Obituaries
Yvonne "Bonnie" Watts-Smith
Funeral service for Yvonne “Bonnie” Watts-Smith will be 2 p.m., Tuesday, July 6, 2021, at
Riverwood Family with interment at Hillcrest Church of Christ Cemetery. Visitation is from
11 a.m. until the time of service. Joel Smith and David Smith will officiate.
Mrs. Bonnie began her life journey March 23, 1937, born in Brookhaven, MS to Ezra and Mae Watts.
After graduation she pursued a career as Counselor’s Secretary at Brookhaven High School.
Mrs. Bonnie was a faithful and loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother.
During this journey she became a master chef, and author of a family cookbook. She has enjoyed
many different crafts including woodworking, ceramics, painting, and mosaics. She also has
enjoyed gardening and preparing satisfying meals to please her family and friends. Mrs. Bonnie
was called away from this journey July 2, 2021, she was 84 years old.
She is preceded in death by her parents and sisters, Eloyce W. Porter, Dorothy W. Case, and
Shirley W. Labeth Callender.
Those left to cherish her memory are her husband of 65 years, Harold W. Smith; sons, Gary W. Smith,
Mark K. Smith, and Don M. Smith; nieces, Deborah Smith and Rebecca Crosby; four grandchildren,
Anna Beth Parker, Nicholas W. Smith, Brooks Smith, Savanna S. Vaughn; and nine great grandchildren, Holden,
Aiden and Nolan Parker, Asher, Stanton and Everly Smith, Emma and Vance Smith, and Davis Vaughn.
She is also survived by other loving family members and friends.
Larry Leon Rials
Funeral service for Larry Leon Rials will be 11 a.m., Friday, July 2, 2021, at Riverwood Family
with interment in the Bogue Chitto City Cemetery. Visitation is 10:00 until time of the service.
Mr. Rials was born December 8, 1955, in Sorrento, Louisiana to Eric Lee Rials and Lenora Jean Prather.
He passed away June 26, 2021, at Forrest General in Hattiesburg, he was 65 years old. He spent his life
working in the oilfield and as a mechanic. He enjoyed riding motorbikes in his free time but spending time
with his family and friends was the most important thing in life to him.
He is preceded in death by his father; daughter, Stacy Morris; brothers, Ronnie Rials, Sammy Rials;
sister, Sandra Patrick; nephews, Wayne Pickering, Jr. and Corey Rials; and his grandparents.
He is survived by his mother; daughters, Tiffany Smith (Wayne), Jessica Rials, Ashley Gros, Rainy Lirette, and Lacey Denham;
brother, Ricky Rials (Kim); sisters, Brenda Townsend (Don), Becky Skelton (Kevin), Erica Leggett (Chris), and Angie Rials; and grandchildren, Tristan, Madelyn, Jeremiah, Braedyn, Akeriah, Kialand, Noah, and Caleb. He is also survived by numerous other grandchildren, greatgrandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews and other loving family members and friends.
Joseph Earl Pugh
Services for Mr. Joseph Earl Pugh of Monticello are 11:00 am, Friday, July 2, 2021,
at Monticello Baptist Church with visitation from 9:00 until the time of the service. Burial will be at the church cemetery.
Mr. Joseph Earl Pugh, 87, went to be with his Lord and Savior on June 30, 2021, at his residence.
He was born on December 18, 1933, in Oak Grove, Florida.
He was retired from Georgia Pacific and was a member of Monticello Baptist Church.
Mr. Pugh enjoyed hunting, fishing, sports, gardening and spending time with his family and friends.
He will be missed by all that loved and knew him.
Preceding him in death were his parents; Joseph Albert Pugh and Willie Celeste Enfinger;
wife of 66 years, Anita Faye Pugh and son-in-law, Randy Foster.
Those left to cherish his memory are his daughters, Debra Foster, Suanne Foster and husband, Wayne,
Vicki Godwin and husband, Doug; and brother, Elvin Pugh and wife, Peggy.
He is also survived by 5 grandchildren, Stacey Foster, Skye Smith (JJ), Mandy Foster, Douglas Godwin (Elizabeth),
and Joey Foster (Rebecca); along with 4 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren.
William Arnold Morgan
Graveside Service for Mr. William Arnold Morgan, of Brookhaven is 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, June 29, 2021,
at Riverwood Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service at Riverwood.
Mr. William Arnold Morgan, 81, passed away on June 25, 2021, at The Aspen.
He was born on July 21, 1939, to the late Pervis Arnold Morgan and Thelma Lou Scott Morgan.
Mr. Morgan served his country in the United States Navy where he retired as Master Chief.
He was awarded the Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation, Five Good Conduct Medals,
National Defense Service Medal and Vietnam Service Medal.
He was also an avid Ole Miss Football fan. He will be missed by all that loved and knew him.
Preceding him in death were his parents; sister, Jo Ellen Kennedy; and brother, Delane Morgan.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Charline Moore Morgan; sons, Glenn Morgan and wife, Shannan
and Gary Morgan and wife, Jennifer; daughter, Paula Rushing and husband, Richard;
brother, Dennis Morgan and wife, San; and sister, Judy Fountain and husband, Steve.
He is also survived by 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; and 6 great-grandchildren.
Tammy Michele Byrne Jackson
Graveside Services for Mrs. Tammy Michele Byrne Jackson, of Brookhaven, are 1:30 pm,
Tuesday, June 29, 2021, at Mt Olive Church of Christ Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 12:00-1:00 pm at Riverwood.
Mrs. Tammy Jackson, 61, went to be with her Lord and Savior on June 25, 2021, at her home.
She was born on April 8, 1960, to the late L.C. Byrne and Myrtle Byrne.
Mrs. Jackson was co-owner of Event Plus and was a homemaker.
She will be missed by all that loved and knew her.
Preceding her in death were her parents; and brother Mike Byrne.
Those left to cherish her memory are her husband, Clayton Bruce Jackson.
Dustin Tyler Durr
Dustin Tyler Durr, 25, of Brookhaven, passed away June 12, 2021.
He was born on November 6, 1995, to Billy Dean Durr Sr. and Pamela Marie Durr.
Dustin was a member of Big Springs Baptist Church. He loved playing the Bass, playing pool, camping, hiking, kayaking and putting smiles on everyone’s faces.
Preceding him in death were his grandparents, Versie Lee and Helen Durr and Roger Dale and Rita Dean Plunk.
Those left to cherish his memory are his parents; brothers, Mason Durr and Carson Durr and sister, Helen Brehannah Durr, along with a host of aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
Michael Daniel McDermott, III
A graveside service for Mr. Michael Daniel McDermott, III is 2:00 pm,
Saturday, June 26, 2021, at Union Baptist Church Cemetery in Kemper, MS.
Mr. Michael Daniel McDermott, III, 62, passed away on June 24, 2021.
He was born on August 9, 1958, in Laurel, MS.
Mr. McDermott served his country in the United States Navy.
He was self-employed as a Heavy Machine Operator and was of the Episcopalian Faith.
He will be missed by all that loved and knew him.
Preceding him in death is his father, Michael D. McDermott, Jr. and brother, William Michael McDermott.
Those left to cherish his memory are his mother, Doris Evelyn Smith;
daughters, Courtney Johnston and Jessica McDermott, and 2 grandchildren, Bailie McDermott and Alex McDermott,
along with niece and nephew, Mr. and Mrs. Curtis Jackson Smith; great niece, Remington Smith, and great nephew, Rowdy Smith.
Robert Earl Blackwell, Sr.
Robert Earl Blackwell, Sr., 78, of Brookhaven, passed away June 22, 2021 at Diversicare of Brookhaven.
He was born on May 31, 1943, to the late Nalty and Victoria Blackwell.
Preceding him in death were his parents; his wife and mother of his children, Judy Boyd Blackwell,
second wife, Peggy Sullivan Blackwell and brother, Lavon Blackwell.
Those left to cherish his memory are his sons, Billy Wayne Blackwell (Denise), Robert Earl Blackwell, Jr. (Agnes);
daughter, Betty Blackwell Langford (Marcus) and sister, Ethel Blackwell White.
He is also survived by his 6 grandchildren, Jamie Ford, Kaz Blackwell, Zak Blackwell, Judy Slay, Makala Blackwell,
and Drew Slay and a host of nieces and nephews.
Pamela Jan Cartwright
Funeral service for Pamela Jan Cartwright will be 2 p.m., Thursday, June 24, 2021, at Riverwood Family
with interment at Riverwood Memorial Park. Bro. Skip Atchinson will officiate.
Pam was born in Martin, TN, September 9, 1950, to James Fay Lippard and Clara Dowdy Lippard.
She passed away June 21, 2021, in Brookhaven, MS, she journeyed here 70 years. Pam retired after 42 years
as Office Manager at the Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce. During her years at the Chamber,
Pam was also very active in planning and executing the Ole Brook Festival, the Christmas parade and worked
many years with United Way of Lincoln County. Pam was a long-time member at Jackson Street United Methodist Church.
She is preceded in death by her father.
Those left to cherish her memory are, her mother; son, Ken Cartwright; brothers, Jimmy Lippard (Amy)
of Indianapolis, IN and Donny Lippard (Jo) of Columbia, TN; three grandchildren, Caitlyn Deal, Bailey Cartwright,
Mallory Cartwright; five nieces and nephews and three great nephews as well as other loving family members and friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Jackson Street United Methodist Church, 908 N Jackson St, Brookhaven, MS 39601.
Kenneth D’Wayne Varnado
Services for Mr. Kenneth D’Wayne Varnado will be 10:00 am, Friday, June 25, 2021,
at Riverwood with visitation from 5:00-8:00 pm, Thursday, June 24, at Riverwood.
He will be laid to rest at the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington VA.
Kenneth D’Wayne Varnado, 61, passed away on June 18, 2021, at his home.
He was born on June 8, 1960, to the late Francis Whitfield Varnado and Loleta Morris Varnado.
Mr. Varnado served his country in the United States Army as a Green Beret during the Operation Desert Storm and Operation Desert Shield.
He enjoyed fishing, watching sports and spending time with his family and friends. He will be missed by all that loved and knew him.
Preceding him in death were his parents; son, Kenneth Varnado Jr.; sister, Melanie Varnado.
Those left to cherish his memory are his sons, Ryan Varnado, Cameron Varnado and wife, Sara,
daughter, Ciara Myers and husband, Shawn; brother, Gary Varnado and wife, Bonnie.
He is also survived by 6 grandchildren, Malcolm Striblin, Addison Myers, Easton Myers, Cooper Myers,
Jaxon Varnado and Catherine Varnado. Along with numerous relatives and friends.
