Services for David Ray Varnado Jr., of Union Church, are 2 p.m.Wednesday, March 16 at Union Church Baptist Church with burial inthe church cemetery. Brookhaven Funeral Home is in charge ofarrangements.

Visitation is Tuesday from 5-9 p.m. and Wednesday from noonuntil 2 p.m. at the church.

Mr. Varnado, 72, died March 13, 2005, at his residence. He wasborn in Union Church, Jefferson County, on Nov. 5, 1932, to DavidRay Varnado Sr. and Iva Christine Cupit Varnado.

He was employed at the Texas Eastern Compressor Station for 16years. He was owner of Varnado’s Grocery for over 31 years until itwas destroyed by fire on Sept. 8, 2004. Mr. Varnado was a member ofUnion Church Baptist Church where he served as deacon for manyyears. He was also a veteran of the Air Force.

Preceding him in death were his parents; his sister, MarcelineColdiron; his paternal grandparents, Meredith and Katherine BuieVarnado; and his maternal grandparents, Hardy and Nancy FergusonCupit, all of Union Church.

Survivors are his wife of 52 years, Bertha Greer Varnado; histhree daughters, Marcia Smith and her husband, Scott, ofBrookhaven, Janet Smith and her husband, Farran, Wanda Haire andher husband, Tim, all of Union Church; his eight grandchildren,Deanna Ezell and her husband, Hunter, of Union Church, ColbyCalcote and his wife, Kathleen, of Meridian, Andrea Cotten and herhusband, Kevin, of Houma, La., Callie Calcote, of Brookhaven,Hayden Whitehead, Daniel Haire, Darla Haire and Holton Smith; andtwo great-grandsons, Brock and Braden Ezell, all of Union Church;his brother-in-law, Garland Coldiron; his nephew, Jimmy Coldironand his wife, Lori; his niece, Marlene Coldiron Monroe; and agreat-niece, Anna Coldiron, all of Union Church.

Memorials may be made to the Hederman Cancer Center, 1227 N.State St., Jackson MS 39202.