Obituaries – Oct. 31, 2013

Essie May Carothers

WATER VALLEY—Essie Mae Carothers, 66, retired cook for Action Mapp Headstart, died October 24, 2013, in Baptist Memorial Hospital—North Mississippi at Oxford.
  She was a native of Yalobusha County.
  Visitation was held Tuesday, October 29, from 5:30-7 p.m. in New Providence M.B. Church. The funeral service will be held Wednesday, October 30, at eleven o’clock in the morning in the church with Rev. Sidney Townes officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Hodges-Freeman Funeral Home, Oxford, is in charge of services.
  Survivors include her husband, Kenneth Carothers of Water Valley; one daughter, Felecia Carothers of Memphis; eight sisters, Fannie Brown and Maggie Keller of Oxford, Jessie Thompson of Abbeville, Emma Caldwell of Chicago, Thurma Jackson of South Holland, Ill., Johnella Morgan of Davenport, Iowa, and Janie Morgan and Cathy Rucker of Water Valley; three brothers, Jerome Hervey, Gary Hervey, and Freddie Hervey, all of Water Valley; and one granddaughter, Cryslline Carothers of Memphis.

Willie B. Cooper

WATER VALLEY—Mrs. Willie B. Cooper, age 91, died October 19, 2013, in Yablobusha General Hospital. Mrs. Cooper was affectionately known as “Mother Cooper.”
  Born July 8, 1922, she lived on Daniel Dr., Water Valley at the time of her death. She was a member of Sanders Chapel M.B. Church.
  The funeral service was held at one o’clock in the afternoon in Water Valley City Auditorium October 26, with Pastor Mitchell Steen officiating. Burial was in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Water Valley. Eddie Robinson Funeral Home had charge of arrangements.
  She was preceded in death by her husband, J. C. Cooper; a son, James R. Cooper; one daughter, Dorothy Pearson, her father, Charlie Walker, and her mother, Maudie Steen.
  Survivors include two sons, James (Willie Fay) Cooper, and J. C. Cooper, both of Coffeeville; three daughters, Evelyn (Robert) Turner, Mary Cooper, and Geraldine Booker, all of Water Valley; three sisters, Martha Mae Cruthird of Big Creek, Jesse Mae Crocker of Bruce, and Deolia Johnson of Water Valley; a special friend, Katherine Benson; 33 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; and 52 great-great-grandchildren.

Lee Edwin Hartsfield

WATER VALLEY—Lee Edwin Hartsfield, age 74, died Saturday, October 26, 2013, in Baptist Memorial Hospital—North Mississippi at Oxford.
  Born August 16, 1939, in Water Valley, Mr. Hartsfield was a son of the late Burlin and Jewel Rushing Hartsfield. He was a member of Camp Ground Baptist Church.
  Visitation was held Monday, October 28, from 3-4 p.m. in Seven Oaks Funeral Home at Water Valley. Following visitation, a graveside service was held at four o’clock in the afternoon in Oak Hill Cemetery at Water Valley with Bro. Jerry King officiating. Jonathan Furr, Josh Sullivan, Joey Sullivan, and Tim Furr were pallbearers.
  Survivors include an aunt, Ila Jewel Johnson of Water Valley;  two cousins, Bertha Lou McCullar and Shelby Furr (Hilman), of Water Valley; and a very dear friend, Christin Acup of Water Valley.

Don Lancaster

HERNANDO–Don Lancaster died October 24, 2013, at St. Francis Hospital due to complications from surgery.
    He was born December 11, 1935, to Sadie Cooper Lancaster and Johnson Lancaster in Water Valley.
    A gathering of friends and family was held on Sunday, October 27 from 3-5 p.m. at Hernando Funeral Home, who had charge of arrangements.
    As the owner of Don Lancaster Company, he was an extremely talented photographer and had a successful post card business for many years. During this time, he served as Mid South Fair photographer for over 10 years, where he met and photographed many celebrities including Roy Clark, Sonny and Cher and Bob Hope, just to name a few.     
    Don also worked as a USCG licensed river Captain for almost 35 years. He was a member of the first Memphis Police Reserve bureau and retired from the MPD this year, after 44 years of service. While with the Memphis Police Reserve, he has held several positions, among those were the Mounted Patrol and Motorcycle Squad. Of all the different positions he held with the MPD, he enjoyed the Motorcycle Squad most of all. Here he escorted and met Presidents and Vice Presidents of the United States. He, also, was a member of the original 911 board. Don never met a stranger and always had a story to tell. He leaves behind a host of friends that will never forget him. He was loved by so many that knew him and will be terribly missed.
    Survivors include his  wife, Gay S. Lancaster of Hernando; two sons, Mark Lancaster of West King’s Down, Kent England and Jon Lancaster (Cindy) of Mt. Dora, Fla, and his daughter, Stacy Lancaster Starks (Michael) of Germantown, Tenn. He also leaves a stepdaughter, Leah Bruce-Krock (Bret) of Memphis, Tenn. and stepson, Jordan Bruce of Boynton Beach, Fla. He leaves seven grandchildren, Emily Nelson of San Jose, Cal., Ian and Olivia Starks of Germantown, Lauren White of Pinson, Ala., Taylor Lancaster of Orlando, Fla. and Trevor and Rebecca Ammons of Mt. Dora, Fla., as well as two great-grandchildren, with two more on the way.
    He also leaves his loving rescue pomeranians, Scooter and Tinker. He was preceded in death by his parents, and a son, Rick Lancaster.
  His request is that his body be cremated and his ashes be spread over his favorite spot on the Mississippi River. The family requests no flowers, but to make a donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, their favorite charity or a local animal rescue shelter.

J.C. Winters

WATER VALLEY–J. C. Winters, age 86, of Water Valley died Sunday, October 27, 2013, at his home in Water Valley.
  Born June 18, 1927, in Big Creek, Mr. Winters was a son of the late Homer and Della Vanlandingham Winters. During the 1950s, J. C. moved to Water Valley and worked in Yalobusha Beat 3 as a heavy equipment operator. In addition, he worked part time as a heavy equipment operator during the development of George Cossar State Park. He served as a Yalobusha County Deputy Sheriff from 1964 until 1968, then retired as transportation director for the Water Valley School System after 33 years of service.
    He was a deacon and member of Oak Ridge Presbyterian Church, a member of Pisgah Hunting Club, and a former member of Tri-Lakes Saddle Club. J. C. enjoyed bird hunting, deer hunting, raising Yalobusha County watermelons and spending time with family and friends.
  Visitation was  held Tuesday, October 29, from 1-2 p.m. in Seven Oaks Funeral Home at Water Valley. The funeral service was held immediately following visitation at two  o’clock in the afternoon in the Henry Chapel of the funeral  home, with Bro. Fred Eakes officiating. Burial was in Oak Hill Cemetery with John Pettit, Charles Winters, Josh Winters, Jackie Winters, Tony Winters, and Billy Wayne Berry as pallbearers. Walt Hardy, Sr., Frank B. Brooks, Travis Brooks, Craig King, Randy Walker, Steve Holloway, Mike Williamson, Randy Terry, Paul Henry McCullar, Bailey Walker, Bill Boydston, and Kenny Taylor were honorary pallbearers.
  Survivors include a daughter, Linda Maynor of Water Valley; two sisters, Oline Willis of Killen, Ala. and Nell Harmon Fowler (Paul) of Brandon; his granddaughter, Cathey Maynor (Brandon) Wrenn of Grenada; and one great-granddaughter.
  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Billie Winters.
     Memorials may be made to Oak Ridge Presbyterian Church.