Obituaries – Apr 8, 2010
Zula Mae Richards Bell
WATER VALLEY – Zula Mae Richards Bell, 72, of Water Valley passed away at Regional Medical Center in Memphis April 1, 2010.
Born in Water Valley, Mrs. Bell was a daughter of the late Robert Walter and Beatrice McCain Richards. She was a member of Woodland Hills Baptist Church at Water Valley.
Visitation was held Saturday, April 3, from 10:30 to noon, followed by the funeral service at noon in the Henry Chapel of Seven Oaks Funeral Home, with her pastor, Rev. Ken Izzard officiating. The committal was in Oak Hill Cemetery in Water Valley with Jamie Hernandez, Larry Bell, Ricky Goodwin, Ryan Wiltfong, Rick McCuan, and Travis York serving as pallbearers.
She is survived by two daughters, Ida Grayson of Fort Worth, Texas and Melissa “Lisa” Hernandez, and her husband, Jamie, of Brandon; a sister, Bettie Martin of Water Valley; four grandchildren, Lea Anna Grayson, Amber Nicole Grayson, Ashley Hernandez, and Juan Hernandez; and two great grandchildren.
Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Lee Rowland Bell, Jr.
Online condolences may be offered at www.sevenoaksfuneralhome.com
Hugh E. Linder
BATESVILLE – Hugh E. Linder, 82, husband of Louvene Linder, died Thursday, April 1, 2010, at Oxford in Baptist Memorial Hospital—North Mississippi.
The funeral service was held at two o’clock in the afternoon Saturday, April 4, in First Baptist Church, Batesville, with Dr. Robert (Bob) Self and Dr. P. J. Scott officiating. Burial was in Forrest Memorial Park Cemetery in Batesville. Wells Funeral Home of Batesville had charge of arrangements.
Born August 2, 1927, in Spartanburg, South Carolina, Mr. Linder was a son of the late Milton Lee and Vinnie Lowe Linder. He was the owner of Dees Store and served in the United States Army during World War II. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Batesville.
Survivors include his wife, Louvene Dees Linder of Batesville; one daughter, Jan Linder Roberts, and husband, Bob, of Cleveland; two sons, David Linder, and wife, Cheryl Kay, of Meridian, and Dr. Lee Linder, and wife, Stacy Jo, of Batesville; one sister, Margaret Linder Campbell of Atlanta, Ga.; and seven grandchildren.
Johnny C. Rockette
RACINE, Wis. – Johnny C. Rockette, age 54, died Sunday, March 28, 2010, in Marshfield, Wis.
Born in Yalobusha County, he was the son of Mrs. Maudie Martin Rockette and the late Billy Frank Rockette.
The funeral service was held Monday, April 5, at one o’clock in the afternoon in Henry Chapel of Seven Oaks Funeral Home with Pastor Jamuel Johnson presiding. The committal was held in Yocona Cemetery in Lafayette County.
He is survived by his mother, Maudie Martin Rockette of Water Valley; his fiance, Arusi Todd of Racine, Wis.; two daughters; six sons; ten grandchildren; five sisters, Billie Rockette of Pontotoc, Gari Rockette of Water Valley, Rebecca Rockette of Davenport, Iowa, Anita Rockette of Water Valley, and Lisa Rockete (Bobby) Hall of Southaven; four brothers, Billy Frank Rockette of Davenport, Iowa, John Rockette of Racine, Wis., Jo Jo Rockette of Horn Lake, and Tony Rockette of Davenport.
Online condolences may be offered at www.sevenoaksfuneralhome.com
Charlie Dane Rotenberry
BATESVILLE – Charlie Dane Rotenberry, age 65, of Batesville, passed away on Monday afternoon, April 5, 2010, at Baptist Memorial Hospital, North Mississippi in Oxford.
Visitation was held Tuesday, April 6 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Wells Funeral Home. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 7, at Wells Funeral Home Chapel with interment following at Crowder Cemetery.
He was born October 29, 1944, in Water Valley to the late Charlie Doyle and Marguerite McCullar Rotenberry. He was a member of the Crowder Baptist Church in Crowder. Charlie farmed land in Tallahatchie and Quitman counties for 34 years.
He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Lucy Respess Rotenberry and by five sisters, Faye Rotenberry Nolan of Water Valley, Peggy Rotenberry Turner of Crowder, Jo Rotenberry Durham of Batesville, Kay Rotenberry Marberry of Crowder, and Diane Rotenberry Bailey of Batesville.
Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by one sister Elaine Mixon and a brother Mac Rotenberry.
The family requests anyone wishing to send memorials to please send them to St. Jude Research Hospital at 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1905.
Martha A. Miles
WATER VALLEY – Martha A. Miles, 68, of Water Valley passed away at her home in Water Valley on April 3, 2010.
Born in Grenada, she was a daughter of the late Robert H. and Inez Thweatt Miles. She was a retired secretary for the Yalobusha County Superintendent of Education’s Office. Martha loved to travel and she was a faithful Christian mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.
The memorial service was held at 2 p.m., April 6, in the Henry Chapel at Seven Oaks Funeral Home, with Rev. Raymond Aven officiating.
She is survived by three daughters, Teresa Pass and Holly Taylor of Water Valley, and Sharon Valient of Bruce; one brother, Charles Miles of Valdosta, Ga.; seven grandchildren, Kristy Allen, Josh Winters, Joey Chapman, Shasta Allen, Chevy Allen, Molly Winters and Matt Taylor; and five great-grandchildren, with another on the way.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Lola Andrews and Robbie Miles.
Online condolences may be offered at www.sevenoaksfuneralhome.com
Charles Willis
CHARLESTON – Charles Willis, age 53, died at his home Wednesday, March 31, 2010, after a lengthy illness. His wife, Brenda was at his side.
Born May 6, 1956, in Charleston, he was a son of the late Browser Lake and Ionia Winters Willis. He was also preceded in death by a brother, Roosevelt Willis. He was a 1975 graduate of Charleston High School. He later served in the U.S. Army. Mr. Willis worked as a truck driver for over 30 years for Allon Deliveries of Brownsville, Tenn. A family member stated, “His gentle and easy going personality helped him find favor with all who came in contact with him.” He was a member of New Town Missionary Baptist Church in Charleston.
The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 7, in the Henry Chapel of Seven Oaks Funeral Home, Water Valley, with Rev. Derrick Williams, Sr. officiating. Burial will be in New Town Cemetery in Charleston.
Survivors include his wife of 14 years, Brenda Walton Willis; his mother-in-law, Mrs. Janie Shelton of Chicago; a daughter, Natashia Gray of Cleveland, Ohio; four sons, Anthony Powell, Roderick Walton and Desmond Walton, all of Chicago, and Mario Island of El Dorado, Ark.; eight sisters, Mary (William) Edwards and Lawanda Wrenn, both of Charleston, Erma Lake, Jill Lake, Alice Lake and Nell Lake, all of Atlanta, Ga., Seretha Wrenn of Dalton, Ga., and Teresa Jenkins of Jonesboro, Ark.; seven brothers, James (Laverne) Lake, Jessie (Clara) Willis, and Dennis Willis of Charleston, Andrew Lake and Lawrence Woodall, both of Cincinnati, Ohio, Leroy Lake of Milwaukee, Wis., and Ezell (Shelia) Willis of Tacoma, Wash.; seven sisters-in-law, five brothers-in-law, seven grandchildren, a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, other relatives and friends.