Obituaries for Tuesday, April 23, 2002

By Staff
JORDAN BONNER SR.
Retired
Services for Jordan Bonner Sr. will be held Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church with the Rev. Timothy Graham officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Berry and Gardner Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Bonner, 87, of Meridian, died Saturday, April 20, 2002, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center. He was born May 19, 1914, in Toxey (Choctaw County), Ala., to Lula Odom Bonner and Bennie Bonner Sr. He was a self-made man and had a successful career as a truck driver for more than 50 years, working with Hardin's Bakery for more than 30 years. He made history at Hardin's as the first black truck driver hired by the company. After retiring at age 70, he continued to keep busy with his lawn and gardening service.
He was a member of Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church for more than 66 years and faithfully served as deacon and on the Trustee Boards.
He was a member of the Masonic Lodge #439 for more than 40 years and was a valued and respected member of the community.
Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Jannie "Honey" Bonner; four children, Daisy Purnell of Gary, Ind., and her husband, John, Christine Young of Meridian and her husband, Mozell, Jordan Bonner Jr. and his wife, Rose, of Gary, and Georgia "Baby" Sims and her husband, James, of Meridian; eight grandchildren, Jeanna Thornton of Ranch Cucamonga, Calif., and her husband, Raymond, James Holliday III of Chicago, Jennifer Bonner of Indianapolis, Ind., Marcia Longmire and her husband, Eric, of Southfield, Mich., LaChaundra "Tina" Clark and her husband, Demetrius, Elana "Frenchie" Thames, Eris Sims and Jamese "Banesee" Sims, all of Meridian, Bennie Bonner Jr. and Bill Bonner; 10 great-grandchildren and several other relatives and friends.
Pallbearers will be, Billy Jo Brantley, Jonas Crenshaw Jr., Demetrius Clark, Charles Crowell, William Crowell, George Hood, Nolan Hudson, Aquilla Pack, James Pearson and Willie Pearson.
Honorary pallbearers will be the deacons and trustees of Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church. Flower bearers will be the Sweet Spirits Inspirational Choir of St. Paul United Methodist Church.
To all who have supported us in the death of my husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, we are eternally grateful. Your prayers and other tokens of love have lifted our spirits. May our Lord Jesus Christ who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.
Visitation will be today 6 p.m.-7 p.m. at the funeral home.
MARY LOU RHODES
Homemaker
Services for Mary Lou Rhodes were held Monday at Duffee Baptist Church with the Revs. Terry Goodman and Ken Rhodes officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery with Stephens Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Rhodes, 87, of Meridian, died Friday, April 19, 2002, at Rush Foundation Hospital. She was a member of Duffee Baptist Church and taught children's school for 62 years. She was a church clerk for more than 30 years and served many years as director of W.M.U., discipleship director and vacation Bible school director. She began and directed the Duffee Senior Citizens Club and wrote the Duffee news for both the Newton Record and the Union Appeal. She was a 4-H leader for more than 25 years and president of the Suqualena School Reunion for more than 15 years.
Survivors include her son, Ken Rhodes and his wife, Elaine, of Jackson; a daughter, Beverly A. Rhodes of Meridian; two grandchildren, Chris Rhodes of Petal and his wife, Laurie, Sheri Engle of Purvis and her husband, Stephen; three great-grandchildren, Olivia Rhodes, Adam Engle and Jacob Rhodes; two sisters, Julia Alice Smith and Nannie Mae Bowden, both of Meridian; and a brother, Robert Earl McCann of Horn Lake.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John Purvis Rhodes.
Pallbearers were Chris Rhodes, Greg Clements, Roger Earl Strange, Barney McCann, Bob McCann, Michael Bowden, Tommy Strange, and Grant Goodman.
Honorary pallbearers were Zack Steel, Cody Steel, Jessie Dean and Ryan Davis.
WILLARD IRBY NICHOLS
Retired seamstress
Services for Willard Irby Nichols will be held today at 3 p.m. at Cokers Chapel United Methodist Church with the Rev. Jessie Long officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery with James F. Webb Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.