Obituaries
Betty Jean Criswell
A memorial service will be held for Betty Jean Criswell at 1 p.m., Saturday, July 31, at
Philadelphia Baptist Church, Hwy 550 NW, Brookhaven, MS.
Betty Jean Criswell, 89, of Wesson, MS, died July 19, 2021. She was born February 22, 1932, to
Rivers H. Case and Ruthie A. Case. She was a seamstress by trade and has made hundreds of
cloth bags for Samaritans Purse Ministry. Betty enjoyed gardening, and she loved to mow the
lawn and watch the goats she raised. She was a member of Philadelphia Baptist Church and will be
greatly missed by her family and friends.
She is preceded in death by her parents, her brother, and three sisters.
Those left to cherish her memory are her sons, Edsel L. Criswell and Randall Wayne Criswell; daughters,
Barbara Gail Case, Sylvia Ann Douglas, and Mary Ruth Fagan; sister, Cynthia Case Stroud (Faye);
12 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren, and three great-great grandchildren. She is also
survived by her close, coffee friends and her faith family at Philadelphia.
Juanita “Nita” W. Lofton
Services for Mrs. Juanita “Nita” W. Lofton, of Brookhaven are 12:00 pm, Thursday, July 22, 2021,
at Mt. Zion Church of Christ with visitation from 10:00 am until time of the service. Burial will be at the Church Cemetery.
Mrs. Juanita “Nita” W. Lofton, 90, went to be with her Lord and Savior on July 19, 2021 at her home.
She was born on April 23, 1931. Nita was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
She will be missed by all that loved and knew her.
Preceding her in death were her parents; Weaver & Blanche Watts; husband, Norris “Ed” Lofton, Jr.;
sisters, Alice Lofton, Hazel Allen, and Etta Lou Sandidge; brothers, William Matthews, and Hugh V. Watts;
daughters, Patricia Ann Lofton, and Sharon Lofton Gilmore.
Those left to cherish her are her sons, Ronnie Lofton and wife, Sharon; Terry Lofton and wife, Man Liu;
daughter, Suzanne Cagle and husband, Eddie; son-in-law, Wayne Gilmore, and sister Yvonne Smith and husband, T.A.
She is also survived by 7 grandchildren, Alyson Lofton Huey (Ben), Tyler Lofton (Jamie), Carly Cagle,
Connor Cagle, Kimberly Gilmore Hughes, Nikki Gilmore Tripp (Kerry), Lindsey Gilmore Schofield (Adam),
and 7 great-grandchildren, Dalton Hughes, Garrett Hughes, Sawyer Raeanne Smith, Kennedy Burton, Berkely Tripp, Brooklyn Huey, Tanner Huey.
Charline M. Morgan
Graveside service for Charline M. Morgan will be 10:30 a.m., Friday, July 23, in
Riverwood Memorial Park. Visitation begins at 9 a.m.
Mrs. Morgan was born in Biloxi, Mississippi, February 3, 1940, to Charles Conard Moore and
Lillian Walker Moore. She passed from this life July 18, 2021; she was 81 years of age. Mrs. Morgan
was a member of Windy Hills Church. She was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother.
After retiring from working in Child Care, she would spend her spare time keeping her mind
sharp by working word find puzzles and watching different game shows on the Game Show Network.
She was also an animal lover, and found bird watching a source of relaxation. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
She is preceded in death by her husband, William Arnold Morgan, and her parents.
Those left to cherish her memory are her sons, Glenn Morgan and wife, Shannan, and Gary Morgan and wife,
Jennifer; daughter, Paula Rushing and husband, Richard; 12 grandchildren, Will Rushing and wife, Brittany,
John Rushing and wife, Kelli, Matt Rushing and wife, Candice, Mark Rushing and wife, Anna, Jefferson Rushing and wife,
Greer, Seth Rushing and wife, Caroline, Mary Anna Rushing, Sara Kate Rushing, Joseph Morgan and fiancé, Katelyn,
Julianne Clayton and husband, Adam, Jeremy Morgan, and Anna Grace Morgan. She is also survived by six great grandchildren.
Bruce Edward Washington, Jr.
Services for Bruce Edward Washington, Jr., of Brookhaven are 11:00 am, Monday, July 26, 2021,
at Mighty God Missionary Baptist Church.
Mr. Bruce Edward Washington, Jr. 38, passed away July 18, 2021, at UMMC. He was born on September 8, 1982.
Bruce enjoyed playing basketball, fishing and music. He will be missed by all that loved and knew him.
Preceding him in death are his father, Bruce Washington, Sr.; grandmothers, Bessie Watson and Mary Alice Love;
grandfather, John Lewis and uncle, Tommie Lee Washington.
Those left to cherish his memory are his mother, Debra Washington; sister, Latisa Washington;
a special cousin-sister, Santana Bass; son, Zakobi Washington; daughters, Zakiyah Washington, Knowledge Washington;
girlfriend, Jaharri Graham; along with 2 nieces, Jamaya Bennett and Janiya Bennett and a host of other aunts, uncles and cousins.
The Repass will be at the sisters, 1356 Heucks Retreat Rd. Brookhaven.
John Christian Robinson
CHANGE TO SERVICE NOTICE:
Graveside Service only for Mr. John Christian Robinson, of Brookhaven will be 11:00 am Monday, July 19, 2021,
at Mt Moriah Baptist Church Cemetery.
Visitation will be Sunday, July 18, from 4:00-7:00 pm at Riverwood.
Mr. John Christian Robinson, 48, went to be with his Lord on July 14, 2021. He was born on October 17, 1972,
to Ronny Earl and Gayera Lane Robinson.
Chris loved time with his family, playing with his dogs and Karaoke.
He is preceded in death by his mother.
Those left to cherish his memory are his father; son, Nathan Robinson; daughter, Lorna Robinson Phillips and husband, Christian;
brother, Ken Robinson and wife, Vicki and sister, Kelly Robinson Irwin and husband, Ronnie. Also by his 3 nieces and one nephew.
He will be missed by all that loved and knew him.
Probie Lee Smith
Services for Mr. Probie Lee Smith of Brookhaven are 2:00 pm, Tuesday, July 20, 2021,
at Riverwood with burial at New Salem Church of Christ Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 5:00-8:00 pm, Monday, July 19, at Riverwood.
Mr. Probie Lee Smith, 68, went to be with the Lord on July 15, 2021, at his residence.
He was born on July 1, 1953, to the late Paul Butler Smith and Wessie Smith Smith.
Mr. Smith was a self employed logger for 50 years and enjoyed working on his bulldozer and tractor.
He also loved spending time with his family.
He will be missed by all that loved and knew him.
Preceding him in death were his parents; son, Greg Smith and brother, Jimmy Smith.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Wanda Smith; sons, Shun White and wife, Rena,
and Ben Smith and wife, Mandi. He is also survived by his brother, Paul Curtis Smith and wife, Sylvia,
sister, Faye Callender and husband, Clayton; and 3 grandchildren, Gavyn White, Addison Smith, and Paxton Smith,
and a host of nieces, nephews and other family members.
Kimbalee Suzanne Oglesby Cupit
Services for Kimbalee Suzanne Oglesby Cupit, of Smithdale are 2:00 pm, Monday, July 19, 2021,
at Riverwood with visitation from 1:00 until the time of the service. Burial will be at Providence Baptist Church Cemetery.
Kimbalee Suzanne Oglesby, 45, went to be with her Lord on July 14, 2021. She was born on October 20, 1975.
She was a member of Mt Zion Baptist Church. Kimbalee was a graduate of Franklin High School where she was a member of the
Band and involved in gymnastics and dance. She was also a graduate of Copiah Lincoln Community College with a degree in
Art and Computer Programming. She was a talented artist. She cherished taking pictures of her family and friends.
She loved to laugh and make people laugh and smile, and never met a stranger. She lived life to the fullest.
She always said her greatest blessing were her children and grandchildren. Above all, she loved her Lord Jesus Christ and Savior.
Kimbalee worked at Herring Gas and Franklin Memorial Hospital until she had to retire due to her MS.
She was a strong woman of faith who never gave up.
Preceding her in death were her paternal grandparents, Linfield Lennox Oglesby Sr and Louise McGehee Oglesby
and maternal grandparents, Roy Linton-Smith and La Juana Linton-Smith.
Those left to cherish her memory are her parents, Danny Oglesby and Paula Dillon; step-father, Johnny Wayne Dillon;
son, Tyler Cupit; daughter, Emily Delozier (Dutch Peeples); brothers, Heath Oglesby, Jonathan Myers(Britton) and Matt Dillion (Kelly).
She is also survived by 2 grandchildren, Benjamin Cameron and Huxleigh Peeples.
Patsy Goodman Noble
Funeral service for Patsy Goodman Noble will be 1 p.m., Saturday, July 17, 2021,
at First United Methodist Church in Brookhaven. Burial will follow at Easthaven Cemetery.
Visitaion is from 11 a.m. until the time of service at the church.
Patsy Jean Goodman Noble, 88, of Brookhaven, Mississippi, passed away peacefully during the early morning of Sunday, July 11, 2021, at her home.
Pat was born June 19, 1933, in Wetumpka, Alabama, to Durwood and Louise Goodman. She was only eleven years of age when she lost her father,
and was primarily raised by her paternal grandparents, Grover and Olla Goodman. Pat attended Auburn University, and enjoyed travel in Europe with her mother and step-father.
In 1957, Pat married James F. Noble, Jr. (Jim), and moved to Brookhaven, which became her lifelong home and which she loved.
Pat was a member of and active in the First United Methodist Church, where she sang in the choir for many years and made numerous close and dear friends.
Pat was wholly devoted to her family, and was the most loving and gracious mother and grandmother with which a child or grandchild could ever hope to be blessed.
In addition to always being supportive of and involved in her children’s and grandchildren’s lives, Pat also belonged to and supported several civic and charitable
organizations, including the Brookhaven Junior Auxiliary, Climbers Club, Brookhaven Animal Rescue League, and the Methodist Children’s Home.
Pat was sustained and guided by her faith, and touched many lives with her warmth and unconditional kindness.
Pat was preceded in death by her husband (Jim) of 53 years, by her brother, Danny Goodman, and her parents, Durwood S. Goodman,
and Louise Boyer Goodman Sprague. Our sweet momma (and “Nini” to her grandchildren) will be dearly missed by her son, James F. Noble III (Jamie),
and daughter-in-law, Sloane (Ridgeland, Mississippi), her daughter, Emily Noble Brooker, and son-in-law, Ray (Toronto, Canada), and by her four grandchildren,
Malory, Carolyn, Catherine-Laurel, and James F. Noble IV (Jake), and three great-grandchildren. Pat is also survived by her constant and loving canine companion, Sullivan (Sully).
A visitation and funeral service will be held in the sanctuary of the First United Methodist Church (Brookhaven) at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., respectively,
on Saturday, July 17, 2021, with a brief graveside service following at Easthaven Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Brookhaven Animal Rescue League (BARL); P.O. Box 3477; Brookhaven, MS 39603; www.barl.net.
GERTIE MAE HAWN ALEXANDER
MAMAGERT, AGE 83, WAS BORN OCTOBER 11, 1937 TO CHARLIE AND EMMA HAWN IN WALTHALL COUNTY ,MS AND SHE BEGAN HER NEW JOURNEY OF ETERNAL LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS ON JULY 12, 2021.
THE WORD SAYS IN I COR.2:9 “EYES HAVE NOT SEEN, EARS HAVE NOT HEARD, NEITHER HAS IT ENTERED INTO THE HEART OF MAN THE THINGS THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE THAT LOVE HIM.” AND SHE LOVED HIM!
AT AGE 15, MAMAGERT MARRIED THE LOVE OF HER LIFE, PAPA ALEX (HOWARD CLINTON ALEXANDER). WHAT A PAIR! BY AGE 24 SHE HAD GIVEN BIRTH TO 4 GIRLS WHO WOULD GROW UP WITH HER. SHE WAS SO MUCH MORE THAN THEIR MOTHER, SHE WAS THEIR SISTER AND BEST FRIEND. LATER SHE WOULD GET HER BOYS AS SHE CALLED THEM, 4 SON IN LAWS. AND NOTHING COMPARED TO HER LOVE FOR THOSE GRANDBABIES KNOWN AS THE CRAZY 8. FOLLOWED BY 20 GREAT GRANDBABIES. HER FAMILY. SHE WAS PROUD AND DIDN’T CARE IF YOU KNEW IT. OH THE POPSICLES, THE TRIPS TO DIRT CHEAP, THE SUNDAYS ON ALEXANDER HILL AND ABSOLUTELY NOTHING COMPARED T0 CHRISTMAS.
SHE WORKED AT KELLWOOD IN MONTICELLO, MS UNTIL THE PLANT CLOSED . I REMEMBER HER TELLING THE STORIES ABOUT HOW YOU COULD ONLY GET PAID IF YOU DID WHAT WAS CALLED MAKE PRODUCTION. ANYTHING OVER PRODUCTION WOULD BE HER EXTRA PAY. INSTEAD OF HER MAKING THE EXTRA PAY SHE WOULD SPEND HER EXTRA TIME HELPING OTHERS AROUND HER MAKE THEIR PRODUCTION SO THEY WOULDN’T LOSE THEIR JOB. DID SHE NEED THE MONEY? YES SHE DID, BUT PEOPLE WERE MORE IMPORTANT TO HER THAN MONEY. SHE HAD A GAP IN EMPLOYMENT WERE SHE CAME HOME TO CARE FOR HER PARENTS BY MARRIAGE AND LATER HER PARENTS AND HER LAST YEARS OF EMPLOYMENT WERE AT TOPEKA TILTON SCHOOL COOKING FOR THE PEOPLE SHE LOVED THE MOST, CHILDREN.
SHE LOVED JESUS AND SHE LIVED IT IN EVERY ASPECT OF LIFE. IF SHE, LIKE PAUL, HAD WRITTEN A BOOK TO PUT IN THE BIBLE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE “BOOK OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE”. SHE WAS A FAITHFUL MEMBER OF POWELLS GROVE CHURCH, THE REFUGE, AND ANYWHERE ELSE SHE COULD MINISTER. HER DEDICATION WAS NEVER CONFINED TO THE WALLS OF A BUILDING. HER FAVORITE BIBLE VERSE IS “THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE. I WILL REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT.” BUT THERE IS A VERSE THAT FITS MAMAGERT SO FITTING. IT IS PENNED IN JOHN 21:25 AND IS REFERRING TO JESUS BUT IT ALSO FITS MAWMAW PERFECTLY. IT READS LIKE THIS “ WE ARE THE FAMILY THAT TESTIFIES OF THESE THINGS , AND WROTE THESE THINGS; AND WE KNOW THAT HER TESTIMONY IS TRUE. AND THERE ARE ALSO MANY OTHER THINGS WHICH MOM DID, THE WHICH , IF THEY SHOULD BE WRITTEN EVERY ONE, I SUPPOSE THAT EVEN THE WORLD ITSELF COULD NOT CONTAIN THE BOOKS THAT SHOULD BE WRITTEN. AMEN.
EVERY YEAR AT CHRISTMAS WALGREENS WAS THE PLACE. SHE WOULD LITERALLY BUY A CLOSET FULL OF CANNED CHRISTMAS COOKIES AND PIROUETTES TO GIVE TO EVERYONE THAT CROSSED HER PATH. IT WAS HER WAY OF SAYING I LOVE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR HELPING ME IN ANY WAY.
SHE WAS PRECEEDED IN DEATH BY HER PARENTS, CHARLEY AND EMMA HAWN; HER LOVE, HOWARD ALEXANDER; 4 BROTHERS, JOHN HENRY, JONAH(DORIS) , CHARLES, AND WESLEY (DOROTHY) HAWN; 3 SISTERS, BETTY, BERTIE (D.P.) WALKER & EUDENA (ROBERT) CLARK .
SHE IS SURVIVED BY ONE SISTER, REBECCA HAWN; 4 DAUGHTERS, DEBORAH (MARK), MCCAIN, STEPHANIE WININGER, BECKY (HAROLD) THORNHILL, ALETHA (LANCE) MCCLOUD; EIGHT GRANDCHILDREN, NATHANIEL (MISSY) THORNHILL, TEAH THORNHILL, ANNA (CHAD) BOYD, MATT THORNHILL, NATASHA WALTERS, KIM (JEFF) STOKES, LEIGH (STEPHEN) HALL, KARA (ERIC) TOOMER: 20 GREAT GRANDCHILDREN, TREVOR, KATIE, EMMA THORNHILL; NATALEIGH & ETHAN BOYD; CHRIS,MICHAEL, LOGAN & SOPHIE WALTERS; BRENTLY, BRADLEY & BRITIAN HALL; CROCKETT, ELOISE, HOLT, SUTTON, & ADELINE STOKES; EVERETT, LOTTIE, & SHEPHERD TOOMER.
A VERY SINCERE THANK YOU TO DR. MIKE JOHSON, COMPASSUS HOSPICE CARE, ST. LUKE HOME HEALTH, CLAYTON FARMER AND FARMERS MEDSHOPPE, AND EVERY SITTERS THAT HAVE HELPED US DURING THIS MOST DIFFICULT SEASON, (RENEA ENLOW, TRISHA THORNHILL, SHIBA ROBERTSON, CHRYSTAL AND SHAWNA PHELPS, TAMMY AND BROOKE DUNAWAY, DEBORAH DUNAWAY, SONYA LILY, AND LEANNE NOLAN.
HER FINAL RESTING PLACE WILL BE RIGHT WHERE HER HEART HAS ALWAYS BEEN, BESIDE DAD AT GREER CEMETERY IN JAYESS, MS.
Gregory Allen Rowells
Graveside service for Gregory Allen Rowells are 10:00 am Wednesday, July 14, 2021 at Easthaven Cemetery.
Gregory Allen Rowells, 59, of Brookhaven, passed away July 9, 2021, at his residence. He was born on January 27, 1962,
to the late Huey P. Rowells and Lydia Faye Johnson Rowells. Mr. Rowells was a forklift driver for McLane Company
and was a member of Easthaven Baptist Church. He will be missed by all that loved and knew him.
Preceding him in death were his parents; grandparents, Melton and Earnestine Johnson, Jesse Lee Rowell and Ethel Rowell,
and his sister, Cynthia Rene Rowells.
Those left to cherish his memory are his sons, John Gregory Rowells and Russell Andrew Rowells and daughter, Rachel Anne Thornton of Brookhaven.
He is also survived by his brothers, Jerry Dwayne Rowells, Michael Charles Rowell, of Castle Rock, CO,
sisters, Michelle Rowells Fuller of Petal and Nicole “Nikki” Rowesll Wilson, and 2 grandchildren, Addison Grace Buffington, Emerson Ruby Rowells
and “one on the way”, Colt Lane Thornton.
