Obituaries – Sep. 12, 2013
Edwina Denley
ROCHESTER, MINNESOTA—Mrs. Edwina “Billie” Denley, 87, formerly of Oxford, died Tuesday, September 3, 2013, in Seasons Hospice House, Rochester, Minnesota.
The funeral service was held Monday, September 9, at 1 p.m. in the Chapel of Waller Funeral Home in Oxford with Bro. Jimmy Carr officiating. Burial followed in Eastover Memorial Cemetery. Waller Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Born in Lafayette County, Mrs. Denley was a daughter of the late Ed and Julia Bishop. She spent her life serving the needs of others. Her career as a dietitian was spent making sure the nutritional needs of the elderly at Graceland Nursing Home and mentally challenged youth at the North Mississippi Regional Center were met. She was a devoted mother and beloved grandmother to five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her son, Donald R. Watts; and her daughter, Patricia Clark; her brothers Oscar, Cecil, and Bud Bishop; and her sisters, Eula Mae Mooneyham and Clytee Jones.
Survivors include a daughter, Donna Hiland (Doug) of Rochester; four granddaughters, Allison Wilkes of Raleigh, North Carolina, Angela Pilcher (William) of Oxford, Heather Holiday Kropp (Bill) of Stewartville, Minnesota, and Kate Hiland Griffin (Wade) of Oxford; one grandson, Robert Clark (Kenya) of Alcoa, Tenn.; a brother, James V. Bishop of Pine Flat; and seven great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions in Mrs. Denley’s memory may be made to Seasons Hospice, 1696 Greenview Drive SW, Rochester, MN 55902.
Virginia Claudene Sartain Lenti
WATER VALLEY—Virginia Claudene Sartain Lenti, age 68, of Water Valley, died Friday, September 6, 2013, in Baptist Memorial Hospital—North Mississippi at Oxford.
Born in Yalobusha County, she was a daughter of the late Eugene Claude and Virginia Dale Hollowell Sartain. Claudene had a lifelong dream to become a nurse. Overcoming many health issues, she became a LPN, working at Yalobusha General Hospital and Oxford Hospital before finally retiring in 2001 from the Med in Memphis. She is remembered as kind and loving, with a sweet smile for everyone. She enjoyed traveling and was a huge fan of Paula Deen. She loved her niece and nephews, and was a member of Woodland Hills Baptist Church.
Visitation was held at Woodland Hills Baptist Church Tuesday, September 10, from 1:30 until service time. The service began at 3 p.m. in the church with Rev. Charles Keel and Dr. Lynn Jones officiating. Burial followed in Camp Ground Cemetery with Jeremy Sartain, Charles Terry, Travis York, William “Cooter” Harmon, Jimmy Pratt, and Lee Hollowell as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were Steven Sartain and Johnny Dunn.
Claudene is survived by three brothers, James Sartain (Kimberly) of Germantown, Tenn., Carey Sartain (Cathy) of Water Valley, and Tommy Sartain (Ann) of Cordova, Tenn.; five nephews, Steven Sartain, Jeremy Sartain, Chris Sartain, Austin Terry, and James Joseph Sartain; one niece, Erin Sartain Terry; and two great-nephews.
Starla Joanna McGee-Egerson
WATER VALLEY—Starla Joanna “Hannah” McGee-Egerson, 29, a pet groomer at Pet Smart, died Sunday, September 1, 2013, at her residence in Water Valley.
The funeral service was held at one o’clock in the afternoon in South Hopewell M.B. Church, with Rev. Terry Wortham officiating. Burial was in Browning Cemetery in Oxford. Hodges-Freeman Funeral Home in Oxford had charge of arrangements.
Survivors include her mother, Joanne McGee of Water Valley; one daughter, Aingeal Egerson of Taylor; three sons, TaMarcus and Dezmand Daniels, both of Oxford, and Cauden Schi Egerson of Memphis; three brothers, Roderick McGee of Talladega, Ala., Quilton McGee of Oxford, and Justin Chandler of Water Valley.
John Beldon Tillman
TILLATOBA—On September 7, 2013, heaven gained an angel and earth lost a saint as John Beldon Tillman, in the arms of the family who adored him, passed from death to eternal life at the age of 85.
His life began November 3, 1927, in Moscow, Tenn. At the age of one month the family moved to Tillatoba. John was one of seven children born to Keith Black Tillman and Viva Harris Tillman, both of whom preceded him and have waited for him in heaven. Brothers, Harvey Keith and Version Harris, and sisters, Virginia, Laura, and Ina Claire, have also looked forward to his arrival in heaven.
John’s only living brother is Phillip, who lives in Burlington, North Carolina. Phillip is the fourth sibling to serve his country in the armed services, retiring as Chaplain from the Air Force.
John was the husband of Margaret Ann Standridge. The two were united in holy matrimony December 7, 1950. Their lives were blessed with four loving children: John Gilbert, Jeff Harris, Lee Ann, and Corrine. John loved and enjoyed his seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
A patriot, he served for a brief time during World War II and was discharged after brothers, Harvey and Version (Buddy) were killed. A staunch citizen, he served his country again from 1950-52 in Korea during the Korean Conflict.
He faithfully served his church after surrendering his life to Christ on August 30, 1936. He was an ordained deacon and and remained devoted to that calling until his departure.
John lived his life farming and raising cattle and was passionate about his work. His life revolved around his children and grandchildren. His enjoyment in life was spending time with his family. He enjoyed sports of all kinds but especially so when his children and grandchildren were involved.
The celebration of his life was held at two o’clock in the afternoon Tuesday, September 10, 2013, in Tillatoba Baptist Church. Interment followed in Union Cemetery.
John and his family had regularly decorated Union Cemetery for each patriotic holiday and request that all donations be given to the Union Cemetery Fund in memory of John Beldon Tillman.