Obituaries
Emma Jean Dedmon Norton
Funeral service for Mrs. Emma Jean Dedmon Norton will be held 2 p.m., Friday, August 28, 2020,
at Solid Rock Pentecostal Church with burial at Pleasant Ridge Cemetery. Visitation will begin
at noon on Friday, until the time of service.
Mrs. Norton, of Wesson, completed her journey on earth August 25, 2020, at the age of 88, at her
residence. She began this journey January 19, 1932, born to David Damascus Dedmon and
Eurvie Esther Carter Dedmon, in Holly Bluff, Mississippi. Mrs. Norton was a homemaker,
but that included everything from making wedding cakes to making pageant dresses and
making clothes for her family. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother to 12 grandchildren
and great grandmother to 26. She leaves behind a beautiful legacy and will be greatly missed by those who loved her.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Joe Robert Norton, Jr.; parents; grandson, Clay Norton;
daughter-in-law, Jena Presley Norton; brother, Harold D. Dedmon; and sister Clara Mae Dedmon.
Those who remain to cherish her memory are her sons, John Alvin Norton (Kim) and Joe Robert Norton III
(Cathy Lynn); daughters, JoAnn King (Neal), Linda Jean Smith (Tony Lynn), Mary Esther Chance,
Kathy Diane Smith (Craig); 12 grandchildren, Lori Norton Brown (Chad), Sarah Marie Adams (Gary),
Darren White, David Lynn Case (Jennifer), Joseph Darren Dunn (Lenie), Justin Clark Dunn (Kacelyn),
Joe Robert Norton IV (Sara), Sonny Wade Norton (Beth), Michelle Lofton Thornton (Brad), Dennis Smith, Jr.
(Shyannah), Daniel Evan Smith (Janele), and Mollie Elizabeth Howard (Michael); and 26 great grandchildren.
Bryan Thomas Thompson,
Bryan Thomas Thompson, 51, of Brookhaven, passed away on August 24, 2020, at Forest General Hospital.
He was born on December 24, 1969, in Lakenheath Royal Air Force Base, Suffolk County, UK, to the late Thomas F. Thompson and Dena R White Thompson.
He worked at McLane Southern and was a member of Damascus Baptist Church.
He was an artist and also loved reading, gaming, and spending time with his nieces and nephews.
Mr. Thompson was preceded in death by his parents.
Those left to cherish his memory are his brothers, Danny Thompson and wife Shelley, and Steven Thompson; sister, Vicki, and husband, Glynn Greer,
and nieces, Candace and husband Dwayne, Amanda and husband Kevin Lupo, Chelsey Thompson; nephew, Thomas, and wife, Maranda,
Aaron Thompson, great-nieces Chloe Adams, Sadie and Ellie Reynolds, and River Thompson; and great-nephews, Cody Adams, Braxton,
and Chance Greer, and a host of aunts, uncles, and family.
He will be missed by all that loved and knew him.
Harry Luther Foster
Services for Mr. Harry Luther Foster of Hazlehurst are 11:00 am Thursday, August 27, 2020,
at Fair River Baptist Church with burial at the church cemetery.
Visitation will be from 5:00-8:00 pm on Wednesday, August 26,
and will resume from 10:00 am until the time of the service on Thursday.
Mr. Harry Luther Foster, 73, went to be with his Lord on August 24, 2020.
He was born on January 4, 1947, to the late Isaac Foster and Alice Louise Fugler Foster.
Mr. Foster was a member of Bude Baptist Church and worked as a Backhoe Operator for Ike Foster & Sons.
He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and loved Southern Gospel Music.
Preceding him in death were his parents.
Those left to cherish his memory are his son, Clay Foster, and wife, Missy; daughter, Darla Nash; brother, Terrel Foster,
and sisters, Mary Parmer, Ann Rabb, and Nan New. He is also survived by 4 grandchildren, Grant Montgomery, Huntleigh Foster,
Michael Andrews, and Hayden Foster, along with a host of nieces and nephews.
Mary Katherine Smith
Graveside service for Mrs. Mary Katherine Smith will be 11 a.m., Tuesday, August 25, 2020, at Calvary Baptist Church Cemetery.
Mrs. Smith, 88, of Bogue Chitto, died August 23, 2020, at her residence. She was born on January 3, 1932, in Brookhaven, MS,
to Horace Watts and Wessie Smith Watts. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother and will be
greatly missed by all who loved her. Mrs. Smith was a member of Calvary Baptist Church.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Bob Smith; parents; brothers, Holton Watts and Proby Watts; and sister, Agnes Smith.
Those who remain to cherish her memory are her children, Tony Smith (Linda), Kelly Bob Smith (Lisa), Kathy Wallace (Freddy),
Amanda Davis (Gary) and Matilda Smith (Mitchell). She is also survived by her eight grandchildren, Alicia Linton (Dallas),
Belinda Rivera (Cesareo), Kelsey Smith (Raul), Heidy Bridgeman (Corey), Clay Smith (Ashley), Anna Kathryn Smith,
Haley Yawn (Drew), and Colton Bob Smith; and 11 great-grandchildren as well as other loving family members and friends.
Shirley Jean Foster Moak
Services for Mrs. Shirley Jean Foster Moak, of Bogue Chitto are 2:00 pm, Monday, August 24, 2020,
at Riverwood Family with visitation from 12:00 until time of the service with burial at Riverwood Memorial Park.
Mrs. Shirley Jean Foster Moak, 71, went to be with her Lord on August 21, 2020.
She was born on June 15, 1949, to the late Basil Foster and Beulah Marie Kerns Foster.
Mrs. Moak was a member of the River of Life United Pentecostal Church.
She was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend.
She will be missed by all that loved and knew her.
Preceding her in death were her parents, husband, Roy Moak, Jr., brothers, Eugene Foster, Wayne Foster,
Milton Foster, Everett Foster, and sisters, Wilma Davis, and Louise Shepard.
Those left to cherish her memory are her sons, David Moak and finance' Lisa and Brian Moak and wife, Tammy;
daughter, Melissa Adams, and husband, Steven; brother, Larry Foster, and wife, Ann from Leavenworth, KS
and sister-in-law, Carlyse Foster, from Elkhart IN.
She is also survived by 13 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, and other family and friends.
Lucille Smith Stewart
Graveside service for Lucille Smith Stewart will be Noon on Wednesday, August 26, 2020,
at Mt Olive Church of Christ Cemetery. Visitation is from 10-11:30 a.m. at
Riverwood prior to the graveside service.
Mrs. Stewart, 90, of Bogue Chitto, passed from this life August 20, 2020, at King’s Daughters
Medical Center. She was born July 15, 1930 in the Enterprise Community. She was a graduate of
Enterprise High School and a member of Mt. Olive Church of Christ. Mrs. Stewart worked
for the Stal-Urban company as a seamstress before retirement. She was a hard-working
lady and a faithful member of Mt. Olive Church of Christ.
Mrs. Stewart is preceded in death by her husband, Curtis Stewart; parents, Rubin Smith
and Mae Coon Smith; and sisters, Agnes Smith and Dorothy Smith Burns.
Those left to cherish her memory are her son, Ronald Stewart and wife, Toshie; sisters,
Mary Lou “Buddy” McDavid and Joyce May Jordan; two grandchildren, Benjamin “Shane” Stewart
and wife Lorie and Taylor Stewart; two great grandchildren, Whitney Stewart and Stella Stewart;
and special family members, Peggy Smith, Wendi Allen, Mattison Allen, and
Dana Alexander as well as other loving family members and friends.
Ronda Marie Ward
Ronda Marie Ward, 55, of Silver Creek, MS, died August 21, 2020, at
University of Mississippi Medical Center. She was born in Brownwood, Texas
October 19, 1964, but eventually made her home in Silver Creek. She was a homemaker
and a loving mother to her daughter, Latosha Smith and her grandchildren, Carleigh Linderman
and Carson Linderman. Spending time with them was her greatest joy.
She is also survived by her mother, Myrtle Page and husband, Garland; brothers,
Toby Williamson, Melvin Hogan, and Ronald Jeffcoat; sister, Tammy Holifield and
other family members, Charles Linderman and Tyler Holifield.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Leroy Williamson and Mattie Robertson.
A private family memorial will be held to honor Ronda.
Burney Larkin Smith, Jr.
Graveside service for Mr. Burney Larkin Smith, Jr. will be held 2 p.m. on Sunday,
August 23, 2020, at Mt Moriah Baptist Church Cemetery.
Burney Larkin Smith, Jr. died August 21, 2020, at Diversicare in Brookhaven, MS. He
was born in Brookhaven July 6, 1951 to the late Burney Larkin Smith, Sr., and
Lunell Avants Smith. He was a graduate of Whitworth College and a member of
Mt Moriah Baptist Church. Larkin proudly served his country in the United States National Guard
and was employed with Packard Electric.
Mr. Smith is preceded in death by his parents; brother, Joe Henry Smith; and sister, Mary Smith Wallace.
He is survived by his sons, Logan MacKenzie Smith, and Lee Christopher Smith; and sisters,
Sue Hiley, Betty Rushing, Sandra Diamond, and Terry Watkins as well as other loving family members and friends.
Christine Anna Smith
Services for Mrs. Christine Anna Smith are 3:00 pm, Sunday, August 23, 2020, at Ramah Baptist Church with burial at the church cemetery.
Visitation is from 2:00 pm until the time of the service.
Mrs. Christine Anna Smith, 100, of Natchez, went to be with her Lord on August 20, 2020. She was born on November 30, 1919,
to the late Effie Montgomery and Lizzie Davis Montgomery.
Mrs. Smith loved flowers, reading, and traveling.
She also loved her daughter, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and church wholeheartedly. She will be missed by all that knew and loved her.
Preceding her in death were her parents, husband, Bryant Smith, siblings, Modis Lee, Binard Montgomery, Jewel Montgomery,
Ivy Kyzar, Nettie Mae Laird, Bootsie Lewis, and Dennis Montgomery.
Those left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Bonnie Bea Kyzar, grandchildren, Bryan Kyzar and wife, Tiffany, and Tina Cox and husband, Craig.
She is also survived by her great-grandchildren, Cade Cox, Drake Cox, James Kyzar, William Kyzar, June Kyzar, and new baby due in October.
Thank you to special friend & caretaker Lillian Rose and to the loving staff at Camelot Leisure Living and the support of Encompass Health Hospice-Vidalia.
Mary Ann Ginn Williams
Mary Ann Ginn Williams, 62, of Brookhaven, MS went to her Heavenly home on August 18, 2020.
She was born on November 5, 1957, in Tylertown, MS. She was a 1975 graduate of Walthall Academy
and then of William Carey University with a double major in Biology and Communications.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Sedgie V. Sr. and Etheland Cormier Ginn; her beloved son,
Eric L. Howse, whom she loved and missed so dearly; and her loving brothers, Bendon Ginn,
Sedgie V. Ginn, Jr. and Steven Ginn. She is now reunited with all her immediate family.
She is survived by her sister-in-law, Dorothy Ginn; several nieces and nephews, Maria peters,
Melissa Adams, Marc Ginn, Tre Ginn, Brenden Ginn, Sebastian Ginn, Daniel Peters, Lauren Peters,
Lindsey Peters, Ethan Nations, Mallory Nations, Anna Caroline Adams, Hayden Adams, and
Asher Ginn. Also left to cherish her memory are her friends from Tylertown and Brookhaven, Mississippi.
Mary Ann was musically talented and passed that on to her precious son, Eric. She played the
piano effortlessly and her mother used to sit for hours listening to Mary Ann play her favorite
hymns. She was also a gifted communicator and writer. She had a way with words and enjoyed reading and writing
Mary Ann suffered great loss with the untimely death of her son, Eric, and longed for the day
they would be reunited. She is now at peace.
A private memorial service will be held by family with her burial to be in Tylertown Cemetery.
