Funeral service for Dorothy Ragland Mercier is 2:00 p.m. Sunday, December 15, 2019 at Riverwood Family Funeral Service in Brookhaven,

with visitation from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Saturday, December 14 at Riverwood. Burial is at Beauregard Cemetery.

Dorothy Mercier died at home December 9, 2019. She was born December 20, 1922 in Elmhurst, Illinois to Bess and Chester Ragland.

Dorothy graduated from Vanderbilt University. After World War II she met her future husband, naval officer George T. Mercier, Jr.,

in Washington, D.C. They were married in 1946 and lived in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Houston, Texas before retiring to Wesson.

Dorothy had a lifelong love for gardening and music. She was a member and past president of the Wesson Garden Club. She shared

her beautiful singing voice as a choir member and soloist throughout her life. She lived a life of faith and was a member of Wesson Presbyterian Church.

Preceding Dorothy in death were her parents, three sisters and a brother.

She is survived by her husband of 73 years, George Mercier, Jr.; her children George T. Mercier III of Houston and Wesson;

Anne Woodson and husband Lee of Galveston, Texas; Laurie Mercier and husband John of Portland, Oregon; Patricia Nicklas

and husband Ed of Houston, Texas; and Chester Mercier and wife Leslie of Houston, Texas. She is also survived by ten

grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews.

The family would especially like to thank special friend and caregiver Wynn Jones, Cheryl Sanders, and the staff

of Diversicare and Hospice Ministries.

Memorials may be made to the charity of your choice.

The graveside service for Mr. Malcolm “Buck” Franklin Butler, Sr., will be 10 a.m., Thursday, December 12, 2019,

at Butler Family Cemetery. There will be a visitation from 5-8 p.m., Wednesday evening, December 11, at Riverwood.

Mr. “Buck” Butler, 85, of Brookhaven, passed from this life December 10, 2019, at King’s Daughters Medical Center.

He was born November 29, 1934, to his parents, Steve Butler and Allie Lee Pennington Butler. Before retiring,

he was employed at Potter Company for 38 years, and served as a Deputy with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department.

Mr. Butler was a member of Fair River Baptist Church.

He is preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Laura Belle Butler; his parents; and two brothers and two sisters.

Those left to cherish his memory are his children, Judy Butler Case, Malcolm Butler, Jr., Nancy Butler Grace, and

Wanda Butler Bell. He is also survived by numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Services for Mr. Archie J. “Jackie” Freeman will be held on Wednesday, December 11, 2019, at 1:00pm at Riverwood Family

with interment at Riverwood Memorial Park. Visitation will be on Tuesday, December 10, 2019, from 5:00-8:00 pm

also at Riverwood and will continue prior to the service starting at 12:00 noon.

Archie J. “Jackie” Freeman, 80, passed fromthis life on December 6, 2019, at his residence.

He was born in Bogue Chitto, September 9, 1939, to Lester Frank Freeman and Letha Mae Johnson Freeman.

Mr. Archie served our country during the Vietnam War in the United States Army

for which he stayed until his retirement. He also was a member of Arlington

Baptist Church.

He absolutely loved fishing and watching

along with with going to Nascar races; but his favorite the pastime was spending time with his family.

Preceding him in death were his parents,Frank and Letha Freeman; son, William

“Shad” Freeman and son-in-law, Tracy Cothren.

Those left to cherish his memory is his loving wife of

58 years, Mary W. Freeman; son, Archie W. Freeman

and wife Ali; daughters, Margo Smith, and husband

Billy and DeeDee Smith and husband Kyle;

brother, Ferman “Red” Freeman and wife Bonnie

along with six grandchildren, William Smith and

wife Jollean, Brandi Jackson and husband Randy,

Matthew Smith and wife Savannah, Corey Allred

and wife Jennifer, Brandon Allred, and wife Angel

and Cheyenne Freeman. He is also survived by

his fifteen great-grandchildren, Baileigh, Taylor,

Noah, Reid, Gage, Trace, Brystol, Evan, Aubree,

Bexley, Daxon, Evie, Journnie, Paige, Baylee;

and niece, Tammy Smith.

Graveside Services for Marinell Applewhite of Brookhaven are 2:00 pm Tuesday, December 10, 2019,

at New Salem Baptist Church Cemetery in McCall Creek with visitation from 12:00 pm until time of the service at the church.

Marinell Applewhite, 85, went to be with her Lord on December 4, 2019. She was born October 23, 1934, to the late Ed and Mary Lenora Applewhite.

She was a member of New Salem Baptist Church in McCall Creek. Marinell loved spending time with her family and friends.

She enjoyed being outdoors and loved flowers. She was affectionately known as “Aunt Mae.”

Preceding her in death were her parents; siblings, Harold Applewhite, Melvin Applewhite, Alton Applewhite, Hilda Sweeney, and Edith Dunigan;

brother-in-laws, Albert Sweeney, James Kettingham, Linard Dunigan, and Donald Smith; sister-in-laws,

Vera Mae Applewhite and Mildred Applewhite; nieces, Judy Applewhite and Norma Finnegan; nephews, David Applewhite, and Kenneth Applewhite.

Those left to cherish her memory are her brothers, Donald Applewhite, and wife, Frankie of McCall Creek, MS, Glen Applewhite and wife, Peggie, of Brookhaven, MS.;

sisters Helen Ketteringham of Wesson, MS., and Carolyn Smith of Brookhaven, MS.

She is also survived by a host of family and friends and special friends, Henry Wilson of Madison, MS., and Lonnie Herring, of Brookhaven, MS.

A Memorial Gathering for Mr. Carl Clarence Henderson of Wesson is 5:00-8:00 pm

Wednesday, December 4, 2019, at Riverwood Family Funeral Service.

Mr. Carl Clarence Henderson, 72, went to be with his Lord on December 2, 2019, at Baptist Hospital.

He was born on July 14, 1947, to the late Huey James Henderson and Ester Frances Woods Henderson.

Mr. Henderson served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He was a member of

Springhill Baptist Church and was a cable splicer for Bellsouth.

He loved painting, riding his tractor and spoiling his grandchildren.

Preceding him in death were his parents; son, John Deaton; and grandsons, Daniel Grubbs and Luke Rice Jr.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Betty Jo Henderson; sons, Darrell Henderson, Melvin Grubbs, and wife Kadijah,

Hank Grubbs, Sr. and wife Christy, Roger Grubbs and wife, Laurie, James Deaton, and wife Lajuan; daughters, Rhonda

Holliday and husband, Chris, Betty Box and husband, Scott, April Rice, Brandi Walker and husband, Tommy and Frankie Henderson.

He is also survived by brothers, John Henderson and wife, Alice and Louis Henderson and wife, Linda; 35 grandchildren and

24 great-grandchildren; and lifelong friend, Jesse Beard.

Graveside service for Mrs. Janet Gayle Bourne of Crystal Springs is 3:00 pm, Monday, December 2, 2019, at Riverwood Memorial Park.

Mrs. Janet Gayle Bourne, 76, went to be with her Lord on November 29, 2019.

She was born on August 11, 1943, to the late Riley and Dorothy Owens.

Janet was a member of Crystal Springs Baptist Church. She was formerly Homecoming Maid at Provine High School

and was also a Hinds Highstepper.

She was an Interior Decorator, owning an Antique Shop with her sister, Pasty Kirkwood.

She also enjoyed working in her yard and reading.

Preceding her in death were her parents; and husband, Lester Lee Bourne.

Those left to cherish her memory are her son, Bryce Bailey Bourne; sister, Patsy Kirkwood and husband, Tom;

grandson, Joshua Lee Bourne; nephew, Paul Rouse; and best friend of B.J. Moore and husband, Pat.

On November 27, 2019, Jessica Marie Lofton died from an accidental overdose at the age of 29.

Although no toxicology is available at this time, her addiction was to Heroin and Xanax.  

We would like to share her story in the hope that life may be saved so her death will not be in vain.

No one plans to be an addict.

As a child, Jessica was a treasure and was loved deeply, with so much promise and yet she still died from an overdose.

Addiction does not discriminate. Using heroin once is all that it takes to become hooked; from then on, you are playing Russian roulette.

This is what happened to Jessica. Heroin is a demon that affects the way your brain processes pleasure,

taking over not just your brain but your life, destroying families and friendships.

Jessica was always a beautiful young woman, feisty, stubborn, had a robust, contagious laugh, would do anything for a

friend and always lit up a room with her smile, energy and crazy sense of humor. Hers was a 10-year struggle, starting with opioids,

which progressed to heroin. Many loved ones did everything they could to help her, but heroin won the battle.

The day Jessica died a part of us died along with her. We will miss her every day for the rest of our lives.

The pain of her death is heartbreaking and intolerable, which is why stories like Jessica's should not be ignored.

The only way we will conquer the heroin epidemic is to share our stories and raise awareness.

Jessica, you have now found the peace you so desperately searched for here on earth. Before your descent into drugs, you trusted Jesus as your Savior

and that fact is the biggest reason we can smile through the pain. You loved your children and they adored you as well. 

 Knowing you, there is no doubt that you have a front-row seat in heaven and are ecstatic with how many people loved you and have been truly affected by your death.

Jessica will be greatly missed by her daughter Braylynn Lofton, sons Camden Mercier and Jax Bergerson, father Jason Lofton;

mother Janelle Johnson; stepfather Brad Johnson, sister Macy Johnson, brother Reese Johnson and grandmother Susan Presson.

Preceding her in death were her paternal grandparents Charles and Joyce Lofton and maternal grandfather Cebern Presson.

A celebration of her heavenly homecoming will be held at Riverwood Family Funeral Service in Brookhaven, MS on Wednesday, December 4, 2019.

Services for Jessica are 2 pm. Visitation from 11:00 am until the time of the service.

A Memorial Gathering for Mrs. Betty Lou McCaffery of Wesson is Thursday, December 5, 2019, from 4:00-7:00 pm at Riverwood Family Funeral Service.

Mrs. Betty Lou McCaffery, 64, passed away on November 27, 2019, at her residence.

She was born on May 2, 1955, to the late Cleveland Stephens and Ruby Dixon Stephens.

She was a homemaker and member of Crooked Creek Baptist Church.

Betty also enjoyed fishing and hunting.

Preceding her in death were her parents; husband, Dennis Ray “Bo” McCaffery; and grandson, Brady Ford.

Those left her memory are her son, Robert C. Stephens; daughter, Jennifer R. Ford; brother, R.C. Stephens,

and sisters, Shirley Harper and Bobbie Davis.

She is also survived by her 5 grandchildren, Danny Ford, Kelsie Ford, Elijah Stephen, Emmitt Stephens;

and great-grandchildren, Lane Fields, Jaxon Ford, Adaleigh Fields and a host of nieces and nephews.

The memorial service for Mr. Carroll “Ward” Blackwell will be 3 p.m., Sunday, December 1, 2019,

at Heucks Retreat Baptist Church. Visitation is from 1 p.m. until time of the service.

Mr. Ward, 66, of Brookhaven, passed from this life November 26, 2019, at King’s Daughters Medical Center.

He was born in McComb, MS, November 21, 1953, to his parents, M.H. Blackwell and Carmen Dunn Blackwell.

He served his country in the United States Army. Mr. Ward retired from a long hitch in the offshore

oil industry and also was a plumber. He had many hobbies including playing guitar and golf,

as well as watching LSU Tiger football. Spending quality time with his grandchildren was

his most favorite thing of all. He will be missed by all those who loved him.

He is preceded in death by his parents and brother, Phillip L. Blackwell.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Gail Norton Blackwell; sons, Cain Blackwell and

Sawyer Smith and wife, Kori; daughter, Jessica Norton Jordan and husband, Landon; sister,

Sheila Blackwell; three grandchildren, Alli Rae Jordan, Colton Jordan, Hannah Smith; sister-in-law,

Sherry Blackwell; niece, Michelle Blackwell, and great niece, Jordan Walley.

Special Thanks to Hospice Ministries, Sherry Britt, Iris Waldrop and Virginia Collins.

Mr. Joseph William “Bill” Gustafson, born December 15, 1929 in Salina, Kansas, passed from this life November 25, 2019, to reunite with his wife of 70 years, Thelma Louise, who passed away May 20, 2017.

He was a commercial baker by trade and enjoyed fishing, bowling, and woodworking in his spare time.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Thelma Louise Gustafson and his parents, Carl Gustafson and Vivian Hoffman Gustafson.

He is survived by his son, Bill Gustafson, Jr. of Brookhaven, MS and daughters, Linda L. Hartman of Brookhaven, MS and Susan I. Gonzales of Grand Rapids, MI; four grandchildren, six great grandchildren, and four great, great grandchildren. He is also survived by his uncle, Harry Hoffman of Salina, KS.