Obituaries

Wilsie Lee Brooks

SARDIS—Wilsie Lee Brooks , 91, died Saturday, April 1, 2017 at Merit Health Hospital.
Visitation is Friday, April 7 from 3-6 p.m. at Henderson Funeral Home in Sardis.  Funeral services are Saturday, April 8 at 1 p.m. at Mt. Zion Church in Sardis.  Interment will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery in Sardis.
Ms. Brooks was born December 13, 1925 to the late Josper and Olive Mea Dandridge of Como.

Dr. Marshall Page Meacham

Marshall Page Meacham, DDS, age 96, passed away at the Veteran’s Home in Oxford Sunday, April 2, 2017. He is the widower of Jean Hartzell Meacham.
Funeral services for Dr. Meacham were held Tuesday, April 4 at the First United Methodist Church in Batesville. Interment was at Magnolia Cemetery. Rev. Ed Temple, Rev. Ed Woodall, and Rev. Martin Case officiated the service. Wells Funeral Home had charge.
Marshall Page Meacham was born May 26, 1920, to Harold and Sadie Page Meacham in the Garrison community near Franklin, Tennessee.
For eight years he attended a one room school house with his neighbors, brothers, and sister before attending Battle Ground Academy in Franklin.  After graduation he attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.  In 1944 he completed a degree in dentistry at the University of Tennessee School of Medicine in Memphis where he met and married Jean Hartzell.
Dr. Meacham was commissioned to serve in the U.S. Navy and honorably discharged in 1953.
The M. P. Meacham family made their permanent home in Batesville, where he practiced dentistry for 54 years.
He is survived by his three children:  Robert (Carolyn) Meacham of Senatobia, Carolyn (Hal) Ferrell of Batesville, Marsha (Jeff) Petry of Indianapolis; six grandchildren: Jana Buckler, Jeana (John) Burchfield, Joann (Kerry) Davis, David (Stephanie) Meacham, Jared (Heather) Petry, and Natalie (Charles) Wright; 10 great-grandchildren: Emme Buckler, Chris Burchfield, Matt Burchfield, Mary Grace Dickerson, Will Davis, Samuel Davis, Aaron Meacham, Caleb Meacham, Andrew Wright, and Joseph Wright; and brother, Wendell G. Meacham of Raymond.
Dr. Meacham was active and supportive of the United Methodist Church where he taught 8th grade Sunday School and was a member of the Jim Bates Sunday School class.
He supported numerous community activities, schools, and both professional and civic organizations, including the Batesville Lions Club, of which he was a charter member; American Dental Association, Rotary Club, with 20 years perfect attendance. He was named a Paul Harris Fellow, and Junior Auxiliary 1982 Charity Ball King.
His family and many former patients and friends were recipients of his fish, photographs, written tales “Hills and Hollows,” vegetables, wood-crafted products—and his friendly whistle.
Memorials may be made to Batesville First United Methodist Church, 119 Panola Ave. Batesville, MS 38606 or the charity of your choice.

Juldine Chambers Robertson

BATESVILLE—Juldine Chambers Robertson, 62, died Saturday, April 1, 2017, at Baptist Memorial Hospital North Mississippi.
Visitation will be today at Cooley’s Mortuary from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  Funeral services will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Batesville Jr. High School.  Interment will follow at Shiloh M.B. Church.
Juldine was born July 8, 1954, to the late Leo Chambers and the late Georgia Ella Cosby Chambers Johnson.
She confessed Christ at an early age and united with the Mt. Pleasant M.B. Church under the leadership of the late Rev. Robert Lee Jones.  She later united with the Shiloh M.B. Church under the leadership of the late Rev. Eugene Marizette, and served faithfully in the Mothers’ Ministry.
Juldine attended school in the South Panola School District and graduated with the Class of 1974.
On June 19, 1976, she married the love of her life, Coach Will Earnest “Pete” Robertson.  And, the two became one!  It was not often (outside of work) that you saw one without the other!  His family became her family and her family became his.
She was employed with Parker Automotive for 38 years.
Juldine lived life well, laughed often and loved much.  She never lacked appreciation of earth’s beauty or failed to express it.
Juldine was proud to be the oldest sister and always looked for the best in others.  Without hesitation, she encouraged good deeds and would chasten wrong doings.  She leaves a legacy of joy, pride and pleasure, a loving lasting memory our grateful hearts will forever treasure.
Celebrating her well lived life are her loving and devoted husband of 41 years, Pete, and their two children, Emmanuel Jevon Robertson and Kierra Shanta’ (Tred) Hines; her grandchildren, Alycia, Malarie, Trelyah, Emmanuel Jr., and Trenton; brothers Ulysee (Genetta) Cosby, Will (Dorris) Bradford, Charles (Charity) Chambers, Pastor William (Linda) Johnson, Lyndon B. Johnson, Keith (Wanda) Johnson, James Earl Johnson and Otis T. Johnson, Donnell (Pamela) Tenner and Alex Tenner; sisters, Janie White, Annie Jenkins, Shirley (Steve) Simpson, Marilyn Brooks, Robbie (Leslie) Lantern, Gloria (Marcell) Walls, Alecia (Irvin) Hines, and Bonita (Earnest) Hayes; mother-in-law, Birdia Robertson; sisters-in-law, Elnora (Dennis) Briggs, Gloria (Donald) Thomas, and Kassandra Faye Robertson; an uncle, Shelby (Catherine) Houston and first cousin, Bernard Cosby Jr., whom she considered her brother; she also leaves a host of additional family and friends.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her infant daughter, Rosie LeElla Robertson; stepfather, James William Johnson; brothers, Melvin Chambers, Maurice Chambers, Willie Lee Johnson, Robert Lewis Johnson and Wayne Edward Johnson; father-in-law, Will Earnest Robertson Sr.; sister-in-law, Birdia Robertson Ellis; niece, Lashonda Ellis; and nephew, Donnie Tenner.

Shirley Taylor Thomas

GLENDORA—Shirley Taylor Thomas, 55, died Sunday, April 2, 2017 of injuries sustained when a tree fell onto her house during a storm.
Mrs. Thomas was the wife of Glendora mayor Johnny B. Thomas, and served as an at-large alderwoman on the Glendora City Board.
She was a longtime radio dispatcher for the Tallahatchie County Sheriff’s Office.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 8, at 1 p.m. at Persimmon Hill M.B. Church in Enid, where she was a member.
Rev. Riley Suggs will officiate the service.  Interment will follow in the church cemetery.   Clark-Williams Funeral Home has charge.
Mrs. Thomas was born September 29, 1961 to Bonnie Taylor and Lucinda Taylor of Oakland.

Doyle Eugene Willingham

BATESVILLE—Doyle Eugene Willingham, 78, died Tuesday, April 4, 2017, at his residence.
Visitation will be today, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Cooley’s Mortuary.  Funeral services will be Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at New Bethlehem M.B. Church where he was a member.  Pastor Travis Willingham will officiate the service.  Interment will follow in the church cemetery.
Mr. Willingham was born March 30, 1939 to Ernest Willingham and Eva Mae Pugh Willingham of Batesville.  He was a mechanic and U.S. Army veteran.