A Memorial Gathering will be held for Anthony Tyler “Red Ant” Oswalt 5-8 p.m., Thursday evening, May 25, at Riverwood Family.

Mr. Oswalt, 21, of Liberty, MS died May 19, 2023. He was born June 29, 2001, to Thomas Vester Oswalt, Sr. and Paula Marie Hull Oswalt. He worked as a Lineman.

“Red Ant” enjoyed the great outdoors. He was an avid fisherman and enjoyed camping and mud riding. He was a great storyteller and his stories always brought a smile to all who listened. Anthony loved his family above all things and he will be greatly missed by all.

He is preceded in death by his father and his grandparents, Carnard & Elizabeth  Oswalt and Richard E. & Claire Hampton.

He is survived by his mother; brothers, Daniel Delaney (fiancé Samantha Sampson) and Kyle Oswalt; his best friends, Tyler Allen and Jesse Haas; nephews, Gotham Jordan and Arkham Delaney; and by numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and other loving family members and friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, PO Box 22718 Oklahoma City, OK 73123.

The funeral service for Mrs. Loretta Nix Smith will be 11 a.m., Thursday, May 25, at New Prospect Baptist Church with interment in the church cemetery. Visitation is from 9 a.m. until the time of service at New Prospect.

Mrs. Smith, 89, of Bogue Chitto, received a call, an offer that she could not refuse, for an appointment from which she will not be returning, May 22, 2023. Her work here is done, and she has already experienced a glorious reunion with family and friends that she has not seen in a long time. She is now in the presence of her Lord and Savior, home at last. Mrs. Loretta was born March 16, 1934, to Joe Nix and Gladys Shephard Nix.

Mrs. Loretta was a hero to everyone who knew her. She was a loving compassionate wife, mother, grandmother and friend and will be forever remembered for her humble and gracious spirit in all circumstances. She was an avid reader, her Bible especially. She loved her flowers and tended to them as long as she had the health to do so. Her greatest joy was family, she adored her grandbabies she was a bold witness for the love of Jesus to each one of them. As instructed through His Word, God was always first and that meant everything else would fall into its rightful place. Mrs. Loretta leaves a legacy of faith and will forever be a treasure.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Roger Smith; her parents; sons, Joey Smith and Roger Dale Smith; daughter, Kathy Whittington; four brothers; and one granddaughter, Rebecca Ann Whittington.

Those who remain to cherish her memory are her daughters, Karen Howell and husband, Hank and Lori Wright and husband, Pete; 8 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren and 9 great great grandchildren. She is also survived by a host of other loving family members, friends, and her faith family at New Prospect.

Ms. Susan Mystique Benson, 48, of Brookhaven, died May 20, 2023. She was born in Hattiesburg, MS, August 15, 1974, to Dennis Benson and Rebecca Howell Benson.

Mysti enjoyed singing and entertaining people. Nothing compares to the love she held for her daughter, Gracie. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

She is preceded in death by her grandmothers, Gladys L. Howell and Eunice M. Benson; and her aunt, Susan J. Howell.

She is survived by her daughters, Kate Soske and Madeline Grace “Gracie” Breazeale; her parents; sisters, Dana Rae Barksdale, Tonya Karan Bourn, Sonya Kay Kennedy; nieces, Ashlyn, Autumn, Kathlena, Ali, Stephany, and Olive; nephews, Gavin and Wyatt, as well as other loving family members and friends.

When I go, don’t learn to live without me, just learn to live with my love,

in a different way. And if you need to see me, close your eyes, or look in your shadow, when the sun shines, I’m there.

Sit with me in the quiet and you will know, that I did not leave.

There is no leaving when a soul is blended with another. When I go,

don’t learn to live without me, just learn to look for me in the moments.

I will be there. (Donna Ashworth)

Ms. Brenda Holder Roberts, 70, of Wesson, died May 20, 2023, in Brookhaven, MS. She was born in Hazlehurst, MS, on December 8, 1952, to W.D. Holder and Emma Mae Barlow Holder.

She was a graduate of Hazlehurst High School and Copiah Lincoln Community College. While at Co-Lin, she was a member of the Collettes. Ms. Roberts enjoyed a variety of hobbies, including Scrap Happy Mama’s Scrapbooking Club and the Red Hat Society. She retired from Co-Lin where she was Librarian for many years.

She is preceded in death by her parents and one grandson, Joshua Ellis Tarver.

She is survived by her children, William Daniel Roberts and Jamie Tarver Roberts; sister, Debbie Davis; three grandchildren, Chasity Paige Henderson, William Laine Roberts, and Victoria Nichole Tarver; and one great grandchild, Thea Elanor Kelly. She is also survived by many other loving family members and friends.