Obituaries for Thursday, Aug. 15, 2002

By Staff
DR. HOBERT KORNEGAY JR.
Retired dentist
Services for Dr. Hobert Kornegay Jr. will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Meridian with the Rev. Zacary Finley officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens. Berry and Gardner Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Dr. Kornegay, 79, of Meridian died Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2002, at Heartfelt Hospice. He was a member of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church where he served on the trustee board.
He was educated in the Meridian public schools and graduated from Harris Senior High in 1941. Upon graduation, he attended Morehouse College in Atlanta, where he earned a bachelor's degree in science in 1945. He earned his doctor of dental surgery degree (D.D.S.) from Meharry Medical School Nashville, in 1948. He also attended Brooke Army Medical Center in Ft. Sam Houston, Texas.
Dr. Kornegay began his dental practice in 1948. He served on the Meridian City Council for 12 years and the Lauderdale County Board of Supervisors for three years. He was the first black elected official in Lauderdale County. He served in the military from 1952-54. He was a member of the Meridian Area Dental Society and Mississippi Dental Association. He served on the board of directors for the American Red Cross, Salvation Army and 4-H. He was a member of the Toastmasters, Optimist Club, a Mason, a Shriner, Elks and Basileus of Theta Iota Iota Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., which he founded.
Dr. Kornegay received numerous awards in his lifetime. In 1996 Meharry Medical College presented him with the Bennie Award, named in honor of Dr. Benjamin Mays, for his professional and personal achievements. He was named Outstanding Alumnus at Meharry Medical College in 1988; Who's Who in the South and Southwest, Who's Who in Black America, and Who's Who in Politics.
Survivors include his wife of more than 50 years, Earnestine Price Kornegay of Meridian; daughters: Carmen Carter and her husband, Rollin, and Patricia Smith of Atlanta, and Donna Cherry and her husband, Val, of Meridian; a son, James Kornegay and his wife, Branda, of Meridian; a son-in-law, Calvin Miles Smith Jr.; 10 grandchildren, Bryan Carter, Radiance Carter, Calvin Miles Smith III, Nina P. Smith, Che L. Smith, Jevone Cherry, Spencer Cherry, Devin Cherry, Jasmine Cherry and Breana Cherry; and one great-grandchild, Malik Carter.
He was preceded in death by his father, Hobert Kornegay Sr., his mother, Mary Louise Gaines Kornegay, and a son, Hobert III who died in infancy.
Pallbearers will be the members of Theta Iota Iota Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Visitation will be Friday from 6 p.m.-7 p.m. at the funeral home.
JAMES WILBUR SNOWDEN
Services for James Wilbur Snowden will be held today at 1 p.m. at Barham Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Toby Lofton and Curt Pace officiating. Burial will be in Collinsville United Methodist Church Cemetery.
Mr. Snowden, 90, of Center Hill, died Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2002, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center. He was former owner of Snowden Gulf Station and a veteran of World War II.
Survivors include his wife, Sadye Snowden of the Center Hill Community; a stepson, Charles David Scott of Center Hill; a brother, Thomas L. Snowden and his wife, Helen, of Columbus, Ga.; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John W. and Emily Bird Snowden; two sisters and seven brothers.
Memorials may be made to Collinsville United Methodist Church.
Pallbearers will be Fred Snowden, Charles Snowden, Greg Snowden, Gerold Pace, Louis Ray White and John Hasson.
Visitation will be today beginning at 11 a.m. at the funeral home.
BILLY JOE HICKS
Free-lance photographer
Graveside services for Billy Joe Hicks will be held Friday at 10 a.m. at Sunset Memorial Gardens with the Rev. S.M. Robinson officiating. Enterprise Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Hicks, 58, of San Diego, died Monday, Aug. 5, 2002, at Alvrado Medical Center.
Survivors include his wife, Phillis Hicks of San Diego; a son, Christopher Hicks of Dalton, Ohio; a stepson, Roderick Wagoner of Vallejo, Calif.; a daughter, Amber Rosson of Torrance, Calif.; stepdaughters, Michelle Hicks of Daton, Ohio and Tamyra Hendly of El Cajon, Calif.; sisters, Lillian George and Mary Arnold, both of Columbus, Minnie Hunter and her husband, Dr. Eugene Hunter, of Meridian, and Roberta Millsap of San Diego; and five grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, the Rev. Joseph and Mary Hicks; three brothers and two sisters.
HOPE HAILEY
Retired accountant
PHILADELPHIA Services for Hope Hailey will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at McClain-Hays Funeral Service Chapel with the Dr. Dan Howard officiating. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery in Noxapater.
Mrs. Hailey, 83, of Rochester Hills, Mich., Monday, Aug. 12, 2002, at Bortz Nursing Home in Orion Township, Mich.
Survivors include her daughters, Patsy Burnham of Rochester Hills, Birdie Cates of Jupiter, Fla., and Jane Fischetti of Venus, Fla.; sons, Duane Hailey of Memphis, Tenn., and David Hailey of Savannah, Ga.; 10 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Friday beginning at 10 a.m. at the funeral home.
GLADYS CLARK PUCKETT
Retired teachers aide
DEKALB Services for Gladys Clark Puckett will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at Bay Springs Baptist Church with the Revs. David Grisham and James Gibson officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Stephens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Puckett, 77, Porterville, died Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2002, at Riley Hospital.
Survivors include her husband, Thomas Watson Puckett Jr. of Porterville; two daughters, Eva Rodgers of Piney Point, Md., and Sarah Grisham of Jasper, Tenn.; two sons, Tommy Puckett III and Eddie Puckett, both of Porterville; three sisters, Ada Duke of Greenwood, Peggy Catledge of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Grace Touchstone of Meridian; two brothers, Fred Clark and Joe Clark, both of Greenwood; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home and 30 minutes prior to the service at the church.