. today at the McMillan Funeral Home Chapel with Minister Tony Brown officiating. Burial will be in Zion Rest Cemetery.

She is survived by a nephew, Jason (Amy) Parton of Tuscaloosa, Ala.; a sister, Hazel Pharr of Greenville, S.C.; a brother, Kenneth (Shirley) Moreland of Marietta; two nieces, Vicki Moreland Gray and Mary Slay Windham; and a host of other nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Lyle Bullard; her second husband, Billy Maddox; her parents; a sister, Ruby Slay; a brother, Clyde G. Moreland; three nieces, Carolyn Pharr, Sheila Pharr and Shirley Long; and a nephew, Andy Moreland.

Condolences may be left at www.mcmillanfuneralhome.com.Betty McNulty

FURRS – Betty Ann Justice McNulty, 62, died Saturday, April 21, 2012, at Lake City Health and Rehabilitation Center in Lake City, Ga., where she had resided the last year. She was born on Aug. 11, 1949, in Adrian, Mich., to O.D. and Luvercie (Pat) Peterson Justice. She lived much of her life in the Tupelo and Atlanta, Ga., areas. She was of the Catholic faith and an accountant/bookkeeper for Sears for many years. Her last employment was at Dixie Gas in Tupelo. She enjoyed antiques, cross stitching, reading and all things Harry Potter, including the books and movies.

Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Tupelo Chapel of Holland Funeral Directors with her cousin, Bro. Doyle Peterson, officiating. Burial will follow in the Holcomb Family Cemetery in the Furrs community. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today and from 1 p.m. until service time on Tuesday.

Survivors include her daughter, Patty McNulty Trippe and her three children, Taylor, Olivia and Tommy Trippe, all of Locust Grove, Ga.; a son, Bernie McNulty, Jr. of Hickory, N.C.; sister, Elizabeth Justice Woods of Fulton; three brothers, Wayne Justice (Betty Jean) of Pontotoc, Kenneth Justice (Sherri) of Danville, Ind., and David Justice of Blackville, S.C.; a special friend and companion, Calvin Halcomb of Furrs; and several aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, O.D. and Pat Justice.

Pallbearers will be Wayne, Kenny, Jeff and John Justice and John McNulty.

Condolences may be emailed to hollandfuneraldirectors@comcast.net.

Nell Howell

ABERDEEN – Doris Nell Howell, 87, died Saturday, April 21, 2012 at the Pioneer Hospital in Aberdeen. She was born Oct. 17, 1924, in Aberdeen to Ira Green Howell and Mae Moulder Howell. She was retired from the United States Army Missile Command at Red Stone Arsenal. She was a magna cum laude graduate of University of Montevallo in Alabama. She attended Aberdeen High School where she was valedictorian for the class of 1942. Before retiring to Aberdeen, she worked in Newfoundland, worked at the Embassy in Egypt in 1955, moved to Rome and then worked in various locations in the United States. She was a member of the Aberdeen Church of Christ.

Services will be at 4 p.m. Tuesday at the Tisdale-Lann Memorial Chapel in Aberdeen with Minister Charles Tharp officiating. Burial will be in Howell Cemetery. Tisdale-Lann Memorial Funeral Home of Aberdeen is in charge of the arrangements.

She is survived by one sister, Ruby Howell Cole of Aberdeen; one niece, Lynn “Cissy” Howell Crump of Aberdeen; three nephews, Glynn Howell of Aberdeen, Mark Howell (Sue) of Aberdeen, Jimmy Cole of LaCombe, La.; and one great-niece, Hannah Howell.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and one brother, Bill Howell.

Pallbearers will be the deacons and elders of the Church.

Visitation will be 2 p.m. until service time on Tuesday.

An online guest registry and condolences may be accessed at www.tisdalelannmemorial.com.

Joe McDonald

NEW ALBANY – Joe McDonald, 61, died Sunday, April 22, 2012, at his residence. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by United Funeral Service in New Albany. Visitation will be 4 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.Charles Summerford

FULTON – Charles Edward Summerford, 71, died Saturday, April 21, 2012, at Gilmore Memorial Regional Medical Center in Amory. He was born May 12, 1940, to Gother A. and Lonie Mae Crews Summerford. He was owner and operator of Gulf Service Station in Fulton from 1972 to 1980. He operated a couple garages and worked as a security guard at the Welcome Center in Tremont. He was Baptist in belief. He enjoyed playing cards, watching westerns and Channel 39 and fishing.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the McNeece-Morris Funeral Home Chapel in Fulton with Bro. Ray Stevens and Minister Brady Ramey officiating. Burial will be in Center Hill Cemetery near Hamilton.

Survivors include one daughter, Charlene Wright, of Elizabethtown, Ky.; a brother-in-law, Bill Chamblee of Fulton; four nephews, Charles Daniel Luther, Billy Luther, John Chamblee and Tommy Chamblee; one niece, Linda Hutcheson; a special friend, Jerry Grady of Tremont; and several grandchildren, great-nieces and great-nephews.

He was preceded in death by one son, Charles Summerford Jr.; his sister, Emma Jean Chamblee; and his parents.

Pallbearers will be Charles Daniel Luther, Billy Luther, John Chamblee, Tommy Chamblee, Daniel Wayne Luther and Adam Goforth. Honorary pallbearers will be Jerry Grady and Michael Wright.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.mcneecemorris funeralhome.com.

Maxine McKnight

Pontotoc – Helen “Maxine” McKnight, 85, died Saturday, April 21, 2012, at her daughter’s home in the Shady Grove community in Pontotoc. She was born to Paul Mack Winter and Mamie Corder Winter on Feb. 5, 1927, in Pontotoc. She married Boyd Raymond McKnight on April 27, 1946, and shared 27 years together raising a wonderful family before he died on Dec. 30, 1973. She was a member of Macedonia Baptist Church. She was a homemaker and also worked at Brookwood Furniture before retiring.

A celebration of life service will be held at 1 p.m. today at the Baldwin Nowell Funeral Home Chapel in Pontotoc with Bro. David Barnett and Bro. Alvie Isaac officiating. Graveside service will follow at Macedonia Baptist Church Cemetery. Baldwin Nowell Funeral Home of Pontotoc is in charge of arrangements.

She is survived by three sons, William Boyd McKnight (Billie) of Pontotoc, Leonard Wayne McKnight (Sue Ann) of Halleyville, Ala., and Loyd Ray McKnight (June); one daughter, Doris Ross (Dickey); one sister, Jewel Hitchcock, all of Pontotoc; 12 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Paul Mack Winter and Mamie Winter; husband, Boyd Raymond McKnight; one son, Mike McKnight; four brothers; and two sister-in-laws.

Pallbearers to serve will be grandsons, Emmett and Christopher McKnight, Scott and Heath McKnight, Rusty McKnight and Jason Ross.

Visitation will be 10 a.m. until service time today.Thomas Perry

RIPLEY – Thomas E. Perry, 63, died Tuesday, April 17, 2012, at Baldwyn Nursing Facility. He was born on Sept. 20, 1948, to Cliff Perry and Ruby Reaves Perry Rainer in Hardman County, Tenn. He was a member of Rock Hill Missionary Baptist Bhurch and served as a chairman of the Deacon board, Sunday School superintendent and was over the Ripley Baptist Association Building. He was a graduate of Ripley High. He was employed with Carrier in Collierville, Tenn., for 43 years. He was a member of Mason Lodge 600. He married on March 9, 1968, to Verlena Johnson.

Services are at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Bethlehem Missionary Baptist in Falkner, with Pastor Lonnel Perry officiating. Burial is at Rock Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Tipersville. Foster and Son Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

He is survived by his wife, Verlena Perry; daughter, Sharon Vergena Perry of Tupelo; brothers, Ross Perry of New Albany, Loyce (Norma Jean) Perry of Ripley, Willie Cliff (Gene) Perry and the Rev. Lonnell (Lillie) Perry, all of Walnut; sisters, L.V. Findger, Pauline (Rev. Ronnie) Gibbs, all of Walnut, and Darlene (Melvin) Cox of Ripley; sister-in-law, Carolyn Rainer of Middleton, Tenn.; special friends, Eddie and Maxine Joy; and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and other relatives.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Rev. Dennis Rainer, Earnest Lee Perry and Sammie Rainer; and sister Alma Jean Haddix.

Visitation is noon to 8 p.m. today at funeral home. Family hour is 6 to 8 p.m. The body will lie in repose an hour prior to service.

Gene Hulsee

TUPELO – Daniel Eugene Hulsee, 86, died Sunday, April 22, 2012, at North Mississippi Medical Center after an extended stay at Laney Greenhouse, United Methodist Senior Services. He was born Nov. 26, 1926, to Isaac Benjamin and Lassie Mae Roebuck Hulsee. A lifelong Lee County native, he was a cotton farmer prior to working and retiring from NMMC. He was an active member of the Palmetto community and was a member of the Palmetto Baptist Church. He was an avid Ole Miss sports enthusiast and loved watching them play football and baseball. He was an accomplished whittler and enjoyed woodworking, and growing vegetables. He was a very outgoing and caring person and was happiest when surrounded by his family who loved him dearly.

Services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at The Jefferson Street Chapel of W. E. Pegues with Rev. Jimmy Webb and Rev. Cayce Harrison officiating. Burial will be in Palmetto Cemetery.

He is survived by his brother-in-law, Leonard McGehee of the Palmetto Community; seven nieces; one nephew; 20 great-nieces and great nephews; and many great-great-nieces and nephews and their extended families.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Daisy Bell Harris and Charlie Mae McGehee; and two brothers, William Harold Hulsee and Winston Hulsee.

Pallbearers will be Jimmy Tullos, Marc Tullos, Isaac Tullos, Greg Willis, Chris Reed and Bradley McGehee.

Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to NMMC Building Fund, 830 S. Gloster St. Tupelo, MS 38801. Expressions of sympathy may be left at www.peguesfuneralhome.com.