OBITUARIES FOR SUNDAY, AUG. 12, 2001

By Staff
JENNIFER ELIZABETH LAIRD
College Student
Services for Jennifer Elizabeth Laird (also known as Jennifer Nicole Lewis) were held Thursday at Wright &Ferguson Funeral Home in Ridgeland.
Ms. Laird, 20, of Madison, died Monday, August 6, 2001, near Hattiesburg. She was a senior at the University of Southern Mississippi where she was on the flag line and served as a resident assistant. She was a graduate of Forest Hill High School.
She is survived by her mother, Lena Beth Laird of Madison; her father, Sidney Laird of Blytheville, Ark.; her step mother, Nita Laird of Blytheville; her maternal grandparents, the Rev. and Mrs. Floyd O. Lewis of Madison; and uncles, Jim McClellan of Houston, Texas; Stan Allen of Ridgeland; Graham Lewis of Ashland, Ore.; and William M. Laird of Collinsville; and a number of great aunts, a great uncle, and cousins from Collinsville.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Ott Laird and Mrs. Leo McDaniel.
PAUL J. "RED" BECKHAM
Farmer and WW II Navy Veteran
PHILADELPHIAServices for Paul J. "Red" Beckham will be held today at 3 p.m. at John E. Stephens Chapel, with the Revs. James Warren and Hugh Martin officiating. Burial will be held in New Black Jack Cemetery.
Mr. Beckham, 76, of Philadelphia, died Saturday, August 11, 2001, at Rush Specialty Hospital. He was employed as a farmer and was a World War II Navy Veteran.
Survivors include his wife, Melba Jean Beckham of Philadelphia; two sisters, Tommie Pritchard and Theresa Burton both of Meridian; a brother, Sam Beckham of Philadelphia; and several nieces and nephews.
DAVID L. EASTMAN
Veteran of Air National Guard
Services for David L. Eastman will be held today at 3 p.m. at Pleasant Hill Methodist Church, with the Rev. Alan Randall officiating. Burial will be in Pleasant Hill Methodist Church's Cemetery with Barham Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Eastman, 39, of Meridian, died Saturday, August 11, 2001, at Rush Foundation Hospital. He was a member of Pleasant Hill Methodist Church and a Veteran of the Air National Guard. He was a graduate of Meridian High School and Meridian Community College.
Survivors include his mother, Peggy Little and her husband, Charlie of Meridian; a father, William L. Eastman and his wife Betty Jo of Lake; a brother Van Eastman and his wife, Nancy, of Meridian; two sisters, Katherine Rice and her husband, Jim, of Dallas, Texas; and Brenda Wright and her husband, David, of Meridian; two nephews, Matthew Wright and Calvin Eastman both of Meridian; one niece, Kelly Poole of Dallas, Texas; and two grandmothers, Eula Bell Riley of Meridian; and Rachael Eastman of Katy, Texas.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Richard Eastman, and both grandfathers, Clarence Riley and W.F. Eastman.
Pallbearers will be Donald and Coley Caraway, Steven and Travis Williams, Mark Riley and Timothy Ivy. Honorary Pallbearers will be Daniel Mabry, Gavin Fisher, Randy Fisher, Dewayne Fisher and Ronald Fisher.
The family requests memorials be made to the American Cancer Society or the Pleasant Hill Cemetery Fund.
MARY SUE WILKERSON
Retired
DECATUR Services for Mary Sue Wilkerson will be held today at 4 p.m. at McClain-Hays Chapel, with the Rev. Tony Wilson officiating. Burial will be held at Mt. Olive Cemetery in Neshoba County.
Mrs. Wilkerson, 59, of Decatur, died Friday, August 10, 2001, at Laird Hospital in Union. She was disability retired from Peavey Electronics in Decatur.
Survivors include her husband, Henry Wilkerson of Decatur; five daughters, Carolyn Coffer, Lisa Holley and Michelle Davis all of Philadelphia, Sandra Higginbotham of Decatur; and Kim Moore of Meridian; a son Scott Wilkerson of Philadelphia; her mother, Ruby Walters of Decatur; a sister, Laverne Villardi of Conroe, Tex.; two brothers, Tommy Walters and Billy Ray Walters of Decatur; and seven grandchildren.
MARY L. BURNETTE
Homemaker
PHILADELPHIA Services for Mary L. Burnette will be held Monday at 10 a.m. at McClain-Hays Chapel in Philadelphia, with the Rev. Sidney Thompson officiating. Burial will be held in the Neshoba Cemetery.
Mrs. Burnette, 71, of Tallahassee, Fla., died Thursday, August 9, 2001, in her home. She was a homemaker and native of Neshoba County. She had moved to Tallahassee, Fla., one year ago. She was a member of Neshoba Baptist Church.
Survivors include her daughter, Elsia Freeman of Fort Walton Beach, Fla.; two sons, Alan and Ron Burnette, both of Fla.; three sisters, Hazel Foster of Union; Helen Watkins of Little Rock, Miss.; and Ann Mills of Eupora; a brother, Glyn Mott of Union; six grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James "Bud" Burnette.
Visitation will be held today from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. at McClain-Hays Funeral Home in Philadelphia.
VIRGINIA R. BEERS
HYDE PARK, N.Y. Graveside services for Virginia R. Beers will be held Monday at 10 a.m. at Magnolia Cemetery, with the Rev. Jimmy Harrison officiating. Burial will be held at the cemetery with James F. Webb Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Virginia Beers, 88, of Hyde Park, N.Y., died Tuesday, August 7, 2001, at Victory Lake Nursing Home.
Survivors include two daughters, Lisa Valletta of Pleasant Valley, N.Y.; and Marilyn Fitzgerald of Lauderhill, Fla.; a sister Katherine Sheldon of Brandon; and four grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Whitfield Beers.