Obituaries for Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2003

By Staff
Retired cook for Kentucky Fried Chicken
PHILADELPHIA Services for Elizabeth Ann "Beth" Rushing will be held today at 11 a.m. at McClain-Hays Funeral Service Chapel with the Revs. Michael Wells and Robert Allen officiating. Burial will be in Sand Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia.
Mrs. Rushing, 70, of Philadelphia, died Sunday, Sept. 21, 2003, at Hilltop Manor Nursing Home in Union.
Survivors include her husband, J.B. Rushing and a daughter, Kathy Williamson, both of Philadelphia; and two grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a son, Marvin Rushing.
Carpenter
PHILADELPHIA Services for James T. Ray Sr. will be held today at 2 p.m. at McClain-Hays Funeral Service Chapel with the Rev. Randall Boatner officiating. Burial will be in Mars Hill Cemetery in Winston County.
Mr. Ray, 66, of Dickinson, Texas, died Friday, Sept. 19, 2003, at Mainland Medical Center in Texas City, Texas. He was born and raised in Mississippi and moved to Texas early in life where he lived for many years before moving back to Mississippi. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps and was a member of Carpenters Local No. 973.
Survivors include his daughters, Sandra Baker of League City, Texas, and Tammie Withers and her husband, Lee, of Dickinson; a son, James Ray Jr. and his wife, Arline, of Texas City; grandchildren, Alex Ray, Nathan Warren, Brandon Ray, Jayson Withers and Jeremy Withers; a great-granddaughter, Madison Ray; and a brother, Doyle Ray and his wife, Fannie, of Texas City.
He was preceded in death by a son, Jerry Ray.
Pallbearers will be Kenny Ray, Clarence Ray, Raymond Ray, Jerome Ray, David Ray and Bobby Ray.
Visitation will be today beginning at 11 a.m. at the funeral home.
Retired
Graveside services for Carl M. Watson will be held Wednesday at 10 a.m. at Forest Lawn Cemetery with the Rev. Lavelle Hillman officiating. Barham Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Watson, 89, of Meridian, died Saturday, Sept. 20, 2003, at The Specialty Hospital of Meridian. He retired after many years with the Lincoln-Mercury dealer of Meridian.
Survivors include his children, Carl M. Watson Jr. and his wife, Judy, of Fernandina Beach, Fla., and Carla Parker of Enterprise; grandchildren, Terry Watson and his wife, Beth, Tammy Watson, L.B. Childs and his wife, Daphne, and Frances Childs; and three great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Maryland Watson.
Graveside services for Arlene Peavy McElhenney will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Meehan Cemetery. Stephens Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. McElhenney, 78, of Meridian, died Monday, Sept. 22, 2003, at Regency Hospital.
Visitation will be today 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Retired MUW administrative assistant
COLUMBUS Services for Betty McLemore Tate will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at First United Methodist Church with the Revs. Dr. Sam Morris and Claire Dobbs officiating. Burial will be in Friendship Cemetery. Gunter and Peel Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Tate, 71, of Columbus, died Sunday, Sept. 21, 2003, in her home.
Survivors include her husband, Tommy Tate; a son, Tony Tate and his wife, Kathy; a daughter, Debbie Howland and her husband, Bob, all of Columbus; a sister, Bobbie Gibson of Meridian; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Joe Lee Griffin Hope Lodge of UAB Hospital, 1104 Ireland Way, Birmingham, AL 35205-7010 or Baptist Memorial Hospice Program, P.O. Box 1307, Columbus, MS 39703.
Visitation will be today 5 p.m.-7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Substitute teacher
PHILADELPHIA Services for Mandy Lee Davis will be held Wednesday at 2 p.m. at McClain-Hays Funeral Service Chapel. Burial will be in Eastlawn Cemetery in Philadelphia.
Miss Davis, 23, of Philadelphia, died Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2003, in Neshoba County. She was a substitute teacher at Neshoba Central Elementary School.
Survivors include her parents, Marie and Dwayne "Homer" Davis; sisters, Wendy Windham, and Alana Davis; a brother, Allen Davis, all of Philadelphia; her maternal grandmother, Doris Bounds Grant of DeKalb; and paternal grandfather, Carroll McLemore of Meridian.
Visitation will be today 4 p.m.-9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Sara Lee Bakery maintenance worker
LOUISVILLE Services for Johnny Reed will be held Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Nowell-Tilghman Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. David Chandler and Tommy Cherry officiating. Burial will be in Ellison Ridge Cemetery.
Mr. Reed, 53, of Meridian, died Sunday, Sept. 21, 2003, at Rush Foundation Hospital.
Survivors include his wife, Minnie Hurt Reed; his mother, Willie Miles Reed; a daughter, Amy Michelle Reed Broadway and her husband, J.D.; sons, Tim Reed and Kenneth "Kenny" Reed and his wife, Angela, all of Meridian; sisters, Lou Johnson of Louisville and Barbara Gamble of Meridian; a brother, Quinton Reed of Erata, La.; and five grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his father, Curtis Reed; and a brother, Earl Reed.
Visitation will be today 5 p.m.-9 p.m. at the funeral home.