Obituaries
Janice Carrene Smith Goza
The funeral service for Mrs. Janice Smith Goza will be 11 a.m., Saturday, December 31, 2022, at New Prospect Baptist Church, with burial in the church cemetery. Visitation is from 6-8 p.m., Friday, December 30, at Riverwood Family.
Mrs. Goza ended her life’s journey here after 82 years and entered her eternal rest December 26, 2022, with her loving husband by her side. She was born March 19, 1940, to Ernest V. Smith and Lillie Eugenia Ford Smith.
Mrs. Goza was a faithful servant of the Lord and a willing servant of New Prospect Baptist Church. She truly loved the history of New Prospect, which was organized in 1889. She volunteered her free time to the church as clerk for 30 years. In 1989, she was part of the committee to research the History of New Prospect. Mrs. Janice and her sister Mrs. Ruth were instrumental in compiling and writing the manuscript for publication. On August 6, 1989, during the Centennial Celebration, each member was given a copy. Her husband, Cletos, and she prepared a Cemetery Record listing of all the graves and had it available for all members in the year 2000. She has been a vital part of the work at New Prospect and will be greatly missed and fondly remembered for all she has done.
She is preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Edith, Audrey, Eugenia, Willene, Lucy, and Ruth; and her brother, Donald.
She is survived by her loving husband of 50 years, Cletos Truel Goza; her son Bryan Cletos Goza and wife, Daisy; brothers, Ford W. Smith and wife, Carlene, and Bobby G. Smith; sisters, Patricia Case and husband, Edwin and Judy Costilow and husband, Owen; one very precious grandson, Zeppelin Goza. Mrs. Janice is also survived by other loving family members as well as her faith family at New Prospect Baptist Church.
Any memorials may be given to Gideons International, PO Box 1106 Brookhaven, MS 39602, the Baptist Children’s Village, 491 Dickerson Lane SE, Brookhaven, MS 39601, or the Alzheimer’s Foundation, 207 W Jackson St 2nd Fl Ste 1, Ridgeland, MS 39157in Mrs. Janice Goza’s memory.
John Richard Evans
Graveside service for Mr. John Richard Evans will be 2 p.m., Wednesday, December 28, 2022, in New Prospect Baptist Church Cemetery.
Mr. Evans, 81, of Brookhaven, died December 25, 2022, in Brookhaven. He was also born in Brookhaven, June 11, 1941, to Homer Evans and Inez Elizabeth McNeill Evans. He worked as a U. C. & M. Supervisor for Entergy.
He is preceded in death by his loving wife of 58 years, Eva Lee Evans; his parents; younger brother, Clyde Neil Evans; nephew, Bobby Cruz; and niece, Stephanie Evans.
Those left to cherish his memory are his children, Anthony Evans (Joyce) and Jody Evans (Tammie); brother, Joey Evans (Bobbie); sister, Kathy Evans Alpe; two grandchildren, Amanda Evans and Anna Evans Atkinson; four great grandchildren, Isabella Ferguson, Ava Leigh Ingram, A.J. Ingram, and Atleigh Atkinson. He is also survived by niece, Adrienne Evans and nephew, Phillip Townsend (Yen), as well as a host of other nieces and nephews; and special friends, Freddie & Rita Gorenflo and Tommy & Amy Tullos.
Audrey Adams Posey
Funeral service for Mrs. Audrey Adams Posey will be 2 p.m., Thursday, December 29, 2022, at Riverwood Family, with interment in Gum Grove Baptist Church Cemetery. Visitation will be from Noon-2 p.m., prior to the service at Riverwood.
Mrs. Posey, 88, of Brookhaven, passed away December 25, 2022. She was born in Lincoln County, MS, April 24, 1934, to Enoch Vencie Adams and Lovie Mae French Adams. Her greatest achievement in life was her family. In later years, she enjoyed watching her children and grandchildren play sports. She will be greatly missed and fondly remembered by all who loved her. Mrs. Posey cherished her time working and managing the West Lincoln Cafeteria for 44 years. She loved all the kids throughout her service during those years. She excelled at playing basketball in high school at Bogue Chitto.
Mrs. Posey is preceded in death by her parents; first husband, SS Stewart, Jr.; brothers, Enoch Adams, Jr., Roger Adams, Troy Adams; sisters, Cora Mae Adams, Thelma Norman, Bobbie Kitchens, Erma Miller, and infant, Eloise Adams.
Those left to cherish her memory are her husband of 66 years, Jack Posey; children, Johnny Stewart (Jackie), Jimmy “Bo” Stewart (Lisa), James Posey (Mary), and Jackie Terry (Larry); brother, Roy Adams (Judy); 12 grandchildren, Brandon Stewart, Ashley Mazzei, Lacey Holmes, Logan Stewart, Alex Grant, Adam Stewart, Kathleen Melancon, Dany Martin, Shanna Clark, Amanda Taylor, Kim Smith, Heather Jackson; 14 great grandchildren; and sisters-in-law, Paula Adams and Virginia Adams. She is also survived by other loving family members and friends.
Gregory Wayne Herring
Graveside service for Mr. Gregory Wayne Herring will be Noon, Wednesday, December 28, at Johnson Grove Church of Christ Cemetery. Visitation is from
9 a.m. until 11:45 a.m., at Riverwood Family.
Mr. Herring, 44, of Brookhaven, died December 24, 2022, in Jackson, MS. He was born in McComb, MS, December 19, 1978, to James Arthur Herring and Gail Price Herring. He was employed as a truck driver. Mr. Herring was an avid outdoorsman, hunting and woodworking were two of his favorite pastimes. He also enjoyed cooking for family and friends. He will be greatly missed by all who loved him.
He is preceded in death by his mother.
Those who remain to cherish his memory are, his wife of four years, Lu Herring; children, Paul Herring, Taylor Herring, and Katie Bolin; brothers, Brock Herring (Lori) and Jim Herring; three grandchildren, Kelsey, Kimberly, and Kendalyn; father and mother-in-law, Gordon and Elaine Cable; father-in-law, Ed Gatlin; sister-in-law, Karol Senft; niece, Peyton Herring; nephew, Josh Herring (Avery); great niece and nephew, Brooks and Rayleigh, as well as other loving family members and friends.
Ruby Dell Rollins
Ruby Dell Rollins, 88, of Bogue Chitto, died December 22, 2022, at Southwest Regional Medical Center in McComb.
Funeral services for Mrs. Rollins will be 11 a.m., Tuesday, December 27, at Riverwood Family, with interment in the Moak's Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.
Visitation is from 9 a.m. until the time of the service at Riverwood.
Marilyn E. Delaughter
The funeral service for Marilyn E. Delaughter will be Noon, Friday, December 23, 2022, at Riverwood Family, with burial in the Union Baptist Church Cemetery. Visitation is 10 a.m. until the time of service at Riverwood.
Ms. Delaughter, 56, of Brookhaven, died December 21, 2022, at King’s Daughters Medical Center. She was born in Brookhaven February 14, 1966, to Jimmy Dale Barber and Audrey Mae Smith Barber. She enjoyed rescuing cats and also painting. She will be greatly missed by all her family and friends.
She is preceded in death by her son, Dale Delaughter; grandmother, Thelma Smith; aunt, Ann Upton; and uncle, Buddy Smith.
She is survived by her parents; her son, David Delaughter; brother, Marty Carithers; sisters, Judy Jordan, Tammy Greer, and Mary Jane Bowman; and two grandchildren.
William Mark Wells
The graveside service for Mr. William Mark Wells will be 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, December 21, at Moak’s Creek Baptist Church Cemetery. Visitation is from 9-11 a.m., at Riverwood Family.
Mr. Wells, 62, of Summit, died December 16, 2022, at Southwest Regional Medical Center in McComb, MS. He was born in McComb, February 29, 1960, to Willie Joe Wells and Edna Phillips Wells. He was employed in the agriculture business and enjoyed being outdoors, not only for work but also for recreation. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. Mr. Wells will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents, and his wife, Cynthia Wells.
Those left to cherish his memory are his children, Bradley Wells and wife, Mattie, Brandy Richardson and husband, Keith, and Donald Joe Wells; brothers, Joey Wells and Toby Wells; and one sister, Lorraine Westbrook. He is also survived by seven grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews, as well as other loving family members and friends.
Bobbye Nell Padgett
Bobbye Nell Padgett, 81, a long-time Magnolia resident who was loved by her family and friends, died December 16, 2022, at Aston Court Assisted Living in McComb, MS.
Bobbye's final services are to be arranged at a later date with the Church of Our Redeemer in Magnolia.
Bobbye was born on November 21, 1941, in Magnolia to Vera Mae and James Hampton
Sterling.
Growing up in Magnolia and then Mobile, AL she loved music, women's sports, singing and gardening. Even as a young woman she spent hours immersed with music, chatting with friends with laughter and humor.
After graduating from high school in Magnolia, she attended Southwest Community and then the University of Southern Mississippi where she achieved a B.S. in Education.
She developed learning in the sciences and mathematics. While at Southern she met her future husband, Jerry.
Bobbye and Jerry wed in the living room of her parents on April 2, 1962. After the ceremony she and Jerry traveled to their first home in Saraland, AL, a suburb of Mobile. Their son Ray would be born there in 1964.
Bobbye was an active member of the Episcopal Church and taught in the Mobile Public School System for 25 years.
Upon retiring, both Bobbye and Jerry moved to Magnolia in 1996, where they remained to this time. Both Bobbye and Jerry were offered jobs teaching soon after and then each taught another 13 years, she in Magnolia at South Pike High School, and he at Liberty, MS.
Bobbye remained quite active with Magnolia Beautification, gardening, and the natural world and with local and Episcopal Church music and church activities. She loved to travel with her family. They traveled thousands of miles exploring the United States, Canada, Europe, Mexico, and other countries.
Bobbye had a gift for enjoying life. She was delighted to be involved in all activities Involving direct exchange with others in so many ways, especially music and volleyball.
She was one of nine children and was survived by her husband Jerry and her son Ray, Her brother Wayne Sterling and his wife Becky, sisters Peggy O'Quilnn, Mary Ann O'Brien, Maxine Ross, Mildred Hong, and Betty Revis and brother James Sterling.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in her name to the Church of The Mediator and Our Redeemer at P.O. Box 1001, McComb, MS, 39649-1001.
Rev. Glenn Martin
Services for Rev. M. Glenn Martin are 2:00 pm Saturday, December 17, 2022, at First United Methodist Church Brookhaven. Visitation is from 5:00-8:00 pm, Friday, December 16 at Felders Campground and then 12:00 until the time of service at the church on Saturday.
Interment will be at Felders Campground Cemetery.
Rev. Glenn Martin was born in Jayess, MS., August 4, 1935, to Enoch Martin and Ada McEwen Martin. He passed away on December 13, 2022, at King's Daughters Hospital in Brookhaven. He was a graduate of Carter’s Creek High School in Walthall County and earned a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from Mississippi State University.
While working with the Federal Soil Conservation Service in Tupelo, he met and married Patricia Winders in 1958. Shortly after their marriage, Glenn’s servant spirit led him to change his emphasis from “Soil" to “Souls” and he served as interim pastorate in Crosby which also included Mt. Vernon United Methodist Church.
Obvious to him was his need for training and education. He acquired his Master of Divinity degree at Emory University Candler School of Theology. Afterward he returned to the South Mississippi Conference of the United Methodist Church to serve six more churches until 1990 when he became Associate Executive Director of Lake Junaluska Assembly in North Carolina. He leaves his wife of 64 years, Pat, and his children, Cinda (John) Henderson, Mark and Jonathan. His grandchildren, Dr Austin Henderson, Peyton Henderson, and Mallory Grace Martin. He also leaves many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, Edna (Eddie) King, Paul (Bonita) Martin, Lamar (Hilda) Martin, Hilda (Jim) Blackwell, and Carl (Jeanine) Martin.
To his family he was Daddy and Pop. His favorite place was the front porch swing of the house in which he was born and grew up.
He wanted everyone to understand their importance in God’s eyes. To that end he lived his life sharing Christ’s love with family, friends, and strangers. Those who knew him knew his kind and gentle nature. To those who did not know him, he would tell us “Don’t tell them about me; tell them about Jesus”
His servant spirit was obvious in his love for missions and took him from Mississippi and surrounding states to Jamacia, Dominique, and all the way to West Africa. He spent many hours laboring on Habitat for Humanity homes in Jackson.
He was our model for living because he diligently followed the supreme model, Jesus Christ. He was our guide, protector, our friend.
We are heart broken to lose him, but we are rejoicing that he walks now in the presence of the Lord he served.
We are grateful to Abby and the 3rd floor nursing staff at Kings Daughters Medical Center, to Davion, and to Kathy and Hospice Ministries all servants.
Charles R. Deines
Mr. Charles R. Deines, 86, of Everett, Washington, passed away December 12, 2022, in Brookhaven, Mississippi. He was born in Yoder, Wyoming, on October 1, 1936, to his parents, Henry and Kathryn (Becker) Deines. He was a welder by trade.
Mr. Deines is preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Margaret Ennes, Illa Knisley, and Charlotte Reyes; and grandson, Grant Nations.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Sarah H. Deines; children, Laura Nations and husband, Dean, Lisa Lucara and husband, Curtis, and Leah McCurley and husband, John; one sister, Joan Payne; six grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren, as well as other loving family members and friends.
