Obituaries – March 7, 2013
Calvin Alford, Jr.
WATER VALLEY—Calvin Alford, Jr., age 37, died Sunday, February 24, 2013, in the Regional Medical Center at Memphis.
Born September 26, 1975, in St. Louis, Missouri, he was a son of Calvin Alford Sr. and the late Linda Young. Calvin was employed as a truck driver for Townes Trucking Company. He had a wicked sense of humor and enjoyed shooting pool and spending time with friends. Calvin was soft-spoken, loved his wife, children, and family, and was a good husband, father, and provider. He attended several churches in Yalobusha County.
Visitation was held Friday, March 1, from five until seven p.m. in Seven Oaks Funeral Home at Water Valley. The funeral service was held at eleven o’clock in the morning Saturday, March 2, in the City Auditorium at Water Valley. Burial was in the Rocky Mount Church Cemetery in Yalobusha County.
Survivors include his wife, Stephanie Alford of Water Valley; two daughters, Niketa Wilson and Ca’Najah Alford, both of Water Valley; one son, Calvin Alford, III of Water Valley; a sister, April Gould (Jerome) of St. Louis; his father, Calvin Alford, Sr. (Rochelle) of St. Louis; and his step-father, Calvin Young (Barbara) of Oxford.
In addition to his mother, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Jasmine Alford.
Rhonda Lynn Rupprecht Britt
BATESVILLE—Rhonda Lynn Rupprecht Britt, age 46, died Sunday, March 3, 2013, in her home.
A memorial service for Mrs. Britt will be held at noon on Saturday, March 9, in Apostolic Faith First United Pentecostal Church in Water Valley. Wells Funeral Home of Batesville has charge of arrangements.
Born in Batesville on March 8, 1965, Mrs. Britt was a daughter of Sharlott Ann Turnage and John Albert Rupprecht, Jr. She was a homemaker.
Survivors include her husband, David Anthony Britt of Batesville; two daughters, Rachel Renne Crase and Brandy Lynn Nichole Britt, both of Batesville; two sons, Danny “JoJo” Webb, Jr. of Batesville, and Bradley Dale Webb of Oxford; three step-sons, Justin Anthony Britt of Louisiana, Codey Alan Britt of Oxford, and Caden M. Britt of Saltillo; her mother, Sharlott Ann Rupprecht; three sisters, Rita Lynn Roberson, Yvette Rupprecht Aldy of Batesville, and Kelly Rupprecht Watson of Tennessee; two step-sisters Jennifer Collemp and Jeana Keeves, both of Tennessee; two brothers, Randy Lyn Rupprecht and John Brendon Rupprecht, both of Batesville; and eleven grandchildren.
William “Billy” Mack Dickey
WATER VALLEY—William “Billy” Mack Dickey, age 89, died Monday, March 4, 2013, at his home in Water Valley.
Born October 2, 1923, in Water Valley, he was a son of the late Marvin and Leither Rampy Dickey. Billy served in the United States Army during the Korean War and was a lifetime member of VFW. He worked as a mechanic for Trusty International Harvester and was a member of Camp Ground Baptist Church. Billy enjoyed making jewelry, he loved music and played many instruments, including the guitar, fiddle, lap steel, bass guitar, and the mouth organ. He was a fun guy with a great sense of humor and he dearly loved spending time with his friends each morning at Turnage’s Drug Store.
Visitation is planned for Wednesday, March 6, from 11 a.m. until noon at Seven Oaks Funeral Home in Water Valley. The funeral service will follow visitation at noon in the Henry Chapel of the funeral home, with Bro. John Stewart officiating. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery, with Nolan Keel, Mason Morgan, Ethan Morgan, Ricky Hodo, David Black, Cody Gaskin, and Michael Howell as pallbearers.
Survivors include his wife, Minnie Mae Dickey of Water Valley; four daughters, Sherry Black (David) of Lonoke, Ark., Janice Akins of Water Valley, Becky Keel (Nolan) of Foley, Ala., and Linda Webb Underwood (Ronnie) of Batesville; one son, Richard Webb of Batesville; two sisters, Mary Alice Dickey Hayles of Water Valley and Hilda Mae Dickey of Memphis; three brothers, Bobby Joe Dickey (Janette) and Marvin Wayne Dickey, both of Water Valley, and Richard Dean Dickey of Texas; 13 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and nine great-great-grandchildren.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his first wife, Evelyn Baggett Dickey; one daughter, Pat Hollowell; and two brothers, James Dickey and Donald Dickey.
Joy Underwood Crow
WATER VALLEY—Joy Underwood Crow, age 83, went to be with her Lord February 25, 2013.
Born in Marianna, Ark., she was a daughter of the late O. J. Underwood and Zelma Freelon Underwood Thomas. She was a resident of Water Valley, where she worked many years as an LPN for Dr. Joe Walker. Later she became the owner/operator of Pride and Joy, a children’s clothing shop where she supplied many clothes for the children of Water Valley. Joy was a member of the Literary Club of Water Valley, a faithful and devoted member of First Baptist Church and a member of the Beulah Ladies Sunday School Class.
Visitation was held Thursday, February 28, from one until three o’clock in the afternoon in Seven Oaks Funeral Home at Water Valley. The funeral service followed visitation in the Henry Chapel of the funeral home, with Dr. Randy Bain officiating. Burial was in Pine Crest Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Yalobusha County, with Felix Mills, Bennett Crow, Shannon Crow, Jerry Gordon, Phillip Dickey, and Daniel Martin as pallbearers.
She is survived by her two daughters, Deborah Joy Babb of Fort Smith, Ark. and Janice Crow Joyner (Mike) of Water Valley; her son, John James Crow, Jr. (Jane) of Water Valley; three sisters, Polly Perez (Manuel) of Russellville, Ark., Delana Lee of Little Rock, Ark., and Hazel Dunigan of Marianna, Ark.; one brother, Ed Thomas of Mariana, Ark.; seven grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, John James Crow, Sr., and her sister, Jouette Robinson.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial be made to: Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave. Fl 17, Chicago, IL 60601-7633; American Cancer Society, P. O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718; Gideon’s International, P. O. Box 140800, Nashville, TN 37214-0800.