Obituaries 02/02/2023
Yvonne R. Jones
WATER VALLEY – Yvonne R. Jones, 87, passed away Thursday, January 26, 2023, in New Albany.
Yvonne retired as a bookkeeper at the Shelby County Trustee Office in Tennessee. She enjoyed cooking, participating in her Ladies’ Sunday School Class and Bible studies. She also loved spending time with her friends, often taking short, fun trips with them. She also enjoyed volunteering, and gardening.
Yvonne was a member of First Baptist Church in Water Valley. She will be greatly missed by all but her legacy will live on. Visitation was held Tuesday, January 31, from 11 a.m. to noon in the Gardiner Room at Seven Oaks Funeral Home. The funeral service followed in the Henry Chapel. Bro. Randy Bain officiated. Seven Oaks Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Yvonne is survived by her two sons, Mark D. (Sherry) Russell, of New Albany and Jay W. (Lisa) Jones, of Memphis; her sister, Becky (Jimmy) Moore, of Oxford; her sister-in-law, Mary Lou Jones of Water Valley; 12 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, David Jones; her son, Todd Jones; her parents, Walter and Elizabeth McKenny Russell; her brother, Walter O. Russell, Jr.; and her sister, Betty Joe Russell.
In lieu of flowers, donations in honor of Yvonne R. Jones can be made to Gideon International (P.O. Box 143, Water Valley, MS 38965).
Jerry Cleve Peacock
BETHEL SPRINGS, Tenn. – Jerry Cleve Peacock, age 67, of Bethel Springs, Tenn. died Friday, January 21, 2023, at Hardin County Medical Center in Savannah, Tenn. He was born January 27, 1955, in Water Valley to the late Alger and Mary Gaines Peacock.
Jerry Cleve grew up hanging around Pamp Peacock’s ax handle mill, like all the Peacock grandchildren. He loved seeing all the pulp wood trucks coming in and out of the lot. He even built a play pulp wood truck out of some blocks and an old steering wheel he found at the mill. It is said that Jerry would drive that play truck all day long, making the sounds, shifting the invisible gears. As he grew up he found himself driving a real truck hauling pulp wood with his dad. He then went on to be an excellent painter and sheet rock hanger and finisher for 30-plus years, learning the trade from his brothers, uncles and cousins. He was always bringing a smile or a laugh to everyone’s face with his particular ways of doing things. Jerry loved to hunt and fish, it only came natural to him being a Peacock. He also loved NASCAR and was a very good mechanic. Jerry was known to do everything he could to help his family and friends. He will definitely be missed and remembered by all who knew him.
Visitation was held Monday, January 30, in the Gardiner Room at Seven Oaks Funeral Home from 11 a.m. until noon with services immediately following in the Henry Chapel of Seven Oaks. Bro. Brennan Allen officiated. Burial was in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Jerry is survived by his only son, Shane (Jessica) Peacock of Drummonds, Tenn.; one sister, Debby Ross; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
As addition to his parents, Jerry was preceded in death by his wife, Ramona Peacock; two brothers; James Peacock and Max Peacock; and two of his sisters; Joyce Moss and Betty Crenshaw.
Richard Lynn Butts Shelly
BATESVILLE – Richard Lynn Butts Shelly, age 75, passed away Tuesday morning, January 24, 2023, while under hospice care at his daughter’s home in Byhalia. His family was by his side.
Funeral services for were held Friday, January 27, in the Martin Willingham Memorial Chapel of Wells Funeral Home. Visitation was one hour prior to the service. The interment followed at Forrest Memorial Park with military honors. Wells Funeral Home in Batesville was in charge of arrangements.
Richard was born December 6, 1947 in Water Valley to the late Leonard Butts and Dorothy Faye Gean Shelly. After graduating from Whitehaven High School in 1965, he enlisted in the army. He served as a MP from 1966-1968 in Korea and from 1969-1970 in Germany. Richard was married to Constance Houghtelling from 1968-2003 and during this marriage they had two daughters, Melanie and Stephanie. Richard always had a desire to be a Memphis Police Officer but the class was already full. He was hired as a casual for Bowman Transportation and was later hired permanently.
His family moved to Water Valley, where he was employed by Motts. In the year 1989 he started his dream job working for and being mentored by Brownie Crawford with Crawford and Company. He later retired from there in September, 2016. At the time of his death Richard was married to Joanie Marie Lee for 20 years and resided in Batesville. Richard devoted his time to his two passions, golf and Tennessee football.
He was preceded in death by his parents Leonard Butts and Dorothy Faye Gean Shelly; his stepmother, Betty Butts, and his step-son, Shane Lee.
Survivors include his wife, Joanie; two daughters, Melanie Upton (Isaiah), of Byhalia and Stephanie Shelly, of Crump, Tenn.; two stepchildren, Tommy Hines (Taghreed), of Indianapolis, Ind. and Stacie (Jeff) Fitch, of Hernando; three grandchildren, Kayla (Jeremy) Turner of Byhalia, Taylor (Brandon) Upton of Byhalia and Madison Upton of Byhalia; seven step-grandchildren, Landon (Michaela) Fitch, of Hernando, Cassidy Fitch of Hernando, Kara Fitch of Hernando, Daltin Lee, of Batesville and Corey Hines, Isabella Hines, and Zachary Hines, all of Indianapolis, Ind.; three great-grandchildren, Kallie, Ryder and Hudson; and his step father, Clyde Shelly. Other survivors include his sister, Donna McGowan, of Monroe, Ga.; his niece, Lea (Rob) Smithson of Monroe, Ga.; and two great-nephews, Ryan Smithson and Evan Smithson, both of Monroe, Ga..
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Tommy Joe Stribling
WATER VALLEY – Tommy Joe Stribling, 88, went home to heaven on Thursday, January 19, 2023. He was a son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, uncle and, of course, Papa Joe.
Tommy graduated high school in 1952 in MacRae, Ark. He immediately went to boot camp for the U.S. Navy and served as an aviation electrician. He married Betty Smith in August, 1952, and they were stationed in San Diego, Calif. where there daughter was born in August, 1953. After leaving the Navy, he worked for the railroads and his son was born in April, 1956. They moved to Blytheville, Ark. to farm family land and another daughter was born in January, 1958.
Tommy became a Master Electrician and founded Stribling Electric. He raised his three children, who all went on to have families. In August, 1977, he married a widow, Patty Branscum, with her children, Richard and Darla.
He took pride in being a veteran and was also active with veteran’s organizations where he lived. He was also involved with the Masonic Lodge, become a Shriner and fundraising for the Shriner’s Hospital. Eventually he retired and settled in Water Valley. Tommy continued doing electric work during retirement.
Everyone knew fishing was his passion. He was a fishing expert, teaching his kids and grandkids the joy of the sport. And nobody can fish like Papa Joe. And this man could fix anything, a man of many skills.
Tommy leaves behind his wife; Patty Stribling; a brother, Harold (June) Stribling; two sisters, Sue Beard and Maxine (Robert) Coleman; two daughters, Patti (Stacey) Lauer and Darla Branscum; a son, Steve (Sandy) Stribling; grandchildren, Tracy (JR) Reynolds, Greg (Pamela) Holifield, Betsey Jo (Scott) Weintub, Ellen (Christian) Cambra, Steven (Iris) Stribling, John (Allie) Stribling, Jessi (Tripp) Gorman, Blake (Lacey) Wyatt, Dalton Pruett, Rossi Pruett, Libby Branscum, Cara Branscum, Tabitha (Arben) Wilson, Jason (Alicia) Bruce and Elizabeth (JR) Cherry; as well as numerous great-grandchildren all across the country.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Joe Abe and Lora Mae Stribling; a daughter, Betty Susan Hyman; a son, Richard Branscum; a brother, Jeff Stribling, and a granddaughter, Lindsey Branscum.
He was loved and will be missed by many.