OBITUARIES FOR WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 5, 2001
By Staff
PEARL E. JORDAN
Services for Pearl E. Jordan will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. at Mt. Jordan United Methodist Church in Pachuta with the Revs. Jimmy Jones and Alphonso Jordan officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery with Berry and Gardner Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Jordan, 101, of Pachuta, died Saturday, Sept. 1, 2001, at Jasper County Nursing Home in Bay Springs. She was born on Feb. 6, 1900, in Pachuta (Clarke County), the first child of the late Samuel and Lou Jordan.
She was united in holy matrimony to Luther Jordan of Pachuta on Aug. 28, 1919, and to this union, which lasted 64 years, four children were born: Luther, Luther Jr., Y.C. and their "angel child," preceded her in death.
Mrs. Jordan was a member of Mt. Jordan United Methodist Church where she served as a class leader, choir member and on the building fund committee. She was a faithful member, dedicated worker and attended Mt. Jordan and surrounding area churches until her health failed.
At the young age of 101, the Lord heard her cry and took her soul from this place to join him, where she will have eternal rest and peace.
Survivors include a loving and caring daughter, Shirley Jordan of Pachuta; eight grandchildren, Rosie Burgo and her husband, Frank, of Brockton, Ma., Eris Deanne Jordan of Meridian, Jacquline Martin of Quitman, Betty Hammond of Los Angeles, Yancy "Pee Wee" Hammond of Los Angeles, Andrea Williams of Winona, Guy Antonio "Tony" Hammond and Adam Hammond of Pachuta; two brothers, Samuel Jordan and his wife, Lovely, of Clarksdale and Quinton Jordan and his wife, Erie, of Gary, Ind.; sisters-in-law, Evelyn Jordan of Friars Point, Inez Jordan of Gary, Mary Jordan, Lela Jordan and Irene Jordan, all of Pachuta; 17 great-grandchildren, several great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Pallbearers will be Henry James Bingham, Cecil Jordan, Joe Jordan, Ross Jordan and Terry Jordan.
Honorary pallbearers will be Alphonso Byrd, Earnest Byrd, Ledelle Dubose Sr. and Evie Lee Taylor.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Luther Jordan and a son, Y.C. Jordan.
Visitation will be today from 6 p.m.-7 p.m. at the funeral home.
BROOKS RUFFIN JR.
HAZELWOOD, Mo. Services for Brooks Ruffin Jr. were held Aug. 23 at Archway Memorial Chapel. Burial was in St. Peter's Cemetery.
Mr. Ruffin died Monday, Aug. 20, 2001. He was born in Jackson to the late Brooks Ruffin Sr. and Lottie Mae Ruffin on Jan. 8, 1948. He attended elementary school and high school in Meridian and later earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry at Dillard University.
Mr. Ruffin continued his education studying advanced degrees in astronomy at the University of Texas at Austin and geology at the University of Louisiana. At the age of 25, he began working for Norfolk Southern Railway and remained with the company for 28 years.
While attending Dillard University, Mr. Ruffin became an active member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. When attending graduate school, he helped finance his education by teaching introduction to astronomy and working for the government searching for oil.
In 1971, he married Mary Ann Giles in Meridian. Together, they lived in the following states, Texas, Louisiana, Tennessee, North Carolina, Maryland, Alabama and Missouri.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Ruffin; a daughter, Angela Redfield; sons, Reginald Ruffin, Ray Ruffin and Richard Ruffin; a sister, Brenda Hodge; a brother, Edward Ruffin; several cousins, nieces, nephews and many loving friends; and his faithful dog, Gizmo.
Honorary pallbearers were Guy Nasello, Dave Semanisin, Steve Simpson, Mac McKinney, John Eaves and Carl Wilson.
OLA MAE CHATHAM
Homemaker
BAY SPRINGS Services for Ola Mae Chatham were held Tuesday at Green Valley Congregational Methodist Church in Rose Hill. Burial was in the church cemetery with Colonial Chapel Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Chatham, 86, died Monday, Sept. 3, 2001, at Jasper General Hospital.
Survivors include three sons, George Chatham and his wife, Christine, Charlie Chatham and his wife, Dene, and Jimmie Chatham and his wife, Marjorie, all of Rose Hill; two daughters, Janice McAfee and her husband, John, of Arlington, Texas, and Cynthia McCormick and her husband, Doc, of Meridian; a sister, Ruby Lewis Ellis of Jackson; six sisters-in-law and 13 grandchildren.
PERCY LEE FLASH
Retired Gulf oil field worker
QUITMAN Services for Percy Lee Flash will be held today at 11 a.m. at Shubuta Baptist Church with the Revs. Avery Jones and Gene Higgobotham officiating. Burial will be in Shubuta Cemetery with Wright's Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Flash, 89, of Shubuta, died Sunday, Sept. 2, 2001, at Total Care in Waynesboro.
Survivors include his wife, Lena W. Flash of Shubuta; a son, Kenneth R. Flash of St. Clarie, Mo.; a daughter, Latricia Flash Short of Orange Beach, Ala.; a brother, Shelton Mason Flash of Shreveport, La.; a sister, Dorothy Jane Fowler of Colfax, La.; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
