Obituaries for Friday, August 13, 2004
By Staff
Graveside services for Robert E. "R.E." Raley Jr. will be held today at 11:30 a.m. at Center Grove Baptist Church Cemetery in Causeyville with the Rev. Randy Scarbrough officiating. Stephens Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Raley, 87, of Marion, died Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2004, at Guardian Angel Hospice. He was a lifetime member of Center Grove Baptist Church. He will be remembered as a dedicated Christian, loving brother and uncle.
Survivors include his sister, Minnielee Irby of Meridian and several nieces and nephews and one special nephew, Wayne Raley and his wife, Cathy, of Meridian.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert E. Raley Sr., and Maybelle Shirley Raley; his sisters, Florence Tims, Erlene Moffett, Jewel Beason, Kate Daniels, Velma Dearman; and a brother, Willie J. Raley.
Mrs. Taylor, 50, of Meridian, died Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2004, at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. She was born in Monterey, Calif. and grew up in Meridian. She graduated from Meridian High School in 1971 and Meridian Community College in 1982. She worked as an executive secretary at Meridian Community College and then with Northwest Junior High School. She worked in the Meridian Public School District for more than 19 years. She was the "Mom" for the Deb's Social Service Club for 10 years. She also received numerous community service awards and had been recognized for her work with both her students and adults. She was active in the Firefighters Association and the Meridian Little Theatre.
Survivors include her husband, Joe Taylor; her mother, Jacque Spirson Ford and step-father, Jim Ford, of Gulf Breeze, Fla.; a daughter, Kimberly Freeman Zettler of Pensacola, Fla.; sons, Joshua J. Taylor and his wife, Cyndi, and Brian Taylor and his wife, E'lea, all of Meridian; a brother, Kirk "Chipper" Spirson and his wife, Karyn, of Pensacola and several grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her father, Spiro Spirson and Kim's father, Ray Freeman.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Pallbearers will be Jim Quick, Dr. George Thomas, Smitty Smith, Dr. Roscoe Douglas, John Stone Sr., Johnny Stone, Phillip Dubose, and Fred Carraway.
Visitation will be today from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
BAY SPRINGS Services for Benjamin Floyd Jones will be held Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at Colonial Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. James Balliet officiating. Burial will be in St. Michael Catholic Church Cemetery in Paulding.
Mr. Jones, 94, of Raleigh, died Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2004, at Guardian Angel Hospice Center in Raleigh. Mr. Jones was retired from law enforcement and had been self employed for many years. He was a member of Enterprise Baptist Church and was a member of the Enterprise Masonic Temple No. 585 since 1952. He was an active member of the Hamasa Temple in Meridian and the Laurel Shrine Club.
Survivors include his wife, Aletha Jones; sons, Thomas Jones and his wife, Lou, of Jackson, Ben Jones and his wife, Glenda, of Richmond, Va. and Billy Jones and his wife, Margie, of Huntsville, Ala.; a daughter, Jean Hamrick and her husband, Jerry, of Fellowship; step-daughters, Marsha Currie and her husband, Cliff, of Raleigh and Myra Anderson and her husband, Johnny, of Stringer; step-sons, Hershel Allgood and his wife, Opal, of Waynesboro, Jerry Allgood and his wife, Jeanette, of Laurel and Randall Allgood and his wife, Barbara, of Houston, Texas; a brother, Bassel M. Jones and his wife, Connie, of Hattiesburg; 11 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; 14 step-grandchildren; six step-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be today from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
