The funeral service for Wanda Varnado Haire will be 1 p.m., Monday, July 31 at Union Church Baptist Church with burial at Union Church Cemetery.

Mrs. Haire, 63, of Union Church, died July 28, 2023, at her home in Union Church. She was born in Hazlehurst, MS February 15, 1960, to David Ray Varnado, Jr. and Bertha Lenore Greer Varnado. She was a retired store manager and bookkeeper, working at Varnado’s Grocery from 1977-2004.

Wanda loved to travel and started several collections from those travels. Coca Cola memorabilia, Christmas ornaments, and an assortment of dishes. Years ago, she enjoyed helping with her daughter’s impressive Beanie Babies collection and more recently her granddaughter’s whimsical Christmas houses collection. Photography was an important hobby for Wanda. She thoroughly enjoyed taking pictures of family and friends and sharing them with everyone. But above and beyond her hobbies was her wholehearted love for her children and grandchildren as well as her love and concern for helping others with their needs. She will be greatly missed by all those lives she touched.

She is preceded in death by her father, David Ray Varnado, Jr.; brothers-in-law, Truett Haire and Steve Diefenbach; and sister-in-law, Lisa Haire.

Those left to cherish her memory are her husband of 46 years, Timothy Franklin Haire; her mother Bertha Varnado; children, Daniel Timothy Haire (Kristen) and Darla Danielle Haire; sisters, Marcia Raye Varnado Smith (Scott) and Janet Kaye Varnado Smith (Farran); four grandchildren, Charlee Elaine Haire, Tucker Daniel Haire, John Rayford Haire, Eden Lenore Haire. She is also survived by sisters-in-law, Jamie Haire, Nan Haire Maxwell (Bari), Cela Haire Diefenbach, and Nola Haire Curtis (Mark); brother-in-law, Alan Haire; numerous nieces and nephews she loved dearly as well as other loving family members and friends.

In lieu of flowers you may send memorials to Blair E. Batson Hospital  2500 N State Street, Jackson, MS 39216.

A meal will be provided after graveside service at the church. 

The funeral service for James Karl “Jimmy” Smith will be 11 a.m., Tuesday, August 1, at Riverwood Family, with interment in Hawkins Chapel Cemetery. Visitation is 5-8 p.m., Monday, July 31, at Riverwood and will resume Tuesday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service.

James "Jimmy" Karl Smith was born April 27th, 1951 in Detroit Michigan to R.E. Smith and Eileen May Kissel Smith.

The Family moved to Brookhaven Mississippi in 1959 where he attended Enterprise school. He played sports in high school and was chosen to play for the All-Star basketball team of 1969. While at Enterprise, he was All District, All Mid-south Conference, All County and All South Mississippi All Star-in basketball. Let it be noted, he kicked the first field goal at Enterprise. After graduation he went on to play basketball at Co-Lin on a basketball scholarship. After graduating from Co- Lin, he began a career with Illinois Central Railroad. He started as a signalman for Illinois Central and moved into a supervisory position for CN. He worked for the Railroad for 42 years. He met the love of his life, Angela, and she met her Romeo at the Exchange Club fair in the Fall of 1972. They married in September of 1973 and were going to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on September 8th. In their 50 years, they enjoyed beach trips, Canton Flea Market excursions, raising children, gardening, ballgames, dance recitals and building anything Angela might imagine. They made a beautiful life together.

Jimmy carpooled his granddaughter, Ann Claire, from school, to McDonalds, to ball practice all the while giving her unsolicited life advise. Lessons to live by and pass on!

Jimmy and Angela were tightly woven in their congregations. Every Sunday Jimmy arrived early to turn on air conditioning or heating for parishioners of Hawkins Chapel and on weekdays he was watering the plants at Friendship Baptist Church. He was a dedicated Christian being active at both churches. As a member of Hawkins he was the trustee, and as a member at Friendship, he was active on multiple committees as well as serving as a Deacon. Jimmy and Angela together attended both services every Sunday.

Jimmy was diagnosed with Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma in 2008. After treatment he was blessed with the gift of being healed. He lived a full life after his treatment. As a devout Christian, Jimmy's priorities were God, family, and friends. He walked the walk and talked the talk. He practiced the ways of God and extended a helping hand to many in need. Beloved community-wide and especially by his children, Carrie and Cole, his grandchildren, Tyler, Rayne, Riley, Ann Claire, Beckett, Shepard, Noah and Great grandchild, Kennedy Ann with another one on the way. The circle keeps expanding.

His Christian faith will be carried on by them all with the loyal support of his son in law Daniel and daughter in law Whitney as Jimmy modeled a loving, faithful parental figure.  

Other than deer hunting his favorite pastime was coaching. He coached both of his kids in all their sports endeavors as well as volunteering to coach his niece and nephew and so many other school children. Traveling around the county, coaching them, supporting them, as if they were his own. He enjoyed coaching and watching all of his grandkids play ball. He successfully passed on his love of sports to his children and grandchildren. And, to them all, he will always be an all-star.

He is preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Mike Smith; nephew, Blaine Hamilton; and father-in-law, Vernon Smith.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 50 years, Angela Smith; children, Carrie Case (Daniel) and Cole Smith (Whitney); sisters, Marilyn Wilson (Mickey), Sherry Lewis (Steve), Kathy Hamilton (David); sister-in-law, Teresa Smith; seven grandchildren, one great grandchild, and one other great grand on the way. He is also survived by his mother-in-law, Ann Smith;  brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Glyn and Tawanda Smith and Stanton and Renee Dossett as well as a host of nieces, nephews and other loving family members and friends.

The family would like to extend many thanks for the grand expressions of love and support. Keep the love and prayers deep in your hearts for Angela and the kids. May God be with you.

A memorial service will be held for Henry Edward “Eddie Bo” Tanner, 11 a.m., Saturday, August 5, at New Hope Church on 550, with burial in the church cemetery. Rev. Mike Assink will officiate.

Mr. Tanner, 63, of Union Church, died July 24, 2023, at Southwest Regional Medical Center in McComb, MS. He was born in Brookhaven April 22, 1960, to Wade Franklin Tanner and Shirley Pauline Smith Smith.

Eddie Bo worked as a logger with Franklin County. In his free time, he enjoyed hunting and fishing.

He is preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his son, Brody Tanner; brother, Mike Tanner and wife, Nancy; and sister, Linda Sandifer.

The funeral service for Johnie Aline Furlow Allen will be 11 a.m., Monday, July 31, at Riverwood Family with interment in Macedonia Baptist Church Cemetery. Visitation is from 9 a.m. until the time of service at Riverwood.

Mrs. Allen, 91, of Brookhaven, passed away July 26, 2023, at Silver Cross Nursing Home. She was born in Utica, MS, October 14, 1931, to Johnnie McCree Furlow and Gracie Ida Hamilton Furlow. She was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother, and will be greatly missed by all that loved her.

Mrs. Allen is preceded in death by her husband, Billy Frank Allen; her parents; three children, Gary F. Allen, Deborah K. Armstrong, and Darrell W. Allen; three grandchildren, Somer Allen Truxillo, Leif Armstrong, and Kristy Allen; sisters, Doris Parson, Bobbie Hickman, Janice Case, Jerline Case; and brothers, Vernon Furlow, Willie Furlow, Harold Furlow, and Ronnie Furlow.

She is survived by her children, Janice Sisung (Andy) and Brenda Allen (Danny); sisters, Margie Smith and Bernice Benoit; four grandchildren, Shane Allen, Stacie Gornet, Alicia Williams, and Ashley Boudlauch; a host of great grandchildren; special nephew, Michael Furlow (Martin) as well as numerous nieces, nephews and other loving family members and friends.