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Obituaries – Aug. 21, 2008

Travie M. Abel

VICKSBURG – Mrs. Travie M. Abel, 71, died Wednesday, August 13, 2008, in Shady Lawn Nursing Home in Vicksburg.

  Mrs. Abel was the wife of Rev. Bryan Abel, former pastor of Woodland Hills Baptist Church in Water Valley. She had also been a beautician. She was a member of Grace Baptist Church in Vicksburg. Mrs. Abel was born in Grenada County. She loved having her family around her, and she was the loving wife of a pastor, a mom, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was preceded in death by her parents and a son-in-law, John Warren, Sr.

  The funeral was held at ten o’clock in the morning Saturday, August 16, 2008, in Glenwood Chapel in Vicksburg, with Rev. Billy Dowdy officiating. Graveside services and burial were held at two o’clock in the afternoon Saturday in Providence Baptist Church Cemetery in Grenada County. Pallbearers were John Ashley, Frank Wright, Steve Ott, Eddie Adcock and Robert Greer. Honorary pallbearers were Sterling Long and Carlton Carlisle. Glenwood Funeral Home in Vicksburg had charge of arrangements.

  Survivors include: her husband, Rev. H. Bryan Abel, Sr. of Vicksburg; two sons, Bryan Abel, Jr. and wife, Lisa, of Tupelo, John Abel and wife, Angie, of Huntsville, Alabama; three daughters, Marilyn Thames and husband, David, Marie Warren, and Lisa Eldridge and husband, Don, all of Vicksburg; two brothers, Kenneth Morrison and wife, Phyllis, of Carrollton, and Ed Morrison of Grenada; one sister, Arlinda Brinkman, and husband, John, of Clinton; 17 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.

  Memorials may be made to Grace Baptist Church, 1729 Hankinson Rd., Vicksburg, MS 39180.

Marvin Russell Denham

ST. JOSEPH, MI – Marvin Russell Denham, 79, died in St. Joseph, Michigan August 16, 2008.

  The funeral service for Mr. Denham was held in Michigan Tuesday, August 19, with burial there.

  Survivors include: three sons, Robert (Doug) Denham, Dennis Denham and David Denham, all of Michigan; two daughters, Brenda Maurer and Kay Hurd, both of Michigan; 14 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; three brothers, Elijah Denham of Saltillo, Ralph Denham of Water Valley (who died Sunday, August 17), and Wilburn Denham of Michigan; and two sisters, Lou Manness of Elliott, and Janet Wages of Gore Springs.

  He was preceded in death by his wife, Edna (Billy) Taylor Denham, his father, W. C. Denham, his mother, Daisy Denham, a brother, Dallas Denham, and a sister, Ruby Denham Rogers.

Ralph K. Denham

WATER VALLEY – Ralph K. Denham, 68, of Water Valley, passed away August 17, 2008, in Yalobusha County Nursing home at Water Valley.

  Born August 22, 1939, in Potts Camp, Mr. Denham was a son of the late William Connie and Daisy Lucille Rhyne Denham. He was a retired Dry Wall Master and a member of Woodland Hills Baptist Church.

  A graveside service is planned for Thursday, August 21, at ten o’clock in the morning in Tabernacle Cemetery at Water Valley, with Bro. Ken Izzard presiding. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until the time of the service. Tommy Scroggins, Robert Williamson, Clay Rogers, Todd Maclin, Alan Morgan and Shelton Maclin will serve as pallbearers. Seven Oaks Funeral Home of Water Valley had charge of arrangements.

  He is survived by: two daughters, Marie Annette Reynolds of Water Valley and Trina Marie Denham of Wichita, Kansas; three sons, Kenneth Travis Denham of Water Valley, Douglas Kenneth Denham of Indianapolis, Indiana, and Frances Kenneth Denham of Water Valley; two sisters, Lou Manness and Janet Wages, both of Grenada; two brothers, Elijah Denham of Saltillo and Wilburn Denham of Michigan; twelve grandchildren; and ten great-grandchildren.

  Mr. Denham was preceded in death by his parents, one sister, Ruby Rogers, and two brothers, Russell Denham and Dallas Denham.

Ann Crowson Henry

DULUTH, MN –  Ann Crowson Henry, 79 of Duluth, Minnesota, died August 4, 2008.

  The funeral service was held  at two o’clock in the afternoon, Friday, August 8, in Carroll Funeral Home. Burial was in Memorial Park Cemetery in Memphis.

  Born March 6, 1929, in Water Valley, she was the daughter of the late Dow and Lois Crowson. Mrs. Henry was also preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Louie Henry, and a son, Paul Henry. She attended college at Southwestern College in Memphis and the University of Mississippi, where she graduated with a Bachelors Degree in accounting. In September 1950 she married Dr. Louis C. Henry, who was also from Water Valley. While working in her husbands’ medical office, she gave birth to their daughter, Laura, in 1954. In 1956, they moved to Memphis and her son, Paul, was born.

    She was very active in her children’s school and scout activities. A longtime member of Oakhaven Christian Church in Memphis, she played the organ and taught Sunday School there for many years. Later she was an active member of Kingsway Christian Church in Memphis. Ann was a member of the Maternal Welfare League, the Jr. Kennedy Book Club, two bridge clubs and was very involved in the Women’s Exchange of Memphis. In 2000 she moved with her family to Northern Minnesota to live on Leech Lake. Here she enjoyed nature in her final years. When she became ill, she was cared for at home by her daughter (who is a R.N.) until the last week of her life.     On Monday, August 4, she died peacefully in Duluth, MN at St. Mary’s Hospital ICU, after a long struggle with asthma and COPD. She was much loved and will be terribly missed by all who knew her.

  Mrs. Henry is survived by her daughter, Laura Henry, of Federal Dam, MN.

Dr. Dean R. McMillan

KINGWOOD, TX – Dr. Dean R. McMillan, born June 5, 1932, to Leo and Vasti McMillan in Water Valley, died August 10, 2008, in Kingwood, Texas.

  After graduating from Water Valley High School, Dean went to Pharmacy School at “Ole Miss,” and graduated in 1954. In 1957 he decided to serve his country in the United States Air Force and in 1960 was honorably discharged as Captain. In 1961 he returned to “Ole Miss” to study Medicine and graduated from Medical School in 1965. He completed his internship at UTMB in Galveston, Texas, where he met and married Barbara and together they moved to Lafayette, Louisiana, where he did his residency at Charity Hospital. In 1977 Dr. McMillan served as Chief of Staff at Houston’s North Shore Medical Plaza before becoming one of the Founders of Northeast Medical Center (now Memorial Hermann Northeast) in Humble, Texas, where he practiced medicine for 30 years.

  Dr. McMillan is survived by: his wife of 42 years, Barbara McMillan; a daughter, Deanna Leonard (Tim); sons, Jay Kennedy III (Sonia), and Glenn Dow Kennedy (Inga); a sister, Martha Jane McMillan; grandchildren, Sydney, Ryker, and Elliott Kennedy; Alexis Walters (Charles), Cameron and Jake Kennedy; and Haley Wagner; and Great-granddaughter Brooklyn Walkers; numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

  The funeral service was held at eleven o’clock in the morning Friday, August 15, at Kingwood United Methodist Church, followed by interment in Brookside Memorial, Houston, Texas. Arrangements were under the direction of Kingwood Funeral Home. For those desiring, the family suggest memorial contributions to “Star of Hope” or “Doctors Without Borders.”

Wilma Rudell McCoy Parker

OXFORD – Wilma Rudell McCoy Parker, age 83, died Saturday, August 16, 2008, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Oxford.

  Born in Lafayette County, Mrs. Parker had lived in the Oxford area over 40 years. She was a life member of the Purple Heart Club and the VFW. Mrs. Parker was very active in community organizations that include the Ladies Auxiliary, Save-A-Life, and the Lafayette County Homemakers. Being an avid gardner, she was involved in starting the Farmers’ Market in Oxford and the Recycling Center. Mrs. Parker was very artistically gifted as evidenced by her paintings and handmade items. She was a member of Shiloh Baptist Church.

  The funeral service was held Monday, August 18, at ten o’clock in the morning in Coleman Funeral Home, Oxford, with Bro. Ken White and Bro. Larry Wise officiating. Interment was in  Shiloh Cemetery.

  Survivors include: her husband, Clarence M. Parker of Oxford; three sons, Marion “Butch” Parker of Oakland, Tennessee, Johnny Parker of Oxford, and Robert “Alan” Parker of Hernando; one daughter, Wilma Lee Beeler of Tyler, Texas; one sister, Geneva Maples of Oxford; four brothers, Garland McCoy of Pope, J. C. McCoy of El Paso, Texas, Troy L. McCoy of Thaxton, and Johnny Q. McCoy of Oxford; nine grandchildren; and ten great-grandchildren.

  Her parents, William Elbert and Ruby McCoy, and one sister, Betty Lou Jones, preceded Mrs. Parker in Death.

  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Gideons, P. O. Box 142, Oxford, MS 38655.

William G.W. Raines

WATER VALLEY – William G. W. Raines, 73, of Water Valley, passed away August 17, 2008, in Baptist Memorial Hospital—North Mississippi at Oxford.

  Born January 16, 1935, in Lafayette County, he was a son of the late William James Dooley and Ila Idell Bevelle Raines. He was a retired heating and cooling mechanic and was married to Mary K. Raines, who preceded him in death.

  The funeral service is planned for Friday, August 22, at two o’clock in the afternoon in the Henry Chapel of Seven Oaks Funeral Home at Water Valley, with Bro. Fred Eakes presiding. Visitation will be Thursday, August 21, from five until seven in the evening, in the Appleton Room of Seven Oaks Funeral Home.

  He is survived by: two daughters, Rhonda K. Murphy of Wamego, Kansas and JoEllen Coaten of Oxford; four sons, Rodney Lee Zaruba of Fairhope, Alabama, Doug Dean Murphy of St. George, Kansas, William G. W. Raines of Oxford, and John Allen Raines of Puerto Rico; four sisters, Louise Gardner and Lera Jenkins, both of Oxford, Margaret Welsh of Sierra Vista, Arizona, and Barbara Raines of Tula; ten grandchildren; and sixteen great-grandchildren.

  In addition to his parents, Mr. Raines was preceded in death by a sister, Louise “Sissy” Kirby, and a brother, Johnny Raines.

Daniel Vaiden Smith

WATER VALLEY – Daniel Vaiden Smith, 52, of Water Valley, died Wednesday, August 6, 2008, in Baptist Memorial Hospital—North Mississippi at Oxford.

  He was born December 15, 1955, in Calhoun City and was the son of Thomas Melvin and the late Clara Pauline Akins Smith. He was a wonderful husband, father and friend. Daniel worked in maintenance for 33 years at BorgWarner in Water Valley. He was a member of Concord Baptist Church in Calhoun County.

  The funeral service was held Saturday, August 9, in Henry Chapel of Seven Oaks Funeral Home at Water Valley, with Rev. Jerry Smith presiding. The committal was held in Concord Cemetery, with Cliff Gardiner, Johnny Camp, Mike Glick, Sammy Anthony, Lynn Walker, and Jammie Hickman, serving as pallbearers.

  Daniel is survived by: his wife, Brenda K. Smith of Water Valley; one daughter, Stacey Lynn Montgomery, and husband, Tommy, of Pontotoc; one son, Daniel Scott Smith, and his wife, Karen, of Tupelo; a step-daughter, Stephanie Machelle McNeese, and her husband, Scott, of Olive Branch; a step-son, Garry Waller Dickey, and his wife, Amber, of Memphis; one sister, Sandy Smith Wright of Vardaman; a brother, Tommy Lee Smith, and wife, Lynda, of Pittsboro; his father, Thomas Melvin Smith, and wife, Marjorie, of Sarepta; and nine grandchildren.

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