THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL Thursday, January 9, 2014 5B OBITUARIES DEBORAH "Debbie" E. WILLIAMSON, 57, died Monday, Jan. 6, 2014, of Leukemia at Baptist Memorial Hospital Memphis. Debbie is survived her sister, Marti Sheehan; niece, Sarah Sheehan Smith and long-time "sister" and friend, Elizabeth Jennings. Debbie had been disabled since 1991 with Systemic Lupus, severe Osteoporosis, and an autoimmune deficiency.
She had fought the battle with Leukemia since its discovery in 2010. Debbie elected to donate her body to science through the Genesis program of the Medical Education Research Institute in Memphis. It was her fervent hope that the discovery of a possible link between Lupus, immunodeficiency, and cancer might be enabled through her donation. Debbie was loved by many, who were inspired by her tenacious fight and steadfast faith in God, who chose to bless her with the ultimate healing by taking her home to heaven. She will be sorely missed by all who loved her so dearly, and will live forever in their hearts and memories.
A Memorial Service will be held at a later date to celebrate the life of our sister and friend. DELORES JEAN WOOTEN, 65, passed January 2, 2014. Visitation, p.m., Friday, January 10 at N.J. Ford Sons Parkway Chapel. Service, 11 a.m., Saturday, January 11, Vollintine Baptist Church.
Burial in Memphis Memory Gardens. N.J. Ford Sons Funeral Home (901)948-7755 DESOTO COUNTY January 7, 2014. Oneida was the only child of Dovie LeaNora Butler Fondren and John Lee Fondren of Reform, MS. In addition to being a homemaker, mother and grandmother, she worked as a bookkeeper for several different companies in the Memphis area.
Mrs. Crumby was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, Tom I. Crumby, Sr. She is survived by her sons, Tom (Martha) of Bolton, MS and Charles (Carol) of Collierville, TN; four grandchildren and one great grandchild. A Memorial Service will be held at Wesley Meadows Retirement Community, 1325 Mclngvale Road, Hernando on Friday, January 10 at 2:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any memorials be made to the charity of donor's choice. The family thanks the staff of Wesley Meadows and Spring Valley Hospice for their loving care of Oneida. Hernando Funeral Home (662)429-5260 Hernando ONEIDA FONDREN CRUMBY, 93, passed 1 away on Hernando THURMAN OSCAR WEATHERS, 87, died January 6, 2014. Service will be held 11 a.m., Thursday, January 9 at Hernando Funeral Home, The family will receive friends one hour prior to service time, from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m.
Interment to follow in Twin Oaks Cemetery. He was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Clara Mae Weathers, and his son, Larry Weathers. He is survived by his daughters, Linda Rupprecht Cormorant, and Mary Edmondson of Hernando; son, Doug Weathers (Janet) of Southaven; sister, Peggy Oliver of Kentucky; brother, Bobby Weathers of Southaven; seven grandchildren; eight great dren; and many nieces and nephews. Hernando Funeral Home (662)429-5260 BrentwoodFuneralServices.com Olive Branch TINA RHEA, Tina Rhea, 52, of Olive Branch, passed away January 7, 2014. She was born in Hartselle, Alabama to Benjamin and Mary Lou Myers who preceded her in death.
She was also preceded by her sister Sally Myers and brother Stoney Myers. Tina worked for Perimeter Transportation for 14 years. She will be missed by her husband Jack L. Rhea; her son and his wife Brian and Emily Rhea; her grandson Knox Rhea; sister, Darlene Flowers and brothers David Myers, Danny Myers and Charles Myers. Tina's family will receive friends at 9 a.m.
Saturday January 11, 2014 at Brantley Funeral Home in Olive Branch with services to follow at 10 a.m. Burial will be held at Oak Grove Cemetery in Rockwood, TN at 1 p.m. on Monday January 13, 2014. Online condolences may be made at www.BrantleyFuneral.com Brantley Funeral Home 6875 Cockrum Olive Branch, MS (662) 895-2310 Southaven PATSY LYNN COCHRAN, 66, died January 3, 2013. Forest Hill (901)346-3250 TENNESSEE Dyersburg DEBRA MINK, 54, died January 7, 2014.
Dyersburg, (731)285-3021 Fayette County- NORMA JEAN BOBBITT: 49, died January 7, 2014. Peebles, 901-465-3535 Fayette County LINDA PERKINS, 66, died January 8, 2014. Peebles, (901)465-3535 Cleveland JOSEPH LEONARD COHN, JR. of Cleveland, MS, passed away on January 7, 2014 at Baptist Hospital in Memphis, TN, with his family at his side. He was 80 years old.
His life will be celebrated at St. Luke United Methodist Church, Cleveland, on Saturday, January 11, 2014, with visitation from 1 p.m. to 2:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall followed by a memorial service in the Sanctuary at 3 p.m. Cleveland Funeral Home has charge of services. Leonard leaves behind his loving wife Ann Anstead Cohn, whom he joined in Holy Matrimony on September 5, 1959, and shared 54 years of marriage.
He leaves three devoted children, Robin Boyles of Cleveland, MS, Lenny Cohn, of Oxford, MS, and Bethany Sansone, of Collierville, TN. He also leaves two very special Rick Boyles and Michael Sansone. He will be greatly missed by his four grandchildren, Michelle Boyles Polen (Jeremy) of San Antonio, TX, Dillon Boyles of Cleveland, MS, Shelby Sansone and Adam Sansone, both of Collierville, TN, and two greatgrandchildren, Nicolas and Emily Polen of San Antonio, TX. Leonard is also survived by his two brothers and their wives, Charles and Niwana Cohn of Sherrills Ford, NC. and Jerry and Jill Cohn, of Jasper, GA, and dear cousin, Becky Allison of Phoenix, AZ.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Luke United Methodist Church or the charitable organization of your choice. Cleveland Funeral Home (662)843-2552 Columbus DOROTHY TAYLOR HARDY, age 91, died January 7, 2014 In Tupelo, MS. Her funeral service will be held at Belden Baptist Church in Tupelo, MS on Friday, January 10, 2014 at 11 a.m. Visitation with the family will precede the service from 10 a.m.
until 11 a.m., also at the church. Graveside services and burial will follow at Mount Vernon Church and Cemetery in Columbus, MS at 2 p.m. Memorial Funeral Home, Columbus, MS, is in charge of her services. Born November 17. 1922 in Fayette, Alabama to Willis B.
Taylor, Sr. and Trannie Patterson Taylor, she moved with her family to Columbus. MS at an early age, eventually graduating from S.D. Lee High School in the class of 1942. She was married to her husband of 50 years, Rev.
Banks Wilson Hardy, and embraced the role of a minister's wife all of her life. After serving Antioch Baptist Church in Columbus for 14 years, Dorothy and Banks moved to Tupelo in 1972 where he became the pastor of Belden Baptist Church. After Banks' retirement in 1985, they served in interim positions at various churches throughout north Mississippi until Banks' death in 1992. Her favorite pastimes were visiting church members with her husband and making quilts with the ladies at Belden after Banks' death. For the past 13 years she had been a resident of the Traceway Retirement Community in Tupelo.
remained committed to Belden Baptist Church. She had an easy -going nature, a delightful wit and a special talent for the game of Scrabble. She was preceded in death by her husband, Banks W. Hardy, her parents W.B. and Trannie Taylor, her brothers W.
B. Taylor, Cecil W. Taylor, and James Taylor, and her infant daughter Sandra Lynn Hardy. She is survived by her son Larry Hardy and grandson John Hardy, both of Memphis, TN. her sisters-in-law Elsie Taylor Memphis and Dot Taylor Lee of Columbus, an uncle, Coger Patterson, an aunt, Claudine Pounders, and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Mississippi Methodist Senior Services, Tupelo Campus, P.O. Box 1567, Tupelo, MS 38802, or a charity of the donor's choice. Memorial Funeral Home (662)328-2354 OBITUARY INFORMATION Gates-JOHNNY FRANK WELLS 64, died January 6, 2014. Thompson's 731-635-9322 Halls JEFF MOORE, 51, died January 4, 2014. Halls Funeral Home, (731)836-7111 Hickory Valley Kenneth Watkins, 68, died January 5, 2014.
Shackelford, 731-658-5277 Humboldt CURTIS WILLIAM IVIE, 63 died January 4, 2014. Currie's, 731-738-2625 Jackson SARAH FRANCES WEAVER NEISLER, 87, formerly of Jackson, TN, died January 5, 2014. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, January 11, 2014 at Arrington Funeral Directors. Visitation will begin at 9 a.m.
She is survived by a brother Monte (Bettye) Weaver, Memphis, TN, a daughter Jane (Terry) Stockwell, Jackson, TN. a son Joe (Lori Ann Cook) Neisler, Normal, IL, a grandson Dr. Robert (Brandi) Day, Casper, WY, a granddaughter Amanda (Matthew) Lewis, children, Artem, Colbey and Collierville, TN, 3 great grandHannah and several nieces and nephews. Arrington Funeral Directors 148 W. University Parkway 731-668-1111 6, 2014.
Murphy, (731)587-3121 Munford LAURA ANN RAINS, 26. January 2014. Munford Funeral Home 901-837-0123 Munford SANDRA FAYE MORRISON. 62, died Tuesday, December 31. 2013 at Methodist Hospital North in Memphis, TN.
Sandra retired from the Federal Reserve Bank after 30 years. Sandra was also a medical assistant and she cared for her patients in the comfort of their homes. Sandra is survived by her loving husband, Dennis Wayne Morrison, of Munford, TN, and a devoted daughter, Kim Dean of Millington, TN; two step-daughters: two stepsons; 12 grandchildren, three greatgrandchildren; sister, Ruby (William) Bantol of Shelby Township, MI; brothers, Larry Coleman of Pontiac, MI. Arthur Coleman and Stanley Coleman, both of Memphis, TN; sister-inlaw, Jacqueline Jones Coleman (wife of deceased brother, James Coleman, and a host of aunts, uncle, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Visitation Friday, January 10 from 5-7 p.m.
at Roller Family Funeral Home, 3651 Austin Peay, Memphis, TN. Funeral services will be held Sunday, January 12 at 2 p.m. at Mt. Gilead Ministries, 3997 Willowview, Memphis, TN. Burial services will be Monday, January 13 at 9:30 a.m.
in West Tennessee Veterans Cemetery on Forest-Hill Irene Road in Memphis. Roller Family Funeral Home www.arringtonfuneralgroup.com Martin MARTHA MARTIN HURT SMITH, 91, died January (901)371-9500 South Fulton CHAD BELL, 35, died January 6, 2014. Edmaiston-Mosley. (731)885-1033 Union City DANNY JONES, 66, died January 8, 2014. White-Ranson.
(731)885-1211 Whiteville BARRY RAY HENLEY, 61, died Janury 6, 2014. Shackelford. (731)658-5277 Byhalia LETTIE B. MOORE. 82, died January 6, 2014.
Visitation, Saturday, January 11. p. m. at Community Temple, 1331 Mt. Zion Rd.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m., Sunday, January 12 at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 519 Mt. Zion Byhalia, MS. Superior Funeral Home (901)323-7898 The Commercial Appeal and con put no cost, asa curtesy to families throughout our entire circulation loved one details may be included on a coslisto personalize information. Obituaries of your family member (loved one) may be Appeal.
We accept obituaries from licensed funeral homes. may be made by credit card or bled to local funeral hones (with Family members not using the services of a funeral home must through a crematorium or medical research Deadlines for pm for net day The Appeal must fax, so please low aminimum oft wohours prior to deadline for For questions, please al the obituary department at Como S.L. LEVERSON, 76, died January 1, 2014. Rodgers Funeral Home, (662)622-5608 Crenshaw T. W.
KELSON, 92, died January 6, 2013. Cooley's Mortuary. (662)563-8829 Holly Springs ANNA MAE WILLIAMS LOVE 88. January 1, 2014 JF Brittenum662-252-2341 Sardis-Ms BRIZELL RUSSELL. 63.
January, 2, 2014. Cooley's Mortuary 662-563-8829 West Point ALEXIS SWINDLE. 18. died January 7, 2014. Calvert, (662)494-2833 OTHER AREAS California, Hemet WILLIE J.
MOORE. 100. January 4, 2014. Johnson-Williams731-627-3236 Georgia, Monticello BETTY McBRYDE BRADY, 72, passed away on January 7. 2014 at home surrounded by her family.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, January 10, 2014, at Monticello Presbyterian Church, 246 E. Washington Street, Monticello, Georgia 31064. Interment will be held in West View Cemetery, Westview Street, Monticello, Georgia 31064. The family will receive friends from 5 until 7 p.m., Thursday, January 9, 2014, at Jordan Funeral Home, 264 Hillsboro Street, Monticello, Georgia 31064. Her memory will be forever cherished by her loving husband of 51 years, Tom M.
Brady. She is survived by her 98 year old mother, Lee McBryde, of Memphis, TN. Mrs. Brady is also survived by her children Kim (Jay) McMichael of Monticello; Andy (Sonja) Brady of Watkinsville: Scott (Traci) Brady of Monticello and grandchildren, Brady and Brandi McMichael, Sydney and Drew Brady and Mack. Owen and Harris Brady: brothers, Richard (Donna) McBryde, Jr.
of Memphis John McBryde of Crested Butte, CO and a sister, Charlotte (Ricky) Cooper of Cordova. TN. and sister in law, Geraldine Ritchey of McMinnville, TN and several nieces and nephews and many friends. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Monticello Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 308, Monticello, Georgia 31064; Abbey Hospice, 215 Azalea Court, Social Circle, Georgia 30025; or the Care Services Program of the Georgia Chapter of the ALS Association, 1955 Cliff Valley Way, Suite 116, Atlanta, Georgia 30329.
Please visit our website at www.jordanfuneralhomemonticello.com for more info. Jordan Funeral Home Monticello, Georgia. (706)468-6303 In Memoriam In Loving Memory of WILLA FERN BOOKER-USSERY-LENEAR It's been one year since you transitioned. We know you are smiling down on us as we often feel your presence. Special Thanks to Lord's Tabernacle, US Postal Service and everyone that supported and prayed for us at that time and over the past year.
With Love, your husband, Lonzo; children, Denise, Melvin, Kevin The Family. three line dit a at area who have losta This alows fami- in The Commercial Payments for obituaries established credit. provide poof of death obituaries are 4:00 confimal via copy submision. or email: Many tough questions for G'town school board SHAKERRI died January 4, 2014. Superior.
(901)323-7898 Veteran ROBERT "Ryan" VANCE, 42, of Memphis was born December 27, 1971. He was the son of Thomas Robert and Ramona Rushing. He was a loving husband, father, son and friend. Mr. Vance had been employed as an automotive technician in the Memphis area.
He is survived by his wife, Angela, and four children: Gillian, Belle, R.J., and Vivian Visitation will be Friday, January 10th from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at High Point Funeral Home, 3788 Summer Memphis, TN 38122, with funeral services Saturday, January 11 at 11 a.m. at the funeral home. Mr. Vance was a veteran of the US Navy having served on USS Abraham Lincoln.
Burial will be announced at a later date. www.highpointchapel.com High Point Funeral Home (901)454-5795 FRANK ARMSTRONG WATSON, born on March 31, 1943 in Memphis, died December 23, 2013, of an unexpected heart attack. He lived in Memphis and also had a beautiful house on Wilson Lake in Florence, Alabama, that he and his wife, Pat, had enjoyed for eight years. He attended school in Whitehaven, majored in Business at Memphis State University, and went on to a successful career in real estate from 1969 to 2006. A life member of the Million Dollar Sales Club, he ran his own company, Watson Realty and later Gallery of Homes.
Early in his career, he was elected President of the Young Realty Group and was very active in the Memphis Area Association of Realtors. He held many prestigious posts, including Chairman of the Professional Standards Committee, First Vice President of the Board of Directors (1981) and Director of that same Board (1982). Toward the end of his career he worked in property management, leasing, and sales for Palmer Brothers. He taught Graduate Realtors Institute (GRI) courses and Principles of Real Estate at Memphis State University. His students as well as his agents spoke of him as a wonderful leader, teacher and friend.
In August of 1974 he married Rose Ann Pulley. In 1981 they divorced, and Mr. Watson obtained custody of their son, Robert Andrew Watson, with whom he had a close relationship. In 1986 he married Pat Welch Rowland, and they shared a rich, meaningful life together. They enjoyed fishing, traveling, and entertaining friends and family.
Frank had a great enthusiasm for life. He found an interest in whatever came his way and approached it eagerly and with the kindness and generosity characteristic of him. Frank was preceded in death by his younger brother Stephen Alan Watson; his parents, Robert Boone Watson and Margaret Elaine Armstrong Watson; maternal grandparents, Robert Eustis Armstrong and Marie Thomson Armstrong; paternal grandparents Harvey Aubrey Watson and Frank Patton Watson. In addition to his wife and son he is survived by his brother, Robert Perry Watson and his wife Ann Kring; his stepmother, Sally Slice Watson, and many treasured in-laws, aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews. Visitation will be 10-11 a.m.
Saturday, January 11 with the memorial service to follow at 11 a.m. at Canale Funeral Directors, 2700 Union Avenue Extended. Memorials may be sent to Wellness Church Health Center, 1115 Union, or the charity of your choice. CanaleFuneralDirectors.com 901.452.6400 WILLIAM RAY WHIDDEN, of Memphis, TN, passed away January 4, 2014 at Chestnut Grove Assisted Living Facility in Dryden, VA after a long illness. He is survived by his mother, Frances Whidden of Memphis; his sister, Margaret Ellis; brothers, Andy Whidden, David Whidden, and Jimmy Whidden and their families.
He also leaves a host of extended family and friends. A graveside service will be held Thursday, January 9 in the Mountain Home National Cemetery in Mountain City, TN. Province Funeral Home in Pennington Gap, VA is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials may be sent to MIFA Development (Metropolitan Inter Association), Vance Memphis, TN 38126 or the charity of one's choice. Province Funeral Home (276)546-2456 By Jennifer Pignolet 901-529-2372 Germantown Municipal School Board members know the community has questions.
Parents want to know where their children will go to school next year and whether they will have services like busing and aftercare. Teachers want to know what their benefits packages will look like, which classes they will teach and whether they will have to apply to work in the new system. The board took its first step in trying to answer some of those questions in its first work session Wednesday night. Board members couldn't vote on any decisions, but they identified issues as important as open enrollment and as mundane as the lack of trash cans in the central office. Manuel said the biggest issues are driven by student enrollment.
Until the board can identify where students will attend school, there is no way to know how many students will be in the district. Board member Mark Dely said the priority has to be students living within the Germantown city limits. CREDITS from 1B John 1 Morgan. "This is one we discovered a little over a year ago, and we are trying to do it in a systematic way. We believe this is the kind of things we ought to be doing to have a bettereducated and better-credentialed workforce." Gov.
Bill Haslam kicked off his Drive to 55 (by 2025) campaign a year ago, a year after the state legislature directed the state to look into reverse transfer. Not only is an associate degree useful to people looking for jobs, but national research shows college graduation rates are 10 percent higher among transfer students who earn associate degrees. "If you get the first sheepskin, it makes you feel like you've accomplished something and gives you a lift for that baccalaureate degree," said University of Tennessee System President Joe DiPietro. Currently, 32 percent of adults in Tennessee have some form of postsecondary certificate or degree. Research shows the state will need 55 percent of adults with degrees of some kind by 2025 to meet its projected workforce demands.
While students could always keep track of their own credits and go back to the two-year school where they started to claim their associate degree, in reality few did. State experts say more than half of the 2,300 transfers from community colleges should benefit. And because public colleges in Tennessee are now funded based in part on graduation and retention rates, two-year colleges, including Southwest Tennessee Community College here, expect a windfall. "Statistically, we will be able to count those students in our graduation rates," said Dwayne Scott, vice president for student services and enrollment management at Southwest. "But all institutions in the city could potentially receive a benefit because they are getting a stronger student, obviously.
The biggest gain will be the students that will earn an extra credential." Besides schools in the TBR and UT systems, nine private campuses have signed on. Baptist College of Health Sciences, Christian Brothers University and Union University in Jackson are waiting to see how well the software works, according to Diane Berty, vice president of the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association..
