Obituaries
Edna Miller
Funeral service for Mrs. Edna Miller will be Noon, Wednesday, August 10, at Riverwood Family, with interment in the Crystal Springs Cemetery. Visitation is from 11 a.m. until the time of service.
Edna, age 101, passed from this life August 8, 2022, at the Aspen Assisted Living Community in Brookhaven. She was born November 16, 1920, in Sontag, MS, to William Robert and Florence Aserlene Allen.
She was a Licensed Practical Nurse and worked at Potter Company and Co-Lin Community College.
Edna liked to stay busy and had a variety of interests: traveling, sewing, needlework, painting, pottery, gardening, and quilting. She especially enjoyed spending time with the weekly quilting group at Mt. Zion Baptist Church.
Her greatest enjoyment came from spending time with her family. She will be greatly missed by them all.
Edna was a faithful believer in Jesus Christ and was a member of Clear Branch Baptist Church.
Preceding her in death are, her husbands, Julian M. Morrison and Mercer B. Miller; her parents; eight brothers, three sisters; son-in-law, Orrin Leonard; and grandson, Daren Morrison.
Those left to cherish her memory are her son, Julian M. Morrison and wife, Gretchen; daughters, Sandra Leonard and Beverly White and husband Wayne; five grandchildren, Jennifer Carrier, Sam Leonard (Karen), Alexander Leonard (Kiri), Jonathan White (Robyn), Bradley White (Maggi); eight great grandchildren, Joshua, Brandin, Patrick, Dillon, Alex, Liam, Leia, and Freyja; one great, great grandson, Sheppard; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, and other loving family members and friends.
A Special thanks to The Aspen & Compassus Hospice.
Robert Earl Boyd
Funeral service for Mr. Robert Earl Boyd will be 10 a.m., Thursday, August 11, at Riverwood Family, with
interment in Riverwood Memorial Park.
Robert Earl Boyd was born on January 8, 1932, to Leon A. Boyd and Lena Jordan Boyd and departed this
life on August 7, 2022, in Tyler, Texas. He was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Minnie Belle
Britt Boyd. his parents, and by his three siblings and their spouses.
Mr. Boyd is survived by his oldest son, Robert Wayne Boyd and wife, Teresa of Brookhaven, their two
children, Jason Boyd of Jackson, and Candi Boyd and spouse Lauren of Aurora, CO, along with their son,
Miller; middle son, James E. "Buddy" Boyd and wife, Linda of Brookhaven, their two children, Christy .
Boyd Smith and husband, Lance of Brookhaven and their three children, Nicholas, Abigail and Isabelle,
and Cory Boyd and wife, Alyce of Brookhaven, along with their daughter, CJ and twin boys, Dalton and
Tavin; and youngest son, Terry Boyd and wife Cissy of Tyler, Texas, their two sons, Weston Boyd and
wife, Abby of Georgetown, Texas and their son, William, and Keaton Boyd of Tyler, Texas.
A huge thank you goes out to the staff at Prestige Estates Assisted Living Facility in Tyler, Texas for the
good care they took of him for more than eleven years. They truly loved taking care of him and
considered him one of their favorites of all the residents.
He will be missed, but as believers we have the promise of being reunited again someday.
Donavon Anthony Davis
Donavon Anthony Davis, 34, passed away July 19, 2022.
He was born on August 4, 1987.
Donavon loved to draw and aspired to be a tattoo artist and own his own shop in the future. He loved music and enjoyed playing his electric guitar and his keyboard. He loved taking things apart to fix them but most of the time he couldn’t put them back together! But the thing he loved the most was his family, especially his only child, Shantlee. Their bond was like no other. Donavon loved animals and all God’s creatures and loved the Lord with all his heart and soul.
Preceding him in death were his paternal grandparents, Douglas Arthur Davis and Joyce Elaine Sykes, maternal grandparents, John D. Boyte and Carolyn F. Easterling, and his uncle, Timothy Scott Davis.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Cheryl Natasha Davis; daughter, Shantlee Dae Marie Davis; stepdaughters, Haley Griffin, Aninsley White, stepsons, Gaston Purvis and Ethan White; mother, Corinne Day McNulty (Cricket), father, Douglas Anthony Davis (Tony); sisters, Kaci Corinne Davis and Kalee Anna Davis
Judy Carol Cupit Smith
Visitation will be on Wednesday, August 10 from 5 PM till 8 PM and will resume on Thursday from 11 AM till time of service at 1 PM, all at Riverwood. Funeral services will be 1 PM from Riverwood with Rev. Tom Higginbotham officiating. Interment will follow at New Salem Baptist Church Cemetery, McCall Creek, MS.
Judy Carol Cupit Smith, 71, of Denham Springs, passed away at Baton Rouge General-Bluebonnet Hospital in Baton Rouge on Saturday, August 6, 2022. She was born on May 28, 1951, in Franklin County, MS to the late Thomas Eli Cupit and Ammie Burris Cupit.
Judy was a faith and long-time member of Don Avenue Baptist Church in Denham Springs. She loved doing for others, baking cakes, spending time on the phone talking to friends and family, reading obits from the Denham Springs area and the Franklin County, MS area, but mostly just loving on her two grandchildren.
Judy was also a transport driver for Lake Sherwood Village Retirement Community.
She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Clayton Cupit, sisters, Claudell Jones, Doris Dillon, and an infant sister.
She is survived by her children, Greg Smith and wife Kristy, and Stephanie Smith, grandchildren, Jack Smith, and Avery Watts, 2 Brothers Tommy Cupit and wife Sharon, W L Cupit and wife Donna, Sister Nina Dale Golman and husband Kenny Bob and sister-in-law Shirley Cupit and brother-in-law Harold Dillion.
Pallbearers will be Kenny Bob Golman, David Golman, Jason Golman, John Jones and Bruce Lindley. Honorary Pallbearers will be Jack Smith and Gary Shaffer.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to the Staff at Baton Rouge General, MD Anderson, and Mary Bird Perkins.
In Memory of Judy donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or Lymphoma Myeloma Society.
Sarah Goldman Lee
A memorial service will be held for Sarah Goldman Lee, Wednesday, August 10th, 2 p.m., at Shiloh Baptist Church, in Sontag, MS, with Reverend Jimmy Smith officiating. There will be a family gathering after the service.
Ms. Lee, 68, of Sontag, passed from this life August 5, 2022, in Sontag. She was born in Independence, Louisiana, March 25, 1954, to Alonzo Memphis Goldman and Minnie B. Causey Goldman.
Sarah was caretaker to many in her local community. She was also a proud business owner of her cleaning company when she was in Georgia. She was a member of Shiloh Baptist Church where she also participated in the choir. Sarah loved being a grandmother to six grandchildren and three great grandchildren. She was an avid gardener and enjoyed taking care of her home. Sarah will be greatly missed by all she has touched. She was a mother to all.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Donnie R. Lee; her parents; sisters, Susie and Patricia; brother, James Goldman; nephew, Andrew Alessi,and great nephew, Brantley Goldman.
She is survived by her son, Jeremy James Logue and wife, Christine Work; brothers, Alonzo Goldman and wife, Lukie, Horace Goldman, and Andy Goldman; sisters, Dorothy Knost, Melissa Alessi, Winnie Allen, and Mary Fields and husband, Tony; six grandchildren, Harley Rogers, Kelsey Work “Punkaroo”, Colby Harrison, Cassidy Mulqueeny, Andrew Work “Drew Bear”, and Julia Logue “Snuggle Bunny”; three great grandchildren. Autumn Thompson and husband, Joe, and their children, Clay, Trevor, Courtney, Stacie, and Nevaeh, and their grandchildren, Aubree and Blaize; and Melissa Goldman as well as other nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.
Georgene Marie "Jean" Greer
Graveside service for Georgene Marie “Jean” Greer will be 2:30 p.m., Tuesday, August 9, at Ruth Cemetery. Visitation is from 1-2 p.m., prior to graveside, at Riverwood Family.
Jean Greer, 93, of Jackson, passed from this life, August 8, 2022. She was born and raised in the Ruth, Mississippi, community, where she
graduated from the Ruth School system, playing both basketball and the
saxophone in the school band. Later in her adult life she returned to Ruth every
weekend to work in the family garden, teach Sunday School, and play the organ
for Ruth Baptist Church.
She graduated from Mississippi College with a degree in Medical Technology, and
had a long career in medical laboratories and hospitals in the Jackson and
Flowood areas.
After retirement she enjoyed traveling with her mother and sister. Jean was an
amateur woodworker and spent many hours in her shop building small pieces of
furniture and numerous yard decorations for friends. She also enjoyed her
flowers and plants, and even had a vegetable garden in her back yard.
She was a very active member of First Baptist Church, Jackson, for many years as
a Sunday School teacher, Precepts Bible Study teacher, and a member of the
Sanctuary and Reflections Choirs. Throughout her life she was a loving and loyal
friend to many people. She was an encourager and a witness for Jesus in every
aspect of her life.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Edward Corey Greer and Clara Griffin Greer; two sisters, Alice Greer and Juanita Greer Summers; and brother-in-law, Robert Summers.
She is survived by her niece, Gail Summers Evans; nephew, David Summers and wife, Paula; and three great nieces and one great nephew.
Condolences and other information are available online at www.riverwoodfamily.com.
Janice Jeaneen Impson Stewart
Services for Mrs. Janice Jeaneen Impson Stewart (NeeNee) are 11:00 am, Saturday, August 13, 2022,
at Riverwood Family with visitation from 10:00 until the time of the service, and burial at Easthaven Cemetery.
Mrs. Janice Jeaneen Impson Stewart (NeeNee), was born November 30, 1946, and passed away peacefully
at her home on August 5, 2022 at the age of 75.
She graduated from Longview High School Class of 1964. She was especially fond of her “64” girls.
She spoke of them with much love and respect. After high school she attended Kilgore College and received an
Associate of Science in 1966. She then attended North Texas State University and graduated with a Bachelor of
Science in Home Economics in 1968. That turned into a lifelong career in Dietary medicine.
She took care of numerous patients as a Registered Dietician, Diabetes Consultant,
and ran amazing staffs at several hospitals including Kings Daughters Hospital. She loved her staff.
She will be remembered for her smile laughter and loving heart.
She is preceded in death by her loving parents, Marion Devaul Impson and Geneva Morgan Impson, and her brother Dee Impson.
Those left to cherish her memory are her husband, Clarence Chester Stewart, Sr, whom she was loved by for 36 years,
as well as children, grandchildren and great grandchildren she loved as her own, Kathy Stewart, Janet McMillan (Fred),
Chip Stewart (Benny), Scot Stewart (Martha), Maria Stewart-Tucker (Steve), and her niece, Trisha Bradford;
she is also survived by her grandchildren, Sara Henderson (Joshua), Mandi Sadat (Guillermo),
Jeremiah McMillan (Stephanie), Audrey Mason (Dustin), Michael Stewart (Reagan), Dillon Stewart (Reaghan),
PJ Sifuentez; and great grandchildren, Billy, Stewart, Paxton, Connor, Emily, Alice, Reid, Stella-Kate, and one on the way.
James Bennett Thompson
James Bennett Thompson, 68, of Hazlehurst, passed away August 4, 2022, at Silver Cross Nursing Home.
He was born June 16, 1954, to the late James Shelby (Monk) Thompson and Nora Rea Blackmon Thompson.
Mr. Thompson was a member of Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Explorers, AA Degree Drafting Design.
He was a stamp and coin collector, model and rocket builder; CB’er (KTV-6270) and Ham Radio Tech. (KC5-SNC), L.P. Gas Tech. (#5258),
Lawrence Co. Appraiser (1982-1984), Wesson Policeman (#4), Pendleton Detectives of MS., and Wells Fargo Guard Service of Metairie, LA.
Those left to cherish his memory are his son, James Bradley Thompson and wife Brittany; daughter, Kelly Leanne Thompson; brother, Perry Lynn Thompson
and sister, Sue Sills; and three grandchildren, David Austin Cramer, Alyssa Jean Dickerson and Elijah Taylor Malbrough.
He will be missed by all that loved him.
David Gary Powers
Services for David Gary Powers of Hattiesburg, MS, will be held in Brookhaven, MS, at Riverwood Family Funeral Home on Saturday, August 6. The visitation will be at 10 a.m. with service at 11 a.m. and burial immediately following at Riverwood.
David died from complications of Parkinson’s disease at Asbury Hospice in Hattiesburg, on July 30, 2022. He was born at Vicksburg’s Mercy Hospital on August 2, 1947, to Elizabeth ‘Sis’ Gary Powers and Spencer Byrd Powers, Sr. He lived in Cary, MS, on the Powers Family Farm and attended Cary Consolidated Line School and then Rolling Fork High School where he played football. He was a member of the 1963 Delta Valley Conference Championship team and was a 1965 graduate of Rolling Fork High School.
David also played football at Millsaps College and was a member and officer of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. He graduated from Millsaps in 1969 with a sociology degree. Bobby Kennedy spoke at Millsaps in 1967 and David was strongly influenced by his message as well as by President John F. Kennedy’s inaugural speech that called on citizens to “ask what you can do for your country.” David began his lifelong service as a soldier in the War on Poverty when he took a job as a caseworker with the Mississippi Department of Public Welfare, now Department of Human Services. In 1973 he earned a Master’s in Social Work from Tulane University.
David spent his life attempting to right injustices, including giving away a week’s worth of his roommate’s groceries to neighborhood trick-or-treaters while a college student. Reflecting on his nearly thirty years at the Department of Human Services, he often said that he aspired to be a “good bureaucrat” with his typical self-deprecating and dry sense of humor. His real calling was as a front-line social worker, going above and beyond to love people in whatever way he could. There are too many stories of the good work he did, from helping his clients file their taxes to get the refunds they deserved, to working with churches to get rent covered, to ending his sessions with clients by asking a question not found on any of the forms: “What other needs do you have?” When he eventually became a Regional Director, he mentored social workers in the field, encouraging them to treat people with respect and meet them where they were. He continued this work after retirement, helping people looking for assistance at Parkway Heights United Methodist Church, volunteering with Edwards Street Fellowship Center distributing food to families in need, and delivering Meals On Wheels.
David was an American Contract Bridge League Ruby Life Master and member of the Hattiesburg Duplicate Club and Robert Kirkpatrick Club, where he welcomed and mentored new players, devoting himself to the game he learned from a woman he considered his “best feature” - his mother Sis Powers - and from his Aunt Epp. He won sixth place at the World Championship Domino Tournament in 1990. A mystery book aficionado, he passed on his love of reading to his children and grandchildren. He was a founding member of the Just Over the Rainbow Theater company as well as one of the founders of the Episcopal Church of the Ascension’s Annual Crawfish Boil. An actor on local stage and screen, he was perhaps best known for the role of “Earl” in the Big Buck Sporting Goods commercials. He maintained a lifelong devotion to the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers. He often claimed to be the original inventor of the McDonald’s Sausage Egg and Cheese McMuffin sandwich, although his role has never been confirmed in the official histories.
David is survived by the love of his life, Bettie Hatcher Cox; his children Amanda Clay Powers, Mitchell Sampson Powers (Liberty), Matthew Flynn (Allison), Joye Cox Anestis (Mike), and Kris Lee; his brother-in-law Steve Reisinger; his nephew Spencer Reisinger (Sunee Claud) and nieces Stephanie Kidwell and Laura Reisinger Watts (Hassan Houmani). David’s beloved grandchildren, to whom he was known as Pop, are Bryce Touchstone; Hansford “Hank” and Coretta “Coco” Powers; Noah, Eli, and Joshua Flynn; and Jonah and Mary Anestis. He is also survived by too many longtime friends to list. He is preceded by his parents, Sis and Spencer Byrd Powers, Sr.; his brother Spencer Byrd Powers, Jr.; and his sister Elizabeth Anne Reisinger.
Memorials may be made to the Edwards Street Fellowship Center, 1919 Edwards Street, Hattiesburg, MS 39401; the Sharkey-Issaquena County Library, 116 Robert Morganfield Way, Rolling Fork, MS 39159; the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, www.michaeljfox.org; or to a food bank in your community.
Linda Lou Davis
Funeral service for Mrs. Linda Lou Davis will be 11 a.m. Friday, August 5, at Riverwood Family, with burial in the
Riverwood Memorial Park. Visitation is from 9:30 until the time of service at Riverwood.
Mrs. Davis, 85, of Brookhaven, passed from this life August 1, 2022. She was born May 13, 1937, in Monticello, MS.
Upon graduating Monticello High School, she was voted the Friendliest Girl in “Who’s Who”. She was a member of
the Order of the Eastern Star Chapter No.1 of Brookhaven, where she received a certificate for being a 50-year member.
She was a member of First United Methodist Church and a member of the Adventurers Sunday School Class. She served
on the church council and was a past treasurer of the United Methodist Women. She loved her church family. She loved to
travel with her husband to many different places, but loved Branson, Missouri the best. But she always said, “it is good to
come back home to Brookhaven.” She always had a love for people and made many friends. She was a loving mother, grandmother, and great grandmother.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Luther Collins and Emma Fuller Lambert; sisters, Polly Collier of Mineola, TX and Dorothy Summers of Jackson, MS.
She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Mitchell Davis; daughter, Cheryl Davis May and husband, Donald of Brookhaven, MS; grandsons, Allen Davis May and wife, Leigh Ann of Meadville, MS, Trent Collins May of Clinton, MS; great grandchildren, Adalynn Kay May and Layne Freeman; and brother-in-law, Julius Davis of Houston, TX. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Deaconess Hospice for their care and compassion, especially, Jaci and Shana.
In lieu of flowers, please make memorials to First United Methodist Church, PO Box 358, Brookhaven, MS 39602.
