Obituaries
Brielle Wynette Jackson and Briella Monique Jackson
Graveside service for Brielle Wynette Jackson and Briella Monique Jackson
will be 1 p.m., Friday, September 18, 2020, at St Paul Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery.
Brielle Wynette Jackson and Briella Monique Jackson were born September 15, 2020
at King’s Daughters Medical Center in Brookhaven, MS, and slipped back into
the arms of Jesus the same day.
They are preceded in death by their uncle, Coby Malik Bryant and their cousin,
Harmony Latoya Oquinn.
Those left to cherish the sweet memory of these angels are their parents,
Tamaal Jackson and Brittany Nelson; brother, Ba’len Hayes; and sister, London Nelson;
grandparents, Marilyn Davis (Joseph Gabe), and Christy Jackson (Early Strong); and other
family members, Kierra Culbert (Rafus Gibson) and Brandon Nelson (Sheena Nelson).
Rayford Smith
Funeral service for Mr. Rayford Smith will be 11 a.m., Friday, September 18, 2020, at
Bethesda Baptist Church with interment at Ephesus Cemetery. Visitation is
from 10 a.m. until the time of service.
He was the patriarch of our family and left this earth to go to his heavenly home
September 16, 2020. While our hearts are broken at the loss of him, the reunion he
is having with his loved ones that have gone on before him, brings joy to our heart.
He taught us so many things and left his impression on all of us. We will carry you
in our hearts until we meet again.
He was born November 2, 1931, in Jefferson County Mississippi where he lived his
whole life. He was a cattle farmer and logger, and attended Ephesus Primitive Baptist Church
Mr. Smith is preceded in death by his wife, Nell Brown Smith; parents, Dougal C. Smith
and Julia Nevels Smith; brother, Doyle Smith; granddaughter, Hope Emfinger; and son-in-law, Randy Cummins.
Those who remain to cherish his memory are his son, Ray Smith (Julie) of Fayette, MS; daughters,
Sheila Emfinger (Butch) and Lynda Purser (John Wayne) both of Meadville, MS, and Kay Cummins
and friend, James Neal, of Corsicana, TX; brother, Joe Smith, of Fayette, MS; sisters, Christine Warren,
of Wesson, MS and Helen Fay Keeton, of Sieverville, TN. He is also survived by nine grandchildren,
Brad Emfinger, Britney McWilliams, Rachel Brocato, Adam Purser, Emy Roider, Jill Ephlin,
Shelley Golden, Jennifer West and Josh Smith, and 17 great grandchildren.
Memorials can be made to Ephesus Cemetery, 835 Red Lick Road, Lorman, MS. 39096.
Clayton Hughes Powell, Jr.
There will be a private family graveside service for Mr. Clayton Hughes Powell, Jr
at Riverwood Memorial Park.
Mr. Powell, 74, of Brookhaven, died September 15, 2020. He was born in Martin Tennessee,
December 5, 1945 to Clayton Hughes Powell, Sr., and Cornelia Buton Chandler. He was a
Conductor with the Illinois Central Railroad for many years. Mr. Powell was an avid
hunter and fisherman as well. He will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved him.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Darlene Powell; his parents; and son, Ryan Powell.
Those who remain to cherish his memory are his sons, Sean Powell (Kala) and Chris Powell and
wife, Amy; brothers, Ray M. Powell, G. Wayne Powell, and Jerry Marshall Powell; five
grandchildren and two great grandchildren; lifelong friends, Charles Feduccia,
Sammie Holmes and Semmie Smith, as well as other loving family members and friends.
Ka’Mora Toliver
Graveside service for Infant Ka’ Mora Toliver are 2:00 pm Thursday,
September 17, 2020 at Rosehill Cemetery.
Ka’Mora Toliver was born on September 10, 2020, and passed away on
the same day at University of Mississippi Medical Center.
She is preceded in death by her grandfather, Timothy Toliver II, great grandparents,
Roger Lee Smith, Charlene Smith, Bertha Williams, Robert Wilcher and Aunt Aamia Washington.
Those left to cherish her memories are her father, Corey Toliver, mother, Myeasha Clair,
brother, Daniel Rockingham, Jr. and sisters, Damyia Rockingham, and Koriah Toliver.
Also a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles.
Charles Thomas Nations
Funeral service for Mr. Charles Thomas Nations will be 10 a.m., Thursday, September 17, 2020,
at Clear Branch Baptist Church with burial in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m.
Wednesday, September 16, at Clear Branch Baptist Church.
Charles Thomas Nations, 19, passed from this life September 13, 2020. He was born in McComb, MS,
May 14, 2001, to Albert Wade Nations and Patsy Lynn Ward Nations. He was employed with
Wal-Mart Distribution. Charles was a member of Clear Branch Baptist Church. He enjoyed
playing football, deer hunting, only if it was cold enough, and riding his four-wheeler.
Everyone knew him as “Mr. Competitive” but he had a loving heart and never wanted to
see anyone left out. He will be greatly missed by everyone who knew and loved him.
He is preceded in death by his paternal great grandparents, Charles Nations (his namesake)
and Eloise Nations and Clarence I. and Daisy Lovern; maternal great grandparents,
Charlie T. and Mary Etta Ward and George E. and Susie Cowart; paternal grandfather,
Billy C. Nations; and maternal grandparents, Willie Thomas Ward, Frances Ward Covington,
and Ralph Covington.
Those who remain to cherish his memory are his parents, Wade and Patsy Nations
and one sister, Amber Nations as well as other loving family members and friends.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Clear Branch Baptist Church Youth Department,
2166 Clear Branch Lane, Wesson, MS 39191.
Harmon Shirley
Memorial service for Mr. Harmon Shirley will be at 3 p.m., Saturday, September 19, 2020, at
Central Baptist Church with visitation beginning at 2 p.m. until the time of service.
Mr. Harmon Shirley, 87, ended his adventure here on earth, September 11, 2020. On March 26, 1933,
Mr. Harmon began this journey, born to the late Jesse Harmon Shirley and Nora Dunnam Shirley.
He served his country in the United States Army during the Korean War. After returning home he
began his career and was a local business owner for 47 years. In his spare time, he enjoyed the great outdoors.
Hunting, fishing and spending time with his family were his favorite pastimes.
Any preacher worth his salt will tell you that a church is not about the physical building, but the people inside
and how they go forth in this world. Harmon did his worshipping in the biggest church of them all, God's great outdoors.
He would bring that outdoor fellowship to everyone he met, family, friends and strangers.
He is preceded in death by his parents and siblings Elsie Shirley Vest, Vernon Shirley,
Inez Shirley Stephens and Bonnie Jean Shirley.
Those who remain to keep his memory alive are his wife, Virginia H. "Ginny" Shirley; sons,
Michael Shirley of Hermanville, MS, Dean Shirley and wife, Rhoda of Wesson, MS; daughter,
Virginia L. "Ginger" Shirley, of Cambridge, MA; brother, James Shirley of Baton Rouge, LA; sisters,
Vernice Cook of Brookhaven, MS, Catherine Middleton of Terry, MS, and Delores Bennett of
Denham Springs, LA. He is also survived by four grandchildren, Hunter Shirley, Ryan Shirley,
Rebekah Shirley, and Elizabeth Shirley.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Catch-A-Dream Foundation, 2485 Ennis Road, Starkville, MS 39759
Charlene Clark Reid
A Graveside service will be held for Mrs. Charlene Clark Reid on Monday, September 14, 2020, at 12:00 noon at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church Cemetery with a visitation from 10:00am-11:00am at Riverwood Family.
Charlene Clark Reid, 79, of Slidell, formally of Bogue Chitto, passed from this life on September 13, 2020, at St. Tammany Hospital. She was born on April 20, 1941, to Charles Leland Clark and Nelda Lorraine Price Clark.
Mrs. Reid loved painting, decorating and gardening and was a member of First Baptist Church of Slidell, LA.
Preceding her in death was her husband, James D. Reid; parents, Charles and Nelda Clark; sisters, Marilyn Clark Brown and Lorraine Thomas and brother, Charles Clark.
Those left to cherish her memory are her sons, Rev. James L. Reid, wife Julie Gumm Reid and Dr. Joseph D. Reid, wife Christine S. Reid; brothers, Ferris Clark, Jamie Clark and Ronnie Clark. She is also survived by five grandchildren, Jordan Elizabeth Reid, Spencer James Reid, Samuel Moore Reid, Charles Henry Reid and William Harrison Reid.
Dorothy Helen Dillard Cannon
Dorothy Helen Dillard Cannon (known as Dott Cannon or “Mima”) completed her life’s journey of almost 95 years on the afternoon of September 9, 2020.
She made her transition gracefully surrounded by the love of her family and friends. Dott expressed her pure, magnetic, accepting,
and generous nature in her many relationships of all kinds and ages.
Dott Cannon was born on September 25, 1925, to Erin and Evie Dillard in Tupelo, where she grew up. She attended Ole Miss at 16 years old from 1942-1944
where she was a member of the Delta Gamma Fraternity, and she went to Yale for graduate studies in nursing from 1944-1947.
Dott served in the military as a nurse cadet in 1944, and later got a job at the Brookhaven Health Department, where she met her husband, Fred Cannon.
Dott married Fred on May 16, 1948, and they shared 45 years together. Dott raised five children and contributed to the family business along
with many social and civic organizations. In 1976, she took on responsibility for Dillard Enterprises as co-president and later became the sole owner and president.
Dott’s role in her community was a life-long commitment and dedication to volunteerism. She was a member of the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer,
she participated in the King’s Daughter’s and Son’s Willing Hearts Circle and Junior Auxiliary, and she served on the
Mississippi State Board of Health and the Mississippi School of the Arts Foundation Board. She enjoyed the Garden Club, the Brookhaven Camellia Society,
her Bridge Club for over 65 years, her Luncheon Club, and the Climbers Club.
Dott Cannon was always up for an adventure and she traveled with family and her “Country Club” girl-friend group through
the US, Europe, Mexico, and Central America, China and Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. She was quick to turn a stranger
into a friend with her sincere curiosity and compassion.
Dott will be remembered for her kind and an open heart—she made introductions with her hand over her heart expressing her love,
“This is my dear, dear friend”.
Everyone who knew Dott Cannon was touched by her warm and beaming spirit. She made all of us certain that we were the most special to her.
Dott was a rare gem, a soaring comet, a sanctuary of loving enthusiasm that will be sorely missed by many.
Dott Cannon was survived by her children: Becky Cannon and her partner, Leonard Jacobs, David Cannon and his wife, Lea Ann Cannon,
the late William Cannon’s partner, Janie Reeves, and Frederick Cannon and his wife, Kaye Cannon; She was also survived by
her grand- and great-grandchildren Emi Kubota, Mari Kubota, Zo Kubota-Johnson, Naomi Walsh Kubota, Blake Cannon, Cameron Cannon,
Alec Cannon, AJ (Austin) Cannon, Claire Cannon, KK (Katelyn) Cannon, Hazel Cannon, Violet Cannon, Carla Wallace, Kristin Hatten,
Casey Wallace, Carly Beth Wallace, Haven Hatten, Anna Ballard, and Leigh Michael Cannon. “Mima” was preceded in death by her parents,
Erin and Evie Dillard, her husband, Fred Cannon, her brother, Dr. Erin Dillard, her sons, Michael Cannon, and William Cannon.
The family wishes to thank Jewelene Buie, Sandra Nelson, Joyce Brown, and the staff of Encompass Health Hospice
for their loving support and help through Dott’s transition time.
There will be a private family service at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer on Saturday, September 12, 2020, at 10:30 am,
available through their website www.redeemerbrookhaven.com. Andrew McLarty will officiate the service.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer.
The family has created a virtual guest book for you to visit and leave comments and encouragement for the family.
Barbara Gavin Walker
A public visitation for Barbara Gavin Walker will be Friday, September 25, 2020, from 4 pm-7 pm at
Riverwood Family Funeral Service in Brookhaven, Mississippi.
A private funeral mass (due to social distancing restrictions) will be held Saturday, September 26, 2020,
at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Brookhaven, Mississippi, with burial at St Francis Catholic Cemetery.
Riverwood Family Funeral Service in Brookhaven, MS is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Walker, 77, passed away Saturday, August 22, 2020, surrounded by family and friends at her home in Frisco, TX.
She was born May 25, 1943, in Columbia, Tennessee, to Dr. William M. Gavin II and Mary Lucia Hutchinson Gavin.
She graduated from St. Agnes Academy for girls in 1961, Siena College in 1963, and St. Joseph’s School of Nursing in 1965. In 1965
she married her high school sweetheart, Louis N. Walker, Jr. Married for 53 years, they made Brookhaven their home in 1975
and resided in the area for over 40 years. Barbara loved Brookhaven and its community dearly. She worked as a dialysis nurse for more than 40 decades.
At the end of her career in 2008, she was an Area Regional Manager for multiple dialysis clinics in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas.
Barbara received numerous awards over her time as a nurse, including the Kidney Care Award for nursing. She served on many
national committees for dialysis. She was also one of the first two nurses in Memphis to be trained on the artificial kidney machine and
was in attendance for the first kidney transplant in the late 1960s.
Preceding her in death were parents; her brother, Bill Gavin AOCM, USN, Ret., her sister Mary Lucia “Patsy” Barnes, and her husband Louis N. Walker Jr.
She is survived by daughter Robin Walker, of Frisco, TX; daughter Peggy Walker Rushing and husband Will, of Frisco, TX; brother Joseph Gavin
and wife Nancy, of North Ridgeville, OH; sister in law Jane Gavin, of Honolulu, HI; sister in law Patricia Taylor and husband Larry, of Parsons, TN;
sister in law Cheri Hess Brooks and husband Eugene of Brookhaven; two grandchildren, Ellie and Gavin Rushing, of Frisco, TX; and 11 nieces and nephews.
Alton Glenn "Bookie" Walker
Funeral service for Mr. Alton Glenn “Bookie” Walker will be 11 a.m.,
Thursday, September 10, 2020, at Riverwood Family, with burial at
Macedonia Baptist Church Cemetery. Visitation is from 9 a.m. Thursday until the time of service.
Mr. “Bookie” Walker, 79, of Brookhaven, passed from this life September 7, 2020,
at King’s Daughters Medical Center. He was born in Brookhaven June 22, 1941, to
William Clyde Walker and Alice Lucille Allgood Walker. Mr. “Bookie” became a
Funeral Director and spent his life not only working with, but ministering to, those
in grief. He was a true servant, spending his time caring for the needs of others,
not only in his work, but in life. He will be greatly missed by all who loved him.
His friends and fellow workers at Macedonia Baptist Church and New Sight Baptist Church
will know a tremendous vacancy as well.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Ernestine Walker; his parents; sister,
Betty Jo Walker; and brother Loyd Walker.
Those who remain to cherish his memory are his wife, Joy Gill Smith Walker; son, Matt Walker (Daphne)
of Rydal, GA; daughter, Debbie Peebles (Lee) of Brookhaven, MS; sister, Linda Sue Iasigi (Mel);
five grandchildren, Chan Newell (Whitney), Chris Newell (Ashley), Cody Newell, Whitney Jones (Carl),
and Colton Walker; four step-grandchildren and two step-great-grandchildren; stepdaughter,
Cynthia Phillips (Bryan); stepsons, Douglas Smith (Amy), and Ronnie Smith. He is also survived
by a special great granddaughter that kept him young and active, Harper Newell and 8 great grandchildren.
The Walker family wants to say a special “Thank You” to Ashley Newell for the
wonderful care and compassion she gave to him.
