July 19, 2007

   WATER VALLEY: William Henry (Bill) Abernethy, 95, passed away Sunday, July 15, 2007, in Yalobusha General Hospital in Water Valley.
  Born in Algoma, he was a son of the late Edward G. and Mellie Abernethy. He was married to the late Opal Marie Nail Abernethy for 58 years. Mr. Abernethy attended Mississippi State College in Starkville, where he earned his teaching certification. For many years Mr. Abernethy owned and operated Abernethy’s Service Station on South Main Street. He was a member and a deacon of Water Valley First Baptist Church. He was a World War II Army Veteran and a member of the local VFW. Mr. Abernethy was also a member of the Odd Fellows. He served as a substitute rural mail carrier for the U.S. post Office for 20 years, was a member of the Water Valley Housing Authority for seventeen and one-half years, and served nine years as an Election Commissioner. He was previously an elder in the Presbyterian Church.
  The funeral service will be held in the Henry Chapel of Seven Oaks Funeral Home at ten o’clock in the morning Wednesday, July 17, 2007, with Dr. Randy Bain presiding. The committal will be held in St. Peter’s Cemetery in Oxford, with Barron Caulfield, Billy Michelletti, Tommy Hill, Steven Walker, John Graves, and Ricky Hill as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be members of his Sunday School Class at First Baptist Church.
  Survivors include: daughters, Mary Katherine (Dennis) Smith of Jonesboro, Arkansas, Jane (Lester) Michelletti of Paris, Rose (Gene) Walker of Water Valley, Linda Abernethy and Nancy Abernethy, both of Memphis; a son, John W. (Suellen) Abernethy of Kingwood, Texas;; a sister Lucile Abernethy Terry of Memphis; eight grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
  His wife, Opal Marie Nail Abernethy, and a son, Billie Abernethy, preceded him in death.

  MEMPHIS: LDCR James Marcus (Marc) Cook (ret.) passed away at his residence on Tuesday, July 10, 2007.
  A native of Memphis, he was born November 5, 1955, a son of the late James L., Jr. and Virginia Cook. Commander Cook was a 1973 honors graduate of Sheffield High School and received a full NROTC Scholarship. He graduated from the University of Mississippi in 1976 with a BBA and from Christian Brothers University with an MBA in business. While at Ole Miss, Commander Cook was in the NROTC Program and lettered as Captain of the University Rifle Team. Upon graduation he was commissioned an Ensign in the U.S. Navy. After completing Naval Supply School, he was stationed at various Supply Corps assignments, including, Naval Station Midway, USS Fahrion FFG22, USS Wichita AOR1, Naval Reserve Force, New Orleans, NSA Souda Bay Crete, McGuire AF Base, N.J, and NAS Memphis. He participated in Operation Desert Shield and Storm. Among his awards are the Meritorious Unit Commendation Naval Expeditionary Force Medal, Naval Achievement Medal, and Expert Marksman, as well as numerous commendations. He retired in 1997 at the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He also held his private pilot license.
  Survivors include: a sister, Semra Parks and her husband, Robert, of Southaven; two nephews, and one niece.
  Visitation will be held from ten o’clock until service time Thursday, July 19, 2007. The funeral service will be held in Seven Oaks Funeral Home at Water Valley at eleven o’clock in the morning, Thursday, July 19, 2007. The committal will be in Oak Hill Cemetery, Water Valley.

MEMPHIS – James Vincent “Jimbo” Chrestman II of Memphis, TN, died of natural causes at his home on July 12, 2007. Jimbo was 43 years old and attended high school in Water Valley in the early 1980s. He was self employed in Memphis for the past 10 years.
  Jimbo was preceded in death by his mother, Wanda Duke Haase, and his paternal grandparents.
    He is survived by his children, Brandon and Brandi and their children of Memphis; sister, Julie Howard, and brother, James Robert Chrestman, of Memphis and Bridget Phillips of Texas; father, James Chrestman of Memphis; grandmother, Margaret Duke, Water Valley; aunts, Ann Perkins and Kathy McCharen of Bruce; Judie Davis of Casseta GA; and uncles, Daniel Duke, Hernando; Roger Duke, Water Valley; Lynn Duke, Edwards MS; David Duke, Scobey.

  SARDIS: Bobby Gene McCullar, 54, died Monday, July 2, 2007, at his residence.
  Services were held Thursday, July 5, 2007, in Wells Funeral Home Chapel in Batesville, with Wells Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
  McCullar was born February 21, 1953 in Water Valley to the Shirley Reaves and Silvia Quay Langham McCullar.
  Survivors include: his wife, Mildred Ann Carlisle McCullar of Sardis; three daughters, Lisa Michelle McCullar Hall of Como, Teresa McCullar Robbins of Sardis, and Kandi Leigh McCullar Gironlegardo of Hernando; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Shirley McCullar of Water Valley; four sisters, Joann McCullar Vandergriff of Carlsbad, New Mexico, Gail McCullar Fly of Water Valley, Dianne McCullar Cadena of Batesville, and Patricia McCullar Sims of Water Valley; his twin brother, Billy Dean McCullar of Courtland; and seven grandchildren.

  GRENADA: Lloyd “Jack” Nelson Walters, Sr., 76, died Sunday, July 15, 2007, in Grenada Lake Medical Center.
  The funeral service will be held at ten o’clock in the morning Wednesday, July 17, 2007, in the Chapel of National Funeral Home in Grenada, with Bro. Fletcher Moorman, Bro. Ricky Harris, Bro. Billy Childs, and Rev. Johnny Dinas officiating. Burial will be in the Springhill Cemetery.
  Mr. Walters was married to Elizabeth DuBard May on 23, 1953. He was a retired transportation dispatcher. Mr. Walters was a member of Enon Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon. He was a Navy veteran. He was preceded in death by one grandson, Stephen Holley.
  Survivors include: his wife, Elizabeth D. Walters of Grenada; one daughter, Michelle Hodges of Charleston; two sons, Bubba Walters and Mike Walters, both of Grenada; a sister, Mary Lois Johnsey of Water Valley; two brothers, Bobby Gene Walters of Grenada and Oliver Walters of New Albany; ten grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

 MOUNT OLIVE – Mrs. Dorothy Kay Williams of Mount Olive died June 26, 2007, at her home.
  Born November 6, 1949, in Water Valley, Mrs. Williams was a daughter of Amey Martin Hollowell of Water Valley and the late Van Buren Hollowell. She was a graduate of Lafayette High School and was a college graduate. She was a retired music teacher, having taught for 30 years in the Covington County Schools. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Mount Olive. She was also a member of Delta Kappa Gamma and the Mount Olive Music Lovers Club.
  Funeral services were held Thursday, June 28, 2007, at 10 a.m. in First Baptist Church, Mount Olive. Burial was in the Mount Olive City Cemetery. Colonial Chapel Funeral Home of Mt. Olive had charge of arrangements.
  Survivors include: her husband, Benny Williams of Mount Olive; two daughters, Heather Williams of Brandon, and Melissa W. Dennis (Daniel) of Cleveland; her mother, Amey Martin Hollowell of Water Valley; one brother, George Hollowell of Fredricksburg, Virginia; and one grandson.