Obituaries – Aug. 8, 2013

Patricia A. Bollinger

HARTFORD, SOUTH DAKOTA—Patricia A. (McGuinness) Bollinger, 75, of Hartford, South Dakota, died Tuesday, July 30, 2013, at home, after a courageous battle with cancer.
   Graveside services were held at ten o’clock Saturday, August 3, at the Hartford Cemetery, with Pastor Chris Gorman officiating.
  Mrs. Bollinger was born March 2, 1938, in Providence, Rhode Island to William and Catherine (Hackett) McGuinness. She was one of five children and was raised and educated in the Providence area. She graduated from Hope High School and soon after traveled with her sister, Shirley, to San Diego. Eventually she met and married Wayne Dunham and the couple had two children, Valerie and Wayne II. Patsy worked at several jobs involving bookkeeping and clerical skills and also preparing legal documents for a law firm. She also served as the Executive Director of the Mojave Valley United Way for several years.
    In 1987, Patsy married Ron Bollinger. They resided in Barstow for a while and then wandered back to Mississippi. In 2000, Ron found an occupation in South Dakota and they moved out to Hartford. Patricia soon was working as a lunch lady for Lincoln High School.
    Patsy was a very free spirit. She loved animals and was constantly rescuing cats. She also raised several dogs and two pot bellied pigs, Wilbur and Buddy. Patsy once took a cross-country trip on a Harley Davidson from California to Rhode Island to visit her mother via Louisiana, Florida and Georgia, and then back home.
    Survivors include her husband, Ron; children, Valerie (Steve) Bruce of Canton, and Wayne  Durham II of Sioux Falls; step daughters, Lee (Jeff) Gentry of Pope, and Mary Susan (Wayne, Jr.) Cobb of Cleveland; eight grandchildren, Jeffrey, Jana, and Sarah Bruce, Meredith, Mary Clay and Maggie Gentry, Sara Chelsey and Jax Cobb; and two siblings, Dana (Eddie) McGuinness of Florida, and Shirley (George) Mowreader of Kennewick, Washington.
    Patsy was preceded in death by her parents, one brother, Billy, and one sister, Winifred.
    In lieu of flowers, the family request donations should be made to the Charles and Gertrude Johnson Educational Scholarship Fund in Patsy’s memory.

Audrey Lynn Curry

WATER VALLEY—Audrey Lynn Curry, age 79, of Water Valley, passed away July 8, 2013, in Baptist Memorial Hospital—North Mississippi at Oxford.   
    Born June 15, 1934, in Montgomery, W.V., Mrs. Curry was a daughter of the late Garnett Ault. She was a retired waitress/homemaker who moved to Water Valley from Chicago 17 years ago to be near family. She was always smiling and loved everyone.
     Survivors include one daughter, Judy Fries of Michigan City, Indiana; seven grandchildren, Missy Kimzey (Kevin), Randy Peacock (Carla), Britney Fries, all of Water Valley, Audrey Kirkland (Davy) of Gulfport, Brandi Clark (Jimmy) and Brian Fries of Burns Harbor, Ind., and Jessica Jinkerson of Michigan City, Ind.; and 12 great-grandchildren.
    In addition to her mother, Garnett Ault, she was preceded in death by one son, Wes Bailey.
    Audrey did not wish to have a funeral service.

Charles L. Dewberry

WATER VALLEY—Charles L. Dewberry of Water Valley died Sunday, July 28, 2013, in Yalobusha General Hospital.
   Born January 12, 1935, in Humnoke, Ark., he was a son of  the late Charles L., Sr. and Pauline Ross Dewberry. Charles served in the United States Navy during the Korean War and received the National Defense Service Medal, the China Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal, and the United States Service Medal. Upon leaving the military he received a B.S. degree in Business Administration from Bethel University in McKenzie, Tenn.
    Charles pursued a career in law enforcement and retired as Chief of Police in Black Mountain, North Carolina. He was a former member of Cedar Mountain Baptist Church in Asheville, North Carolina. After moving to Water Valley he faithfully attended and supported First Baptist Church. Charles was an avid golfer, enjoyed good food, and dearly loved his family and friends.
    Visitation was held from 12:30-1:45 p.m. Thursday, August 1, in Seven Oaks Funeral Home. A graveside service was held in the Camp Ground Cemetery in Lafayette County with Bro. Raymond Aven officiating.
    Survivors include three daughters, Renee Jayne (Andy), and Cheryl Proffitt, both of Asheville, and Tammy Dewberry Lancaster of Memphis; two sons, Chuck Dewberry of Memphis and Frank Green (Elaine) of Marion, N.C.; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
    In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Frances Henderson Dewberry, and his daughter, Tina Sandidge.

Raymond Hall “Doc” Pullen

WATER VALLEY—Raymond Hall “Doc” Pullen, age 95, died Thursday, August 1, 2013, at his home in Water Valley.
   Born, January 31, 1918, in Water Valley, Mr. Pullen was a son of the late Robert Hall and Maude Irene Vaughn Pullen. In 1940, he married Vera Mae Wilbourn and moved to Paducah, Kentucky, where he worked for the Illinois Central Railroad Company, before returning to Yalobusha County. Doc enlisted in the Navy and from 1943-1945 served at Pearl Harbour, Hawaii, repairing ships and submarines.
    After returning home, he worked for the U.S. Postal Service until retiring in 1983. He raised his family on the family farm in the Sylva Rena community of Yalobusha County and was known throughout the area for his produce. Doc also worked at the county cotton gin. He was gifted with animals and beloved by everyone who knew him, especially children.
    Doc was always lending a helping hand to anyone in need. He dearly loved his family and was affectionately known by his grandchildren and friends as “Daddy Doc” Pullen. He was a faithful member and supporter of Sylva Rena Baptist Church, a member of the VFW, and a former member of the American Legion.
    Visitation was held Saturday, August 3, from 5-7 p.m. in Seven Oaks Funeral Home at Water Valley. The funeral service was held at three o’clock in the afternoon in the Henry Chapel of Seven Oaks on Sunday, August 4, with Bro. James West and Dr. Paul Odom officiating. Burial was in the Oak Hill Cemetery at Water Valley.
    Survivors include his wife of 72 years, Vera Mae Wilbourn Pullen of Water Valley; two daughters, Linda Byars and Mary Cubelle Chandler, both of Water Valley; two sons, Paul Pullen (Sarah) of Coffeeville, and Raymond “Tinker” Pullen, Jr. of Walls; one brother, Barney L. Pullen (Betty) of Water Valley; nine grandchildren, Teresa Ohler (Jason), Andy Pullen, Dennis Pullen, Tom Byars (Rena), Leigh Byars Houston (Trent), Audrea Chandler, Robert “Bobby” Chandler (Michelle), Sheri Spencer (Cris), and Sandi Beason (Mark); 13 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
    In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Irene “Bootsie” Edwards; two brothers, Allen V. Pullen and John Chapman Pullen; and his granddaughter, Penny Pullen McKinney.

Charles David Rogers

WATER VALLEY—Charles David Rogers, age 68, died Friday, August 2, 2013, at his home in Water Valley.
   Born October 7, 1944, in Water Valley, Mr. Rogers was a son of the late Charles W. and Frances Foster Rogers. Charles worked as a station attendant for Columbia Gulf in Banner until his retirement in 2008. He was a member of Water Valley First Baptist Church and an active member of the Tennessee Walking Horse Association. Charles loved to barbecue for church events and anyone who wanted barbecue. He built his own grill and founded Iron Side BBQ in 2009. He enjoyed fishing,hunting, working, and staying busy, but his passion was his family and grandchildren.
    Visitation was held Monday, August 5, from 5-7 p.m. in First Baptist Church, Water Valley. The funeral service was held at ten o’clock in the morning, Tuesday, August 6, in First Baptist Church with Dr. Randy Bain officiating. Burial was in Pine Crest Cemetery, south of Water Valley, with Chris Floyd, Mark Floyd, Brent Rogers, Sonny Rogers, Channing Mize, and Ben Allen as pallbearers. Wilbur Herring, Mike Carothers, Stuart Denman, Aubrey Davis, and Dave Rotenberry were honorary pallbearers.
    Survivors include his wife, Martha Rogers, of Water Valley; a daughter, Carole Hill (Tom) of Water Valley; one son, Curtis Rogers (Kay) of Memphis; five sisters, Suellen Abernethy (Johnny) of Houston, Texas, Jeanette Vaughn (Frank) of Abbeville, Nancy Burnette of Jackson, Marilee Winkler (Tom) of St. Petersburg, Florida, and Joyce Mize (Gary) of Southaven; four brothers, Shelby Rogers (Mona) of Great Falls, Montana, Joel Rogers (Nancy), Eddie Rogers (Connie), and Dalton Rogers (Debbie), all of Water Valley; three grandchildren, Madison Hill, Haley Rogers, and Amanda Maraney; and one great-grandchild, Tatum Ryan.
    The family requests that memorials be made to the ALS Association, Development Department, 27001 Agoura Road, Suite 250, Calabasas Hills, CA 91301.

Nell McCalman Shaw

TUPELO—Mrs. Nell McCalman Shaw, 97, died Wednesday, July 31, 2013, at Sanctuary Hospice after a  brief illness.
  Mrs. Shaw was born in Hazen, Arkansas on January 17, 1916, to Mac and Mary McClure McCalman. She grew up in Whitehaven, Tenn. and graduated from Whitehaven High School in 1933, having just completed her 80th class reunion. She was very athletic and at six feet tall, was an all-state basketball player. Her earliest working life included time at Paramount Pictures in Memphis. In 1936, she moved to Coffeeville, where she lived her entire adult life before moving to Tupelo in 1996 to be near her daughter. She married Alfred Shaw, Jr. on April 30, 1939 and remained his sweetheart until his death on February 9, 1969.
    She was the chief clerk for the ASCS Office at the time of her retirement, a career that spanned over 35 years. Nell was a longtime faithful and active member of the Coffeeville United Methodist Church, where she held virtually every office, including Sunday school superintendent, Admini-strative Council, and Pastor Parish Relations Chairperson, Church Secretary, as well as UMW leadership posts. She loved following all sports, was a Manning boys junkie, although she never forgave Peyton for going to Tennessee. She also loved the Dallas Cowboys, New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs, and Duke University basketball team. A member of the Oxford Chapter of the DAR, Nell was an “Original” Steel Magnolia, loved traveling and toured the 48 contiguous states but never made Hawaii because “there wasn’t a bridge going there!” Nell was an avid reader and read the Bible “religiously”. She was a patriotic American and a hard core “Yellow Dog” Democrat. She lived a full, blessed and exciting life!
    The funeral service was held at two o’clock in the afternoon Saturday, August 3, in the Coffeeville United Methodist Church, with private burial following in the Shaw family plot at Elam Cemetery. Rev. Ed Woodall officiated and John Caldwell and Queda Denley delivered the eulogies. Holland Funeral Directors, Tupelo Chapel, was in charge of arrangements.
    Survivors include daughter, Sue Shaw-Smith of Tupelo; granddaughters, Heidi Smith of Starkville and Angela Tenpenny (Michael) of Knoxville, Tenn.; two great-granddaughters, Anna Kate and Lauren Tenpenny of Knoxville; cousins; numerous nieces, nephews and great-great nieces and nephews.
    She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; an infant son, Hubert Isom Shaw in 1948 and Alfred Irvin Shaw, III in 1970; and five siblings. Mary T. McCalman, Bill McCalman, Bess McCalman Whitker, Roy McCalman, and Forrest McCalman.
    Memorials may be made to Sanctuary Hospice House, P.O. Box 2177, Tupelo, MS 38802; Coffeeville United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 185, Coffeeville, MS 38922, or  St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Braxton Wayne Sweet

BYHALIA—Braxton Wayne Sweet, infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Cory Wayne Sweet of Byhalia, with extended family members and friends throughout Fayette County, departed this life Wednesday morning, July 31, 2013, in LeBonheur Children’s Research Hospital at Memphis.
    Services of remembrance for Braxton were conducted at  two o’clock in the afternoon Friday August 2, in the Morris Chapel Baptist Church in Somerville, with Bro. Billy Adair  officiating. Interment followed in the New Salem Cemetery in the Cayce Community of Marshall County. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral  Homes and Cremation Center, Main Chapel of Somerville.
    Braxton was born July 2, 2013, in Germantown, the son of Cory Wayne Sweet and Randa Hope Ingram Sweet. He was 29 days old and blessed the lives of many during his brief period on this earth.
    In addition to his loving parents, Braxton is survived by his maternal grandparents, John and Vicky Ingram of Coffeeville; his paternal grandparents, Terry Bryant (Melissa) of Mt. Pleasant, and Wanda Pruitt of Byhalia. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Dale Pruitt.
    Those honored to serve as casket bearers were J. J. Ingram, Gary Sweet, Scotty Hutchins, and Stephen Bryant.
    The family requests that memorials be directed to LeBonheur Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 41817, Memphis, Tenn. 38174.