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Obituaries – Jan. 31, 2013

Wanda Fae Crawley

BATESVILLE—Wanda Fae Crawley, age 63, passed away Sunday morning, January 27, 2013, at her home in Batesville.
  The funeral service will be held at one o’clock in the afternoon, Thursday, January 31, in Wells Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Derek Boyd, Rev. Wes Sherman and Rev. Lee Graham officiating. Interment will follow in Pilgrims Rest Cemetery, located on Highway 315 between Batesville and Water Valley, with Allen Austin, Noah Brooks, John Crawley, Patrick Crawley, David Mastin, and Austin Wright as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Willie Crawley, Phillip Cain, Paul McGehee, Floyd “Buddy” McGehee, Donnis South, E. J. Robison, Tim Barnett, Hugh Barnett and James Rodney Hudson. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, January 30.
    Born August 31, 1949, in Batesville, Wanda was a daughter of the late Viola Maynard and Tiger E. Crawley. Many will remember Wanda as a jovial, fun loving woman who enjoyed gospel music. For many years she traveled around Mississippi and Tennessee playing the piano and singing with gospel quartets.
    Wanda was extremely talented, musically, and she shared her talent with hundred of students whom she taught voice and piano. She served the Lord in many capacities during her earthly life, one of which was being the church pianist and organist in many north Mississippi Baptist churches, including Hebron, Harmontown, Twin Lakes, and Pilgrims Rest.
    For years she was an active class member in many Explorer’s Bible Studies in Batesville. Wanda was an active member of Pilgrims Rest Baptist Church until she became too ill to attend.
    A  1967 graduate of Batesville High School, she continued her education at Delta State University, William Carey College, and then the University of Mississippi.
    Her professional career kept her close to home, as she worked for the United States Postal Service, beginning in the Lambert Post Office, then moving to Water Valley, where she was first a city route carrier and years later was promoted to the position of window clerk, where she continued to develop many friendships in the small town. In 2010 she had to take early retirement from the Grenada Post Office because of her illness, after serving USPS for 23 years.
    Survivors include her sister, Dot Crawley Heath of Batesville; two brothers, Al Crawley (Diane) of Jackson and Melvin Crawley (Vicki) of Pontotoc; son-in-law, Derek Boyd (Karla) of Mesa, Ariz.; three grandchildren, Bowen, Jackson and Lily Grace Boyd of Mesa, Ariz.; three nieces, who were like daughters; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
    Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her only child, Tina Fae Caruthers Boyd; a sister, Libby Crawley Sherwood; brothers, Joe A. Crawley and Tiger Willard Crawley.
    Memorials may be sent to: Pilgrims Rest Cemetery Fund, 470 Pilgrims Rest. Rd., Batesville, MS 38606, or The Gideon Bible Ministry, Panola Camp, P. O. Box 791, Batesville, MS 38606.

James Lafayette Huckaby

BANNER—James Lafayette Huckaby, age 82, died January 22, 2013, in Baptist Memorial Hospital in Oxford
     The funeral service was held at eleven o’clock in the  morning January 24, in Driver’s Flat Baptist Church, with Bro. Stacy Watkins officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery, with Andy Crow, Terry Crow, Jr, Bobby Huckaby, Daniel Huckaby, David Huckaby, Jr. and Edward Huckaby as pallbearers. Parker Memorial Funeral  Home of Bruce had charge of arrangements.
    Born May 3, 1930, in Lafayette County, Mr. Huckaby was a son of the late Lonnie Ernest Huckaby and Dovie Mae Clifton Huckaby. He was also  preceded in death by two sons, James Lafayette Huckaby, Jr. and Johnny Wayne Huckaby, a sister, Johnnie Merle Reynolds, and  brother, Lonnie Huckaby. He was a retired business owner and a member of Driver’s Flat Baptist Church.
    Survivors include, two daughters, Dianne Huckaby Welch (David) of Oxford and Barbara Huckaby Adams of Water Valley; two sons, David Ernest Huckaby (Wendy) of Paris, and Michael Brent Carlisle Huckaby (Jennifer) of Memphis; three sisters, Addie Mae Pollan of Paris, Lucy Swanson of Oxford, and Janette Dunaway of Huntsville, Ala.; two brothers, Charles Huckaby of Banner and William Huckaby of Paris; 11 grandchildren, Bobby Wayne Huckaby and Angel Huckaby, both of Oxford, Melissa Huckaby and Cynthia Huckaby, both of Faribault, Minn., Terry Wayne Crow and Jennifer Adams, both of Vancleave, Andy Crow of Oxford, Valera Webb of Chicago, Janice Webb Fulton of Jackson, David Huckaby,  Jr. and Daniel Huckaby, both of Oxford; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Raymond Neely

WATER VALLEY—Raymond Neely, age 51, died Wednesday, January 23, 2013 at his home in Water Valley.
Visitation is scheduled from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Thursday, January 31, at Spring Hill North Church in Water Valley. Funeral services will immediately follow the visitation at 1 p.m. at Spring Hill Church with Pastor Sammy Townes, Pastor Mitchell Steen and Pastor Amos Sims officiating.  
Burial will be in the Green Goshen Cemetery with Deke Spearman, Keith Turner, Frank Belcher, John E. Robertson, James Johnson, Reginald Campbell, Michael Gooch and Lavert Hawkins serving as pallbearers. Seven Oaks Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Raymond  was born September 21, 1961 in Coffeeville to the late Fred Earl and Irma Gee Neely.  He was employed as a truck driver for the City of Water Valley until he retired due to health reasons.  He was a faithful and active member of Spring Hill North Church in Water Valley, where he served as Choir President, was a member of the Usher Board and cared for the church lawn. Raymond enjoyed playing dominoes, working on vehicles, fishing, eating good food and spending time with family and friends and he dearly loved his granddaughter, Mackenzie.
Raymond is survived by his wife, Janet Campbell Neely of Water Valley; five daughters, Rosamond Chanel Neely of Peoria, Ill., Tameika Neely, Candice Camille Neely, Mandy Thompson, and Salanthia Cooke, all of Water Valley; three sons, Raymond Neely, Jr. and Deontarius Neely, both of Water Valley, and Roger Thompson of Oxford; six sisters, Mable Hervey (Gary) and Stephanie Herron (Jermaine) all of Water Valley, Frances Neely and Dollie Pierce both of Peoria, Ill., Eve Reed of Detroit, Mich. and Hazel Wright of Milwaukee, Wis.; four brothers, Junior Neely (Geneva) and Carl Neely, both of Water Valley, Tyrone Neely of Peoria, Ill. and William Bernard Mister of Coffeeville; one granddaughter, Mackenzie Willingham and two grandsons, Kameron Sayles and Ja’Kory Thompson.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Stella Neely and Mary Neely, and one brother, Alfonzo Gee.

George William Reinemann

BATESVILLE—George William Reinemann, age 58, passed away Wednesday, January 23, 2013, in Baptist Memorial Hospital in Oxford.
Funeral services were held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, January 27,  in Henry Chapel at Seven Oaks Funeral Home with Bro. Lee Graham and Bro. Wes Sherman officiating. Burial will take place in Pilgrim’s Rest Cemetery in Panola County with Jerry Wilson, Jimmy Eubanks, Robert Doolin, Cayce Washington, Bill Shultice, Joe Potts, Larry Fleming, Lavon Dempsey, and Jimmy Cofer serving as pallbearers.  Mason Anthony and Austin Cowsert will serve as honorary pallbearers.
Visitation was Saturday, January 26,  from 5 until 7 PM at Seven Oaks Funeral Home in Water Valley.
Reinemann was born to the late Patricia Mae and Floyd Frances Reinemann in Madison, Wis. He became a mechanical engineer and worked for many years at Holley Carburetor/Borg Warner in Water Valley. He later went to work at Winchester/Olin Corporation until his passing. George enjoyed competition shooting, fishing, hunting, motorcycling, and he entertained young and old alike playing Santa Claus on many occasions. He loved being a Papaw and was devoted to his family, always being a great provider. He took a stand for what was right, at work, at church, and at home. He was a member of Pilgrim’s Rest Baptist Church in Panola County.
He is survived by his wife, Teresa Reinemann of Batesville; two daughters, Kelley Reinemann-Banks (Waylon) of Alexandria, Va. and Nikki Reinemann of Batesville; five sisters, Lorrie Holubiw, Dorothy Kimmerling (Dave), Susan Hackworthy (Bert), Judy Reinemann (Mike), and Lisa Reinemann, all of Wisconsin; one brother, Richard Reinemann (Donna) of Michigan; and one grandson, William Bennett Reinemann.

Jewel Mathis Swanson

VALDOSTA, Ga.—Jewel Mathis Swanson of Valdosta, Georgia passed away at her home on her 85th birthday, Monday, January 28, 2013.
    Born January 28, 1928, in Howe, Oklahoma, she was a daughter of the late Atlas A. and Ada Levada Edwards Mathis. Mrs. Swanson was a member of Central Avenue Church of Christ.
    Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. in Seven Oaks Funeral Home at Water Valley Thursday, January 31. The funeral service will be held at eleven o’clock in the morning Friday, February 1, in the Henry Chapel of the funeral home. Interment will be in Oak Hill Cemetery at Water Valley.
    Mrs. Swanson is survived by six sons, William A. McCormick (Shirley) of Lindale, Texas, Jimmie D. McCormick (Gail) of Quinlan, Texas, David L. Swanson of Los Angeles, Calif, Robert E. Swanson of Cullman, Ala., John P. Swanson of Nashville, Tenn., and Nathan Doyle Swanson (Caryn) of Toccopola; one daughter, Nancy J. Swanson of Valdosta; a daughter-in-law, Lila T. Swanson of Pontotoc; 13 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Inez Mathis Maynor of Lake Charles, Louisiana.
    In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, James Powell Swanson; a son, Paul A. Swanson; three sisters; and six brothers.

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