Obituaries for Sunday, Sept. 21, 2003

By Staff
Funeral services for Essie Ray Bufford were held Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2003, at First Union Baptist Church.
Mrs. Bufford, 102, died Aug. 30, 2003, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center.
Survivors include her sister, Lillie Ray Rogers of Meridian; her step-daughter, Airlene Rembert of Gary, Ind.; nephews, Charles E. Ray of Meridian; Walter D. Ray of Chicago; and Eugene Toole of Cleveland, Ohio; nieces, Mildred Ray Moore of Meridian; Gloria Ray Moore of Louisville, Ky.; and Abdur Ray Rahman of Missouri City, Texas; sisters-in-law, Helen Ray of Meridian; and Carrie Bufford of Grayville, Ala.; and several grand- and great-nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her father, John T. Ray, her mother, Jane Ellen Hopkins Ray, brothers, James S. Ray, John B. Ray, Peter S. Ray, Matthew Ray, Jerry Andrew Ray, Oscar T. Ray, and Oliver D. Ray, sisters, Lucille Ray, Minnie E. Trent and Ernestine Toole.
Retired
NEWTON Services for Glover B. Simmons Jr. will be today at 3 p.m. at James F. Webb Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. John Harold Bethune and Curtis Cain officiating. Burial will be in Lawrence Cemetery in Lawrence.
Mr. Simmons, 76, of Newton, died Friday, Sept. 19, 2003, at his home in Newton. He was a retired postman from the Newton Post Office, where he worked for 43 years. He was a member of Newton United Methodist Church, served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was an avid hunter and fisherman.
Survivors include his wife, Margaret Helen Simmons of Newton; two sons, Burnell Simmons and his wife, Patsy, of Conehatta; and Tommy Simmons of Memphis; sister, Ina Margaret Smith of Decatur; three grandchildren, Bradly Simmons, Kristin Simmons and Chase Simmons, all of Conehatta.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Glover Burnell and Elanor Watkins Simmons Sr., and his brother, Estes Simmons.
The family request memorials be made to Newton United Methodist Church, 600 Decatur St., Newton, MS 39345.
Pallbearers will be Bob Mason, George Mason, David Rives, Ken Tillman, Harry Watkins and Jimmy Smith.
Visitation will be from 8 a.m. until service time at the funeral home.
Supervisor-Carthage Corp.
PHILADELPHIA Services for Lula M. Breazeale will be held today at 2 p.m. at Mars Hill Pentecostal Church in Winston County with the Revs. Larry Smith and Lonoia Burks officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery with John E. Stephens Chapel Funeral Services in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Breazeale, 60, of Philadelphia, died Friday, Sept. 19, 2003, at Central Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson.
Survivors include her husband, Herman Breazeale, her son, Dewayne Luther Breazeale, her sister, Pearl Morrow, all of Philadelphia; and one grandson.
Retired from city of Meridian
Graveside services for James Quinnelly Gullette will be held Monday at 10 a.m. at Magnolia Cemetery with the Rev. Dr. Raymon Leake officiating. James F. Webb Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Gullette, 83, of Meridian, died Saturday, Sept. 20, 2003, at Heartfelt Hospice. He graduated Meridian High School in 1940 and Meridian Junior College in 1947. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in October of 1942 as an aviation ordinanceman. He was awarded the distinguished flying cross for meritorious service during the battle in the Philippines.
Mr. Gullette served aboard the USS Lexington Aircraft Carrier. H was a bookkeeper for Lauderdale County Chancery Clerk for four years and began work with the city of Meridian in 1951, where he worked as a business manager for the city water department for 17 years. He was also purchasing director and assistant city manager. He retired in 1980 and was a Mason, Shriner, and ABWA boss of the year in 1965. He was a former DEB Dad and member of First Baptist Church, and the Glen Deweese Memorial Sunday School class.
Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Vondell Gullette of Meridian; granddaughter, Brittany Gullette Neal and her husband, Jason, his brother, Frank Gullette and his wife, Marian, his sister-in-law, Marolyn G. Davison and her husband, Hal, great-grandsons, Michael Skyler Neal and Cameron Gullette Neal, and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Willie Lee Gullette, his son, Michael Gullette, and his brother, Herbert Gullette.
The family requests memorials be made to the American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association, Alzeimers Association or First Baptist Church.
Pallbearers will be Ted Gullette, Lex Gullette, Larry Grayson, Dick Simmons, Clyde Hall and Jason Neal. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Glen Deweese Sunday School class.
Visitation will be today from 4 p.m.-6 p.m. at the funeral home.
Graveside services for James T. Denton will be held Monday at 11 a.m. at Mt. Horeb Baptist Church Cemetery with the Revs. Nick Holden and Travis McManus officiating. Barham Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Denton, 67, of Meridian, died Friday, Sept. 19, 2003, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center. He was a former employee of Soule' Steam Feedworks and Smith Bakery. He was a veteran of the Korean War, a master mason of King Soloman Lodge No. 333, and former member of the Long Creek Volunteer Fire Department.
Mr. Denton was also a member of Mt. Horeb Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Wyvonne Denton, his daughter, Tammy Gardiner and her husband, Mark, granddaughters, Ileah Rocha and Belinda Gardiner, all of Meridian; brothers, George Edward Denton of Columbus; and Hudson Denton of Macon; sisters, Dot Griffin of Louisville; and Edna Goss of California; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Tom and Mary Denton of Columbus, two sisters and a brother.
Pallbearers will be Mike Minchew, LeRoy Joiner, Tim Davidson Sr., Randy Johnson, Al Conrad, Chris Hardin and Gary Minchew.
Visitation will be today from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home.