Obituaries 11/07/2024
Odis Jean Jones
COFFEEVILLE – Odis Jean Jones, 94, of Coffeeville passed away Sunday, November 3, 2024 at her residence. She was born December 16, 1929 in Yalobusha County to Charles Otis and Eula Langham Terrell.
Odis Jean spent a lifetime in service to others as she worked as a registered nurse. She lovingly cared for the sick for over 40 years having retired (two times) from Yalobusha General Hospital as well as Sta-Home Health. Odis Jean was blessed with a green thumb and loved spending time gardening and tending to her flowers. She was a member of First Baptist Church – Coffeeville.
Funeral services to honor her remarkable life will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, November 7, at First Baptist Church – Coffeeville with Rev. Craig Baker officiating. Interment will follow in the Elam Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. until service time Thursday at the church.
Jay Allen, Smiley Arrington, Chester Ayers, Justin Ayers, Cody Jones and Scott Tribble will honor Odis Jean by serving as pallbearers and carry her to rest in the Elam Cemetery. McKibben and Guinn Funeral Service in Grenada is in charge of arrangements.
Survivors include her son, Terry Jones (Patricia) of Coffeeville; a daughter-in-law, Debra Beckwith (Jerry) of Coffeeville; four grandchildren, Kim Allen (Jay), Shannon Jones, Cody Jones (Jessica) and Scott Tribble (April); seven great-grandchildren, Ali Jones, Megan Jones, Audrey Allen, Jake Allen, Madelyn Jones, Allen Tribble and Luke Tribble; and two great-great-grandchildren, Bray and Dallas Higdon.
Odis Jean is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Griffin Jones; a son, Gerry Jones; a sister, Erma Faye Terrell; a brother, Jimmy Coulter and a grandson, Brian Jones.
Ermine Ray Schmitz
COFFEEVILLE – Mr. Ermine Ray Schmitz, Jr., 77, of Coffeeville, passed away Saturday, November 2, 2024 at Baptist Memorial Hospital – Desoto in Southaven. He was born August 19, 1947 in Water Valley to Ermine Ray, Sr. and Deryl Willingham Schmitz.
Ray, Jr., was a graduate of Coffeeville High School and attended Northwest Junior College where he was on the basketball team. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed hunting as well as watching any kind of sporting event on television. Ray Jr. retired as a supervisor with Kellwood in Coffeeville then later spent time farming and working in the dirt and excavation business. He was a member of the Coffeeville Methodist Church. Known by many as “Daddy Rabbit,” Ray Jr. was a gifted conversationalist and made friends wherever he went. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, November 6, at First Baptist Church in Coffeeville. Rev. Craig Baker, Rev. Dennis Dorris and Rev. Truman Scarborough will officiate. Interment will follow in the Elam Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service Wednesday all at First Baptist Church – Coffeeville.
Bud Adams, Dennis Brown, Josh Campbell, Troy Campbell, Will Pilcher and Ray Schmitz, III will honor Ray Jr. by serving as pallbearers and carry him to rest in the Elam Cemetery.
Honorary pallbearers include Tony Bell, Emmitt Brown, Pat Dunn, Kai Holloway, Samy McCracken, Eddie Simmons, Walker Waldo, Mac Wilbourn and members of the Scuna Deer Club. Arrangements were entrusted to McKibben and Guinn Funeral Service in Grenada
Survivors include daughters, Angela Dorris (Dennis) of Water Valley and Ingrid Holloway (Kyley) of Grenada; a son, Ray Schmitz, III (Lori) of Coffeeville; a step-daughter, Shanna Taylor (Rob) of Brooklyn, Ark.; a sister, Trudy Simmons of Tillatoba; 12 grandchildren, Whitney Massey(BJ), Will Pilcher, Jr., Paisley Waldo, Walker Waldo, Annabelle Yelverton, Hydi Rose Holloway, Aiden Yelverton, Alivia Yelverton, Kai Holloway, Ray Schmitz, IV, Sarah Grace Taylor and Austin Taylor; and two great-grandchildren, Dawson Waldo and Brianna Massey.
He is preceded in death by his parents and a son-in-law, William Pilcher, Sr.
Kimberly Elizabeth Shelton
SARDIS – Kimberly “Kim” Elizabeth Shelton left her earthly home on October 28, 2024, at Coles Point in Sardis at the age of 45.
Kim was born on July 15, 1979, in Water Valley to Darby Jean Thompson and Joel Richard Shelton. She was a member of Jumpers Chapel, where she recommitted to her faith and was baptized on June 5, 2022. Kim attended Water Valley High School before leaving school to get her GED. After obtaining her GED, she attended Northwest Mississippi Community College and earned a degree in Child Development. Kim had a passion for working for children, but due to poor health, she was unable to put her degree to use. Kim was a loving daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, and friend who spent as much time as she could making memories with those she loved. She will forever be remembered for her love of children, huge heart, and giving nature.
Kim is survived by her father, Joel Shelton (Ann); three children, Brooke Maloch (Thomas), Blake Little (Taylor), and Ethan Prestridge (Jae); a bonus son, Wesley Prestridge (Chelsea); five grandchildren, Keeley Maloch, Winston Maloch, Dean Maloch, Caroline “Care Bear” Little, and Amelia Prestridge; two brothers, Kristopher Shelton (Angie) and Jacob Shelton (Trina); three bonus sisters, Amanda Provine (Will), Elizabeth Gilpin, and Vanessa Rayburn (Wallace); along with many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews,and friends.
Kim is preceded in death by her grandparents, Nancy and Aubrey Ray Thompson and Betty and James Shelton; her mother, Darby Thompson Shelton; and one sister, Kasey “Doodle” Lynn Shelton.
A memorial service will be held Nov. 9 at Gatewood Church of God in Coffeeville at 11 a.m. Bro. Michael Haas (Gatewood Church of God) and Bro. Bobby Jones (Jumper’s Chapel) will officiate. Those that wish to contribute to Kim’s Memory are asked to make a donation to a charity of their choice in her name in lieu of flowers.
Allen Boyd Willis
WATER VALLEY – Allen Boyd Willis of Water Valley passed from this life on Friday, November 1, 2024. He was born in Marks on August 9, 1951.
A proud graduate of Crowder High School, Allen excelled in football and track, earning multiple awards. He went on to Northwest Community College to study electronics and played football on scholarship. After college, Allen joined the United States Marines, serving with honor until his discharge in 1978. He then returned to Memphis where he worked as a heavy machinery operator. Known for living life on his own terms, Allen found joy in the great outdoors and cherished time spent in nature, especially by the lake.
Allen is survived by his sister, Helen Surrette; his nephews, Cameron Surrette (Iris) and Byron Surrette (Brandi), all of Water Valley; along with his niece Pricilla Dingler (Donnie) of Panama City Beach, Fla.
Allen is preceded in death by his parents, Lucian Willis and Dorothy Willis
A funeral service is scheduled at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, November 6, in the Henry Chapel at Seven Oaks Funeral Home where friends and family will gather to celebrate Allen’s life and legacy.