Hugh Wayne “Shot” Bright

BATESVILLE— Panola County Sheriff, Hugh Wayne “Shot” Bright, 50, died Sunday, September 27, 2009.

Services will be held Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the Batesville Civic Center. Burial will be in Magnolia Cemetery. Rev. Clay Baker and Rev. Karen O’Brien will officiate. Visitation will be held today from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. at the Panola County Courthouse. Wells Funeral Home has charge.

Bright, born to the late Houston and May Bell Dye Bright on June 23, 1959, was a Methodist and a jail administrator for a decade before becoming sheriff.

He was preceded in death by one sister, Vickie Gray Thompson.

Survivors include: his wife, Mary Nell Meek Fowler Bright of Courtland; one step-daughter, Ginger Fowler Lowrie and husband, Tony of Hernando; one step-son, John W. Fowler and his wife, Claire of Batesville; four sisters, Sherry Gray Holder of Batesville, Frances Gray Riley of Eudora and Debbie Gray of Mountain Home, Ark. and Barbara Bennett of Batesville; four brothers, Ricky Bright of Charleston, Ricky Gray of Batesville, Charlie “Bubba” Gray of Olive Branch and Charles McKay Gray of Eudora; one uncle, J.W. “Bud” Bright of Batesville and three step-grandchildren.

OXFORD— John E. Hamby, formerly of Batesville, 62, died Wednesday, September 23, 2009, at his residence.

Graveside services were Sunday at Ole Lebanon Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Ackerman. Rev. Johnny Walker officiated. Wells Funeral Home had charge.

Hamby, born Dec. 5, 1946, to Rosa Annette Eudy Hamby and Thomas G. “Pap” Hamby Sr., was a member of Christ United Methodist Church in Jackson. He attended Mississippi State University and later transferred to Millsaps College, where he received his degree. He was an environmental chemist for both Georgia Pacific and Dynea Corporation. He retired from Dynea Corporation. he worked as a coach and teacher in several Mississippi Public school systems, including: Eupora, St. Andrews, Duck Hill, Mathiston and Weir. After his retirement, he became an avid nature photographer.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Jane Robinson Hamby of Jackson.

Survivors include: his wife, Nan Crosby Hamby of Jackson; two sons, Rett Hamby and Robin Hamby, both of Ruston, La.; one sister, Annette Hamby Hutcherson of Lakeland, Fla. and one brother, Thomas G. “Tom” Hamby Jr. of Stuart; and three grandchildren.

MEMPHIS— Tony Childs Sr., 37, died Monday, September 21, 2009, at Methodist Hospital North in Memphis.

Services were Monday at Impact Baptist Church. Dr. Micheal C. Ellis Sr. officiated. Cooley’s Mortuary had charge.

Childs, born Dec. 13, 1971, in Batesville, to James J. Ballentine of Batesville and the late Ethel Lee Childs, was a brick layer for Top Cat Masory. He was a member of Impact Baptist Church.

Survivors along with his father include: his wife, Amecia P. Childs of Memphis; one son, Tony K. Childs Jr. of Memphis; two step-daughters, Kiara Demmons and Kyana Demmons, both of Memphis; four sisters, Janice Childs, Cynthia Frost, Shutay Brownlee, all of Batesville and Dorothy Herring of Memphis and seven brothers, Tommy Brownlee, James Louis Ballentine and Allen Ballentine, all of Sardis, Sammy Childs and Bobby Childs, both of Memphis, Anthony Childs of East St. Louis and Ray Ballentine of Chicago.