Obituaries 09/26/2024
Mary Lou Murphy Lassen Williams
WATER VALLEY – Mary Lou Murphy Lassen Williams, 91, of Water Valley passed away peacefully in her sleep at home on Wednesday afternoon, September 18, 2024.
Mary Lou was born December 17, 1932, in San Angelo, Texas, the younger of two children of a devout Southern Baptist attorney and his fervent, piano-playing wife. Her circuitous route from San Angelo to Water Valley is a tear-jerking, bumpy, multi-chapter love story with a happy ending.
After obtaining degrees from Stephens College and Texas Christian University, in 1953, the just-under-5-foot San Angelo, Texas drum major married Paul Lassen, Jr., a Texas A&M architecture major and dashing 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. They were stationed at Edwards Air Force Base in California where their first child, Charmie, was born in 1955. In September 1956, her husband Paul would succumb to Hodgkin’s disease, less than a month after Mary Lou delivered their second child – Paul Shelton Lassen
Mary Lou, then a young widow with two kids living with her parents in West Texas, was asked to be a bridesmaid in her best friend, Barbara Ann Stice’s upcoming 1957 wedding. Mary Lou described herself as “being in a rut” and reluctant to attend her friend’s wedding. As Mary Lou would tell the story “my mother said I had to go.” She went. At the wedding of Barbara and Richard “Dick” Hill of Philadelphia, Miss., Mary Lou met Snooky Williams, a Williamsville Miss. native and groomsman. In Mary Lou’s words, “I wasn’t looking for love. It just hit me in the face.” Snooky and Mary Lou were married on June 21, 1958.
Toting two children under 4 years of age from her first marriage, Mary Lou was abruptly uprooted from her middle class city in Texas and firmly planted in a small Mississippi town whose main claim to fame was a 1932 self-proclamation as the Watermelon Capital of the World.
She was the devoted wife of a budding small town southern gentleman and ardent mother to three children. (Her third child, Ben, was born in 1960.) She cooked, cleaned house, served in the PTA, joined the Junior Auxiliary, worked at Stubbs Department Store, raised kids, ran an insurance agency, and loved her husband. She was a charter member of the Water Valley Literary Club, the “Mad Hatters,” and the Grand Slam Bridge Club – and not surprisingly played a mean hand of bridge. For years, she served as “Chairman” of the Board of the Blackmur Library.
As the years rolled on, she added the titles of mother-in-law and grandmother. With each addition, she explained a mother’s heart just got bigger. Her second child, Paul, passed away in 1986, and Snooky, her devoted husband of 60 years, died in 2018. Mary Lou (aka “NannyNanny”) taught the grandkids how to fish, drive a golf cart, swim in Enid Lake, weed a garden, speak inappropriate words in Spanish, play dominoes, spit, cook, count cards, feed birds, make friends with strangers, eat pickled okra, shell peas, dance, exude confidence, openly love, and share. The frequent family card games were extremely competitive. Mary Lou retained her high score winning cards on which she wrote “This one goes on my casket.” (Hence the dozens of score cards that were placed on her casket.)
Mary Lou’s involvement and support of Thacker Mountain Radio is well known and trumpeted at every performance. Mary Lou and Snooky were, as Jim Dees of Thacker Mountain Radio described, “a couple’s couple. If you saw one without the other, you wondered why. If you weren’t smiling, you soon would be.”
Mary Lou was brilliant and well-read. Her unbridled passion for reading led her to a perennial gifting of books to friends and strangers.
She was somehow – quite paradoxically, uniquely, innately and concurrently – both fiery and gentle, genius and humble. She’d keep you on your toes while melting your heart. She had many an opinion on most topics and could, as the situation demanded – eloquently or emphatically – explain her view. Mary Lou was an unselfrighteous Christian who focused on forgiveness, and preferred faith, service, and stewardship over the rhetoric of fire and brimstone. She loved flowers and birds – particularly hummingbirds – and cheerfully worked in her yard until the passage of time dictated otherwise.
Family and friends were a huge part of her life. She had a gift for making every person feel like the most special person in the room. And with each, as the moment required, she would listen, console, support or laugh. Having lived through her own hells, she was able to reach down with an extended hand to lift those souls mired in despair. Yet, she preferred laughter, and she spread it with an unabashed generosity.
Mary Lou is survived by daughter Charmie Lassen Weeks (Barry) of Water Valley; a son, M. Binford (“Ben”) Williams, Jr. (Melissa) of Oxford; grandchildren, Angela Suzanne Weeks of Mandeville, La.; Paul Erich Lassen of Lincoln Park, Mich.; Barry Matthew (“Matt”) Weeks (Leighanne) of Mandeville, La.; M. Binford (“Ford”) Williams, III, of Wichita, Kan.; Morgan Murphy Williams of Oxford; great-grandchildren, William Walker Weeks and Mary Lassen Weeks; numerous nieces, nephews, and other kin; and oodles of friends from diverse walks of life.
At Mary Lou’s request, the family held a private family graveside service with Dr. Barry Weeks officiating, scripture reading by Brother Raymond Aven, and music by Bryan Ledford. Memorials may be sent to the Thacker Mountain Radio (http://thackermountain.com/). Please let them know it is in honor of Mary Lou and Snooky and the sweet music of life. A unredacted version of Mary Lou’s obituary may be found at https://www.sevenoaksfuneralhome.com/ where condolences may be sent to the family.
Presley C. Person
PANAMA CITY, Fla. – Presley C. (Sonny) Person, Jr., 89, of Panama City, Fla., passed away on Wednesday, September 11, 2024. He was born on July 8, 1935, in Phillip to the late Presley Person, Sr. and Thelma Whalen.
Presley’s parents moved to Velma in 1942, and he attended and graduated from Jeff Davis School in 1954. His family later moved to Water Valley.
From February 13, 1958, until December 31, 1981, Presley proudly served in the US Air Force.
He was an active member of the Catholic church for more than 60 years. He was also a lifetime member of AMVETS since 1989. He actively served, having integral part in multiple post positions & roles to include Trustee, Vice Commanders, and Finance Officer. He received several outstanding service awards from AMVETS, including AMVET of the year, 2013-2014 and Post Member of the Year, 2007-2008 & 2010-2011.
Presley was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, Mildred Provenza, Emma Lou (Lucy) Coleman, and Mary Nell Johnston; and two brothers, Bill Person and Sam Person.
Left to cherish his memory include his loving wife of 64 years, Marguerite Person; his children, Deborah Cardwell (Wayne), Paula Fussell (James), Presley Person, III (Joyce), and Daniel Person (Jennifer); grandchildren, Felicia Anderson (John), Angela Shalduha (Nathan), Patricia Cardwell, James Fussell, Jr., Wayne Cardwell, III, Presley Person, IV, Jedan Person, Dylan Person, Ethan Person, Elias Person, and Megan Person; great-grandchildren, Hadley Anderson, Ava Shalduha, Carson Anderson, Brayden Shalduha, and Carter Shalduha; a sister, Dorothy (Dot) Rudy; as well as numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.
A graveside service with military honors was held at Garden of Memories cemetery on Wednesday, September 18, at 2 p.m. with Fr. Richard Graham officiating.
Wallace Taylor Williamson
SLIDELL, La. – Wallace Taylor Williamson, a cherished husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and brother, passed away on September 12, 2024, in Slidell, Louisiana, at the age of 73.
Born on June 16, 1951, in Memphis to the late Taylor G. Williamson and Marjorie Wallace Williamson, Wallace grew to be a man of integrity, warmth, and multifaceted talents.
Wallace’s life was a testament to his steadfast dedication to both his country and his loved ones. After serving honorably for six years in the United States Navy, he continued his commitment to service by joining the United States Coast Guard, where he dedicated 15 years before retiring. His colleagues remember him as a man of great loyalty and professionalism, whose work ethic was matched only by his kindness.
Beyond his military service, Wallace was a devoted family man. He leaves behind his beloved spouse of 53 years, Lura Caudle Williamson, with whom he built a life filled with love, laughter, and shared adventures, including a son, Ian Williamson, along with his spouse, Amanda Williamson, and a daughter, Celina Bowles, along with her spouse, George Bowles. Wallace’s legacy continues through his grandchildren, Nikolas, Killian, Dorian, and Connor Williamson and Kaitlyn and Erika Bowles, as well as his great-grandchildren, Adam and Remy Williamson, who will carry forward the memories of their grandfather’s spirit and enduring affection. He also leaves behind a host of extended family members and friends, all of whom he loved greatly.
Wallace was the cherished brother of David Williamson, Bill Williamson, and Kristi Williamson Wagner. The bond he shared with his siblings was built on a foundation of shared history, mutual respect, and countless moments of joy. His role as a brother was one he treasured, and he will be profoundly missed.
Wallace’s life will be commemorated in a private ceremony. Wallace Taylor Williamson will be deeply missed, but the light he brought into the world will never fade.