Obituaries – June 11, 2013

Nancy Joann Jenkins Benson

WATER VALLEY—Nancy Joann Jenkins Benson, 81, died Sunday, June 30, 2013, in Baptist Memorial Hospital—North Mississippi at Oxford.
   Born August 31, 1932, Mrs. Benson was a native of Coffeeville. She was a daughter of the late Grant and Fannie Jenkins of Coffeeville. She was a member of New Jerusalem Church of God in Christ, Coffeeville. She was the widow of James Benson.
    The funeral service was held at eleven o’clock in the morning in the Mt. Moriah Association Building, with Pastor Loyd Walton, Jr. officiating. Interment was in the Coffeeville City Cemetery. Eddie Robinson and Son had charge of arrangements.
    Survivors are daughters, Rosie Walton, Gracie Spearman, Laverne Johnson, and Sallye Goins, all of Water Valley; sons, Alfred Jenkins, James Jenkins, Clarence Jenkins, Henry Jenkins, J. B. Benson, and William Benson, all of Water Valley; sisters, Fannie Mae Ammons of Florence, and Florance Washington of Oakland.

Sylvia Carpenter Graham

WATER VALLEY—Sylvia Carpenter Graham, age 58, died Friday, July 5, 2013, at her home in Water Valley.
    Born in Clarksdale, she was a daughter of the late Arthur Carpenter and Christine Varner Carpenter. Sylvia was a homemaker and enjoyed cooking, sewing, flowers, and spending time with her friends, family, and grandchildren.
    Visitation was held Monday, July 8, from 2-3 p.m. in Seven Oaks Funeral Home at Water Valley. The funeral service followed visitation at three o’clock in Henry Chapel at the funeral home with Rev. Ray Branch officiating. Burial was in the Church Grove Cemetery in Lafayette County, with Jimmy Avant, Mickey Avant, Rocky Kennedy, John Milam, and Art Carpenter as pallbearers.
    Survivors are her daughter, Dana Zuniga (Blass) of Pontotoc; two sons, Marcus Garner (Wendy) of Hernando, and Paul Garner (Kate) of Oxford; one brother, Lyndon Carpenter of Oxford; her mother, Christine Carpenter of Water Valley; and six grandchildren, Kana Carpenter, Alyssa Garner, Kimberly Zuniga, Jackson Garner, Logan Napier, and Cara Garner.
    In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by her husband, Larry Graham; her sister, Shirley Milam; and two brothers, Kenneth Carpenter and Melvin Carpenter.

Bradley Dean Martin

WATER VALLEY—Bradley Dean Martin, age 77, died Thursday, July 4, 2013, in Baptist Memorial Hospital—North Mississippi at Oxford.
    He was born in the Driver’s Flat Community of Calhoun County to the late Dalton David and Fannie Vines Martin. Dean attended Driver’s Flat Baptist Church and loved spending time and visiting with his church family and friends. He enjoyed working on, and collecting, all kinds of vehicles, tractors, and anything with a motor. He liked carpentry and was a “jack of all trades.”
    Visitation was held Saturday, July 6, from two until four p.m. in Seven Oaks Funeral Home at Water Valley. The funeral service was held immediately following visitation at four o’clock in the funeral home with Bro. Charles Keel officiating. Burial was in Mt. Liberty Cemetery in Calhoun County, with Riley Melton, Buster Potts, Henry Dunn, Larry Brown, Billy Stark, and Charles Davis as pallbearers.
    Survivors include his daughters, Vicki “Missy” Howe (Joey) of Bruce, and Rexanne Smith of Birmingham, Ala.; and grandchildren, Paige Howe, Kayla Howe, Ashley Davis, Heather Davis, and Steven Davis.
    In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Dulcie Prestage.

Billie Loyd Mitchell

WATER VALLEY—Billie Loyd Mitchell, age 74, died Saturday, July 6, 2013, in Baptist Memorial Hospital—North Mississippi at Oxford.
     Born January 19, 1939 in Calhoun County, he was a son of the late James Arnold and Adell Free Mitchell. He grew up in Calhoun County and served in the National Guard for seven years. He was a dedicated employee, working in the maintenance facility at BorgWarner until his retirement. He continued to work after retirement, doing maintenance work with Valley Tool of Water Valley. Billie enjoyed fishing and camping and, among his baking accomplishments, he was known to make the best banana pudding in the world! He was a member of Camp Ground Baptist Church.
    Visitation was held Tuesday, July 9, from 5 until 7 p.m. in Seven Oaks Funeral Home. The funeral service will be held at two o’clock in the afternoon Wednesday, July 10, in the Henry Chapel of the funeral home, with Bro. Fred Eakes and Bro. R. W. Moffett officiating. Burial will be in Elam Cemetery, Coffeeville, with Lynn Walker, Wayne Hatfield, Wayne Kimball, Herbie Rogers, Calvin Schmitz, and Jim Cofer as pallbearers. Charlie Yarbrough and Billy Humphreys will  be honorary pallbearers.
    Billie is survived by his wife of 51 years, Gladys Mitchell of Water Valley; two daughters, Loretta Mitchell of Water Valley, and Nancy Mitchell of El Dorado, Ark.; one son, Michael Mitchell of Water Valley; four sisters, Jean Tolly of Smackover, Ark., Mary McDonald of Windfield, Ala., Shirley James of Johnson City, Ark., and Lyn Diggers of West Monroe, La.; three grandchildren, David Martin, Justin Mitchell, and Britney Donaldson; and four great-grandchildren.
    In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Jim Mitchell and Van Mitchell.