OBITUARIES FOR THURSDAY, FEB. 15, 2001

By Staff
BRYAN B. LASSITER JR.
Odom Industries employee
BUTLER, Ala. Services for Bryan B. Lassiter Jr. were held today at 10 a.m. at Cullomburs Baptist Church with the Rev. Sonny Hoven officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery with Bumpers Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Lassiter, 41, of Silas, died Friday Feb. 9, 2001, in his home.
Survivors include his father, Belcher Lassiter Sr. of Chatom; his stepmother, Beth Lassiter of Chatom; a brother, Bobby Lassiter of Silas; two sisters, Elaine Pitts of Waynesboro and Crickett Waldman of Tampa, Fla., a grandmother, Myra Powe of Silas; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Ruth, and a brother, Michael.
HELEN MCBRIDE
SEBASTOPOL Services for Helen McBride will be held today at 1 p.m. at Mt. Zion Baptist Church with the Rev. Eugene Tubby officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery with Milling Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Ms. McBride, 54, of Pompano Beach, Fla., died Saturday, Feb. 10, 2001, in Pompano Beach.
Survivors include three foster children, Oma Lee Boggs, Abel Boggs and Richard Lee Boggs; three sisters, Oma Lee Dixon of Carthage, Melba Jean Dixon of Pompano Beach and Zonie Parkhurst of Wetumka, Okla.; seven brothers, Roy Dixon and Samuel Dixon, both of Carthage, Daniel Dixon, Adam Dixon, Henry Dixon and Randy Dixon, all of Philadelphia, and Wade Dixon of Gautier; and three grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Floyd McBride.
BETTYE HARRISON RUNNELS
Homemaker
NEWTON Graveside services for Bettye Harrison Runnels will be held today at 1:30 p.m. at Poplar Springs Baptist Church Cemetery with the Rev. Charles Bonner officiating. James F. Webb Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Runnels, 65, of Houma, La., died Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2001, in Houma.
Survivors include her husband, Jerry Runnels of Bayou Blue; four daughters, Pennie Guest of Stuttgart, Ark., Robyn Scuttie, Denise Runnels and Donna Runnels, all of Hattiesburg; six sons, Durrow Loewer of Pascagoula, Mickey Loewer of Petal, Craig Loewer of Houma, Ricky Runnels and David Runnels, all of Hattiesburg; a brother, Tom Harrison of Newton; and 13 grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents Marion and Mary Sue Scarborough Harris and a son, Danny Loewer.
Visitation will be today beginning at 1 p.m. at the cemetery.
MARGARET ELIZABETH ELLIOTT
Homemaker
YORK, Ala. Services for Margaret "Bessie" Elizabeth Elliott will be held Friday at 10 a.m. at Emelle Community Church with the Revs. Clarence Cottrell and Dr. David Lee officiating. Burial will be in Central Cemetery in Emelle with Bumpers Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Ms. Elliott, 93, of Emelle, died Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2001, at Sumter Health and Rehab.
Survivors include two sons, James Burton Fuller Sr. and Howard E. Fuller Jr., both of Emelle; two daughters, Sara Ann Fuller Munday of Gulf Breeze, Fla. and Ruth Wren Weston of Montgomery, Ala.; 10 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by her two husbands, Howard E. Fuller Sr. and John K. Elliott.
The family requests memorials be made to Methodist Childrens Homes, Hospice South or a favorite charity.
Visitation will be held today from 5-7 p.m. at the funeral home.
JENNIE FULTON MCKEE
Owner of McKee Body Shop
Services for Jennie Fulton McKee will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at Fellowship Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. Jimmy Williams officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery with Stephens Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. McKee, 63, of Bailey, died Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2001, at Riley Hospital. She was a member of Fellowship Baptist Church, Guardian Angels of the Hamasa Temple and the Center Hill Community Development Club.
Survivors include her husband, Hollis G. McKee of Bailey; a son, Jeffery McKee and his wife, Susan, of Meridian; a daughter, Lori McKee Luse and her husband, Chuck, of Meridian; her mother, Mrs. Stuart Fulton of Preston; a brother, Paul J. Fulton and his wife, Linda, of Preston; a sister, Pat Creekmore and her husband, Earl, of Meridian; five grandchildren, April McKee, Ashley Jones, Jordan Jones, Brad Luse and Micah McKee.
She was preceded in death by her father, Jeff Fulton and a son, Chester McKee.
The family requests memorials be made to Fellowship Baptist Church Children's Playground Fund or a charity of choice.
Pallbearers will be Billy Cook, Danny Cook, Harris Wilder, Jackie Pace, Jimmy Jenkins and Kane Combs.
Visitation will be today from 5-8 p.m. at Stephen's Funeral Home.
J.D. MCDONALD
Retired truck driver
PHILADELPHIA Services for J.D. McDonald will be held Friday at 1 p.m. at Clark's Chapel United Methodist Church in Kemper County with the Revs. David Keller and Mitchell McDonald officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery with McClain-Hays Funeral Service in charge of arrangements.
Mr. McDonald, 78, of DeKalb, died Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2001, at Riley Hospital. He was a native of Kemper County and was married to the former Catherine Goodin. He was a resident of Jackson for a number of years and retired as a truck driver with Complete Auto Transit. He had lived the past 18 years in the Cleveland community of Kemper County where he enjoyed his family, friends, fishing and gardening. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving in World War II and a member of the American Legion Post 0005 in DeKalb. He was also a member of the Teamsters Local 891.
Survivors include his wife, Catherine Goodin McDonald of DeKalb, three daughters, Rita Ingram of Gardendale, Ala., Inez Covington and Linda McMillan, both of Madison; a son, Floyd McDonald of Jackson; two brothers, Lester McDonald and Wess McDonald, both of Preston; seven grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 4-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
GEORGE VERNON SMITH
Construction company owner
Graveside services for George Vernon "Smitty" Smith will be held Friday at 2 p.m. at Mt. Carmel Presbyterian Church Cemetery with the Rev. Chuck Overby officiating. Stephens Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Smith, 80, of Meridian, died Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2001, at Riley Hospital.
Survivors include two daughters, Verna Thrash and her husband, Kevin, and Kay McMullan and her husband, Joey, all of Meridian; two sons, Michael Smith and his wife, Lynn, and Jody Smith, all of Meridian; nine grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, seven nieces and a nephew.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Quincy Smith and Mattie Shelby.
Pallbearers will be Tommy Watson, Wayne McKennion, Charles Thrash, Don Thrash, Kerry Ward and Josh Ward.
Visitation will be today from 5-8 p.m. and Friday from noon-1:30 p.m. at the funeral home.