Obituaries for Friday, Aug. 29, 2003

By Staff
NEWTON Services for James Thomas "Red" Dean will be held today at 2 p.m. at James F. Webb Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Charles Bonner officiating. Burial will be in Poplar Springs Baptist Church Cemetery.
Mr. Dean, 76, formerly of Chunky, died Friday, Aug. 29, 2003 at Alliance Hospice Hospital in Meridian. Born in Newton County, he was a retired maintenance supervisor who worked for the Zapata Co., for 30 years. He was a member of Poplar Springs Drive Baptist Church and he served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
Survivors include a daughter, Phyllis Dean of Chunky; two sons, Tony Dean and his wife, Kathy Dean of Chunky and Mack Dean and his wife, Wanda, of Pascagoula; a brother, Marvin Dean of Moss Point; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Marvin Buddy and Allie Inda Aycock Dean.
Pallbearers will be Donell Nobles, Red Shimfessel, Robbie Strickland, Robert Doss, Tommy Dulaney and Billy Hurst and Robert.
Services for Harry L. "Ricky-Red" Boykin Jr. will be held Sunday at 1 p.m. at East Mt. Moriah Baptist Church with the Rev. Randolph Bohannon officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Clark's Memorial Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Boykin, 56, of Meridian, died Thursday, Aug. 28, 2003, at Rush Foundation Hospital.
Survivors include his wife, Jo Ann Boykin; sons, Rodney Gulley and his wife, Annette, and Harry L. Boykin III, all of Meridian; a daughter, Keisha Newell of Jackson; step-sons, Darrell Bell and his wife, Dana, Carlos Bell, all of Meridian, Bobby Bell and Johnny Bell, both of Tampa; a step-daughter, Michelle Bell of Meridian and six grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Harry L. Boykin Sr. and Eva Mae Fisher.
Visitation will be today from 6 p.m.-7 p.m. at the funeral home.
WAYNESBORO Services for Joseph Earl "Joe" Johnson will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church. Burial will be in Liberty Baptist Church Cemetery. Freeman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Johnson, 63, died Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2003, in Wayne County. He was the executive director of the Waynesboro Economic Development Association and had recently served as president of the University of Southern Mississippi Alumni Association. He was the current State Chairman for the March of Dimes. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Waynesboro.
Survivors include his wife of 41 years, Rene Albriton Johnson; sons, Mark Johnson and his wife, Tracey, of Tuscaloosa, Ala. and Brooks Johnson of Waynesboro; a grandson, Sam Johnson of Tuscaloosa; his mother, Lois Johnson of Waynesboro; and a sister, Jeanette Jones of Shubuta.
He was preceded in death by his father, Curtis Johnson.
Memorials may be made to a scholarship fund in Mr. Johnson's honor through the USM Alumni Association.
Visitation will be today from 5 p.m.-9 p.m. at the funeral home.
DEKALB Services for Ida Grace Stevens will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. at Hopewell Methodist Church. Burial will be in Hopewell Cemetery. Stephens Memorial Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Ms. Stevens, 63, of DeKalb, died Friday, Aug. 29, 2003, at Neshoba County Nursing Home.
Visitation will be held today from 5 p.m.-9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Arrangements were incomplete at James F. Webb Funeral Home for Donald L. Purvis, 53, of Atlanta, who died Friday, Aug. 29, 2003, in his home.