Archives
 By  Staff Reports Published 
3:41 pm Saturday, January 13, 2001

OBITUARIES FOR SATURDAY, JAN. 13, 2001

By Staff
SADIE BAKER
Retired from Winn Dixie
Services for Sadie Baker were held Friday, Jan. 8, 2001, at Stephens Funeral Home with the Rev. Dr. Danny Chisholm officiating. Burial was in Meridian Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mrs. Baker, 83, of Meridian, died Friday, Jan. 5, 2001, at Beverly Nursing Home. She was born in Pine Springs community and lived her entire life in Meridian. She was a faithful member of Central Baptist Church, formerly known as South Side Baptist Church.
Survivors include a daughter, Gloria Kirby of Meridian; a step-daughter, Bobbie Baker Smoot of Byhalia; a step-son, Donald Ray Baker of Columbus, Ga.; a sister, Pearl Townsend Smith of Columbus; two brothers, Thomas Mabra Townsend of Collinsville and Howard Townsend of Meridian, and a granddaughter, Meredith Womack.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Joe Andrew and Minnie Vincent Townsend; her husband, Jessie M. Baker and a brother, Aaron Elbert Townsend.
CLINNIE MAE CULBERSON HARDY
Homemaker
FOREST Services for Clinnie Mae Culberson Hardy will be held today at 10 a.m. at the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Tucker. Burial will be in the church cemetery with Ott and Lee Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Hardy, 87, of Morton, died Thursday, Jan. 11, 2001, at Scott Regional Hospital. She was a native of Neshoba County and had been a resident of Forest since 1952.
Survivors include a daughter, Faye Park and a son-in-law, John Park, both of Forest; nine grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John Albert Hardy.
The family requests memorials be made to St. Michael's Catholic Church, Attention: Father Richard Smith, P.O. Box 288, Forest, MS 39074.
WILLIAM LEON NORRIS
Retired South Central Bell
QUITMAN Services for William Leon Norris will be held today at 10 a.m. at Wright's Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Gene Neal officiating. Burial will be in Archusa Memorial Gardens.
Mr. Norris, 78, of Quitman, died Thursday, Jan. 11, 2001, at H.C. Watkins Hospital. He was a member of First Baptist Church. He was a Mason, a Shriner and member of Quitman Volunteer Fire Department. Mr. Norris was known for the vegetables he grew. He loved working with the soil of the earth and sharing the harvest with his family and friends. The vegetables Leon grew and the love he shared for his family and friends was great. Leon will be missed by all who knew him.
Survivors include his wife, Hazel Norris, two sons, Keith Norris and Tommy Norris, a daughter, Debbie Walker and her husband, Buddy, all of Quitman; a sister, Agnes Martin and her husband, Harry, of Tupelo, a special sister-in-law, Linda Creel; five grandchildren, Brian Norris, Randall Headrick, Cari Norris, Amy Norris and Sara Norris; and a great-grandchild.
Pallbearers will be Lyonel Stewart, Donald Goodman, Danny Hardee, Franklin Slay, Gene West, Greg Creel and Benny White.
EVA GRACE LINTON
Services for Eva Grace Linton will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. at Springhill Methodist Church with the Revs. Paul Raley and Jeff Hancock officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery with James F. Webb Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Linton, 91, of Meridian, died Thursday, Jan. 11, 2001, at Riley Hospital.
Survivors include three sons, Harmon L. Linton, Hurley O. Linton and Harley E. Linton, all of Meridian; two daughters, Janie Wright and Eva Janelle Avery, both of Meridian; a sister, Thelma Anderson of New Castle, Del.; seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Harmon E. Linton.
LEROY CUMBERLAND
Retired truck driver
PHILADELPHIA Services for Leroy Cumberland will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. at McClain-Hays Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Johnny Collins officiating. Burial will be in Sandtown Cemetery.
Mr. Cumberland, 75, of Union, died Thursday, Jan. 11, 2001, at Laird Hospital in Union. He served in the Army during World War II.
Survivors include a daughter, Elaine Graves of Canyon Lake, Texas; two sisters, Arlene Page of Union and Marlene Ellingburg of Philadelphia; six brothers, Cliff Cumberland, Earl Cumberland and Willis Cumberland, all of Union, Raymond Cumberland and Jerry Cumberland, both of Philadelphia and Carl Cumberland of Caledonia.
Visitation will be today from 4-9 p.m. at the funeral home.
WHIT WARRELL
Offshore driller and roustabout
PHILADELPHIA Services for Whit Warrell will be held Sunday at 3:30 p.m. at McClain-Hays Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Lin Chesney officiating. Burial will be in Hester Cemetery.
Mr. Warrell, 65, of Whit Oak, died Friday, Jan. 12, 2001, at the University Medical Center in Jackson. He served in the U.S. Navy.
Survivors include his wife, Ruby Warrell of White Oak; two daughters, Teresa Lee of Jackson and Brenda Seger of White Oak; a son, Joseph "Joe" Warrell Jr., of White Oak; two sisters, Virginia Ray of Brandon and Dorothy Crimm of Meridian; a brother, Lewis Warrell of Goshen Springs; and nine grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 3:30-9 p.m. at the funeral home.

Also on Franklin County Times
Rural hospitals face challenges: New state tax credit could help
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 28, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Franklin County’s two hospitals face the same financial pressures confronting rural health care across Alabama even as they remain esse...
Phil Campbell gets ‘clean opinion’ on audit
Main, News, Phil Campbell, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 28, 2026
PHIL CAMPBELL — Certified public accountant Don Wallace told town council members on Jan. 20 there were no problems with this year’s audit. “This is w...
MLK’s legacy: Blueprint we must follow
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 28, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Rev. Bennie “B.J.” Bonner stood before an audience gathered Jan. 19 for the Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration March and described ho...
Elementary students begin Super Citizen program
News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 28, 2026
Second and third graders from West Elementary and Russellville Elementary began Liberty Learning Foundation’s Super Citizen program during an event ki...
Book Lovers Study Club explores tea’s role in history
Columnists, News, Opinion
HERE AND NOW
January 28, 2026
Our Book Lovers Study Club’s January meeting highlighted both the Boston Tea Party boycott of English tea and the traditions of afternoon tea. One of ...
Moving from excuses to action in 1 year
Columnists, Opinion
January 28, 2026
In just 12 months, the Trump administration has delivered real results that Americans can see in their daily lives by restoring law and order at our b...
Higgins hired as RHS football coach
High School Sports, Russellville Golden Tigers, Sports
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 28, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Darrell Higgins has been hired as the new head football coach at Russellville High School. His hiring was announced Saturday following ...
Seal retires from CB&S after 31 years
News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 28, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Following a 31-year career at CB&S Bank, Beverly Seal is now retired and looking forward to what comes next. While she’s still explorin...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *