Obituaries – June 5, 2008
Pierre Allen
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man would lay down his life for his friends.”
– John 15: 12-14
FORT BRAGG, N.C. – Private First Class Pierre Emmanuel Allen of Ft. Bragg, NC, age 21, with the United States Army, Headquarters Company, 37th Engineers Battalion, 20th Engineer Brigade, died Saturday, May 24, 2008 in an attempt to rescue swimmers who were in distress in the waters off of Panama Beach, FL. “Private First Class Allen’s actions exemplified the Warrior Ethos” stated Capt. John Bacon, commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Company. “Dedicated to both the military and his family, he continually sought ways to develop himself as a model soldier while demonstrating a healthy balance in his personal life as a devoted husband and father. PFC Allen had a significant impact on the many lives he came in contact with and will be sadly missed.”
Allen is remembered locally as an outstanding student and athlete. In addition to Beta Club and many academic awards, Allen was a member of the first place State 4 x 4 track team and winner of the state 300-meter run. He was selected as a Jr. Olympics (Hawaii) team member and traveled with a Memphis track team in the summer after graduating from Water Valley High School in 2005. Allen attended Mississippi State University on a track scholarship before joining the US Army in 2006 and becoming a legal specialist. PFC Allen was a member of Everdale M. B. Church of Water Valley.
Services were held Sunday, June 1, at 3 p.m. in the Henry Chapel of Seven Oaks Funeral Home. Full military honors followed at Oak Ridge Cemetery immediately following the service. Military personnel served as pallbearers. Special friends of PFC Pierre Allen are Justin Thomas, Antonio Crowder, Derek Croy, Scott Stewart, Kevin West, Steven McCartt and Fallon Love.
Allen is survived by his wife, LaRhonda Allen; one daughter, Alexandrea Allen; two step-daughters, Simone White and LaQuaysha Rockette; and one step-son, Jerimyah Neely, all of Ft. Bragg, NC; six sisters, Stephanie Allen and Jasmine Allen, both of Water Valley, MS; Darlene Turner-Miller of Lancaster, CA, Juante’ Lunsford of Palmdale, CA, Donnisha Butler-Turner of Atlanta, GA, and Chelsie Allen of Buena Vista, Virginia; his father, Steve Allen and his wife Dale, of Water Valley, MS; and his step-mother, Tracy Allen of Water Valley.
Pierre Allen was preceded in death by his mother, Sheila Turner, in 1991.
Gloria Lynn Brown Cox
MILLINGTON, TN: Gloria Lynn Brown Cox, 67, of Millington, was a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Foster Brown of Water Valley. She died of cancer Saturday, April 19, 2008. Mrs. Cox was a homemaker.
A memorial service was held Saturday, May 3, at eleven o’clock in the morning in Woodland Baptist Church, located at 6083 Old Millington Road, Millington, Tennessee. There was a private burial in Northridge Woodhaven Cemetery.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Larry E. Cox, pastor of Woodlawn Baptist Church.
Survivors include daughters, Lynn Malone and Jeanne Smith; a sister, Helen Basset; brothers, Ray Brown, Don Brown, and Kenneth Brown; and two grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis.
Gloria grew up in Water Valley and lived on North Main Street in a house across from the present day City Auditorium. She graduated from Water Valley High School in 1958, with the Class that is now preparing for their 50-year class reunion during Watermelon Carnival weekend. Gloria attended the last reunion, which was held in 2003.
Jewel Grisham Gregory
WATER VALLEY: Mrs. Jewel Grisham Gregory passed away Sunday, June 1, 2008, in Yalobusha General Hospital.
Born August 3, 1911, in Lee County, she was a daughter of the late James Henry and Ada Bell Hignite Grisham. Mrs. Gregory was a retired business owner. She was married to Oughterson Jackson (Jake) Gregory, who preceded her in death in 2000. The Gregorys owned and operated Gregory’s Department Store on Main Street in Water Valley for more than fifty years. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Water Valley and was a member of the TEL Sunday School Class.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her 12 siblings. She leaves a number of nieces and nephews.
The funeral service was held in the Henry Chapel of Seven Oaks Funeral Home Tuesday, June 3, at noon. Interment was in the Priceville Cemetery in Tupelo at four o’clock in the afternoon. Several close friends, Curtis Berry, Dr. Rayford Edgar, John Crow, Paul Parker, Dr. Joe Walker, Harrison Cook, and Bill Norris, served as honorary pallbearers.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial be given to First Baptist Church, 800 Main Street, Water Valley, MS 38965.