Obituaries 4/19/16

Published 12:00 am Monday, April 18, 2016

Raymond (Bodie) Conaway, 68, passed into paradise on February 12, 2016 surrounded by his family at his brother’s home in Excelsior Springs, Missouri, after a battle with cancer.  Raymond was born on April 27, 1947, in Dundee, MS, one of nine children, born to Howard and Idenia (Allred) Conaway.  He married Margie (Moore) Conaway of Sardis, MS, over 40 years ago.  She survives of the home.
Those remaining to cherish his memory include one son and one daughter: Raymond Barry Conaway of Batesville, MS, and Tammy Colburn of Senatobia, MS; two brothers, Rayborn Conaway of Excelsior Springs, MO, and Mike Conaway of Olive Branch, MS; two sisters, Dorothy Cook of Darling, MS, and Martha Ann Taylor of Senatobia, MS; two grandchildren, Leilu Conaway and Summer Wells; many nieces, nephews, special friends and his beloved pet, Chico.
In addition to his parents, he was proceeded in death by his twin children, Bodie Ray Conaway (August 9, 2001) and Crystal Kay Conaway (October 21, 2007); three brothers, Billy, Bobby, and Donald; and one sister, Bettye (Conaway) Ross.
He was raised and educated in Senatobia, MS.  As truck driver for many years, he loved to travel and see the sites and was as a known jack-of-all-trades.  There was nothing that he couldn’t do.  He was even known to build the occasional race car, “The Bo-Joe Special.”  Bodie had been retired for the last nine years.  He loved fishing, the old style country music, and spending time with  family and friends.  He was a man of many talents and will be greatly missed.
Graveside services will be held in Senatobia Memorial Cemetery at a later date by the family.
The family suggests memorial contributions be made with acts of kindness, love and compassion between family and friends in the spirit of Bodie’s life.

BATESVILLE—Tommy Florence died Monday, April 18, 2016 at his residence.
Obituary information was unavailable at press time. Arrangements will be made available at panolian.com when available. Dickins Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

Martha Jene Rudd Jones, 68, died Thursday, April 14, 2016 at Golden Living Center.
Services were held Monday at Liberty Heights Church. Pastor Walter Williams officiated. Burial was in Shiloh Church Cemetery in Courtland. Cooley’s Mortuary had charge.
Jones, born Feb. 5, 1948, in Tunica, to Jack Rudd and Johnnie Mae Walton Rudd, was a member of Liberty Heights Church.

BATESVILLE–Johnnie Alvin Johnson, 72, died Saturday, April 16, 2016 at his residence.
Services were held Monday at Wells Funeral Home.
Johnson, born in Memphis, to the late Leroy Johnson and Frances Irene Warren Johnson, served in the U.S. Army. He was an electrician.

James R. “Bobby” Stewart, age 65, passed away, April 15, 2016 at North Oak Regional Medical Center in Senatobia, MS.
Funeral services for Bobby will be 2:00 P.M. Sunday, April 17, 2016 in the Martin Willingham Memorial Chapel of Wells Funeral Home with interment to follow in Forrest Memorial Park. The family will be receiving friends Saturday evening from 5:00 – 8:00 P.M. at Wells Funeral Home. Reverend Steve Phillips and Reverend Bobby Caples will officiate the service.
Born in Tallahatchie County July 28, 1950 to late James William Stewart and Grace Armstrong Stewart, Bobby graduated in 1969 from Westwood High in Memphis, TN. He was ordained as a Baptist Minister in 1970. Bobby was a Godly man. He loved to teach the Old Men’s Sunday School Class on Sunday at Peach Creek Baptist. He loved to teach Bible study and always had a poem to recite to the congregation.
Bobby retired at 39 years of age from Thermo-Spray Insulation. With his company he removed asbestos from the White House and was honored to work in the Oval office while Ronald Reagan was in office. He served on the Board of Directors at First Financial Bank in Senatobia. Bobby was Chairman of the Deacon Board at Peach Creek Baptist Church. He was the co-owner of the former Tommy Heafner Motors in Senatobia.
Bobby was most proud of his children and grandchildren. He loved to turkey hunt, it was his passion. During his lifetime he killed over 250 turkeys including one grand slam turkey and was honored to be able to hunt with Will Primos, Dick Kirby, and Jim Crumley, inventor of Tree Bark Camouflage.
Those left behind to cherish his blessed memory include his wife; Paula Rogers Stewart, 2 children; Staci Lynn Stewart and James “Jamie” H. Stewart both of Sardis, sister, Peggy S. Garrison of Southaven, 4 grandchildren; Brittney Stewart Harper, Tristen Walker Stewart Lanphere, Jayci West Stewart, Laney Grace Lowrie and one great grandchild, Adalyn Michelle Harper.

Eric Lee Williams Waldrop, 29, died Wednesday, April 13, 2016 in Lafayette County, MS. The funeral will be held on Saturday, April 16, 2016 at 11:00 AM in the Chapel of Waller Funeral Home with Mr. Donald Waldrop officiating. The visitation will be held prior to the service from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.
A Batesville resident, Mr. Waldrop was a supervisor at Serve Pro in Oxford, MS. Eric was an avid motorcycle rider. He was a gamer and formerly worked at Game Stop.  He was also a comic book fan, especially enjoyed superhero comics.  His family will fondly remember him as the comedian of the family.
Eric is survived by his mother, Dawn Michele Waldrop of Batesville, MS and his father, Robert Lee Williams of Como, MS; a sister, Lydia Dawn Waldrop of Batesville, MS; a brother, Christopher Waldrop of Baton Rouge, LA and grandparents, Donald W. and Carolyn J. Waldrop of Batesville, MS.
Memorial contributions in Mr. Waldrop’s memory may be made to the Oxford-Lafayette Humane Society, Post Office Box 1674, Oxford, MS 38655.
For additional information or to sign an online guestbook, visit our website at www.wallerfuneralhome.com <http://www.wallerfuneralhome.com> or call 662-234-7971.