Obituaries (April 9th, 2019)
Published 4:30 pm Wednesday, April 10, 2019
Hester Louise Bailey, 90, went to her heavenly home, Sunday, April 7, 2019, at her residence.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, April 10, at 11 a.m. in the Martin Willingham Memorial Chapel of Wells Funeral Home. Chaplain Eddie Randolph will officiate. Visitation will be Tuesday, April 9, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Wells Funeral Home.
Graveside services will be held at Arbor Grove Baptist Church Cemetery, 883 County Road 93 , Houston, Miss. at 3 p.m.
Hester was born July 2, 1928, in Chickasaw City to the late Cecil Vanlandingham and Ethel Callihan. She attended Egypt High School in Egypt, Miss. She was a member of Union Baptist Church in Sardis.
She was a former restaurant owner for 10 years of the Salad Bowl in Memphis, and was also owner of The Crossroads, The Kettle and The GTL, all in Sardis.
Survivors include a one son Kevin (Jodi) Bailey of Batesville; a daughter Gail (Jeff) Clark of Bartlett, Tenn.; nine grandchildren Sonja Smith, Monica Delaney, Micah Roberts, Erin Martin, Corri Stanley, Ronnie Helms, and Kayla Helms; a great-grandson Kaden Martin “Handsome Man” had a special place in her heart; 21 great-grandchildren, six great-great-grandchildren; nephews Barry and Ronnie Vanlandingham and many more special nephews, nieces and friends.
Larry Gardner, 74, died Saturday, April 6, 2019, at his home in Batesville.
Funeral arrangements will be posted by Wells Funeral Home when completed.
Jerry Lamar “Bones” Melton, Sr., 67, died Wednesday April 3, 2019, in Courtland.
Funeral services were Saturday, April 6, in the Martin Willingham Memorial Chapel of Wells Funeral Home with burial at Magnolia Cemetery in Batesville. Rev. Derrick Simmons will be officiating the service.
He was born Oct. 14, 1951, to the late Bertha Louise Bynum and Otis C. Melton in Marks. He worked as a truck driver during his lifetime.
Russell Sorrells, 65, died Saturday, April 6, 2019, at Baptist Memorial Hospital Oxford.
Funeral arrangements were incomplete Monday morning and will be posted by Wells Funeral Home when available.
Sara Lois Darby Wray, age 91, passed away peacefully at her home in Courtland on April 3, 2019. Sara was the widow of Chester Norris Wray.
Funeral services for Mrs. Wray were held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 6, in the Martin Willingham Memorial Chapel of Wells Funeral Home. The family received friends one hour prior to the service Interment followed at Magnolia Cemetery. Rev. Ashley Dusenbery, Dr. Robert Self and Dr. Tommy Snyder officiated.
Sara was born July 12, 1927, to the late Loys Russell Darby and Katherine Shuford Darby in Batesville. Sara worked as a secretary for South Panola High School. During her long full lifetime she was known as the Family Historian.
She enjoyed crocheting, reading, and ceramics. Sara was an active member of First Baptist Church and loved her Sunday School Class like family.
The family she leaves behind to cherish her loving memory include two sons, Danny Wray (Kay) of Memphis and Gary Wray (Kathy) of Courtland; five grandchildren, Kathryn Dusenbery (Ashley), Mary Emily Moseley (James), Ellie Phillips (Jason), Rachel Wray Mills, and Sam Wray; nine great-grandchildren; and her sister-in-law, Imogene Wray Williford of Pope.
In addition to her parents and husband Norris, Sara was preceded in death by one brother, Louie Darby.
Memorial contributions in honor of Mrs. Wray may be made to Batesville First Baptist Church, 104 Panola Ave. Batesville, MS 38606, or the charity of your choice.