Obituaries 09/23/21
Emma Jean Anderson
OAKLAND – Emma Jean Anderson, age 61, passed away Monday, September 10, 2021. Funeral services were held on Saturday, September 18 at Springhill North M.B. Church. Rev. Sammy Townes officiated.
Emma Jean was born on January 2, 1960 to Roxanna Anderson-Farris and John Henry Kuykendall. She accepted Christ at an early age and joined Philadelphia M.B. Church, where she served on the Usher Board until her health failed.
Emma Jean leaves to rejoice in her memories and cherish her life her children, Priscilla Anderson, Robert Anderson, Amanda Anderson, Adrianna White and Troy Anderson, all of Oakland, Marquita Anderson of Water Valley, Kenya Anderson of Batesville and Janesha Anderson of Rock Island, Ill. She also leaves two sisters, Vera Jean Anderson of Water Valley and Lucy Bowens of Oakland; one brother, Richard Anderson of Rock Island, Ill., 18 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, and additional relatives and friends who all loved her dearly.
Emma was proceeded in death by her parents, Roxanna Anderson-Farris and John Henry Kuykendall; one son, Lonnie Jerome Anderson; two sisters, Annie Buckley and Margaret Kuykendall; and two brothers Aaron Anderson and Eddie Anderson.
Earl Babb
OXFORD – Mr. Earl Babb, 88, died Saturday, September 18, 2021, at Baptist Memorial Hospital North Mississippi.
The funeral service will be Thursday, September 23, at 2 p.m. at New Prospect Baptist Church in Oxford. Rev. Buster Wilson will officiate. Visitation will be prior to the service beginning at noon. A graveside service will follow at Paris Cemetery.
Mr. Babb was born in 1933 in Paris to the late Fonzo and Mary Goodwin Babb. He was a 32nd Degree Mason and a member of the Lafayette County School Board for 12 years. He made his profession of faith in 1947 at Paris Baptist Church, where he would later serve as a deacon. Mr. Babb attended Northwest Community College on an athletic scholarship and played basketball, football and baseball.
A veteran of the U.S. Army, Mr. Babb served from 1953-1955, which included time stationed in Germany. Mr. Babb retired from the Mississippi Department of Agriculture, where he worked as an inspector in the Consumer Protection Division for 25 years. He was instrumental in establishing the multi-purpose building in Lafayette County. Serving on the election commission in Lafayette County for nine years, he loved to dabble in politics. An avid hunter, Mr. Babb developed a love for coon and rabbit hunting at the age of 10, a passion that stayed with him into his eighties.
He also found great joy in tending to his garden each summer. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Nancy Jones Babb; three brothers, Billy D. Babb of Paris, Fonzo Babb, Jr. of Paris, and Ralph Henry “Bubby” Babb of Southaven; and two sisters, Shirley Faye Babb McPhail of Oxford, and Sarah Norris of Coldwater.
Mr. Babb is survived by a daughter, Michelle Babb Powell and her husband, Stephen, of Southaven; three sons, Rickey Babb and his wife, Becky of Oxford, Mickey Babb and his wife, Tiffany of Oxford, and Anthony Earl “Tony” Babb of Paris; two sisters, Patsy Babb Vaughn of Jackson, Tenn. and Deborah Babb Collums of Paris; one brother, Kenny Burl Babb of Oxford; as well as nine grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
Expressions of sympathy or memorial contributions in Mr. Babb’s memory may be made to the Paris Cemetery Fund, c/o Betty Mize, 86 County Road 479, Paris, MS 38949, or to New Prospect Baptist Church, 823 Highway 334, Oxford, MS, 38655.
Patsy Ann Darby Jones
ENID –Patsy Ann Darby Jones, age, 74, passed away Monday, September 20, 2021, at her home near Enid.
A graveside service will be 11 a.m. on Thursday, September 23, at Forrest Memorial Park in Batesville.
Patsy was born April 30, 1947 in Panola County to the late Audrey and Maudie Burke Darby. She retired from Dress Barn in Batesville, and was a member of New Hope Church of God. Patsy loved crocheting and working outside in her gardens, but most of all she loving spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Her memory will be cherished by her two sons, Tracy Darby of Enid and Scott Respess (Louise) of Courtland; a sister, Carolyn Mills (Paul, Jr.) of Courtland; two grandchildren, Ashley Respess, Matthew Respess; four great-grandchildren, Anna Claire, Bradlee, Charlie and Elliana.
Rev Frank Samples
COFFEEVILLE – Rev. Frank Samples of Coffeeville, left his earthly home on September 17, 2021 to meet his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ whom he loved and adored.
Funeral services were held at on Tuesday, September 21, in the Martin Willingham Memorial Chapel of Wells Funeral Home. The family received friends prior to the service. Committal was held at Cross Roads Cemetery in Slate Springs.
Rev. Frank was born October 30, 1943 in Itawamba County to John Howard Samples and Lela Mae Samples of Golden, Miss. Frank was a man after God’s own heart. His love for telling others about Jesus was seen daily, and he was sure to share a smile with anyone who met him. He leaves behind a legacy of 38 years in pastoring. To know him was to love him.
2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.
He is survived by his wife, Ann Samples of Coffeeville who loved and cherished him; his daughter, Tammy Samples Eastridge (Jody) of Teasdale; step-children, Sissy Tunnell (Kevin) of Bruce, Roger Poynor (Roxann) of Bruce, Misty M. Dye (Bubba) of Calhoun City and Trent Kirk of Cullman, Ala.; his grandchildren, Ashely Owens (Jason), John Brown (Kayla), Tyler Kilcrease, Jaten Tunnell, Kasetin Dye, Jana Paige Kirk, Kailyn Kirk, Danielle Thomas (Christen); 12 great grandchildren and very special nieces and nephews.
Frank was preceded in death by his parents, John Howard and Lela Mae Samples; his brother, Olen Samples; and one sister, Pauline Carter. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association.
Atlas Earl Tutor
WATER VALLEY – Atlas Earl Tutor, age 86, of Water Valley passed peacefully Sunday, September 19, 2021, at the Yalobusha County Nursing Home.
He was born January 19, 1935 in Yalobusha County, the youngest of five children to the late Allen Hollis and Freddie (Flowers) Tutor.
During his high school years, Atlas was voted “Mr. Jeff Davis High School,” alongside Jo Burns, who was “Miss Jeff Davis High School” During this time he worked at Crowson Motors in Water Valley as a cashier and also washing cars. After finishing school, Atlas attended the College of Business and Commerce in Memphis where he studied accounting. Atlas then moved back to Water Valley and owned a small grocery store for a brief period. He then went to work for John Throop Gas Company, which later became Blackwood & Howell. After many years at Blackwood & Howell, Atlas went to work for the North Mississippi Regional Center, and then The University of Mississippi as campus dispatcher, where he ultimately retired. Atlas loved The Lord and was faithful to Bethel Baptist Church in Water Valley where he served as a deacon and Sunday School teacher and graciously gave rides to any children desiring to go to church or Vacation Bible School. Once his health declined to the point of needing assistance, he still served by doing the daily devotions at the nursing home until the day before his passing.
Visitation is planned for Saturday, September 25, 2021, in the Gardiner Room at Seven Oaks Funeral Home from noon until 2 p.m. Services will follow at 2 p.m. in the Henry Chapel of Seven Oaks with Brothers Dan Dickerson and James Edwards officiating. Burial will be in Bethel Cemetery.
Atlas is survived by one nephew, Randy Green of Texas; four nieces, Venea Stark (Billy) of Water Valley, Laurie Booth, Kelli Zsolcsak, Teri Dunn, all of Texas; one step-son, Lane Bolen of Florida; and one step-daughter, Angela Edwards (Sammy) of Water Valley.
Along with his parents, Atlas was preceded in death by his wife, Bessie Faye Tutor; two brothers, Hollis Lee Tutor and Norman Howard Tutor; and two sisters, Marion Hughes and Pearl Green.