Obituaries – March 6, 2008
Virdine Potts Ambrosi
MOUNTAIN HOME, AR: Services for Virdine Potts Ambrosi, 75, of Mountain Home, Arkansas will be held at 6 p.m. on Friday, March 7, 2008, in the Kirby Funeral Home Chapel in Mountain Home. Visitation will be from noon until service time. Mrs. Ambrosi died March 2, at Mountain Home.
Born in Water Valley on February 2, 1933, Mrs. Ambrosi was the daughter of the late George J. and Limmie Lee Porter Potts. She was the co-owner, with her husband, of Ambrosi Distribution Company in Lufkin, Texas, before moving to Mountain Home in 1995. She was a member of the Mountain Home Bible Church and was a devout Christian who liked to read and cook.
She was preceded in death by her parents and three brothers.
Survivors include: her husband, John of Mountain Home; three sons, Michael Zink of Burbank, IL, Lloyd (Mary) Zink of Momence, IL, and Michael Ambrosi of Joliet, IL; four daughters, Cynthia Zink of Brisbane, CA, Deborah (Joe) Anglin of Nolanville, TX, Nanette Reynolds of Lufkin, TX, and Terry (John) Gibson of Cresthill, IL; 13 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; two brothers, Jack (Bobbi) Potts of Chicago Heights, IL, and Bud (Betty) Potts of Water Valley; and a sister, Juanita (Thomas) Riley of Memphis.
Memorials may be made to the Mountain Home Bible Church.
Arrangements are by Kirby & Family Funeral and Cremations Service. Visit online obituary and guestbook at www.kirbyandfamily.com.
Agnes Edell Riley Booker
GREENWOOD: Mrs. Agnes Edell Riley Booker died February 20, 2008.
Born September 12, 1931, in Water Valley, her parents were the late Lewis and Leona Riley. She was also preceded in death by a son, Sidney Booker, Jr., and a daughter, Laura Peterson. She was united in marriage to the late Sidney Booker and to this union was born five daughters and five sons. At an early age she became a member of Mitchell Temple Church of God and was led into Missionary Ministry where she served diligently. She later joined the Pentecostal C.O.G.I.C.
Funeral services for Mrs. Booker were held Wednesday, February 27, at 1 p.m. in the Pentecostal Church of God in Christ in Greenwood, with Elder Eddie Scales officiating. Interment was in Greenwood Memorial Gardens, with Andrew Cage, Freddie Baker, James F. Bryant, John Smith, Jr., Bennie Jackson, and Tyrone Jackson as pallbearers. Century Funeral Home of Greenwood had charge of arrangements.
Survivors include: children, Onie Richardson of Indianapolis, Indiana, DeWitt Kimble, Jr., Ethel Smith, Leroy Booker, Linda Smith, Willie Booker, all of Greenwood, Theresa Baker of Olive Branch, and Michael Booker-Arnold of Ashville, North Carolina; one sister, Georgia Ann Hervey of Water Valley; 35 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild.
Leona Daniels Burgess
WATER VALLEY: Service for Mrs. Leona Daniels Burgess was held Saturday, March 1, 2008, at 2 p.m. in Pleasant Green M.B. Church, with Pastor Preston Gleeton officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery with Hosea Bradford, Daryll Daniels, Johnny Parker, Ronald Burgess, Michael Jefferson and Anthony Smith as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were Dwight Burgess, Melvin Burgess, Bro. Mose Henderson, Hubbard Burgess, Ronald Daniels, Wayne Winfield and Elders of the Church. Robinson Funeral Home had charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Burgess died February 27, in the Yalobusha County Nursing Home. She was born December 15, 1921 to the late Fred C. Daniels and the late Gertrude Smith in Panola County. She confessed a hope in Christ at an early age and remained a member of Pleasant Green M.B. Church until her death. In April of 1937, Leona was united in holy matrinomy to Carnis Charles Burgess and to this union five children were born.
She leaves: three sons, Alton, Norwood, and Lamar (Barbara) Burgess, all of Water Valley; a sister, Gertrude (Frances) Daniels of Water Valley; and two sisters-in-law, Sadie (Freeman) Daniels of Memphis and Lottie (Leonard) Daniels of DeRidder, LA, 12 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and eight great-great-grandchldren; a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Carnis; one daughter, Coleen; and one son, Charles Hubbard; and ten of her siblings, Buford, Coleman, Freeman, Franklin, Leonard, China, Sarah, Bertha, Christine, and Fred Jr. (Joe).
Sarah T. Mixon Harris
OROVILLE, CA: Sarah T. Mixon Harris, 74, passed away November 26, 2007, in Oroville, California. She had cancer.
Born December 26, 1931, Mrs. Harris was a daughter of the late Thomas Lloyd and Sarah Ellen Harris. She grew up in Water Valley and spent the rest of her adult years living in California.
She is survived by: her husband, David Harris of Arkansas; sons, Thomas Harris of Oregon, David Harris of Missouri, and Steve Harris of Arkansas; a daughter, Tina, and her husband, Gary Richter, of California; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; a sister, Mary Ellen Potts of Water Valley; and many nieces and nephews.
Sarah has been laid to rest in Oak Hill Cemetery at Water Valley. Arrangements were entrusted to Ramsey Funeral Home of Oroville, California.
A. B. Henderson
ENID: A. B. Henderson, 68, of Enid died at his residence Thursday, February 21, 2008.
Services were held in the Persimmon Hill M.B. Church, Enid, at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 1, with Rev. T. A. Lawrence officiating. Interment was in the Persimmon Hill Cemetery. Cooley’s Mortuary had charge of arrangements.
Born August 14, 1939, in Batesville, Mr. Henderson was a son of the late Cecil and Burnell Hentz Henderson. He was a self-employed truck driver and a member of Parrish Grove M.B. Church.
Survivors include: his companion and care giver, Barbara Henderson of Enid; five daughters, Diane Henderson Birks of Grenada, Mary Nell Henderson of Oakland, Margaret Henderson Thomas and Michelle Henderson Street, both of Enid, and Debra Henderson Ascencio of Atlanta, Georgia; a son, Alvin Henderson of Oakland; a step-daughter, Alisha Bland of Oakland; two step-sons, Larry Ray Moore of Oakland and Jerry Moore of Pompano Beach, Florida; a sister, Irma Nell Rahman of Cleveland, Ohio; four brothers, William Henderson, Donald Henderson, Clyde Henderson and Elvin Henderson, all of Cleveland, Ohio; 25 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren.
Ella May McNail
WATER VALLEY: Ella May McNeil, 79, of Water Valley died Thursday, February 28, 2008, at her home.
She was a retired employee of National Bedding, having worked in Accounts Payable. She was a Methodist.
A graveside service was held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 1, in Crittenden Memorial Park, Crittenden Memorial Park Cemetery, at Marion, Arkansas. Arrangements were by Roller-Citizens Funeral Home of West Memphis, Arkansas.
Mrs. McNeil is survived by: a daughter, Yvonne Emerson of West Memphis, Arkansas; a sister, Martha Brasfield of Water Valley; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Michelle Reid
WATER VALLEY: Michelle Reid, age 34, passed away Thursday, February 28, 2008, in Lafayette County.
She was born August 7, 1973, in Water Valley to Robert and Zelma French Sims. She was currently a college student and a member of New Beginnings in Water Valley.
Services were held in the Henry Chapel of Seven Oaks Funeral Home at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 2, with Bro. C. H. Newcomb officiating. The committal was held in Pilgrim’s Rest Cemetery in Panola County.
Survivors include: a daughter, Caitlin Reid of Water Valley; a son, Corey Reid of Water Valley; her parents, Robert and Zelma French Sims of Water Valley; and a brother, Stacy Sims of Gainesville, Georgia.
Maria M. Williamson
WATER VALLEY: Maria M. Williamson, age 81, died Friday, February 29, 2008, in Baptist Memorial Hospital—North Mississippi at Oxford.
Born May 3, 1926, to Jesus and Dolores Arriola Manalisay in Agana, Guam, she was married to the late Dudley Cooper Williamson, Sr. She was employed at Big Yank Industry for many years and was also a member of Bethel Baptist Church.
Services will be held Wednesday, March 5, at 2 p.m. in the Henry Chapel at Seven Oaks Funeral Home in Water Valley, with Rev. James Edwards officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery in Water Valley with Greg Williamson, William Turner, Calvin Schmitz, Dennis Sutherland, Tommy Ashford, and George Lambert serving as pallbearers.
Mrs. Williamson is survived by: two daughters, Vicenta Ann Craigo of Kearneyville, WV and Dolores “Dolly” Turner of Water Valley; two sons, Dudley Cooper Williamson, Jr. of Germantown, TN and James Williamson of Lupton City, TN; two sisters, Francisca Buresh of Pine Bluff, WY, and Dolores Luzano of Agana, Guam; two brothers, Antonio Manalisay of Hayward, CA and Manuel Manalisay of San Francisco, CA; eleven grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
In addition to her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by two brothers: Jesus Manalisay and Jose Manalisay; and a sister, Ana Farrell.
Rev. Milliard Guy Reedy, Jr.
WATER VALLEY: Rev. Millard Guy Reedy, Jr., 85, died Monday, March 3, 2008, in Water Valley. He was born September 19, 1922, in Aberdeen.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Millard Guy Reedy, Sr. and Bessie Myatt Reedy, and one sister, Laurelle VanBuskirk. He is survived by his beloved wife of 64 years, Doris Spencer Reedy; three children, M. Guy Reedy, III, Stephen (Margaret) Reedy, and Gloria (Alan) Lamb; nine grandchildren; and sixteen great-grandchildren.
Bro. Reedy graduated from Mississippi College in Clinton in 1944. He began his ministry as a Southern Baptist preacher at Satartia and Ogden in Yazoo County, while attending Mississippi College. He attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas for a short period prior to contracting poliomyelitis. He had several pastorates in Mississippi, spanning 51 years. Some of these were: Crenshaw Baptist, Darling Baptist, First Baptist Sardis, Ruleville Baptist, Highland Baptist of Laurel, and First Baptist Water Valley, where he served nearly 23 years prior to his retirement in 1992. During his “retirement” years, Bro. Reedy served as interim pastor for numerous churches in the surrounding area.
Children were always dear to Bro. Reedy’s heart. Through his 40 years of faithful service as trustee of the Mississippi Baptist Children’s Village, he was able to champion the cause of those children who needed extra care. A satellite village was built in Water Valley in 1984 largely due to his vision. This location was named “Reedy Acres” in his honor.
Visitation will be Wednesday, March 5, 2008, at Seven Oaks Funeral Home, Water Valley, from 5:30 until 8:00 p.m., with services on Thursday, March 6, 2008, at ten o’clock in the morning in First Baptist Church, Water Valley. Friends may visit one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery in Water Valley.
Memorials may be given to the Baptist Children’s Village in Jackson or the First Baptist Church of Water Valley.
Johnnie S. Bailey
WATER VALLEY: Mrs. Johnnie S. Bailey, age 72, passed away Monday, March 3, 2008 in Baptist Memorial Hospital—North Mississippi at Oxford.
Born July 22, 1935, in Webster County, she was a daughter of the late John and Mary Ella Hunt Minor. She was a factory worker at Motts in Water Valley and a member of Zion Springs Baptist Church in Bruce.
The wake will be held Friday, March 7, 2008, from one until five o’clock in the afternoon at Seven Oaks Funeral Home in Water Valley. A visitation will be held Saturday, March 8, 2008, in Zion Springs Baptist Church at Bruce form 11:00 a.m. until service time. The funeral service will be held Saturday, March 8, 2008, in Zion Springs Baptist Church at one o’clock in the afternoon, with Rev. Tommy Daniels presiding. The committal will be in the Zion Springs Cemetery.
Mrs. Bailey is survived by: two daughters, Linda Bailey and Sheila Bailey; four sons, Don Bailey, Jerry Lee Bailey, Jr., Tommie Lee Bailey, and Akeem Bailey; two sisters, Laverne Cook and Aretha Minor; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Along with her parents, Mrs. Bailey was preceded in death by: her husband, Jerry Lee Bailey, Sr., on January 11, 2003; a granddaughter, Sarsha Cook; two sisters, Jimmie Mae Farmer and Lucy Minor; and two brothers, G. G. Minor and E. G. Minor.