Obituaries 10-21-11

Published 12:00 am Friday, October 21, 2011

BATESVILLE – William Wade Allen, 86, widower of Emily Patridge Allen, died Monday, October 10, 2011 at Baptist Hospital East in Memphis.

A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, October 22 at 1 p.m. at Wells Funeral Home Chapel with visitation beginning one hour prior at noon. Dr. Gary Berry will be officiating.

Wells Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

Mr. Allen was born September 30, 1925 in Amory. He was a retired office manager of Tallahatchie Valley Electric Power Association and served his country in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II.

He is survived by his two daughters, Lisa Allen of Birmingham and Leslye Koch of Memphis; and one sister, Margaret Allen of Madison.

The family requests memorials be sent to the American Stroke Association: honor.americanheart.org/goto/wwallen

SOUTHAVEN – George Kenneth Blann, 60, father of Kenlea Blann of Courtland, died Wednesday, October 19, 2011 at Baptist Desoto Hospital.

Graveside services will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at Magnolia Cemetery. Visitation will be held Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Hernando Funeral Home which has charge of arrangements.

He is the son of Brunell Boshers of Memphis and the late James Blann Sr.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, April Renee Blann.

In addition to his mother and daughter, he is survived by two sons Cory Blann and Kevin Blann, both of Southaven; his stepfather, Wilton “Bo” Boshers of Memphis; two brothers, Jimmy Blann and Gregg Blann, both of Southaven.

MARKS – Terry Glen Cordel, 51, died Monday October 17, 2011 at Quitman County Hospital after a long battle with cancer.

Funeral services will be held today at 2 p.m. at Locke-Station Baptist Church. Burial will follow in Marks Cemetery. Kimbro Funeral Home of Marks has charge of arrangements.

He was born January 20, 1960 in Birmingham to John Thomas Cordel and the late Betty Sneed Cordel. He was a retired truck driver.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Sherry Pettit Cordel.

He is survived by his son, Glen Cordel of Marks; four brothers Roy Cordel of Marks, John Cordel Jr. of Horn Lake, Rodger Cordel of Fruithurst, Ala. and Phil Cordel of Como; two sisters Brenda Stefanski of Katy, Texas and Sherry Moore of Marks.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital or Locke Station Baptist Church.

ST. LOUIS – Welton Henderson, 76, formerly of Pope, died Wednesday, October 12, 2011 at his residence. He is the nephew of Cathryn Hyde of Batesville.

Funeral services were held Friday, October 14, at West Side M.B. Church in St. Louis. Rev. Dr. Ronald L. Bobo Sr. officiated. Burial followed in  Jefferson Barracks Memorial Cemetery in St. Louis. Austin A. Layne Mortuary, Inc. had charge of arrangements.

Henderson, born April 7, 1935, to the late Thurman and the late Zellee Henderson, was a retired teacher of 30 years. He attended Sumner High School in St. Louis, was a veteran of the U. S. Army and a member of West Side M. B. Church. He is also a graduate of Jackson State University.

Survivors include his wife, Vickie Henderson of St. Louis; one son, Arlo Brian; six daughters Amy Melissa, Melanie, Tanya, Amelita, Mary and Charlene; two brothers Bobby and Reginald; a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

MANILA, ARK. – James Harold Hitchcock, 70, died Sunday, October 16, 2011 at his residence.

Funeral services will be held today at 2 p.m. at Howard Funeral Chapel in Manila with Rev. Raymond Britt and Rev. Gary Galloway officiating. Burial will follow in the Manila Cemetery. Howard Funeral Service has charge of arrangements.

Hitchcock was born May 21, 1941 in Lambert to Bertha Lorine Galloway of Manila and the late James Chester Hitchcock. He was a longtime Florida resident before making his home in Manila. He was a farmer and a Baptist.

He was preceded in death by two sons, James Hitchcock Jr. and James David Hitchcock and a grandson John Ryan McVay.

Survivors in addition to his mother include his wife, Hattie Barlow Hitchcock of Manila; three daughters, Judy Stevens, Ruby Schrader, both of Manila, Deborah Hitchcock of Anderson, S.C.; one brother, James Ernest Hitchcock of Florida; four sisters Betty Augustine Vandiver, Wanda Green, both of Manila, Martha Galloway of Leachville, Brenda Yates of Dayton, Tenn.; eight grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

MARKS – Alice Hardin Massey, 92, died Wednesday, October 19, 2011 at Quitman County Hospital.

Funeral services will be held today at Goodwill Church of God, near Marks, at 4 p.m. Rev. Barry Warren and Rev. Jimmy Massey will officiate. Burial will follow in Forrest Memorial Cemetery in Batesville. Kimbro Funeral Home of Marks has charge of arrangements.

Massey was born March 25, 1919 in Dublin. She was a member of Goodwill Church of God where she was a Sunday School teacher for many years and trained teachers. She retired as a farmer and factory worker.

Survivors include two daughters Dorothy Gaines of Thomson, Ga. and Carol Morehead of Curtis community; one son James Homer Massey of Curtis community; nine grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

FT. MEYERS, FLA. – Charles A. Purdy, formerly of Lambert, died Saturday, October 15, 2011 at Hope Hospice Center in Ft. Meyers. He is the brother of Sissy Gentry of Enid and Bill Purdy of Courtland.
Memorial services were Thursday, October 20 at Buckingham Center in Ft. Meyers.

Purdy was born August 13, 1945 in Lambert to Kate Purdy of Ruleville and the late Claude A. Purdy. He attended Lambert High School. He joined the Army and served three tours of duty in Vietnam.

After service, he moved to Ft. Meyers to work for Sprint Telephone Co. where he was employed for 30 years and where he retired in August 2010.

Survivors, in addition to his mother and local siblings, include his wife Karen of Ft. Meyers; one daughter, Catherine, of Lehigh Acres, Fla.; one son, James, of Ft. Meyers; three sisters, Mayford Escue of Lambert, Margie Bruce of Dothan, Ala., Shelby Williams of Spring City, Tenn.; and two grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Hope Healthcare Services, 9470 Health Park Circle, Ft. Meyers, FL 33908.

BATESVILLE – Wiley Robinson, 97, died Friday, October 14, 2011 at Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi.

Funeral services will be held Sunday at Cooley’s Mortuary Chapel with Pastor Zannie Leland Jr. officiating. Burial will be in Spring Hill Asa cemetery. Visitation will be Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Cooley’s Mortuary which has charge of arrangements.

Robinson was born May 7, 1917 in Batesville to the late Coleman Ales and the late Rilla Fawcett. He was a member of New Bethlehem M. B. Church and a retired driver for Star Route.

Survivors include four daughters, Joyce Robinson, Sadie Chambers, Rosemary Robinson, all of Memphis, and JoAnn Saintyl of Hollywood, Fla.; three sons James Robinson Sr. of Tacoma, Wash., Wonderful Hughery of Memphis, L. J. Robinson of Vidalia, La.; a sister, Cedell Hawkins of St. Louis, and a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

CHARLESTON – Perry James Tunson, 42, formerly of Courtland, died Friday, October 14, 2011 from an automobile accident.

Funeral services will be held today at Shiloh M. B. Church in Courtland with Pastor Carl Brown officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held today from 12 to 1 p.m. at Shiloh. Cooley’s Mortuary has charge of arrangements.

Tunson, born February 4, 1969 in Sardis to Mary Lou Tunson Taylor of Courtland and the late Genie Ford, was a maintenance worker for Windsor Foods and a member of Shiloh M. B. Church.

In addition to his mother, Tunson is survived by his wife, Mary Smith Tunson of Charleston; his grandmother, Raymond Sanford of Courtland; two stepdaughters, Tawanda Demoria Shannon and Stefanie Smith, both of Charleston; one stepson, Jimmy Smith Jr. of Nashville; one sister, Mary Tunson of Batesville; two brothers, John Tunson and Joseph Taylor, both of Courtland; and eight grandchildren.

SARDIS – James Earl “Boot” Wilbourn, 42, died Thursday, October 13, 2011 at Tri-Lakes Medical Center.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, October 22 at Cooley’s Mortuary Chapel at 2 p.m. Pastors W. T. Wilbourn and Clarence Rankins will officiate. Burial will follow in Harmonia Cemetery in Sardis. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday at Cooley’s Mortuary. Cooley’s Mortuary has charge of arrangements.

Wilbourn, born April 29, 1969 in Sardis to Rainey and Gennie B. Gassion Wilbourn of Sardis, was a welder for Tier-Rack in Como. He was a member of Harmonia M.B. Church and a veteran of the U.S. Army.

Survivors, in addition to his parents, include his wife, Angelia Wilbourn of Sardis; three sons, Montrell Toliver, Duntrell Toliver, Anthony Toliver, all of Sardis; two sisters, Jennifer Wilbourn and Lashelle Kimmons, both of Sardis; and two brothers Rainey Wilbourn Jr. and Tony Wilbourn, both of Sardis.

Batesville–Elder Marlin Upshaw, 83, died in his Mackey Dr. Home Tuesday, October 18, 2011.

Funeral services will be held Sunday, October 23 at State Temple C.O.G.I.C. in Clarksdale at 3 p.mBishop Timothy Scott will be officiating minister. Interment will be in Forrest Memorial Park Cemetery on Highway 6E, Batesville.

Visitation is set for Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. at Cooley’s Mortuary who is in charge of arrangements. Family hour is from 3-5 p.m.

Born Feb. 19, 1923 in Charleston, he was the son of the late Elizabeth Thompson and Columbus Upshaw. A veteran of the U. S. Navy, he served as minister for Greater Mt. Zion C.O.G.I.C. Church in Marks.

He is survived by his wife, Millie B. Thompson Upshaw of Batesville, four daughters, Marvie Robinson, Melinda Ivy, Megretta Thomas  and Marlin Levette Upshaw all of Batesville, a brother, Lorris Upshaw of Detroit, 14 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.