Obituaries 08/15/19
Mozelle Mae Bolaus
WATER VALLEY—Mozelle Mae Bolaus, age 74, died peacefully Wednesday, August 7, 2019, in Baptist Memorial Hospital at Oxford.
Born September 27, 1944, in Hickory, North Carolina, she was the daughter of the late George and LaLa Mae Jennings Absher. Mrs. Bolaus worked in the manufacturing field most of her working career. She enjoyed jewelry shopping on QVC, collecting all sorts of knick-knacks, with an affinity for porcelain dolls. However, her greatest joy was spending time with her family.
Visitation was held Thursday, August 8, in the Gardiner Room of Seven Oaks Funeral Home from 5 to 7 p.m. A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Mae is survived by two daughters, Carla Peacock and Lisa Green, both of Water Valley; two brothers, Bud Absher and Ray Absher; nine grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
Along with her parents, Mae was preceded in death by two sons, Jimmy Brown and Tommy Brown; and two brothers, Amos Absher and Wayne Absher.
Rachel Lee Campbell Herod
LITTLETON, Colo. – The first line of every obituary sums up the life of the person loved. One sentence is not enough to describe the depth of love for Rachel Lee Campbell Herod, who the Lord called home, at the age of 84. She passed peacefully, with her eldest son present, on the morning of July 30, 2019, in Littleton, Colorado.
Born in Pittsboro, Mississippi, Rachel was raised in nearby Bruce before settling in the town of Water Valley. Here she attended and graduated from high school, married, worked, raised her family, and made a warm and loving home.
Raised in a farming family, Rachel knew hard work. She was the oldest of seven children born to the late Mr. Silas Campbell and Mrs. Willie Victoria Steen Campbell. Rachel is preceded in death by her brothers, Silas William Campbell (Cecil), Oscar Campbell (Betty), Ishmael Campbell (Georgia), Mitchell Campbell (Mildred), her loving son, Michael Glen Herod (Bertina), and her husband, John Watson Herod.
Rachel took great pride in all she did to provide for her family. She loved and kept a beautiful garden and flowers. She was an excellent cook who made weekday spreads seem like Sunday suppers. At Rachel’s table there was always room for one more. She was known for her award-winning squash casserole, wonderful cakes and desserts. She and her late-husband, John, opened their hearts, never forgetting sick or shut-in neighbors and friends. They were “meals-on-wheels” for family and friends in Water Valley, serving up and delivering many of their home prepared meals.
Rachel was an avid quilter. In every stitch, she sewed a binding of her love. She shared her quilts with her children and grandchildren to celebrate special occasions. Wrapped in that love are her five heartbeats—stepdaughter, Charessa Diane Herod Brown, CPT (Ret. US Army) Johnny Wayne Herod (Cynthia), Barbara Herod Hence, PhD-abd, Valerie Herod Belay (Mesfin Belay, PhD) and MSgt (Ret US Air Force) Anthony Bernard Herod; ten treasured grandchildren—Jerrell Herod, MD (Natalie), Rachelle Herod Aiken (David), Yoshia Hence, William Deon Hence, LCDR Marcus Herod, MD (Elaine Riefkohl-Ortiz, MD), Colorado House Representative Leslie Herod, Maia Belay Roberts (Wiley), Raven Belay, Paulos Belay and Ashley Herod Wambach (Nick); and eight great-grandchildren whose presence brought her joy—Alexander, Henry and Elizabeth Herod (Jerrell), Kendra Hence (Deon), and Aria, Lena, Isabella and Rowan Wambach (Ashley).
Rachel was blessed with an abundance of love that comes from being a member of a large family. To share in that blessing, she leaves two siblings – O.V. Campbell and Annie Campbell Robinson (William), four sisters-in-law, one brother-in-law and a host of nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, cousins, and close friends. The presence of family and friends truly gave her comfort and joy.
Over the years, Rachel was a diligent worker outside the home. She sharpened her sewing skills while employed at Big Yank Corporation. She completed complex precision measurement and statistical training courses necessary for her job as a Quality Inspector for the automotive supplier, Borg Warner. Rachel maintained friendships with many co-workers long after she retired.
Although illness plagued her later years, Rachel clung to her faith. Gospel music filled her days and nights, bringing her comfort. She credited her upbringing in Zion Springs Missionary Baptist Church in Bruce with instilling her with the love of this soul-filling music. When time and illness stole her ability to attend regular services, her East Providence Baptist Church family in Oxford brought church to her door. Even while visiting family, far from home in the chill of Michigan, Rachel was found faithfully worshiping in the warmth of God’s light attending Transfiguration Church and Hartford Memorial Baptist Church.
Rachel’s family gives thanks to the Lord that through every trial in her life she remained strong, faithful and gracious. She was smart and full of spirit, and as loving as she is loved. Her family and friends miss her dearly.
Rachel’s abundant life will be celebrated with a wake from 4 to 6 p.m. on August 9 at Belle Memorial Funeral Home in Bruce; and with a service at 11 a.m. on August 10 at the church founded by her brother, Ishmael Campbell, the Church of God Our Father and Lord Jesus Christ, in Calhoun City. Burial will follow services at Zion Springs Baptist Church in Bruce.
Memorials may be made to the Hospice Foundation of America (https://www.hospicefoundation.org) or the Arthritis Foundation (https://arthritis.org) in Rachel’s name.
John Robert Kendall, Jr.
CASCILLA—John Robert Kendall, Jr., age 71, passed away Thursday evening August 1, 2019, in his home.
The family received friends Saturday, August 2, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Chapel of Newsom Funeral Home at Charleston, and again on Sunday, August 4, from 1 p.m. until service time, which began at 2 p.m. in the Chapel of the Funeral Home. Interment followed, with military honors, in North Shady Grove Cemetery in Cascilla.
Mr. Kendall was a retired military tech, a member of the 631st Battalion, where he made a great impression on his comrades. He believed in helping others and he dearly loved his family and friends. He was an avid self-taught woodsman, as well as an avid hunter and fisherman.
He is survived by his daughters, Tammy Hyde of Silverhill, Ala. and Tonya M. Kendall of Tupelo; his son, DeWayne Kendall of Water Valley; his father, John R. Kendall, Sr. of Cascilla; sisters, Joetta Kendall of Columbus, Leora Kendall of Missouri, Johnna Sue Kendall of Iowa, and Christine Haddan of Ranken, Ga.; a brother, Ira Kendall (Verla) of Cascilla; nine grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Mr. Kendall was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia Ann Johnson Kendall; his mother, Frances Spears Kendall; and several brothers.
Gary Mitchell King
OXFORD—Gary Mitchell King, 66, died peacefully surrounded by family on Sunday, July 28, in Oxford Health & Rehab at Oxford.
The funeral service was held at 11 a.m. Thursday, August 1, in St. Andrews United Methodist Church, with Rev. Billy Owen officiating. Burial followed in Oxford Memorial Cemetery. Visitation preceded the service in the church at 9 a.m. until service time.
Born in Calhoun County, Mr. King was a son of the late Harold Wayne and Erma Jean Lindsey King. Commander Sergeant Major King retired after serving 37 years as a dedicated soldier from full-time active service in the Mississippi Amy National Guard for the 631st Field Artillery Brigade. He attended St. Andrews United Methodist Church. An outdoorsman, Gary enjoyed hunting deer and tending his horses and cattle on his farm. An exercise enthusiast who enjoyed all athletics, he was an avid Ole Miss fan. The priority of his life though was family—Gary enjoyed spending time with family and friends.
Survivors include his wife of 45 years, Wini Crowson King of Oxford; sons, Matthew Wayne King of Oxford and Benjamin Justin King (Sarah) of Evans, Ga.; a sister, Gloria Wilbourn of Grenada; a brother, Steve King of Water Valley; and his three grandchildren, Conner Seth King, Allison Jane King, and Kenna Rose King.
In honor of Mr. King’s service to his country, the flag of the United States Army National Guard was flown at Waller Funeral Home.
Ivy Allen Rucker
WATERLOO, IOWA—Ivy Allen Rucker died August 10, 2019.
Born October 19, 1963, in Water Valley, Mr. Rucker was a son of the late Allen and Mary Louise Rucker. In his younger years, he was a star left-handed baseball pitcher who would draw crowds to see him pitch. As he grew older, he began working in building and road construction.
He is survived by three brothers, Warren Clinton Rucker (Greta) of Iowa, Andrew Rucker of Como, and Frank Allen Rucker of Water Valley; four sisters, Dorothy Louise Stafford (Richard) of Water Valley, Ann Marie Rucker of Waldorf, Maryland, Martha Jean Montgomery (Ralph) of Aurora, Colorado, and Katrina Baker (Jai) of Gibsonville, North Carolina; and a very dear friend, Dawn Reed. Ivy is also survived by a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Marbell Reed Rucker.
The funeral service in Waterloo, Iowa was held Saturday, August 10, at 1 p.m., with Rev. Joseph Polk of Christian Fellowship Baptist Church officiating.
A local memorial service will be held Saturday, August 17, beginning at 1 p.m. in the House of Prayer Church Of God In Christ on Mill Street with Supt. Moses Wright officiating.
Thomas Lee Tyler
WATER VALLEY—Thomas Lee Tyler, age 69, of Water Valley, died peacefully Friday, August 9, 2019, in his home.
Born March 4, 1950, in Water Valley, he had worked in the construction business as a heavy equipment operator. He enjoyed fishing, working in the yard and being around his family.
The funeral service began at 2 p.m. Tuesday, August 13, in the Henry Chapel of Seven Oaks Funeral Home, after the family received friends two hours prior to the service. Burial was in Bayson Chapel Cemetery.
Thomas is survived by his daughter, Sandy Tyler of Water Valley; one brother, Jimmy Dale Tyler; two sisters, Martha White and Janie Tyler; two grandchildren, Lori Wilson and Donald Wilson, III; special friends and family, Tony Gooch, Bobby Neely, Joseph Sheffield, and Charles Tyler.
Along with his parents, Thomas was preceded in death by one brother, Butch Tyler, and one sister, Leve Sheffield.