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.