Nita Kay Dewberry

Nita Kay Dewberry
AHS Class of 1962

Mrs. Nita Kay Hodges Dewberry, age 64, of Marietta, GA passed away Thursday, December 11, 2008.

She was a homemaker and a loving wife and mother. Mrs. Dewberry is survived by her husband of 34 years, Larry Dewberry; daughters, Desiree Wehner (Allen) of Pavo, GA and Shea Gilbert (Eric) of Cumming, GA; sons, Darryl Dewberry (Connie) of Charlotte, NC and Brandon Dewberry (Caroline) of Huntsville, AL; 14 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren, and a brother-in-law, Dale Dewberry (Ginger).

A funeral service will be held Saturday, December 13th at Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church in Marietta at 2 o'clock with Rev. Jim Bocian and Rev. Rob Bruce officiating. Burial will follow at the church cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the M.U.S.T. Ministries, P.O. Box 1717, Marietta, GA 30061.

Arrangements by: H.M. Patterson & Son, Canton Hill Chapel, 1157 Old Canton Rd, NE, Marietta, GA 30068. 770-977-9485.

Shea Dewberry Gilbert was Kay and Larry's only child. The other children listed were Larry's children by his first marriage.

Dorothy Faye Tharp

Dorothy Faye Tharp, 59, died Thursday, Nov. 6, 2008, at Baptist Memorial Hospital Golden Triangle. She was born Dec. 22, 1948, in Ackerman. She was disabled and a member of Salvation Army Church in Columbus.

Services will be at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Oliver Funeral Home Chapel in Eupora with Capt. Bert Lind officiating. Burial will follow in Montevista Cemetery in Webster County.

Survivors include a sister, Jo Anne Dunham of Columbus; and three brothers, Marion Allen (Joanne) Tharp of Plymouth, Neb., Jerome (Polly) Tharp of Houlka and Ben F. (Linda) Tharp of Ackerman.

She was preceded in death by her parents, A.B. and Ora Golden Tharp.

Garner R. Maddox

Garner R. Maddox, 67, died Wednesday, October 29, 2008, at his home. Mr. Maddox was the son of the late Selma Bowie and Nolan Maddox, Sr.

He was a retired farmer and factory worker. He was a member of the Class of 1960 of Ackerman High School.

Garner is survived by one brother, Nolan Maddox, Jr. (Marjorie) of Indianola, MS.

There will be a graveside service on Thursday, November 6th at 10 am at Enon Cemetery in Ackerman with Coleman Funeral Home in charge of arrangements, 662-285-6628.

The address for Nolan Maddox according to www.whitepages.com is: 101 Park Ave, Indianola, MS 38751-2535 Phone (662) 887-6367.

James Kenneth Phillips

James Kenneth Phillips, age 74 and a resident of Gulfport, Mississippi died Monday, October 13, 2008, in Gulfport.

Mr. Phillips retired after 43 years with the Kansas City Southern Railroad, and was an active member of Bayou View Baptist Church.

Kenneth grew up in Fentress, MS near Ackerman. He graduated from Ackerman High School in 1953. He and his wife, Martha Jo Cutts Phillips had celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this year. They were natives of Choctaw County, MS and lived several years in Louisville, MS prior to moving to Gulfport.

He is survived by his wife, Martha Jo Cutts Phillips of Gulfport; and an extended family, one son, three grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

Mr. Phillips chose to gift his body to medical research at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. A memorial service will be held at a later date.

The family prefers memorials to French Camp Academy, One Fine Place, French Camp, MS 39745, or Fentress Baptist Church, 13569 Fentress Panhandle Road, Weir, MS 39722.

RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 11280 Three Rivers Road, Gulfport, helped the family with arrangements. A guestbook may be signed at www.riemannfamily.com.

Martha's mailing address is: 16138 Sylvan Dr., Gulfport, MS 39503, phone 228-832-7571.

Herman A. Morris

Herman A. Morris
AHS 1970
Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal - 10/6/2008

EUPORA - Herman A. "Ha" Morris, 56, died Oct. 4, 2008, at his residence. He was born Feb. 9, 1952, in Kennett, Mo. He was a retired farmer and truck driver and was a member of Chester Baptist Church in Chester. He was a Mason and Fire Chief of Bywy Volunteer Fire Department.

Services will be at 2 p.m. today at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church with Rev. Curtis Guess officiating. Burial will be at Mt. Pisgah Cemetery in Choctaw County. Oliver Funeral Home of Eupora is in charge of arrangements.

Survivors include his wife, Judy Morris; his mother, Faye Swindle; one daughter, Kim Holmes; two sons, Andy McCool and Shawn Morris, all of Eupora; one sister, Billie Morris of Saxton, Mo.; two brothers, Wade Swindle of Eupora and Don Swindle of Mathison; and seven grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his father, Herman D. Morris; his step-father, Rex Swindle; and one brother, Ricky Morris.

Visitation was from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home on Sunday.

Carolyn Austin Fiore

Carolyn Austin Fiore, age 63, went to be with the Lord on August 8, 2008 after fighting a courageous 14-year battle with ovarian cancer. She was a longtime resident of Birmingham, formerly from Ackerman, Mississippi. She graduated from Ackerman High School in 1964 and attended Mississippi State University. She was a member of St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Tom Travis Austin and Hazel Burton Austin; a brother, W.C. Austin; and her sisters, Trudy Zilinskas, Geneva Harris and Nell Atkinson.
Mrs. Fiore is survived by her loving husband, Jerome (Jerry) Anthony Fiore, Sr.; step-children, Jerome Anthony (Tony) (Tammy), Donna Fiore and Angela Fiore Woods (Ian); brother, O'Keefe (Keith) Austin (Pearl); sister, Topsey Austin King; nieces, Sandra Cleary (Ben), and Sheila Cash (Herb); nephews, Bobby Atkinson (Janice), Garrett Erwin (Janice), and Jason Zilinskas (Allison); grandsons, Mathew Woods, Zachary Woods and Jerome Anthony Fiore III; and granddaughters, Emma Fiore, Ruth Fiore and Sara Fiore.

Mrs. Fiore was a very positive person with outstanding love for everyone. She never met a stranger and will be greatly missed by all whose lives she touched. After moving to Birmingham in 1967, she began her banking career with Birmingham Trust National Bank (now Wachovia Bank). In 1984, she went to work for First Alabama Bank (now Regions Bank) where she worked as executive assistant to the chairman and CEO. Her banking career ended in 2001 after a 30-year career.

She was active in many community organizations and enjoyed volunteering on the Oncology Floor at St. Vincent's Hospital and at St. Peter's Church. She served as a member on the United Way Visiting Allocation Team and the Alabama Oncology Foundation. She was Vice President/President elect of the Birmingham Chapter of the Executive Women's International upon her retirement. She was also President of the CanSurvive GYN Cancer Support Group.

Mrs. Fiore also received the American Cancer Society's Life Inspiration Award for her extraordinary contributions of hope, courage and strength to others.

The family would like to send a special thank you to Sister Veronica Ryan of St. Peter's Church for her friendship and unconditional love throughout Mrs. Fiore's illness. She was a true friend. The family would also like to thank J. Max Austin, Jr., M.D. and his staff and also Bethany Smeraglia with New Beacon Hospice.

Visitation services will be held at St. Peter's Catholic Church on Monday, August 11, 2008 from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. Christian burial mass will be at St. Peter's the Apostle Catholic Church on Tuesday, August 12, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. with burial at Elmwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations be made to the American Cancer Society or St. Peter's Catholic Church, 2061 Patton Chapel Road, Birmingham, AL 35216.
The family appreciates all the prayers and support shown during Mrs. Fiore's sickness. She suffers no more ... she is in the presence of the Lord. Ridout's Elmwood Chapel, 205-251-7227, is directing. Published in The Birmingham News on 8/11/2008

Jimmie Lawrence Long

Jimmie Lawrence Long, 86, a retired Sheriff & Supervisor for Choctaw County, MS, died Wednesday, June 11, 2008, at his residence in Ackerman, MS. Visitation was Thursday, June 12, 2008, 6 til 8p.m. at Coleman Funeral Home in Ackerman, MS. Funeral services are 11:00a.m. today at Ackerman Baptist Church in Ackerman, MS with burial in the Enon Cemetery in Ackerman, MS.Coleman Funeral Home in Ackerman, MS is handling the arrangements.

Mr. Long was a WWII veteran serving in the U.S. Airforce. Mr. Long was a member of the Ackerman Masonic Lodge #119. He served as Sheriff for Choctaw County, MS from 1956-1960. He served as county supervisor for two terms.
Mr. Long was a member of Ackerman Baptist Church where he was in the Patarich Sunday School Class.

Survivors include: wife, Nanilou McCarty Long, Ackerman, MS; two sons, David Long & Pete Long both of Ackerman, MS; two daughters, Cheryl Stacy and Betty Johnson both of Ackerman, MS; one brother, Bill Long of Hernando, MS; four sisters, Maurice Keen of Leland, MS, Sis McClure of Ackerman, MS, Lavelle Moss of Henderson, TX, and Margie Murphy of New Albany, MS; six grandchildren; and nine great grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Jimbo Johnson, Mark Norman, Jeff Hagan, Jeff Paulk, Andy Stephenson, Hugh Stephenson, Bo Newman, and Jan Ganann. Honorary pallbearers will be nephews and members of the Patarich Sunday School Class.
Memorials may be sent to Ackerman Baptist Church or Springhill Baptist Church.

Published in the Clarion Ledger on 6/13/2008.

Audrey Jane Perry

OXFORD – Audrey Jane Perry, 94, died Wednesday, May 28, 2008, at Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi in Oxford. She graduated from Ackerman High School and went on to recieve her R.N. degree in nursing from University of Tennessee School of Medicine. She served in World War II in the Army Nurse Corps as a 1st lieutenant, serving from 1943-1946. She then recieved her B.S. in nursing at Vanderbilt University in 1950 and went to work at TVA as supervisor of nursing. She was a retired registered nurse in Chattanooga. After retirement, she was active in local cultural organizations in Chattanooga. She was also active in organized activities at her church, Brainerd Presbyterian, working with church office staff for seven years in charitable activities. Later, she became a member of First Presbyterian Church in Oxford, where she was active in womens groups and served as voluntary church historian. She enjoyed attending church and Sunday School.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the First Presbyterian Church with Dr. Mark Catledge Jackson and the Rev. John Semmes officiating. Burial will follow in Oxford Memorial Cemtery. Waller Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Survivors include a brother, Hervey B. Perry of Dallas, Texas; numerous nieces and nephews, and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews.

Visitation will be held prior to the service from 12:30 until 2:00 at the church.

Memorial contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 924 Van Buren Avenue, Oxford, MS 38655.

LeRoy Banks Weaver

ACKERMAN - LeRoy Banks Weaver, 99, a retired insurance agent, died Tuesday, May 13, 2008, at Choctaw County Medical Center in Ackerman, MS. Visitation is today from 5p.m. - 8p.m. at Coleman Funeral Home in Ackerman, MS. Funeral services are 11a.m., Thursday, May 15, 2008, at Coleman Funeral Home in Ackerman, MS with burial in the Enon Cemetery in Ackerman, MS. Coleman Funeral Home in Ackerman, MS is handling the arrangements. Banks was a 1928 graduate of Ackerman High School.

Mr. Weaver was born in Ackerman, MS on August 6, 1908. He was an independent insurance agent for over 68 years until the sale of his family business in 1997. He also operated the first funeral home and ambulance service in Choctaw County until 1954. He was the only surviving Charter Member of the Ackerman Rotary Club founded in 1945. He served as club president and was a Paul Harris Fellow. He was a member of the Ackerman Methodist Church where he had served as Sunday School Teacher for the Men's Bible Class and High School Class and chairman of the Administrative Board, Finance Committee, and Board of Trustees. He was a trustee for Ackerman High School serving as president in 1960. He was currently an Associate Director of Regions Bank.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Jane S. Weaver and one son, Hugh Banks Weaver, both of Ackerman, MS. Mr. Weaver was preceded in death by his parents, LeRoy Jefferson Weaver and Mary Banks Weaver, and a brother Joe Garland Weaver. Memorials may be made to Ackerman Methodist Church, Palmer Home for Children, or French Camp Academy.

Rex Charles Bowie

Rex Charles Bowie, 79, a retired pipe insulator, died Wednesday January 9, 2008 at his residence in Ackerman, MS. Visitation is Friday (1/11/2008), 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Coleman Funeral Home in Ackerman, MS. Funeral services are 11 a.m. Saturday (1/12/2008) at Ackerman United Methodist Church in Ackerman, MS with burial in the Enon Cemetery in Ackerman. Coleman Funeral Home in Ackerman, MS is handling the arrangements.

Mr. Bowie was a veteran of the Korean conflict and a Purple Heart recipient. He was a member of the Shriners, the Southern Colorado Consistory, the Ackerman Masonic Lodge, and the American Legion. He was a member of South Union Methodist Church and attended Ackerman United Methodist Church.

Survivors include: wife-Ruby M. Bowie of Ackerman, son, Hamp McKnight of Ackerman; daughter-Christina Bowie of Colorado; brothers, Ralph Bowie and Jack Bowie-both of Ackerman; sister, Joan Graves of Memphis, TN and one grandchild, Mitchell McKnight of Ackerman. Preceded in death by parents, Alien and Cora Bowie, brother Kay Bowie, and sister Lyndell Chambers.

Pallbearers for the service will be Clark Presley, Brent Bowie, Jody Graves, Eric Chambers, Robby Chambers, Doug Wise, Michael Donnell, Shane Burton, and Dale Currie. Honorary Pallbearers for the service include the Men's Bible Class of Ackerman United Methodist Church taught by Joe Griffin, Frank Black, Boyce Bruce, and Jimmy Ralph McClure.

Memorials may be sent to Ackerman United Methodist Church. Published in the Clarion Ledger on 1/11/2008.

Martha J. McMinn Brevard

Waynesboro, PA - Martha J. McMinn Brevard, 72, of 12125 Country Club Road, died Monday, Jan. 7, 2008, at Community Hospice of Washington, D.C.

Born March 8, 1935, in Mississippi, she was the daughter of the late James T. and Letha C. Carr McMinn.

She was a 1953 graduate of Ackerman (Miss.) High School. She graduated from the Mississippi University for Women, Columbus, Miss., in 1957, with a bachelor's degree in music education.

She was a homemaker and following her husband's retirement, they worked in real estate together.

She was a member of Blue Ridge Summit (Pa.) Garden Club and Waynesboro Country Club.

She is survived by her husband of more than 48 years, William N. "Nick" Brevard.
Services will be Thursday at 2 p.m. at Grove-Bowersox Funeral Home, Waynesboro. The Rev. John Ile will officiate. Burial will be later in Ackerman Cemetery, Ackerman.
The family will receive friends Thursday one hour prior to the services at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Quincy United Methodist Home Benevolent Care Fund, P.O. Box 128, Quincy, PA, 17247.

There will be a visitation at FUMC in Ackerman on Monday, January 14, 2008 from 1-2pm with the funeral service at 2 pm. Interment will be in Enon Cemetery.