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
2 pieces of turnout gear lost during fire
Main, News, Phil Campbell
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
December 24, 2025
PHIL CAMPBELL — Two turnout jackets were damaged during a Thanksgiving Day structure fire while firefighters were conducting an interior attack. Fire ...
Council to renew fines and notices
Main, News, Phil Campbell
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
December 24, 2025
PHIL CAMPBELL — Enforcement actions for a group of deteriorating downtown buildings will resume after council members voted Dec. 16 in favor of the ac...
Public donations make baby box possible
Main, News, Russellville, ...
Alyssa Sutherland For the FCT 
December 24, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE — City Council members have approved the purchase of a Safe Haven Baby Box using funds donated for that purpose. Two different families, ...
EMS train for K-9 emergency treatment
Franklin County, Main, News, ...
By Brady Petree For the FCT 
December 24, 2025
FLORENCE – Franklin County Sheriff’s Deputy Jaret Yancey and his K-9 officer Mateo have only been together for a few months, but the pair have already...
West Elementary hosts ‘Polar Express’ celebration
News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
December 24, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE -- West Elementary School marked the Christmas season with a series of activities centered on music, generosity and long-standing holiday...
Innovate Alabama critical to state’s economic future
Columnists, Opinion
December 24, 2025
Alabama has long been recognized for its success in industrial and manufacturing recruitment. Our state offers aggressive incentives and support to at...
Cultura Garden Club celebrates Christmas
Columnists, Opinion
HERE AND NOW
December 24, 2025
Christmas for Cultura Garden Club members this year meant gathering around a table, sharing food made with care and enjoying the kind of fellowship th...
THS assistant principal gets championship ring
News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
December 24, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE — Tharptown High School’s faculty surprised Assistant Principal Sherry Parker with a championship ring recognizing her role on the 1981 V...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.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