Obituaries for Wednesday, March 12, 2003
By Staff
Construction worker
Services for Michael Griggs will be held today at 1 p.m. at Latimer Metropolitan Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Odell Hopkins officiating. Burial will be in Zion Hill Cemetery.
Mr. Griggs, 49, of Meridian, died Thursday, March 6, 2003, at Rush Foundation Hospital.
Survivors include his mother, Everlena Griggs; a daughter, Mikea Holmes; sons, Rodricko Hill, Travis Hill, Daryl T. Johnson and Darron Jackson, all of Meridian; brothers, Willie Griggs of Meridian, Charles Griggs of Los Angeles, James Griggs, Larry Griggs, David Griggs and Andre Griggs, all of Meridian; sisters, Evelyn Griggs of Jackson, Chrystal Griggs and Gladys Griggs, all of Meridian; and a special friend, Lillie Pouncy of Meridian.
He was preceded in death by Terry Hardy.
Homemaker
Graveside services for Susie Byrd will be held today at 2:30 p.m. at Forest Lawn Cemetery with the Rev. Thomas Broadhead officiating. Stephens Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Byrd, 92, of Meridian, died Tuesday, March 11, 2003, in her home.
Survivors include her care giver and cousin, Bobbie Jean Hendley of Moss Point; brothers, Marty Russell Stephens and William Walter Stephens, both of Collinsville; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Stanley Byrd.
Visitation will be today noon-2 p.m. at the funeral home.
Retired
Services for Joseph C. Alexander Jr. will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. at Savoy Baptist Church with the Rev. John Newbaker officiating. Burial will be in Enterprise Cemetery. James F. Webb Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Alexander, 59, of Meridian, died Tuesday, March 11, 2003, at the Veteran's Administration Hospital in Jackson.
He was a retired offshore crane operator. He served in the U.S. Army, two tours of duty in Vietnam. He was born and lived in Clarke County.
Survivors include his wife, Betty Alexander of Meridian; daughters, Lisa Alexander and Cindy Wheeless, both of Meridian; grandsons, Brandon Wheeless and Devin Weber; sisters, Elizabeth Alexander of Spotsylvania, Va., and Fay Grimes of Bartlett, Tenn.; three nieces and five nephews; his future son-in-law, Joe Weber; and a family friend, Patricia McDaniel.
He was preceded in death by his father, Joseph C. Alexander Sr.; his mother, Hazel Alexander; a sister, Delorice Oliver; a brother, James Alexander; and a nephew, Michael Alexander.
Pallbearers will be Billy Faucette, Don Grimes, Bob Smith, Ray Smith, Walter Powell and Joe Weber.
Visitation will be today 5 p.m.-7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Retired registered nurse
COLUMBUS, Ohio Services for Willie Mae "Billie" Finelli will be held Friday at 10:30 a.m. at Our Mother of Sorrows Church. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery in Lockbourne, Ohio. John Quint and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Finelli, 88, of Upper Arlington, Ohio, died Monday, March 10, 2003, in her home.
She was born in Whalak, Mississippi, attended Shady Grove High School and later graduated from the Baptist Hospital School of Nursing in 1940. She served as a registered nurse for five years in Hattiesburg. She was a member of St. Agatha Church.
Survivors include her sons, Dr. Henry N. Finelli Jr. and his wife, Nancy, of Galena, Ohio, and Dr. Robert E. Finelli and his wife, Carol, of Knoxville, Tenn.; grandchildren, Wendy, Robin, Brian, Katie, Keith and Nicole; her siblings, Sam Payne, Louise Bullock and her husband, Lloyd, Nolan Payne and his wife, Carmeline, and a sister-in-law, Marie Skipper, all of Meridian; a brother-in-law, William Crawford of Columbus, Ohio; several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Susie Mae Payne; her husband of 53 years, Dr. Henry N. Finelli Sr.; brothers and sisters-in-law, Roger and Lola, Frank and Francis, and Adam and Herbert; and a sister and brother-in-law, Sadie and Lester May.
Visitation will be Thursday 6 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Services for Ivery Sims will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Pilgrim Rest Church in Porterville with the Rev. Carey McDonald officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Latimer Metropolitan Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Sims, 86, of Tylertown, died Monday, March 10, 2003, at Guardian Angel Hospice in Meridian.
Survivors include her daughters, Hallie Foxworth of Tylertown and Meldora Rogers of Jacksonville, Fla.; sons, Munson Sims and Jimmie Sims, both of New Orleans; sisters, Bredia Thedford of Porterville, Florida Delk of St. Louis and Helen Cason of Chicago; 17 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Friday 2 p.m.-6 p.m. at the funeral home.
Arrangements were incomplete at E.E. McDonald Funeral Home in DeKalb for Aaron L. Tyler, 26, of Meridian, who died Monday, March 10, 2003, at Riley Hospital in Meridian.
