Graveside services for Johnnie Williams “J.W.” Cupit, of Jacksonwere 10 a.m. today, Jan. 26 at Union Church Cemetery in UnionChurch. Harrigill Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Cupit, 89, died Jan. 25, 2005, at Whispering Pines inJackson. He was born in Jefferson County on July 27, 1915, to BertCupit and Ester Ferguson Cupit.

He was retired from Southwest Mississippi EPA.

Except for a year in Utah with the C.C.C.’s and World War II,Mr. Cupit was a lifelong resident of Union Church. During World WarII, he served with the 2nd Armored Division throughout Europe. Hebegan his Christian life at Piedmont Baptist Church before joiningUnion Baptist Church in 1945, where he served faithfully in variousleadership positions.

Preceding him in death were his parents; his wife, Hazel KurtsCupit of Covington, Tenn.; eight brothers, Mack Cupit, Bert Cupit,Willard Cupit, Marshall Cupit, Elmer Cupit, Jolly Cupit, HomerCupit, and R.A. “Sonny Boy” Cupit; and one sister, AnnieMartha.

Survivors are his daughter, Sylvia Cupit Rutherford and herhusband, Jimmy, of Union Church; his son, Larry Williams Cupit, andhis wife, Lynn, of Union Church; his sisters, Zelda Wallace, ofBrookhaven, and Polly Kirby, of Ridgeland; four grandchildren,Jonathan Rutherford, Cassie Kennedy, and Eric and Allen Cupit; sixgreat-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family asks that memorials may be made to the BaptistChildren’s Village in Jackson.