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Obituaries 11/03/2022

Wanda Gordon Burns

WATER VALLEY – Wanda Gordon Burns passed away Sunday evening, October 30, 2022 after a long bout of illnesses. Born March 20, 1954, she was 68. Wanda was a devout Christian, loving wife, fierce mother, and a loyal sister and daughter who believed in compassion, beauty, and strong family values. A life-long Water Vallian, Wanda had numerous local friends and was a well-loved community member. She was a beautician for nearly 50 years. She owned her own business and basically made everyone look fabulous. Wanda’s hobbies included dancing, interior design and fan-girling over Elvis and old Hollywood movies.

Wanda was preceded in death by her father and mother, Hugh F. Gordon and Marie McDonald Gordon, both of Water Valley; and her brother, Daniel F. Gordon of North Port, Ala.
She is survived by her husband, Terry W. Burns of Water Valley; sons Brandon (Kristie) of Oxford, Corey (Heather) of Oxford and Kelly (Kyle) of Fargo, North Dakota; a sister, Angie Gordon Fiveash (Neil) of Marietta, Ga.; grandchildren Kayla, Abigail, Walker and Reagan Burns, all of Oxford; and a sister-in-law, Linda Gordon, of North Port, Alabama.
Funeral services will be held at Seven Oaks Funeral Home in Water Valley on Wednesday, November 2. Visitation for the public will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. followed by a funeral service at 3 p.m. Committal will occur at 4 p.m. at Oak Hill Cemetery in Water Valley.

Louise Marion

WATER VALLEY – Louise Marion passed away on Friday, October 21, 2022. She was born March 6, 1944, in Yalobusha County.

Visitation is scheduled for November 4 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Seven Oaks Funeral Home. The funeral will be held on November 5 at noon at Zion Springs M.B. Church in Bruce. A complete obituary will be published in next week’s edition.

Franklin N. Rockett

WATER VALLEY – Franklin N. Rockett passed away on Thursday, October 27, 2022, at Baptist Memorial Hospital – North Mississippi. The son of the late Willie Frank and Willie Juree (Wright) Rockett, he was born January 2, 1959, in Yalobusha County.
Frank as he was affectionately called, accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized at Springhill North M.B. Church in Water Valley where he remained a member until his death.

He received his education from Water Valley School District and graduated from Water Valley High School, where he found a love for playing the sport of football. Frank entered the world of fatherhood when he was blessed with his son, Vernon. He later met and married Alma Hardaway, and to this union they shared three children, Antonio, Solomon, and Octavia. In 1990, he married Mary L. Phillips and was blessed with two more children, Christopher and Bethany.

Frank was very good with his hands, gaining him employment as a maintenance technician for Windsor Foods where he worked for a 10 years before retiring. Watching Westerns and football were a couple of his favorite pass- times. He also enjoyed being outside, gardening, yard work, listening to music, particularly Frankie, Beverly, and Maze; and traveling. Most of all, he loved spending time with his family.

Visitation was held Tuesday, November 1, at L. Hodges Funeral Home in Oxford. The funeral service will be Wednesday, November 2, at 11 a.m. at Springhill North M.B. Church.

Left to mourn his passing and cherish his memories are his devoted wife of 32 years, Mary Phillips Rockett of Water Valley; children Solomon Andrew (Kara) Rockett of Dallas, Texas, Christopher (Jessie) Dwayne Harris of Water Valley, Vernon Demetric Rogers of Water Valley, Antonio Hardaway of Water Valley, Bethany (Stacy) Harris Brady of Water Valley and Octavia (Jhamaal) Victoria Martin of Killeen, Texas; 12 grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; siblings, Michael Rockett of Oxford, Perry Rockett of Coffeeville, Anthony Rockett of Water Valley, Michelle Wade (Melvin) of Memphis and Myra (Leonard) Fondon of Oxford; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Frank was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Alma Hardaway; and siblings Milton Rockett, Lolaster Rockett, Marcus Stokes, and Edna Rockett.

Patrick Frank Wilbourne

BLANCHARD, Okla. – Patrick Frank Wilbourne, 60, passed away on October 29, 2022, in Blanchard, Okla. due to cancer. Pat was born in Water Valley on January 22, 1962, to Patsy Joyce Griffin and Bobby Frank Wilbourne.

Visitation is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, November 3, at the Countryside Baptist Church in Lindsay, Okla. The funeral service will follow at 2 p.m. with a graveside at Amber Cemetery in Amber, Okla.

Pat is survived by his mother, Patsy Francis, and her husband, Bob Francis, of Water Valley; his step-mother, Robbie Wilbourne of West Point; four sisters, Robbie Miller, Lori Schwandner, Teresa Morrison and Shanda Pettie; five brothers; Brian Wilbourne, Mark Denham, Shane Pettie, Mark Francis and Paul Francis; his cousin and caregiver, Joy Williams-Carriere; his son, Shane Wilbourne-Allenbach; along with countless aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and extended family members.

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