Obituaries – March 5, 2009
Tommy C. Baker
WATER VALLEY – Tommy C. Baker, 67, of Water Valley died Tuesday, February 24, 2009, in Yalobusha County Nursing Home at Water Valley.
Born October 30, 1941, in Leachville, Ark., he was a son of the late Homer and Lorene Ellis Baker. He served his country in the United States Army and was a member of the First Pentecostal Church in Water Valley.
The funeral was held at two o’clock in the afternoon Friday, February 27, in the Henry Chapel of Seven Oaks Funeral Home, with Bro. Charles Compton and Dr. Joe Walker presiding. The committal was in the First United Pentecostal Cemetery at Water Valley.
Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth “Libby” Baker of Water Valley; a daughter, Lisa Brooks of Brastrop, La.; three sons, Tommy C. Baker, Jr. and Billy W. Baker both of San Antonio, Texas and Steven S. Baker (Denise) of Walker, La.; three sisters, Shirley Mallard (Curt) of Indiana, Gloria Croy (Mike) of Missouri, and Rita Hodnett (Ronnie) of Florida; two brothers, Edward Baker of Florida and Cecil Baker (Betty) of Tennessee; and seven grandchildren, Dustin Brooks, Aaron Baker, Brian Darby, Cheyanna Baker, Whiney Baker, Andreanna Hodge, and Taniah Hodge.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, William H. Baker, and a brother, Gary Baker.
Velma Viola Hollowell Cook
WATER VALLEY – Mrs. Velma Viola Hollowell Cook, 92, a homemaker, died Sunday, March 1, 2009, in Yalobusha County Nursing Home at Water Valley.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, March 4, at two o’clock in the afternoon in Waller Funeral Home Chapel, Oxford, with Rev. Gerald Shook and Rev. Art Nelson officiating. Burial will be in Campground Cemetery. Visitation will be held Wednesday, March 4, from 12:30 until 2 p.m. in Waller Funeral Home.
Born in Lafayette County, Mrs. Cook was the widow of Winfred Cook, and was preceded in death by her daughter, Sandra Horton, and her two brothers, Van Buren Hollowell and Raymond “Buddy” Hollowell. Mrs. Cook was also preceded in death by her second husband, Virgil Nelson, with whom she had three step-children. Mrs. Cook was a member of Anchor Baptist Church and loved cooking, gardening and sewing.
Survivors include her daughter, Louise Cizmar of Oxford; a son, Art Nelson of Sulphur Springs, Texas; one sister, Pearl Kimzey of Oxford; five grandchildren; fourteen great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
The family has asked that expressions of sympathy or memorial contributions in Mrs. Cook’s memory be made to Anchor Baptist Church, Hwy. 7 South, Oxford, MS 38655.
Lenora Howe Fly
GRENADA – Lenora Howe Fly of Grenada, formerly of Oakland, died Sunday, March 1, 2009, in Grenada Lake Medical Center.
The funeral service will be held at ten o’clock in the morning Wednesday, March 4, in the National Funeral Home Chapel, Grenada, with Bro. Johnny Dinas, Bro. Kevin Jackson and Bro. Jim Nunnelee officiating. Derry Brunt will provide the special music. Burial will follow in Goshen Cemetery in Yalobusha County, with Cannon Kirk, Scott Kirk, Kris Kirk, Jason Neal, Jeff Little, Bill McRee, Craig Stoker, Corie Westbrooks, and Bob Gault as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Lane Tucker and Bo Breland.
Born in Yalobusha County, Mrs. Fly was a daughter of the late E. B. and Gertrude Howe. She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Oakland, but had attended the First Baptist Church in Grenada, where she was a member of the Margaret Carlisle and Solid Rock Sunday School Class for the past 11 years. She was also a member of the United Methodist Women, the Yalobusha Historical Society and the Woodmen of the World. She was retired from Pennaco Hosiery Mill. Mrs. Fly was an avid quilter and loved flowers and gardening. She also loved taking care of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. Fly was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Manchie Fly, and one daughter, Dorothy Blakely.
Survivors include: three daughters, Mary Kathryn Brassfield and her husband, Jimmy, of Tupelo, Ann Kirk and her husband, Dynamite, of Grenada, and Betty Neal and her husband, Buddy, of Grenada; one son, Charles Fly and his wife, Pam, of Ridgeland; two brothers Aubrey Howe and his wife, Irene, of Batesville, and Darnell Howe of Oakland; three sisters-in-law, Flora Belle Holman of Kentucky, Mildred Howe of Oakland, and Myra Howe of Germany; 10 grandchildren; and 21 great-great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Goshen Memorial Chapel Cemetery Fund, c/o Ella Jean McCain, 227 Wortham St. Coffeeville, MS 38922.
Lottie Mae Glass Fox
WATER VALLEY– Mrs. Lottie Mae Glass Fox, 104 years old, died February 6, 2009, in Yalobusha County Nursing Home.
Born February 5, 1905, in Calhoun County, Mrs. Fox was a daughter of the late John and Molly Glass. She was the oldest of 15 children, all of whom preceded her in death. She was united in Holy Matrimony to the late Willie Burns and to this union three children were born. She later married Jessie Fox, who also preceded her in death, and to this union eight children were born, one of whom preceded her in death, as did two step-children. She was also instrumental in rearing two other children, who also preceded her in death.
The funeral service was held Saturday, February 14, at noon in Everdale M.B. Church, with Rev. Phillip Brackett officiating. Burial was in Oakridge Cemetery, Water Valley, with Eddie Robinson Funeral Home of Grenada in charge of arrangements.
Survivors include her children, Opal Trice, Ellar Harris of Shannon, Bernice Minor of Water Valley, Amy R. Woodard of Milwaukee, Wis., Molly Simmons of Long Beach, Calif., Dolly R. Fant of Water Valley, Catherine (James) Brown of Water Valley, Rudy (Roy) Swift of Alamo, Tenn., and Willie Fox of Water Valley; step-children, Ellar Coleman of Hampton, Lela Doolittle of Memphis; three sisters-in-law; 47 grandchildren; 69 great-grandchildren; 14 great-great-grandchildren; a host of nieces, nephews, and friends, and her best friend and neighbor, Mrs. Roberta Morgan.
Virginia Louise “Lou” Gordon
WATER VALLEY – Virginia Louise “Lou” Gordon, 67, of Water Valley died Monday, February 23, 2009, in Baptist Memorial Hospital—North Mississippi at Oxford.
Born September 21, 1941, in Shelby County, Tenn., Mrs. Gordon was a daughter of the late William Parker and Laverne Cobb Donaldson. She worked alongside her husband in their family business and was a lifetime member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary in Water Valley.
The funeral service was held Thursday, February 26, at one o’clock in the afternoon in the Henry Chapel of Seven Oaks Funeral Home with Bro. Fred Pearrow presiding. The committal was held in Walker Cemetery in the Sylva Rena Community in Yalobusha County.
Mrs. Gordon is survived by her husband, James Elbert Gordon of Water Valley; two sons, James Elbert Gordon, Jr. of Batesville and John Garland Gordon of Water Valley; two sisters, Ann Hart of Grand Junction, Tenn. and Geraldine Walker of Memphis; three brothers, Julian Donaldson of Bartlett, Tenn., Wallace Donaldson of Arkabutla, and Calvin Donaldson of Moscow, Tenn.; and two grandchildren.
Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Hubert Donaldson and Paul Donaldson.
James E. “Jim” Gross
EAST PEORIA, IL – James E. “Jim” Gross, 77, of East Peroria, Illinois died Monday, February 23, 2009, in Methodist Medical Center at Peoria.
Born March 23, 1931, in Pope, Mr. Gross was a son of Joseph Newton and Willie Edward Dennis Gross. He married his wife of nearly 53 years, Pearly Mae Curry, on July 15, 1956, in Mississippi. She survives him.
Survivors also include one son, Thomas (Tina) Gross of East Peroria; two daughters, Laura (Tom) Hanks of Granham, N.C., and Charlotte (Dale) Thornton of Peroria; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; four brothers, John (Eula) Gross of Litchfield, Ky., Jimmy Gross of Grenada, Joseph (Elizabeth) Gross of Garden Grove, Calif., and Joe (Bobbie) Gross of Courtland; and one sister, Patricia (Don) Bynum of Water Valley.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Prentiss Gross, and a sister, Jeanette Redwine.
He was a U.S. Army Veteran, serving during the Korean War. Mr. Gross began in the warehouse and advanced to an engineer in the boiler room at Corn Products in Pekin, Ill., where he worked for 41 years and retired April 1, 1998. He also worked at numerous gas stations in the Peoria area and after retirement he worked as a Security Guard at the Wal-Mart in East Peoria for four and one-half years. He also enjoyed keeping busy by mowing yards, cutting trees, and helping people move. He was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and was a member of American Legion Post #44 in Pekin. He was a member of Lovejoy Methodist Church in Panola County and attended Twin Oaks Missionary Baptist Church in East Peoria.
The funeral service was held at eleven o’clock in the morning Saturday, February 28, in Twin Oaks Missionary Baptist Church at East Peoria, with Pastor Tom Myers officiating. Burial was in Swan Lake Memory Garden in Peoria.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Twin Oaks Missionary Baptist Church Building Fund or to the Veterans Administration Health Clinic, 411 W. Dr. Martin Luther King Dr., Peoria, IL 61605.
Ernest Lee Moore
COFFEEVILLE – Ernest Lee Moore was the seventh child of Jimmie and Marjorie Moore. Born March 30, 1979, he was educated in the Coffeeville School District and graduated from Coffeeville High School in 1998. During his childhood he was an active cub scout. While attending CHS, he played football for the Coffeeville Pirates.
Ernest mastered the art of living through the love he deeply felt for his family and others. He lived a useful life. He wrought well while here. He was so generous with his time and effort as the toiled from year to year. So many people he helped, so many lives he touched, always doing his part; glad to serve whenever called upon with a very cheerful and generous heart. “His work will never be forgotten throughout our lives even though he passed away. The deeds he has left behind will never be forgotten, but will live on in our lives each day,” stated a family member.
Ernest entered into eternal rest on Friday, February 13, 2009. Preceding him in death were his grandparents and a special little nephew, TeRamous T. Logan.
Survivors include five children, LeeKendrick, LeeKedrick, Shakevia and JahQuan Moore (LaRhonda Edwards), and Deunterrius Mays, all of Coffeville; his parents, Jimmie and Marjorie Moore; six sisters, Kyna Logan, Marcy Dudley, and Victoria (Terrell) Logan of Coffeeville, Terance Moore of Dtetroit, Michigan, Mary Moore of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Ora (Pinkie) Loctet of Champagne, Ill.; three brothers, Tyrone (Donna) Moore of Kuwait, Darryl (Teresa) Moore of Forrest City, Ark., and Jimmy R. Hall of Coffeeville; a grandmother, Elvira Jackson of Coffeeville; an uncle, Oscar Moore of Chicago; an aunt, Annie Esther Moore of Humboldt, Tenn., a host of nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends; a very special friend, Angel MaDonna Ray; and three best friends, Greg Martin, Mario Bolden, and Jeffey Matthews.
Services were held Saturday, February 21, in Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church, Bryant, with Pastor Mitchell Steen officiating. Burial was in the Pleasant Grove Cemetery with Eddie Robinson Funeral Directors of Grenada in charge. Pallbearers were Greg Martin, Stacy Moore, Christopher Horton, Terrace Reed, Tracy Moore, Mario Bolden, and Jeffrey Matthews.
Mozelle Martin Ward Tillman
WATER VALLEY – Mrs. Mozelle Martin Ward Tillman, 94, of Water Valley passed away Thursday, February 26, 2009, in the Yalobusha County Nursing Home at Water Valley.
Born January 27, 1915, in Yalobusha County, Mrs. Tillman was a daughter of the late Samuel F. and Ola Henderson Martin. She was a nurse for Yalobusha General Hospital and a member of First Baptist Church in Water Valley.
The funeral service was held at two o’clock in the afternoon Sunday, March 1, in the Henry Chapel of Seven Oaks Funeral Home, with Rev. Ken Izzard officiating. The committal was in Oak Hill Cemetery, Water Valley, with Jerry Holt, Bill McMinn, Earl McMinn, Lee McMinn, Jim McMinn, Joe Black, Ken French, and Jimmy Ward serving as pallbearers.
Mrs. Tillman is survived by her daughter, Betty J. Lay (Russell) of Water Valley; a son, Robert R. Ward (Jackie) of Water Valley; eight grandchildren, Lisa Strawn (Steve), Kevin Ward (Sandy), Tina Marie Sikma (Bill), Russell J. Lay (Malissa), James M. Lay, Terry Brust, James Brust, and Jeffrey Burst (Janice); and 23 great-grandchildren.
Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by: both husbands, Ralph J. Ward and Carl Tillman; two sisters, Odell Sansom and Virginia Maifred Telhorst; five brothers, Claudis Martin, Curtis Martin, Carlton Martin, Charles Martin, and S. F. Martin; and two grandchildren, Dennis Wayne Ward and D’Ann Lay Charter.