Obituaries – March 18, 2010
Sylvester Cook
DAVENPORT, IOWA – Sylvester “Sugarman” Cook, 63, passed away at the Genesis West Hospital in Davenport, Iowa, on March 9, 2010.
Born in Water Valley, he was a son of the late Locy and Annie Mae Nicholson Cook. He was a member of Everdale M.B. Church in Water Valley. Mr. Cook was passionate about fishing and hunting.
The funeral service was held in the Henry Chapel of Seven Oaks Funeral Home at two o’clock in the afternoon Sunday, March 14, with Rev. Phillip Brackett presiding. The committal was in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Water Valley with Dwight Jenkins, Jerry W. Jenkins, James Judson, George Lawrence, Rickey Tedford, and William Wright serving as pallbearers.
Survivors include four daughters, Lisa M. Cook, Mary Cook, Shalondia Bland, all of Water Valley, and Sheritta Rush of Fort Worth, Texas; three sons, Kelvin Cook and Marcello Rush, both of Davenport, and Kevin Woodard of Water Valley; a brother, Jack Cook of Davenport; nine grandchildren; two nephews; a niece; and many other family members and friends.
In addition to his parents he was also preceded in death by a sister, Ella Adams.
Norine McCracken Helm
COFFEEVILLE – Mrs. Norine McCracken Helm, 89, of Coffeeville died Sunday, March 14, 2010, in North Mississippi Medical Center at Tupelo.
Born November 22, 1920, in Water Valley, she was a daughter of the late Fred B. and Mary M. Worsham McCracken. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Herschel Helm, Sr., and one son, Herschel Helm, Jr.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, March 17, at 2:30 p.m. in the Coffeeville Church of Christ with Bro. Don Roberson officiating. Interment will follow in the Coffeeville Cemetery, with Burl Adams, Chris Adams, Jeremy Helm, Shane Helm, Kyley Holloway, and Dillan Layton as pallbearers. Garner-Harper Funeral Home, Grenada, has charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Helm is survived by: three daughters, Rosemary Peters (Jim), Virginia Adams (Burl), and Bonnie Helm, all of Coffeeville; two sons, Don Helm (Carrie) of Russellville, Ark. and Richard Helm of Leander, Texas; four grandchildren, Shane Helm, Jeremy Helm, Chris Adams, and Onna Layton; and seven great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Butch Helm Memorial Fund, c/o Renasant Bank in Coffeeville.
Leonard William Jenkins
BATESVILLE – Leonard William “Doc” Jenkins, 99, died Sunday, March 14, 2010, at his son’s home in Batesville.
The funeral service will be held March 17, at eleven o’clock in the morning in the Waller Funeral Home Chapel at Oxford, with Rev. Gerald Shook officiating. A private graveside will follow in Pine Crest Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Wednesday from 10-11 a.m. in Waller Funeral Home.
A veteran of World War II, Mr. Jenkins served as a private in the United States Army. He was a member of Anchor Baptist Church. He enjoyed hunting and fishing. Mr. Jenkins was preceded in death by his wife, Georgia Fay Davis Jenkins.
He is survived by five daughters, Shirley Varner and Peggy Shepherd, both of Oxford, Barbara Bowie, Pat Jenkins and Brenda Smith, all of Water Valley; four sons, James Jenkins, Larry Jenkins, and Jerry Jenkins, all of Batesville, and Jeff Jenkins of Oxford; twenty grandchildren; 43 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions in Mr. Jenkins’ memory may be made to Anchor Baptist Church, 1009, Hwy. 7 South, Water Valley, Miss., 38965.
In honor of Mr. Jenkins’ service to his country the flag of the United States Army will be flown at Waller Funeral Home.
Billy Joe Upchurch
COFFEEVILLE – Billy Joe Upchurch, 73, of Coffeeville, died Saturday, March 13, 2010, at his residence.
Born November 12, 1936, Mr. Upchurch was a son of the late Earl C. and Ruth Cole Upchurch. He was a retired forester and biologist for the Army Corps of Engineers and an avid outdoorsman. He was a member of Bethlehem Methodist Church and attended Coffeeville United Methodist Church.
Graveside services were held Monday, March 15, at the Upchurch Family Cemetery in Coffeeville, with Rev. Billy McCord officiating. Pallbearers were Carter Brandon, Joe Farmer, David Gilley, Doyle Jones, Matt Lowe, and Jessie McCollins. Honorary pallbearers were Steven Ayers, Adam Boyle, Avery Upchurch, and Matthew Upchurch. Garner-Harper Funeral Home, Grenada, was in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Upchurch is survived by his wife, Patsy Lee Peeples Upchurch; two sons, Robert Earl Upchurch, and his wife, Pam, and Carl Ray Upchurch, and his wife, Amy; five grandchildren, Ruth Marie Upchurch, Matthew Upchurch, Avery Upchurch, Candy Boyle, and Glenda Upchurch; one great granddaughter; and three sisters, Betty Ann Prestage of Cape Girardeau, Mo., Kathleen Rowsey of Batesville, and Patsy Hall of Attica, Ind.