Obituaries for Thursday, Jan. 16, 2003
By Staff
Eliza C. Brassfield
Services for Eliza C. Brassfield will be held Saturday at Fifth Street Baptist Church at 11 a.m. with the Rev. William C. Brown officiating. Berry and Gardner Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Brassfield, 84, of Eutaw, Ala., died Sunday, Jan. 12, 2003, at Green County Hospital in Eutaw. She was born Jan. 5, 1919, in Gainesville, Ala.
In 1939, Eliza along with her husband, Sandy Brassfield, moved to Meridian and lived here for 55 years. She accepted the Lord as her Savior at an early age and was a lifelong, dedicated and faithful member of Fifth Street Baptist Church where she was a member of the choir. She relocated to Flint, Mich., in 1994 and joined Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church. She loved listening to gospel music, especially the Canton Spirituals.
Survivors include her daughters, Betty "Tootsie" Palmer and Sandra "Dama" Williams both of Eutaw, Minister Jowanne Carrigan and her husband, Geno, and Karmen Williams, both of Flint; sons, D'Wayne Brassfield of Long Beach, Calif., Minister Cary Brassfield of Flint, Gary Brassfield and his wife, Faye, of Eutaw, and Ronald Glen "Bubba" Brassfield of Meridian; 45 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren; a special nephew, Willie S. Farmer of Athens, Ga.; special nieces, Sylvia Robin Brassfield of Philadelphia, Pa., Elizabeth Farmer of Springfield, Va., and Alisha Miller of Meridian; several great-nieces and great-nephews, cousins and special friends, Louise Alexander, Jessie Mae, Mrs. Williams; and residents and neighbors at Court Street Village in Flint.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Sandy Brassfield; her mother, Para Lee Buford and her father, Joseph Cockrell; a daughter, Beulah Lee "Poo Poo" Williams; and brothers, Morris Robertson and Charlie "Charlie Boy" Menice.
Visitation will be Friday 6 p.m.-7 p.m. at the funeral home and 30 minutes prior to the service.
Myra A. Carpenter
Retired Veteran Affairs legal secretary
NEWTON Services for Myra A. "Peggy" Carpenter will be held today at 11 a.m. at James F. Webb Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Jim Norwood and Clifton Thornton officiating. Burial will be in Pine Ridge Baptist Church Cemetery.
Mrs. Carpenter, 82, of Newton, died Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2003, at Alliance Health Care Center. She was Episcopalian.
Survivors include her sisters, Elois Rush of Pascagoula and Vera Tillman of Forest; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Vernon A. Carpenter; parents, Evans Jones and Woodie Mae Harrison Atkinson; and a brother, E.J. Atkinson.
Pallbearers will be Bill Ethridge, Stanley Thorne, Larry Tillman, Jerry Tillman, David Robinson and Josh Tillman.
Visitation will be today 8 a.m. until service time at the funeral home.
James Edward Neal
Retired from Brookshire Ice Cream Co.
Graveside services for James Edward Neal will be held today at 11 a.m. at Memorial Park Cemetery with the Rev. Kennedy officiating. James F. Webb Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Survivors include his sons, Robert "Bob" Neal and his wife, Jeanette, Richard "Rich" Neal and his wife, Lisa, all of Meridian; daughters, Ren Neal of Meridian and Robin Payne and her husband, Gerald, of Long Beach; stepdaughters, Lady Nause and her husband, Pettie, of Nashville and Debbie Bohl of Meridian; a stepson, Wiley Walker of Enterprise; his step-mother, Sarah Neal of Brandon; 14 grandchildren; brothers, Billy Neal, Robert Neal and Jack Neal, and a sister, Jo Ann Neal, all of Jackson.
He was preceded in death by his wives, Sarah Neal and Jackie Nell Picard; parents, Willie and Cora Lee Neal.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Rosa Lee Gillis
Retired factory worker
FOREST Services for Rosa Lee Gillis will be held today at 2 p.m. at Bluff Springs Baptist Church in Kemper County with the Rev. William Housley officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Ott and Lee Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Gillis, 76, of Preston, died Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2003, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center. She was a member of Bluff Springs Baptist Church. She was a native of Scott County and had lived in Kemper County since 1968.
Survivors include her sons, Darrell Gillis of Dallas and Danny Gillis of Meridian; daughters, Carolyn Farlow and Debra Sanderson, both of Preston; a brother, H.C. Davis of Houston, Texas; a sister, Shelby Jean Wheeler of Forest; six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond Gillis; her parents, Alfred and Phenie Davis; and a grandson, Jody Gillis.
Pallbearers will be Scotty Cumberland, Ray Farlow, Steve Moody, Wes Moody, Matt Gillis and Danny Weatherford.
Visitation is today 8 a.m.-1 p.m. at McClain-Hays Funeral Service in Philadelphia.
