Obituaries – June 4, 2009

Martha Lou Jones Bradford

SHREVEPORT, La. – Martha Lou Jones Bradford, age 85, of Shreveport, La., formerly of Water Valley, died Monday, May 25, 2009, in V-Glen Health Care Center in Shreveport.

  Graveside services were held at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 27, in Oak Hill Cemetery at Water Valley. Senior Deacon Penny Sisson officiated the service, with nephews serving as pallbearers. National Funeral Home in Grenada was in charge of arrangements.

  A daughter of the late Lee Andrew and Leila Jones, Martha was born June 9, 1923, in Yalobusha County. She was a member of St. Peters Episcopal Church. Mrs. Bradford was employed as a home mother for Kappa Delta for 20 years at the University of Mississippi. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Olivetta Bradford Acree.

  Survivors include her daughter, Laura Jones Moody of Tyler, Texas; and a cousin and her closest friend, Eleanor Adams Rogers of Biloxi; three grandchildren, Bradford Dean Bowen and his wife, Denney, Elizabeth Prince Groff and husband, Christian, and John C. Prince, III., and his wife, Ashley.

 

Andrew Booker

OAKLAND – Andrew Booker, 46, of Oakland died Thursday, May 21, 2009, in Methodist Healthcare Hospital—North at Memphis.

  The funeral service was held at two o’clock in the afternoon Thursday, May 28, in Parrish Grove M.B. Church at Oakland with Rev. Jacob Hentz officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery. Cooley’s Mortuary, Inc. had charge of arrangements.

  Born October 18, 1962, Mr. Booker was a son of the late Eugene Booker and Beria Clark Booker. He was a mechanic and a member of St. Andrew M.B. Church, Oakland.

  Survivors include six sisters, Rosie Lee Booker, Ruby Booker, and Veterine Booker Bynum, all of Oakland, Cynthia Reed of Senatobia, Marie Jackson and Betty Booker, both of Memphis; and four brothers, Henry Booker, John Booker, Willie Booker, and Samuel Booker, all of Memphis.

 

Ernest Laver Byrd

OXFORD – Ernest Laver “Byrddog” Byrd, age 65, died Wednesday, May 27, 2009, at Oxford in Baptist Memorial Hospital—North Mississippi.

  Born in Lafayette County, Mr. Byrd had lived in this area the majority of his life. He was a U.S. Army veteran, serving in Vietnam. Mr. Byrd had retired as a painter and enjoyed car races, the outdoors, and gardening, but his most enjoyable outdoor activity was fishing. He also took pleasure in spending time with his grandchildren.

  The funeral service was held Friday, May 29, at eleven o’clock in the morning in the Coleman Funeral Home Chapel, with Bro. Jimmy Sockwell officiating. Interment was held in St. Peter’s Cemetery at Oxford. Coleman Funeral Home of Oxford had charge of arrangements.

  Survivors include one daughter, Lesley B. Phillips of Oxford; one son, Andrew Byrd of Oxford; two sisters, Patsy Sharp of Water Valley and Sandra Jones of Oxford; three brothers, Ronald Byrd, Kenny Byrd, and Randy Byrd, all of Oxford; and four grandchildren.

  Preceding him in death were his parents, Ernest L. and Mary G. Byrd.

 

David Shofner Dunn

WATER VALLEY – David Shofner Dunn, 52, of Water Valley died May 26, 2009  in Oxford at Baptist Memorial Hospital—North Mississippi.

  Born December 5, 1957, he was a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Ben Dunn. He was also preceded in death by three brothers, Frank Dunn, Bennie Dunn, and William Dunn.

  Survivors include four sisters, Katherine Camp, Francis Burk, Bessie Goodwin, all of Water Valley, and Mary Pierson of Houston; and two brothers, Wayne Dunn of Oxford, and Ed Dunn of Arkansas.

  Graveside services for Mr. Dunn were held Thursday, May 28, at 5 p.m. in Mt. Liberty Cemetery, Calhoun County. Seven Oaks Funeral Home of Water Valley had charge of arrangements.

 

Lonnie Dale Farmer

COFFEEVILLE – Lonnie Dale Farmer, age 60, died Monday, May 25, 2009, in Baptist Memorial Hospital—North Mississippi at Oxford.

  Born July 1, 1948 in Water Valley, he was a son of the late Reed Jr. and Christine Shepherd Farmer. Mr. Farmer worked at Motts in Water Valley and at Heatcraft in Grenada. He was a member of the Church of God.

  The funeral service was held in the Henry Chapel of Seven Oaks Funeral Home Thursday, May 28, beginning at two o’clock in the afternoon. Dr. Paul Odom offered remembrances. The committal was held in Goshen Cemetery in Coffeeville immediately following the service.

  Survivors include his wife of 35 years, Lynda Crocker Farmer of Coffeeville; a son, Lonnie Dale Farmer, Jr. of Coffeeville; four sisters, Reeda Farmer Cofer, Sandra Farmer Cofer, and Cathy Farmer Sartain, all of Water Valley, and Janice Farmer Winters of Iuka; two brothers, Franklin Lee Brown of Coffeeville, and Billie Joe Farmer of Bruce.

 

Claude Leroy Edwards

COFFEEVILLE – Claude Leroy Edwards, 90, of Coffeeville died Sunday, May 31, 2009, at Oxford in Baptist Memorial Hospital—North Mississippi..

  Born October 26, 1918, Mr. Edwards was a son of the late James Claude and Eleanor Mooney Edwards. Mr. Edwards was a former businessman. He retired from the Mississippi State Department of Agriculture after 20 years of service and also was a retired farmer. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Coffeeville.

  Visitation was held Tuesday, June 2, beginning at ten o’clock in the morning in Coffeeville First Baptist Church, with funeral services following at 11 a.m. Rev. Truman Scarborough, Rev. Donnie Stewart, and Rev. Bryan Bailey officiated. Interment followed in Broadstreet Cemetery at Coffeeville. Garner-Harper Funeral Home of Grenada was in charge of arrangements.

  Survivors include his wife of 71 years, Lucile H. Edwards; two daughters, Vernell Gray of Coffeeville and Vera Shows of Louisville; one son, James Edwards of Coffeeville; eight grandchildren; and ten great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, James Claude and Eleanor Mooney Edwards; and two sisters, Lorene Edwards and Clara Mae Edwards.

 

Cleoders Woodard

CHICAGO, IL –  Cleoders “Tet” Woodard passed away Friday, May 15, 2009, in his home at Chicago, Illinois.

  Born March 4, 1944, Mr. Woodard was a son of the late James and Vergia Belcher Woodard. He confessed hope in Christ at an early age in Pine Grove M.B. Church at Water Valley. He attended Davidson High School. Later, he moved to Chicago, where he worked for Tim’s Auto Service as a mechanic (a profession he loved) for over 20 years.

  The homecoming celebration for Mr. Woodard was held May 23 in the Pleasant Green M.B. Church, with burial at Mt. Glenwood Memory Garden in Chicago.

  Survivors include four sons, Lashun (Rebecca) Cole and Eric Cole, both of Chicago, Albert Cole and Derrick Cole, both of Madison, Wis.; one daughter, Denetha Hoskins of Water Valley; three brothers, James (Dorothy) Woodard of Chicago, L. C. (Nita) Woodard of Shreveport, La., and Ricky (Rose) Woodard of Lake Charles, La.; seven sisters, Maggie (Talmage) Grays of Chicago, Linda Robinson of Markham, Ill., Lottie Daniels of DeRidder, La., Christine Woodard, Ida Chapman, Claire Gooch, and Catherine Harris, all of Water Valley; 10 grandchildren; life-long friend, Juanita Cole; best friend, John Reed; brother-in-law, Jimmy Lust, Sr.; a host of nephews, nieces, relatives, and friends.

  Sisters Odessa Lust and Georgia Woodard preceded him in death.