OBITUARIES – 4/1/2014

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Norma Bridwell
POPE–Norma Bridwell, 68, died Monday, March 31, 2014 at Tri-Lakes Medical Center.  She was the wife of Bill Bridwell of Pope.

Funeral arrangements were not available at press time. Full obituary information will be available in Friday’s edition or by viewing www.panolian.com

Lorraine Austin Bright
SARDIS–Lorraine Austin Bright, 100, died Friday, March 28, 2014, at Sardis Nursing Home.

Services were held Monday at Good Hope Baptist Church. Tim Morgan and Dr. Andy Brasher officiated. Burial was in Good Hope Cemetery. Wells Funeral Home had charge.
Bright, born Oct. 5, 1913, to the late John and Stella Hudson Austin, was a retired store clerk. She was a member of Good Hope Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, M. Knox Bright.

Survivors include: her daughter, Linda Bright Merriman of Batesville; two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Hattie Faye Barlow Hitchcock
MANILA– Hattie Faye Barlow Hitchcock, 63, died Friday, March 28, 2014, in Jonesboro, Ark. She was formerly of Crenshaw.

Services will be held today at 2 p.m. at Howard Funeral Home with Rev. Raymond Britt officiating. Burial will be in Manila Cemetery. Howard Funeral Home has charge.

Hitchcock, born to the late James and Nettie Taylor Barlow, was preceded in death by her husband, James Hrold Hitchcock, sons, James Harold Hitchcock Jr. and James David Hitchcock and one grandson, John McVay.

Survivors include: four daughters, Deborah Hitchcock of Anderson, S.C.; Judy Stevens, ruby Schrader of Manila and Cathie Cruz of Missouri; four brothers, Jessie Barlow of Senatobia, Timmy Barlow, Jimmy Barlow and Jeff Barlow, all of Batesville; four sisters, Ruby Yarbrough of Courtland, Jean Briggs of Batesville, Margaret Hales of Minden, La. and Juanita Barlow of Drew; eight grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

James “Jim” Whitten Mason
SENATOBIA– James “Jim” Whitten Mason, 78, died Wednesday, March 26, 2014, at his residence.

 He was a retired mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service and a longtime member of Sardis First Baptist Church, where he was a deacon, Sunday school teacher and a choir member.

Mr. Mason is survived by his wife, Betty Blakely Mason of Senatobia; one daughter, Angie Mason Conley of Senatobia; three brothers, John Mason of Batesville, Benny Mason and Ralph Mason all of Sardis; and two grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, the Late Richard Lawrence Mason and Georgia Wilson Mason.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to First Baptist Church, 108 Lee Street, Sardis, Miss. 38666. Ray-Nowell Funeral Home – Sardis has charge of arrangements.  of Drew; eight grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

Betty Lou Melton
BATESVILLE–Betty Lou Melton, 75, died Friday, March 28, 2014, at Oxford Health and Rehabilitation in Oxford.

Services were held Sunday at Wells Funeral Home. Rev. Charles Locke officiated. Burial was in Lambert Cemetery. Wells Funeral Home had charge.

Melton, born Jan. 26, 1939, to the late John Leonard and Dona Staffard Melton, was a member of the First United United Pentecostal Church in Batesville.

Survivors include: two brothers, Otis Melton of Courtland and Darrell Melton of Pope.

Cathy Layron Sanford
Cathy Layron Sanford, 73, died Monday, March 24, 2014. He was the husband of Azzie Lee Sanford.

Services will be held Saturday, April 5 at 2 p.m. at Cooley’s Mortuary. Visitation will be held Friday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. at Cooley’s Mortuary. Cooley’s Mortuary has charge of arrangements.

Funeral arrangements were not available at press time. Full obituary information will be available in Friday’s edition or by viewing www.panolian.com.