Obituaries by Thursday, Jan. 30, 2003

By Staff
Gussie Blakney
Retired
Services for Gussie Blakney will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at New Hope Blackwater Baptist Church with the Rev. Willie R. Clark officiating. Burial will be in New Hope Cemetery. Berry and Gardner Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Blakney, 62, of Meridian, died Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2003, at Riley Hospital. She was a retired foster grandparent and worked at Carver Middle School and Queen City Nursing Center.
Survivors include her husband, Charlie Blakney of Meridian; daughters, Betty Hall and Cynthia Dukes, both of Meridian; sons, James Clayton of Shucktown, Paul E. Clayton and Matthew Clayton, both of Meridian.; a sister, Geneva Hill of Meridian; a brother, Malcom Gilbert "Joe" Spinks, Springfield, Mass.; 14 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Visitation will be Friday 6 p.m.- 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
John Louie Hoyt
Retired maintenance manager at Laird Hospital in Union
UNION Services for John Louie Hoyt will be held today at 2 p.m. at Stephens Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Ray Files officiating. Burial will be in Herbert Baptist Church Cemetery in the House Community.
Mr. Hoyt, 69, of Union, died Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2003, at The Specialty Hospital in Meridian.
Survivors include his wife, Bernice Clark Hoyt of Union; a daughter, Teresa Waltman and her husband, Steve, of Meridian; a son, Dewight Hoyt of Boyd, Texas; three grandchildren; four sisters, Georgie Ladner of Decatur, Rochelle McCullough and her husband, Bill, of Flora, Mary Lee of Chunky and Sue Burroughs and her husband, Thomas, of Preston; and a brother, Joe C. Hoyt, of Melborn, Fla.
He was preceded in death by his parents, George Louie and Eileen Hoyt.
Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
Ida Boardman
Homemaker
Services for Ida Boardman will be held Friday at 10 a.m. at Goodwater Baptist Church with the Revs. Hal Ethridge and Paul Harris officiating. Burial will be in the Goodwater Cemetery. Stephens Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Boardman, 97, of Meridian, died Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2003, at Rush Foundation Hospital.
Survivors include her daughters, Deloris Joiner of Meehan, Betty Harris and her husband, Raymond, and Carolyn Smith, all of Meridian and Rachel Kamper and her husband, James Robert, of Enterprise; sons, Bobby Boardman and his wife, Virginia, Kenneth Boardman and his wife, Fran, all of Meehan and Wayne Boardman of Meridian and a sister, Louise Parker of Meridian and a caregiver, Margie Stewart.
She was preceded in death by her husband, William Guy Boardman, a daughter, Opal Grace Boardman and a son, Larry Olan Boardman, and a grandson, Tony Harris.
Visitation will be today 5 p.m.- 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Helen Aldridge Herring
Retired State Welfare Case Worker
WINONA Services for Helen Aldridge Herring will be held Friday at 10 a.m. at Lee Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Dr. Harold Richardson officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery in Winona.
Ms. Herring, 83, of Winona, died Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2003, in her home.
Survivors include her daughters, Gail Herring Grimes and her husband, James A., of Laurel and Claire Herring Weed and her husband, Warren, of Flowood; a son, Robert E. Herring of Los Angeles; a brother, John E. Aldridge of Jackson; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be today 5 p.m.- 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Herman Cleo Dearman
Retired concrete finisher
QUITMAN Services for Herman Cleo Dearman will be held Friday at 10 a.m. at Wright's Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Greg Massey and John Edwards officiating. Burial will be in Energy Cemetery in Clarke County.
Mr. Dearman, 91, of Quitman, died Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2003, at H.C. Watkins Memorial Hospital in Quitman.
Survivors include his wife, Josephine R. Dearman of Quitman; a son, James Dearman of Causeyville; daughters, Inell Stuart of Livingston, Ala., Yvonne Ivy of Quitman and Sybil Snowden of Meridian; brothers, Leory Dearman and Clyde Dearman, both of Energy and Josey Dearman of Alexandria, La.; a sister, Dot Smith of Engery; eight grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Visitation will be today 5 p.m.- 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Opal Burrage
Homemaker
Services for Opal Burrage will be held Friday at 1 p.m. at Stephens Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Bob Wilkerson, Douglas Stone and Pat Craig officiating. Burial will be in Magnolia Cemetery.
Mrs. Burrage, 86, of Meridian, died Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2003, in her home.
Survivors include her daughter, Linda Faye Potate of Meridian; four grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; son-in-laws, Wes Coombs and David Potate; several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her daughter, Carolyn Coombs.
Visitation will be today 6 p.m.- 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Jerry Donald Lewis
La-Z-Boy employee
QUITMAN Services for Jerry Donald Lewis will be held Friday at 2 p.m. at Pleasant Grove Methodist Church with the Revs. Kenneth Owen and John Kottenbrook officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Wright's Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.