Obituaries 07/02/20
Larry Kilgore
CROWDER—Rev. Larry Kilgore, pastor of Crowder Baptist Church, age 72, passed away early Saturday morning, June 20, 2020, in Sanctuary Hospice House at Tupelo.
Due to the current health concerns surrounding the community, the funeral services were attended only by Pastor Larry’s family. The services were held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 23, in Crowder Baptist church. A Facebook live feed was available on Wells Funeral Home Facebook page. Interment was held Thursday morning, June 25, in Bear Creek Cemetery at Euless, Texas.
Born November 29, 1947, in Grenada, Larry was a son of Bessie Harrison Kilgore and the late Griffin Kilgore. He grew up in Yalobusha County and graduated from Coffeeville High School. He received his undergraduate degree at Mississippi College and his master’s degree from Liberty University and Seminary. Rev. Kilgore was licensed to the gospel ministry in 1966 and was ordained a minister in 1967.
Bro, Larry was pastor of Crowder Baptist Church for 17 years. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and shared his bounty with the community. He was also a woodworker and made beautiful tables and deer stands for his friends and family. Bro. Larry was a talented singer, and enjoyed many years of singing in church and with different gospel groups throughout Mississippi. He was a Christian example to many and will be missed dearly by all who knew him.
The family he leaves behind includes his wife, Betty Van Winkle Kilgore of Crowder; two sons, Jason Kilgore (Phyllis) of Biloxi, and Eric Kilgore of Forth Worth, Texas; one daughter, Anna Rose Van Winkle of Memphis; his mother, Bessie Harrison Kilgore of Coffeeville; a sister, Jan Beckman (Frank) of Fort Worth; two brothers, David Kilgore (Debbie) of Duck Hill, and Brad Kilgore (Dacia) of Grenada; and one granddaughter, Harmonee Holmes of Biloxi.
Along with his father, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Dianne Fedric Kilgore.
Memorials may be made to the Crowder Baptist Church Benevolence Fund.
Sara Wade Bray Liles
COFFEEVILLE—Sara Wade Bray Liles, 82, died peacefully on June 28, 2020, in North Mississippi Medical Center at Tupelo.
Sara was the first child born to Wade and Beulah Bray in Oxford on July 11, 1937. She joined the U.S. Army after high school graduation, where she met and married Otto Langkawel, III and they had four children. After living several places across the U.S., including California, Michigan, and Virginia, Sara moved back to Mississippi where she raised her four children. She worked at Kellwood in Coffeeville before working for Holley Carburetor in Water Valley for many years. It was there that she met Don Johnson, whom she was married to for 20 years. After Sara and Don retired from Holley, they traveled and vacationed across the U.S. until his death in 2000.
Sara married Ben Liles on Valentine’s Day in 2003. She was not a fan of flying so she and Ben took the train several times to visit her daughter, Patty ,in Idaho and Montana. When Sara’s health started to decline in the last year, Ben took care of her and was by her side every day.
Sara was a very active member of First Baptist Church in Coffeeville. She loved to read and was a frequent visitor at Coffeeville Public Library, often finishing several books a week. She also registered at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial in Washington, D. C. In retirement, Sara and Louise Byford walked together almost every morning.
Survivors include her husband, Ben Liles; her four children, Patty Lincoln, of Denver, Colo.; Mary Hensley of Bruce; Larry Langkawel (Nan) of Coffeeville; 13 grandchildren, LeAnn (Chris), Megan (Andy), Nicole (Justin), Brandy (Michael), Mallory, Cody (Hannah), Chad (Mary), Hayden (Lisa), Joseph, Autumn, Joel (Elanor), Dylan, and Matt; 13 great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews, cousins, and one uncle, Bobby Koonce.
Visitation is planned for Thursday, July 2, from 5-7 p.m. at Seven Oaks Funeral Home in Water Valley. The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, July 3, in Coffeeville First Baptist Church. Interment will follow in Pinecrest Gardens, south of Water Valley.
Ernestine Rodgers
WATER VALLEY—Mrs. Ernestine Rodgers departed this life on Sunday, June 21, 2020 in her home at Water Valley.
Born May 30, 1933, in Canton, Mrs. Rodgers was a daughter of the late Henry Johnson and Marie Hodges. She was a member of Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church in East St. Louis. Ill. She worked many years as an EKG Lab Supervisor at St. Mary’s Hospital in East St. Louis. She was a very loving person with a very sweet spirit.
To cherish her memory she leaves one daughter, Lorrna Barry of Water Valley; three sons, David Rodgers of St. Louis, Mo., Kevin Johnson of Chicago, and Dennis Rodgers of O’Fallon, Ill.; six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; and a host of family and friends.
A memorial service will be held July 5, at noon, at the gravesite in Mt. Carmel Cemetery, 10101 West Main, Belleville, Ill. Serenity-Daniels Funeral Home of Water Valley is in charge of arrangements.
Patsy Redwine Wilbourn
WATER VALLEY—Patsy Redwine Wilbourn, 77, died Thursday, June 25, 2020, in Baptist Memorial Hospital—North Mississippi at Oxford.
Waller Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Born in Water Valley, Patsy was a daughter of the late James “Dan” Leland Redwine and Bessie Jenkins Redwine. She was a widow of Sammy Lee Wilbourn, who died just two months prior. Her family recalls that she was unselfish with fulfilling her own needs and always put her children and the needs of others before herself. She often went out of her way to bring joy to others. She could rarely shop for herself without getting distracted by buying things for other people. Mrs. Wilbourn truly lived an example of sacrificial love. Her family finds comfort in today’s weather because she especially loved rainy days where she could stay cozied up inside and enjoy rain naps.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a sister, Dorothy Faye Redwine Barnes, and a brother, James Rayford Redwine.
Survivors include her children, James Dale Wilbourn (Chris) of Grenada, Tammy Leigh Wilbourn Gordon (Scotty) of Coffeeville and Samuel Tyrone Wilbourn (Rhonda) and Kevin Scott Wilbourn (Jewel), all of Water Valley; her favorite child, an 8-year-old Shih-Tzu, Sampson; 19 grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flower, plants, gifts, or food, the family requests memorial contributions in Mrs. Wilbourn’s memory be made to Second Chance Animal Alliance, 11171 Hwy. 315, Water Valley, MS 38965.