Obituaries for Monday, Sept. 30, 2002

By Staff
LERA COALSON PALMER
Retired
DEKALB Graveside services for Lera Coalson Palmer will be held today at 3 p.m. at Pinecrest Cemetery with Rev. Sam Hull officiating. Stephens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Palmer, 99, of Louisville, died Saturday, Sept. 28, 2002, at Winston County Nursing Home. She was a retired salesperson in the clothing industry.
Survivors include her three sisters, Zetha Dees, Jewel Atkins and Quenton Clark, all of Philadelphia; a brother, T.F. Coalson Jr. of Hazel Park, Mich.; and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be today beginning at 1 p.m. at the funeral home.
MICHAEL O'RYAN MCGEE
Technical sales representative
PEARL Services for Michael O'Ryan McGee will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Fannin. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Baldwin-Lee Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. McGee, 51, of Fannin, formerly of Meridian, died Sunday, Sept. 29, 2002, in his home.
Mr. McGee was a technical sales representative for Bulk Chemicals Inc. As a child he grew up at the Masonic Home in Meridian and was a standout football player at Meridian High School and graduated in 1969. He went on to play football at Millsaps College in Jackson and received his bachelor's degree in chemistry in 1977.
Mr. McGee was a resident of Fannin for the past 20 years. He had many friends in the community and served as a board member of the Fannin Water Association. Mr. McGee enjoyed salt water fishing and loved music and served as manager of the local band, ICU during the 1990's. He enjoyed life to the fullest and will be sadly missed by friends and family.
Survivors include his wife, Melanie Long McGee of Fannin; two brothers, Patrick D. McGee of Brandon and Jerry Wayne McGee of Houston, Texas; a sister, Carolyn McGee Smith of Philadelphia; and a brother-in-law, Robert L. Long III of Hernando.
He was preceded in death by Kermit Clinton "Jack" McGee; and his mother, Doris Wilder McGee.
Visitation will be today 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
HAZEL LAVERNE WALTMAN EPPERSON
QUITMAN Services for Hazel Laverne Waltman Epperson will be Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. at Providence Church with the Revs. Lindsey, Lester Griffin and Butch Crabtree officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Wright's Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Epperson, 78, of Quitman, died Friday, Sept. 27, 2002, at South Central Regional Medical Center in Laurel.
Survivors include her son, Tom Sykes and his wife, Judy, of Seminary; a granddaughter, Brandi Bryant of Magee; a step-granddaughter, Leigh Ann Powell of Seminary; two step-grandsons, Todd Thurman and Terry Thurman, both of Leaksville; seven great-granddaughters, two great-grandsons; a sister, Louise Atwood of Saraland, Ala.; and two brothers, Buddy Waltman of Meridian and Harvey Waltman of Saraland.
She was preceded in death by a grandson, John Thomas Sykes Jr.; her first husband, Johnny Burl Sykes; and her second husband, Jack L. Epperson.
Visitation will be today 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
PEGGY MARIE LAIRD CROSS
Homemaker
Graveside services for Peggy Marie Laird Cross will be held Tuesday at 1 p.m. at Pine Crest Cemetery in Mobile, Ala., with the Rev. Art Burroughs officiating. Barham Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Cross, 60, of Meridian, died Saturday, Sept. 28, 2002, at Heartfelt Hospice of Meridian. She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Meridian, and a Christian who loved and trusted the Lord.
Survivors include a daughter, Marie Moser, grandchildren, Jeremy Matthew Wright, Kenneth Robert Moser II and Rachel Elaine Moser and a brother, Rex Laird, all of Meridian.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth L. Cross.
Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Hospital.
Pallbearers will be Jeremy Wright, Kenneth Moser, Rex Laird and Larry Beddingfield.
EVELYN SAUCIER STAMPER
Arrangements were incomplete at Stephens Funeral Home of Union for Evelyn Saucier Stamper, of Union, who died Sunday, Sept. 29, 2002, in Union.
MARTIN HARRIS
Arrangements were incomplete at Stephens Funeral Home for Martin Harris of the Meehan Community, who died Sunday, Sept. 29, 2002, at Guardian Angel Hospice.
HARRY FORSYTHE
Arrangements were incomplete at Barham Funeral Home for Harry Forsythe, 85, who died, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2002, at Gulfport Memorial Hospital.
BERTHA DAVIE
Arrangements were incomplete at Clark's Memorial Funeral Home for Bertha Davie, 77, of Meridian, who died Sunday, Sept. 29, 2002, in her home.
ODELL EVANS
Arrangements were incomplete at Barham Funeral Home for Odell Evans, 91, of Meridian, who died Monday, Sept. 30, 2002, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center.