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March 25, 2008


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OBITUARIES

JANNIE B. RIVERS
1926-2008
HUNTINGDON: Jannie B. Rivers, 82, died Saturday, March 15, at Huntingdon Health and Rehabilitation Center. Funeral services were Wednesday, March 19, at 2 p.m. at Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church with Pastor Gene Shields officiating. Burial followed in Hopewell Cemetery.
Miss Rivers was born January 7, 1926 in Carroll County to the late William Joe Rivers and Rollie (Taylor) Rivers. She was a homemaker and a member of Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by five sisters, Jettie B. Butler, Nell Bailey, Dimple Weathers, Lessie Rivers, Willie Mae McCainey; and five brothers, Charles Rivers, Larmon Rivers, Willie B. Rivers, John Rivers and Jim Rivers.
Survivors include: one daughter, Barbara (John D.) Williams of Clarksburg; four sisters, Norma (Nathanial) Mebane and Voila Rivers, both of Huntingdon, Robena Hart of Wildersville, Francis Gooch of Lexington; and one brother, Roy Lee Harris of Huntingdon; two grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews.
Chase Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

CORY ALEXANDER HODGE
1991-2008
PARIS: Cory Alexander Hodge, 16, died Tuesday, March 18, at Henry County Medical Center. Funeral services were Friday, March 21, at 1 p.m. at Ridgeway Funeral Home with Roger Hollingsworth officiating. Burial followed in Bethlehem Cemetery in Henry.
Mr. Hodge was born April 7, 1991 in Martin. He was an 11th grade student at Henry County High School, worked at Tom's Steak House and was a member of Westside Baptist Church in Camden. He was preceded in death by his father, Paul Leonard Hodge.
Survivors include: his mother, Penny Turner (Joe) Hollingsworth of Paris; one sister, Pamela Nicole Hodge of Henry; maternal grandfather, Eddie Turner of Henry; maternal grandmother, Teresa H. Turner of Paris; paternal grandfather, Charlie (Elaine) Hodge of Paris; and paternal grandmother, Linda June (Kevin) Wanamaker of Henry.

ROBERT A. "BOB" CLARK, JR.
1966-2008
BRUCETON: Robert A. "Bob" Clark, Jr., 41, died Tuesday, March 17, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Huntingdon. Funeral services were Friday, March 21, at 11 a.m. at Bruceton Funeral Home with Bro. Bret Mebane and Bro. Dan Young officiating. Burial followed in Prospect Cemetery in Hollow Rock.
Mr. Clark was born July 17, 1966 in Huntingdon. He was the manager of 24/7 Fitness Gym in Huntingdon. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Dwight, Sr. and Nona Clark and his maternal grandfather, Robert "Roxie" Barnhart.
Survivors include: his parents, Robert A. "Bob" and Diana Barnhart Clark; one sister, Amy Mitchell of Jackson; one brother, Chris Clark of Southaven, Mississippi; and his maternal grandmother, Inez Barnhart of Bruceton.

CELESTE PARKER
1915-2008
MCKENZIE: Celeste Parker, 92, formerly of Henry County, died Wednesday, March 19, at McKenzie Health Care Center. Funeral services were Friday, March 21, at 1 p.m. at McEvoy Funeral Home with Bro. Roger Banks officiating. Burial followed in VanDyke Cemetery.
Mrs. Parker was born May 19, 1915 in Henry County to the late Ethelder Mizell and Susie Cannon Mizall. She was a Salant and Salant former employee and member of the East Wood Street Church of Christ. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Johnnie Henry Parker; one sister, Mary Foust; one brother, Joe Mizell; and one granddaughter, Melanie Parham.
Survivors include: one son, Keith Truman Parker of McKenzie; two sisters, Estelle Parker of Henry and Dorothy Diggs of Paris; one grandchild, four great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

RUTH HESTER WILSON
1924 - 2008
HOLLOW ROCK: Ruth Hester Wilson, 84, died Wednesday, March 19, at Life Care Center of Bruceton. Funeral services were Friday, March 21, at 1:00 p.m. at Chase Funeral Home with Bro. Bob White officiating. Burial followed in Prospect Cemetery.
Mrs. Wilson was born April 22, 1924 in Carroll County to the late Samuel Barney Hester and Nancy Elvira (Groom) Hester. She was a retired beautician for Wyatt's Beauty Shop and a member of the United Methodist Church of Hollow Rock. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Claude Wilson.
Survivors include: one son, Sammy Wilson of Ohio; and two sisters, Doris Pace of Alton, Illinois and Joyce Travis of Michigan.

VIRGINIA MAY FOWLER
1933-2008
DRESDEN: Virginia May Fowler, 74, of Dresden died Wednesday, March 19, at Volunteer Community Hospital. Funeral services were Friday, March 21, at 11 a.m. at Gallimore Funeral Home with Carl Evans officiating. Burial followed in Sunset Cemetery in Dresden.
Mrs. Fowler, a retired factory worker, was born August 11, 1933 in Gleason to the late Leonard Carrington and Janie Bates.
Survivors include: two daughters, Theresa Barner of Dresden and Marlene O'Mara of Nashville; two brothers, Robbie Carrington of Gleason and James Carrington of Clarksville; two sisters, June Evans of Dresden and Shirley Garrett of Sharon; three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

WADE R. WARE
1934-2008
HOLLOW ROCK: Wade R. Ware, 74, died Thursday, March 20, at Regional Hospital in Jackson. Funeral services were Saturday, March 22, at 2 p.m. at Dilday Funeral Home with Bro. Broadway officiating. Burial followed in Hollow Rock Primitive Baptist Cemetery.
Mr. Ware was born January 9, 1934 to the late Clyde and Mamie Phillips Ware. He was a retired employee of Henry I. Siegel and a Vietnam Navy veteran. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Willene Ware; one son, Ricky Dudney; and one sister, Linda Ware.
Survivors include: three daughters: Denise Waits of Yulee, Florida, Elaine Fehl of Milton, Florida and Faye Pruitt of McKenzie; one sister, Nellie Sue Brazell of Bandana, Kentucky; and 11 grandchildren.

JAMES WATSON "BUBBA" MARTIN
1934-2008
HUNTINGDON: James Watson "Bubba" Martin, 73, died Wednesday, March 19, at Baptist Memorial Hospital. Funeral services were Saturday, March 22, at 11 a.m. at Dilday Funeral Home with Bro. Fred Ward officiating. Burial followed in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Mr. Martin was born December 18, 1934 in Huntingdon to the late Kenneth Filmore and Lavinia Otera Watson Martin. He was a retired employee of Norandal, USA and a member of Huntingdon First Baptist Church. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a grandson, David Joshua Loyd; and one brother, Kenneth F. Martin, Jr.
Survivors include: his wife of 44 years, Dorothy Lane Martin; one daughter, Jennifer Martin Collins of Huntingdon; two sons, James Watson Martin, Jr. of Cordova, and Joseph Lane Martin of Oakland; and eight grandchildren.

JAMES FREDERICK "FRED" BATTON
1910-2008
McKENZIE: James Frederick "Fred" Batton, 97, died Wednesday, March 19, at McKenzie Regional Hospital. Funeral services are Friday, March 21, at 2:30 p.m. at McKenzie Church of Christ with Bro. Jim Roberts officiating. Burial followed at Mt. Olivet Cemetery.
Mr. Batton, a retired timber logger, was born July 30, 1910 in Cuba Landing to the late Andrew Jackson and Nora Bell Knighton Batton. He was a devoted deacon and active member of the McKenzie Church of Christ. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by one granddaughter, Hope Cowan.
Survivors include: his wife of 72 years, Helen Virginia Dial Batton of McKenzie; two daughters, Freddie Ghyers and Irene Daniels; two sons, Jackie Batton and Bruce Batton, all of McKenzie; one sister, Earline Morgan of South Bend, Indiana; one brother, Lonnie Batton of Dyersburg; six grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and three great-great grandchildren.
McKenzie Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

JIMMY T. GHYERS
1935-2008
MCKENZIE: Jimmy T. Ghyers, 72, died Saturday, March 22, at McKenzie Regional Hospital. Graveside services were Monday, March 24, at 11 a.m. at Mt. Olivet Cemetery with Bro. Jim Roberts officiating.
Mr. Ghyers was born December 25, 1935 in Caruthersville, Missouri to the late John Ghyers and Minnie (Mausey) Ghyers. He was the retired owner of Ghyers Logging Company.
Survivors include: his wife, Freddie Virginia (Batton) Ghyers of McKenzie; one son, Dale (Barbara) Ghyers of McKenzie; one daughter, Tina (David) Galey of McKenzie; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Brummitt Funeral Home of McKenzie was in charge of arrangements.

THOMAS RAY COOK
1921-2008
MCKENZIE: Thomas Ray Cook, 87, died Friday, March 21, at Regional Hospital of Jackson. Funeral services were Monday, March 24, at 2 p.m. at Brummitt Funeral Home in McKenzie with Rev. Scott Alford officiating. Burial followed in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in McKenzie.
Mr. Cook was born January 9, 1921 in McKenzie to the late H. Ray Cook and Carrie (Lee) Cook. He was retired from the post office in McKenzie.
Survivors include: his wife, June Morris Cook of McKenzie; one son, Dr. Phillip Cook of Dyersburg; one daughter, Betsy (Coburn) Barcroft of McKenzie; two brothers, Donald (Ann) Cook of Huntingdon and Paul (Verena) Cook of Memphis; three sisters, Maxie Bersey and Carolyn Cook Bishop, both of McKenzie, and Marie King of Desert Hot Springs, California; five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

MAXINE GURLEY
1926 - 2008
CLARKSBURG: Maxine Gurley, 81, died Thursday, March 20, at her home. Funeral services were Saturday, March 22, at 1 p.m. at Chase Funeral Home with Bro. Marshall Gurley officiating. Burial followed in Clarksburg Cemetery.
Mrs. Gurley was born December 23, 1926 in Carroll County to the late Lynn Seagraves and Mary (Robertson) Seagraves. She was a sewing machine operator for Publix Shirt Corporation and a member of the New Liberty Missionary Baptist Church. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by one son, Mark Gurley.
Survivors include: her husband of 61 years, Melvin Gurley; one son, Gregor (Brenda) Gurley of Cedar Grove; two sisters, Alma Bond and Ailene Pendergrass, both of Huntingdon; one brother, Billy (Mary) Seagraves of Bruceton; four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

COL. JOHN E. RANDLES
MILAN: Col. John E. Randles, 85, auctioneer for Ridgely Auction and Realty Co., died Thursday at Milan General Hospital. Funeral services were Tuesday, March 25, at 11 a.m. at Bodkin Funeral Home with burial in Ridgecrest Cemetery, Jackson.
Mr. Randles was a 50 year member of the Somerville Masonic Lodge #73; a member of the U.S. Coast Guard; a member of the National Association of Realtors; in 1979 he was the T.A.A. Auctioneer's Champion; he received a 10 year service award from R.H. Hickman Realty Company in 1998; he also received various awards of appreciation for community service; Ducks Unlimited, Civitan Club, etc. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Jean C. Randles; a son, Eddie Randles; a brother, Bill Randles and a stepson, Keith Fesmire.
Survivors include: his wife, Nancy Ann Randles; one son, John (Debra) Randles, Jr. of Chattanooga; two daughters, Judy Kuehner of Herrin, Illinois and Betty (Robert) Barger of Lavinia; one stepson, Lee Fesmire of Marion, Arkansas; one stepdaughter, Gloria Knott of Milan; one brother, Jack C. (Dorothy) Randles of Fallston, Maryland; seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

RICHARD H. KOTSCH
1935-2008
ATWOOD: Richard H. Kotsch, 73, died Friday, March 21, at his home. Funeral services were Tuesday, March 25, at 1 p.m. at McKenzie Funeral Home with Rev. Malcolm Norton officiating. Burial followed at Pisgah Cemetery in Atwood.
Mr. Kotsch was born March 19, 1935 in Albion, Michigan. He was the owner of Atwood Acres Trailer Park, a former Vice-President of Hill and Hill Truck Line in Houston, Texas, self-employed in sales and operations as a truck brokerage company, and also a former truck driver for Yellow Freight. He attended Milan First Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his father, Herbert P. Kotsch.
Survivors include: his wife, Alicia K. Hopkins Kotsch of Atwood; his mother, Frances Walker of Cabot, Arkansas; one daughter, Linda (Joe) Sheriff of Key Largo, Florida; two sons, Robert (Tammy) Kotsch of Paris and David (Teresa) Kotsch of Fairview; two stepsons, Kim (Sharon) Cato of McKinney, Texas and Kevin Cato of Atwood; one stepdaughter, Sue Cato of Clinton Twp., Michigan; one sister, Jackie Wilson of Cabot, Arkansas; five grandchildren, Davy, Daniel, and Dillon Kotsch, Joey and Lisa Sheriff; six step-grandchildren, Mark, Tom, Sam, Stephen, Cheyenne and Josie Cato; one great-granddaughter, Mya Kotsch; and one step-great-granddaughter, Lisa Cato; and several nieces and nephews.