Obituaries – Sept. 4, 2014

Marjorie Eileen Milstead Tyler Baddley

MEMPHIS—Mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, friend, Marjorie Eileen Milstead Tyler Baddley was all those things and more.
    Mrs. Baddley died in Memphis August 30, 2014.
    The funeral service was held Tuesday, September 2, at 3 p.m. in Seven Oaks Funeral Home in Water Valley.
    Margie lived in Water Valley most of her life. Born April 20, 1924, she was a daughter of the late Norman Linder and Bertha Eudora Cox Milstead. She graduated from Water Valley High School in 1941 and married James Ray Tyler on April 18, 1942. Soon, Ray went to serve in the U.S.Army Railway Battalion in Europe and Margie worked at Camp McCain in Grenada. The next year, she and three friends and co-workers moved to Washington, D.C., to work for the Naval Office. She returned to Water Valley when World War II ended. Margie and Ray had four daughters, Marjorie Kay Tyler Lowe of Fort Myers, Fla., Amy Tyler Braswell and Vicki Tyler of Cordova, Tenn., and JoAnn Tyler Sanderson of Stafford, Va. Ray died suddenly on February 23, 1960,  in Water Valley, and Margie raised her girls and went to work for Travellers Insurance after obtaining her secretarial certification.
    On April 4, 1964, Margie married Egbert Leland “Pete” Baddley and moved to his farm home on Highway 315, east of Water Valley. Pete had courted Margie and her girls—he gave the girls chocolates and flowers, and Margie a new washer and dryer! They lived on the farm where Margie grew and preserved delicious vegetables, sewed, read and raised her daughters. They were a  few days short of celebrating 29 years together when Pete died April 1, 1993.
    Survivors include four daughters, Kay, Amy, Vicki, and JoAnn; six granddaughters, Melissa Lowe Merrifield and Paige Lowe of Ft. Myers, Fla., Virginia Sanderson of Annapolis, Md., Miranda Leigh Sanderson-Callard of Manassas, Va., Courtney Braswell Fern of Terre Haute, Ind., and Alexandra Tyler of Fort Worth, Texas; four great-grandchildren; and three siblings, Aubrey Milstead and Fay Ross, both of Water Valley, and Ray “Sonny” Milstead of Picayune.
    In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Charles Milstead and a sister, Norma Caherine Kidd.
     In lieu of flowers, the family request that memorials be sent to the Blackmur Memorial Library, 608 Blackmur Dr., Water Valley, MS 38965, or the Fisher Center  for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation, 199 Water St., 23rd Floor, New York, NY 10038.

Gertrude Elizabeth Johnson Byars

PARIS—Gertrude Elizabeth Johnson Byars, age 99, died Saturday, August 30, 2014, at her home in Paris.
    Born February 11, 1915, in Water Valley, Mrs. Byars was a daughter of the late  Lawrence and Gertie Mae Summers Johnson. She was of the Baptist faith and was fondly known as “Sister.” She enjoyed quilting, sewing, making dolls and stuffed animals, and working puzzles. From age 93 to 95 she worked along side her daughter, Lottie at Harmon’s Restaurant. Elizabeth was a devoted grandmother and loved taking care of her grandchildren (each one thought they were Elizabeth’s “favorite”).
    Visitation was held Monday, September 1, from 1-3 p.m. in Seven Oaks Funeral Home at Water Valley. The funeral service followed visitation at three o’clock in the Henry Chapel of the funeral home, with Bro. R.W. Moffett officiating. Burial was in the Pine Flat Cemetery in Lafayette County, with Gary Morris, Robert Coleman, Danny Thompson, Marty Harmon, Rob Reinstetle, and David Thompson as pallbearers.
    Survivors include her daughter, Lottie Harmon of Banner; a son, Harvey “Sonny”  Byars (Janis) of Lillian, Ala.; one sister, Margie Darby of Batesville; a brother, Billy Johnson (Jeanette) of Huntsville, Ala.; 19 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; 32 great-great-grandchildren; and six great-great-great grandchildren.
    In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Harvey Byars; a daughter, Nancy Thompson; a son, J. W. Byars; and six grandchildren, Cynthia Harmon, Diana Lynn Harmon, Regina Harmon Fielder, Jimmy Byars, Gloria Jean Byars, and Darby Thompson Shelton.

Judy Cornelia Carlini Mills

BATESVILLE—Mrs. Judy Cornelia Carlini Mills, 62, died Tuesday, August 26, 2014, at her home in Batesville.
    The funeral service was held Friday, August 29, at ten o’clock in the morning in the chapel of Waller Funeral Home, Oxford, with Rev. James West, officiating. Burial followed in Oak Hill Cemetery at Water Valley.
    Born in Water Valley, Mrs. Mills was a daughter of the late Domenick and Laura Cornelia Ware Carlini. Mrs. Mills was a former Licensed Practical Nurse for Baptist Memorial Hospital—North Mississippi at Oxford, and Yalobusha General Hospital.
    Mrs. Mills enjoyed performing with the Mississippi Moonshine Cloggers for over 20 years. She was a member of Pilgrim’s Rest Baptist Church in Panola County.
    Survivors include her husband, John Michael “Mike” Mills of Batesville; two sisters, Geneva “Jean” Sprouse White of Water Valley, and Joan Rowsey of Batesville; and two brothers, Domenick “Nick” Carlini of Nesbit and Jimmy Carlini of Courtland.
    Memorials in Mrs. Mills’ memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1905.