OBITUARIES FOR SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2001

By Staff
O. RAY COMPTON
Retired
Services for O. Ray Compton will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. at Barham Funeral Home chapel, with the Rev. Kenneth Owen officiating. Burial will be in Oak Grove Community Cemetery on Valley Road.
Mr. Compton, 67, of Meridian, died Thursday, June 7, 2001, at Rush Foundation Hospital.
Mr. Compton was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corp., was in the Korean Conflict and was a past commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 79, Meridian. He was a member of Oak Grove Methodist Church and was active in many community services.
Survivors include his wife, Sylvia Tucker Compton of Meridian; his children, Katrina Compton Brown and her husband, Grant, and Henry Ray Compton, all of Meridian, and Paul Stephen Compton of Clarke County; a daughter-in-law, Christal Compton of Meridian; two grandchildren, Amanda Raeanna "Ray Ray" Brown and Jacob Paul Compton, both of Meridian; a sister, Grace Compton Gainer of Clarke County; a brother, Curtiss McKinley Compton and his wife, Bonnie, of Gulfport; a sister-in-law, Bettye H. Compton of Meridian; his mother-in-law, Rosalie Stephens, and his father-in-law, William A. Tucker, both of Clarke County; his life-long friend, Aubrey Thomas of Meridian; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, William Leon and Bessie Moore Compton; a brother, William B. Compton; and a sister, Norma Compton Chatham.
Pallbearers will be William B. Compton Jr., Robert H. Compton, David M. Compton, John G. Compton, Michael C. Compton, Curtis M. Compton Jr., Raymond Charles Compton, Wayne L. Motley, Tracy E. Motley, Larry Chatham and Roy Chatham Jr.
The family requests memorials be made to Oak Grove Methodist Church Building Fund, 608 Valley Road, Meridian, MS 36301.
Visitation will be today from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
WILLIE B. WADE
Tri-State Mack employee
Services for Willie B. "Papa" Wade will be held Monday at 1 p.m. at Mt. Olive Baptist Church, with the Rev. A.D. Lewis officiating. Burial will be in Meridian Memorial Park Cemetery with Berry and Gardner Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Wade was born July 23, 1953, in Meridian to Mrs. Betty Wade Chambers Darden and Mr. Willie McWilliams who preceded him in death. He departed from this life Wednesday, June 6, 2001, in Jasper County. Mr. Wade, 48, resided in Meridian.
Wade, as he was affectionately called, united with Anderson Temple Church of God and Christ at an early age. In his adult life, he regularly attended Mt. Olive Baptist Church, Meridian, with his wife and children.
Willie was a 1972 graduate of Meridian High School where he was outstanding in basketball and football. He furthered his education at what was then Meridian Junior College (MCC) on a basketball scholarship, where he was a standout. His activities included participating in intramural sports and singing in the gospel choir.
On September 25, 1974, he was united in holy matrimony to Mary Ann McWilliams and to this union two daughters were born.
He began his professional career at Rush Foundation Hospital and continued with Tri-State Mack until his untimely demise. He was also employed as a part-time staff member at Berry and Gardner Funeral Home.
Papa was a well-known participant in car, motorcycle and truck racing. He was also an avid sports enthusiast which included officiating ball games.
Wade and Mary Ann fell in love the summer of 1970. He was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend who never met a stranger. To meet him was to meet a friend.
Willie leaves to cherish his memory a loving wife, Mary Ann Wade; two daughters, Tiffanee Wade Henderson, Esq. and her husband, Gregory, of Jackson and Teralyn Wade of Meridian; two grandchildren, Joya Nicole and Jordan Wade Henderson, both of Jackson; six brothers, Michael Simon of Berkeley, Ronald Wade and his wife, Tracey, of Clearwater, Forrest Chambers and his wife, Sandra, of Meridian, Charles Chambers of Jackson, James Jordan of Meridian and Melvin Buckley of Cincinnati; two sisters, Bonnie McDonald of Hawthorne and Francine Mangum of Jackson; two uncles, William Wade and his wife, Clara, of Fort Smith, J.C. Wade and his wife, Margaret, of Palo Alto; a mother-in-law, Gladys McWilliams of Meridian; two brothers-in-law, Leon Price of Chicago and Michael McWilliams and his wife, Joyce, of Colorado Springs; two sisters-in-law, Dorothy Cole and her husband, John, of Riverside and Wanda McWilliams of Meridian; three best girls, Eunice Dillard and Polly Hooks, both of Meridian, and Stacy Vance of Jackson; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Visitation will be Sunday from 6 p.m.-7 p.m. at the funeral home.
ERNEST G. STEWART
TUCSON, Ariz. Services for Ernest G. Stewart were held Friday, April 27, 2001, at 5 p.m. at Wolfrey Peace Chapel.
Mr. Stewart was born Jan. 28, 1929, in Meridian and died April 20, 2001, in Tucson.
Survivors include his wife, Velva Stewart, and a daughter, Francine Stewart, both of Tucson; a son, Vernon Stewart of Chicago; a brother, Bennie Stewart of Meridian; three sisters, Shirley Johnson of Meridian, Lela Titus of Houston, Texas, and Rosie Saunders of Seattle; and several aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, Seth Stewart; his mother, Leona Stewart; and two brothers, Johnny Stewart and Major Stewart.
BARBARA ALICE TATUM
Retired bookkeeper with Mississippi Paint and Glass
Services for Barbara Alice Tatum will be held today at 2 p.m. at Stephens Funeral Home chapel, with the Rev. Nick Nicholson and Jim Wall officiating. Burial will be in Magnolia Cemetery.
Mrs. Tatum, 95, of Meridian, died Thursday, June 7, 2001, at Queen City Nursing Home. She was a member of Central United Methodist Church and The Upper Room Birdie Brooks Sunday School Class and was a former Sunday School teacher. She was also a member of The Bible Study Club.
Survivors include three sisters, Margaret Wascom of Meridian, Marie Rogers of Covington, La., and Mary Brown of Ridgeland; and several nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be her nephews.
Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.