Obituaries – June 19, 2008
Margaret Gore Hamner
BIRMINGHAM, AL: Mrs. Margaret Gore Hamner, age 99 (just a few weeks shy of 100), died May 10, 2008.
Born and raised in Water Valley, Mrs. Hamner made the Valley home for over 40 years. She was a member of First United Methodist Church for 55 years. She was preceded in death by: her husband, John W. Hamner; her parents, Mr. and Mrs. (Miss Nellie) Thomas Olin Gore; and a brother, T. Olin Gore, Jr.
She is survived by a daughter, Jane Hamner.
The funeral service was held Tuesday, May 13, at 10:30 a.m. in Ridout’s Valley Chapel, with burial following in Elmwood Cemetery in Birmingham. Services were under the direction of Ridout’s Valley Chapel, Homewood, Alabama.
Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, 518 19th St., Birmingham, AL 35203.
Hazel Martin Hawkins
WATER VALLEY – Hazel Martin Hawkins died on June 13, 2008 at the Yalobusha County Nursing Facility in Water Valley. She was born in Water Valley, on March 14, 1914 to the late Ed Martin and Georgia Shaw Martin (Carr) and was raised by her step father, the late Will Carr whom she loved dearly.
She confessed a hope in Christ at an early age and joined Sanders Chapel Missionary Baptist Church where she served as Sunday School teacher and a devoted loyal missionary until her health failed.
Ms Hawkins touched the hearts of families, friends, and a generation of students as an inspiring educator and a community role model for many years with her heartfelt kindness and angelic spirit. She lived her life with full strength, dignity, and courage.
Visitation is planned for Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at Seven Oaks Funeral Home from 5 until 7 p.m.
The service will be held at Sanders Chapel Missionary Baptist Church at noon on Thursday, June 19, 2008 with committal following the service at Sanders Chapel Cemetery. Rev. Mitchel Steen will officiate the service.
She leaves to cherish her memories one brother, Joe Carr of Water Valley, MS; a host of nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, many relatives and friends; and a special caregiver, Alfear Jenkins.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by fifteen brother and sisters.
William J. “Happy” Hayles
WATER VALLEY: William J. “Happy” Hayles, Jr., age 86 died Wednesday, June 11, 2008, in Yalobusha General Hospital at Water Valley.
A son of the late William J. and Mamie Lee Champion Hayles, Sr., Mr. Hayles was born July 26, 1921 in Yalobusha County. He was a self-employed auto mechanic, a partner in Camp & Hayles Motor Co., and a mechanic for the City of Water Valley for 20 years. He was also a member of Woodland Hills Baptist Church in Water Valley. He served in World War II in the United States Army.
The funeral service was held in the Henry Chapel of Seven Oaks Funeral Home at three o’clock in the afternoon, Saturday, June 14, 2008, with Bro. Ken Izzard officiating. Music was provided by James Tribble. The Veteran’s Tribute was directed by Dr. Rayford Edgar. The committal service followed in Oak Hill Cemetery at Water Valley, with Mike Scroggins, Travis York, Larry Trent, Bill McGregor, Larry Hart, Dale Wilbourn, Terry Schmitz and Keith Miller as pallbearers. Mike Redwine and Edwin Earl Hill were honorary pallbeaers.
Survivors include: his wife, Mary Alice Dickey Hayles of Water Valley; a daughter, Alice Faye Chittom of Madison; a son, William Quay “Butch” Hayles of Water Valley; a brother, Elmer Lee Hayles of Huntly, Illinois; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Along with his parents, Mr. Hayles was preceded in death by a sister, Alberta Hayles, and four brothers, Lucias Carlton “Tim” Hayles, Morris Denton “Buster” Hayles, Claud Hayles, and Charles Bennett Hayles.
Drusilla S. Holmes
SALIDA, CO: A memorial service for Drusilla S. Holmes will we held at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 29, 2008, in the Henry Chapel at Seven Oaks Funeral Home.
Mrs. Holmes, age 85, died Thursday, May 15, 2008, at Columbine Manor Care Center.
She was born December 20, 1922, in Water Valley. Mrs. Holmes worked for many years for the Bank of Water Valley and later worked for the Bank of Colorado in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Mary Lou French.
Survivors include: her son, Don (Mary) Holmes of Salida, CO; brothers, George (Connie) Spurgeon of Pontotoc and Homer “Speedy” Spurgeon of Nashville; sisters, Jackie Parks of Water Valley, Betty Ruth Allen of Biloxi, and Jo Ann Bale of Sarasota, FL; three grandsons; and nine great-grandchildren.
Billy Person
WATER VALLEY – Billy B. Person, 68, passed away at his home in Water Valley, on Monday, June 16, 2008. He was born in Phillip to the late Presley C. Person, II and Thelma Whalen Person.
Mr. Person was a veteran of the Vietnam War and served in the United States Marine Corps and National Guard. He retired from the U. S. National Guard and was a member of the First Christian Church in Water Valley.
The visitation will be held at Seven Oaks Funeral Home on Thursday, June 19, from 5 to 7 p.m. The funeral service will be held in the Henry Chapel of Seven Oaks Funeral Home on Friday, June 20, at 10 a.m. with David Freeman officiating. The committal will be held in Pinecrest Memorial Gardens in Yalobusha County with General Robert Shields in charge of military honors.
Mr. Person is survived by his wife of 39 years, Jonnie Turner Person; daughter, Angela Brooke Person; son, Ronald Presley Person; future son-in-law, Chris Mills, all of Water Valley; two sisters, Emma Lou (Lucy) Coleman of Water Valley and Dorothy Rudy of Ofallon, MO; two brothers, Presley C. Person III of Panama City Beach, FL and Samuel Person – Water Valley; six grandchildren, Dustin Person, Cody Person, Trey Pipkin, Dillon Zinn, Tyler Mills, and Blair Johnson.
Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Mildred Provenza and Mary Nell Johnston; and a brother, Robert Person.
Jervont’a Terrell Turner
WATER VALLEY: Jervont’a Terrell Turner passed away Wednesday, June 4, 2008, at his Grandma Lorraine’s home in his daddy’s arms in Water Valley.
He was born September 7, 1999, the third child and baby boy, of Jerry and Tamara (Burgess) Turner. Although he suffered from asthma, he never let it get in his way. A very active and smart child, Jervont’a was an honor student and has just finished the school year as a star student in his second grade class at Davidson Elementary in Water Valley.
Jervont’a loved God and he loved to attend church where he was a part of Sunday School, the Praise Team and youth choir. He accepted Christ and united with the Spring Hill North Missionary Baptist Church at the age of six and was baptized on June 17, 2007. A very loving child, Jervont’a never left without telling his family that he loved them. One great-grandmother, Leona Burgess, preceded him in death.
He leaves to cherish his memory: two devoted and loving parents who did all they could to help him with his illness, Jerry and Tamara Turner; three brothers, Rotez Rockett, Jaylin Tolbert, and Darius “Keshawn” Tolbert. two sisters, Tierra Turner and Alexazandrea Turner; two grandmothers, Joyce (Burgess) Judson, and (Willie) and Lorraine Turner, both of Water Valley; two grandfathers, Jerry Turner, Sr. (Dorothy), and Rev. Norwood Burgess, both of Water Valley; one great-grandmother, Louella Turner; one great-grandfather, Clifton Tuner of Water Valley; two aunts, Greta Burgess (Donald) of Jackson and Kimberly Turner (his running buddy) of Water Valley; three uncles, Melvin Burgess (Audra) of San Antonio, Texas, Greg Turner (Demicka) of Memphis, and Je’Tavious Turner of Batesville; a special great-aunt, Debra Bounds of Water Valley; and a host of cousins, friends, relatives and ball team members that he loved so much.