Obituaries 07/28/2022
Lori Lu Buchholz
OXFORD – Lori Lu Buchholz, 61, passed away on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, in Oxford. No services are planned at this time. Coleman Funeral Home of Oxford is in charge of arrangements.
Lori is described as being sweet, gentle, innocent, kind, and compassionate to a fault. She always noticed the good in people and offered to help anyone in need, but never for recognition. While she was shy, she had a wonderful sense of humor and a contagious laugh that would light up any room.
Lori was born in Holbrook, Ariz. on July 7, 1961, and later moved to Lawrence, Kan. where she attended Lawrence Public Schools. She was a cheerleader, diver, gymnast, sang in the Honor choir and was a friend to many.
She loved being outside watching her birds, talking with family, and having coffee with her friends at Turnage Drug Store. When she wasn’t visiting with her friends, she could be found enjoying the simple things in life. Lori was a great friend and a tender and affectionate mother. Cara, her daughter, remembers sitting in the driveway many times with Barbara Streisand or Celine Dion blaring over the radio. Lori would often hold Cara’s hand telling her how much she meant to her, memories that Cara will hold forever. And with her great taste in music came along her great flair for fashion. She was always dressed in her best outfit, often being called a fashionista.
Lori will be dearly missed by all those that loved and cherished her sweet spirit. Lori is survived by her daughter, Cara (Luke) McPherson, of Green Mountain Falls, Colo.; her mother, Sally Lou Ragland, of Marionville, Mo.; her siblings, Cheri Ezell (Brian), Eric Ragland (Lisa), Michele Wilhite (Bill) and Robin Hill (Tom); and several nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband Russell Steven Buchholz; her father, Kenneth Leon Ragland, and her brother, Scott Michael Ragland.
William Sammy Smith
WATER VALLEY – William Sammy Smith, age 74, of Water Valley passed from this life Wednesday, July 20, 2022 at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis with his family by his side. He was born January 10, 1948, in Marks to Sam and Ruth (Hester) Smith.
Sammy spent the early part of his life in Fresno, Calif. where he married the love of his life, Florence Marie Smith in 1969. In March, 1973, the couple moved back to Mississippi to raise their family. Sammy worked for 30 years in Oxford at the former Georgia Pacific plywood mill as a forklift driver until he retired. He loved going fishing and watching Westerns. Above all else, he enjoyed spending time with his family, friends and grandchildren. Sammy was a quiet, kind and gentle man with a big heart for other people.
Visitation was held Monday, July 25, in the Gardiner Room at Seven Oaks Funeral Home with the funeral service following at 2 p.m. Bro. Jerry King officiated. Burial was in Yellow Leaf Baptist Church Cemetery in Lafayette County.
Sammy is survived by his wife of 53 years, Marie Smith of Water Valley; one daughter, Christy Callahan (Glen) of Oxford; three sons, Randy Smith and Michael Smith, both of Water Valley, and Darren Smith of Bosman, Mont.; four grandchildren, Averie Brooke Smith Curvin (Tyler) of Water Valley and Evan Hill, Macon Callahan and Jordan Callahan, all of Oxford; one sister, Lynn Cillufo (Joe) of Clovis, Calif.; one brother, Louis Ray Smith (Karen) of Oxford; three sisters-in-law, Mary Harper (William ‘Bud”) of Payne, Ala., Francis Ledbetter of Brookings, Org. and Betty Hall of Sweet Home, Org.; two brothers-in-law, Lynn Lawhon of Water Valley and David Lawhon of Port Orford, Org.; as well as a host of nieces and nephews that he loved dearly.
As well as his parents, Sammy was preceded in death by three brothers; Johnnie Williams, Sam ‘JR’ Smith and Leroy Smith; and one sister, Shirley Hayes.