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.
Services for Mr. Charles A. Cunningham of Brookhaven are 11:00 am Friday, February 28, 2020,
at Riverwood Family and burial will be at a later date at Wanilla Baptist Church Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 10:00 am until the time of service on Friday.
Mr. Charles A. Cunningham, 68, went to be with his Lord on February 22, 2020.
He was born on July 20, 1951.
Charles was the proud father of Christopher and Tony; and the son of George and Pearl Cunningham.
He was a Master Electrician and a 32-year member of ABATE. He also loved to race and build motorcycles.
Preceding him in death were his parents; and son, Tony Cunningham.
Those left to cherish his memory are his son, Christopher Cunningham and wife Andrea; sister, Judith Cunningham;
4 grandchildren, C.J. Cunningham, Caelin Gavriel Cunningham, Conner Charles Cunningham, and Case Levi Cunningham.
He is also survived by a niece, “Girl Youngin” Carmen Hill and niece Holly Clem.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make donations to ABATE of Mississippi Southwest Chapter.
Thomas Owen Williford, 54, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, February 21, 2020 of severe complications from type 2 diabetes.
Visitation will be held at Riverwood Family Funeral Service in Brookhaven, Mississippi on Thursday, February 26 at 10:00am
with the service following at 11:00.
Owen was born in Jackson, Mississippi on June 4, 1965 to Ed and Sallie Williford, the fourth of five children. He attended
First Presbyterian Day School and graduated high school from Jackson Preparatory School. He attended Mississippi State and
Belmont University, pursuing what became a life-long interest in music. Through the years, Owen enjoyed living and working in
some of our country’s most beautiful natural settings. He worked in the service industry at Acadia, Grand Canyon, Yosemite and
Mt. Rainier National Parks. He also worked in Nashville, Savannah, Maui, and Seattle. Due to diabetes-related health issues,
Owen moved from Seattle, Washington to Brookhaven, Mississippi in 2018.
From a young age, Owen’s deepest passions were expressed through music, both through listening and creating poetic
musical compositions. Throughout his life, his love of music was inspired by the lives and work of other musicians.
In addition to music, the simple pleasures of Owen’s life centered around exploring through photography the landscapes
in which he lived and worked. His life was also enriched by the many close friendships he formed everywhere he lived,
and his devotion to staying in touch through the years. Having lived away for most of his adult life, Owen’s family cherished
the time spent together in Brookhaven with daily card games, shared meals, and lots of laughter.
Owen is survived by his parents, Edward Hines Williford, Sr. and Sallie Thomas Williford and siblings, Sallie Myhr Williford,
Helen Williford Lynch (John), Edward Hines Williford, Jr., and Julie Bolton Williford.
Memorials may be sent to the Jackson Preparatory School Music Department, P.O. Box 4940, Jackson, Mississippi, 39296.
Mrs. Daisy Renae Stevens, 56, of Wesson, went to be with her Lord on February 15, 2020
at Baptist Medical Center.
She was born on February 27, 1963.
Daisy enjoyed collecting anything and everything and hanging out with her dogs.
Preceding her in death were her parents,
George and Billie Jean Schwindling; brothers,
David Schwindling and George Schwindling and sisters, Denna Schwindling and Tammy Groves.
Those left to cherish her memory are her husband, Timothy Stevens; son, Konner Stevens,
and daughter, Kristen Case. She is also survived by her brother, Steve Eyre, Sr.;
and sister, Billie Joe Westbrooks and granddaughter, Emery Grace Stevens.
The funeral service for Stacy Shane Rippy will be 2 p.m., Friday, February 21, 2020,
at Riverwood Family with interment at Mt. Olive Church of Christ Cemetery.
Visitation is from 5-8 p.m., Thursday, February 20, at Riverwood.
Mr. Rippy, 32, of Derma, MS, passed from this life on February 14, 2020. He was born November 29, 1987,
to Donnie Ray Rippy and Beverly Kendall.
He was an outdoorsman, enjoying fishing, riding 4-wheelers and collecting arrowheads.
He is preceded in death by his grandparents, Robert “Bob” Rippy and Helen Jenkins and Irene Alford;
uncles, Charles Ray Rippy, Luther Rippy James “Jimmy” Rippy, Billy Ray Rippy, Cecil Kendall,
Johnny Ray, Robert Kendall; and aunt Sally Womack.
He is survived by his parents and one brother, Matthew Rippy.
Funeral Services for Mrs. Barbara Lea White of Brookhaven are 1:00 pm Thursday, February 20, 2020,
at Riverwood Family with burial at Easthaven Cemetery.
Visitation is Wednesday, February 19 from 5:00-8:00 pm at Riverwood.
Mrs. Barbara Lea White, 74, went to be with her Lord on February 17, 2020.
She was born on December 30, 1946, to the late John Troy Robinson, Sr. and Ruby Lea Robinson.
She was a homemaker and a member of Easthaven Baptist Church.
Mrs. White was preceded in death by her parents; husband, James Otis White, and brother, John Troy Robinson, Jr.
Those left to cherish her memory are her sons, James White and wife, Donna, and Kevin White;
daughters, Brenda Hammack and Cathy Tanner and husband, Bruce; and daughter-in-law, Danielle White
She is also survived by her sister, Ann Boswell, and 8 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren; along with a host of nieces and nephews.
Services for Mr. Hugh McCallum Dowling Jr., of Brookhaven are 2:00 pm, Wednesday, February 19, 2020,
at Riverwood with burial at Riverwood Memorial Park.
Visitation is Tuesday, 5:00-8:00 pm at Riverwood Family and also 1:00 pm until the time of service.
Mr. Hugh McCallum Dowling, Jr.,65, went to be with his Lord on February 13, 2020, at Baptist Hospital. He was born on March 4, 1954,
to the late Hugh McCallum Dowling, Sr. and Gloria Britton Barr.
Mr. Dowling was a member of Easthaven Baptist Church and was a pharmacist for
40 years.
Preceding him in death were his parents.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 43 years, Helen Mullen Dowling;
daughter, Mandy Milstead and husband Taz; brother, Richard Dowling; and grandchildren, Kahlen Milstead and Owen Milstead.