Obituaries

James Ray “Butch” Garner

Mr. James Ray “Butch” Garner, 89, passed away on Thursday, April 27, 2017, at the Martha Jo Leslie State Veterans Home in Kosciusko, Mississippi. Funeral services will be at 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 29, 2017; at Morgan Chapel Baptist Church in Sturgis, Mississippi, with Rev. Billy Garner officiating. Visitation will be the day of the service from 3 p.m. until 4 p.m. at the church. Interment will follow in Morgan Chapel Baptist Church Cemetery.

James was born February 19, 1928, to Ruel McCager and Ottie Patterson Garner. He is a member of Antioch Baptist Church. He was married to Mavis Collier Garner for 59 years and together they raised their four children in Memphis, Tennessee. Mr. Garner owned two grocery stores in Memphis and in 1974, they moved to Sturgis, Mississippi, where he opened the famous “Garner’s Meat Processing” in 1976. He loved his family, loved his friends, loved his business, and loved the Lord. He didn’t really know how to say “I love you” but he knew how to show “love” to everyone he met. If you knew him, you loved him.

Mr. Garner is survived by three daughters, Beth Hathcock and husband, Barry of Macon, Mississippi; Amy Jo Smith and husband, Fred, of Nesbit, Mississippi; and Meg Gregory and husband, Arnold of Sturgis; and one son, Dennis Ray Garner and wife, Donna, also of Sturgis. One of his greatest joys was being “PawPaw” to his 11 grandchildren: Joshua Hathcock (Crissy), Jeremy Hathcock, Cager Garner (Maris), Travis Garner, Joby Garner (Brittany), Lainee Jeffers (Tony), Nikki Wood (Brian), Shelby Smith, Will Gregory (Ashley), Evan Gregory, and Emily Gregory. He is also survived by 11 great-grandchildren: Carson James Hathcock, Avery Garner, Ty Garner, McClain Garner, Audrey Garner, Dottie Garner, Baylee Garner, Camilla Jeffers, Lucy Jeffers, Julianne Wood, and Lois Wood. He is also survived by five sisters: Linnie Mae Johnson, Lynn Morrow, Earline Burns, Judy Barnes, Janice Maravelias and by three brothers, J. W. Garner, Billy Garner, and Ruel Garner; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, and friends. Mr. Garner was preceded in death by his wife; his parents; and five siblings, Buck Garner, Bonnie Hurst, Nell Smith, Martha Garner, and Jo Ellen Biddle.

Serving as pallbearers are Cager Garner, Joby Garner, Travis Garner, Evan Gregory, Will Gregory, Jeremy Hathcock, and Joshua Hathcock. Memorial contributions in honor of Mr. Garner may be given to Morgan Chapel Baptist Church, 2646 Morgantown

Road, Sturgis, MS 39769. Services are under the direction of Nowell Massey Funeral Home, 724 North Columbus Avenue, Louisville, MS. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family by signing the guest register at www.nowellmasseyfuneralhome.com.

William Paul Gordon

William Paul Gordon, 81, passed away on April 26, 2017 at his residence in Maben, MS. He was employed at Mississippi State University for 26 years and a member of Maben Methodist Church. He was a wood craftsman and big supporter of MSU and his family. He was a “shade tree engineer” who loved gardening, fishing and spending time with his family, and especially his grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, E M Gordon and Margie Brasher Gordon.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Robbie Golden Gordon of Maben, MS; sons, Kevin Gordon and his wife Sandra, and Mitchell Gordon and his wife Susan, all of Maben, Martin Gordon and his wife Janet of West Point, MS, Kenneth Gordon and his wife Camille, and David Gordon and his wife Melanie, all of Maben, MS; sister, Allene Avent and husband J G of Pittsburgh, TX; 12 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.

Visitation is scheduled for Friday, April 28, 2017 from 2:00-4:00 p.m. at Maben Methodist Church, with the funeral service immediately following. Revs. Keith Williams and Scarlet Sheppherd will conduct the service. Burial will be in Providence Methodist Cemetery.

You can leave the family a condolence at: www.welchfuneralhomes.com.

Mildred Elizabeth Petty-Harris

Mrs. Mildred Elizabeth Petty-Harris, 69 of Starkville, MS passed away April 24, 2017 in Starkville, MS.

Her service is Saturday April 29, 2017 at 1:00p.m at Rockhill U.M. Church in Starkville, MS.

Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation is Friday April 28, 2017 from 12 noon to 5p.m at Century Hairston Funeral Home in Starkville, MS.

Century Hairston Funeral Home of Starkville, MS is in charge of the Funeral Arrangements.

Raymond Edwin Love

Raymond Edwin Love, Jr. 44, died peacefully surrounded by family and close friends, April 27, 2017 at OCH Regional Medical Center in Starkville.

Visitation is scheduled for Friday, April 28, 2017 from 4:00-8:00 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Starkville, MS, and then again on Saturday, April 29, 2017 from 9:30-10:30 a.m., with the celebration of life service following at 11:00 a.m. in the church sanctuary.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Starkville Academy Scholarship Fund for the sole purpose of Trace and Lucy Grace Love’s education.

You can leave the family a condolence at: www.welchfuneralhomes.com.

Vedia Wilson Watkins

Ms. Vedia Wilson Watkins passed away on April 27, 2017 at OCH Regional Medical Center. She was 82 years of age. She was a graduate of Sturgis High School and former employee of Wier Drug Company and Security State Bank/ Deposit Guaranty National Bank/National Bank of Commerce for 22 years. Ms. Watkins retired from National Bank of Commerce on May 7, 1999. At her death, she was residing at 1802 Douglas McArthur Drive. She and her family had moved from Starkville to Cullman, AL in 1965, Jasper, AL in 1977 and in 1983 she returned to Starkville, MS.

Ms. Watkins was the daughter of Williett and Willie Wilson of Sturgis, MS.

Ms. Watkins leaves one son, Tony Watkins (Diane) of Fultondale, AL, one granddaughter, Anna Caroline Watkins, Samuel Irvin Watkins, one step-grandson, Chadrick Neal Humphries, one sister, Mary Davis of Dallas, TX and also numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, 4 brothers, W.L. Wilson, Jack J. Wilson, Alex Wilson and one sister Vivian W. Allen.

Services will be on April 29, 2017 with visitation at 3:00pm and Memorial Service at 4:00pm at Welch Funeral Home, Starkville, MS.

Visit www.welchfuneralhomes.com to sign the online guest registry.