Obituaries 08/01/2024
Philip Duane Powell
OXFORD – Philip Duane Powell passed away on Monday, July 8, 2024, at Baptist Memorial Hospital – North Mississippi. He was born April 14, 1953, in Danville, Ill. to the late Albert D. Powell and Martha Ellen Bloomfield Powell.
Philip accepted Christ at an early age and was a member of New Prospect Baptist Church in Yocona.
He was a veteran, having served in the Navy. Philip was employed with Whelan Security for several years. He was an outgoing individual who enjoyed fishing, cooking, grilling, drag racing, camping, coloring and painting. He enjoyed basketball and football, especially Ole Miss.
Family members Philip leaves to cherish his memories are two sons, Eric (Mariechelle) Powell of Germantown, Tenn. and Anthony Powell of Texas; two daughters, April Young of Bruce and Amber Martin of Water Valley; one brother, Timothy (Karen) Powell of Indiana; two sisters, Karen Jaggers and Barbara Redenbaugh, both of Illinois; his ex-wife, Emily Barnes Holland; six grandchildren; two great grandchildren; and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, other relatives, and friends.
Philip is preceded in death by his loving parents and one brother, Stanley Powell, and one sister, Kathy Fox.
A private memorial service will be held. Serenity Funeral Home of Oxford is in charge of arrangements.
Sylvester Shaw, Jr.
WATER VALLEY – Sylvester Shaw, Jr. of Water Valley, age 90, transitioned peacefully from his old worldly body to be with his heavenly father on June 24, 2024. He was born in Yalobusha County August 3, 1933, to the late Sylvester Shaw Sr and Mrs. Louise Lewis Shaw.
Micky attend public school in Water Valley. During this time he joined Everdale M.B. Church and attended faithfully until his health failed.
Micky joined the U.S. Air Force at an early age. He worked in the dining hall and eventually became head chef. He received many awards on and off ball. He played baseball during his service, playing on the Matador and two Air Force teams. He often bragged about how many home runs and grand slams he hit and when asked about what position he played, he would respond, “All of them,” with a big smile.
Micky often talked about how he traveled all over the world doing what he loved best, cooking and playing the sport of baseball. He retired from the U. S . Air Rorce after 25 years of service and returned to his hometown of Water Valley, where he later opened a package store and Cafe named “It’s All Good.”
A graveside memorial service will be held Saturday, August 3, at 10 a.m. at Pine Grove East M.B. Church located at 113 CR 94. Walker Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.
Micky is survived by one son, Kenneth Shaw of Spokane Wash.; two daughters, Joette Shaw of Illinois and Kindle (Joel) Burrington of Seattle, Wash.; two sisters, Katie Mae Shaw of Minneapolis, Minn. and Mary Sanders of Detroit, Mich.; four grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; and one great great grandchild. He also leaves a host nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Micky also leaves a family of choice that he treated as his own including his friend and caregiver, Machelle Harris; three choice children, Latoya Harris, Laticia (Oscar) Hattaway and Adrian Harris; eight choice grandchildren; and one great grandson, all of Water Valley, MS. They all cared for him dearly.
He is preceded in death by his parents; his brother, James “Sonny” Shaw; and a grandson, Julian Ryan Carr.
Sammy Lee Townes
GRENADA – The Lord called His servant, Pastor Sammy Lee Townes home on July 22, 2024. He was born on September 18, 1960 to the late Armstead II and the late North Janie Kimble Townes.
Pastor Townes confessed his hope in Christ at an early age at First Community Baptist Church of Scobey. He later moved his membership to Greater Sanders Chapel of Water Valley. He was known as the community pastor as he shepherded Springhill North M.B. Church and Travelers Rest M.B. Church. He humbly wore all titles with grace, faithfulness and integrity.
Sammy was a 1978 graduate of Coffeeville High School. He attended the University of Mississippi and Rust College. He was a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. He attended seminary school and after graduation he began work at Holly Automotive and also supervised at Batesville Casket Company from 1988 until he retired in 2017.
Sammy was the owner of Townes Funeral Home and S & K Travel. Since 2021, he committed to serving alongside the YMCA of Memphis and the Mid-south. He was loved and cherished and will be missed tremendously by all the lives he touched.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Katherine Townes; his father, Armstead Townes II; his mother, Janie Townes; and a brother, Larry Townes.
He leaves to cherish and carry out his outstanding legacy his three children, Tramayne, Felicia, and Monique; eight grandchildren, Ja’Various, Ke’Lyrica, Tramara, Tyler, Aiden, Landon and Lauren; two great-grandchildren, Kingston and Kristen; two bonus children, William and Kristen; three brothers, Armstead (Lena) Townes of Grenada, Carl (Harriet) Townes and Charles (Fatina) Wallace of Knoxville, Tenn.; four sisters, Judith (John) Greet and Shirley Winters, both of Detroit, Mich., Earlene Townes of Coffeeville and Viola Duckworth of Rolling Fork; his church families; and a host of nephews, nieces, fellow pastors, friends and his Townes Funeral Home staff.
A celebration of his life and legacy was held with a viewing at Belle Flower M.B .Church in Grenada on July 27 and the celebration of life followed on Sunday, July 28 at the Mt. Moriah Association Building in Coffeeville. Pastor Mitch Steen of the Grater Sanders Chapel in Coffeeville officiated. Interment was held at Fleming Cemetery in Scobey. Pallbearers were Jimmy Townes, Derrick Winters, Jessie Crowder, Jeff Townes, Jamie Townes and Tony Wallace. Honorary pallbearers were Carl Townes, Charles Wallace, Hosea Bradford, Armstead Townes, III, Marcus Banks and Hairston. Townes Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
“We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” – 2 Corinthians 5:8