Obituaries 4-22-11

Published 12:00 am Friday, April 22, 2011

    BATESVILLE – Stella L. Ballard, 77, widow of Rev. Walter Ballard, died Monday, April 18, 2011, at Baptist Memorial Hospital North-Mississippi.

    Services were held Wednesday, at Wells Funeral Home Chapel with interment at Goodhope Cemetery in Batesville. Rev. Ray Legge officiated. Wells Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

    Mrs. Ballard was born September 12, 1933, in Rayville, La. to the late Lathan Wilson and Ninnie Miller Wilson Tullos. She was a member of Pharsalia Baptist Church and also attended First Baptist Church in Batesville, where she was a member of the W.M.U. During Rev. Ballard’s ministry, Mrs. Ballard was always beside him, weather it be at church, volunteering for Baptist Hospice and the former North MS Hospice or supporting his ministry around the State of Mississippi and even other countries around the globe. She took pride in watching her children and grandchildren grow and accomplish their goals and achievements. Mrs. Ballard also loved her friends and fellowshipping with them.

    She was preceded in death by parents, husband, one son, Walter E. Ballard.

    Survivors include two daughters, Linda Ballard McCreary of Ripley, Sharon Ballard Woods of New Ulm, Texas; two sons, Phillip Ballard of Ridgeland and Gerald Ballard of Batesville; one sister, Lois Wilson Goodwin of Newelltown, La.; one brother, Bobby Tullos of Murphreesboro, Tenn.; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Tiger E. Crawley

BATESVILLE – Tiger E. Crawley, 87, widower of Viola Maynard Crawley, died Tuesday afternoon, April 19, 2011 at the Veteran Affairs Home in Oxford.

Services with military honors were Thursday at Pilgrims Rest Baptist Church-Batesville, with Dr. Willie Crawley and Rev. Lee Graham officiating. Burial was in Pilgrims Rest Cemetery. Wells Funeral Home had charge.

Crawley was born to Joe and Cordie Bridwell Crawley on December 3, 1923 in Sledge. He was the last surviving of his 6 siblings. He served his country in the United States Navy during WWII.

He was a butcher for over 40 years and retired from Maddux Big Star. Then he went on to drive a school bus for South Panola School District. He was a member of Pilgrims Rest Baptist Church where he served in many capacities including: Deacon, Sunday School Director and Training Union Director.

He was preceded in death by three children, Tiger Willard Crawley, Elizabeth “Libby” Crawley Sherwood and Joe Albert Crawley and one granddaughter, Tina Caruthers Boyd.

Survivors include 2 daughters, Dot Crawley Heath & Wanda Crawley both of Batesville, two sons, Al Crawley of Jackson and Bro. Melvin Crawley of Pontotoc; eight grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

The family asks that memorials be sent to Pilgrims Rest Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 470 Pilgrims Rest Rd, Batesville, Miss.38606.

Signora Dillard

SARDIS– Signora Dillard, 91, died Wednesday, April 20, 2011, at Tri-Lakes Medical Center.

Services will be held Saturday at Mt. Level M.B. Church. Rev. Jessie Frison will officiate. Burial will be in Mt. Level Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Kenneth I. Roberson Funeral Home has charge.

She was a member of Mt. Level M.B. Church in Como where she was a member of the Mother Board.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Eddie Dillard.

Survivors include: eight daughters, Gearldine Ware, Flora Welch, Hattie Davis, Maudie Harrell and Daisy Leverson all of Sardis, Alice Moore and Maxcine Petty both of Como, and Glossie Leverson of Senatobia; five sons – Willie Leverson of Memphis, Ira Leverson, Joe Leverson, Danny Leverson and Eddie Leverson all of Sardis; one sister, Maurice Rodgers of Como; 71 grandchildren, and a host of great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

Emma Lou Graham

ROBINSONVILLE– Emma Lou Graham, 66, died Tuesday, April 19, 2011, at her residence.

Memorial services will be held today at 2 p.m. at Dickins Funeral Home. Dickins Funeral Home has charge.

Survivors include: four sons, David Helms and Roy Matthew Garner, both of Robinsonville and Joel Jackson and Billy Joe Gee, both of Batesville; three brothers, Billy Shankle and Tommy Shankle, both of Batesville and Norman Renfroe of Southaven and three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Arthur Rochester “Bubba” Johnson

CROWDER–Arthur Rochester “Bubba” Johnson, 69, died Monday, April 18, 2011, at his residence.

Services will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at Cooley’s Mortuary. Julius Minor will officiate. Visitation will be held Friday from 10 a.m. –  6 p.m. at Cooley’s Mortuary. Burial will be in Oliver Grove Cemetery in Oakland. Cooley’s Mortuary has charge.

Johnson, born April 26, 1941, in Enid to Bessie Talefirro Johnson of Enid and the late Ed Johnson, was a truck driver and a member of Oliver Grove M.B. Church.

Survivors along with his mother include: his wife, Catherine Johnson of Crowder; six daughters, Shirley Johnson of Orlando, Priscilla Douglas, Katy Washington, Pamela Washington, Renea Morgan and Teresa Coleman, all of Crowder; seven sons, Michael Johnson of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., David Tucker of Las Vegas, Tony Johnson of Chicago, Trini Coleman of Buffalo, Steven R. Washington, Kenneth Washington and Christopher Washington, all of Crowder; six sisters, Vera Kimmons of Sardis, Eva Mae Flowers of Pope, Betty Richmond of Chicago, Janice Perry of Las Vegas, Martha Green and Eva Moore, both of Oakland, Calif.; three brothers, Earl Johnson of Batesville, Frank Johnson of Sardis and Charles Johnson of Charleston; 20 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Gary Wayne Porter

ENID–Gary Wayne Porter, 37, died Tuesday, April 19, 2011, at Tri-Lakes Medical Center.

Services will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Willow Springs Assembly of God Church. Rev. Tommy Darby and Rev. Carl Hall will officiate. Burial will be in Bethel Cemetery. Visitation will be held Friday from 6:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. at Willow Springs Assembly of God. Dickins Funeral Home has charge.

He was preceded in death by his father, Bobby Ray Porter.

Survivors include: his mother, Thelma Hall Porter of Enid; one brother, Rusty Porter of Pope; his grandmothers, Bernice Hall of Enid and Ruby Porter of Pelahatchie.

 Mark A. Richmond

MEMPHIS–Mark A. Richmond, 27, previously of Sardis, died Sunday, April 17, 2011, at North Oak Regional Medical Center.

Services will be held Friday at 1 p.m. at Hammond Hill M.B. Church in Senatobia. Felix Cauthen Funeral Home has charge.

Survivors include: his parents, Betty Barnes and Keith Barnes of Batesville and Curtis Richmond of Memphis; three sisters, Taniya Phillips of Sardis, Makalyn Richmond and Dazney Richmond, both of Southaven; one son, Jarvis Richmond of Clarksdale; one sister, Adrianna Glover of Sardis and one brother, Torrey Lamar of Batesville.

Marietta A. Toliver

SARDIS–Marietta A. Toliver, 39, died Monday, April 18, 2011, at Methodist Hospital in Memphis.

Services will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at Walton Chapel C.M.E. Church in Sardis. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Henderson Funeral Home has charge.

Toliver, born July 18, 1971, to Burl Toliver and Margarie Lamar, attended North Panola School and was a member of Bountiful Blessing Church of Christ.

Survivors along with his parents include: three sisters, Sarah E. Toliver, Vera Oliver and Centhy Lark, all of Chicago.

Leatha Pearl Wolfe

SARDIS–Leatha Pearl Wolfe, 79, died Friday, April 15, 2011.

Services will be held Friday at 1 p.m. at Mt. Zion M.B. Church in Sardis. Rev. Cedric V. Jackson will officiate. Visitation will be Friday 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.  at the church.  Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery. Henderson Funeral Home has charge.

Wolfe, born Oct. 18, 1931, in Sardis, to Hamp Molly and Gennie Bell Henderson, attended North Panola and was a retired cook for North Panola School District. She was a member of Mt. Zion M.B. Church.

Survivors include: four daughters, Irene Galmore, Freddie Bell Wolfe and Annie W. Callicutt, all of Sardis and Clara W. Gipson of Memphis; 21 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.