Obituaries for Thursday, Dec. 26, 2002

By Staff
Hazel West Skipper
Retired cosmetologist
DEKALB Services for Hazel West Skipper were to be held today at 10 a.m. at Stephens Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Sam J. Hull and Lannis May officiating. Burial will be in Pine Crest Cemetery.
Mrs. Skipper, 85, of Meridian, died Monday, Dec. 23, 2002, at King's Daughters and Sons Rest Home.
Survivors include her husband, Leroy Eugene Skipper of Meridian; a sister, Earline Craig of Louisville; nieces, Mary Winner Dudley of DeKalb, Dora Kelley of Louisville, Faye Shirley of South Carolina, Ida Nell Mitchell of Jackson, Lora Fontaine of Jackson, Shirley McClunt of Brandon, Joyce Wilson Zachary of California and Wynn Scott of Memphis, Tenn.; nephews, Richard S. Poole of Hattiesburg, Randy Dean of Jackson and Johnny Skipper of Columbia.
Pallbearers were Richard P. Poole, Bill Brown, Ross Brown, Jack Dudley, West Hatkins and Michael Dudley.
Lula Maude Murphy
Retired secretary for county agent office
PHILADELPHIA Services for Lula Maude Murphy will be today at 1 p.m. at McClain-Hays Funeral Service Chapel with the Rev. Brister Ware officiating. Burial will be in Cedarlawn Cemetery in Philadelphia.
Mrs. Murphy, 90, of Philadelphia, died Monday, Dec. 23, 2002, at Leake Memorial Hospital.
Survivors include several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, H.W. Murphy.
Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church or a favorite charity.
Visitation will be today 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the funeral home.
Bob Wilkerson
Puckett Machinery shop foreman
FOREST Services for Bob Wilkerson will be held today at 2 p.m. at Ott and Lee Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Jerry Barnes and Ken McLemore officiating. Burial will be in High Hill Methodist Cemetery in Lake.
Mr. Wilkerson, 41, of Lake, died Sunday, Dec. 22, 2002, at University Medical Center in Jackson. He was a lifelong resident of the Norris Community and a member of High Hill Methodist Church. He was a cattle farmer and shop foreman for the past 17 years for Puckett Machinery. He was an avid outdoorsman and loved deer hunting. He was president of the Sun Hunting Club.
Survivors include his wife, Dannette Wilkerson of Lake; a daughter, Kimberly Black of Lake; parents-in-law, James Lewis and Jackie Gibbs of Forest; a niece, Jadi Gibbs and a nephew, Colt Gibbs, both of Forest; his parents, Patsy Ruth Wilkerson and Judge Robert Gerald Wilkerson Sr., both of Lake; several aunts, uncles, cousins and other relatives.
Pallbearers will be Phil Taylor, Cape Taylor, Drew Taylor, Bill Pope, Richard Wilkerson, Clint Wilkerson, Daryll Gibbs and Tr Chambers.
Honorary pallbearers will be Eddie Gay, Todd Gilbert, Rickey Wilkerson, Hiram Wilkerson, Will Chambers, Pete Boykin, Brent Hammons, George Gray, Marvin Wash, Charles Wash, Eddie Lewis Brantley, Bennie Jones, Gary Jones, Sheriff William Richardson, Judge Wilbur McCurdy, Travis Usry, Kent Usry, Lance Sanders, David Weems, Jimbo Harvey, Eddie Stokes, Scott McLemore, Ben McLemore; members of the Sun Hunting Club; employees of Puckett Machinery in Meridian; and employees of W.G. Yates Shop in Philadelphia.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Ruth Ann Wilkerson.
Visitation will be today 9:45 a.m.-1:45 p.m.
Marcella Higginbotham
Homemaker
PHILADELPHIA Memorial services for Marcella Higginbotham will be held today at 3 p.m. at McClain-Hays Funeral Service Chapel with the Rev. David Richardson officiating. Burial will be in Trumann, Ark.
Mrs. Higginbotham, 62, of Philadelphia, died Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2002, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center.
Survivors include her husband, William Higginbotham of Philadelphia; sons, Gregory Lynn Green and Jimmy Dean Green of Trumann; seven grandchildren; a sister, Vera Louise Green of Trumann; brothers, Robert Earl Gibbs of Harrisburg, Ark., and Ray Gibbs of Jonesboro, Ark; a step-daughter, Charlotte Alford of Philadelphia; and two step-sons, Brad Higginbotham and Brian Higginbotham, both of Philadelphia.
She was preceded in death by her former husband, James Lee Green.
Mary Margaret Mims
Retired licensed practical nurse
PHILADELPHIA Services for Mary Margaret Mims will be held Friday at 10 a.m. at McClain-Hays Funeral Service Chapel with the Revs. Kim Poe and Jimmie Gunn officiating. Burial will be in Cedarlawn Cemetery in Philadelphia.
Mrs. Mims, 63, of Philadelphia, died Monday, Dec. 23, 2002, at St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson. She was a retired LPN for Choctaw Health Center.
Survivors include her daughters, Nancy Gunn of Olive Branch, Patsy Chapman and Cynthia Mims, both of Philadelphia; a son, Anthony Mims of Philadelphia; four grandchildren, three step-grandchildren and four step-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Mims.
Visitation will be today 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Mattie Ruth Pennington Evans
Homemaker
NEWTON Services for Mattie Ruth "Snooks" Pennington Evans will be held Friday at 10 a.m. at Decatur United Methodist Church with the Rev. Billy Owen officiating. Burial will be in Decatur Cemetery. Barham Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Evans, 91, of Decatur, died Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2002, at Cottonwood Manor in Laurel. She was a very active member of Decatur United Methodist Church and in her neighborhood.
She was a loving mother, caring friend and an inspiration to all who knew her. She had lived the last three years at Cottonwood Manor in Laurel, where she gained many friends among the staff, residents and the Laurel community. She was of keen intellect, a quick wit and a loving touch.
Survivors include her son, Dr. Jack Evans and his wife, Betty, of Laurel; a daughter, Sue Evans Munn and her husband, Henry, of Marietta, Ga.; four grandchildren, Eric, Laurie, and Emily Evans, and Jason Munn; two sisters-in-law, Lois Pennington of Decatur and Ruth Watson of Meridian; five nieces, Jean Pennington Marks of Canton, Kathy Pennington of Decatur, Cindy Pennington of Hattiesburg, Jane Johnston Overstreet of Decatur and Sandra Matthews Yalotz of Pueblo, Colo.; a nephew, Bill Johnston of Decatur; several grand-nieces, grand-nephews, great-grand-nephews and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, C.H. "Bert" Evans.
Memorials may be made to Decatur United Methodist Church.
Pallbearers will be Jimmy Gains, Raymond Overstreet, Fred Marks and Bill Johnston.
Honorary pallbearers will be Henry Munn, David Ethridge, Dr. John Hassell and Drew Hunt.
Visitation will be today 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home.