Obituaries for Monday, Sept. 15, 2003
By Staff
Retired hairdresser, shop owner
Graveside services for Birdie Lee Bennett Massey will be held today at 3 p.m. at Meridian Memorial Park Cemetery with the Rev. Mike Russell officiating. Stephens Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Massey of Meridian, died Sunday, Sept. 14, 2003, at Heartfelt Hospice in Meridian.
Survivors include her nieces, Lida Jean Porter and her husband, Frank, and Dorothy Sparkes, all of Meridian, Elizabeth Skee and her husband, Joe, of Clinton and Mary Evelyn Hickson of Mobile, Ala.; nephews, Billy Reynolds of California and Kelly Bennett of Florida.
She was preceded in death by her husbands, Moffett Davis and Alton Massey.
Memorials may be made to Oakland Heights Baptist Church Building Fund or a charity of choice.
JACKSON Services for Sandra Faye Dawson Spell will be held Tuesday at 10 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Jackson. Burial will be in Richland Cemetery. Wright and Ferguson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Spell, 57, of Richland, died Saturday, Sept. 13, 2003, at Mississippi Baptist Medical Center. She was a native of the Brownsville Community in Hinds County and had lived in Richland for the past 24 years.
She was a graduate of Raymond High School, Hinds Community College and Mississippi College. She taught math in McLaurin and Richland schools. She previously worked at Mississippi Veterinary Diagnostic Lab and University Medical Center.
Mrs. Spell was a member of the First Baptist Church of Jackson where she was a long time Sunday school teacher in the youth department. Her home was a place where young people always gathered as a result of her welcoming spirit of hospitality to others.
She was active in the management of the family's farm that included "pick your own blueberries and pumpkins farm," and greeted thousands of school children, who experienced their first day on a working farm.
Mrs. Spell was civic minded and volunteered for many projects of the city of Richland, Jackson and the State of Mississippi. Her talents for beautification projects extended throughout the association with many government and civic organizations.
She organized the first Women's Club of Richland, established the first Arts and Crafts Festival that became the Pumpkin Festival of Richland and pioneered in the beautification of Highway 49 South through Richland. She was the visionary behind the development of the annual Spring Garden and Patio Show held on the fairgrounds. She worked on the beautification of the Mississippi Agricultural Museum and also organized the "pick your own pumpkin" at the museum. She was known for her arts and crafts. Mrs. Spell was featured in Mississippi Magazine for her personalized, handmade Santas that were often gifts to her friends and donations for auctions to her favorite charities. She was also featured for her restoration of the century old play house that was a replica of the Spell family home.
She served as a volunteer and worked on many projects and conventions that were hosted by the Mississippi Department of Agriculture, Municipal Association, Veterinarians' Association and Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association. Among her favorite projects was the beautification of the Richland Cemetery. Mrs. Spell hosted the Jackson Bandits Hockey Team for Christmas dinner on their first Christmas away from their home states and foreign countries. A proud supporter of the Dixie National Rodeo, she entertained many guests from other states as well as many Mississippians during the rodeo each year.
As an educator, Mrs. Spell enjoyed volunteering for school projects. Her participation with the Jackson Academy Association involved many special events and teacher appreciation programs. As a wife, mother and friend, Mrs. Spell exhibited imaginative selflessness in her philosophy of life.
According to long time friends, Robert and Jane Hederman, "She always served God by serving others. Her energy was always directed away from her as she tirelessly looked for ways to encourage young people, for ways to help a hurting world, and for places to share the natural beauty of the plants and flowers she so loved. She left this world a better place."
Survivors include her husband, Dr. Lester Spell; a son, Jason Douglas Spell; a daughter, Mary Katherine "Katie" Spell; and her mother, Florine Slate, all of Richland; a sister, Mildred Gall of Dallas; and a sister-in-law, Alfreda Spell of Jackson.
She was preceded in death by her father, Walter P. "Bill" Dawson of the Brownsville Community; and a sister, Nancy Holland of Flora.
Memorials may be made to the Richland Cemetery Fund, 2440 Dortch Road, Richland, MS 39208; or to First Baptist Church of Jackson, P.O. Box 250, Jackson, MS 39205.
Visitation will be today 4:30 p.m.-7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Retired
Graveside services for Rabbi Leo Eliezer Turitz will be held Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Temple Beth Israel Cemetery. Barham Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Rabbi Turitz, 91, of Las Vegas, died Thursday, Sept. 11, 2003, at Nathan Adelson Hospice West. He was co-founder of the National Federation of Temple Youth, and was the author of "Jews of Early Mississippi." He was an expert of Jewish history of the Southern United States. He was on the board of advisors for the New Union Prayer Book and Union Songster. He was on the Board of Rabbi's for the Central Conference of American Rabbis, lecturer for the Jewish Chautauqua Society (lectures in colleges around the country).
He lectured on Jewish musicology and was a civilian chaplain with the Jewish Welfare Board (which serves Jewish military personnel in the armed forces of the United States.)
Survivors include his wife, Evelyn Turitz of Las Vegas; daughters, Susan Cooper of Richardson, Texas, Rhoda London of Jacksonville, Fla., and Laura Malamud of Las Vegas; and four grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Nathan Adelson Hospice or Temple Beth AM.
