The funeral service for Mr. Julius Edward “Sonny” Leake, Jr. will be 2 p.m.,

Friday, February 28, 2020, at Riverwood Family, with interment at

Calvary Baptist Church Cemetery. Visitation is from 5-9 p.m., Thursday evening,

at Riverwood, resuming at 1 p.m. Friday until the time of the service.

Mr. Leake, 69, of Bogue Chitto, passed from this life February 26, 2020, at

Southwest Regional Medical Center. He was born in Amite County, MS

August 25, 1950, to Julius Edward Leake and Lola Wroten Leake.

He is preceded in death by his parents and sister, Johnnie Ann Brister.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Janie Leake; children,

Jason Leake and wife, Stacy, Justin Leake and wife, Katrina, Mickey Wallace,

Marsha McCaffrey and husband, Tate, all of Bogue Chitto; brothers,

Dwain Leake and wife Kay and Dudley Leake, all of Jayess; sister,

Judy Moore, of Hammond, LA; seven grandchildren, Grant Leake,

Colby Kirkland, Karly Leake, Jacob, J.T., Macie and Maddi McCaffrey,

all of Bogue Chitto; and step-father, Charles Ray Cothern, of Jayess; and

mother-in-law, Clara Reid, of Bogue Chitto. He also leaves behind his

beloved dog, Koko, and a host of nieces and nephews and other loving family members and friends.

Services for Rev. James Merrill Kultau of Brookhaven are 11:00 am Saturday, February 29, 2020

at Riverwood Family with burial at New Salem Baptist Church Cemetery.

Visitation is Friday, February 28, from 5:00-8:00 pm at Riverwood.

Rev. James Merrill Kultau, 66, went to be with his Lord on February 24, 2020, at his residence.

He was born on December 2, 1953, to the late Ronald Michael Kultau and Florence Theresa Gentile Kultau.

Mr. James was a Southern Baptist Minister and loved Southern Gospel Music.

He is preceded in death by his parents.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Isabel Giron Kultau; daughter, Amber Charleen Roper; son, Adam Christopher Ervin;

brothers, Cary Kultau and Scott Kultau; sister, Stephanie Kultau; along with

4 grandchildren, Tricia Janine Morales, Jeremy Robert Frost, Kinsley Leah Ervin, Kaylee Addison Ervin.

Carolyn M. Smith, 83, of Wesson, MS, passed away peacefully early Sunday, February 23, 2020. Born February 6, 1937,

as the only child of Carol W. and Evelyn Thetford Smith, Mrs. Smith was born in the old Rider House on the banks of the

Homochitto River, situated close to Pleasant Hill in Copiah County, MS. Carolyn

spent her formative years in an adventurous fashion while surrounded by loving family and a unique cast of characters

that would help shape her into the interesting, kind and beautiful woman that she became. After the depression, the Smiths

moved to what would become their family farm in Union Church, MS. It was here that Mrs. Smith further fostered her

life-long love for learning, animals, the land, and people from all walks. From a long line of educators, Carolyn knew

from a young age that she wanted to be a schoolteacher. She excelled in classes, graduating early from high school and

enrolled in college at the age of 16. Mrs. Smith graduated from Copiah-Lincoln Junior College and Mississippi College

and attended Texas Christian University in Fort Worth. She taught in Mississippi Public Schools for the entirety of her

career. Carolyn enjoyed playing piano, taking art classes and was an active member of Beta Sigma Phi. Mrs. Smith was

an avid gardener who's love for flowers earned her "yard of the month" awards. While she loved teaching and gardening,

her passion was research and field genealogy, a hobby she so loved and was thankfully able to enjoy late into life. Carolyn

found much pleasure in helping others and especially to understand their family's history. She will long be remembered for

her love of family, helpful nature, warm smile, silly sense of humor, and ability to converse with anyone (and everyone). 

Mrs. Smith is survived by her loving husband of 58 years, Edwin L. Smith, along with their three beloved sons, Lorne Smith

of Wesson, Lance Smith (and wife Hope) from Clinton, and Lane Smith (and wife Katrina) from Flagstaff, AZ. Mrs. Smith also

greatly loved her four grandchildren, Cherish Smith, Sid Smith and Cayley Smith, each from Clinton, and Caroline Smith from

Jackson, along with her four great grandchildren and other beloved relatives and friends. The Smith family would like to extend

their sincere thanks for all the visitors and for the great assistance provided during Mrs. Smith's passing by Hospice Ministries

and Diversicare of Brookhaven. 

Services will be held at Union Church Baptist Church in Union Church, MS with visitation Wednesday, Feb. 26 from 4-6.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, Feb. 27 at 2 p.m. (visitation 1-2 p.m.) at Union Church Baptist Church with

graveside service immediately following.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations in Mrs. Smith's honor be made to: St Jude’s Children’s Hospital,

P.O. Box 1000 Dept 142, Memphis, TN 38148-0142Attachments

Services for John McEvoy Behan, Jr. of Clinton are at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, February 27, 2020,

at St. Francis Catholic Church in Brookhaven, with interment at Riverwood Memorial Cemetery. 

Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. at Riverwood Family on Wednesday, February 26 from 4-7 p.m. at Riverwood Family.  

Mr. Behan, 42, passed away on February 22, 2020, at St. Dominic Memorial Hospital in Jackson due to a pulmonary embolism.  

John was born in Brookhaven on July 14, 1977, to John McEvoy Behan Sr. and Kathryn Herbig Behan. 

He attended St. Stanislaus Boarding School in Bay St. Louis before graduating from Brookhaven High School. 

He attended Copiah-Lincoln Junior College and Mississippi State University.  John was an avid outdoorsman and an enthusiastic gun collector. 

He loved all kinds of hunting and fishing and spent many happy times with friends and family at hunting camps in the area. 

John was a fourth-generation lumberman and was the owner of Miller Lumber in Richland.  He was a communicant of Holy Savior Catholic Church in Clinton.  

Johns's proudest achievements were being a wonderful father to his two beloved daughters and a devoted husband to his wife. 

He was a great family man and was very close to his mothers and his sisters, as well as a large extended family.

Preceding him in death were his father, John M. Behan, Sr.; his father-in-law,  John Bush; his paternal grandparents,

Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Behan, Jr., and maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Robert Herbig.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Julie Bush Behan; daughter Hannah Behan; daughter Piper Behan;

sisters, Jennifer Behan Hernandez (Luis) and niece Lucy Hernandez, from Destin Florida;

and Courtney M. Behan and husband Pat Gagen from San Francisco, California. He is also survived by his mother-in-law,

Jackie Bush; and Ginny Sims, mother of Hannah Behan.

Memorials may be made to St. Dominic Memorial Hospital in Jackson or to St. Jude Research Center.