Leista Maddox

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Leista Maddox, 81, died Saturday, April 21, 2012, at Hospice of West Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by McMillan Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 5:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. Sunday at the funeral home.

Jean Thickens Cooper

TUPELO – Put simply, Jean Wellman Thickens Francis Cooper lived her life intensely with a passion to improve, uplift, beautify, engage, nurture, respect, entertain and enrich all those she encountered each and every day of her life. She lived her life as she made her art, as a collage of things disparate combined into a startling and surprising beauty and unity. She was happiest when elbow deep into whatever creation she was bringing into the world. Where others might emerge from a project and have to dust off lightly, Jean would be covered from head to toe in the remains of the materials of her creative arts. She lived fully involved and, as much as can be said of any person, on her own terms. Her creations, whether art on a canvas or the canvases of lives she touched, were deeply and forever transformed into something much greater than they would have been without her considered input. She lived to affect positive change. Her artistic creations and people in her life, when faced with the shining power of her love, were called into an unexpected and harmonious juxtaposition. She lived her life supported and deeply influenced by an abiding spirituality that informed the totality of her choices and actions. She lived in generosity, love, creativity and thankfulness. Those who met her and came to know here commonly describe the experience as being in a bright, positive, upbeat presence. Jean lived, she loved, she lived to love. Thanks be to God for her walk amongst us.

A service celebrating her life will be at 3:35 PM Saturday, April 28, 2012 at her Church, All Saints Episcopal Church on Jefferson St. in Tupelo with the Rev. Paul Stephens officiating along with the church choir, of which she was a vital part for many years, and her Church friends who will assist in the celebration. The family will receive friends in the Church Parish Hall from 1:06 PM-service time.

Those most dear to her include her husband, R. Steven Cooper of Tupelo; her daughter, Kerry F. Francis of Tupelo and Santa Cruse, California. Three grandchildren: Zoe, Hana and Akasha. Two sisters:  Perry Ritchie of Canton, Miss. and Mary B. Morris of the Atlanta area and a host of friends, artistic and otherwise, all over the country. Her parents, Richard and Helen Oliver Thickens and her first husband, Ke Francis preceded her in death.

In lieu of flowers, please make contributions in Jean’s memory to one of the following charities:  All Saints Brew,  608 W. Jefferson, Tupelo, MS. 38804, The Salvation Army, 527 Carnation St., Tupelo, MS. 38804, The Nature Conservancy, 405 Briarwood Drive, Suite 101, Jackson, MS. 39206 or United Nations CARE International Advocacy Agency, 777 First Avenue, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10017.

Holland Funeral Directors Tupelo Chapel is entrusted with arrangements. Condolences may be e mailed to hollandfuneraldirectors@comcast.net.

Betty McNulty

LAKE CITY, Ga. – Betty Ann Justice McNulty, 62, died Saturday, April 21, 2012, at the Lake City Nursing Center. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by Holland Funeral Directors, Tupelo Chapel.

David James

OXFORD – David Edward James, 63, died Thursday, April 19, 2012, at his residence.

Services will be at 2 p.m. today at the Coleman Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will be held in the Old Union Cemetery.

Visitation is at 1 p.m. until service time today.

Memorials may be made to the Old Union Cemetery, c/o Charles Dennis, 113 CR 375, Water Valley, MS 38965.

Online condolences may be left at www.colemanfuneralhome.com.

Tot McMurry

TUPELO – Mary Ann “Tot” McMurry, 91, died Saturday, April 21, 2012, at Sanctuary Hospice House. She was born on July 31, 1920, to Thad B. Green and Anabelle Hopper Green in Florence, Ala. She graduated from Sheffield, Ala. High School and Florence State Teachers College (UNA). A retired school teacher, she was active in the Mississippi and Tupelo Retired Teachers Associations and the TVA Retirees Association. She was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church. She was a beloved and wise mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the Jefferson Street Chapel of W. E. Pegues with the Rev. Ray Rooney Jr. officiating. Burial will be in Tupelo Memorial Park.

Survivors include three sons, Pete McMurry (Kathy), Scooter McMurry, and Tom McMurry (Jane) all of Tupelo; one brother, David Green (Faye) of Nashville, Tenn.; five grandchildren, Stacie Hutchison (Tim) of Roswell, Ga., Sadie Krawczyk (Brian) of Grayson, Ga., Cody McMurry of Tupelo, Katie McMurry of Tupelo and Bryan McMurry of Ocean Springs; six great-grandchildren, Wells Hutchison, Caleb and Grayson McMurry and Eden, Jolie and Ben Krawczyk; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Bill McMurry; her daughter, Ann McMurry; her sister Dot Meerscheidt; her brother Tim Green; and her parents.

Pallbearers will be Dr. Robert Dale Jr., Lewie Frazier, Len Jobe, Al Jones, Eric Maloney, Bryan McMurry and Cody McMurry. 

Visitation will be 4 to 6 p.m. today at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Sanctuary Hospice House, 5159 West Main Street, Tupelo, MS 38801 or Wesley United Methodist Church, 2010 West Main Street, Tupelo, MS  38801 or the charity of your choice.

Expressions of sympathy may be left at www.peguesfuneralhome.com.

David Kendrick

BOONEVILLE – David Eugene “Dave” Kendrick, 73, died Friday, April 20, 2012, at his home. He was born May 15, 1938, to Bondy and Lois Honeycutt Kendrick in Prentiss County. He was a United States Army veteran, an automobile salesman, and a member of East Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and spending every available moment with his son and grandchildren.

Funeral services with military honors will be at 3:30 p.m. today at the Booneville Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Dewayne Morgan and Bro. Anthony Copeland. Burial will be in Oaklawn Memorial Park.

He is survived by his wife, Ann Eaton Kendrick; a son, Daren Kendrick of Nettleton; a daughter, Pam Bullock (Rex) of Booneville; four brothers, Lee Kendrick (Eloise), Randel Kendrick, Darell Kendrick, all of Booneville and Joe Kendrick (Deborah) of Phoenix, Ariz.; four sisters, Othella Floyd (William), Kathleen Tucker, all of Burnsville, Gail Eaton (John) and Becky Kendrick, all of Boooneville; two grandchildren, Hannah Bullock and Daniel Bullock, both of Booneville; three sisters-in-law, Edith Kendrick of Booneville, Dianne Kendrick of Pachuta and Marca Kendrick of Booneville; and numerous nephews, nieces, great-nephews, and great-nieces.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Preston Kendrick, Jack Kendrick and George Kendrick; and a sister, Jane Cox.

Pallbearers are Jerry Kendrick, Kenny Eaton, Steve Floyd, Donnie Floyd, Bradley Eaton, Mitch Chism, Tim Bullock, and Lyle Bullock.

Honorary pallbearers are his nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

Memorials may be made to the East Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church Mission Fund, 676 CR 5011, Baldwyn, MS 38824.

Charles Summerford

FULTON – Charles Summerford, 71, died Saturday, April 21, 2012, at Gilmore Memorial Hospital in Amory. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by McNeese Morris Funeral Home in Fulton.

George Roberson

WALNUT – George Randall Roberson, 55, died Friday, April 20, 2012, at Magnolia Regional Medical Center.

Services are at 1 p.m. today at First United Pentecostal Church in Middleton, Tenn. Internment is at Ebenezer Cemetery. McBride Funeral Home in Ripley is in charge of arrangements.

Visitation is noon until service time today at the church.

Lois Messer

CORINTH – Lois Marie Messer died Thursday, April 19, 2012, at her residence. Corinthian Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Willie Billingsly

SALTILLO – Willie Billingsly died Saturday, April 21, 2012, at North Mississippi Medical Center. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by Grayson-Porters Mortuary.

Tommy Abernathy Sr.

OKOLONA – Tommy Abernathy Sr., 79, died Saturday, April 21, 2012, at Golden Living Center in Ripley. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by Lee Memorial Funeral Home.

Bobby Wall

BELMONT – Bobby Jean Wall, 84, died Saturday, April 21, 2012, at Magnolia Regional Hospital in Corinth. She was born Feb. 12, 1928, in Philadelphia. Her family moved to Noxapater in June of that same year. After graduating from high school in Noxapater, she attended Blue Mountain College and Mississippi College before her marriage to James S. Wall on Dec. 21, 1947. They lived for several years in Midland, Texas before returning to Noxapater. She was secretary to W.A. Taylor of Taylor Machine Works in Louisville prior to going to work at the Bank of Louisville (now Regions). She worked there until her husband accepted the position as head of a bank in Belmont in 1969. For several years, she worked at Kaydee Metal and L.P. Allen and Sons in Belmont. She and her family were active in local affairs and the First Baptist Church in Belmont where she was a member of the choir, WMU and a Sunday school teacher for many years.

Services will be at 3 p.m. today at First Baptist Church in Belmont with Bro. Jack Maroon, Bro. Ray Burks and Jerry McAnally officiating. Burial will be in Belmont City Cemetery. Deaton Funeral Home in Belmont will be in charge of arrangements.

Survivors are two children, James Sidney Wall Jr. and Jeannie Taylor (Larry Don), both of Belmont; two grandchildren, Blake Taylor and Carrie Ann Vincent (Drew); great-grandson, Branston Glavin Vincent; and sister, Juanita Hight.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jim Wall; brother, Dr. J.K. McCown; sister, Claudine Stevens; and two grandsons, Bran Taylor and baby boy Taylor.

Pallbearers will be Mark Maroon, Steve McAnally, Mark Henry, Terrell Pearson, Phil Byram and Edwin Bolding.

Visitation will be 1to 3 p.m. today at First Baptist Church.

The family requests that memorials be made to First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 855, Belmont, MS 38827.