Obituaries
Elmer Lee Buie
The funeral service for Mr. Elmer Lee Buie, Sr. will be 2 p.m. Monday, May 24, 2021, at Riverwood Family with interment in Bethel Cemetery. Visitation is from Noon until the time of service. Rev. Billy Joe Deer will officiate.
Mr. Buie, 85, of Union Church, MS, passed away May 19, 2021, at his residence. He was born in Caseyville, MS, December 22, 1935, to John Duncan Buie and Nannie Vickery Buie. He was retired from Armstrong Tire & Rubber Company and was the owner of Buie Logging. Mr. Buie was a member of Philadelphia Baptist Church. He was an avid outdoorsman, hunting and fishing and caring for his dogs. He was the President of the Homochitto Hunting Club for 43 years. When he was not performing the duties of life, he enjoyed sitting on his porch swing. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
Mr. Buie is preceded in death by his lovely wife of 64 years, Ruby Buie; his parents; his son, John Duncan Buie; brothers, John, Wilton, and Prentiss Buie; and sister, Frances Grisham.
Those left to cherish his memory are his sons, Elmer Lee Buie, Jr. and wife Rebecca and Daniel R. Buie and wife, Sallie; daughter, Beverly Jones and husband, Bill; sister, Maggie Weed; 16 grandchildren, Jason Magee (P.J.), Hope Case (Justin), Cody Buie (Carla), Caleb Buie, Chelsey Myrick (Chad), John Courtney Buie (Mallory), Christopher Buie (Courtney), Rex Buie (Kimberly), Richard Buie (Heather), Rhiannon Mercier (Shawn), Deke Purdy (Tanya), Ashlie Waldrop (Arron), Jacob Purdy (Caroline), Sarah Goodman (Justin), Mark Jones, Stacy Scott, 38 great grandchildren and a host of extended family members and friends.
The family would like to give a special “Thanks” to his loving caregiver, Ann Dickerson and Hospice Ministries.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Hospice Ministries 397 Brookhaven Street, Brookhaven, MS, 39601.
Ouida Renee Malone
The funeral service for Ouida Renee Malone will be 11 a.m., Saturday, May 22, 2021, at
Wellman Baptist Church with interment in the church cemetery. Visitation is from 9 a.m.
until the time of service. Rev. Thomas Wicker will officiate.
Mrs. Malone, 51, of Bogue Chitto, passed from this life May 19, 2021, at King’s Daughters Medical Center.
She was born October 5, 1969, to Billy Joe Williamson and Ouida Geraldine Nations Williamson.
Mrs. Malone was the owner of Lucky 7 Greenhouse and also worked for MDRS. She was a
loving wife, mother and grandmother and will be greatly missed by all who loved her.
Preceding her in death are her parents; brother, Billy “Pnut” Williamson; and niece, Gena Smith.
Those left to cherish her memory are her husband, Leonard “Manny” Malone; sons,
Joseph Malone and wife Brandi, Jeremy Malone, and Austin Malone; brothers, Dale “Yogi” Williamson
and wife, Joann and Lance Williamson and wife, Cassie; sisters, Sherry Williams and husband,
Rusty and Connie Hamilton and husband, Mike; five grandchildren, Katelynn Malone, Lexie Malone,
Parker Diax, Tucker Malone, and Luke Malone. She is also survived by other loving family members and friends.
Rev. Lairah Murray
Services for Rev. Lairah Murray of Brookhaven are 7:00 pm, Wednesday, May 19, 2021 at
Bethel Temple Pentecostal Church with visitation from 6:00 until the time of the service.
Burial will be at Midway Cemetery in Franklin County at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, May 20.
Rev. Lairah Murray, 93, went to be with his Lord and Savior on May 16, 2021 at his residence.
He was born on December 24, 1927, to the late Ernest Hattan Murray and Arie Clark Murray.
He was a Pentecostal Minister for 60 years and a member of Bethel Temple Pentecostal Church.
Mr. Murray enjoyed woodwork and gardening.
Preceding him in death were his parents; six siblings; and his spouses, Billie Murray and Lorraine Dykes Murray.
Those left to cherish his memory are his daughters, Sandra Dearman and husband Roy, and Sheliah Germany and husband, Jeffery.
Along with 4 grandchildren, Dennon Dearman, Caleb Dearman, Adrian Dearman and Scarlette Neese,
and 4 great grandchildren, Juliana Neese, Diana Neese, Adrian Dearman and Jaslyn Dearman.
He will be missed by all that knew and loved him.
Tillman Hart
Services for Mr. Tillman Hart of Brandon are 11:00 am Saturday, May 15, 2021
at Riverwood Family with visitation from 9:00 until the time of the service.
Burial will be at Sutton Cemetery.
Mr. Tillman Hart, 80 went to be with his Lord on May 13, 2021 at his residence.
He was born on June 27, 1940 to the late James Lee Hart and Lillie Smith Cooksey.
Mr. Hart enjoyed hunting, fishing, watching Jesse and Danielle play baseball and soccer and he loved Gunsmoke.
Preceding him in death were his parents, and two brothers and two sisters.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Sandra Hart; sons, Lance Hart; daughter, Debbie Hart Shows and grandchildren,
Jesse Shows and Danielle Shows. Along with cousins, nieces, nephews and in-laws.
He will be missed by all that loved him and knew him.
Charles Leonard Downing, Sr.
Charles Leonard Downing, Sr., born January 25, 1937 in Brookhaven, MS, passed away on May 5, 2021
at Brookridge Retirement Community in Winston-Salem, NC. He was preceded in death by his dear wife, LaVerne,
ten days prior. They shared a full life and marriage for over 60 years. His was the son of Leonard “Jack” Downing and Ruby Boston;
father to Charles “Chuck” Downing, Jr. (Debbie) and Micah Downing (wife: Lisa); grandfather to Kristen Doub (husband: Don), Jacquie Hassen (husband: David),
Alexandra Downing (husband: Brandon Roberts), and Gabrielle Downing; and great-grandfather to Boeing & Emmie Doub and Henry & Oliver Hassen.
He began his career as a pilot flying for two different banks out of Jackson, MS. In 1969, he became the chief pilot with McLean Trucking Company in Winston-Salem, NC.
He concluded his flying career with Genuine Parts in Atlanta, GA in 1980.
Following his retirement from aviation, he started a new career as the co-owner of King R/C Hobby Shop, which he started in his garage
and later ran in a large storefront for 39 years with his wife, LaVerne. Charles loved a good meal while reminiscing about his beloved Brookhaven, where his family
would often hear the same stories about how he grew up above his family’s movie theater, The Haven. Oh, to hear another one of his endearing tales!
Services are 1:00 pm, Saturday, May 15, at Mt Zion Church of Christ with visitation from
11:00 until time of the service and burial at the Church Cemetery.
Debra Ann Willoughby
Debra Ann Willoughby, 51, passed from this life May 3, 2021, at University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson.
She was born March 31, 1970, to William Walter Willoughby and Nina Mae Willoughby Furr. She enjoyed taking
walks and talking on the telephone, playing cards and visiting with her loved ones. She was a loving friend and
will be greatly missed by all who loved her.
She is preceded in death by her parents.
Those left to cherish her memory are, her fiancé, Tony Taylor; brother, William Earl Willoughby; sisters,
Mary Willoughby Durr and her fiancé Shea Finch, and Judy Jordan. She is also survived by her cousins,
Tasha and Jimmy Moore and their daughter, Ella Jayne and her niece, Kimberly Durr.
Ernest Gerald Smith
Services for Ernest Gerald Smith of Brookhaven are 10:00 am, Saturday, May 8, 2021,
at Central Baptist Church with burial at Macedonia Baptist Church Cemetery.
Visitation will be Friday, May 7 at Riverwood Family from 5:00-8:00 pm
Mr. Ernest Gerald Smith, 67, went to be with his Lord on May 4, 2021, at King’s Daughters Medical Center.
He was born on March 16, 1954 to the late Ernest and Edna Smith.
Mr. Smith served his country in the United States Air Force. He was a lifelong member of Central Baptist Church
where he helped build the new sanctuary and served as a deacon. Gerald was an ex-oil fielder and jack of all trade carpenter.
He enjoyed many things throughout his life. Among these, were talking with his CB family, where he was known as “Armadillo”.
Gerald found pleasure in spreading laughter with his jokes of the day. He adored many dogs throughout his lifetime, with most recently being Nike,
Bear Daniel, Ricky Bobbie and Shelby Lane. He will be greatly missed during football season because he enjoyed watching college ball on Saturdays
and the Saints and 49er’s on Sundays after church, with his family and friends. He loved riding his motorcycles, cooking, camping, and fishing in every aspect.
Preceding him in death were his parents; brothers, Tommy Smith and Hilary Smith; and sister, Mildred Chandler.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Betty Tibbs Smith; daughters, Sonya Smith of Summit, Shea Riley (Patrick) of Brookhaven,
Ashley Arnold (Corey) of Meadville, and, stepdaughter, Alicia Blackwell, of Brookhaven; and sister, Jeanie McRae, of Nashville, TN.
He is also survived by eight grandchildren, Ginger Morin, Seth Prescott, Chloe Smith, Emma Smith, Molly Kate Huber (Travis), Madison Arnold,
Judson Arnold, Ryder Blackwell and the latest additions of great grandchildren are as follows,
Faith Ann Prescott, Xavior Prescott, Jada Morin, Millianna Morin, Anah Coleman, and soon to be born, Tucker Pete Huber.
Gone Fishin’
Bernice "Bee" Louise Reed
Bernice “Bee” Louise Reed passed away peacefully, at home, on May 3rd, 2021.
She was surrounded by family and those who loved her. Bernice was born in Clawson, MI on May 9th, 1943
to Bernard Joseph and Dorris Lillian Laichalk. She later moved to Vero Beach, FL, where she spent most of
her childhood and graduated from Vero Beach High School. She attended Central College of Florida,
while pursuing a degree in Child Development with a minor in Fine Arts.
She left this world too soon. Even she thought so. Bee loved life and everyone in it. Her greatest pride was her
7 children, 30 grandchildren and 32 great-grands. She managed to somehow keep track of the growing number, even in her final days.
She loved her family fiercely and was affectionately known as “Granny Bee” to her grandchildren and those who loved her most.
She was a fighter, even to the end. She put on a smiling face, thru nearly a decade of declining health and insisted fighting thru it all.
She never gave up and made the most out of everything life dealt her. Bee often told her children, “where there is a will, there is a way.”
She had a strong faith in God and leaned on Him to see her thru each trial she faced.
Bee loved to give; She gave by her talents, her passion, and her time—a red barn or country scene painted in oils on the face of a worn-down sawblade,
for a newly-married couple, a shoebox full of items for children at Christmas time, a simple handmade card for an elder in a nursing home—her giving was always heartfelt, and she gave a lot.
She cared about people and tried hard to show them she loved them. She always wanted to make sure everyone was OK.
She had a passion for painting and crafting that started early in life. Her kids will always remember their mom being on the prowl for scrap lumber so she could create something
beautiful with it. She was proud of her art studio, The Beehive Art Studio, where she taught painting lessons for years before her body could no longer keep up with her ambitious spirit.
It was here--in her happy place-- she started calling herself “The Busy Bee.”
Life was fun to her; She lived with a big spirit, and even had a strong sense of competitiveness born in her. She loved to reminisce on her days as a competitive roller skater.
She never took this life too seriously and rarely feared anything. Granny Bee completely embraced technology—her iPad was her communication line,
and she loved hollering across the room, “Alexa, play some Christian music!”
She was always up for a road trip or cruise, traveling to and from, every chance she got. The farthest she traveled alone was Hawaii,
when she went there for a One-Stroke (a discipline in which she was certified) Artist convention, in 2003. One of her favorite travel destinations
was the Smokey Mountains—specifically Dollywood, where she would take in all the shows and excitement, time and time again.
Like many great artists, though, our Granny Bee was not always disciplined. She was known to rarely be on time for anything.
She often joked that she would be late to her own funeral. But she wasn’t late for that. From where the rest of the world stands, she was early.
Preceding her in death were her husband, William Glenn (Bill) Reed; parents; brother, Ricky Eugene Greene;
grandsons, William Jeremiah Reed and Grayson Loyd Phillip.
Those left to cherish her memory are her sons, Gary Reed (Denise), Jeff Reed (Mary), Bernie Reed (Brandi), Josh Reed (Isabel); daughters,
Tracey Watson (Michael), Debbie Porter, Mary Beth Price (Justin).
She is also survived by her sister, Tarri Stewart and 30 grandchildren and 32 great grandchildren.
Along with host of other, sitters, students, friends and family who loved her dearly.
Visitation is scheduled for 12p.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 8th, at Monticello Pentecostal Church.
Service will begin at 2p.m., with interment to follow at Riverwood Memorial Park, in Brookhaven.
Funeral: 87 Westside Rd.
Monticello, MS 39654
Burial: 76 US-51
Brookhaven, MS 39601
Mary Frances Cupit
A graveside service for Mrs. Mary Frances Cupit of Brookhaven is 11:00 am, Friday, May 7, 2021
at Friendship Baptist Church Cemetery.
Mrs. Mary Frances Cupit, 78, went to be with her Lord on May 4, 2021.
She was born on July 13, 1942 to the late, James Leo Cupit and Alice Ree Smith Cupit.
Mrs. Cupit was a graduate of Loyd Star and Mississippi College and Retired Elementary Teacher
with 25 years at West Lincoln. She was a lifetime member of Friendship Baptist Church where she
was a member of the choir and Assistant Director of Sunday Night Training Union. She was also a member
of Golden Oldies and Willing Hearts. After retiring, she enjoyed traveling with her mother to 48 different states.
She will be missed by all that knew and loved her.
Preceding her in death were her parents; grandparents, James and Emma Wroten Cupit and Bennie and
Alma Vaughn Smith and Uncle and Aunt Marrell & Para Lee Smith.
Those left to cherish her memory are her family, Keith & Sue Smith and their daughters, (honorary grandchildren)
Cassie & Karsten Case and Maggie and Clay Woolley and honorary great grandsons, Jacob, Kade, Layton and Macel.
She is also survived by cousins, Ronald and Ann Smith, Angie (Glenn) Barber, Kevin (Vanessa) Smith,
Gery Cupit, Betty Corley, Malcum Cupit family, Mary Jane Russell and a host of extended cousins and family members.
The family wishes to thank her caregivers Jamie & Tammy, Hospice Compasses and all her sitters.
The family also request donations be made to Friendship Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 1502 Friendship Lane NW, Brookhaven, MS 39601
Brittany Ann Reeves
Graveside service for Brittany Ann Reeves will be 2 p.m., Friday, May 7, 2021, at Wellman Baptist Church
with interment in the church cemetery. There will be a visitation from 1 p.m. until the time of service.
Rev. Thomas Wicker will officiate.
Ms. Reeves, 30, of Bogue Chitto, passed from this life May 4, 2021. She was born October 10, 1990, to
Thomas Alan Burt and Jennifer Ann Covington Knight. She was a member of Victory Baptist Church.
Ms. Reeves is preceded in death by her father.
Those left to cherish her memory are, her son, Bray Burt; daughters, Hailey Reeves and Sophie Reeves;
mother, Jennifer Knight; brothers, Deven Burt, Dillon Burt, Justin Burt, Hunter Knight; sister, Samatha Knight;
grandparents, Julius W. Burt, Judy Burt, and Liz Sumrall. She is also survived by other loving family members and friends.
