Clarion-Ledger from Jackson, Mississippi • Page 20

THE CLARION-LEDGER I SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2001 MISSISSIPPI DEATHS Henry Collier Ashford Lyon Henry Collier Ashford, 89, a retired farm manager for King Anderson Oakhurst Co. Plantations, died of heart failure Friday at Northwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center in Clarksdale. Graveside services are 2:30 p.m. today in Oakridge Cemetery, Nowell Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Isabella Drake Batton Port Gibson Isabella Drake Batton, 83, died Saturday, February 17, 2001, at home.

Visitation is 4-6 p.m. today at Glenwood Funeral Home and 10 a.m. First Presbyterian Church. Services are at 11 a.m. Monday at the church with burial in Wintergreen Cemetery.

Rev. Michael Herrin is officiating. Mrs. Batton was a lifelong resident of Port Gibson. She was a graduate of Randolph Macon Women's College in Lynchburg, Va.

She was a member of the board of trustees at Harriet Person Memorial Library in Port Gibson. She was also a member of the board of trustees of the Port Gibson Separate School District. She was preceded in death by her husband, A. Alfred Batton. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church.

Survivors include: daughter, Mary Drake Swoope of West Point; son, Alex Batton Jr. of Port Gibson; sister, Ellie McCarley of Port Gibson; brother, Joseph T. Drake Jr. of Port Gibson; and four grandchildren, Elizabeth Drake Bolton of Jackson, James Powell Swoope of Columbus, Alexander Alford Batton Ill of Asheville, N.C., and Margaret Allison Batton of Austin. Pallbearers are Larry Hancock, Thomas B.

Nichols, Allen Burrell, Joseph T. Drake IlI, Frank Wilson, Bobby Fahey, H.M. Drake Jr. and W.M. Drake.

Frank A. Berry Florence Frank A. Berry, 58, died Friday, February 16, 2001, at Rankin General Hospital. Services are 2 p.m. today at Colonial Chapel Funeral Home in Mendenhall with burial in Mendenhall City Cemetery.

Helen Louise Bridges Weir OBITUARY ADVERTISING POLICY The Clarion-Ledger publishes basic obituaries free of charge. The basic obituary includes identifying information about the deceased and service information. Additional information, such as survivors and activities, may be included for a charge. A typical obituary of 25 lines, including survivors and hobbies and possibly a photo, would cost $50. Obituaries must be submitted by a funeral home by 4:30 p.m.

for publication in all editions of the next day's Clarion-Ledger. For questions call (601) 961-7159 or (601) 961-7117. funeral home with burial in Lee Memorial Park. Mary Morgan Harrison Richardson, Texas Mary Morgan Harrison, 98, died Friday, February 16, 2001, at home. Visitation is 9 a.m.

Monday at Breeland Funeral Home in Canton. Graveside services are noon Monday in Canton Cemetery. Mrs. Harrison was born Mary Elizabeth Morgan on July 29, 1902, in Kennesaw, Ga. She was the daughter of John Morgan and Mary Katherine Barron, the granddaughter of Jefferson Davis Barron and Mary Elizabeth Tomlinson of Ackerman and Confederate soldier patriot Joseph Lewis Morgan and Margaret Ann Kendrick of Kennesaw.

Mrs. Harrison grew up in Canton in the home of her aunt and uncle, Sudie Barron Baine and Felix Baine. She graduated from Canton High School, May 26, 1922. She worked at Roberts Insurance Agency until her marriage to James Ellis Harrison on September 22, 1923. Mrs.

Harrison was preceded in death by her husband and her first son, Charles Ellis Harrison. Survivors include: daughter, Peggy Elizabeth Gober and son-in-law, Roy Gober of Nacogdoches, Texas; sons, James Walter Harrison and Patrick Morgan Harrison, both of Richardson, Texas; daughter-in-law, Margaret Jackson Harrison of Austin, Texas; 16 grandchildren, 39 -grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 393, Canton, MS 39046. Henry Hawkins Bassfield Helen Louise Bridges, 75, a homeHenry Hawkins, 72, a retired postal maker, died of heart failure Friday, Feby 16, 2001, at Choctaw County clerk, died Wednesday at Wesley Medruary ical Center.

Visitation is 1-7 Hospital. Visitation is 5-9 p.m. today at day at Johnson Funeral Home with fami- Monp.m. Nowell Funeral Services in Ackerman. ly hour at 11 a.m.

at Holly Springs ChrisServices are 2 p.m. Monday at the tian Methodist Episcopal Church. Serfuneral home with burial in Fentress Bapvices are noon Tuesday at the tist Church Cemetery. with burial in Wheeler Cemetery. John Carroll Vicksburg John C.

Carroll, 83, a retired commercial fisherman, died Friday, February 16, 2001, at Parkview Regional Medical Center. Visitation is 9 a.m. Monday at Fisher -Riles Funeral Home. Services are 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home with burial in Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Eva W. Cooper Ridgeland Eva W. Cooper, 92, died Friday, February 16, 2001, at Hospice Ministries. Visitation is 5-8 p.m. today at BaldwinLee Funeral Home in Pearl.

Services are 1 p.m. Monday at the funeral home with burial in Lakewood Cemetery. Mrs. Cooper was a sitter at hospitals and a member of Pearl First Baptist Church. She was a resident of County for 20 years and previously of Jackson for 33 years.

Survivors include: son, Billy (Sue) Blocker of Jackson; daughter, Mary (Chester) Lamparty of Jackson; grandchildren and 13 great grandchil. dren. Memorials may be made to Hospice Ministries or Crossgates Nursing Home. Diane Lockhart Cox Clinton Diane Lockhart Cox, 52, an accounting clerk at Mississippi College, died Friday at Mississippi Baptist Medical Center. Visitation is 2-5 p.m.

today at Rosemont Gardens Funeral Home and noon Monday at Pineview Baptist Church. Services are 2 p.m. Monday at the church with burial in Rosemont Gardens Cemetery. James Lee Donald Tupelo James Lee Donald, 74, died Friday, February 16, 2001, at North Mississippi Medical Center. Visitation is noon today at Lee Memorial Funeral Home in Verona.

Services are 2 p.m. today at the Rosemont Gardens Memorial Mark MRS. DIANNE LOCKHART COX 2:00 Mon. Pineview Bapt. Ch.

Clinton, MS Visit Sun. Rosemont Gardens After 12:00 noon Int: Rosemont Gardens Memorial Park 371-0009 3935 1-55 South Jackson, Mississippi 39212 Marietta Worrell Love Ackerman Marietta Worrell Love, 84, a homemaker, died of heart failure Friday, February 16, 2001, at Choctaw County Hospital. Visitation is 6-9 p.m. today at Nowell Funeral Home. Services are 10 a.m.

Monday at Ackerman Methodist Church with burial in Enon Cemetery. James M. Mayfield Newton James M. Mayfield, 84, retired serviceman for Southern Pine Electric died of Alzheimers Friday, February 16, 2001, at Guardian Angel Hospices. Services are 11 a.m.

Monday at James F. Webb Funeral Home with burial at 1:30 p.m. in Fellowship Baptist Church Cemetery in Taylorsville. Georgie S. McDaniel Greenville Serfuneral Laverne Wells Nunnery, 75, a homechurch maker, died Wednesday, February 14, 2001, at Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center.

Services were Friday at Hartman Funeral Home with burial in Adams United Methodist Church Cemetery in Summit. homemaker, Mary A. Suggs O'Gwynn Pearl Ryan Hunter McHenry and Thomas Jarrett McHenry, both of Brandon; sisters, Lillie Vernice Humphreys of Yuma, and Nella Jean Elliott of Houston, Texas; and one grandson. Donald G. Mills Vicksburg Donald G.

Mills, 77, an engineer, died Saturday, February 17, 2001, at Parkview Regional Medical Center. Visitation is 1:30 p.m. Monday at Crawford Street United Methodist Church. Graveside services are 2 p.m. Monday in the church cemetery.

Mark Seepe Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Amanda Moore Morales Brandon Amanda Moore Morales, 44, a secretary, died of injuries sustained in a tornado Friday, February 16, 2001, in Holmes County State Park. Services are 2 p.m. today at Garner-Harper Funeral Home in Grenada with burial in Duck Hill Cemetery. Ronnie J.

Myers Kosciusko Ronnie J. Myers, 51, a truck driver, died of cancer Friday, February 16, 2001, at G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Services are 11 a.m. Monday at Jordan Funeral Home with burial in Parkway Cemetery.

Sam K. Newsum Ecru Sam Keith Newsum, 75, former mayor of Ecru and fire chief, died Saturday, February 17, 2001, at Baptist Memorial Hospital. Visitation is 2-9 p.m. today at Browning Funeral Home. Services are 1 p.m.

Monday at the funeral home with burial in Ecru Cemetery Laverne Wells Nunnery McComb Mary Almedia Suggs O'Gwynn, 72, died Saturday, February 17, 2001, at River Oaks Hospital. Visitation is 5-9 p.m. Monday at Ott Lee Funeral Home in Brandon. Services are 10 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home with graveside services at 3 p.m.

Tuesday in Mount Zion Cemetery in Waynesboro. Mrs. O'Gwynn was the daughter of the late Samuel E. and Ruth J. Suggs of Hattiesburg.

She had lived for the past twenty years at Rose Garden Apartments in Pearl. She was married for 27 years to James L. O'Gwynn. She was a member of the Church of God. Survivors include: son and daughterin-law, Robert J.

and Barbara O'Gwynn of Pearl; daughter and son-in-law, Brenda G. and James Sullivan of Brandon; daughter, Carol A. Crosby of Nashville; sisters, Judy Davis of Clearwater, and Betty J. Cluck of Hattiesburg; and 10 grandchildren and 11 great-gra children. Ralph T.

Phillips Jr. Morrow, Ga. Ralph T. "Tom" Phillips 49, died of sudden heart failure Sunday, February 4, 2001, at home. A memorial service was held Saturday, February 10, 2001.

A native of Jackson, Mr. Phillips attended the Jackson public schools and graduated from Murrah. He attended the University of Southern Mississippi and was a graduate of Georgia State University in Atlanta with an education degree specializing in teaching English as a second language (ESL). He taught ESL for 19 years in the Fulton County, Georgia school system with the last seven years teaching at Bear Creek High School and middle school in Fairburn, Ga. He also taught ESL in local prisons and community sponsored ESL classes.

Mr. Phillips was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Mildred Phillips of Jackson. Survivors include: wife, Bou Nga Phillips; stepson, Sanithna Phansavanh; son, Phavana Phillips, all of Morrow, and brother, Joe W. Phillips of Jackson. James Michael Porter Bentonia James Michael Porter, 27, a service technician and installer for Ball Mechanical, died of injuries sustained in an automobile accident Thursday, February 15, -LEE MR.

J.B. RODGERS 11 Pucket Cemetery MRS. EVA COOPER 1 Pearl (601) 939-6110 (601) 372-5623 PEARL JACKSON 2001, on Kearney Park in Madison County. Visitation is 4-8 p.m. today at Stricklin-King Funeral Home in Yazoo City.

Services are 2 p.m. Monday at Grove Baptist Church with burial in the church cemetery. Rev. Darby Combs is officiating. Mr.

Porter was born Jan. 17, 1974, in Jackson. Survivors include: wife, Kristi B. Porter of Bentonia; son, John Michael Porter of Bentonia; daughters, Deborah K. Porter of Bentonia and Magan Blackwell of Canton; step daughters, Brittney Williamson and Ashley Williamson, both of Bentonia; father, William Larry Porter of Bentonia; mother, Deborah Porter of Pearl; stepmother, Patricia Porter of Bentonia; step brother, Lyman E.

Tait Jr. of Bentonia; and step sister, Stacey Nicholson of Gautier. Pallbearers are Lyman E. Tait Leighton Dillard, Rocky Dillard, Steve Holmes, Wade Jones and Johnny Ishee. Alternate pallbearers are Chuck Pace and John Littlejohn.

Hazel Pounds Booneville Hazel Mae Jacobs Pounds, 70, a retired machine operator in the garment industry, died Friday, February 16, 2001, at Baptist Memorial Hospital. Services are 2 p.m. today at Booneville Funeral Home with burial in Piney Grove secretary, Cemetery. tornado D. Christopher Roberts Oxford D.

Christopher Roberts, 46, attorney for Global Industries, died of injuries sustained in an automobile accident Saturday, February 17, 2001, in Carroll County. Visitation is 4-6 p.m. today at Waller Funeral Home. Services are 1 p.m. Monday at the funeral home with burial in Anchor Cemetery.

J.B. Rodgers Pearl J.B. Rodgers, 83, died Saturday, February 17, 2001, at the G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Visitation is 5-8 p.m.

today and 9 a.m. Sunday at Baldwin-Lee Funeral Home. Graveside services are 11 a.m. Monday in Puckett Cemetery. A native of Yazoo City, Mr.

Rodgers was a resident of South Jackson for over 25 years. An Air Force veteran of World War II, Mr. Rodgers was in car sales for over 40 years and owner of Rodgers Auto Sales. He was a member of Hillcrest Baptist Church. Survivors include: wife, Louise Rodgers of Jackson; son, David Rodgers of Jackson; daughter, Laurie Rodgers of Pearl; brothers, Lamar Rodgers and Bernard Rodgers, both of Yazoo City; sister, Mildred Brane of Jackson; and two granddaughters and one great-grandson.

Jewell E. Hester Smith Greenville Jewell Estelle Hester Smith, 84, a sales clerk, died of respiratory failure Saturday, February 17, 2001, at Mississippi Care Center. Visitation is p.m. Monday at Boone-Wells Funeral Home. Services are 2 p.m.

I Monday at funeral home with burial in Leland-Stoneville Cemetery. Mrs. Smith was a native of Walthall County where she attended public schools. She was a longtime sales clerk having retired with Sears in Memphis in 1985, returning Greenville after many years away. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Jimmie Sue Oakes in 1997.

She was Baptist. Survivors include: son, Bobby J. Smith of Shreveport; son-in-law, Billy Oakes of Haughton, sister, Gladys Hester Stokes of Leland; and six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. James H. 'Jimmy' Spencer Jackson James H.

"Jimmy" Spencer, 82, retired director of the Consumer Protection Agency, died Saturday, February 17, 2001, at the G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Visitation is 2-4 p.m. today at Wright Ferguson Funeral Home and 9 a.m. Monday at Broadmeadow United Methodist Church.

Services are 10 a.m. Monday at the church with graveside services at 2 p.m. in Indianola Cemetery in Indianola. A native of Sunflower County, Mr. Spencer was a pilot in World War Il and the Korean Conflict.

He flew 46 missions in a B-24 and received the Distinguished Flying Cross Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters and the Presidential Unit Citation with one cluster. After his military service he was a sales and branch manager for a wholesaler hardware company. Mr. Spencer then joined the Mississippi Department of Agriculture Commerce, serving for many years and retiring as the director of the Consumer Protection Agency. While with the State, he also headed up the MS Dept.

of Agriculture's Catfish Cooking Team. He was a past president of the Jackson Sertoma Club, was a volunteer at the Mississippi Methodist Rehabilitation Center and was an active member of Broadmeadow United Methodist Church. Survivors include: wife of 57 years, Maurine Spencer of Jackson; son, James R. Spencer of Fort Lauderdale, daughter, Sandra Spencer Holt of Overland Park, and a sister, Ruby of Jackson. Memorials may be made to Broadmeadow United Methodist Church or the Mississippi Methodist Rehabilitation Center.

Mildred Faye Spicer Raleigh Mildred Faye Spicer, 60, a retired respiratory therapist, died Friday, February 16, 2001, at Mississippi Baptist Medical Center in Jackson. Visitation is 8 a.m. today at Oft Lee Funeral Home in Morton. Services are 3:30 p.m. today at the funeral home with burial in Oak Grove Cemetery in Polkville.

Nora M. Wedgeworth Louin Nora M. Wedgeworth, 74, an electrical assembler, died of cancer Friday, February 16, 2001, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center. Visitation is 5- 8 p.m. today at Ott and Lee Funeral Home in Forest.

Services are 2 p.m. Monday at the funeral home with burial in Reopen case, NAACP The Associated Press BILOXI The Gulf Coast chapter of the NAACP is questioning why a white man has not been indicted for a 1999 hit-and-run accident that left an elderly black man dead. The body of Arnell H. Hill was found near Mississippi 609 on March 3, 1999. The day after the accident, police say the driver turned himself in, confessing that he had been drinking and was speeding when he hit something.

Now Hill's family, an association of black lawyers and the NAACP are demanding that Jackson County District Attorney Keith Miller reopen the case. "We feel that the district attorney did not push hard enough for an indictment," James Crowell, Clear Springs Baptist Church. Jack Yates Jr. Morton Jack Yates 63, retired auto technician, died Friday, February 16, 2001, at Whispering Pines Hospice. Visitation is 8 a.m.

today at Ott and Lee Funeral Home. Services are 2 p.m. today at the funeral home with burial in Two Mile Cemetery. hit-and-run urges Biloxi NAACP president, said Friday. "It's like saying his (Hill's) life wasn't worth enough to try the case in a public court." Hill, 68, was in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease.

"I don't understand how somebody can hit and kill someone else and get away scot-free," said Hill's widow, Bobbie Jean Hill. "It hurts me so bad." But Miller said Friday that he will not reopen the case unless new evidence is presented. "The grand jury had every opportunity to ask questions and they had full access to all documentation in the file," Miller said. "By law, we're not allowed in while they deliberate, so I don't know why they came to that decision." Family donates for MSU scholarships Special to The Clarion-Ledger STARKVILLE -A deferred gift of more than $2.1 million from a Starkville alumnus and his wily will provide scholarships for Mississippi State University athletes majoring in education. John M.

Johnson, a 1954 MSU agriculture education graduate, is the retired general manager of the former Holiday Inn property in Starkville. The Choctaw County native said he long has appreciated the impact of education and wants his gift to benefit future teaching professionals and Mississippi's state residents. "Mississippi needs more quality teachers and I hope this is a way to encourage and help student athletes stay in our state," he said. "I believe having an educated population is the key to our The deferred gift from the John M. Johnson Family Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust will provide scholarships for students in any sport.

"My wish is for the scholarships to equally benefit men and women student athletes majoring in education," Johnson said. MSU President Malcolm Portera praised the much-needed support for student athlete scholarships. "The Johnson family gift will provide men and women in all sports added assistance to pursue careers as the future educators and coaches in Mississippi," Portera said. Richard Armstrong, the MSU Foundation's director for planned giving, said deferred gifts have both immediate and lifetime benefits to donors. "By making a deferred gift in this manner, capital gains are bypassed on the gift of appreciated stock," Armstrong explained.

"Donors receive an income tax charitable deduction based on a percentage of the value of the stock transferred to the trust, a payment of income from the trust during their lifetimes and a reduction in the size of the taxable estate. The university receives the trust's principal upon the passing of the donors." Ole Miss Gospel Choir in Grammy-world spotlight Georgie S. McDaniel, 91, a retired storekeeper, died of heart failure Friday, February 16, 2001, at Delta Regional Medical Center. Services are 2 p.m. today at Williams Lord Funeral Home in Ruleville with burial in Lehrton Cemetery.

Thomas C. McHenry Brandon Thomas Carroll McHenry, 64, a businessman, died Thursday, February 15, 2001, at home. Graveside services are 11 a.m. Monday in Biloxi City Cemetery. Mary Seepe Funeral Home of Jackson is handling arrangements.

Mr. McHenry was a native of Huttig, where he attended public schools. He established a military career serving in the Navy during the Korean and Vietnam wars. He was a former resident of El Dorado, where he worshipped in the Church of God. As a businessman, he was operations manager for American National.

Survivors include: wife, Amy Erickson McHenry of Brandon; daughters, Jody McHenry Ferguson and Pamela Sue McHenry, both of Brandon; sons, MARK SEEPE FUNERAL HOME CREMATORIUM 601-352-5239 Toll-Free: 1-800-748-9751 755 Riverside Drive, Jackson, MS SC5550 De Rosemont Gardens Memorial Park Funeral Home Pre-arranged savings on CREMATION 501872 3935 I-55 South $995.00 Call today Jackson 371-0009 Special to The Clarion-Ledger Riding high on a far-reaching wave of celebrity since being nominated in January for a Grammy Award, the University of Mississippi Gospel Choir is getting accustomed to its prominent perch in the national spotlight. Its growing popularity was reinforced recently when an NBC television crew visited the Oxford campus to tape a segment for the Today Show. The four- to five-minute special report, which airs Wednesday morning, some 12 hours before the 43rd Annual Grammy Awards is to be televised, features an interview with Dee Thomas, the choir's director, and Javon Williams, a choir member. "What a wonderful experience and a wonderful opportunity to meet them," said Thomas, a senior from Hoover, Ala. "The fact that we got that type of exposure is wonderful." Williams, a fourth-year pharmacy student from Greenville, said she thinks the story will be "fairly positive." "It will center around normal, everyday students being blessed with a gift of song and it coming to a Grammy nomination," Williams said.

The two discussed the choir's history and seemingly breakneck rise to fame, as well as how rehearsals and performances with their academic studies and campus lives. Fredericka Whitfield, the NBC News correspondent who appears on the report, said the story of a student- ed gospel choir working wonders through songs can deliver an inspiring message to members of its viewing audience. "What I know about gospel music is limited, but I do understand that if performed passionately, gospel music does make you feel, and it was a discovery that the University of Mississippi Gospel Choir is touching people and helping folks think about what's missing in their lives and think about the many things perhaps to be thankful for," Whitfield said. "When something like this airs, it may cause some change, a spark, or even some awareness in someone's life." The UM Gospel Choir is among five Grammy Award nominees for Best Gospel Choir or Chorus Album for its Send Up the Praise, the choir's first CD which was produced in 1999 by Malaco Records of Jackson. Other contenders in the same category are: Get Your Praise On, New Direction; Higher, Youth for Christ; Live God Is Working, the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir; and the Tri-City student singers balance Singers.

PRESIDENTS' DAY Local government offices will be open. Hinds, Madison and Rankin Federal government counties; cities of Brandon, U.S. Postal Service. Pearl, Pelahatchie and Richland; public libraries; most Business state agencies. Cities of Jack- Banks will be closed.

son, Flowood and Florence.