Obituaries for Thursday, March 7, 2002

By Staff
PAULINE GRESSETT
Graveside services for Pauline Gressett will be held today at 1 p.m. at Forest Lawn Cemetery with the Rev. Jere Skelton officiating. Barham Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Gressett, 85, of Chunky, died Sunday, March 3, 2002, in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Survivors include three daughters, Ginger Scott and her husband, Vic, of Northport, Ala., Sandrea LaSpisa of Bartlesville, Okla., and Paula Ferguson and her husband, Jim, of Anchorage, Alaska; sons, David Gressett and his wife, Gwen, of Daleville and Freddy Gressett of Chunky; a stepson, Otha C. Gressett Jr. and his wife, Mary, of St Marys, Ga.; nine grandchildren, Brynne and Marla Scott, Deidrre Mooney and her husband, Joel, Joe LaSpisa and his wife, Amy, David LaSpisa, Woodrie Ferguson, Brian Gressett and his wife, Angie, Ja Gressett and Joe Gressett; five great-grandchildren, Haley Gressett, Nichole Gressett, Chase LaSpisa and Katelyn Mooney.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Otha C. Gressett; two sisters, Fredna Smythe and Laura Jean Johnson.
Pallbearers will be Bill Johnson, Chris Johnson, Joe LaSpisa, David LaSpisa, Brian Gressett and Joe Gressett.
HOMER F. HUNTER
Retired Decatur postmaster
NEWTON Services for Homer F. Hunter will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at Decatur United Methodist Church with the Rev. Billy Owen officiating. Burial will be in Decatur Cemetery with Barham Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Hunter, 83, of Decatur, died Tuesday, March 5, 2002, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center. He was a member of Decatur United Methodist Church, Decatur Lions Club, East Central Community College Alumni Association and the Evergreen Masonic Lodge.
Survivors include his wife, Ola C. Hunter of Decatur; daughters, Ann Burkes and her husband, Roger, of Decatur, Sue Greenfield of Newton and Jane Smith and her husband, Ric, of Arlington, Texas; grandchildren, Becky Clark and Billy Greenfield of Laurel, Lauren Smith and Shannon Smith of Arlington; great-grandchildren, Alyssa Edwards, Amanda Henke and Michaela Clark, all of Laurel; sisters-in-law, Lenora Hunter of Brookhaven and Gay Hunter of Pontotoc; and several nieces and nephews.
The family requests memorials be made to Decatur United Methodist Church, Decatur Lions Club, East Central Community College Alumni Association or the Evergreen Masonic Lodge.
Pallbearers will be Dr. Shelby Harris, Ric Smith, Billy Greenfield, John Blount, Reginald Thames and Roy Lucroy.
Honorary pallbearers will be Roger Burkes, Jimmy Dempsey, Bill Rowzee, Harold Webb, Wilson Taylor,George Harris and members of the Decatur Lions Club.
Visitation will be today 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
R.C. SIMPSON
Retired barber
Services for R.C. Simpson will be held Friday at 1 p.m. at Barham Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Mark Dunn officiating. Burial will be in Sumter County Memorial Gardens.
Mr. Simpson, 80, of York, Ala., died Wednesday, March 6, 2002, at Rush Foundation Hospital. He was a mason and World War II veteran.
Survivors include his wife, Gladys P. Simpson of York; daughters, Phyllis Kimbrell and her husband, Wayne, of Jackson, Ala., and Kim Hoggle and her husband, of Darrell, of Livingston, Ala.; grandchildren, Jennifer Harwell and her husband, Bryan, Jessica Arnott and her husband, Will, and Joseph Hoggle; great-grandchildren, Kaitlyn Harwell and Samantha Harwell; and a sister, Seatherie Mitchell of Northport, Ala.
Pallbearers will be Ed Spears, Norman Masters, Ricky Hoggle, George Watkins, Bryan Harwell and Will Arnott.
Honorary pallbearers will be members of Livingston Masonic Lodge #41.
Visitation will be today 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
DR. RICHARD K. MCMULLAN
Retired research chemist
NEWTON Services for Dr. Richard K. McMullan will be held Friday at 2 p.m. at Barham Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Jim Dufriend officiating. Burial will be in Decatur Cemetery.
Dr. McMullan, 72, of Decatur, died Saturday, March 2, 2002, in his home.
He was born Oct. 6, 1929, in Decatur, spent his childhood growing up with his parents, the late Roy and Dora McMullan, his sister, the late Warrene Mosley and his brothers, the late Billy McMullan, Cecil and Charles McMullan and friends.
He graduated from Decatur High School and East Central Junior College. After receiving his master's degree in chemistry from Mississippi Sate University in 1951, he attended Iowa State University, where he received his PH.D. in chemistry in 1956. He taught at the University of Texas for two years, then moved to the University of Pittsburgh.
In order to pursue an interest in X-ray crystallography, Mr. McMullan moved to the University of Pittsburgh as a research associate. From 1967-69 he did research in Germany as a Humboldt Visiting Fellow. Upon his return, he spent several years at the University of Wisconsin. In 1974, he moved to Brookhaven National Laboratory where he devoted his time to his love of crystallography. At one time, he was one of 14 crystallographers in the world. He has authored and co-authored many scientific articles which have been presented at International Science Congresses. When he retired in late 1994, he was honored by his colleagues and collaborators of 40 years with this summation: "His modesty, patience, enthusiasm and dedication to the highest scientific standards are well known to those who have had the benefit of his friendship and partnership."
His love of family and hometown brought him home for his retirement years. He loved working outdoors and especially with growing plants. He developed an interest in local history. He valued his long-time friendships with Ches and Ann McWhorter and Reginald Thames.
Survivors include two brothers, Cecil McMullan of Jackson, Ala., and Charles McMullan of Lucedale; nephews, Jim Mosley, Rick McMullan, Marty McMullan, Ronnie McMullan, Freddie McMullan and David McMullan; nieces, Beth Haskew, Lynn Leake, Suzanne McMullan, Donna Fahrer and several great-nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be his nephews and cousins.
Visitation will be today 6 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home in Newton.
EDWIN R. MCWILLIAMS JR.
Self-employed upholstery business
Services for Edwin R. McWilliams Jr. will be held Friday at 11:30 a.m. at James F. Webb Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Phillip Williams and Tommy Scarbrough officiating. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery.
Mr. McWilliams, 79, of Meridian, died Tuesday, March 5, 2002, at Rush Foundation Hospital. He was a member of Pine Springs Southern Methodist Church, where he was a proud participant of the church choir. He was was a member of the Shriner's Band, American Legion Post 125, TISBA and a mason.