Hanson L. Harbour

Hanson passed away on Saturday, June 9, 2007. He is survived by his wife Lexie Chilsom Harbour. Hanson was last known to be living in Brandon, Mississippi. He was a U.S. Navy veteran and former Science teacher at Ackerman High School.

Contributions in his memory can be made to Zion Baptist Church.

Special thanks to Mr. Bill Griffin, former teacher and coach at Ackerman High School, who submitted this obituary. Mr. Griffin adds that “both were very nice people.”

James Timothy Chesnut

James Timothy Chesnut, son of Joe and Ruth Chesnut. Born November 29, 1961 and died March 28, 2004 after a valiant battle with cancer. He left his wife, Wendy and four
children: Zachary, J.J., Tori and Noah, his mother, Ruth (Staten) Nowlin, his father, Joe Chesnut, 2 sisters, Marie Chesnut Dendy, Vicky Chesnut Groceman, 2 brothers, Eddie Chesnut and Donnie Nowlin, his step-father Joel Nowlin, 1 step-sister, Linda Nowlin Mulkey, 2 step-brothers, Robert Nowlin and Martin Nowlin and a host of family and friends.

Timmy was a 1979 graduate of Ackerman High School. He served 21 years in the US Navy, most of the time on the USS Ranger before retiring. After retiring he launched the Navy Jr. ROTC program at Neshoba Central High along with Commander Rowell. Timmy was loved by all who knew him. He was buried in the Macedonia Cemetery in Choctaw County.

Edgar A. 'Eddy' Griffin (1958 Graduate of AHS)

MATHISTON — Funeral services for Edgar A. "Eddy" Griffin will be Sunday, July 8, 2007 at 2 p.m. at Blythe Creek Baptist Church near Mathiston. Burial will be at Blythe Creek Cemetery.

Rev. Danny Irvin and Rev. Mike Adcock will officiate. Visitation will be Saturday, July 7, 2007 from 5-8 p.m. at Coleman Funeral Home in Ackerman.

Mr. Griffin, 66, died Tuesday, July 3, 2007 at his residence in Mathiston. He served in the U.S. Armed Forces and was a member of Blythe Creek Baptist Church. Memorials can be sent to Blythe Creek Baptist Church.

Kyle Black (2001 Graduate of AHS)

Kyle Black, 24, a Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer at Jordan Funeral Home, died Saturday February 10, 2007 at Kosciusko, MS. Visitation is today 5-8 p.m. & Thursday 12-2 p.m. at Chester Baptist Church in Chester, MS. Funeral services are 2 p.m. Thursday at the church with burial in the Mt. Nebo Cemetery on Nebo Road in Choctaw County. Jordan Funeral Home in Kosciusko, MS is handling the arrangements.

Kyle was a member of the Chester Baptist Church, The Kosciusko Volunteer Fire Department, and a Master Mason of Trinity Lodge #88.

Survivors include: His Mother, Shelley Stewart and her Husband, Tim; His Father, Greg Black and his Wife, Jackie; Sisters, Jessica and Shannon Black and Grandparents, Thomas and Lorraine Black all of Ackerman, MS.

Memorials may be sent to Mt. Nebo Cemetery Fund C/O Hayward Perry, 189 Wagon Dr. Weir, MS. 39772.

Tony B. Busby

Tony B. Busby, 60, of Ackerman died Friday July 21, 2006 at Choctaw County Hospital in Ackerman. Services are 2 p.m. today at the Ackerman Baptist Church with burial in Salem Independent Methodist Church Cemetery near Ackerman. Coleman Funeral Home in Ackerman is handling arrangements.

Tony was born March 30,1946 in Houston. He was a graduate of Ackerman High School and attended Holmes Jr. College and Mississippi State University. He was a business owner and operator and was a member of Ackerman Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Janet Miles Busby of Ackerman; mother, Georgia Tennyson Busby of Ackerman; son, Dewayne Busby and wife Rene of Starkville; 2 grandchildren, Macey Rae Busby and Bryce Thomas Busby both of Starkville; his father, Thomas J. Busby of Ackerman preceded him in death.

Memorials may be made to Ackerman Baptist Church P.O. BOX 277 Ackerman, MS 39735.

Prentiss Brooks Irving

Prentiss Brooks Irving, 81, died Tuesday, April 18, 2006 at his home in Ackerman. Visitation is 5-8 p.m. today at Coleman Funeral Home in Ackerman. Services are 11 a.m. Saturday at the Ackerman Presbyterian Church with burial in Enon Cemetery in Ackerman. Mr. Irving was a graduate of Ackerman High School, Holmes Community College, and Mississippi State University. He began his career as a teacher and a football coach. Prentiss coached at McAdams, Sturgis, Shelby, and Magee, Mississippi before retuning to his hometown to coach at Ackerman High School. After he finished coaching Mr. Irving worked at the local United States Post Office until retirement. He was a member of the Ackerman Presbyterian Church where he served as an Elder. He served on the Choctaw County Board of Education and held a membership in the Rotary Club, Lions Club, V.F.W, and American Legion. He served in the United States Navy during World War II with two years of active duty in the South Pacific.

Prentiss is survived by: his wife of 54 years, Jimmy Payne Irving of Ackerman; three daughters, Jan Bruening and husband Gayle of Madison, Cissy Voight and husband Mike of Nashville, TN, and Pam Marriam and husband Robert of Oxford; five grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Prentiss was preceded in death by his parents, Mr. And Mrs. Frank Irving, and his sister Margie Irving Al-Refai.

Memorials may be made in memory of Mr. Irving to French Camp Academy in French Camp, MS or Palmer Home for Children in Columbus, MS.

Billy Daniel Bowman

Billy Daniel Bowman, 67, died Thursday, January 12, 2006 at Mississippi Baptist Medical Center in Jackson. Visitation is 1:30 until service time at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Grenada. Services are 2 p.m. today at the church with burial in Evergreen Cemetery in North Carrollton. Lee Funeral Home of Winona is handling arrangements. Dr. Clarence Cooper assisted by Rev. David Bryant will officiate.

He was born to the late Thomas Daniel and Helen Louise Bowman. He was a member of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Grenada where he served on the Bus Ministry Committee. He was a graduate of Ackerman High School, and attended Holmes Junior College, where he is a member of the Hall of Fame. He is a graduate of Delta State College, where he was an All-American Halfback in football. He was an avid hunter and fisherman.

He is survived by: his wife, Joyce Herbert Bowman of Grenada; sons, Billy Daniel Bowman, II, and wife Amy of Winona, and Rainey Bowman and wife Dene of Louisville, KY; sister, Jeanette Whitehead of Jackson; brothers, Jack Bowman of Ackerman, Don Bowman of Starkville, Glen Bowman of Jackson and George Bowman of Weir; four grandchildren, Michael, Cullen, Ben Addison, and Eryn Claire Bowman.

Pallbearers are: Tommy Bowman, Don Bowman, Jr., Rodney Bowman, Rusty Bowman, Paul Bowman, Jamie Whitehead, Dave Herbert, Matthew Whitfield, Shane Whitefield, and Lee Herbert.

Memorials can be made to Emmanuel Baptist Church Bus Ministry Fund, P.O. Box 908, Grenada, MS 38902.

Valarie S. Wood

Ms Valarie S. Wood, a staff accountant at PharmaPac in Dekalb, MS, died Friday, October, 28, 2005 at Regency Hospital in Meridian, MS of complications from cystic fibrosis after a hospitalization of nearly twelve weeks.

Valarie, 29, was born June 6, 1976, in Biloxi, MS, moved to Ackerman when she was 3, and moved to Meridian four years ago. She previously worked at Peavey in Meridian, BancorpSouth in Louisville, and while in college an immediately afterwards, at Stage and Factory Connections in Starkville. She was a 1994 honor graduate of Ackerman High School, a member of the AHS Marching Band, and among her and awards and honors, she was elected to the AHS Hall of Fame. Valarie graduated from Mississippi State University with a degree in Banking and Finance.

Valaries hobbies included traveling, music and watching movies. Valarie was a Christian and a member of Concord Baptist Church in Ackerman.

Services were held Monday October 31, 2005 at Coleman Funeral Home Chapel and burial in Concord Baptist Church Cemetery.

Valarie is survived by her parents, Billy and Peggy Wood of Ackerman, her sister and brother-in-law, Mary Ann and Jason Wooten of Gulf Shores, AL; her niece, Madeline Olivia Wooten of Gulf Shores, AL, her fiancé, Paul Clark, her grandmother, Latriece Simmons Wade of Soso, MS, several very loving uncles, aunts and cousins and a host of relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her maternal grandfather, W.F. Wade, Jr. of Soso, her paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Walker Wood of Ackerman and her cousin, Brandon Ellis Wade of Soso.

Coleman Funeral Home of Ackerman was in charge of arrangements.

Anthony D. Lucas

Funeral Services for Mr. Anthony D. Lucas, 32, of Ackerman, MS were held Monday February 7, 2005 at 2:00 PM at Ackerman Baptist Church with Rev. Danny Irvin and Rev. Jerry Lawson officiating and burial in Providence Baptist Cemetery near Ackerman. Visitation was held Sunday February 6, 2005 at Coleman Funeral Home. He was born in Choctaw County April 10, 1972.

Mr. Lucas died Friday, February 4, 2005 in the line of duty while serving as the Chief of Police for French Camp on Whites Road near Weir, MS.

Mr. Lucas was an Mississippi Department oof Corrections Law Enforcement Officer for the State of Mississippi and Police Chief for the French Camp. He was on duty as Chief of Police for the Town of French Camp at the time of his death. He was a member of the Blythe Creek Baptist Church.

Survivors include wife Penny Jenkins Lucas of Ackerman; son, Kyle Lucas of Ackerman, MS; parents, Wendell and Brenda Lucas of Ackerman, MS; sister, Amy Oakes and husband Timmy and their children Haley, Trenton, and Tristian all of Ackerman; maternal grandmother, Maxine Jones of Ackerman, paternal grandmother, Irene Lucas of Ackerman.

Coleman Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

David Alan Sinn

David Alan Sinn, 60, passed away Tuesday, August 3, 2004, at Central Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson after a courageous battle against cancer. Visitation is 5-8 p.m. today at Baldwin-Lee Funeral Home in Jackson. Services are 11 a.m. Thursday at Lakeshore Congregational Methodist Church with burial in South Union Methodist Church Cemetery in Ackerman.

David retired in 2003 after 23 years with Trustmark National Bank having served as 1st Vice President. He was born in Meridian, but was a long-time resident of Jackson where he was a member of Lakeshore Congregational Methodist Church. He was preceded in death by his father, Roy McCarty.

David is survived by his wife of 23 years, Ann Russellan (Herbert) Sinn; daughters, Tamsyn (Furne) Gramling and son-in-law, Rob of Nashville, Tenn., DeAnn Sinn of Georgia, Stacye Sinn of Jackson, Kim Poe of Alabama; mother, Wilna McCarty of Ackerman; mother-in-law, Nina Herbert; sister, Susan Elderton and husband Bill of Florida; brother, Randy McCarty of Alabama; several nieces and nephews.

Juanita F. "Nita" Busby

Services for Mrs. Juanita F. "Nita" Busby, 68 of Ackerman, were held on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 at 1:00 p.m. at Coleman Funeral Home in Ackerman. Rev. Danny Bryant and Rev. Lane Stephenson officiated the service with internment in the Antioch Methodist Cemetery. Coleman Funeral Home of Ackerman was in charge of the arrangements. Visitation was held on Monday, July 26, 2004 at the Coleman Funeral Home from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m.

Mrs. Busby died July 25, 2004 at Trace Regional Hospital in Houston of pneumonia. She was born August 18, 1935 in Charleston. She was a Cosmetologist /Barber and was a member of Enon Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Ackerman.

Survivors include two daughters, Pam King of Ackerman and Marsha Ellington of Choctaw, OK; two brothers, Irby Ford of Hernando and Kenneth Ford of Ackerman; two sisters, Katherine Wood of Ackerman and Lois Rayford Olive Branch and five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Silas 'S. M.' Dobbs Jr.

Silas "S. M." Dobbs, Jr., 82, retired businessman, died Tuesday, May 25, 2004, at Aurora Australis Lodge in Columbus. Visitation is 12 noon until the 2 p.m. funeral service today at Gunter & Peel Funeral Home in Columbus with burial in Enon Cemetery in Ackerman.

Bertrand 'BK' Melton

Bertrand "BK" Melton, 86, died Saturday, February 21, 2004, at Central Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. Services are 11 a.m. Monday at Lakewood Funeral Home with visitation from 3-6 p.m. and after 10 a.m. Monday.

Mr. Melton was born in Choctaw County Mississippi on November 4, 1917. He graduated from Ackerman High School and Milsaps College.

He joined the army and served as a Master Sargent with the Airborne Engineers in the Pacific Theater during World War II. He was a hydraulics engineer with the Waterways Experiment Station/US Corp of Engineers where he retired with over 35 years of service.

Mr. Melton was a charter member of Morrison Heights Baptist Church in Clinton. He later helped form Cornerstone Church in Pearl. He was an active member of Cornerstone and for many years he coordinated food collection for the Fathers Close, a ministry of the church.

Mr. Melton is preceded by his wife of 61 years, Frances Melton. He is survived by two daughters, Donna James and her husband Allen of Clinton and Carolyn Hutcherson of Washington, D.C.; one brother, Thomas Melton of Heber Springs, Ark.; one sister, Gladys Edwards of Jackson; three grandchildren, Jack Strohm of Clinton, Kim Hutcherson of Atlanta, Ga., and Krisin Hutcherson of Washington, D.C.; one great-granddaughter Elaena Hutcherson of Washington, D.C.

William Douglas Burney

William Douglas Burney passed away on November 13, 2003, in Oak Harbor, Washington. Doug was 54 years old. He was a member of the Union Labors Local 252, a graduate of Mississippi State University, and a Veteran of the United States Coast Guard.

He was preceded in death by his parents Edsel and Jolene Ray Burney, Grandparents, Sam E. and Vera Ray and W. L. and Mayme Burney, all of Ackerman.

He is survived by: his wife, Carol Johnson Burney, of Oak Harbor, Washington; daughters Ashley Cecelia Marcel, Steffen Jolene Burney, both of Olympia,Washington, and Tanya Nicole Manganello of Traverse City, Michigan; three sisters, Sandy Burney Vance of Quilcene, Washington, Julie Burney Brooks of Clarksdale, Mississippi and Lisa Burney Gilliland of Mathiston, Mississippi.; and two granddaughters, Alieyah Jordon and Alexis Marcel of Olympia, Washington.

A memorial service will be held in Doug's memory Friday November 28 at 5:00 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Ackerman, where Doug remained a member throughout his life. Rev. Buddy Smith will officiate. The family is asking that in lieu of flowers, memorials are to be sent to The Disabled Veterans of America, Federal Building, Room 1040, 915 2nd Avenue, Seattle, Washington 98174.

Trudy Austin Zilinskas

Graveside services were held Tuesday, May 20, 2003 at 1:00 p.m. at Crape Creek Baptist Church Cemetery in Choctaw County, MS. Visitation was held Monday, May 19, 2003, from 5-7 pm at Jefferson Memorial Trussville Chapel.

Mrs. Zininskas of Center Point, AL, died May 16, 2003, at her residence of an apparent heart attack. She is survived by her husband, Greg Zilinskas, one son, Jason Zilinskas and two grandchildren, Austin and Anna Jayde Zilinskas. She is also survived by four sisters, Carolyn Fiore, Topsie King, Geneva Harris, all of Birmingham, AL and Nell Atkinson of Lousiville, MS; two brothers, O'Keefe Austin and W.C. Austin.

Jeanette Thompson Barksdale

Services for Jeanette Thompson Barksdale, 57, of Ackerman were held at 2 p.m., Monday, May 26, 2003 at Concord Baptist Church with Revs. Steve Yarber and Rob Faulk officiating. Interment was held in Concord Baptist Church Cemetery. Nowell Funeral Services of Ackerman was in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Barksdale died May 23, 2003 at her residence. She was born February 27, 1946 in Choctaw County. She was not employed and was a member of Chester Baptist Church.

Survivors include two daughters, Michelle Hargett of Baldwyn and Sarah Woodward of Tuscaloosa, AL; two brothers, Hervey Thompson of Ackerman and J.W. Thompson of St. Petersberg, FL; two sisters, Charlotte Vickers of Sturgis and Ilene Alliston of Crystal Springs and three grandchildren.

Leonard G. Black

Leonard G. Black, 77, a longtime building contractor and co-owner of Black Brothers Building Supply, died of heart failure Saturday, June 29, 2002, at North Mississippi Medical Center. Services are 2 p.m. today at Enon Cumberland Presbyterian Church with burial in Enon Cemetery. Nowell Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Mr. Black was a member of Enon Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Ackerman. He was a Navy veteran of World War II.

Survivors include: wife, Beatrice Black of Ackerman; sons, Jerry Black of Ackerman, Gary Black and wife, Judy of Piedmont, Ala. and Ricky Joe Black and wife, Linda of Jackson; daughter, Regina Liddell and husband, Ricky of Vicksburg; brothers, Bobby Black of Ackerman and Billy Joe Black Sr. of Ackerman; nine grandchildren, Paige Black, Chris Black, Jason Black, Dawn Bouchillon, Heather Black, Amber Vowell, Justin Liddell, Megan Liddell and Chelsey Liddell; and five great-grandchildren, Stephanie Black, Justin Black, Lauren Bouchillon, Avery Bouchillon and Woody Vowell II.

Memorials may be made to Enon Cumberland Presbyterian Church Family Life Center, P.O. Box 294, Ackerman, MS 39735.

R.T. Ward

SENATOBIA - Roger Truett "R.T." Ward, 87, died Sunday, July 15, 2001, at the Calhoun County Nursing Home in Calhoun City. He was born September 28, 1913, in Louisville. He was a 1939 graduate of Delta State Teachers College and a 1950 graduate of the University of Mississippi, where he received a master of science degree in school administration. He was a teacher from 1939-1944, then served as principal for Drew High School, Walnut School, Bruce High School, Lambert High School, Ackerman High School, Marks High School and Quitman County High School. For two years he served as a hospital administrator in Ackerman. From 1976-1983 he held the office of superintendent of education for the Quitman County School System. From 1976-1987 he served on the board of Trustees for Northwest Mississippi Community College, where he was chairman of the board from 1981-1985. He also was a board member of Coahoma Mississippi Community College. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Marks, where he was a lifetime deacon and former Sunday School teacher. He was a Mason, and a member of Rotary International, Mississippi Association of School Administrators, Mississippi Association of School Superintendents, National Educators Association and his educational fraternity, Red Red Rose.

Services will be at 11 a.m. today at the First Baptist Church of Marks with Rev. Laurie Jones and David Meadors officiciating. Burial will be in Marks Cemetery. Kimbro Funeral Home of Marks is in charge of arrangements.

Survivors include two daughters, Rebecca Ward Arrington of Houston and Patricia Ward Lowder of Senatobia; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren.

Memorial donations may be made to the R.T. Ward Endowed Scholarship at Northwest Community College or the First Baptist Church of Marks.