Obituaries
Dennis Duane Meilstrup
The memorial service for Mr. Dennis Duane Meilstrup will be 3 p.m., Wednesday, April 26, at Riverwood Family, with visitation from 1-3 p.m.
Mr. Meilstrup, 80, of Brookhaven, died April 24, 2023, at his residence. He was born in South Bend, IN, February 25, 1943, to Henry Elmer Meilstrup and Nina Lucille Crouse Meilstrup.
Dennis served as minister through music to youth in several churches throughout the southeast before being called to missions. He served at First Baptist Pell City, AL; Morningview Baptist Church, Montgomery, AL; Petal-Harvey Baptist Church, Petal, MS; and Superior Avenue Baptist Church, Bogalusa, LA.
In 1983-84, he and the family lived in Zimbabwe, Africa, where he served as Logistics Coordinator for a Hunger Fund Project with IMB/SBC. In 1985, Dennis and Sherrie were commissioned as career missionaries to Argentina where they served for 22 years.
His favorite pastimes were golf, tinkering with cars, watching the Florida Gators football team, and spending time with his family. He will be greatly missed and never forgotten.
He is preceded in death by his parents, two sisters and 1 brother.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Sherrie W. Meilstrup; children, Duane S. Meilstrup (Jennifer), Devin J. Meilstrup (Jamie), Deron K. Meilstrup (Mary Beth); brother, Don Wiseman; nine grandchildren, Madeleine M. Roberson, Kathryn, Drew, Jake, Aidan, Asha, Zak, Kylie, and Tyler; and three great grandchildren, Nadia, Ivar, and Rilla R. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and other loving family members and friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention (www.imb.org/campaign/continuing-dennis-meilstrups-legacy).
Carolyn Diamond Day
The funeral service for Carolyn Diamond Day will be 11 a.m., Tuesday, April 25, at Clear Branch Baptist Church with burial in the church cemetery. Visitation is from 10 a.m. until the time of the service.
Mrs. Day, 81, of Brookhaven, died April 19, 2023, at her residence. She was born May 26, 1941, in Wesson, MS, to Jim and Virgie Ruth Diamond.
Mrs. Day is preceded in death by her husband, Jack W. Day; her parents; and one granddaughter, Brittany Lane Gill and brother, Ricky Diamond.
She is survived by her son, Jackie Nelson Day and wife, Kathy; brothers, Jimmy Diamond and wife, Sandra, and Ronnie Diamond and wife, Doris; granddaughter, Jessica Morris and husband, Devin; and five great grandchildren, Kaylee Anding, Madison Anding, Riley Touchstone, Gunner Gill, and Ryder Touchtone.
Brenda Gail Brown Case
The funeral service for Brenda Gail Brown Case will be 2 p.m., Monday, April 24, at Philadelphia Baptist Church with burial in the church cemetery. Visitation is from Noon until the time of the service at Philadelphia.
Mrs. Case, 74, of Wesson, died April 20, 2023. She was born May 17, 1948, to Hilton Wilson Brown, Sr. and Gertrude Irene Parsons Brown. She was a homemaker as well as working with Stahl Urban and the Auburn Garment Factory.
Mrs. Case is preceded in death by her parents; brother, Hilton Brown, Jr; sisters, Ann Callender and Sharon Hall; and brothers-in-law, Mitchell Case and Gary Case.
She is survived by her husband of 53 years, Terry Wayne Case; children, Jenny Jo Pepper (Jamie) and Matthew T. Case (Kandie); sisters, Shirley Smith (Puddin) and Frankie Leggett (Johnny); sisters-in-law, Glenda Crosby (Mike), Pam Jackson (Erwin), Patsy Case, and Joyce Brown; brothers-in-law, Claude Callender, Buddy Hall, and Kaylon Case (Brenda); four grandchildren, Georgianna Lewman (Casey), Wyatt Pepper (Darian), Rosa Pepper, and Matti Jo Case; and three great grandchildren, Tegan Lewman, Tatum Lewman, Tansley Lewman, and John Turner (due in July). She is also survived by her adopted sister, Lavern Hardin, as well as other loving family members and friends.
Don Keith Burns
Services for Mr. Don Keith Burns of Brookhaven are 11:00, Monday, April 24, 2023 at Riverwood Family with burial at Ruth Cemetery.
Visitation will be 5:00- 8:00 pm, Saturday, April 22, 2023 at Riverwood and will resume Monday from 10:00 until the time of the service.
Mr. Don Keith Burns, 72, passed away April 19, 2023 at his home.
He was born on February 6, 1951, to the late Rev. Dewitt Edwin Burns and Bonnie Alileen Raiford Burns.
Mr. Don was a Distributer for Little Debbie and retired in 2014. He was a member of Union Hall Baptist Church.
Preceding him in death were his parents; brother, Dwayne Edwin Burns and son, Daniel Edwin Burns.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 29 years, Nancy Leona Miles Brantley Burns; children, David Keith Burns and wife, Athena; Nancy Darlene Gray and husband Marion, William Harvey Brantley and wife, Bettie, Melissa Burns Geer and husband Ryan; sisters, Bonnie Dunn and Alice Mason, along with seven grandchildren, Jonathon Paul Burns, Keith Edwin Burns, Benton Blayze Burns, Daniel Chase Elam, William Mitchell Brantley, Braeden Kyle Brantley and Lauren McKenzie Gray and four great grandchildren.
He will be dearly missed by all that loved him.
Memorials can be made to Mission Dignity, 5005 LDJ Freeway, Ste 2200, Dallas Texas 75244-6152 or MissionDignity.org, 1-877-888-9409
Glen Allen Roberts
Services for Mr. Glen Allen Roberts of Wesson are 2:00 pm Saturday April 22, 2023, at Zion Hill Baptist Church with visitation from 12:00 until the time of service and burial at Church Cemetery.
Mr. Glen Allen Roberts, 80, passed away April 19, 2023, at his home.
He was born on February 6, 1943, to the late Franklin Allen Roberts and Julia Augusta Bass Roberts.
Mr. Roberts enjoyed hunting and fishing and loved spending time with his family and grandchildren.
He was a retired truck driver and was a member of Zion Hill Baptist Church.
Preceding him in death were his parents; brothers, Jimmy Harold Roberts and James Earl “Sonny” Roberts.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 62 years, Kathryn Sue Roberts; children, Beverly Holly and husband, Steve, Jerry Roberts and wife, Mary Jane and Connie Martin and husband, Stanley.
He is also survived by his brother, Danny Roberts and sisters, Betty Acy, Louise Granger and Shirley Granger; five grandchildren, eight great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. He will be dearly missed by all that loved him.
Darlene Annetta Stepic
Mrs. Darlene Annetta Stepic, 62, died April 18, 2023, at her home in Bogue Chitto, MS. She was born in Cleveland, OH, June 18, 1960, to William Clark and Annetta Wilson Clark. She was a loving wife and mother and looked to the needs of her family and home well.
Mrs. Stepic was a very artistic person; she enjoyed many different types of crafts. She also found great joy in nature through watching the beauty of butterflies and flowers. She was a compassionate, caring person and was always willing to help anyone in need. Darlene will be greatly missed and never forgotten.
She is preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Diane Martin and Donna Marie Franks; and brother-in-law, John Gump.
Those who remain to cherish her memory are her husband of 40 years, George Stepic; daughers, Erica Stepic, Stefanie Sowards, Jessica Lally, and Jackie Clark; son, Josh Stepic; brother, Billy Clark and wife, Claudia; sisters, Denise Clark and Debbie Gump; five grandchildren, Mya Mooney, Sage Stepic, Russell Lally, Sophia Sowards, and Lilly Sowards; brothers-in-law, Jerry Richardson and wife, Machele, Jimmy Stepic and wife, Faye; and sisters-in-law, Dorthy Treadway and husband, David and Joanne Halsten and husband, Rod. She is also survived by other loving family members and many friends.
Joe Frank Penn
There will be a Memorial Gathering from 2-3 p.m., Thursday, April 20, at Riverwood Family Funeral Service, for Mr. Joe Frank Penn.
Mr. Penn, 80, of Brookhaven, died April 15, 2023, at St. Dominics in Jackson, MS. He was born in Baton Rouge, LA, February 24, 1943, to Claude Penn, Sr. and Millie Cross Penn.
He was a self-employed contractor in the trucking and remediatim services.
Mr. Penn is preceded in death by his son, Kyle Houston Penn; brother, Freddie Penn; and sisters, Peggy Ann Seale, Sally Gahn.
Those who remain to cherish his memory are his wife of 59 years, Patricia Smith Penn; children, Patricia Annie Penn Peairs (Darin), Joe Frank Penn, Jr. (Melissa), Wendy Penn Foreman (Stephen); daughter-in-law, Cheryl Penn; brother, Claude Penn, Jr; sisters, Shirley Thompson and Patricia Ross; 12 grandchildren, Devin Peairs, Landen Winborne, Kristen Giurintano, Jade Foreman, Ashtyn Philipp, Ross Foreman, Miles Clevenger, Destiny Byer, Cheyenne Sears, Dallas Penn, Caitlin Penn, and Georgia Penn; 10 great grandchildren; as well as other loving family members and friends.
Grace Aileen Little
The funeral service for Grace Aileen Little will be 2 p.m., Wednesday, April 12, at Riverwood Family, with interment in Macedonia Baptist Church Cemetery. Visitation will be from Noon until the time of service on Wednesday.
Mrs. Little, 86, of Brookhaven, died April 7, 2023, at her residence. She was born May 11, 1936. Mrs. Little was a loving and kind wife, mother and grandmother, even seeing the birth of great great grandchildren. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
She is preceded in death by her husband, William C. Little, Jr.; her parents, Benjamin Zachariah Byrd and Allie Nevels Byrd; son, Jessie Wayne Little; grandson, Anthony D. Little, Jr.; and great granddaughter, Samantha Jolene; siblings, B.Z. Byrd, John Byrd, Earl Byrd, Helen Radau, Faye Ransbottom, Anita McDaniel, and Libby Walker.
Mrs. Little is survived by her children, Henry Little (Lisa), Carrie Little and Anthony Little (Robbie); brother, James Wiley Byrd (Nancy); sister, Linda Sue Szwedt (Ted); 13 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren, and 10 great, great grandchildren.
Thomas Timothy Smith
The funeral service for Thomas Timothy “Tim, the Eyeglasses Man” Smith will be 11 a.m., Saturday, April 15, at Riverwood Family with interment Riverwood Memorial Park. Visitation is from 5-8 p.m., Friday, April 14, at Riverwood and will resume Saturday from 10 a.m. until the time of service.
Tim, 64, of Brookhaven, died April 9, 2023, at his residence. He was born November 12, 1958, to Thomas “Bully” Smith and Christine Delaughter Smith. He was the owner of Ole Brook Optical and worked as an Optician until retirement. He enjoyed his work, meeting people of all ages and making sure their glasses had the perfect fit was important to Tim. He was an avid outdoorsman, going hunting and fishing with his daughter. Tim also liked to “cruising the coast” and enjoyed old classic cars. His greatest joy was found in spending time with his beautiful grandchildren. He was a passionate father and grandfather; his daughter and grandchildren were the greatest blessings in his life. Tim was a member of Fair River Baptist Church. He will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered by them all.
He is preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Johnnie Belinda Smith.
Those left to cherish his memory are his daughter, Nicole Prather and husband, Anthony; four grandchildren, Mason Prather, Weston Prather, Cohen Prather, and Hayden Prather; his former wife, Brenda Evans Sharp and her husband, John. He is also survived by other loving family members and friends.
Lois Aline Elkins Lightsey
The funeral service for Lois Aline Elkins Lightsey will be 11 a.m., Thursday, April 13, at Riverwood Family with interment in Mt Moriah Baptist Church Cemetery in Bogue Chitto. Visitation is from 5-8 p.m., Wednesday, April 12, at Riverwood and will resume from 9 a.m. until the time of service on Thursday.
Mrs. Lightsey, 83, died April 10, 2023, at her residence in Bogue Chitto. She was born in Longview, TX, June 28, 1939, to Thomas Cade Elkins and Eula Smith Elkins. She worked with Homelite Jacobson as a payroll clerk.
Mrs. Lightsey is preceded in death by her husband, Leland Kline “Pete” Lightsey; her parents; brothers, Earl P. Elkins, Tommy Cade Elkins, and Fred G. “Sonny” Elkins; sisters, Betty Carter, Frances Bessonette, and Shirley McClintock.
She is survived by her children, Vicki Lightsey Blackmon, Wendi Lightsey Ezell (Michael), and Nikki Lightsey Foreman (Wayne); 9 grandchildren, David Wallace (Ashley), Kris Ezell, Kilee Smith, Brittnie Davis (Brandon), Kaden Ezell (Elizabeth), Garrett Blackmon, Haylee Landry (Joseph), Amanda Rimes (Justin), and C.J. Blackmon; 16 great grandchildren; and her lifelong best friend, Sue Hiley. The family would like to thank the staff of Hospice Ministries, and a special thanks to Emily Rains; the staff of All at Home, with a special thanks to her sitter, Ana Katherine Boyd.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice Ministries 397 Brookhaven St, Brookhaven, MS 39601
