Devan Glenn Ard

Services for Devan Glenn Ard of Jayess are 2 p.m. today, Dec. 28at Topeka Baptist Church in Jayess with burial in Roberts MemorialCemetery. Wilson Funeral Home in Monticello is in charge ofarrangements.

Mr. Ard, 15, died Dec. 26, 2004, at Lawrence County Hospital inMonticello. He was born in Brookhaven on Oct. 24, 1989, to JimmyGlenn Ard and Deborah Ard Martin.

He was a student at Lawrence County High School. His life waschurch and sports. He was very active in the youth group at TopekaBaptist Church. He played on the baseball team for the LawrenceCounty Cougars, where he was a left-handed pitcher. He playedjunior high football, basketball, baseball and ran track. While injunior high he won numerous awards at the athletic banquet. He wasnamed Most Handsome his junior high year and was an All-StarBaseball player.

Survivors are his parents; his sister, Taylor Dixon of Jayess;and his brothers, Jimmy Dakota Ard and Dylan Scott Martin, both ofJayess.

Wilbur L. Blair

Services for Wilbur L. Blair of Brookhaven are 2 p.m. today,Dec. 28 at Friendship Baptist Church with burial in the churchcemetery. Community Funeral Services is in charge ofarrangements.

Mr. Blair, 77, died Dec. 24, 2004, at his residence. He was bornin Oklahoma on August 24, 1927, to Doyle Blair and NattieLowery.

He was a retired oil field worker. He served in the Army.

Preceding him in death were his parents; two brothers; and onesister.

Survivors are his wife, Virginia Blair; his daughters, RosieMercier and her husband Frank, of Brookhaven, Alice Allen and herhusband, Roy, of Tomball, Texas, Sharon A. Lambert and her husband,Mack, of Brookhaven, and Donna C. Cupit and her husband, Robert, ofBrookhaven; his sisters, Wanda Lowe and Billie Mitchell, both ofOklahoma; his brothers, Veron Blair of Baton Rouge, La., RonnieMitchell and Michael Mitchell, both of Oklahoma; 13 grandchildren;and 29 great-grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Blanchie Ree Jenkins Dillon

Services for Blanchie Ree Jenkins Dillon of Brookhaven were 11a.m., today, Dec. 28, at Greenwood Missionary Baptist Church withburial in Mt. Olive Church Cemetery.

Mrs. Dillon, 60, died Dec. 20, 2004, at her residence. She wasborn in Quentin on Dec. 24, 1943, to Frank Jenkins and Cora JenkinsSmith of Brookhaven.

She was retired after 32 years of service. She was a 1963graduate of Eva H. Harris. She was a graduate from Jackson StateUniversity, and she received her Master’s degree from MississippiCollege. She was a member of Greenwood Mississippi Baptist Church,where she served as senior choir member and financial secretary.She also served with Women Empowered Women, Chosen Single Ministry,and as a Sunday school teacher. She served as secretary of theBrookhaven Singing Union and the South Mississippi Singing Union.She taught in the Hazlehurst Public School District. Mrs. Dillonserved as director for St. Paul’s Daycare and New Vision Preschoolin Brookhaven. She also taught at Mississippi Job Corps in CrystalSprings.

Preceding her in death were her father; and two sisters, RevelJenkins and Versie Bell McCray.

Survivors are her mother; her sons, Frederick F. Dillon andRoderick R. Dillon, both of Brookhaven, and Willie L. Dillon Jr. ofCincinnati, Ohio; her sisters and a brother-in-law, Lillie R.Floyd, Julia and Shelby Mitchell, and Frankie Chandler, all ofBrookhaven; her adopted sisters, Betty J. Dillon, CharlestineWaterman, Annie L. Tillman, JoAnn Robinson, Maxine Dillon and MaryP. Smith, all of Brookhaven, and Patricia Dillon of Denver, Colo.;her adopted brother, Levi Dillon of Brookhaven; her stepsisters,Thelma Dixon of Brookhaven and Ina Thomas of Milwaukee, Wis.; herstepbrothers, Alcorn Smith of Milwaukee, Wis., and Billy Smith ofPhoenix, Ariz.; five grandchildren; a special niece, Rose Byrd; aspecial friend, Nathanial McCray of Brookhaven; a godson; and ahost of other nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, cousinsand other relatives and friends.

Willie B. Hawkins

Services for Willie B. Hawkins of Brookhaven are 11 a.m.Thursday, Dec. 30 at St. Paul M.B. Church with burial in CarverHeights Cemetery.

Visitation is Wednesday from noon until 7 p.m., with familypresent from 6-7 p.m. at R.E. Tyler Funeral Home.

Mr. Hawkins, 87, died Dec. 25, 2004, at Haven Hall NursingCenter. He was born in Franklin County on March 22, 1917, toAnderson Hawkins and Clara Jones Hawkins.

He was a graduate of the Gulledge School in Brookhaven andattended Campbell College in Jackson. He is a college graduate ofTuskegee Institute in Tuskegee, Ala. with a degree in dry cleaning.His occupation was a plumber. He served in the Army and was aveteran of World War II. He was a member of St. Paul M.B. Churchwhere he was a member of the choir for a number of years.

Preceding him in death were his parents; his wives, AugustaHawkins and Almateen Hawkins; a son, John “Sonny” Hawkins; hissisters, Rosie Hawkins and Willie Mae Hawkins Tyler; and hisbrothers, George, O.D., Henry, Alex, and Fred Hawkins.

Survivors are his daughter, Alice Jointer of Wesson; his sons,Alvin Hawkins and Johnny Hawkins, both of Brookhaven; sevengrandchildren; seven great grandchildren; and a host of nieces andnephews.

John D. Ivey

Services for John D. Ivey of Brookhaven were 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec.26 at Community Funeral Services with burial in Union ChurchCemetery.

Mr. Ivey, 80, died Dec. 23, 2004, at King’s Daughters MedicalCenter. He was born in Jefferson County on Aug. 25, 1924, to JohnH. Ivey and Lucy Davis.

Survivors are his sister, Lessie Stephens of Meadville; andnumerous nieces and nephews.

Joseph V. ‘Jay’ Meredith

Services for Joseph V. “Jay” Meredith of Brookhaven are 2 p.m.today, Dec. 28 at Brookhaven Funeral Home Chapel with burial inWellman Baptist Church Cemetery.

Mr. Meredith, 75, died Dec. 26, 2004, at his residence. He wasborn in Kentucky on July 27, 1929, to Bright Meredith and MaudieMeredith.

He was a cement engineer and operated The Shoe Outlet. He was amember of the Army and served in the Korean War. He was a member ofthe Baptist faith.

Preceding him in death were his parents; and a son, EddieMeredith.

Survivors are his wife, Irene Smith Meredith of Brookhaven; hisdaughters, Marie Garrett and her husband, Tommy, of Alexandria,La., Patsy Henry and her husband, Ruben, of Alexandria, andstepdaughter, Judy Hart, and her husband, C.G., of Bogue Chitto;his sons, Wayne Joseph Meredith of Alexandria, stepsons, RodneyGlenn Smith and his wife, Rosemary, Donald Earl Smith and his wife,Debbie, and Tommy H. Smith and his wife, Sally, all of Brookhaven;his sisters, Rose Mary Beagle of Lansing, Mich., and Tora Meredithof Arkansas; his brother, Dale Meredith of New Mexico; a specialyoung man, Josh Beard of Brookhaven; three grandchildren; nine stepgrandchildren; seven step great-grandchildren; and several niecesand nephews.

Mae Autry Rainey

Services for Mae Autry Rainey of Seminary were 2 p.m. Monday,Dec. 27 at Jones and Son Funeral Home in Moselle with burial inShelton Cemetery.

Mrs. Rainey, 98, died Dec. 24, 2004, at Forrest GeneralHospital.

She was a homemaker. She was a longtime resident of Jones Countyand a member of the Bethel Baptist Church.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, TalmadgeJ. Rainey; her sons, Don Rainey and Horace Rainey; her brother,Felix Alexander Rainey; and her sister, Lillian Mullens Rainey.

Survivors are her daughters, Merle Smith of Brookhaven, andJoyce Mosley of Ellisville; her son, Marvin Rainey of Seminary; sixgrandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and fourgreat-great-grandchildren.

Roger Cassie Reid

Services for Roger Cassie Reid of Jayess were 2 p.m. Monday,Dec. 27 at Wilson Funeral Home in Monticello with burial in TiltonUnited Methodist Church Cemetery in Jayess.

Mr. Reid, 63, died Dec. 24, 2004, at his residence. He was bornin Lawrence County on July 22, 1941, to Cassie B. Reid and HenryeTullis Reid.

He was a disabled. He served in the Army and was a member ofUnity Church of Christ in Jayess.

Preceding him in death were his parents.

Survivors are his wife, Carolyn Rutland Reid; his daughter,Stacie Case of Jayess; his sons, Brad Reid of Jayess; his sisters,Jeanette Crittenden and Martha Ibrom, both of Houston, Texas; hisbrother, Delmus Reid of Jayess; and one grandchild.

Edythe I. Seale

Services for Edythe I. Seale of Brookhaven were 2 p.m. Monday,Dec. 27 at Concord Baptist Church with burial in the churchcemetery. Brookhaven Funeral Home was in charge ofarrangements.

Mrs. Seale, 90, died Dec. 24, 2004, at Beverly Health Care inBrookhaven. She was born in Franklin County on Sept. 14, 1914, toJulius Jerome Whittington and Effie Lenoir Buie Whittington.

She was a farmer. She taught beginner Sunday School for 30years. She was a member of the Franklin Women’s Club andIndependence Homemaker Club. She was a member of Concord BaptistChurch.

Preceding her in death were her parents; and her husband, NormanSeale.

Survivors are her sons, Charlie Seale and his wife, Carole ofMcCall Creek, and Curtis Seale and his wife, Esther, of Madison;her sister, Kathleen Stamps of Mountain View, Ark.; her threegrandchildren, Sherry Winstead and her husband, Rod, of Madison,Jerry Paul Seale and his wife, Tracy, of Madison, and StephanieBowlin and her husband, the Rev. Ted Bowlin, of Summit; ninegreat-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.