Obituaries for Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2004

By Staff
Farmer
DEKALB Services for John L. Brookshire will be held Wednesday at 1 p.m. at St. Matthews United Methodist Church in Bailey with the Rev. Devertis Savage and the Rev. Jerome officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. E.E. McDonald Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Brookshire, 62, of Bailey, died Friday, Jan. 16, 2004, at Riley Hospital.
Survivors include his sisters, Lue W. Gordon and Doris Jones and her husband, James, all of Bailey, Areatha Brookshire of New Orleans; a brother, Warren L. Brookshire Sr. of Meridian; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings.
Visitation will be today 5 p.m.-6 p.m. at E.E. McDonald Community Chapel in Meridian.
Homemaker
BUTLER, Ala. Services for Julie Doggett McDuffie will be held Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Gospel Lighthouse with the Revs. Roy Williams and Fred Wiley officiating. Burial will be in Joyner Cemetery on Old Snell Road in Mobile. Bumpers Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. McDuffie, 84, of Gilbertown, formerly of Mobile, died Monday, Jan. 19, 2004, in her home.
Survivors include her sons, Ron McDuffie and his wife, Bonnie, of Mobile, and James McDuffie of Huntsville; daughters, Norma Pierce and her husband, Gerald, of Wilmer, Voncille Abston and her husband, Ted, of Gilbertown, and Linda Crutchfield and her husband, Mike, of Belmon, N.C.; eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today 6 p.m.-8:30 p.m. at Gilbertown Church of God and Wednesday beginning at 10 a.m. until service time at the Gospel Lighthouse.
Retired attorney and circuit court judge
MACON Services for Judge Ernest L. Brown will be held Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Brooksville United Methodist Church with the Revs. Greg Bufkin and Jerry Zgarba officiating. Burial will be in Brooksville Cemetery. Cockrell Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Brown, 88, of Brooksville, died Monday, Jan. 19, 2004, at Dugan Memorial Nursing Home. He is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and served in World War II.
Survivors include his wife, Lucille Tucker Brown; sons, Ernest L. Brown Jr., Charles K. Brown and Thomas C. Brown, all of Brooksville and Stephen K. Brown of Waynesville, Mo.; and a brother, Kermit Brown of Booneville.
Memorials may be made to Gideon International or Brooksville United Methodist Church.
Visitation will be today 6 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home and Wednesday one hour prior to the service.
Retired Burlington Textiles employee
QUITMAN Services for Margie Ruth Combest were held Jan. 14, 2004, at 1 p.m. at Stonewall United Methodist Church with the Revs. Lyn McRaney and Joe Gullick officiating. Burial was in Stonewall Cemetery. Wright's Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Combest, 89, of Stonewall, died Monday, Jan. 12, 2004, at H.C. Watkins Memorial Hospital in Quitman.
Survivors include her sons, Maxie Ray Combest and Bobby J. Combest, both of Stonewall and Charles F. Combest of Quitman; daughters, Bonnie Carroll of Stonewall and Dianne Moulds of Rose Hill; 17 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Madison Combest and her daughter, Margaret Lawrence.
Memorials may be made to Stonewall United Methodist Church.
Poultry farmer
DEKALB Services for Ross Barefield Jr. were held Friday at 1 p.m. at Stephens Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Sam J. Hull officiating. Burial was in Lynnville Methodist Church Cemetery.
Mr. Barefield, 71, of Preston, died Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2004, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center.
Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Carolyn Gully Barefield of Preston; children, Richard Ross Barefield of Lauderdale, Jean Henderson and her husband, Robert, of Carrollton, Ala. and David Barefield and his wife, Ann, of Preston; grandchildren, Brad Barefield, Brandy Robinson, Kristen Moody, Kelly Keeton, Kevin Barefield, Marcus Henderson, Michael Henderson, Leigh Ellen Barefield, Brittain "Bo Bo" Barefield, and Brody Barefield; four great-grandchildren; two brothers, two sisters, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ross Barefield Sr. and Addie Ruth Barefield.
Pallbearers were Brad Barefield, Kevin Barefield, Marcus Henderson, Michael Henderson, Hershel Barefield and Howard Spinks.