Obituaries
Margaret Ann Michael
The funeral service for Mrs. Margaret Ann Michael will be held on Friday,
March 15, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at New Hope United Methodist Church. The
visitation will be on Thursday from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Riverwood Family,
and will resume on Friday at the church from 10:00 a.m. until time of service.
Rev. Lynn Mote and Rev. Ken Hart will officiate, and interment will follow in the church cemetery.
Margaret Ann Michael, age 90 and a resident of Brookhaven, went to be with the Lord
on Monday, March 11, 2019 at Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg. She was born on
January 13, 1929 to Boyd and Mattie Calcote. She was a member of New Hope United Methodist Church.
She is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 67 years, Rollo Michael; her parents;
brothers, Russell, Virgil, and Jimmy Calcote.
Those left to cherish her memory are her sons, Don Michael and wife Cindy, Mark Michael
and wife Nancy, Stan Michael and wife Dina; daughter, Peggy Michael-Rush and husband
Larry; brothers, David Calcote and Denver Calcote and wife Janie; 5 grandchildren, Leslie Smith
and husband Anson, Kim Townsend and husband Chris, and Jon Michael, Benjamin Michael, and
Sarah Michael-Rush. She is also survived by her great-grandchildren, Riley and Ethan Smith;
and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.
J.C. Smith
Services for Mr. J. C. Smith of Brookhaven are 2:00 pm Wednesday, March 13, 2019
at Mt. Zion Baptist Church with burial at the Church Cemetery.
Visitation is from 5:00-8:00 pm Tuesday, March 12 at Mt Zion Baptist Church
and will resume at 1:00 until time of service on Wednesday.
Mr. J. C. Smith, 85 went to be with his Lord on March 11, 2019 at his residence.
He was born on May 24, 1933 to the late Robert Clifton Smith and Leona Walker Smith.
Mr. J.C. served in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict and was the owner
of J.C. Smith Mechanic Service.
He was a lifelong member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church where he served as a deacon.
He served as a board member of Lincoln Rural Water Association for many years,
and he formerly served on the Lincoln County School Board from 1986-1994.
J.C. Smith was a kind, humble, gentle man. He has always wanted to serve God faithfully
and had a true servants heart. He cared deeply for people. Always with a smile on his face and a cross in his pocket,
he made every person he ever met feel special. He never tried to make his presence known, but his absence will surely be felt.
Preceding him in death are his parents; sons, David Smith and Richard Todd Smith
and the special ladies that reared him, Aunt “Gronia” and MaMaw Alice
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Peggy Haynes Smith; son, Johnny Smith and fiancé, Vonda Laird,
son, Darrell Smith; daughter, Dianne Smith Watson and husband, Bob; daughter-in-law, Ramona Higdon Smith;
brother, Ralph Smith and sister, Sara Nan Smith.
He is also survived by his 10 grandchildren and their spouses, Samantha and husband, Adam Speeg,
Justin and wife, Lauren Alford Smith, Anna and husband, Josh Britt, Lauren and husband, Joseph Langham,
John and wife, Mary Smith, Dylan and wife Dusti Smith, Colton, Cameron, Cade and Carter Watson;
and 13 great grandchildren Joleigh, Levi and Janie Langham; Julia, Eden and John Daniel Speeg;
Max and Layla Smith; Blayne Smith; Ella Belle Britt; Easton Smith; Harper and Aubrey Walters.
Christopher Corey Rials
Services for Christopher Corey Rials of Wesson are 11:00 am Thursday, March 14, 2019
at Riverwood Family. With burial at Bogue Chitto Cemetery.
Visitation is from 5:00-8:00 pm on Wednesday March 13, at Riverwood.
Christopher Corey Rials, 33, passed away March 9, 2019 at his residence.
He was born on June 3, 1985. He was an Iron Worker and served in the Army National Guard.
Preceding him in death are his paternal grandfather, Eric “Hercules” Rials;
maternal grandfather, Percy Marsh; father-in-law, Rodney Chemin and sister-in-law, Paige Chemin.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife Cocoa Chemin Rials; father, Ricky Eric Rials and wife Kim;
mother, Rebecca Ann Marsh Rawls and husband, Eric;
sons, Joseph Franklin, Jeremy Gill and Lawson Tillman; brothers, Eric Rials and wife, Jessica,
and Nathan and Jonathan Rawls; sister, Brittany Rials; paternal grandmother, Lenora Rials;
maternal grandmother, Dorothy Marsh; nephews, Bryce Tillman, Lawson Chemin, Jack Parker, Rush Parker;
nieces, Neleigh Tillman, Lainei Grace Norton, Kalyn Chemin, Morgan Chemin, Mayson, Ashlyn, Lilly-Mae,
and Dixie Rials; and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. mother-in-law, Cheryl Waters
and father-in-law, Greg Waters. He is also survived by sister- in-law, Andrea and husband Shane Parker, sister-in-law, Amanda and husband Lyle.
Billy Joe Alexander
Services for Mr. Billy Joe Alexander are 2:00 pm Tuesday, March 12, 2019
at Calvary United Pentecostal Church with burial at Roberts Memorial Cemetery.
Visitation is from 5:00-9:00 pm Monday, March 11 at Calvary.
Visitation will resume at 12:00 until time of service on Tuesday.
Mr. Billy Joe Alexander, 81, died Saturday, March 9, 2019 at his home in Jayess, MS, following a lengthy illness.
He was born on December 9, 1937, in Jayess, MS, to Clyde C. Alexander and Luna Belle Roberts Alexander.
As a young boy, his family moved to Baton Rouge, LA. He graduated from Baton Rouge High School in 1957
and attended the First Pentecostal Church of Baton Rouge. It was there that he met his wife, Juanita Mizell,
and they married in 1959. After moving to Jayess they were members of Calvary United Pentecostal Church.
Billy had a passion for genealogy and enjoyed researching his own family tree, as well as the family history of others.
He spent many hours accumulating information, visiting gravesites and libraries, and talking to others
in order to pursue this favored hobby. He was a member of the Walthall County Historical Society.
He enjoyed visiting with his cousins and family and helping to organize family reunions. Later in life,
he began painting and enjoyed this tremendously until failing health caused him to stop.
Preceding him in death were his parents; wife, Juanita Mizell Alexander; brother, James Alexander;
sister, Lenace Alexander Dunaway.
Survivors are his son and daughter-in-law, Dean and Debbie Alexander; his grandson and wife,
Lee and Holly Alexander; four precious great grandchildren who brought much joy to his heart, Ava, Olivia, Mason, and Noah Alexander;
sister, Helen Ratcliff; sister-in-law, Ideva Alexander; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He is also survived by a very special niece and nephew, Damoris “Marcie” and Bruce Davis, who gave much love and support for many years.
The family extends special thanks to his cousin, Betty Ruth Colyer, who lovingly devoted herself
to his care for over three years. Also special thanks to Rhonda, Judy, Charlie, Rosa, Toshiba, Shanne, Dorcas,
and Nicole who treated him so kindly and respectfully during his illness. Finally, the compassionate help and
professional care of the nurses, aides, and personnel of Encompass Home Health and Hospice are greatly appreciated.
Armand Raymond Creighton
Services for Mr. Armand Raymond Creighton will be held on Tuesday, March 12, 2019, at 2:00pm at Riverwood Family with interment in St. Bernard Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be prior to the service on Tuesday from 1:00 pm-2:00 pm at Riverwood.
Armand Raymond Creighton, 88, of Brookhaven, passed from this life on March 8, 2019, at his residence. He was born on December 13, 1930 to John L. Creighton and Hilda DarkemeyerCreighton.
Mr. Creighton was a packing room supervisor with L.A. Frey & Sons. He was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Brookhaven and he enjoyed doing yard work and woodworking.
Preceding him in death were his parents; his wife, Frances Mary Randazzo Creighton; brother, John H. Creighton; and sister, Ara Lee.
Those left to cherish his memory are his sister, Carol Boden of Chalmette, LA; and his special friends and care-givers, William and Nancy Moore of Brookhaven, MS.
Dorothy Lene Wallace Lambert
Funeral Services for Mrs. Dorothy Lene Wallace Lambert will be held on Friday, March 8, 2019, at
Riverwood Family Funeral Service at 2:00 p.m. There will be a visitation from 10:00 a.m. until the
time of the services. Interment will follow in Oak Grove Pentecostal Cemetery.
Mrs. Dorothy, age 73 and a resident of Jayess, went to be with her Lord on Tuesday, March 5, 2019.
She was born on March 30, 1945 to the late John Oliver Wallace and Veda Wallace Hall. Mrs. Dorothy
was a loving grandmother, who enjoyed shopping and spending time with her family. She was a sweet,
caring lady who will be dearly missed by all of those who knew her.
Mrs. Dorothy is preceded in death by her husband, Jerry Lee Lambert; parents; brothers, Harold, Huland, G.W.
and Solon Wallace; sisters, Aline Wallace, Grace Lene Wallace, and Ruby Lee Wallace.
Those left to cherish her memory are her sons, Jerry Randall Lambert and wife Laurice and Mark Anthony Lambert;
daughters, Cathy Denise Lambert Nations and husband Scott; grandchildren, Dakota Cheyenne Lambert,
Evan Lee Lambert, Carlin Nichole Nations, and Erika Leigh Lambert.
Mildred L. Smith Browning
Funeral Services for Mildred L. Smith Browning, of Brookhaven,
will be held Thursday, March 7, 2019 at 2:00 pm at Riverwood Family Funeral Service.
Visitation to be held Wednesday, March 6, 2019 from 5:00-8:00 pm at Riverwood.
Burial at Sylvarena Baptist Church Cemetery in Wesson, Mississippi.
Rev. Glen Mullins, Rev. Anthony Yarborough and Rev. Thad Owens will officiate services.
On Monday, March 4, 2019, surrounded by those she loved most,
Mildred Browning peacefully slip away to her heavenly home. She was 83.
Born on March 23, 1935, to John W. and Luty Jane Lupo Smith,
she grew up in the town of Wesson, Mississippi. She was a member of Pearlhaven Baptist Church in Brookhaven.
Mildred, known to most as Mama or Nanny, loved with her whole heart.
There was nothing she enjoyed more than spending time with her family and friends.
She worked at Dude’s Hot Biscuits for 38 years, right up until the day before she became ill.
Her customers became friends. Her friends were her family.
Preceding her in death are her parents; brothers, Lee, Edd, Richard, Vernon and John W. Smith;
her sisters, Gladys and Alma Smith and Eva Sanders.
Those left to cherish her memory are her daughters, Kathy Dunn and husband, Les;
Belinda “Dinki” Davis and husband, Jimmy; and Angie Hux and husband, Donald.
Her grandchildren, who were her whole heart, Samantha Mahloch and husband, David,
Jamie Davis and wife, Courtney, Bradley Smith, Allison Smith and Caleb Smith;
great-granddaughters, Cassidy Belle Davis and Clara Ruth Davis.
She is also survived by her best friend and sister-in-law, Charlene Smith; special family members,
niece, Linda Thompson; great niece, Lesa Dooley and husband, Jason and their daughters, Alyssa and Ann-Kaitlyn;
and niece, Rena Rippy.
Pallbearers are Jason Dooley, Randy Pickett, Donnie Nevels, James Schilling, Doyle Rushing and Charles Greenlee.
Honorary Pallbearers are her grandsons.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her honor can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Elizabeth "Betsy" Murphey Ranson
The funeral service for Ms. Elizabeth “Betsy” Murphey Ranson will be 10 a.m.,
Tuesday, March 5, 2019, at Riverwood Family Funeral Service, with interment at
Riverwood Memorial Park. Visitation will be held from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m., Monday
evening, March 4, at Riverwood.
Ms. Betsy Ranson, 76, of Brookhaven, passed from this life on March 2, 2019, at
King’s Daughters Medical Center in Brookhaven, MS. She was born on November 17, 1942,
in Memphis, TN to the late Roder Trigg and Francis Murphey.
Ms. Betsy worked in the Retail industry and was a beloved staff member of
Brookhaven Animal Hospital and a member of Beauregard United Methodist Church.
Proverbs 31:13 describes a woman “who willingly works with her hands.” She spent
her down time quilting but also enjoyed dog training. She was a Master Gardener and
treasured her time outdoors, but her passion was her family. She was a loving mother
and grandmother and will be missed by her children and grandchildren who loved her without end.
She is preceded in death by her parents and her aunt, Ernest Coulon Trigg.
Those left here to cherish her memory are, her daughters, Elizabeth Ranson Stodghill and
husband, Steven, and Jennifer Ranson Allen and husband, Mark; four grandchildren,
Murphey and Bailey Stodghill and Currie and Lea Allen, and many other loving family
members and friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Rescue Tails located at
Brookhaven Animal Hospital, 1210 Hwy 51 N, Brookhaven, MS 39603.
Ronnie Ezell
Services for Mr. Ronnie Louis Ezell will be held on Tuesday, March 5, 2019, at 2:00pm
at Riverwood Family with interment in Sarepta Baptist Church Cemetery.
Visitation will be on Monday, March 4, 2019, from 5:00-9:00pm also at Riverwood Family.
Ronnie Louis Ezell, 67, of Bogue Chitto, passed from this life on March 1, 2019, at his home.
He was born on January 23, 1952, to Robert Willie Ezell and Katherine Laird Ezell Thompson.
Mr. Ezell was an Army Veteran of the Vietnam War and was a member of the Moose Lodge,
specifically active in running Bingo and helping with the Special Olympics.
Preceding him in death were his parents; bothers, Paul David Ezell, Eugene Ezell and Mike Ezell.
Those left to cherish his memory is his wife of 44 years, Vicky Ann Smith Ezell; son, James David Ezell
and daughter, Dawn Sellars along with two grandchildren, Michael Larue Sellars and Eric Sellars.
He is also survived by sisters, Nancy Case and Evelyn Buitt; brothers-in-law,
Robert Buitt, Ronnie Smith, Keith Smith and Darrell Lee Smith and wife Sandra.