Obituaries – Dec. 12, 2013
Esther Lee Patton Coleman
OXFORD—Esther Lee Patton Coleman, 99, died Sunday, December 8, 2013, in Yalobusha County Nursing Home at Water Valley. Born in Lafayette Springs, Mrs. Coleman had lived her entire life in the Oxford area. She was a member of New Prospect Baptist Church. Having been a homemaker primarily, she had also worked in the cafeteria at Lafayette High School. In later years, Mrs. Coleman was a foster grandparent at NMRC.
Visitation was held Tuesday, December 10, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in Coleman Funeral Home. The funeral service followed in the Coleman Funeral Home Chapel at one o’clock, with Bro. Mike Vanderlip officiating. Interment was in Oxford Memorial Cemetery.
Survivors include her daughter, Mary Annie Brown-Foshee of Paris; three grandchildren, Billy Ray Brown, Shane Brown, and LeAnne Brown Corban, all of Oxford; and seven great-grandchildren.
Her husband, James Preston Coleman; her parents, Orester and Mary Esther Patton; her twin sister, Mary Irene Crowson; and one grandchild, Delinah Ann Brown, all preceded Mrs. Coleman in death.
Memorials may be made to New Prospect Baptist Church Youth Fund, 828 Hwy. 334, Oxford, MS 38655.
Vergia Jane Crowder
CHICAGO—Vergia Jane Crowder died November 25, 2013.
She was born October 12, 1927, in Water Valley, and was a daughter of the late Owens and Dresser Clyde Toliver Hoskins. Vergia was the fourth of nine children. She accepted Christ at an early age in Spring Hill North M.B. Church at Water Valley. In December of 1946, Vergia married Lawyer Crowder and to this union, nine children were born. In December of 1957 the family moved to Chicago and she joined St. James Missionary Baptist Church. In 1979 Vergia and Lawyer returned to Water Valley and reunited with the Spring Hill Church. Shortly after her husband’s passing, Vergia returned to Chicago in February of 1990 to be near her children. She joined First Baptist Church in 1990, and served faithfully on the Mother Board. She was very funny and soft spoken, yet a strong woman.
The funeral service was held at 11 a.m., Saturday, November 20, in First Baptist Congregational Church, Chicago, with Rev. George W. Daniels officiating. Wallace Broadview Funeral Home of Broadview, Ill., had charge of arrangements. Burial was in Spring Hill Cemetery at Water Valley, Tuesday, December 3, with Keith Lee, Anthony Lee, Brandon Mays, Keith Edward Smith, James Crowder, Jr., Kenneth Crowder, Jr., Demetrius Crowder, and Lawyer Crowder, III as pallbearers.
Survivors include five sons, Chester, James, Lawyer, Jr., Kenneth (Sharon), and Alexander; three daughters, Eva (Hardie) of Memphis, Betty and Mildred of Chicago; a brother, Roland Hoskin (Lavonia) of Water Valley; a sister, Cozy Smith (Jessie) of Dayton, Ohio; 18 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, six siblings, and one child.
Anita Kay Kehoe
WATER VALLEY—Anita Kay Kehoe, age 57, died Friday, December 6, 2013, in Baptist Memorial Hospital—North Mississippi at Oxford.
Born August 11, 1956, in Memphis, she was a daughter of Don and Willie Mae Thomas Ross. Anita was employed at BorgWarner for 17 years, was an assistant teacher for Mrs. Dahlia McLeod at Davidson Elementary School, and was presently employed with GE Aviation. She loved spending time with her family, friends, grandchildren, and her special friend, “Roxie.”
Visitation was held from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, December 10, in Seven Oaks Funeral Home at Water Valley. The funeral service will be held at two o’clock in the afternoon Wednesday, December 11, in the Henry Chapel of the funeral home, with Bro. David Lewis and Bro. David Freeman officiating. Burial will be in Pine Crest Cemetery in Yalobusha County.
Survivors include her husband of 35 years, David Kehoe of Water Valley; a son, Matt Kehoe (Amber) of Water Valley; two daughters, Brandi Morris (Mitch) of Houston, Texas and Ashley Kehoe Fonte (Michael) of Taylor; two sisters Donna Paisley and Fay Ross, both of Coldwater; her brother, Leon Ross (Debbie) of Hernando; her mother, Willie Mae Thomas Ross of Coldwater; four grandchildren, Maddie Stonestreet, Aubree Kehoe, Anna Beth Kehoe, and Tyce Fonte.
She was preceded in death by her father, Don Ross; a sister, Ann Ross Cox; and a brother, Ernie Ross.
Jean Carol Wilson Kroll
WATER VALLEY—Jean Carol Wilson Kroll, age 70, died Sunday, December 8, 2013, at her home in Water Valley.
Born in Memphis, August 31, 1943, she was a daughter of the late James Sidney and Rachael Miller Wilson. Jean was a secretary for Girl Scouts of America at the time she met and married her husband, Bob.
Jean also worked as a proof reader for construction of the first nuclear aircraft carrier, Enterprise. Later, she worked alongside her husband in his outreach and visitation at First Baptist Church, where she and Bob became members. Her children remember fondly that she would awaken them each morning singing, “This is the day that the Lord has made,” even into their young adult lives. She faithfully lived out her Christian duties as a helpmate to husband Bob during their 50 years of marriage.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, December 11, from 5-7:30 p.m. in Seven Oaks Funeral Home at Water Valley. The funeral service will be held at eleven o’clock in the morning Thursday, December 12, in the Henry Chapel of the funeral home, with Dr. Randy Bain officiating. Interment will be in Rose Hill Cemetery in Loveland, Ohio, with Tufts Schildmeyer Funeral Home in charge of burial.
In addition to her husband Bob of Water Valley, she is survived by one son, Robert “Rob” Kroll, Jr., and his wife, Tal, of Springfield, Missouri; two daughters, Deborah Clutter, and her husband, Keith, of Loveland, Ohio, and Amy Walker of Horn Lake; two brothers, James Wilson, Jr. and David Wilson and his wife, Connie, all of Water Valley; and four grandchildren.
Hazel Vaughn Tutor Taylor
MEMPHIS—Hazel Vaughn Tutor Taylor, age 87, died Sunday, December 8, 2013, in Methodist University Hospital at Memphis.
Born January 16, 1926, in Water Valley, Mrs. Taylor was a daughter of the late Marvin and Era Vaughn Tutor. She retired from Ivers & Ponds Piano company after 26 years of service making piano keys. Hazel loved watching basketball and basketball games and was an avid Memphis Tiger fan. She enjoyed entertaining, eating out, and spending time with her children and grandchildren. She was an active member of Parkway Village Christian Church and loved her church family.
Visitation was held Tuesday, December 10, from 10 a.m. until noon in Seven Oaks Funeral Home at Water Valley. The funeral service followed visitation in Henry Chapel of the funeral home with Rev. Tim Viner officiating. Burial was in Oak Hill Cemetery at Water Valley with James King, Bobby Sherman, Dustin King, Darren Sherman, Michael Rutherford and Justin Howell as pallbearers.
Survivors include three daughters, Margie Ann Parker and Linda Fay Howell, both of Southaven, and Patricia Mitchell of Memphis; three sisters, Margie Weaver of Livingston, Texas, Georgia Roberts (Billy Ray) of Searcy, Ark., and Betty Moore (Benny Ray) of Columbus; two brothers, J. W. Tutor of Water Valley and Leslie Tutor of Southaven; eight grandchildren, Michelle Farrow, Becky Sherman, Denise Rutherford, Angie King, Rhonda Rutherford, Jennifer Jordan, Nicole Ryan, and Justin Howell; 21 great-grandchildren; and nine great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Fay Taylor; one sister, Dorothy Dibble; and three brothers, Frank Tutor, Hermon Tutor and Harvey Tutor.