Obituaries 01/30/2025
Michael Terrance Carr
WATER VALLEY – Michael Terrance Carr, 63, of Water Valley, passed away on January 21, 2025, at his residence. Michael was born on September 25, 1961 in Centralia, Ill., the son of Walter and Geraldine Woodard Carr, Jr. Michael relocated to Water Valley at an early age and was reared by his grandmother, Tennessee Carr.
Michael was a member of Martin Street Church of Christ. He graduated from Water Valley High School and attended Northwest Mississippi Community College. Michael faithfully served his country and was a retired U.S. Army Reservist. He worked as a custodial work leader at Veterans Administrations in Oxford.
Michael enjoyed fishing, gardening and sketching. He was a people person who never met a stranger.
A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date.
He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Linda Wilson Carr; and two sisters, Cheryl Carr and Michelle Roby. He is survived by three sons, Terrance Carr, Donalvin Wilson and Demarcus Wilson; one daughter, Nikki Wilson; three brothers, Tharwin Carr, Walter Carr, III, and Tony Walton; three sisters, Joette Carr, Melissa James and Justina Carr; 10 grandchildren; one uncle, Joe Willie; and an aunt, Rubye Carr, who was very special to him in life.
Peggy Lou Coker
CLINTON – Peggy Lou Coker, age 76, resident at Clinton Healthcare Center, of Clinton, died Thursday, January 23, 2025, at St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson.
Born March 27, 1948, Peggy Lou was the youngest of nine children born to Vernie and Odell Coker of the Walnut Community in Vance. She attended Lambert High School. Peggy cherished watching butterflies fly from flower to flower and had a deep affection for Elvis’ music. Above all, she loved her family dearly.
Peggy Lou is survived by two children, Schelle Goodman of Terry and Kenneth Johnson of Jackson; three siblings, Jane Williams of Spokane, Wash, Cecil Coker of Batesville, and Joan Godsey of Brandon; and five grandchildren.
Along with her parents, Peggy is preceded in death by one child, William Quay Johnson; her siblings Mary Frances Moore, Mary Catherine Ward, Frances Inez Coker, Thomas Coker and Vera Ard.
The service was held Monday, January 27, in the Henry Chapel of Seven Oaks Funeral Home with Bro. Billy Childs officiating. Burial followed at Forrest Memorial Gardens in Batesville. Seven Oaks Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Charles Peets
VICKSBURG – Charles “Charlie” Peets passed away Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025 at the age of 92. Charlie was a devout Christian, patriot and educator.
He was a longtime member of Vicksburg’s First Baptist Church and was honorably discharged from the Army of the United States with the rank of corporal. Charlie’s devotion to higher education began at Delta State University, where he met the love of his life, Mary Jean (Abel) Peets (deceased). He later pursued a masters degree at the University of Mississippi and enjoyed supporting his Rebels. Charlie positively influenced many young lives as an educator, football coach and school administrator. He was a successful football coach at many high schools in Mississippi including Water Valley High School where he served as head coach for three seasons from 1960 to 1962 posting a 24 wins, four losses and one tie. He was inducted into the Mississippi Association of Coaches Hall of Fame in 1995.
Charlie continued his support of education after retiring from the Mississippi school system and was instrumental in the organizational effort to build the Vicksburg-Warren County Campus for education in conjunction with Hinds Junior Community College. He served as an advisor for the organization for many years and was the chairman in May 2019 when he was honored with the naming of the Charles Peets Multipurpose Room.
Family was extremely important to Charlie (Poppy) and he loved spending time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He taught them to play sports, hunt, get an education and to be honorable. Charlie was predeceased by his parents, George and Eloise (Jordan) Peets; a brother, George Peets Jr.; a sister, Virginia (Peets) Orester; and his devoted wife, Mary Jean Abel Peets.
He is survived by his sister, Betty Jean Therrien; children, Tracey Dellacona (Sal) and Brad Peets (Stephanie); grandchildren, Leah Hamilton, Lindsey Moriarty (Brad), Ashley LaBarre (Seth), Khaki Sherman (Matt), Brett Peets, and Katelyn Peets; and great grandchildren, Ava, Brayden, Rivers, Reed and John Abram; as well as loving nieces, extended family and great friends.
Visitation was held Saturday, Jan. 25, at 9 a.m. with the Funeral Service following at 10 a.m. at the First Baptist Church Chapel, 1607 Cherry St., Vicksburg. Burial followed at Greenlawn Gardens Cemetery.
Bettye Ann Gray Tritt
COFFEEVILLE – Bettye Ann Gray Tritt, 89, of Coffeeville, passed away Saturday, January 25, 2025 at the Tallahatchie General Extended Care Facility in Charleston. She was born March 23, 1935 in Yalobusha County to James Powell and Clara Virginia Elizabeth Harrison Gray.
Bettye was a devoted homemaker and a faithful member of Pine Grove Baptist Church. She had also worked at Pepper Rite in Memphis and later at Kellwood in Coffeeville. Bettye will long be remembered for her sweet demeanor and the deep love and devotion she had for her family.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, January 28 at Pine Grove Baptist Church in Yalobusha County with Rev. Truman Scarborough officiating. Her grandsons honored her by serving as pallbearers. Gaylon Gray, David Spann, Holly Dukes, Hannah Griffin, Ally Towles, Wanda Shaw-Terry, Justin Brunson, Wendy Hodge, Karlee Manues, and Dianne Brewer served as honorary pallbearers. McKibben & Guinn Funeral Service in Grenada had charge of arrangements.
Survivors include two daughters, Lawanda Tharpe and Dawn Tritt of Coffeeville; a son, Ronnie Tritt (Amanda) of Grenada; a sister, Shirley Edwards of Coffeeville; eight grandchildren, Shannon Tritt, Nicole Fleming, Kevin Tritt, Kenneth Tharpe, Dalton Hughes, Keifer Hughes, Hannah Allbritton and Parks Wilbourn; 13 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.
Bettye is preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, James William Gray and Henry Dean Gray.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital or the Pine Grove Baptist Church Cemetery Fund.