Robert M. “Butch” Edwards

Services for Robert M. “Butch” Edwards of McComb are 2 p.m.,Tuesday, Oct. 21, at First Baptist Church in McComb with burial inShady Grove Cemetery in Ruth. Services will be conducted by Dr. W.Mack Amis and James Earl Hodge.

Visitation is Monday from 5-9 p.m., Tuesday from 9-11:30 a.m.,at Hartman Funeral Home of McComb, and Tuesday from 1-2 p.m., atthe church.

Mr. Edwards, 60, died Oct. 18, 2003, at his residence. He wasborn in Baton Rouge, La., on July 21, 1943 to Hollis and BeatriceBrown Edwards.

He was a meat cutter at Kroger for 20 years. He served in theMississippi National Guard. He was a member of First Baptist Churchin McComb, Auburn Chapter No. 87 Order of the Eastern Star, McCombCity Lodge No. 382, and Shriner Wahabi Temple in Jackson.

Preceding him in death were his father, Hollis Edwards; hismaternal grandparents, Robert Melvin Brown and Ruby Brown Reedy;and his paternal grandparents, Robert Melvin Edwards and NaomiMcCullough Edwards.

Survivors are his wife of 38 years, Sylvia Diane Edwards ofMcComb; his mother, Beatrice Brown Edwards of Ruth; his sons anddaughter-in-law, Robert Shaun and Teresa of Summit, and MichaelDelane of McComb; his brother and sister-in-law, Hugh Daniel”Skeeter” and Cindy Terrell of Liberty; his grandchildren, RobertJustin Edwards and Brandon Lane Edwards; his stepgrandchildren,Brandon Graves and Sawyer Sparks; his father-in-law andmother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Jr. A. Alexander of Summit; and manynieces, nephews and friends.

Pallbearers will be Joey Moak, Kirk Bruster, Jack Stewart,George Reeves, Thomas Morgan, Bill Johnson, Bobby Thomas and HaroldHilgerson. Honorary pallbearers will be David Miller, Steven Breauxand Wayne Ritchie.

John Ewing Rainer

Services for John Ewing Rainer of Hazlehurst are 2 p.m., Monday,Oct. 20, at Stringer Funeral Home Chapel with burial in HazlehurstCemetery.

Visitation is Monday from 1-2 p.m., at the funeral home.

Mr. Rainer, 77, died Oct. 18, 2003, at Mississippi StateVeterans Home in Jackson.

He worked at Mississippi Livestock Producers, and was a WorldWar II veteran, serving in Pacific Theater. He was a longtimeresident of Copiah County.

Preceding him in death were his wife, Elizabeth Don GieuxRainer; and a son, Joseph Paul Rainer.

Survivors are his sons and daughters-in-law, John Ewing RainerJr. and Lisa, and James Michael Rainer and Jennifer, all ofBrookhaven; his sister, Ethylene “Sis” Mayfield of Clinton; hisbrother, James Thomas Rainer of Phoenix, Ariz.; and hisgrandchildren, Christopher Chase Rainer, Chelsea Ann Rainer, IsabelMarie Rainer and Georgia Rae Rainer, all of Brookhaven.

Joseph Wayne Smith

Services for Joseph Wayne Smith of Monticello are 3 p.m.,Monday, Oct. 20, at New Zion Baptist Church with burial in thechurch cemetery. Community Funeral Services is in charge ofarrangements.

Mr. Smith, 20, died Oct. 15, 2003, at UMC in Jackson. He wasborn in Lincoln County on April 13, 1983, to Jane Coleman Smith andWayne Smith of Monticello.

Preceding him in death were his grandparents, Edgar “Ed” Smith,Joseph C. Coleman and Inez Coleman.

Survivors are his parents; his sisters, Angela Smith ofBrookhaven, and Allison Hessner of Smithdale; his brother, JasonRiley of Portage, Ind.; and his grandmother, Ruth Smith ofMonticello.