Obituaries for Thursday, October 21, 2004
By Staff
Business owner
Services for George Dewitt "Dee" Van Devender II will be held Friday at 10 a.m. at Midway Baptist Church with the Revs. Dr. Keith Grubbs, Donald Gentry and Rick Spells officiating. Burial will be in Magnolia Cemetery. James F. Webb Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Van Devender, 59, of Meridian, died Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2004, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center. He was a 1963 graduate of Meridian High School. He attended Meridian Community College and graduated from Mississippi State University in 1968. Following graduation, he worked with Roadway Express out of Memphis, Tenn.
In the early 1970s he moved to Philadelphia, and was associated with Yates Construction Company. In 1985 he opened Van Construction Company in its present location in Meridian.
He was a Christian and a member of Midway Baptist Church. He loved the great outdoors and was an avid fisherman and hunter. He will be remembered for his old fashioned Southern charm and the great encouragement he was to all who knew him.
Survivors include his wife, Tanya Ethridge Van Devender of Meridian; a daughter, Amy Lynne Van Devender of Meridian; a son, Bryan Van Devender of Philadelphia; a step-son, Chris Ethridge and his wife, Laurel, of Dallas; a step-daughter, Paige Ethridge Walton and her husband, Rusty Lee, of Little Rock; grandsons, Logan Ethridge and Collin Ethridge; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Bill and Bobbie Ethridge; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Billy Jack and Gayle Ethridge and Dennis and Gayla Carpenter; several aunts, uncles and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, George Dewitt Van Devender and Doris Priester Van Devender.
Memorials may be made to the Dee Van Devender Cancer Survivors Benevolence Fund, c/o Trustmark National Bank or the Midway Baptist Church Building Fund.
Pallbearers will be John Freeman, Butch Gibson, Dr. James R. Green, Danny Hill, Wylie Hodges, Merrill Jimmerson, Irby Lang, Stan Lockley, Danny Luke, John Pruitt, Waddell Robinson, Jody Sharp, John H. Smith and Chip Dees.
Visitation will be today from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at church and one hour prior to the service on Friday at the church.
Homemaker
Services for Willie Ruth Blalock McKinion will be held today at 2:30 p.m. at Barham Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Keith Grubbs and Bill Webb officiating. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery.
Mrs. McKinion, 77, of Meridian, died Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2004, at Beverly Healthcare Center. She was a member of Midway Baptist Church. She helped her husband run McKinion Grocery for many years. She was loved by her family and many friends.
Survivors include her daughter, Linda Thompson and her husband, Jimmy, of Meridian; grandchildren, Michele Thompson and Heather Parker and her husband, William, all of Meridian; a great-granddaughter, Kacy Nicole Parker; a sister, Audra Fay Carter of Brandon; a sister-in-law, Edna Blalock of Meridian; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Claudell McKinion; a sister, Louise Lantz; and a brother, Dolph Blalock.
Pallbearers will be her nephews. Honorary pallbearers will be Brantley Partridge.
Memorials may be made to Midway Baptist Church.
Kemper County Road Crew heavy equipment operator
PHILADELPHIA Services for James C. Jones will be held today at 3 p.m. at Lynville United Methodist Church with the Revs. Kenny McGill and Steve Lampkin officiating. Burial will be in Lynville Cemetery in Preston. McClain-Hays Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Jones, 34, of Preston, died Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2004, in his home.
Survivors include his father, Claud L. Jones of Preston.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Jewell Jones; and a brother, Dwight Jones.
Homemaker
Services for Marie Clark will be held Friday at 10 a.m. at Central United Methodist Church with the Revs. Jimmy Harrison and Jim Wall officiating. Burial will be in Magnolia Cemetery. Barham Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Clark, 84, of Meridian, died Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2004, at Heartfelt Hospice in Meridian. She was a member of Central United Methodist Church and the Bob Matheny Sunday School Class. She was a member of the X.Y.Z. Club and the Shields Circle of the United Methodist Women. She was a lifelong member of the Telephone Pioneers of America.
Survivors include her children, Eddie Clark and his wife, Paula, of Forest, Ron Clark and his wife, Donna, of Meridian and Betty Reiff and her husband, Joe, of Abingdon, Va.; grandchildren, Edwin Clark and his wife, Angie, of Lake, Lance Clark and his wife, Michele, of Brandon, Bridget Clark of Forest, Chris Clark of Meridian, Rachael Ellis and her husband, Luke, of Atlanta, Sarah Reiff and Joseph Reiff, both of Abingdon; several great-grandchildren; brothers, Bobby Mathis and his wife, Frances Earl, of San Antonio and John Lewis Mathis and his wife, Rogene, of Memphis, Tenn.; and a sister, Judy Bush and her husband, Tom, of Fort Worth, Texas.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Bubber Clark; a granddaughter, Michelle Clark; two brothers and one sister.
Memorials may be made to Central United Methodist Church.
Pallbearers will be Edwin Clark, Lance Clark, Chris Clark, Joseph Reiff, Danny Forsyth and Ty Mathis.
Visitation will be today from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home and one hour prior to the service at the church.
Retired Midland Shirt Factory inspector
PHILADELPHIA Services for Onie M. Trapp will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at High Hill Baptist Church with the Revs. Ray Files and Randy Culpepper officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. McClain-Hays Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Trapp, 91, of Philadelphia, died Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2004, in her home.
Survivors include her daughter, Jeffie Trapp and a son, Felton Trapp, both of Philadelphia; two grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Graveside services for R.C. Hamilton will be held Friday at 2 p.m. at Memorial Park Cemetery with the Rev. Allen Shortridge officiating. James F. Webb Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Hamilton, 67, of Meridian, died Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2004, at Rush Foundation Hospital. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy.
Survivors include his wife, Florintina Hamilton of Cartegena, Spain; a sister, Carlee Smith and her husband, Bobby, of Meridian; a daughter and a son; three grandchildren; several nieces, nephews and special friends, Tresa Thrash and her husband, Bruce, of Cuba, Ala.
Visitation will be Friday from 12:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the funeral home.
