The funeral service for Martha Avants will be 11 a.m., Tuesday, October 10, at Riverwood with burial in Pleasant Hill Cemetery. Visitation is 5-8 p.m., Monday night, at Riverwood and will resume from 10 a.m. until the time of service Tuesday.

Mrs. Martha Avants, 60, of Bogue Chitto, died October 6, 2023, at her residence. She was born October 11, 1962, to Bennie Hall, Sr. and Mildred Louise Moak Hall. She was a loving wife and mother and enjoyed every moment spent with her daughter, watching her grow up. Mrs. Martha was full of life and laughter; she never met a stranger. She loved to garden, and every morning was spent sitting on her porch, drinking coffee, and enjoying the work she took such great pleasure in. She also liked going fishing with her husband, Roger.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Earnest Avants; her parents; brothers, Quincy Hall, John Neal Hall, Weames Hall, Prentiss Hall, Larry Hall, John Henry Hall, Bennie Hall, Jr.; sisters, Bennie Lou Blakeney, Earline Carlisle, Margaret Williams, Tillithia Hall Moak, Mamie Pat Jennings, and Nancy Peyreagne.

She is survived by her husband of 18 years, Roger Avants; daughter, Melissa Avants; stepchildren, Joey Avants, Bryan Dale Avants, and Chasity Avants; brothers, John Hugh Mathis and Jimbo Hall; sisters, Essie Ann McCaa, Rita Hall, Gloria Mercier, and Hattie Morris. She is also survived by other loving family members and friends as well as her sweet dog, Nylah.

The funeral service for Angela Gail Blackwell will be 11 a.m., Monday, October 9, at Heucks Retreat Baptist Church. Visitation is from 9 a.m. until the time of the service.

Mrs. Blackwell, 65, of Brookhaven, died October 5, 2023, at her residence, with her children by her side. She was born August 29, 1958, to John William Norton and Hilda Rae Coon Norton. She was a registered dietitian for 27 years with the Lawrence County Hospital. She was a member of Heucks Retreat Baptist Church but also loved attending Pleasant Grove Church at every opportunity. She was a master gardener who loved working in her flower beds. She was also a member of the Camellia Society. Her favorite pastime was spending time with all five of her grandkids.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Ward Blackwell, and her parents.

Those who remain to cherish her memory are her children, Jessica Jordan and husband, Landon, Sawyer Smith and wife, Kori, and Cain Blackwell; brother, Dale Norton and wife, Debbie; sister, Linda Booth and husband, Paul, and sister-in-law, Sheila Blackwell; five grandchildren, Alli Rae Jordan, Colton Jordan, Hannah Smith, John Daniel Smith, and Luke Smith. She is also survived by her best friends, Janie Reeves, Wendy Smith, Charlotte Martin, and Sherry Britt, as well as other loving family members and friends.

A special thank you to  Sherry Britt and Hospice Ministries for their loving care and compassion.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Heucks Retreat Youth Department, 2167 Heucks Retreat Road NE, Brookhaven, MS 39601

Graveside Service for Shelley Ann Summers of Brookhaven are  2:00 pm, Monday, October 9, 2023 at Union Baptist Church Cemetery.      

Shelley Ann Summers, 68, passed away October 4, 2023.

She was born February 4, 1955, to the late Carl Clayton Summers and Margaret Francis Summers.

Shelley was a graduate of Brookhaven High School, Copiah Lincoln Jr. College and The University of Southern MS. She is a member of Pearlhaven Baptist Church. She owned The Book Exchange for years in downtown Brookhaven and was a substitute teacher for Brookhaven Public School System. She enjoyed going to festivals and flea markets and was a collector of many different items.

Preceding her in death were her parents.

She is survived by her sister, Susan Summers of Crystal Springs; niece, Lacy Davis Johnson and husband, John of North Carolina; nephew, Logan Howard of North Carolina; great nieces, Jalyn and Lylah Johnson and great nephews, Eli and Evan Johnson.

She will be dearly missed by all that loved her.

The funeral service for Alton Keith Allred will be 2 p.m., Saturday, October 7, at Riverwood Family with burial in the Stewart Cemetery in Bogue Chitto. Visitation is from Noon until the time of the service.

Mr. Allred, 67, of Bogue Chitto, died October 4, 2023, at his residence. He was born in Brookhaven, October 6, 1955, to Alton Allred and Edith Rae Smith Allred.

Mr. Allred was the retired owner of AA Tubing Testers. He was a member of First Baptist of Brookhaven and a member of Milton West Sunday School Class.

He is preceded in death by his parents; brother, Steve Allred; father-in-law, Cleveland Smith, and mother-in-law, Ethel Smith.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Dale Smith Allred; children, Ben Allred (Amy) of Brookhaven, and Sally Beth McCullough of Tupelo; sisters, Sue Godbold (Don) and Becky McDavid (Mike) both of Brookhaven, and Clara Ann Coggins of Columbus. He is also survived by seven grandchildren as well as other loving family members and friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Baptist Church of Brookhaven Building Fund, 200 E. Monticello St. Brookhaven, MS 39601.