Obituaries
Russell Myers Slay
Services for Mr. Russell Myers Slay of Wesson are 1:00 pm Wednesday June 26, 2019
at Sylvarena Baptist Church with interment at the church cemetery.
Visitation is from 10:00 until time of service at the church.
Mr. Russell Myers Slay, 75, went to be with his Lord on June 25, 2019 at his residence surrounded by family and friends.
He was born on October 1, 1943 to the late Harold Alexander Slay and Susie Nell Myers Slay.
Mr. Slay served his country in the United States Army National Guard and was a retired Lineman
for Entergy for 48 years and was a member of Sylvarena Baptist Church. He loved working for Entergy and serving
the community. Known as Pop by all who knew him. He loved playing domino’s, cards (poker) and making loops through the country.
Preceding him in death were his parents; sisters, Pat Slay King and Betty Slay Keywood and brother, Von Slay.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Jo Slay; daughters, Julie Slay Lowery and husband, Danny,
Jennifer Slay Smith and husband, Nick; sisters, Debbie Slay Nance, Ann Slay Weeks;
brother, Jimmy Slay; sister-in-law, Brenda Slay; grandsons,
Ky Lowery and wife Alex, Connor Lowery and Maddie, Cade Lowery, Slay Acy, Trevor Smith; great granddaughter,
Emmerie Claire Lowery; and a host of nieces and nephews and other family member.
Memorials can be made to the Blair E. Batson, 2500 N. State St. Jackson, MS. 39216.
Johnny Mitchell Smith
Services for Mr. Johnny Mitchell Smith of Brookhaven are 11:00 am Thursday, June 27, 2019
at Macedonia Baptist Church with interment at the church cemetery.
Visitation is from 5:00-9:00 pm Wednesday, June 26 at Riverwood Family Funeral Service.
Mr. Johnny Mitchell Smith, 69, went to be with his Lord on June 24, 2019
at Select Speciality Hospital in Jackson, with his wife and kids by his side.
He was born on July 20, 1949 to the late Frank Elvin Smith and Neta Fay Smith Smith.
Mr. Smith was a retired pipefitter and a member of Macedonia Baptist Church.
He was a loving husband, father and grandfather and he enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping and traveling in his motor home.
Preceding him in death were his parents.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 47 years, Marilyn Dickey Smith; sons, Chris Smith and wife Brandy
and Eric Smith and girlfriend, Wendy Reeves Smith. He is also survived by
4 grandchildren, Cameron Smith, Gracie Smith, Trevor Smith and Slay Acy;
his lifelong friend, Keith Byrd and Boo, his black poodle whom he dearly loved.
Memorials can be made in his name to St. Jude Children’s Hospital
P.O. Box 1000 Dept 142, Memphis TN. 38148-0142
Kenneth Andrew Fugler
Funeral service for Mr. Kenneth Andrew Fugler will be 11 a.m., Saturday, June 29, 2019,
at Riverwood Family Funeral Service in Brookhaven, MS, with interment
at Damascus Baptist Church Cemetery in Franklin County. Visitation begins 9 a.m. until time of service Saturday.
Mr. Fugler, 64, of Brookhaven, ended his journey here on earth June 22, 2019.
He began this life’s journey August 13, 1954, born to William Birskey Fugler and Lessie Henry Fugler,
whom have preceded him in death. Mr. Kenneth was retired from Law Enforcement,
working as a Louisiana Correctional Officer for many years. He also worked with the Baton Rouge Zoo
and was a Licensed Mississippi Gardener and a member of Damascus Baptist Church.
Mr. Kenneth enjoyed several hobbies including gardening, hunting and fishing.
He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather and will be missed by all those who loved him.
Preceding him in death are his parents and his first wife, Debbie Smith Fugler.
Those left to hold his memory close to their hearts are, his wife, Wanda Gayle Fugler;
daughters, Grace Pickering and Pamela Samson and husband, Kenneth;
brother, Gary Fugler and wife, Stephanie; one grandson, Kenneth Charles Samson, Jr.;
and a host of nieces and nephews and other loving family members and friends.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the
Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Foundation in memory of Ken, Cure PSP, Inc. facebook.com/curepsp.foundation
Betty Joyce Case
The funeral service for Mrs. Betty Joyce Case will be 11 a.m., Friday, June 21, 2019, at Riverwood Family, with interment at New Salem Church of Christ Cemetery. Visitation is from 5-8 p.m., Thursday, June 20, at Riverwood and will resume from 10 a.m., until time of service on Friday.
Mrs. Case, 72, of Brookhaven, passed from this life June 17, 2019. She was born in Brookhaven, April 12, 1947, to Colon Case and Annie Mearl Wilson Case. Early in life she worked as a Factory worker, but she was always a caregiver for her home and family. She enjoyed visiting with her friends and preparing meals for everyone to enjoy. Mrs. Betty Joyce loved to spend her quiet moments with a good book. She will be missed greatly by all those who loved her.
She is preceded in death by her parents and two brothers in law, Charlie Hart and Rodney King.
Those who remain to cherish her memory are her husband, John M. Case; son, Ray Joe Case (Brandi); sisters, Dolores Hart and Sue King; four grandchildren, Anabelle Case, Wyatt Case, Abbie Case, and Raylan Case. She is also survived by a host of nieces and nephews and other loving family members and friends.
Memorials may be made to Berean Children’s Home, P.O. Box 1009, Brookhaven, MS, 39602.
Nelda Mae Wallace
Services for Mrs. Nelda Mae Wallace of Bogue Chitto are 11:00 am Tuesday, June 18, 2019,
at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church with burial at the church cemetery.
Visitation is Monday, June 17 from 5:00-8:00 pm at Riverwood Family Funeral Service.
She will lie in state from 10:00 am until time of service at the church.
Mrs. Nelda Mae Wallace, 85, went to be with her Lord on June 15, 2019, at her residence.
She was born on July 4, 1933, to the late Walter Lee Smith and Mae Smith Smith.
Mrs. Nelda loved her family and enjoyed her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
She also enjoyed admiring and tending to her flowers, watching sports on T.V., sewing, texting and receiving text and pictures.
She worked as a seamstress for many years at Shahl Urban and she was a member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church.
Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, Billie B. “W.A.” Wallace; sisters, Fannie Lee Lewis and Helen Louise Smith
and brothers, Marshall E. Smith, James Carroll Smith, Eldon Paul Smith and George T. Smith.
Those left to cherish her memory are her daughters, Becky Smith and husband, Jimmy; Pat Case and husband, Duane; Cindy Broom and husband, Keith;
brother, David L. Smith; 7 grandchildren, Allison Smith Nippe and husband, Shane; Lauren Smith; Michael Case, Luke Case,
Jon Case and wife, Diane Leggett Case, Meagan Broom Lee and husband, Haden; Jessica Broom Breland and husband, Brent
and 4 great grandchildren, Westin Case, Mae Nippe, Noah Lee and Lexis Leggett. She is also survived by a host of special nieces and nephews.
Tommy Newman
Memorial service for Mr. Thomas “Tommy” Richard Newman, Sr. of Wesson are 10:00 am,
Saturday, June 15, 2019 at Clear Branch Baptist Church with burial at Clear Branch Baptist Church Cemetery.
Mr. Tommy Newman, 65, went to be with his Lord on June 12, 2019 at his residence.
He was born on March 29, 1954 to the late, James Francis Newman and Alma Olivia Martin Newman.
Tommy was retired as a Truck Driver for Delphi; was a Dairy Farmer and also worked with Mississippi Forestry Commission.
Preceding him in death were his parents.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Shirley Newman; sons, Thomas R. Newman, Jr. and wife, Jennifer,
Lance Newman and wife, Lori; brothers, James “Jimmy” F. Newman, Jr. and wife, Patricia, Henry Newman and wife, Vicki
and sister, Suzanne Lewis and husband, Frank. He is also survived by his
4 grandchildren, Savannah, Landon, Lake and Lilly and by a host of nieces, nephews and other family members.
A special thank you to Clear Branch Baptist Church, Dr. Berteau, Dr. Calcote and the wonderful nurses at Hospice Ministries.
Howard Clarke Reeves
Graveside service for Mr. Howard Clarke Reeves will be 11:30 a.m., Saturday, June 15, at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 10-11 a.m., Saturday, at Riverwood Family before the service.
Mr. Howard Clarke Reeves, 60, of Brookhaven, passed from this life June 12, 2019, at University of Mississippi Medical Center.
He was born December 15, 1958, to Clark and Joyce Nell Reeves. He was self-employed, the owner of Reeves Delivery Service,
and was a loving father and grandfather. His family will certainly feel the absence his death leaves.
He is preceded in death by his father.
Those left to cherish his memory are, his sons, Jamie Howard Reeves and Cody Clarke Reeves; daughter, Heather Renee Reeves;
mother, Joyce Howard Reeves; sisters, Judy Reeves and Janie Reeves; and four grandchildren, Dylan Reeves, Camdyn Reeves,
Ryder Reeves, and Remy Reeves, as well as other loving family members and friends, and the mother of his children, Brenda McCoullough.
Robert Edmondson Jones, Jr.
Graveside Service 11:00 am Friday, June 21, 2019 at Rosehill Cemetery.
Mr. Robert Edmondson Jones, Jr., 63 passed away June 12, 2019 at his residence.
He was born on July 16, 1955 and was a Claims Auditor for Southwest Mental Health. Robert was also a member of the Moose Lodge.
He is preceded in death by his father, Robert Edmondson Jones, Sr.
Those left to cherish his memory are his mother, Betty Woodham Jones; son, Robert “Lee” Jones II and his wife, Brittney Danielle Jones;
sisters, Jennifer Jones Wright and Elizabeth Butterfield Jones. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Kayleigh Marie Jones
and John Henry Jones and a niece and nephew and other loving family members.
Edward Merrill Ferguson
Mr. Edward Merrill Ferguson, 75, of Wesson, passed from this life June 9, 2019, at his residence. He was born October 10, 1943, to Merrill M. Ferguson and Helen West Ferguson. He was employed as Chief Engineer in the Oilfield Industry. Mr. Ferguson served his country in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War and he was a member of Philadelphia Baptist Church. For enjoyment, Ed liked fishing and gardening as well as watching and raising Dachshund puppies. He will be missed by all who knew him.
He is preceded in death by his parents.
Those left to cherish his memory are, his wife, Jackie Ferguson; son, Chad Ferguson; daughters, Angie Cormier and Kim Bass; brothers, Danny Ferguson and Ricky Ferguson; sisters, Lynelle Britt and Helen Ruth Lea; five grandchildren, Johnny Bass, Kaitlyn Bass, Casey Bass, Bella Ferguson, Kylie Ferguson; and other loving family members and friends.
Virginia Hastings Atherton
Funeral Services for Mrs. Virginia Hastings Atherton will be held on Friday, June 14, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Brookhaven. There will be a visitation from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Rev. Greg Warnock will officiate and interment will follow in Easthaven Cemetery.
Virginia Hastings Atherton (93) went to be with Jesus on June 9, 2019, at Hospice Ministries in Ridgeland, Mississippi, after suffering a stroke.
She was born on January 10, 1926, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. After graduating from El Dorado High School, she attended Central College in Conway, Arkansas, where she was president of the student body, a member of Delta Beta Sigma, Delta Psi Omega National Honor Society, and Zeta Phi. Her home has been Brookhaven, Mississippi, for the past 70 years.
Virginia demonstrated her love of Christ through a gift of service and compassion. She was a dedicated member of First Baptist Church of Brookhaven and taught Sunday School for 65 years, served on various leadership committees, helped with Vacation Bible School, regularly visited friends and fellow church members at local nursing homes and hospitals, and also participated in numerous other church-related projects. During Upward Basketball she could be found working in the concession stand. In the community, she served with Meals-on-Wheels and was active with Habitat for Humanity. After her retirement, she took an active role in the Institute for Learning in Retirement at Copiah-Lincoln Community College. She loved to learn and to travel. She understood that travel is not about a destination, but it is about the people on the journey. She kept a bag packed waiting on friends or family to provide the itinerary.
Virginia was always loving and supportive of her family. She framed and displayed "art" in her house, weathered the storms of countless athletic events, an survived many recitals all to show how much she loved her family. She is survived by her three children, Perry E. Atherton, Jr. (Patsy), Jo Atherton Fairburn (Bobby), and Judy Atherton Cleveland (Lance); three grandchildren, Katherine Alford (Charles), Leslie Beaton (Jeff), and Myles Atherton (Melissa); and three great-grandchildren, Eli Beaton (Juliana), Perrie Michelle Beaton, and Natalie Beaton.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Perry E. Atherton, Sr.; her parents Charles and Clara Hastings; a sister, Julia Jo Burris; and a brother, John Charles Hastings.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that a memorial gift be given to the Baptist Children’s Village at PO Box 27
Clinton, Mississippi 39060 or First Baptist Church Brookhaven at 200 E Monticello St, Brookhaven, Mississippi 39601 in her memory.