Mrs. Darlene Annetta Stepic, 62, died April 18, 2023, at her home in Bogue Chitto, MS. She was born in Cleveland, OH, June 18, 1960, to William Clark and Annetta Wilson Clark. She was a loving wife and mother and looked to the needs of her family and home well.

Mrs. Stepic was a very artistic person; she enjoyed many different types of crafts. She also found great joy in nature through watching the beauty of butterflies and flowers. She was a compassionate, caring person and was always willing to help anyone in need. Darlene will be greatly missed and never forgotten.

She is preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Diane Martin and Donna Marie Franks; and brother-in-law, John Gump.

Those who remain to cherish her memory are her husband of 40 years, George Stepic; daughers, Erica Stepic, Stefanie Sowards, Jessica Lally, and Jackie Clark; son, Josh Stepic; brother, Billy Clark and wife, Claudia; sisters, Denise Clark and Debbie Gump; five grandchildren, Mya Mooney, Sage Stepic, Russell Lally, Sophia Sowards, and Lilly Sowards; brothers-in-law, Jerry Richardson and wife, Machele, Jimmy Stepic and wife, Faye; and sisters-in-law, Dorthy Treadway and husband, David and Joanne Halsten and husband, Rod. She is also survived by other loving family members and many friends.

There will be a Memorial Gathering from 2-3 p.m., Thursday, April 20, at Riverwood Family Funeral Service, for Mr. Joe Frank Penn.

Mr. Penn, 80, of Brookhaven, died April 15, 2023, at St. Dominics in Jackson, MS. He was born in Baton Rouge, LA, February 24, 1943, to Claude Penn, Sr. and Millie Cross Penn.

He was a self-employed contractor in the trucking and remediatim services.

Mr. Penn is preceded in death by his son, Kyle Houston Penn; brother, Freddie Penn; and sisters, Peggy Ann Seale, Sally Gahn.

Those who remain to cherish his memory are his wife of 59 years, Patricia Smith Penn; children, Patricia Annie Penn Peairs (Darin), Joe Frank Penn, Jr. (Melissa), Wendy Penn Foreman (Stephen); daughter-in-law, Cheryl Penn; brother, Claude Penn, Jr; sisters, Shirley Thompson and Patricia Ross; 12 grandchildren, Devin Peairs, Landen Winborne, Kristen Giurintano, Jade Foreman, Ashtyn Philipp, Ross Foreman, Miles Clevenger, Destiny Byer, Cheyenne Sears, Dallas Penn, Caitlin Penn, and Georgia Penn; 10 great grandchildren; as well as other loving family members and friends.

The funeral service for Grace Aileen Little will be 2 p.m., Wednesday, April 12, at Riverwood Family, with interment in Macedonia Baptist Church Cemetery. Visitation will be from Noon until the time of service on Wednesday.

Mrs. Little, 86, of Brookhaven, died April 7, 2023, at her residence. She was born May 11, 1936. Mrs. Little was a loving and kind wife, mother and grandmother, even seeing the birth of great great grandchildren. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

She is preceded in death by her husband, William C. Little, Jr.; her parents, Benjamin Zachariah Byrd and Allie Nevels Byrd; son, Jessie Wayne Little; grandson, Anthony D. Little, Jr.; and great granddaughter, Samantha Jolene; siblings, B.Z. Byrd, John Byrd, Earl Byrd, Helen Radau, Faye Ransbottom, Anita McDaniel, and Libby Walker.

Mrs. Little is survived by her children, Henry Little (Lisa), Carrie Little and Anthony Little (Robbie); brother, James Wiley Byrd (Nancy); sister, Linda Sue Szwedt (Ted); 13 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren, and 10 great, great grandchildren.

The funeral service for Thomas Timothy “Tim, the Eyeglasses Man” Smith will be 11 a.m., Saturday, April 15, at Riverwood Family with interment Riverwood Memorial Park. Visitation is from 5-8 p.m., Friday, April 14, at Riverwood and will resume Saturday from 10 a.m. until the time of service.

Tim, 64, of Brookhaven, died April 9, 2023, at his residence. He was born November 12, 1958, to Thomas “Bully” Smith and Christine Delaughter Smith. He was the owner of Ole Brook Optical and worked as an Optician until retirement. He enjoyed his work, meeting people of all ages and making sure their glasses had the perfect fit was important to Tim. He was an avid outdoorsman, going hunting and fishing with his daughter. Tim also liked to “cruising the coast” and enjoyed old classic cars. His greatest joy was found in spending time with his beautiful grandchildren. He was a passionate father and grandfather; his daughter and grandchildren were the greatest blessings in his life. Tim was a member of Fair River Baptist Church. He will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered by them all.

He is preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Johnnie Belinda Smith.

Those left to cherish his memory are his daughter, Nicole Prather and husband, Anthony; four grandchildren, Mason Prather, Weston Prather, Cohen Prather, and Hayden Prather; his former wife, Brenda Evans Sharp and her husband, John. He is also survived by other loving family members and friends.

The funeral service for Lois Aline Elkins Lightsey will be 11 a.m., Thursday, April 13, at Riverwood Family with interment in Mt Moriah Baptist Church Cemetery in Bogue Chitto. Visitation is from 5-8 p.m., Wednesday, April 12, at Riverwood and will resume from 9 a.m. until the time of service on Thursday.

Mrs. Lightsey, 83, died April 10, 2023, at her residence in Bogue Chitto. She was born in Longview, TX, June 28, 1939, to Thomas Cade Elkins and Eula Smith Elkins. She worked with Homelite Jacobson as a payroll clerk.

Mrs. Lightsey is preceded in death by her husband, Leland Kline “Pete” Lightsey; her parents; brothers, Earl P. Elkins, Tommy Cade Elkins, and Fred G. “Sonny” Elkins; sisters, Betty Carter, Frances Bessonette, and Shirley McClintock.

She is survived by her children, Vicki Lightsey Blackmon, Wendi Lightsey Ezell (Michael), and Nikki Lightsey Foreman (Wayne); 9 grandchildren, David Wallace (Ashley), Kris Ezell, Kilee Smith, Brittnie Davis (Brandon), Kaden Ezell (Elizabeth), Garrett Blackmon, Haylee Landry (Joseph), Amanda Rimes (Justin), and C.J. Blackmon; 16 great grandchildren; and her lifelong best friend, Sue Hiley. The family would like to thank the staff of Hospice Ministries, and a special thanks to Emily Rains; the staff of All at Home, with a special thanks to her sitter, Ana Katherine Boyd.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice Ministries 397 Brookhaven St, Brookhaven, MS 39601

A memorial service for Archie Andrew “Red” Lord, Sr. will be held 2 p.m., Thursday, April 13, at Riverwood Family, with burial in Arm Cemetery. Visitation is 5-8 p.m., Wednesday, April 12, at Riverwood.

Mr. Lord, Sr., 86, of Monticello, died April 9, 2023, in Monticello. He was born in Franklin Parish, LA, August 18, 1936, to Walter Smith “Jack” Lord and Leila J. Walker Lord.

Red loved to work outside doing mechanical work on cars, plowing gardens, and riding his tractor. He loved to help his neighbors and friends and family with anything they needed. He was a wonderful provider for his family, working offshore for 46 years. Red was the rock of stability in his family. He had a wonderful ability to make sure everyone was happy and provided a safe home for those whom he loved. His greatest testimony will be his sincere honesty, whether you agreed with him or not. He will be greatly missed by all who loved him.

He is preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Andrea Irene Lord; three brothers, Jack Lord, Jr., Matthew Lord, and Zious Lord; three sisters, Bertha Turner, Lucille Morrison, and Sarah McDaniel.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Georgia I. Lord; two sons, Archie Andrew “Andy” Lord, Jr. (Vivian) of Shivers, Robert Harvey “Bobby” Lord (Theresa) of McComb, Susan Darlette Carney (Junior) of Tilton and Gwendolyn Dorise Rutland (Thomas) of Monticello; brother, Daniel T. Lord (Lorraine) of Jayess; sister, Rachel J. Lowe of Gulfport; nine grandchildren, Candice Warren, Kacy McKissick, Stacy Gibson, Robert Glen Lord, Mallory Buie, Jacob Lord, Tyler Rutland, Kelsey Lord, and Mahaila Clay; 19 great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, and other loving family members and friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Heart Association7272 Greenville Ave, Dallas, TX 75231 or The Alzheimer’s Association 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601.

Margaret Ann Cooper Finnemore, 82, of Brookhaven, died April 8, 2023, at Liberty Community Living Center, in Liberty, MS. She was born July 1, 1940, to Raymond Cooper and Mattie Muriel Hunsucker Cooper.

She was a member of Turnage Chapel Congregational Methodist Church in Foxworth, MS. Margaret enjoyed coloring, painting, and crochet, but mostly loved her family and spending time with her grandkids and great grandkids. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents; sister, Patsy Brewer; brother, Donald Cooper; brother-in-law, Lloyd Brewer.

Those left to cherish her memory are her children, Darlene Morgan and husband, Ronnie of Brookhaven; brother, Billy Cooper of Springfield, MA; sisters, Carolyn Provins of Chandler, AZ, Lynda Anderson of FL, and Joyce Kupiec of Brookhaven, MS; five grandchildren, Jennifer Love, Ashley Lofton, Ron Morgan, Jr., Nicole Harvey, and Michael Morgan; and 13 great grandchildren, as well as her church family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, you may make donations to Alzheimer’s Association 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601.

The funeral service for Kevin Duane Thomasee will be 2 p.m., Tuesday, April 11, at Topisaw Baptist Church with burial in the church cemetery. Visitation is from Noon until the time of the service at Topisaw.

Mr. Thomasee, known to everyone as “Chuggs”, died April 7, 2023, at St. Dominic’s in Jackson, MS. He was born March 4, 1983, to Calvin Paul Thomasee, sr. and Patricia Ann Reeves Thomasee, he was 40 years of age. His children were the center of his heart, he also enjoyed spending time in the great outdoors, fishing. He was the best uncle anyone could ever ask for. He will be greatly missed by all who loved him.

Chuggs is preceded in death by his father; grandparents, James Henry Reeves, Elvee Thomasee, and Geraldine Redd Thomasee; and his sisters, Kimberly Ann Thomasee and Rhonda Michelle Watts.

Those left to cherish his memory are his children, Kaydun Duane Thomasee and Konner Mason Thomasee; his mother; brothers, Calvin P. Thomasee, Jr. and Caleb Thomasee; sister, Sheila Sylverster; grandmother, Eula Cora “Sue” Reeves; nephews and nieces, Calvin P. Thomasee III, Stephanie N. Thomasee, Jonathan H. Thomasee, and Ahna P. Thomasee; cousins, Clyde Thomas “T.J.” Reeves, Jr. and James Jeremy “Bubba” Reeves; and great nieces, Emma Lea, Brynlee Laird, and Avril Lea; as well as other loving family members and friends.

Visitation will be held Friday Evening, April 7, 2023 from 5:00-8:00pm and resume Saturday, April 8, 2023 from 10:00 until 11:00am and funeral services at 11am at the Riverwood Family Funeral Service. Interment will be in Riverwood Memorial Park. 

Reginald Elridge Wise, 71, of Brookhaven, MS went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, April 5, 2023.  He was born in Bogalusa, LA on January 14, 1952.  Regi was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and mentor.

Regi was a man of many interests and talents.  From an early age he took a keen interest in the outdoors and was a student of the science and behavior of God’s creation for the rest of his life.  This love of understanding how things work carried over into his academic and professional pursuits.  In 1974 he graduated from Mississippi State with a degree in engineering. This led to a career in the aerospace industry including becoming a lead engineer at the Stennis Space Center.  He later worked alongside his family as a co-owner of Dickerson & Bowen building roads and highways.  He enjoyed sharing his love and knowledge of nature and science with his family and spending countless days in the swamps and pine forest of Mississippi. Once his children were grown, he extended his love for teaching to the community.  In his 60s he continued his formal education obtaining a M.A. at Belhaven and became a science & physics teacher at McComb High School and Bogue Chitto Attendance Center.  For the last eleven years he   coached the Bogue Chitto Robotics Team. He loved photography, electronics, and spending time with his grandchildren.      

Preceding him in death were his parents, Shirley Elridge Wise and Phyllis Mitchell Wise; and brother Kyle Wynne Wise.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Beverly Wise; daughter, Melissa Wise Philley (Benjamin); sons, Matthew Elridge Wise and Mitchel Wayne Wise; sister, Nancy Wise Carnaggio (Frank); grandchildren, Libby Lane Philley; Layla James Philley; Isaac Wayne Wise; Paul Elridge Wise; and Susan Katherine Wise.

He will be greatly missed by all who loved him.

Rev. Greg Warnock will officiate the service.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Bogue Chitto Robotics Team 478 Fairlawn Trail Brookhaven MS or a church or charity of your choice.

Brantley Barnard Pace, M.D.  

 Brantley Barnard Pace, M.D., beloved husband, devoted father and esteemed physician in Mississippi, died peacefully at home surrounded by his family. Known simply as Doc, his life was deeply etched by his faith, his commitment to hard work in a field that brought him life-long satisfaction and joy, and his love of family.

The community is invited to a memorial service Saturday, April 29 at 1 o'clock at  Monticello Baptist Church. Visitation will be Friday, April 28 from 5-7 at Riverwood Family Funeral Home in Brookhaven or Saturday in Monticello at a reception in the Family Life Center following the service.

 A native of Hattiesburg, Dr. Pace was born May 11, 1933, to Allye Lou Brantley and Thomas Barnard Pace. From a young age, he worked for years in Mr. Stockstill’s grocery store, at the filling station, painted ads on bus benches, and credits his weekly employment with shaping his valued work ethic. At 17 he invited Audria Ann Russell to the Spring Revival at First Baptist Church of Hattiesburg in 1950. They married at age 19, and she has been his devoted wife for 70 years.

 Dr. Pace was a 1950 graduate of Hattiesburg High School and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the former Mississippi Southern College. A member of the second graduating class of the University of Mississippi School of Medicine, Dr. Pace was elected class president his first and second years and earned the Doctor of Medicine degree in 1958. He was profoundly grateful for the experience of working for Dr. Arthur C. Guyton for four years during medical school, doing research and drawing illustrations for the first and second editions of the ​Textbook of Medical Physiology and other works by Dr. Guyton.

 He completed his internship at John Sealy Hospital, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, in 1959, where he valued the opportunity of training under talented surgeon and Mississippi native, Dr. Truman Blocker.

 Dr. Pace and Ann moved to Monticello where he has been engaged in the practice of medicine for 64 years. A self-described country doctor, he was widely regarded for a combination of native intelligence and personal warmth. Diligent in his pursuit of improving the quality of medical care in his community, Dr. Pace offered unparalleled attention to detail in the lives of his patients. His medical career spanned his weekly house calls in the 1960’s to telemedicine in the 21^st century, and he never lost his personal touch with patients. He practiced listening carefully and writing personal letters in an age of computer-generated correspondence, frequently offering his own drawings to clarify understanding, and remembering his patients’ birthdays with hand-written notes. He loved serving the people of Lawrence county who frequently showed their appreciation by sharing fresh eggs, tomatoes, peas, berries, figs and other produce of their gardens for which he was grateful.

 Dr. Pace was honored with the Phillip Rogers Award in Hattiesburg in 2009 for excellence in the delivery of medical care. He was a Diplomate of the American Board of Family Medicine since 1970, having been board certified upon examination last at age 81, and was an active member of the American Association of Family Practice.

 Doc was a life-long learner and enjoyed teaching others about the way things work. An avid fan of auto racing, he earned his professional racing license at age 60 and earned his pilot’s license at age 70. He was proud to be a member of the Flying Octogenarians.

 A gifted musician, he sang a resounding bass line in barbershop quartets and in church choirs, but most memorably, Doc filled their home with music, playing hymns, ragtime piano, guitar and banjo.

 He will be remembered as a compassionate physician, beloved mentor and colleague, and true patriot. The events of World War II shaped Doc’s understanding of patriotism as a boy and influenced his lifelong commitment to honoring veterans and sharing their stories. No mention of his life would be complete without paying loving tribute to those who answered the call to serve this country. To them he gave the highest admiration and respect.

 Influenced by fond memories of his mother’s close family of their 14 siblings as well as working closely with Dr. Guyton, Dr. Pace and his wife wanted a large family and gave themselves fully to the task of rearing their seven children. He is survived by his devoted wife, Ann, and four of their children:  Marita Pace Walton (Ben), Jackson; Dr. Thomas B. Pace (Nancy), Greenville, S.C.; Kathryn Pace Phillips (Will), Brookhaven; and Jan Pace Coker (Sam), Ridgeland. 22 grandchildren remember him as their loving Doc: Dr. Bennett Walton (Samantha), Houston; Rhymes Walton Stabler (Prentice), Nashville; Marita Walton Ellis (Reed), Nashville; Anna Pace, Greenville, S.C; Brantley Pace, Sergeant USMC, (Kelley), Denver; Dr. Richard Pace (Katharine), Greenville, S.C.; Dr. Russell Pace (Holly Anne), Hendersonville, N.C.; Josh Parschauer, New York City; Kara Parschauer, Huron, OH; Mary Phillips White  (Jeffrey), Brookhaven; Anna Kathryn Phillips, Chicago; Margaret Phillips, Nashville; Sarah Phillips Holliday (Ivan), Poplarville; Will Phillips, Brookhaven; Clay Coker, New York City; Lucy Coker Rudow (Grant), Dallas; Joe Coker, Starkville; Mary Coker, Fort Worth; and Virginia, Thomas, Allen and Sonnie Pace, Madison.

 Doc also leaves 16 great-grandchildren and a host of cherished family members and dear friends who feel like family. He is survived by his loving sister, Mary Lou Pace Dabbs (Woody), Oxford; and sister in law, Brenda Pace, widow of his brother, Maxwell Pace who died in 2016

 Preceding Dr. Pace in death are his beloved children Will Pace who died in 2022, Jim Pace and Lucy Pace Parschauer (Ken) who died in 2020; and the wife of his son, Jim, Solange Dibos Pace, as well as his parents.

 The Pace family wishes to express their deepest love and gratitude to each of the exceptional healthcare workers who worked alongside Doc for 63 years at Lawrence County Hospital. They likewise thank those co-workers at Lawrence County Nursing Center and St. Luke’s Home Health and Hospice, and extend warmest appreciation to the staff at Hospice Ministries who served during his final days.

 In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the charity of your choice.