Obituaries 03/28/19
Esteen Caldwell
WATER VALLEY—Esteen Caldwell, age 85, of Water Valley died Monday, March 18, 2019, at Baptist Memorial Hospital—North Mississippi in Oxford.
Born April 18, 1933, in Water Valley, she was a daughter of the late Leland and Alma (Duke) Hall. She enjoyed fishing, shopping, sewing, and watching Days of Our Lives. Esteen loved her family, especially her grandchildren who affectionately called her “Big Ma.” She was a life-long member of Pine Grove East Church, where she served as an usher and on the “Mother” Board. Esteen was also a member of the Order of Eastern Star.
Visitation was held Friday, March 22, from 5-7 p.m. in Seven Oaks Funeral Home at Water Valley. The funeral service was. Saturday, March 23, in Pine Grove East Church with Pastor Amos Sims officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery with Nicholas Wright, Travis White, Mirocus Phillips, Cass Phillips, Hugh Caldwell, Jr., Johnny B. Caldwell, and Lamorian Jones as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were Isaac Phillips, Da’Kendrick Gooch, Nicholas Wright, Jr., Mattavious Crump, Terry Phillips, and Christopher Caldwell.
Survivors include two sons, Johnny Caldwell (Lucy B.) and Hugh Caldwell, Jr.; four daughters, Barbara Ann White (Charles), Shirley Faye Wright (Charles), and Bennia Faye Caldwell Phillips (Wayne), all of Water Valley, and Alma Lee Jones (Michael) of Oxford; and one sister, Clara Woodard of Memphis.
Along with her parents, Esteen was preceded in death by her husband, Gordon Caldwell; one daughter, Gertrude Caldwell; three brothers, Johnny Hall. L.V. Hall and L.D. Hall; a twin sister, Eardine Hall Woodard; and two great-grandchildren.
Rachel Freelon Kee
COFFEEVILLE—The funeral service for Rachel Freelon Kee was held Sunday, March 17, 2019, at 2 p.m. in the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witness in Grenada. Burial was in Pleasant Grove Cemetery (Bryant) near Coffeeville.
Rachel, age 93, died in her home at Coffeeville on March 10, 2019.
Born October 3, 1925, at Bryant, she was a daughter of the late Sam and Nora Williams Freelon. She married Ulysses Kee, Sr. in 1947 and he preceded her in death July 2001. Rachel made her dedication to Jehovah God and was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witness on March 23, 1977.
Survivors include her daughters, Leona Kee Fields of Lexington, Ella V. Kee Bobo and Hilda Ann Kee of Coffeeville; a step-daughter, Kathleen Smith (Cardel) Porter of Bellwood, Ill.; sons, Ulysses Kee, Jr. (Mable) of Water Valley, Raymond Kee and Douglas Kee, both of Coffeeville; one sister, Bessie F. Jackson of Pasadena, Calif.; a granddaughter, Vera Daniels; nine grandsons, Bruce Scott, Jermine Kee, Calvin Kee (Greta), Derdrick Kee, Terrell Kee (Jalesha), Lamond Kee, Kendrick Sally, Terrell Porter, Marc Porter; 19 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grands; four sisters-in-law; two brothers-in-law; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends.
Three grandchildren, Glen and Glenda Kee, and Rodney Kee preceded her in death.
Dan Ross Murchison
OXFORD—Dan Ross Murchison, 93, died Saturday, March 23, 2019, in the Veteran’s Home at Oxford.
The funeral service will be held on Wednesday, March 27, at 2 p.m. in the chapel of Waller Funeral Home with Rev. Everett Childers officiating. Burial will follow in Delay Cemetery. Visitation will be held prior to the service in the funeral home from noon until service time.
Born in Lafayette County, Mr. Murchison is a son of the late Dan P. and Mallie Beard Murchison. Seaman First Class Murchison served in the United States Navy during Wold War II and received the Purple Heart. He was recognized for raising hogs and cattle, farming soybeans and cotton, and was the retired owner of Lafayette Construction Company. Dan attended Delay Baptist Church, New Prospect Baptist Church and Cornerstone Church. He was also a Mason.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Opal Ruth McCullough Murchison; a brother, Clyde Murchison; a sister, Maggie Johnson; and a son-in-law, Bobby Bankston.
Survivors include three daughters, Linda Ruth Murchison Scott (Jamie) of Water Valley, Tina Irene Murchison Bankston, and Anna Louise Murchison-Koshenina (Paul) of Water Valley; a son, Mark R. Murchison (Dodie) of Sugar Land, Texas; one sister, Mary M. Gooch of New Albany; grandchildren, Taylor Murchison of Dripping Springs, Texas, Erica and Carrera of Las Cruces, New Mexico, Crystal Bolen and Jessie of New Albany, Joshua Bankston and Shanna of Oxford, Greta Rose Kashenina of Oxford and Jackson Ross Kosshenina, of Oxford; and five great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Delay Cemetery Fund,1171 Hwy. 334, Oxford, MS 38655. In honor of Mr. Murchison’s service to his country, the flag of the United States Navy will be flown at Waller Funeral Home.
Eugene Sims
COFFEEVILLE—Eugene “Rooster” Sims, 76, of Coffeeville passed away Saturday, March 16, 2019, at his residence.
Born March 13, 1943, in Kountze, Texas, Mr. Sims was a son of the late Thomas and Nora Grace Garcee Sims. He was a retired crane operator.
Family and friends gathered from 4 p.m. until service time Tuesday, March 19, in McKibben and Guinn Funeral Service at Grenada. The funeral was held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday in the funeral home.
Survivors include his wife, Clara Malone Sims; five daughters, Elizabeth Collier (Len) of Seabrook, Texas, Tracy Baxter of Wadsworth, Ohio, Jackie Summers of Coffeeville, Cherre Sims (Derek Sims) of Oakland, and Kelli Calder (Jerry Martin) of Grenada; three sons, Walter Felscher of Coffeeville, Mike Hennessee (Annie) of Dayton, Texas, and Jerre Wayne Strother of Wadsworth, Ohio; 23 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, James Hollis Sims; nine brothers; one sister; and a son-in-law, Bobby Summers.
Edgar Stark
AUGUSTA, GA—Rev. Edgar “Ed” Stark, 84 of Augusta, Ga. passed away March 1, 2019.
He was a loving husband of 57 years to Nancy Poole Stark. Born May 7, 1934, in Yalobusha County, he was a son of the late Marvin E. and Lola Mae Adams Stark. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army.
As a young man he gave his heart to Jesus and was baptized at O’Tuckolofa Baptist Church near Water Valley. Rev. Stark was a graduate of Clark Baptist College in Newton and received a Doctor of Divinity degree at Luther Rice Seminary in Jacksonville, Fla. He was a long-time minister who severed as a deacon or associate pastor at Gracewood Baptist, Dallas Heights Baptist, Morningside Baptist and Glenn Hills Baptist, all of the Augusta area. He was most recently a member of Crestview Baptist Church of Augusta. He spent his life doing the Lord’s work.
A memorial service was held March 5 in the chapel of Thomas Poteet & Son of Martinez, Ga., with Rev. Kevin Jones officiating.
Survivors include his wife, Nancy Poole Stark; a daughter, Pamela Milton (Rick); grandchildren, Shelby Milton and Alex Milton of Appling, Ga.; a sister, Patsy Stark Beene of Olive Branch; brothers, Jimmy Dale Stark (Joan) of Olive Branch, and Billy Stark (Venea) of Water Valley.
In addition to his parents, Rev. Stark was preceded in death by three brothers, Roy “Gene” Stark, Troy D. Stark, Sr. and James W. Stark; and an infant sister, Joyce Stark.
Memorials may be made to Crestview Baptist Church, 2632 Mike Padgett Highway, Augusta, Ga. 30906, or to the donor’s choice.
Johnny Lynn Terrell
WATER VALLEY—Johnny Lynn Terrell, age 68, of Water Valley died Friday, March 22, 2019, in his home.
Born November 7, 1951, in Oxford, Mr. Terrell is a son of the late Charles and Lillie Catherine Forsyth Terrell. He worked as a carpenter and painted. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, riding motorcycles, but his passion was creating things with his hands. He was a member of Water Valley Church of Christ.
Visitation will be held Friday, March 29, in Seven Oaks Funeral Home from noon until 1 p.m. The funnel service will follow at one o’clock in the Henry Chapel of the funeral home with Bro. David Floyd officiating. Burial will be in the Hopewell Cemetery.
Lynn is survived by two nephews, Joshua Terrell of Water Valley and Jason Terrell of Memphis; one sister-in-law, Tuere Imhotep Terrell of Memphis; a niece, Mekesha Greer of Smyrna, Tenn.; one great-nephew, Ajene Greer, and one great-niece, Ayenna Piillow, both of Smyrna, Tenn.
Along with his parents, Lynn was preceded in death by his brothers, Paul Ray Terrell and Richard Terrell.