Archives
 By  Staff Reports Published 
1:11 am Saturday, February 17, 2001

OBITUARIES FOR SATURDAY, FEB. 17, 2001

By Staff
GEORGE VERNON SMITH
Construction company owner
Graveside services for George Vernon "Smitty" Smith were held Friday, Feb, 17, 2001 at Mount Carmel Presbyterian Church Cemetery with the Rev. Chuck Overby officiating. Stephens Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Smith, 80, of Meridian, died Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2001, at Riley Hospital. He was the retired owner of a construction company. He was a veteran of World War II.
Survivors include two daughters, Verna Thrash and her husband, Kevin, and Kay McMullan and her husband, Joey, both of Meridian; two sons, Michael Smith and his wife, Lynn, and Jody Smith, all of Meridian; nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; seven nieces and two nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Quincy Smith and Mattie Shelby.
Pallbearers were Tommy Watson, Wayne McKennion, Charles Thrash, Don Thrash, Kerry Ward and Josh Ward.
ODIE M. SHIELDS
Homemaker
DEKALB Services for Odie M. Shields will be held today at 2:30 p.m. at Union Baptist Church in Scooba with the Rev. L.C. Clay officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery with E.E. McDonald Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Shields, 51, of Scooba, died Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2001, at St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson.
Survivors include her husband, Lessie Shields, Scooba; a daughter, Leslie A. Cross and her husband, Tony, both of Scooba; her mother, Giora Rencher of Scooba; four sisters, Nancy Little and her husband, Ceaser, of Scooba, Darlene Strickland, Sherry Strickland and Glendale Strickland, all of St. Louis, Mo.; five brothers, John E. Williams of Scooba, Matthew Williams of South Carolina, Odis Dancy, Kenny Perry and Odis Perry, all of St. Louis; and two grandchildren.
ESSIE MAE GRAY
Homemaker
Services for Essie Mae Gray will be held Monday at noon at First Baptist Church in Enterprise with the Rev. Leroy Burns officiating. Burial will be in Musgrove Cemetery with Berry and Gardner Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Gray, 85, of Enterprise, died Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2001, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center.
Survivors include three daughters, Lillie Pearl Gray and Doris Faye Flournay, both of Chicago, and Aldie Louise Brown and her husband, Rudolph, of Meridian; four sons, George Henry Gray and his wife, Ada, Lee Otis Gray and his wife, Doris, Essie Lee Gray and his wife, Pat, and John Henry Gray, and his wife, Louise, all of Biloxi; three grandchildren whom she raised as her own children, Stevie Gray of Leavenworth, Kan., Winston Gray and his wife, Lynn, and Mark Gray and his wife, Felicia, all of Enterprise; two sisters, Sadie Mae Gray and her husband, Henry, and Mattie L. Johnson, all of Enterprise; two brothers, Leonard Smith of Mobile, Ala., and Luther Smith of Meridian; 25 grandchildren; a number of great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, close relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Percy Smith and Falbie Price Smith; two sisters, Mamie Presley and Addie Mae Smith; and two brothers, Cleo Smith and James Smith.
Visitation will be Sunday from 6 p.m.-7 p.m. at the funeral home and Monday from 11 a.m. until services at the church.
JAMES MONROE
Mayfield
NEWTON Arrangements were incomplete at James F. Webb Funeral Home for James Monroe Mayfield, 84, of Newton, who died Friday, Feb. 16, 2001, at Heartfelt Hospice in Meridian.
JAMES L. BOLDEN
Arrangements were incomplete at Berry and Gardner for James L. "Sonny Boy" Bolden, 66, of Meridian, who died Friday, Feb. 16, 2001, at Riley Hospital.

Also on Franklin County Times
Hill addresses challenges before congressional panel
Main, News, Russellville, ...
SMALL WATER SYSTEM
By Addi Broadfoot For the FCT 
March 4, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Eric Hill, general manager of the Russellville Water and Sewer Board, traveled to Washington, D.C., last week to speak before Congress ...
Phil Campbell adopts buildings ordinance
Main, News, Phil Campbell, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
March 4, 2026
PHIL CAMPBELL — Town councilmembers have approved a buildings ordinance which establishes requirements for inspections, notices, hearings and enforcem...
Bendall takes regional role at UNA
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
March 4, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Dr. Natalie Bendall has accepted a regional in-service center director’s role at the University of North Alabama. In her new position a...
Tax season brings relief for workers
Columnists, Opinion
March 4, 2026
Americans across the country are preparing for tax season as W-2s make their way to everyone’s mailboxes. People often compare filling out their tax f...
GFWC clubs support parks system
Columnists, Opinion
HERE AND NOW
March 4, 2026
When our GFWC Book Lovers Study Club met recently, we focused on something that belongs to all Americans -- the National Park Service. Patricia Cox, c...
Bishop, McCulloch lead RHS softball to 4-1 start
High School Sports, Russellville Golden Tigers, Sports
Brannon King For the FCT 
March 4, 2026
The Russellville varsity softball team successfully opened the 2026 season with a 4-0 start before falling in the fifth game of the week. The Lady Gol...
Belgreen wins 4 of 5
Belgreen Bulldogs, High School Sports, Sports
Bart Moss For the FCT 
March 4, 2026
The Belgreen Bulldogs are off to a hot start under new veteran coach Jonathan Raper. After dropping their opener to Dora, the Bulldogs won four straig...
RHS loses 4 in Showdown
High School Sports, News, Russellville Golden Tigers, ...
Brannon King For the FCT 
March 4, 2026
The Russellville High baseball team defeated the Hatton Hornets in the home opener, then lost four games in the PB South Alabama Showdown. RHS hosted ...

Leave a Reply

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