Archives
 By  Staff Reports Published 
9:30 pm Saturday, October 11, 2003

Obituaries for Saturday, Oct. 11, 2003

By Staff
Retired
PHILADELPHIA Services for Royce Winford Cook will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. at McClain-Hays Funeral Service Chapel. Burial will be in Coy Methodist Cemetery in Neshoba County.
Mr. Cook, 72, of Preston, died Friday, Oct. 10, 2003, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center. He was a retired heavy equipment operator and a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy.
Survivors include two sisters, Joan Cook Marsden and Joyce Cook Pou, both of Philadelphia.
Visitation will be today from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
PHILADELPHIA Services for Marvin Stokes will be held Sunday at 3:30 p.m. at McClain-Hays Funeral Service Chapel with the Rev. George McFarland officiating. Burial will be in North Bend Methodist Cemetery in Neshoba County.
Mr. Stokes, 89, of Raymond, died Friday, Oct. 10, 2003, at Clinton Health and Rehabilitation Center in Clinton. He was a retired heavy equipment operator.
Survivors include a daughter, Donna Stokes Holder of Clinton; a son, Ralph Stokes of Birmingham, Ala.; three grandchildren; a great-grandchild; and a sister, Geraldine Williams of Conover, N.C.
Visitation will be today from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Services for Mary Sue Smith will be held Monday at 11 a.m. at Smith Chapel Methodist Church with the Rev. Helmer Johnson officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Barham Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Smith, 56, of Collinsville, died Thursday, Oct. 9, 2003, at University of Alabama Birmingham Medical Center.
Survivors include her husband, Paul Smith of Collinsville; sons, Roy Long of Meridian and Clayton Long of Toomsuba; a daughter, Susan Palermo, of Connecticut; step-sons, Paul Smith of Enterprise and David Smith of Hickory; a step-daughter, Paula McGee of Hickory; seven grandchildren, Melissa Long, Bryan Long, Doniale Alexander, Tori Smith, Brittany Smith, Leslie McGee, Chelsea McGee; her mother, Olene Griffith of Meridian and an uncle, Frank Cato.
She was preceded in death by her father, Calvin Griffith.
Pallbearers will be Donald Smith, Nood Howard, Doc Strange, Chris Dozier, Louis Harrington, Douglas Scitzs, and Richard Nicholson.
Visitation will be Sunday from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home and Monday 30 minutes prior to the service at the church.
BRANDON Services for Jessie Lee Roark Whittington will be held Monday at 2 p.m. at Lakewood Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be in Lakewood Memorial Park.
Mrs. Whittington, 83, of Brandon, died Friday, Oct. 10, 2003, at Mississippi Baptist Medical Center.
Survivors include her husband of 65 years, Sam Whittington Sr., of Brandon; two daughters, Joan Robbins of Brandon and Carolyn Alderman of Canton, Mich.; a son, Samuel "Sam" Whittington Jr., of Meridian; eight grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.
The family requests memorials be made to the Senior Citizen Club of Crossview Baptist Church, Brandon, MS.
Visitation will be Sunday from 4 p.m.-6 p.m. at the funeral home.

Also on Franklin County Times
$5M is secured for I-22 connector studies
Main, News, Phil Campbell, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
June 3, 2026
PHIL CAMPBELL — A $5 million federal earmark has been secured for engineering and environmental studies tied to the long-discussed Haleyville bypass p...
Ayers hired as RCS assistant superintendent
Main, News, Russellville, ...
By Brady Petree For the FCT 
June 3, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — The city schools board of education has hired Nate Ayers as the system’s next assistant superintendent. Ayers’ hiring was approved by b...
Reserve deputies provide manpower where needed
Main, News, Russellville, ...
By Addi Broadfoot Staff Writer 
June 3, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — A group of volunteers dedicating their time to help local law enforcement is playing crucial roles ranging from courthouse security to ...
Waterpark opens amid repairs, planned upgrades
Main, News, Red Bay, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
May 27, 2026
RED BAY — The Red Bay Waterpark has opened for the season with city officials approving fee increases and planning for upgrades following a record att...
Oliver secures his fifth term as sheriff
Main, News, Russellville, ...
By Brady Petree, Addi Broadfoot For the FCT 
May 27, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Incumbent Franklin County Sheriff Shannon Oliver will remain in office for at least four more years after he overwhelmingly won re-elec...
Repairs are approved for PC Fire Engine 2
News, Phil Campbell
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
May 27, 2026
PHIL CAMPBELL — Councilmembers have approved up to $2,500 in repairs for a malfunctioning water tank gauge on Engine 2. Fire Chief Andy Marbutt said t...
Why every law that’s made is a moral choice
Columnists, Opinion
May 27, 2026
When the debate over vice laws, those governing drugs, gambling, or pornography, reaches the halls of our Legislature, a familiar, hollow cry rings ou...
Roxy presents ‘Murder in the Magnolias’
Columnists, Opinion
HERE AND NOW
By Susie Hovater Malone Columnist 
May 27, 2026
One of the things I enjoy most about being involved with the historic Roxy Theatre is watching local people come together to create something fun for ...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *