Obituaries 05/23/2024
Mark Anthony
WATER VALLEY – Mark Anthony, 62, of Water Valley, passed away at home with his devoted wife, Claudia Smith Anthony, and five fur babies by his side.
Mark was born in 1962 in Memphis to his parents, John Russell, and Mable (Mathis) Anthony. Mark attended school in Memphis before moving to Louisville, Ky. where he graduated high school. He then moved to Water Valley and was reunited with the love of his life.
Mark proudly served in the U.S. Navy and returned home where he graduated from Northwest Mississippi Community College with a degree in Electronics.
In November, 1984, Mark and Claudia were married and began their lives of almost 40 years together. They spent most of their time together sharing the same interests ranging from sports to collecting memorabilia. Their travels gave them lifelong friends. They shared a love of photography and through this love, he was given the opportunity to photograph his favorite sports, football and baseball, at Ole Miss, Mississippi State, and Northwest Mississippi Community College. In addition, he photographed Water Valley High School and Coffeeville High School sports for the North Mississippi Herald and Bruce High School football for the Calhoun Journal.
He also spent as much time as possible fishing at Wildcat! He and Claudia had their own fishing competitions and he also loved searching for arrowheads when he had time. He loved his fur babies, exploring, and working in his hand-built shop. Mark was a Mr. Fix It and could build or rebuild anything. He loved tinkering with things and figuring out how something worked.
He worked in several jobs centered around electronics and network management – his last position was Network Administrator in the Geology Department at Ole Miss. Outside of his career, Mark was a member of VFW Post 4100 in Water Valley and the Football Writers’ Association of America.
Mark and Claudia were members of Campground Baptist Church and were both baptized in October, 2015. Mark was blessed to be part of a mission trip to Nicaragua in 2017.
Mark is survived by his wife of 40 years, Claudia Smith Anthony; a brother, Claud R. (Nancy) Anthony of Water Valley; sisters Mary Dickey of Saltillo and Jeanette Whitehead of Water Valley; a brother and sister-in-law, Alex and Sue Smith of Oakland; a sister-in-law, Patti Johansen Anthony of Ohio; fur babies Morgan, Daisy, Eli, Otis and Maggie; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Visitation was held Tuesday, May 21, in the Gardiner Room at Seven Oaks Funeral Home from 10 until 11 a.m. Services immediately followed at 11 a.m. in the Henry Chapel of Seven Oaks with Bro. Jerry King officiating. Burial was at Oak Hill Cemetery. Seven Oaks Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Mark is preceded in death by his parents, John Russell Anthony and Mable Mathis Anthony; a brother James Rayford “Jimmy” Anthony; and his mother-in-law, Mary J “Jackie” Smith.
Mary Pearl Jenkins Fly
COFFEEVILLE – Mary Pearl Jenkins Fly, 84, of Coffeeville, passed away Friday, May 17, 2024 at her residence. She was born January 19, 1940 in Bruce to Wilton and Myrtle Joblin Jenkins.
Pearl had worked for several years as a hairdresser and also at Holley Carburetor in Water Valley. She was a member of Friendship Baptist Church. Pearl loved spending time outdoors tending to her flowers and vegetable garden. A skilled seamstress, she was gifted in the art of quilting and sewing as well. She will long be remembered as a loving and devoted wife, mother and grandmother.
Funeral services were held at Sunday, May 19, at McKibben and Guinn Funeral Service in Grenada with Rev. Tim McCaffrey officiating.
Interment followed in the Coffeeville Cemetery. Jeff Fly, David Hayward, Charlie Hill, Mark Hill, Kenny Myers and Josh Staten honored Pearl by serving as pallbearers and carrying her to rest.
Survivors include a daughter, Barbara Fly (Dale) Manley; a son, Louis “Chip” (Janet) Fly; a sister, June (Billy) Hill; six grandchildren, Blair, Mallory, Colby, Shania, Stephen and Selena; and 10 great-grandchildren, Emily, Jenna, Wyatt, Chloe, Waylon, Willow, Keegan, Barrett, Aurora and Trace.
She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 58 years, Harold Helm Fly; a daughter, Lisa Marie Roach; three sisters, Helen Myers, Faye Armstrong and Leila Dunn; and six brothers, Bobby, Jamie, Billy, Rupert, J.W. and Edward Jenkins.
Kenneth Wade Potts
LAKELAND, Tenn. – Kenneth Wade Potts, 84, of Lakeland, Tenn., passed away on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, at Baptist East Hospital in Memphis.
Born on April 19, 1940, in Calhoun County to the late Ed and Lavelle Potts, he held a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University and served in the United States Army from 1960 until 1962. Kenneth married June Wagner Potts, the love of his life, in April, 1964. Known for his strength, loyalty, and integrity, he was a man of action, guided by his family and faith in Jesus Christ. He was devoted to both his family and his faith. Kenneth found joy in golf and antique cars. Kenneth felt blessed to receive a heart transplant in 2002, giving him an additional 22 years of life with his family. The memory of Kenneth Potts will endure in the hearts of those who loved him for eternity.
Services were held Monday, May 20, at 11 a.m. in the Henry Chapel of Seven Oaks with Bro. Grant Coffey officiating. Burial followed at the Mt. Liberty Cemetery.
Kenneth is survived by his wife, June Wagner Potts; one daughter, April Kelley; and two brothers, Richard Potts and Thomas Potts.
Kenneth is preceded in death by his parents Ed Potts and Lavelle Prestage Potts.
Alice Jean Woods Sossaman
COFFEEVILLE – Alice Jean Woods Sossaman, age 81, passed away peacefully in the early-morning hours of Saturday, May 18.
Memorial services will be announced at a later date. Seven Oaks Funeral Home has charge.
She was born August 4, 1942, in Memphis to Tommy Frank Woods and Dorothy Richardson Woods. She grew up in Marks, Mississippi, and was a graduate of Marks High School.
After graduation, she sought employment with the hosiery mill in Batesville. She would go on to have other factory employment later in her life with Kellwood Manufacturing and Holley Carburetor, and ended her working career by greeting customers with a warm smile as a waitress at the George Payne Cossar State Park Restaurant, where she retired. But the job she most loved was being a wife, homemaker and mother to her five children.
She married John Henry Sossaman in 1966. The two had been married 57 years when he preceded her in death a few short months ago. She was known for her excellent cooking skills – being able to take any leftovers and make a completely different, delicious meal, or whipping up a dish no one had ever heard of.
She was also known for her love of shopping and her bargain-hunting skills. Her philosophy was that there must be a clearance rack or sale in each and every store.
Years ago, she attended Gatewood Church of God and, most recently, Shiloh Cowboy Church near Coffeeville.
She was small in stature but a force to be reckoned with. She had fought throat cancer, lung cancer and, most recently, skin cancer. She suffered a debilitating stroke, but kept her smile and sense of humor, always loving to visit with her family — most especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her husband, John; her daughter, Jeanna Alison Sossaman Mills; a sister, Frances Carroll; and three brothers, Tommy, Albert and Billy Woods.
She is survived by her daughter, Krista Sossaman (Clay) McFerrin of Charleston; her sons, Billy Sossaman of Water Valley, Johnny Sossaman of Coffeeville and Terry (Theresa) Sossaman of New Albany; her son-in-law, Kelly Mills of Cordova, Tenn.; a sister, Dorothy Ann Rayburn of Sardis; sisters-in-law, Edna Woods (Charles) Cook of Marks, Joyce Sossaman of Coffeeville, Ann (Richard) Woodard of Byhalia, Louise (Roger) Richardson of Charleston and Linda (Marvin) Leake of Hattiesburg; brothers-in-law, Jimmy Sossaman of Batesville, Albert (Sarah) Sossaman of Coffeeville, Willie Sossaman of Moscow, Tenn., Robert Sossaman, and Mike Sossaman of Teasdale.
She is also survived by four grandchildren, Brandon McFerrin of Charleston, Kelsey Bright (Ryan) of Charleston, and Addison Sossaman and Ethan Sossaman, both of Water Valley; and four-great-grandchildren, Harper, Beckett, Baylor and Ryder Bright, all of Charleston.
Theodore Charles Wiseman
OXFORD – Theodore Charles “Ted” Wiseman, age 84, a beloved husband and dedicated sprinkler fitter, passed away on May 18, 2024, surrounded by his loved ones at the VA facility in Oxford.
Born on October 8, 1939, in Memphis to the late Albert and Ruth Wiseman. Ted served in the United States Navy for four years, instilling in him a sense of duty and pride. He was a proud member of the Local 669 Sprinkler Fitters Union, allowing him to journey all across the southeast showcasing his skills. Ted had a passion for fishing and found joy in the sport, even achieving a remarkable second place in the St. Jude fishing tournament. Hunting, tending to his yard, and being an active member of the Sylva Rena Baptist Church brought him immense happiness in life.
In honor of Ted’s life, a visitation will take place on Saturday, June 1, 2024, at 1 p.m., followed by a memorial service in the Henry Chapel at Seven Oaks Funeral Home at 2:00 pm, With Dr. Shane Crawford officiating.
Ted’s memory will be cherished by his wife, Virginia Wiseman; three children, Toni Holloway, Joe (Dana) Wiseman and James (Lori) McKinney; two grandsons, Wyatt Holloway (Katelyn) and Zachery McKinney; a great-granddaughter, Aubrey; one brother, Albert Wiseman; and a host of nieces and nephews.
Along with his parents, Ted was preceded in death by one brother and one sister.