Howard Thorne Jr.

SALTILLO – Howard Thorne Jr., 68, died Thursday, June 11, 2009, at the Community Hospice at Darlington Oaks after a lengthy illness. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by W.E. Pegues Funeral Directors.

Vera T. Collier

HOLLY SPRINGS – Vera T. Collier, 87, died Wednesday, June 10, 2009, at Alliance Health Care. Services will be 11 a.m. Monday at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Burial will be in Mt. Teamer Church Cemetery. Serenity Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday. The body will lie in state at the church one hour to service time Monday.

Wallace Benson

BREWER – Sam Wallace Benson, 70, died Wednesday, June 10, 2009, at his residence after a brief illness. A Lee County native, he was born Sept. 12, 1938, to Sam and Christine Sargent Benson. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and was considered Papa to many kids in the community. Memorial services will be 7 p.m. Saturday at Brewer Baptist Church with Dr. Sean Tutor officiating. Burial will be in Brewer Cemetery. W.E. Pegues Funeral Directors is in charge of the arrangements. Survivors include his wife of 38 years, Faye Benson of Brewer; two daughters, Anita Brown (Mitch) and Brandy Lindsey (Michael), all of Brewer; two sons, Lee Benson (Anisa) of Fulton and Sammy Benson (Shawna) of Brewer; one sister, Beryl Carson (Bennie) of Brewer; and eight grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Johnny and Donald Benson. Visitation will be 5:30 p.m to service time Saturday at the church. Expressions of sympathy may be left at www.peguesfuneralhome.com.

Anthony Jones Jr.

TUPELO – Anthony L. Jones Jr. died Saturday, June 6, 2009, at the North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo. He was born Dec. 29, 1982, in New Orlean, La. Memorial service will be at 6 p.m. today at Agnew & Sons Funeral Home in Verona with the Rev. Robert Guyton and the Rev. Mary L. Robinson officiating. Survivors include one son, Anthony Jones lll; his fiance, Amanda J. Tynes; his parents, Milinda Jones-Bell and Anthony Jones Sr.; two special children, Johnny and Y'rau Tynes; one sister, Geneva Jones; five brothers, Erin, Leon, Phillip Jones, and August and Albert Taylor; his grandmother, Helen Damond Delesbore; a special aunt, Harriet Guy, and a special uncle, Octave Damond.

Billy King

NEW ALBANY – Billy King, 54, died Tuesday, June 9, 2009, at Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi in Oxford. He was born Feb. 6, 1954, in New Albany to Roy King and Verline Pratt King. He attended B.F. ford School and graduated from W.P. Daniel High School. He was employed with the City of New Albany for many years. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Serenity Funeral Home Chapel in New Albany. The Rev. Colbert Graham will officiate. Burial will be in New Albany City Cemetery. Survivors include two children, Carlos King of Ecru and Flora King of Beloit, Wis.; seven grandchildren, An aunt, Mary Hyler of Milwaukee, Wis.; and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Charles King. Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. today with the family hour from 6 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Charles Whitfield

SMITHVILLE – Charles Green “But Nutty” Whitfield, 72, died Saturday, June 6, 2009, at the Gilmore Memorial Regional Hospital in Amory. He was born Jan. 16, 1937, to Arthur Green Whitfield and Laura Lue Whitfield. He was a member of the St. James United Methodist Church in Amory. He was a graduate of the West Amory High School, where he was a standout center and linebacker in football. He completed his college degree at the Mississippi Industrial College in Holly Springs, where he graduated magna cum laude. He worked on the railroad for a short time before he became a teacher and a coach. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at St. James United Methodist Church with the Rev. Benjamin Nelson officiating. Burial will be in the Masonic Cemetery in Amory. Darden and Sons Funeral Home of Amory is in charge of the arrangements. Survivors include his wife, Daphine Whitfield of Smithville; two sons, Darnell Lavell Whitfield and Mark Windon; one daughte, Sharnell Lattrell Whitfield, all of Grand Rapids, Mich.; two brothers-in-law, Howard (Emma) Standifer and Harold (Maxine) Standifer of Smithville; two sisters-in-law, Evelyn (John) Edwards of Tupelo and Merlin McLeod of Detroit, Mich.; an aunt, Virginia Christine Johnson of Amory; and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Eva Mae Hopkins; and one brother, Hennie Kenny Whitfield. Visitation will be from 2 to 6 p.m. today with the family hour from 6 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home. The body will be placed in the church one hour prior to service time Saturday.

Robert B. Holland

SELMER, Tenn. – Robert B. Holland, 67, died Tuesday, June 9, 2009, at his residence. He was of the Baptist faith. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. Services will be at 11 a.m. today Friday at McMillan Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be in the Zion Rest Cemetery. Survivors include the mother of his children, Beatrice Holland; three sons, Robert Holland Jr., Gilbert Holland and Edward Holland; one granddaughter, Mandy Holland, all of Texas; one half brother, Billy Ray Harris; and special friends and caregivers, Teresa Mills and Betty Perkins. He was preceded in death by his parents, Hansel and Martha Faye Nunley Holland. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to service time today.

Johnnie Faulkner

HOLLY SPRINGS – Johnnie Podres Faulkner, 53, died Tuesday, June 9, 2009, at Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto in Southaven. Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Free Branch M.B. Church in Holly Springs. Burial will be in Bowens Cemetery in Holly Springs. J.F. Brittenum and Son Funeral Home of Holly Springs is in charge of the arrangements. Visitation will be from 2 to 6 p.m. today at the funeral home. The body will lie in state at the church from 1:30 to 2:25 p.m. Saturday.

Lucy King

RIPLEY – Lucy Lloyd King, 87, died Thursday, June 11, 2009, at her home. She was born July 16, 1921, in Benton County to George H. Miller and Annie Whitehead Miller. She was a homemaker and a member of Bluff Springs Baptist Church. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Holly Springs Funeral Home with Bro. Faron Ash and Bro. Michael Bryant officiating. Burial will be in Bluff Springs Cemetery at Ashland. Survivors include her husband, Charlie Murry King of Ripley; five sons, Waymon Bryant and Jacky Bryant of Ashland; two daughters, Linda Gregory of New Albany and Patsy Forester of Conersville; one brother, Thomas Miller of Blue Mountain; three sisters, Inez Catledge of Horn Lake, Sarah Collins of Hickory Flat and Lottie Lundy of Memphis; 22 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and three sons, Wayne Bryant, Dennis Bryant and Sammy Bryant. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers. Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Corinne George

MANTEE – Corinne Reeves George, 88, died Wednesday, June 10, 2009, at the North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo. She was born July 4, 1920, to Elbert Owen Reeves and Clester Hale Reeves. She taught fourth grade at Woodland Elementary School for over 30 years. She was a member of Mantee Baptist Church, where she taught the beginners class. Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Houston with Bro. Bo Farrior officiating. Burial will be at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Mantee. Survivors include one daughter, Julia L. George (Dr. Thomas Owens) of Durham, N.C.; one daughter-in-law, Susan F. George of Woodland; three grandchildren, Kelly Bailey of Fuquay-Varina, N.C., Casey Otten of Durham, N.C., and Whitney George of Woodland; four stepgrandchildren, Sherrie Springer of Hattiesburg, Leigh Anna Springer of Woodland, Amelia O'Rourke-Owens of Seattle, Wash., and Kellan O’Rourke-Owens of Durham, N.C.; three great grandchildren, Emma and Grace Bailey of Fuquay-Varina, N.C., and Bennett Otten of Durham, N.C.; one stepgreat-grandson, Alden Edwards of Woodland; one sister, Claudia Reeves Coleman of Chapel Hill, N.C.; a dear friend, Virginia Duncan of Mantee; her caregiver, Fannie Birchfield, Gertie Davidson and Shirley Flagg. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, John Harold George Sr.; and one son, John H. George Jr. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mantee Baptist Church.

Florine Elliott

MOOREVILLE – Sara Florine Pleasant Elliott, 76, died Thursday, June 11, 2009, at Sanctuary Hospice House after an extended illness. She was born Nov. 7, l932, in Vina, Ala., to Ira and Flora Turbyfill Pleasant. A longtime resident of Mooreville, she was employed as a lab technician for 40 years with the OB/GYN Clinic in Tupelo before retiring and literally served several generations of doctors and patients. She loved the fellowship of family and friends, particularly her church family at Mooreville United Methodist Church; the water, especially fishing; and spending time at the cabin at Pickwick. Her greatest contribution was her devotion to the well being of her husband, children and grandchildren. She will be sorely missed. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Tupelo Chapel of Holland-Harris Funeral Directors with the Rev. Sammy Washburn officiating. Private burial will follow in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Itawamba County. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today and from 1 p.m. to service time Saturday. Survivors include her husband of 56 years, Charles Elliott, whom she married in March l953; her daughter, Sara Dempsey; her son, David Elliott; and her grandchildren, Chase Elliott and Marie Dempsey, all of Mooreville; her sisters, Doris Robbins of Verona and Rebecca Short (Jim) of Franklin, Tenn.; a brother, Earl Pleasant (Ginger) of Cocoa Beach, Fla.; nieces and nephews, Ken (Connie) Robbins of Birmingham Ridge, Renee (Scotty) Hughes of Mooreville, Phillip Bagwell, Christy Short and Jase Short, all of Franklin, Tenn., and Dena (Scott) Baker of Waverly, Tenn. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother-in-law, Joe Robbins. Pallbearers will be John Edwards, Gary Elliott, Halton Elliott, Ken Sullins, Jimmy Clifton and Dudley Walker. Honorary pallbearers will be great-nieces and great-nephews. Memorials may be made to the Mooreville United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 130, Mooreville, MS. 38857.

Lottie Richardson

BLUE MOUNTAIN – Lottie Linville Richardson, 86, died Thursday, June 11, 2009, at her home in Blue Mountain. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by McBride Funeral Home of Ripley. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Elaine Potter

BATON ROUGE, La. – Stella Elaine Potter, 82, died July 31, 2006, in Baton Rouge, LA. She was born March 3, 1924, in Pontotoc. Elaine graduated from Pontotoc High School, where she was a charter member of the Fine Arts Club and was a member of the Music Study Club. She graduated from Jackson Commercial College, served in the U.S. Navy Waves during World War II, and retired as a secretary from Equitable Life Insurance Company. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 13, 2009, at the Pontotoc City Cemetery with Rev. Kenneth Corley officiating. Browning Funeral Home in Pontotoc is in charge of arrangements. She is survived by her sister, Mary Anne Potter O’Reilly; two nieces, Barbara Johnson (Robert) and Beth Owen (Greg); a nephew, William T. O’Reilly (Marina); four great-nieces, Alissa Kantrow (Ted), Kristy and Kelly Menge, and Alexandra O’Reilly; a great-nephew, Steven Menge; two great-great-nieces and a great-great-nephew. She was preceded in death by her parents, William Thompson Potter, a former mayor of Pontotoc and Mississippi State Representative, and Clara Elaine Hudson Potter.