Obituaries 04/20/2023

Roger Abernathy

SARDIS –Roger Abernathy passed away from complications from pulmonary fibrosis during the early morning hours on Thursday, March 30, 2023. He was 62.

Visitation was held Monday, April 17, from 4 to 5 p.m. at Seven Oaks Funeral Home.

Roger was a talented carpenter, building his cabin from the ground up with no floor plans. In 1990, Roger was presented the highest state forestry award for saving a young boy from drowning at Sardis Dam during a holiday celebration. He heard the child calling for help and ran to save him.

Roger is survived by his mother, Glenda Griffith of Hernando; three daughters, Sherry (Shawn) McKinney, Samantha (Phillip) Moore and Ali Grace (Mason) Allen; and grandchildren, Eli, Mabry, June, Max, Peyton, Haven, Corey, Ivory, Saylor, Macee and Oakley.

He is preceded in death by his father, Sam Abernathy, and his sister, Katherine (Kat) Hardy, who passed away Dec 4, 2022.

Roosevelt Hervey, Jr.

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Roosevelt Hervey, Jr., a beloved father, brother, grandfather, mentor and friend, passed away on March 20, 2023 in the comfort of his home. He was 92.

Roosevelt was born in Lula, Miss. to Roosevelt Sr. and Annie B. Hervey. After graduating high school, knowing that he would be drafted, he enlisted in the United States Air Force. He served for 26 years, including an active tour of duty at Da Nang Air Force Base in Vietnam. He was proud of his service and was recognized for his work as a recipient of the Air Force Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service at the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Roosevelt received an honorable discharge September 8, 1974 and became a Civil Service manager of an auto hobby shop at Langley Air Force Base. He worked at the shop for 24 years, winning numerous awards.

Roosevelt loved to fish, hunt and play golf. He also took pleasure in gardening and tinkering with cars. He enjoyed playing games, including cards, and had a serious poker face. He was known to tease and play practical jokes with all family members. Roosevelt was a sports enthusiast who thoroughly enjoyed his sons’ numerous football games and wrestling match in which they excelled.

Roosevelt loved spending time with family, and he appreciated all the travel opportunities his time in the Air Force afforded. He and his wife, Violet, planned to retire in California, but found they really like Virginia when stationed at Langley Air Force Base. They decided to retire in Newport News.

Roosevelt is survived by his beloved wife, Violet Hervey; two daughters, Donna (Richard) Jones and Dr. Regina (Ephraim) Yitbarek; a son, Michael (Sarah Alexander) Hervey; three grandchildren, Shawn (Melody) Mitchell, Rachel Lynn Hervey and Hannah Marie Hervey; one brother, Prentiss Hervey; two great-grandchildren, Jyire Mitchell and Senoj (Nagi) Mitchell; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his son, Stephen Hervey; brothers, Levon (Bobbie), Freddie (Pop) and Mervin; and sisters Gladys, Louise, Frances, Janice and Maybelline.

Interment was held Monday, April 3, at Albert G. Horton Jr. Memorial Veterans Center in Suffolk, Va. with full military honors.

Anita Gail Newman

WATER VALLEY – Anita Gail (Ragon) Newman, of Water Valley went to her forever home Monday, April 10, 2023 at Baptist Memorial in Oxford after an extended illness. She was 57.

Anita was born August 8, 1965 in Water Valley to Sue Hill and the Late Martin Ragon. After graduating from Water Valley High School in 1983, she went directly into the workforce starting her career at Sam’s Town where she was the banquet hall manager overseeing the many aspects of feeding the patrons. She later went to work at Crown Cork & Seal in Batesville, heading up the housekeeping activities.

With this knowledge, she decided to take a leap of faith and started her own cleaning business that she would run until her health precluded her from working in 2018. Anita was an outgoing, generous and caring person who never met a stranger. Her gift of gab had her meeting new friends on an almost daily basis.

When not working, Anita found enjoyment in gardening, fishing, cutting grass, cooking out and almost anything to do with the outdoors. But her greatest joy was spending time with her family.

Visitation was held Thursday, April 13 in the Gardiner Room of Seven Oaks Funeral Home. The service will followed at 1 p.m. in the Henry Chapel of Seven Oaks. Burial was in Elam Cemetery in Coffeeville.

Anita is survived by husband, Chad Newman; her mother, Sue Hill; two sons, Greg Langham and Tyler Payne; one daughter, Amber (David) Brown; one brother, Mark Ragon; two sisters, Saundra (Jeff) Lancaster and Dawn Ragon; two grandchildren, McKenzie Brown and Maliegha Payne; and numerous nephews and nieces.

Anita was preceded in death by her father, Martin Ragon; and her “Daddy,” James Boot Hill.

Homer (Speedy) Spurgeon

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Homer (Speedy) Spurgeon, age 78, died Thursday, April 13, 2023 at Signature Healthcare of Erin, Tennessee, after a long battle with dementia.

Speedy was born September 16, 1944 to Mary Lee (Cricket) Williams Spurgeon and Homer Spurgeon in Water Valley, the youngest of seven children. He graduated from Water Valley High School, attended Northwest Mississippi Community College and The University of Mississippi. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, stationed in Wiesbaden, Germany. During his assignment in Germany Speedy traveled through western Europe spending time in Paris, in the Netherlands, and on the island of Crete.

Following his time in the service and a brief stint in Memphis, Speedy made his home in several Alabama cities, primarily Montgomery and Gadsden. He was employed by the State of Alabama, first with the ABC Board and then at the Department of Public Safety. In later years he lived in Nashville (several times), Gadsden and Birmingham, Pass Christian, New Orleans and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

Speedy was predeceased by his only child, son Lee Hampton Spurgeon; his parents, Cricket and Homer Spurgeon; sisters Jocquelyn (Jackie) Goodwin Parks, Drusilla Holmes, Mary Lou (Dick) French and Joan (Anna) Beale; a brother, George Edward Spurgeon; a niece, Andrea Allen; nephews Kenny Goodwin, George Spurgeon Jr., DeWitt Spurgeo and Jimmy Beale; and his dog Cotton.

He is survived by his sister, Betty (Lucy) Allen of Long Beach; nieces Cyndi Beale, Marcie Bush, Lou White and Jill Douglas; nephews Don Holmes, Sam Goodwin, William J. Allen, Charles Allen, Bobby Beale, and Gary Beale; former wife, Pam Lawrence Spurgeon of Birmingham; and close friends David Clayton of Gadsden and David Gary of Birmingham.

Speedy’s nieces and nephews will recall him as the fun loving uncle who was filled with wanderlust. With a lifelong love of music, Speedy also had a keen appreciation for antique porcelain, silver, and beautiful home furnishings. He enjoyed baking, gardening, and spending time in sunny spots, particularly at the beach. He was an avid reader. Speedy will be remembered for his charming Southern accent, kind spirit, beautiful manners, and his sense of style.

Arrangements are in the care of Nave Funeral Home in Erin, Tenn. Interment will be in Oak Hill Cemetery, Water Valley. There will be no funeral.