Obituaries – Jan. 10, 2013
James W. Love
WATER VALLEY—James W. Love, age 77, died December 29, 2012, at his home in Water Valley.
Mr. Love was born December 10, 1935 in Water Valley. He was a member of Spring Hill North M.B. Church.
The funeral service was held Saturday, January 5, 2013, at noon in Spring Hill North M.B. Church with Rev. Sammy Townes officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery. Clark-Williams Funeral Home of Grenada had charge of arrangements.
Survivors include a daughter, Keisha Cooper of Jackson; four sisters, Martha Woodard, Lucille Robinson, and Clote Love, all of Water Valley, and Mary Borton of Kentucky; and one brother, Ben Willie Love of Water Valley.
John W. Sayles
WATER VALLEY—John W. Sayles, 91, of Water Valley entered into eternal rest January 5, 2013, in Oxford.
He was a veteran, having served with the United States Army. Mr. Sayles retired from BF Goodrich after approximately 30 years of service.
He is survived by one sister, Irene Lyles; a brother, Edgar Lyes, and a sister-in-law, Audra Merl “Fred” Hardaway, and many nieces, nephews, and friends.
John was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Sayles; parents, Jodie Lyles and Roy Sayles; step-father, E. T. Lyles; one sister, Laverne Smith; and a brother, R. T. Lyles.
Graveside services were held Tuesday, January 8, 2013, at eleven o’clock in the morning in Memorial Park Cemetery, Memphis, with full military honors. Arrangements were under the direction of High Point Funeral Home and Crematorium, Memphis.
Carl White Stogner
WATER VALLEY—Carl White Stogner, 50, died Saturday, January 5, 2013, in Desoto Baptist Memorial Hospital in Southaven.
Born November 4, 1962, Mr. Stogner was a son of Alice White Stogner and the late Kenneth Lawrence Stogner. He attended Southern Baptist Educational Center in Southaven, and went on to attend Northwest Community College and the University of Mississippi. Carl was a member of the Civil Air Patrol and was a Ham radio operator. He was a member of Gracewood Baptist Church in Southaven.
Graveside services are planned for eleven o’clock in the morning Wednesday, January 9, in Oak Hill Cemetery at Water Valley, with Dr. Barry Baker and Bro. Danny Freeman officiating. Visitation will be from ten until eleven a.m. prior to the service at Seven Oaks Funeral Home.
Survivors include his mother, Alice White Stogner of Olive Branch; and his brother, James L. Stogner of Olive Branch.
He was preceded in death by his father, Kenneth Lawrence Stogner.
Dr. Joe Wayne Walker
WATER VALLEY—Dr. Joe Wayne Walker, 75, of Water Valley died Saturday, December 29, 2012, in Baptist Memorial Hospital—North Mississippi at Oxford.
Born in Detroit, Michigan December 12, 1937, he was a son of the late James Woodrow and Mary McCaslin Walker. Dr. Joe graduated from Peabody High School in Trenton, Tenn., attended the University of Tennessee and the University of Tennessee College of Medicine. He completed his internship at Richland County Hospital in Columbia, S.C. While serving as chief resident of internal medicine at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, he began his involvement in Yalobusha County as an ER Physician in Yalobusha General Hospital. In 1971 he moved his family to Water Valley and started his practice. Dr. Joe was proud to live and work in Water Valley and continually expressed his love for the people and the community.
In 1998 he was presented the Braswell Hatcher award by the Water Valley Chamber of Commerce. Dr. Walker served on various committees and was currently serving as Chairman of the Physicians Health Network of Mississippi. He touched the lives of many in Yalobusha County through his love of sports. For many years he coached for the Magnolia Youth League and also served as past president of the League. He was instrumental in the development of the Crawford Sports Complex, his “Field of Dreams.”
Dr. Joe supported Blue Devil athletics as team physician, oftentimes helping the youth physically and financially when needed.
He was dedicated to helping men and women who struggle with the disease of addiction and was actively involved in AA and currently Chairman of the Board of Branch of Hope.
He had a passion for gardening and growing roses, and he dearly loved his family and friends. He was an active member of First Baptist Church.
Visitation was held Wednesday, January 2, 2013, in First Baptist Church at Water Valley from five until seven o’clock. The funeral service was held Thursday, January 3, at eleven o’clock in the morning in First Baptist Church with Dr. Randy Bain and Bro. Hal Clark officiating. Interment followed in Oak Hill Cemetery at Water Valley with Dr. Tom Wiggins, Roy “Mickey” Aldy, Johnny Avant, Floyd McGehee, Tommy White and John Crow as pallbearers. Seven Oaks Funeral Home of Water Valley had charge of arrangements.
Doc is survived by his wife, Zandra Morris Walker of Water Valley; his children, Mary Ann Walker Stone (Cliff) of Greenville, Joe Wayne Walker, Jr. (Jacqueline) of Rutland, Vermont, John Wyliss Walker of New Albany, Justin Ward Walker of Aspen, Colorado; a daughter-in-law, Regina Martin Walker of Russellville, Ark.; grandchildren, Anna Maria Walker of Conway, Ark., Addison Martin Walker of Fayetteville, Ark.; Jacob Woodrow Walker and Samuel David Walker, both of Rutland, Vermont, Richard Thomas Griffin of Arlington, Tenn. and Jessica Griffin Hawkins of Chapel Hill, N.C.; a sister, Carolyn Walker Roslund (Les) of Easton, Maryland; and also his former wife and friend, Rachel Bell.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Elizabeth Jane Walker and Linda Walker Farmer; his son, James Woodrow “Woody” Walker, II, and a son-in-law, Richard Baab Griffin.
Memorials may be made to: Branch of Hope, P. O. Box 767, Water Valley, MS 38965; First Baptist Church of Water Valley, P. O. Box 1472, Water Valley, MS 38965; or Magnolia Youth League, c/o Lance Clement, 828 Blackmur Dr., Water Valley, MS 38965.
Willie D. Walker
HARLEM, GA—U.S. Army retired Chief Warrant Officer 3rd Class Willie D. Walker, 78, husband of Carolyn Walker, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Wednesday, December 26, 2012.
The funeral service was held at eleven o’clock in the morning Saturday, December 29, 2012, in Bethesda Baptist Church, with Dr. Clayton Galloway officiating. Interment was in Bellevue Memorial Gardens with Masonic rites and full military honors accorded.
Mr. Walker was born in Dublin to the late Jessie James Walker and Mattie Brewer Walker. He was a U.S. Army retiree, having served in Germany and two tours in Vietnam and was the recipient of numerous military awards, including the Bronze Star and Silver Star medals. He also retired from Boral Brick Company in Augusta. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge Clay Bank #908 Ozark, Alabama and Bethesda Church and the Senior Men’s Sunday School Class. Willie loved his church and his church family.
Survivors include his wife and best friend, Carolyn Walker; two sons, James M. Walker of Harlem, and William M. (Teresa) Walker of Evans, Ga.; a step-daughter, Michelle Reese (David) of Harlem; and adopted sons, Ralph (Joann) Dixon of Harlem, and Louis Washington (Sherri); one very special brother-in-law, Walter Gaskill, Jr. (Edna); a special sister-in-law, Rose Walker, of Alabama; grandchildren, B. J. Tradwell, Cody Pilgrim, Noah Readwell, Jesse Walker, Walker Trogdon, Chelseas Trogdon, Lauren Godwin, Nicholas Godwin, Skylar Godwin, Michael Joseph L’italian, Rhiannan Barkley, Christy Cummings, Samantha Dixon, Joshua Dixon, Gavin Mattingly and Dillon Mattingly; and five great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Candace Webb; siblings, Quay Samuels, Anna Lou Griffin, Jimmy Walker, and Gene Walker.
Pallbearers were members of the military. Honorary pallbearers were members of the Mem’s Senior Sunday School class.
Glenda Frank Peeler Ward
HATTIESBURG—Glenda Frank Peeler Ward, fondly known by family and friends as Peggy passed away peacefully at her home in Hattiesburg January 6, 2013.
Visitation was from five until seven in the evening Monday, January 7, at Hulett Winstead Funeral Home and at one o’clock in the afternoon Tuesday, January 8, at Main Street Baptist Church in Hattiesburg, with funeral services following at two o’clock. Dr. Jon Stubblefield conducted the service and burial was in Highland Cemetery in Hattiesburg.
Mrs. Ward was born in French Camp in 1932 to James Frank Peeler and Ruby Naomi Pender Peeler. She later moved with her family to Kosciusko and graduated form Kosciusko High School. She married Dorris Lynn Ward in 1950 and they began their married life in Water Valley and later moved to Kosciusko, Holly Bluff, Ruleville, Vicksburg, Pontotoc, Tunica, Cleveland and finally to Hattiesburg where they have resided for the past 41 years. She cheerfully packed up house and home with each career advancement offered to her loving husband. Peggy enjoyed a career as teller and clerk in banks in Tunica, Cleveland and Hattiesburg. She retired from BancorpSouth after 21 years of service.
Peggy was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. She was an active member of Main Street Baptist Church and will be missed by her friends and the Joy Builders Sunday School Class. She had a quick wit and a compassionate spirit and loved time spent with family and friends. She was an enthusiastic supporter of the Mississippi State University Bulldogs and enjoyed attending MSU athletic events.
Survivors include her husband, Dorris Ward; her son, Jimmy Ward (Janet); daughters, Noni Montague (Richard) and Glenda Idom (Ricky); five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; a sister, Sally Jim Oliver; and a brother, Percy Peeler (Hilda).
Ruby Murphy Wood
WATER VALLEY—Ruby Murphy Wood, 89, died Monday, December 31, 2012, in Yalobusha General Nursing Home at Water Valley.
Born in Alabama, Mrs. Wood had lived in the Water Valley area since her marriage to William Cecil Wood. Mrs. Wood was a homemaker with a talent for many things, some of which included cooking, gardening, and sewing. Beautiful quilts that she made are treasured by her family, whom she loved deeply. She was a member of Turkey Creek Church.
Visitation was held Wednesday, January 2, from 5-7 p.m. in Coleman Funeral Home at Oxford. The funeral service was held Thursday, January 3, at 2:30 p.m. in the Coleman Funeral Home Chapel, with Bro. Charles Fitts officiating. Interment was in Oak Hill Cemetery in Water Valley.
Survivors include one daughter, Phyllis Wood Camp (Ted) of Saltillo; a son, Richard (Wanda) S. Wood of Water Valley; one sister, Frances Norwood of Water Valley; two brothers, Dale (Melinda) Jennings of Water Valley, and Paul Jennings of Oxford; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Her parents, Joseph Murphy and Luvonia Murphy Jennings, and her husband, William Wood, preceded her in death.