Obituaries 08/14/2025
Peggy Carruth Brewer
TILLATOBA –Peggy Carruth Brewer, age 58, passed away Monday, August 11, 2025, at her mother-in-law’s home near Batesville.
A graveside service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, at Curtis Union Cemetery with Rev. Rickey Harris officiating. The family will receive friends prior to the graveside service from 9 to 11 a.m. at Wells Funeral Home in Batesville.
Peggy Carruth Brewer was born on April 21, 1967, in Ardmore, Tenn. to the late Will Mason Carruth Jr. and Kattie Sue Gatlin Carruth.
Having spent her formative years in Athens, Ala., she embraced new beginnings when she moved to Tillatoba in 2016. In her professional life, Peggy took pride in her role as the general manager at the Tillatoba Truck Stop, where her warm demeanor and leadership skills left a lasting impression on both colleagues and customers.
A devoted member of Tillatoba Baptist Church, Peggy exemplified faith and involvement within her community. Her commitment to her church was a reflection of her character, and her love for the Lord shone through in everything she did.
Peggy had a passion for arts and crafts, often finding joy in creating beautiful pieces that reflected her artistic spirit. She also cherished quiet moments spent fishing, where she found peace and happiness. Above all, Peggy adored her grandchildren and relished every opportunity to spend quality time with them, leaving an enduring legacy of love and warmth in their lives.
Peggy is survived by her husband, Michael “Scott” Brewer of Tillatoba; her three children, Talitha (Josh) Badalucco of Athens, Ala., Mark (Toni) Guisasola of Elkmont, Ala., and James “Jimmy” Fowler of Surprise, Ariz.; two brothers, James Carruth (Michelle) of Tony, Ala., and Richard Carruth of Athens, Ala.; nine grandchildren, Remington Ryan Guisasola, Kenlee Powers, Trey McWilliams, Hunter Adams, Kattie Davis, Mason Knight, Everli Badalucco, Selah Badalucco, and Everette James Fowler; and her mother-in-law and caregiver, Teresa Browning of Batesville.
Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by one brother, Billy Carruth.
Joyce Labon Morris Hughes
COFFEEVILLE – Joyce Labon Morris Hughes, 83, of Coffeeville, passed away Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, at Baptist Memorial Hospital–Calhoun in Calhoun City.
She was born Aug. 15, 1941, in Calhoun County to Thomas Eldridge and Mildred Lavon Shepard Morris. Joyce worked for a number of years at Holley Carburetor in Water Valley and later was co-owner of Occasions and Petals Flower Shop in Coffeeville. She was a devoted member of First Baptist Church–Coffeeville. Joyce was a loving and devoted wife to Bill and was deeply loved by all of her friends and family.
Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 10, at First Baptist Church–Coffeeville with Rev. Craig Baker and Rev. Bobby Cobb officiating. Interment followed in the Coffeeville Cemetery. Deacons of First Baptist Church–Coffeeville served as pallbearers. McKibben and Guinn Funeral Service had charge of arrangements.
Survivors include a host of nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, James Leon “Bill” Hughes; a sister, Peggy Morris; and two brothers, Thomas “Goose” Morris and Dale Morris.
Nellie Elouise Parker
TILLATOBA – Nellie Elouise Parker, 94, of Tillatoba, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, at Providence Assisted Living in Grenada.
A memorial service was held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 9, at McKibben and Guinn Funeral Service in Grenada with Rev. Rickey Harris officiating. Family and friends gathered one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
Elouise was born Dec. 20, 1930, in Doddsville to Alonzo and Elzada Cook Williams. On Aug. 26, 1950, she married Herman Parker in Cleveland. She was employed at Baxter Laboratories in Cleveland until her retirement. Elouise found great joy in raising her children and grandchildren, and above all, she deeply loved the Lord.
She was a devoted member of Tillatoba Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Herman; her son, Barry Parker; two brothers, Leon and Dennis Williams; and one sister, Wilodene Burrell.
Survivors include two sons, Kenny Parker of Tillatoba and Mike (Jackie) Parker of Pearl; a daughter-in-law, Diane (John) Parker Maples of Pleasant Plains, Ark.; four grandchildren, Michelle (Phil) Parker Williams, Kimberly (Mark) Parker Scutch, Amy (Cameron) Parker Wood, and Michael (Rebecca) Parker; eight great-grandchildren, Nathan and Carson Williams, Cameron and Madison Morris, Sophie and Ainsley Scutch, and Mary Peyton and Skylar Parker; and numerous nieces and nephews.
McKibben and Guinn Funeral Service had charge of arrangements.
George Rayford Wilbourn
WATER VALLEY – George Rayford Wilbourn, 94, of Water Valley, passed away peacefully at his home Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025.
Rayford was born July 18, 1931, in Water Valley to Lucy Blanton Wilbourn and Pete J. Wilbourn. He was a worker all his life, starting at the age of six.
After attending Northwest Community College, he taught school and coached basketball for a short time at Big Creek. He went on to graduate from Mississippi State University with a degree in agriculture. He started work for the Mississippi Highway Department in 1957 and retired in 1991. He was instrumental in organizing the Jeff Davis Rural Water Association and served many years on its board. Rayford was an avid hunter and loved the land. He enjoyed traveling out west with friends.
Survivors include his devoted wife of 68 years, Patsy Harmon Wilbourn; his son, Jerry (Tonya) Wilbourn; his daughter, Elizabeth (Lee) McAnally; his granddaughter, Jeri Kathryn McAnally; a sister and brother-in-law, Buster and Sue Jackson; and a brother-in-law, Howard Harmon, all of Water Valley.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his sisters, Virginia Wilbourn Hendricks and Peggy Wilbourn Shelton; and a brother-in-law, Gerald Harmon.
Visitation was held Saturday, Aug. 9, in the Gardiner Room at Seven Oaks Funeral Home. The funeral service followed at 2 p.m. in the Henry Chapel of Seven Oaks with Rev. Billy Childs officiating. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
Seven Oaks Funeral Home had charge of arrangements.