Obituaries – March 24, 2011
George Edwin Denley
COFFEEVILLE—George Edwin Denley died Thursday, March 17, 2011.
A son of the late George Elias and Martha Ellen “Tea” Williams Denley, Mr. Denley was born March 19, 1915. He was born, and grew up, on his parents’ farm east of Coffeeville. His education began in a one-room school at Elam, where his sister was the teacher. He graduated from Coffeeville High School in 1933. He received his undergraduate degree from Mississippi College in 1937, where he majored in commercial work and lettered in track. He received his Master’s in Education from the University of Mississippi in 1957.
His life was largely devoted to the betterment of the community through his tireless efforts to assure that as an educator all children under his guidance received a quality education. He began his career as an educator at Savannah in 1937, and in 1938-40, he taught and coached at New Augusta.
He accepted a teaching position at Jeff Davis School in Yalobusha County in 1940 and became superintendent in 1942. He remained at Jeff Davis until he joined the Army in 1945 and served with the occupation forces in Japan. He began teaching in the Coffeeville Schools in 1948 and became superintendent in 1952 and remained in this post until his retirement in 1980.
During his career in school administration, he served on numerous statewide committees and was on the executive committee for the Mississippi High School Activities Association for 10 years. He also served on the board of directors for the Mississippi Education Association in 1973-1974, and served in numerous positions with the MEA. He was selected to the Order of the Red Rose, an honorary school administrator’s organization, and Phi Delta Kappa, a professional fraternity in education. In addition to being the administrator of the school in Coffeeville, he was a member of numerous civic organizations and was dedicated in his service to the Coffeeville First Baptist Church where he taught Sunday School and was a deacon for many years. He was also owner/operator of a cattle/tree farm in Yalobusha County.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Irene Terry Denley, in 1979, and his second wife, Mary Ellen Brower Hyde Basden Denley, in 2008; sisters, Bessie Speir, Essie Boyle, Jessie Denley, Ethel Pate, Grace Hughes, Nell Pittman, and Clara Chamberlain, and brothers, Chester Denley, Sellers Denley, and Gerald Denley, and several beloved nieces and nephews.
He is survived by his son, Tim Denley, and his wife, Linda, of Fairfax, Virginia; a daughter, Terry Page and her husband, Fred, of Apex, N.C.; three grandchildren, Tamara Lewis and her husband, Todd, of Sanford, N.C., Chandra Page of Carrboro, N.C., and Adria Zuccaro and her husband, Tom, of Panama City, Fla.; and four great-grandchildren.
Services were held Sunday, March 20, in First Baptist Church, Coffeeville, with Rev. Truman Scarbrough and Rev. Donnie Stewart officiating. Burial followed in the Coffeeville Cemetery. Arrangements were under the direction of Garner-Harper Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, Coffeeville, or the charity of one’s choice.
Tony Cornelious Gooch
WATER VALLEY—The funeral service for Tony Cornelious (Jabo) Gooch was held Wednesday, March 16, 2011, at one o’clock in the afternoon, in the Water Valley City Auditorium, with Brother Goodwin officiating. Burial was in the Church of Christ Cemetery, with Michael Gooch, Jermaine Gooch, Sherman Gooch, Terry Sayles, Jeffery Sayles, and John Brooks as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were Derrick Gooch, Perry Gooch, Ken Gooch, Brandon Gooch, and Dryll Gooch. M. J. Edwards & Sons Funeral Home of Memphis had charge of arrangements.
Born March 22, 1928 in Water Valley, he was a son of the late Will and Sylvilla Gooch. He lived most of his life in Water Valley.
Mr. Gooch died March 11, 2011, in Baptist Hospital—DeSoto.
Mr. Gooch was preceded in death by a son, Johnny Gooch; three brothers, Billy, Sherman and Jesse Gooch; and two sisters, Willie Bell Ellis and Essie Terrell.
He leaves to cherish his memory a loving wife of 62 years, Irma Gooch; five devoted children, Tony (Fannie) Gooch of Water Valley, Linda Shorter (Doyle) of Davenport, Iowa, Edith Puryear (Cleveland) of Olive Branch, William Gooch (Tish) of Oxford, and Catherine White of Water Valley; one sister, Allie Sayles of Water Valley; four brothers, Robert Gooch of Utica, New York, Herman Gooch of Water Valley, Jimmy Gooch of Water Valley, and James Joiner; 15 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, family, friends, and a special friend, Clarice Woodard Gooch.
Johnny L. Mason
OXFORD—Johnny L. Mason, age 83, died Sunday, March 13, 2011, in the Mississippi State Veterans Home at Oxford.
Born in Water Valley, Mr. Mason was a son of the late Robert and Mayfield Alexander Mason. He served in the United States Army. Mr. Mason worked as a mechanic, and also as an officer for the City of Water Valley Police Department.
The funeral service followed visitation at two o’clock in the afternoon Saturday, March 19, in the Henry Chapel of Seven Oaks Funeral Home in Water Valley, with Rev. Mitchell Steen officiating. Interment was in the Sanders Chapel Cemetery, with his nephews as pallbearers.
He is survived by a son, John Haywood of Chicago; a sister, Viola Joseph of Water Valley; six grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Mr. Mason was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Mason, and a son, Edward Haywood.
Online condolences may be offered at www.sevenoaksfuneral home.com
Juanita Ray Martin
WATER VALLEY—Juanita Ray Martin, 82, of Water Valley died at her home March 16, 2011.
Born in Lafayette County in 1929, Mrs. Martin was a daughter of the late Ottis W. and Gertha Overstreet Ray. She was a homemaker and worked in the Water Valley Schools for 10 years. She volunteered with the Pink Ladies and was a member of the local square dance club, called the Water Valley Whirlers.
Devoted to her church, Camp Ground Baptist, and to her faithful God, she was involved with the Homebound Ministry and was a member of the adult ladies Sunday School Class. She loved her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed flower gardening, sharing her flowers, and reading. Mrs. Martin was preceded in death by her husband. S. F. Martin, in 2001.
The funeral service was held Saturday, March 19, 2011, at ten o’clock in the morning, with Bro. David Ross presiding. Burial was in Pine Flat Cemetery in Lafayette County, with Joe Black, Bob Tyler, Stephen Yopp, Richard Hessler, Roth Hessler, and Winston Hessler serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were Gary Pottinger, Buddy Wilson, Betty Naramore, Shirley Mills, and members of the Camp Ground Baptist adult ladies Sunday School Class.
Mrs. Martin is survived by four daughters, Jean Black and her husband, Joe, of Water Valley, Judy Martin of Louisville, Kentucky, Cynthia Taylor and her husband, Bob, of Duck Hill, and Sandra Hessler and her husband, Richard, of Roswell, Georgia; one sister, Annie Ray Miller and her husband, Chuck, of Oxford; two brothers, Johnnie Ray and his wife, Thelma, of Madison, and James Ottis Ray of Oxford; eleven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
In addition to her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Clara Ray Howard and Susie Ray Tidwell; and three brothers, Raymond Ray, Price Ray, and George Ray.
Memorials may be made to Camp Ground Baptist Church, 534 County Road 110, Water Valley, MS 38965.
Guinn Leroy Tatum
OXFORD—Guinn Leroy “G. L.” Tatum of the Union West Community in Lafayette County died Thursday morning, March 17, 2011, at his residence.
G. L. was born in 1939 to the late Willie Webster and Nora Phillips Tatum in Lafayette County. He graduated from the Mississippi School of the Deaf in Jackson and worked 38 years in the University of Mississippi Physical Plant before he retired. Among his many talents, G. L. was known for doing beautiful upholstery work. He was a member of Union West Baptist Church, where he will be greatly missed.
The funeral service was held at two o’clock in the afternoon Sunday, March 20, in Union West Baptist Church, with Bro. Billy Childs officiating. Seven Oaks Funeral Home of Water Valley had charge of arrangements. Interment was in Orwood Cemetery with Danny Briscoe, Gilbert Varner, Danny Brewer, Dean Varner, Joey Russell, and Harris Wayne Gooch serving as pallbearers.
Survivors include one brother, Luther “Luke” Tatum and his wife, Linda, of Oxford; three sisters, Jeanette Johnson and her husband, Billy, of Huntsville, Ala., Vera Ann Reynolds and her husband, Bill, of Gulfport, and Kitsy Stracner of Huntsville, Ala.; and a host of loving nieces and nephews.
Online condolences may be offered at www.sevenoaksfuneralhome.com
Jamie Lee McCullar Toole
BATESVILLE—Janie Lee McCullar Toole, age 97, a resident of Fairfield Assisted Living, formerly of Enid, died March 18, 2011, in Tri-Lakes Medical Center at Batesville.
The funeral service was held at three o’clock in the afternoon Sunday, March 20, in Oakland Methodist Church, with Rev. Clay Baker and Rev. Martin Case officiating. Interment was in Enid Oak Hill Cemetery. Wells Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Born September 13, 1913 in Oakland, Mrs. Toole was a daughter of the late Ruth Hunt and Garner Fount McCullar. She was married to James Algernon Toole for 47 years and he preceded her in death in 1979.
Mrs. Toole was a retired U.S. Postal Clerk in Enid. She was a member of Oakland Methodist Church, where she attended Bible study. She taught Sunday School for many years in the Enid Union Church. Mrs. Toole was an active member of the Enid Home Demonstration Club and a substitute teacher. She was an avid birdwatcher and enjoyed writing poetry. Mrs. Toole was preceded in death by one brother, Roy McCullar; sisters, Virginia Jo McCullar, Margaret M. Anderson, and Martha Ruth M. Therrell, and two grandsons, Joey Toole and Michael Toole.
Survivors include four sons, James I. Toole (Leware) of Decatur, Texas, Robert Lee Toole (Donnie) of Scobey, Terry Hunt Toole (Lou) of Grenada, and Joe Melvin Toole (Lottie) of Enid; and two daughters, Betty Jane Matthews (Travis) of Enid, and Carolyn T. Via (Jimmy) of Cleveland; a brother, Garner Fount McCullar, Jr. of Oxford; 14 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be sent to Enid Oak Hill Cemetery Fund, 92 Enid Teasdale Road, Enid, MS 38927.