Obituaries – Dec. 26, 2013

Edna Caldwell Morgan

WATER VALLEY—Edna Caldwell Morgan, age 66, died Monday, December 23, 2013, at her home in Water Valley.
  Born April 30, 1947, in Coffeeville, Mrs. Morgan was a daughter of the late Rogers and Lola Harris Caldwell. She was a homemaker and a member of Green Goshen CME Church in Yalobusha County. Mrs. Morgan enjoyed fishing, playing Bingo and spending time with her family, grandchildren, and friends.
  Visitation will be held Thursday, December 26, from 12 noon until 1 p.m. in Everdale Church at Water Valley. The funeral service will follow visitation at one o’clock in Everdale, with Rev. Phillip Brackett officiating. Burial will be in the Green Goshen Cemetery in Yalobusha County.
  Survivors include three daughters, Melba Stokes (Larry) and Barbara Mayes, all of Water Valley, and Tisha Morgan of Las Vegas, Nevada; five sons, Jeffrey Mayes (Latonia Hoskins), Rogers Mayes (Felicia), Bobby Mayes, Kenneth Mayes, and Estes Caldwell (Tammy), all of Water Valley; her sister-in-law, Lottie Morgan (Ralph) of Water Valley; 17 grandchildren; two great grandchildren; and her special friend, Melzina Franklin of Water Valley.
  In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Morgan.

Richard Earle Albee

WATER VALLEY – Richard Earle Albee died at his home on July 10, 2013, in Water Valley.
  He was born in Nashua, New Hampshire and was a member of Peace Lutheran Church at Oxford.
  Richard honorably retired from the United States Air Force with 20 years of service. He served in Vietnam and was a member of the Blind Bat, Spectre and Hurricane Hunters associations. Richard was also very active in the Civil Air Patrol, serving as a Wing Squadron Commander and MS Wing Communications Director. He was active in training and serving in Search and Rescue, along with disaster relief.. Richard was a retired rural mail carrier from the Water Valley post office. He was a dedicated U.S. citizen and patriot who loved his family.
  In addition to his wife, Delores Albee of Water Valley, he is survived by two sons and a daughter-in-law, Andrew, Aaron and Sarah, also of Water Valley. Richard had a daughter, Karen, and a son, James, from a previous marriage.
  There will be a Committal Service officiated by his patriot and friend, John Cantele of Peace Luthern Church, on December 27, 2013, at two o’clock in the afternoon in the Floral Hills Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Gulfport. Seven Oaks Funeral Home in Water Valley has charge of arrangements.

Donald Paul “Duck” Byford

COFFEEVILLE–Donald Paul “Duck” Byford, age 59, died Friday, December 20, 2013, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Oxford.  He was born October 21, 1954, in Yalobusha County to Betty Waddell Byford and the late Charles Ray Byford.  Duck enjoyed riding motorcycles and was an active member of Lake Trash Charity Riders Motorcycle Club, participating in many rides for charity.  He was a member of Coffeeville Methodist Church and loved spending time with his family and friends.
    A graveside service was held at 3 pm on Sunday, December 22, at Harbour Church Cemetery in Coffeeville.  Ronnie Sykes, Kenny Lewis, Dennis Hancock, Danny Perry, Robbie Winters and Robert Upchurch were pallbearers.  Lake Trash Charity Riders were honorary pallbearers.  
    Duck is survived by his wife, Tina Griffin Byford of  Coffeeville; a daughter, Candice Nicole (J.D.) Hollis of Coffeeville; his step-daughter, Leslie Nicole Mitchell of Coffeeville; two sons, Donnie (Denise) Byford, Jr. of Lenoir, N.C. and Josh (Ashley) Byford of Hernando; his mother, Betty Waddell of Coffeeville; his sisters, Rita (David) Lancaster of Coffeeville, and Ravonda (Tracy) Richardson of Nesbit; four grandchildren, Taylor Byford, Lexi Byford, Max Byford, James Catherine Byford and a step-granddaughter, Tiffany Byford.

Walter “Wayne” Harris

OAKLAND–Walter “Wayne” Harris, age 63, died Sunday, December 15, 2013, in Tri-Lakes Medical Center at Batesville.
  Born November 5, 1950, in Yalobusha County, Mr. Harris was a son of the late Joe Nelson and Hattie Lewis Harris. Wayne was employed by Belk Ford Company in Oxford, working as a Porter for the past 16 years. He enjoyed carpentry work, collecting antique cars and spending time with his family and friends. Mr. Harris was a member of Pine Grove East Church in Water Valley.
  Wayne is survived by his finance, Ruby Mitchell of Courtland; his daughter, Beverly Harris Smith of St. Louis, Mo.; a son, Deyphun Harris of St. Louis; four sisters, Vera Mae Harris of Water Valley, Suzie Bain of St. Louis, Lillian Wise of Oakland, and Brenda Story of Nashville, Tenn.; seven brothers, Willie Ike (Tina) Harris, Levo (Sandra) Harris, Sherman (Eva) Harris, Jimmy (Cynthia) Harris, and Harvey Lynn Harris, all of Water Valley, Joe (Mary) Harris of Oakland, and Billy (Viola) Harris  of Coffeeville; three grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter; a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Jose Ortiz

MERCED, Cal.–Jose Ortiz of Merced, Cal., died Dec. 2, 2013, after bring struck by a car as he walked near his home.
    Mr. Ortiz was born Sept. 6, 1951, in the town of San Miguel, Zacatecas Mexico to Hilario and Francisca Ortiz.
    He leaves one brother, Refugio Ortiz, of Juarez, Chihuahua; and sisters, Auxilio Tellez of San Jose, Calif., Herminda Rice of Sacramento, Cal., Cal Enriqueta Cooper (Charles) and Virginia Scanlon (Edward), both of Water Valley; and a host of cousins, nieces and nephews.
    Funeral arrangements are incomplete but a memorial service is to be scheduled at a later date.