Thomas Bullard

STARKVILLE - Thomas Lee Bullard, 68, died Friday, July 31, 2009, at his home in Starkville. He was born July 23, 1941, in Amory to Thomas and Willie Mae Ausborn Bullard. He graduated from Hatley High School and attended Missionary Baptist Seminary in Little Rock, Ark. He worked in sales and retired from the Columbus Air Force Base. He was a U.S. Army veteran.

A family service was at 3 p.m. Aug. 5 at his sister's home in Hatley. Bro. Sidney McLeod and Bro. Dean Smith officiated. West Memorial Funeral Home in Starkville was in charge of the arrangements.

Survivors include his daughter, Diamond Maxwell of Starkville; his sisters, Martha (Jimmy) Brown of Hatley and Rosemary (Gordon) Banks of Burnsville, N.C.; a brother, Willie Aaron Bullard of Naples, Fla.; and his best friend, Dell Maxwell.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hatley Missionary Baptist Church, Amory, MS or to a charity of the donor's choice.

Georgia Paul

OKOLONA - Georgia "Snorter" Box Paul, 83, died Monday, Aug. 17, 2009, at the Traceway Retirement Home in Tupelo. She was a cook and a homemaker.

Services were at 3 p.m. Aug. 19 at Red Bud M.B. Church. Burial was in Okolona Cemetery. Williams Memorial was in charge of the arrangements.

Survivors include two daughters, Dorothy Ann Jones (Russell) of Okolona and Patricia Paul of Guntown; two sons, James Richard Box (Joan) of Chicago and Willie Lee Box of Okolona; five sisters, Betty Hoskin and Geneva Gathings (John) of Aberdeen, Sarah Hykes (Gene) and Annie Bell Gathings of St. Louis, and Della Traylor of Gary, Ind.; two brothers, Arther Evans and Wardell Evans of Aberdeen; 10 grandchildren, 11-great-grandchildren, five great-great-grandchildren.

Col. Van Bell

NETTLETON - Col. Van D. "Ding Dong" Bell, 91, one of the most decorated man in the history of the U.S. Marine Corps, was laid to rest on Monday, Aug. 17, 2009, at 11 a.m. in a full military funeral in Arlington Cemetery in Washington D.C., attended by his family and Pentagon personnel.

Col. Bell died June 3, 2009 at North Mississippi Medical Center. He is survived by his wife, Hilda Shumpert of Nettleton, and two sons, Lt. Col. Douglas Bell and Sgt. Sam Bell, and their families.

A grateful nation acknowledges this great American with gratitude for service in World War II, Korea and Vietnam, spanning 39 years active service, indeed among the elite of "America's Greatest Generation."

Sue Miller

AMORY - Mada Sue Harden Miller, 95, died Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2009, at the Oak Tree Plantation in Amory. She was born April 3, 1914, in Fulton to Thomas Daniel and Bertie Clayton Harden. She moved to Amory in 1931. She was the last surviving member of the Amory High School Class of 1932. She was a dental assistant and a homemaker. She married Robert Fletcher Miller in 1945; he died in 1970. A member of the First United Methodist Church in Amory, she was active in the United Methodist Women, and a member of the Gleaners/Friendship Sunday School Class, the Administrative Council, the Board of Trustees and the Heritage Committee. She was a charter member and life member of the Junior Auxiliary of Amory, where she served in various offices. She was a member of the Matinee Arts Club, the Magnolia Flower Club and the American Legion Auxiliary.

Services were at 11 a.m. Aug. 21 at the E.E. Pickle Funeral Home Chapel in Amory with the Rev. Warren Coile, the Rev. Steven Keen and the Rev. Rosa Lee Harden officiating. Burial was in the Masonic Cemetery.

Survivors include two sisters, Elaine H. Rucker of Mentor, Ohio, and Ouida H. Nylen of Birmingham; three nephews, Ken Harden of Carrboro, N.C., Howard Nylen of Birmingham and Greg Harden of Keller, Texas; and seven nieces, Judi Harden Horne of Amory, Rubye Del Harden of Tupelo, Louise Nylen Dodd of Roseland, Va., Suzanne Rucker of Chapel Hill, N.C., Linda Rucker Corbett of Mentor, Ohio, Rosa Lee Harden of San Francisco, Calif., and Karen Harden Wirt of Stillwater, Okla.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband; three brothers, Delmus C., Richard K. and Lannan C. Harden; and one nephew, Clay Harden.

Pallbearers were Ken Harden, Greg Harden, Howard Nylen, Jon Alexander, Will Alexander, Cris Eklund and Fritz Wirt. Honorary pallbearers were Jim Corbett, Joshua Corbett, Bo Dodd, Shelton Dodd, Cris Caldwell, Lance Harden, Daniel Harden and Fletcher Burdine.

Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 147, Amory, MS 38821 or to the Harden House, c/o Southern Christian Services, 1900 N. West St., Suite B, Jackson, MS 39202-1034.

Henrietta Thomas

TUPELO - Henrietta Thomas, 97, died Sunday, Aug. 16, 2009, at her daughter's home in Amory after an extended illness. She was a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church, where she was a member of United Methodist Women and the choir, and a former Sunday School teacher. She enjoyed quilting and she loved her dog.

Services were at 2 p.m. Aug. 22 at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Tupelo. The Rev. Jimmy Barnes officiated, and Dr. George Pulliam delivered the eulogy. Grayson-Porter's Mortuary was in charge of the arrangements.

Survivors include her daughter, Lilla R. Castleberry Newson and husband, Benjamin, of Amory; three grandchildren, Benjamin B. Nelson and wife, Robbye, of Woodbridge, Va., Teresa R. Spates and husband, Bennie, of Verona, and Gwendolyn M. Nelson of Amory; eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild; and a host of nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers were the St. Paul United Methodist Men.

Leomia Gillespie

ABERDEEN - Leomia Gillespie, 71, died Monday, Aug. 17, 2009, at the Care Center of Aberdeen.

Services were at 2 p.m. Aug. 22 at Baptist Grove M.B. Church. Burial was in Baptist Grove Cemetery. Belle Memorial Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Nell Moffett

ABERDEEN - Nell Holloway Moffett, 90, died Friday, Aug. 21, 2009, at Darlington Oaks Community Hospice in Verona. She was born Nov. 23, 1918, to Davis Holloway and Jane Eastman Holloway in Monroe County. She was a lifelong resident of Monroe County and a graduate of Becker School. She was a member of the Aberdeen First Baptist Church. She retired as a floor supervisor at SEminole Manufacturing and she was co-owner of DX Service Station.

Graveside services were at 2:30 p.m. Aug. 22 at Greenbriar Cemetery with the Rev. Robert Earl Fowlkes officiating. Tisdale-Lann Memorial Funeral Home of Aberdeen was in charge of the arrangements.

Survivors include nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, James "Monk" Arnold Moffett; and six brothers and five sisters.

Gertrude Leech

SMITHVILLE – Gertrude Cruber Leech, 91, died Friday, Aug. 21, 2009, at the Gilmore Memorial Regional Medical Center. She was born July 26, 1909, in Saltillo to William Henry and Edna Jackson Cruber. She married Eugene “Pete” Leech in 1936; he died in 1967. She worked for Amory Garment Co. for 43 years and retired as Assistant Plant Manager for Monroe Trousers in Smithville. She was a member of the Smithville Methodist Church where she was active in The Mayflower Group. She was a sports enthusiast and enjoyed watching sporting events on television. An expert seamstress, she enjoyed quilting, crocheting and baking. She especially enjoyed her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A woman of strength, courage, determination and independence, she was fun-loving, humorous, patient, kind and hard working, and employed a giving spirit.

Services were at 2 p.m. Aug. 23 at the E.E. Pickle Funeral Home Chapel in Smithville with Bro. Charles Coggins and Bro. Wes White officiating. Penny Leech Freed delivered the eulogy. Burial was in the Smithville Cemetery.

Survivors include one son, Billy Eugene Leech (Joyce Willene Stevens) of Amory; one sister, Jewell Cruber Johnson of Aberdeen; three grandchildren, Leigh Ann Leech Campbell (Chris), Bill Leech Jr. and Penny Leech Freed (Mike); and two great-grandchildren, Emory Freed and Loudon Freed.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; four brothers, Carson, Garvin, Bobby and J.T. Cruber; one sister, Betty J. Cruber; and her mother-in-law, Viola Leech Summerford.

Pallbearers were Brad Stevens, Jerry Lee Frederick, Pat Leech, Jim Leech, Jon Leech and Kenny Cox.

Memorials may be made to the Smithville Methodist Church, 60003 Gum St., Smithville MS 38821 or to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 269, Amory MS 38821.

Laverne McCary

OKOLONA – Alice Laverne Williams McCary, 81, died Sunday, Aug. 23, 2009, at Floy Dyer Care Center in Houston. She was born in Aberdeen on April 22, 1928, to the late Luther M. and Ruby Sanders Williams and lived most of her life in the Okolona area. She married J.B. McCary on Jan. 22, 1947, and he died May 30, 2007, after 60 years of marriage.

Services were at 2 p.m. Aug. 25 from the Okolona Chapel of Holland Funeral Directors with her pastor, Bro. Jimmy Bryan, officiating and Bro. Jonathan Childress assisting. Burial followed in East Chickasaw Memorial Gardens.

Survivors include her four children, Mark McCary (Lisa) of Houston, Barbara Lanton (Alan) of Gulf Breeze, Ala., Donna Rose Holladay of Okolona and Ruby Danforth (Darryl) of Okolona; nine grandchildren who affectionately knew her as “Mamaw,” Kelly, Tim, Lucas, Jamie, Justin, Ronnie, Rachel, Dustin and Nicholas; 15 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Betty Sue Carlisle of Okolona and Valerie Reifers (Tommy) of Greenwood; two brothers, Luther M. “Son” Williams Jr. (Jenny) of Okolona and the Rev. Ron Williams (Betty) of Aberdeen; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a daughter, Angela Williams; a brother-in-law, Buck Carlisle; a niece, Nan Christian; and a nephew, Chuck Carlisle.

Pallbearers were Ronnie Hindman, Darryl Danforth, Jamie Eubank, Justin Holladay, Alan Lanton and Nicholas McCary.

Memorials may be made to the Tupelo/Lee Humane Society, P.O. Box 1185, Tupelo MS 38802.

Jimmie Northington

SULLIGENT, Ala. – Lillie Mae "Jimmie" Northington, 77, died Aug. 20 at Northwest Medical Center, Winfield, Ala. She was born March 12, 1932, in Monroe County to the late Rad and Minnie Polk Brewer.

Services were at 2 p.m. Aug. 22 at Otts Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Charles Flippo and Bro. Edward Puckett officiating. Burial was in Gilmer Addition of Sulligent City Cemetery.

Survivors include two sons, Ralph and Carol Northington and Thomas and Shelia Northington, all of Sulligent; one daughter, Judy Hawkins of Amory; six grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; two great-greatgrandchildren; one brother, Bobby and Linda Brewer of Detroit, Ala.; two sisters, Gladys Adams and Sally Whitaker, both of Greenwood Springs.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two grandchildren and two brothers.

Pallbearers were Jeff Northington, Derrick Northington, Tony Hawkins, David Whitaker, Tony Brewer and Wayne Northington.