Archives
 By  Staff Reports Published 
7:42 am Tuesday, June 3, 2003

Obituaries for Tuesday, June 3, 2003

By Staff
Retired converting operator for James River Corporation
GILBERTOWN, Ala. Services for Milton Elonzo McIlwain will be held today at 11 a.m. at Bumpers Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Clovis Lewis and Lester Pope officiating. Burial will be in Gilbertown City Cemetery.
Mr. McIlwain, 77, of Gilbertown, died Sunday, June 1, 2003, in Gilbertown. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and served in World War II.
Survivors include his daughters, Mary Frances Johnson of Arley and Voncile M. Stovall of Fort Worth, Texas; a son, Stephen Randall McIlwain of Millry; a brother, Hilton McIlwain of Silas; sisters, Florine Pittman of Gilbertown, Mildred Bryant of Mobile, Emma Jean Beech of Chatom, Ala., Hilda Scott of South Carolina and Ima Lee Chadwick of Silas; six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Retired City of New York employee
Services for Elmetta Burwell will be held today at 11 a.m. at Enterprise Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be in Meridian Memorial Park Cemetery.
Ms. Burwell, 93, of New York, died Wednesday, May 28, 2003, in New York.
Survivors include her nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Retired from City of Meridian
Services for Jerry L. Easterling will be held today at 1:30 p.m. at James F. Webb Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Norman Beard officiating. Burial will be in Meridian Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mr. Easterling, 53, of Meridian, died Sunday, June 1, 2003, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center. He was a member of the American Legion.
Survivors include his wife, Sherill Easterling of Meridian; daughters, Brandi Easterling of Collinsville and Becky Ousley of Caledonia; sisters, Selby Alexander and her husband, J.B., and Bonnie Aeschliman, all of Chunky; grandchildren, Jacob Ousley and Lesleigh Wallace; and several nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be Bill Ousley, Ray Pickard, Craig Espey, Craig Turner, Mark Lanier and Al Snow.
Retired educator
PHILADELPHIA Services for Lamar Whinery will be held Wednesday at 10 a.m. at McClain-Hays Funeral Service Chapel with the Rev. Dr. Dale Holloway officiating. Burial will be in Lakewood Memorial Park Cemetery in Jackson.
Mr. Whinery, 93, of Philadelphia, died Monday, June 2, 2003, at Neshoba County General Hospital in Philadelphia.
Survivors include his wife, Earlene Blocker Whinery of Philadelphia; one granddaughter and one grandson.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Pearl Whinery; and a daughter, Jerry Ann Daley.
Visitation will be today 4 p.m.-6 p.m. at the funeral home.
Retired
Graveside services for Thomas Mike Whitfield will be held Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. at Meridian Memorial Park Cemetery with the Rev. Robert Higginbotham officiating. Barham Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Whitfield, 49, of Meridian, died Saturday, May 31, 2003, in his home. He was retired from the U.S. Army and a captain in Merchant Marines.
Survivors include his wife, Wilma Whitfield of Meridian; sons, James Michael Whitfield, Daniel John Feerer and Lance Anthony Feerer; a daughter, Amy Jo Smith; two grandchildren; his mother, Mildred Whitfield; a brother, Jack Whitfield; sisters, Linda Seybold and Ann Teller; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, Ben Whitfield; a sister, Kay Robinson; and a brother, Johnny Whitfield.
Visitation will be Wednesday 9 a.m.-10 a.m. at the funeral home.
UNION Services for Albert Arthur Tune will be held Wednesday at 2 p.m. at White Plains Holiness Church in Union. Burial will be in White Plains Cemetery. Stephens Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Tune, 93, of Union, died Monday, June 2, 2003, at Heartfelt Hospice in Union.
Visitation will be today at the funeral home.
Arrangements were incomplete at Berry and Gardner Funeral Home for Eugene Ruffin, 55, of Meridian, who died Sunday, June 1, 2003, at Heartfelt Hospice.
Arrangements were incomplete at James F. Webb Funeral Home for Nadeene L. Hasie, 95, of Meridian, who died Monday, June 2, 2003, at Heartfelt Hospice.

Also on Franklin County Times
Military service is family’s legacy
Main, News, Phil Campbell, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
November 12, 2025
PHIL CAMPBELL — Members of Emily Scott’s family have for decades worn a uniform, a tradition that began before she was born and continues through her ...
Navy taught Bonner lessons he still practices today
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
November 12, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE — Before he ever preached the gospel, Bennie “B.J.” Bonner watched an orange volcano glow in the night and saw a plane drop from the sky ...
Williams: ‘We must ensure their legacies live on’
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
November 12, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE — Retired Major Joe Williams, a 2001 Hamilton High School graduate, Mississippi State alumnus and Russellville resident, was the guest sp...
Wells retires after 29 years at Village Square Apartments
News, Records, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
November 12, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE — Annette Wells is retiring as property manager after 29 years working to help residents feel at home at Village Square Apartments. Wells...
GFWC conference highlights ‘Circle of Service’
Columnists, News, Opinion
HERE AND NOW
By Susie Hovater Malone Columnist 
November 12, 2025
I’ve always believed service connects people in ways nothing else can. That belief took center stage at the GFWC Southern Region Conference in Huntsvi...
Let’s move forward and stop falling back
Columnists, Opinion
November 12, 2025
Last week, Alabamians were once again forced to change their clocks in the middle of the night for the annual “fall back” for Daylight Saving Time (DS...
SALUTE TO VETERANS
News, Russellville
November 12, 2025
Members of the local Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion saluted, listened to “Taps” and laid flowers ahead of the annual parade on Saturday....
AMERICAN LEGION CHAPTER HOLDS BANQUET
News, Russellville
November 12, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE – The local American Legion chapter hosted a banquet at North Highlands Church of Christ in Russellville. Members presented the “Missing ...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *