Archives
 By  Staff Reports Published 
7:35 pm Wednesday, July 11, 2001

OBITUARIES FOR WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 2001

By Staff
Graveside services for Nancy Jo Cooper will be held today at 2 p.m. at Springfield Baptist Church Cemetery in Morton with the Rev. James Watts officiating. James F. Webb Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Ms. Cooper, 70, of Meridian, died Tuesday, July 10, 2001, at Guardian Angel Hospice. She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Jackson.
Survivors include her sister, Norma Cooper Savell and her husband, Micah, of Merritt Island, Fla.; three nieces, Jorja Allen of Collinsville, Jill Metzger of Palm Harbor, Fla., and Joi Owens of Largo, Fla.; nine great-nieces and nephews; and a great-great-niece.
She was preceded in death by her father, the Rev. G. Austin Cooper; and her mother, Oleta Stamper Cooper.
The family requests memorials be made to Guardian Angel Hospice.
SUSIE MARDELLE THOMAS CHATHAM
Retired bookkeeper
Services for Susie Mardelle Thomas Chatham will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. at Toomsuba Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Dr. Clarence Roberts officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery with Stephens Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Chatham, 83, of Toomsuba, died Tuesday, July 10, 2001, in her home. She was a lifetime resident of Lauderdale County and a member of Toomsuba Presbyterian Church.
Survivors include a daughter, Patricia Chatham Clark of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; a son, Carroll Leon Chatham of Toomsuba; four grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and two step-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, W.W. Chatham; and two brothers, Robert Carroll Thomas and Kenneth L. Thomas.
Pallbearers will be Gary Pickett, Robbie Thomas, Bob Chatham, Bud Robinson, Kenny Thomas and John Thomas. Honorary pallbearers will be Guy Purvis, Charles Coker, Heath Mitchell, Peter Thomas and Kenneth Thomas.
Visitation will be today from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home and 30 minutes prior to the services.
REV. HUGH SMITH
Services for the Rev. Hugh Smith will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at Barham Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery.
Rev. Smith, 91, of Meridian, died Monday, July 9, 2001, in Ocean Springs.
Visitation will be Friday one hour prior to the service.
GEORGE R. FURMAN JR.
Retired tool and die engineer
Private services for George R. Furman Jr. will be held at a later date. James F. Webb Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Furman, 65, of Meridian, died Tuesday, July 10, 2001, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center.
Survivors include eight children, George Furman III, Sandra Kerzrock, Chicky Hardwick and Ada Gable, all of Pennsylvania, Sherri Cox of California, James Lawson and Vickie Lawson, both of Stonewall; two sisters, 23 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
DENNIS HAYES JR.
Retired paper mill employee
Services for Dennis Hayes Jr. will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Clark's Memorial Funeral Home with the Revs. Ardell Gathright and Lavon Gathright officiating. Burial will be in All Day Cemetery in Enterprise.
Mr. Hayes, 67, of Meridian, died Monday, July 9, 2001, at Oakwood Home for Elderly in Bastrop, La.
Survivors include his wife, Annie Hayes of Meridian.
He was preceded in death by his father, Dennis Hayes Sr. and his mother, Mary Hayes.
Visitation will be Friday from 6 p.m.-7 p.m. at the funeral home.
MINNIE E. WALL
Services for Minnie E. "Big MaMa" Wall will be held Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at James F. Webb Funeral Home with the Rev. Jim Meadows officiating. Burial will be in Longcreek Baptist Church Cemetery.
Mrs. Wall, 93, of Moss Point, formerly of San Francisco, died Monday, July 9, 2001, in Moss Point.
Survivors include a daughter, Ruth Jewell Butler and her husband, Norman, of Moss Point; four grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and 13 great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Lawrence Lovette and her former husband, Frank Wall.
The family requests memorials be made to Singing River Charitable Foundation Hospice of Light, 2101 Hwy 90, Gautier, MS 39553.
Visitation will be Friday from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. at O'Bryant-O'Keefe Funeral Home in Pascagoula and one hour prior to the service in Meridian.
LYNDON STEWART
Arrangements were incomplete at Clark's Memorial Funeral Home for Lyndon Stewart, 23, of Meridian, who died Tuesday, July 10, 2001, in his home.

Also on Franklin County Times
Watermelon Winners 2026
B: WATERMELON FESTIVAL, Franklin County
Griffin Traylor 
August 20, 2026
MOST UNUSUAL   First place: Lorena Bonilla (Russellville)     BEST DRESSED   First place: Aymar Bonilla (Russellville)   Second place: Candy Owens (La...
Byrd’s final song a fitting tribute
News, Russellville, Z - News Main
By Brady Petree 
August 19, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — When organizers landed country music star Tracy Byrd as the headline performer for the 45th annual Franklin County Watermelon Festival,...
Russellville graduate deported
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
August 19, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE – A 19-year-old Russellville High School graduate was deported from the United States on Aug. 9, according to the Department of Homeland ...
Locomotive gets new paint at Railroad Park
Main, News, Red Bay, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
August 19, 2026
RED BAY — The 1923 steam locomotive at the Railroad Park is getting a new paint job as work on a concrete pad, lighting and other features continues. ...
RMS kicks off character program
News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
August 19, 2026
RUSSSELLVILLE – Liberty Learning Foundation programs at Russellville Middle School now extend through all three grade levels with sixth graders studyi...
Obituaries
Obituaries
August 19, 2026
  John Wayne Terry Aug. 12, 2026   John Wayne Terry, 68, of Russellville, passed away Aug. 12. Visitation took place at Spry Memorial Chapel Aug. 18 f...
Railroad consolidation: Proof, not promises, needed
Columnists, Opinion
August 19, 2026
Few things are more important to Alabama’s economy than a reliable freight rail system. Our manufacturers depend on it. Our farmers depend on it. Our ...
First Baptist Church celebrates 159 years
Columnists, News, Opinion, ...
HERE AND NOW
August 19, 2026
Russellville First Baptist Church earlier this month celebrated 159 years of existence. At the annual homecoming celebration, we welcomed many new and...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *