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Obituaries 2/11/21

Semmie Sessums Burns
WATER VALLEY—Semmie Sessums Burns passed away January 30, 2021, at the age of 88.
Born March 15, 1932,  in Scott County, she was a daughter of the late Fred and Cleo Sessums. In 1934 she moved with her family to Bruce Junction, a small railroad community in Yalobusha County. After graduating high school in Coffeeville in 1951, she married Milton Burns. They were married 46 years before his death in 1997.
Semmie was a member of Senatobia First Baptist Church and later attended Anchor Church. While living in Coffeeville she clerked at Benoist Store and also worked for the Wonder Bread Store in Senatobia.  Known as “GG” by her grandchildren and great grands, her greatest joy was being with her family, always wanting to cook their favorite meals. Semmie will be greatly missed by her family and many friends who loved her.
Survivors include two sons, Milton Burns, Jr. (Linda) of Water Valley and Bill Burns (Alecia) of Senatobia; five grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; and two sisters, Rowena Harbour of Madison and Connie Groner of Water Valley.
Besides her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by two daughters, Deborah Rushing and Karen Dotson, a brother, Fred Sessums, Jr., a sister, Betty Rowsey, and a grandson, Blake Burns.

Mary Jean McNamee
FORREST CITY, ARK.—Mary Jean McNamee of Forrest City, Ark., died Tuesday, February 4, 2021, in the White River Medical Center at Batesville, Ark. She was 92.
Born December 15, 1928,  in Itawamba County, Mrs. McNamee was the daughter of William Hale and Clara Bostick Hale. She lived in Forrest City most of her life, was a past member of the B.P.&W. of Forrest city, and was a  member of Forrest City First Baptist Church for 70 years.
Mrs. McNamee was retired from First National Bank of Eastern Arkansas where she worked from 1965 until 2004. When asked which bank, she would always answer, there is only one bank. She was known for her many talents – an avid oil painter, baker of wedding cakes, and stitching beautiful quilts. She would stay up late baking pound cake favorites and petitfors for friends and families.
She loved shopping and always liked a good garage sale. She cruised and traveled from Hawaii to St. Thomas Island, and from Washington State to Washington, D.C. She loved flowers, had a thumb for growing plants and she enjoyed her yard and the outside. She was never an idle lady. She was a great person who exemplified her faith, loved family  and had a giving heart. She treasured her many friends, loved people and always smiled.
She married Pat McNamee in 1949 in Oneida, Ark. and they moved to Forrest City in 1950. They were married 66 years until his death in 2015.
She is survived by one daughter, Judy Belcher (Terry) of Walnut Ridge, Ark.; and a brother, Leon Hale of Benton, Ark. She was grandmother to Gwen Mullen, and daughter, Meg, of Walnut Ridge; Mary Lynn Mullen of Washington, D.C.; Jason Belcher (Melissa) and children, Nolan and Stryker, all of Jonesboro; and Dr. Ryan Belcher of Nashville, Tenn.
She was preceded in death by a son, William Patrick “Bill” McNamee; two sisters, Aubrey and Maxine; and two brothers, Fred and Earl.
Services for Mrs. McNamee will be held in Forrest City First Baptist Church at 11 a.m. Wednesday, February 10. Visitation begins at 10 a.m. A graveside service will be held Wednesday at 3 p.m. in Oak Hill Cemetery at Water Valley. Stevens Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Clyatt Gerald Strickland, Sr.
WINONA—Clyatt Gerald “Strick” Strickland, Sr. of Winona passed away Friday, February 5, 2021, at  his residence, after a short illness.
Born in Coffee County, Alabama, September 3, 1935, he was 85 years old. Mr. Strickland retired as an engineer technician for the Mississippi Department of Transportation in 1996. He then worked for 13 more years for Baker Engineering, retiring the second time at the age of 75. First Baptist Church in Winona was a huge part of his life, where he was a member and served as President of the Aubrey Boone Adult Mens Sunday School Class. He was also a life deacon, a member of the church choir and the church quartet, which he loved.  Mr. Strickland also served in the Mississippi  Army National Guard.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Wilburn Thomas and Mattie Jewel Whittaker Strickland and two sisters, Gertrude Clark and Doris Lott, all of Georgia.
Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Peggy LaMasters Strickland of Winona; one daughter, Kathi L. Brown (Perry) of Bellflower, Calif.; one son, Clyatt Gerald “Bo” Strickland, Jr. (Debbie) of Winona; six grandchildren, Angie (Randy), Abbie (George), Ashley (Daniel), Nick (Shannon), all of California, Jami (Paul) of Carrollton and Lawrence of Winona; 12 great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews.
The funeral service was held at 10 a.m. Monday, February 8, in First Baptist Church at Winona with visitation starting at 8:30 prior to the service. Rev. Jay Anderson and Rev. John L. Walker officiated. Pallbearers were Nathan Crenshaw, Mike Jones, Steve Lester, David Putman, David Pratt and Danny Farmer, with Larry Randle, Rudone Goldman, Dr. Keith Rushing, Dr. Louie Harrison, Ralph Ellison, and the Adult Men’s Sunday School Class as honorary pallbearers. Special music was by Nathan Crenshaw, Danny Farmer, and Steve Lester, accompanied by Betty Love and Hattie Bourne.
A graveside service was held Tuesday, February 9, in Savannah Valley Memorial Garden in Thomson, Georgia. Oliver Funeral Home of Winona was in charge of arrangements.
Memorials may be made to Winona First Baptist Church, P. O. Box 408, Winona, MS 38967.

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