Obituaries – Jan. 1, 2009

Mary G. Keel Benefiel

TULA – Mary G. Keel Benefiel, 81, passed away Saturday, December 27, 2008, in the Sanctuary Hospice House in Tupelo.

    Born May 11, 1927 in Belen, she was a daughter of the late Jessie Cleveland and Birdie Nelson Griffis. Mrs. Benefiel was retired from South Central Bell’s marketing department. She was a member of New El Bethel Baptist Church in Tula and the Pioneers—a Bell South organization.

     The funeral service was held Tuesday, Dec. 30, at ten o’clock in the morning in the Henry Chapel of Seven Oaks Funeral Home, with Rev. Jimmy Sockwell and Rev. Charles Keel presiding. The committal was held in New El Bethel Cemetery in Tula with Chris Griffis, James Christopher Griffis, Ray Meredith, Mark Keel, Jason Gullette, Junior Bratton, and James Martin White as pallbearers.

    Survivors include her daughter, Janet Bratton of Water Valley; three granddaughters, Kristina Lynn Bratton Dixson, Angela Michelle Hastings and Tammy Marie Bratton; two great grandchildren; and two step-sons, Bill Benefiel and Tom Benefiel of Memphis; five step-grandchildren; and 24 step great-grandchildren.

    Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her husbands, Duel Howard Keel and James N. Benefiel; four sisters, Clara Mae Griffis, Jessie B. Griffis, Ilene  Harrison, and Ruby Puckett; and three brothers, Sherman Griffis, Thomas Griffis, and James Carl Griffis.

Winfred J. Green

PITTSBORO – Winfred J. Green, age 88, was born Nov. 4, 1920 in Pittsboro. He died December 26, 2008, at his home.

    A graduate of Bruce High School, Mr. Green was a retired carpenter and farmer. He was a member of Rocky Mount Baptist Church, where he served as Sunday School teacher, Church Treasurer and Training Union Director. He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry Hood Green and Sarah Effie Murphree Green, two sisters, Ella Ferguson and Annice Bryant, a brother, Jesse Green, and a daughter, Nelta Ruth Green.

    The funeral service was held at two o’clock in the afternoon Sunday, Dec. 28, in Parker Memorial Funeral Home Chapel at Bruce, with Rev. Robert Earl Alexander officiating, assisted by Rev. Kevin Chrestman and Rev. Scotty Crawson. Burial was in the Rocky Mount Cemetery, with Scotty Collins, Eddie “Trey” Magee, Brandon Magee, Jeremy Aron, Phil Ferguson and Wesley Golson as pallbearers.

    Survivors include his wife, Moss Jean McGreger Green of Pittsboro, to whom he had been married since June 20, 1942; two daughters, Reeda Collins and her husband, Scott, of Bruce, and Cathy Magee and her husband, Eddie, of Water Valley; two brothers, Jim Green of Pittsboro, and Henry Green of Pope; six grandchildren,  Scott Collins, Sandy Aron, Sara Ferguson, Eddie “Trey” Magee, Brandon Magee, and Kellie Shields; and 16 great-grandchildren.

Elizabeth Maxine Jones Tharpe

WATER VALLEY: Elizabeth Maxine Jones Tharpe, 74, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2008, in the Sanctuary Hospice House in Tupelo.

    Born February 23, 1934, she was a daughter of the late Alvin Leon and Birdie Elizabeth Gardner Jones of Coffeeville. Mrs. Tharpe was a homemaker and a member of Elam Baptist Church in Coffeeville.

    Survivors include her sons, Alvin Tharpe of Water Valley and Carlton Ray Tharpe of Thibodeaux, Louisiana; nine grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and two step-grandchildren.

    A private memorial will be held by her family in Elam Cemetery at Coffeeville. Seven Oaks Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.