OBITUARIES FOR SATURDAY, SEPT. 29, 2001
By Staff
GLEN SENNETT DEWEESE
Services for Glen Sennett Deweese will be held today at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Meridian with the Revs. Dr. Raymon Leake, David McCubbin and Brad Smith officiating. Former Gov. William Winter will speak at the service. Burial will be in Magnolia Cemetery with Barham Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Deweese, 69, of Lauderdale, died Thursday, Sept. 27, 2001, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center.
Mr. Deweese was born in Neshoba County on Jan. 5, 1932. He graduated from Philadelphia High School and moved to Jackson, where he worked and met Janice Thomas. They married on Oct. 31, 1952, and the next week, he was drafted into the U.S. Army. He served his country two years, mostly at Fort Benning, Ga., where his daughter, Glenda Sue, was born. He was called to active duty during the Korean War, but the war ended and he did not have to go overseas.
He, Janice and Sue returned to Jackson to make their home. Mr. Deweese worked for Jackson Coca-Cola driving a route truck. At this time, he also attended night classes for three years at Hinds Junior College and earned an associate's degree. This experience at Hinds was the basis for his strong support of Mississippi's community colleges in his political and business career. His business career began after graduation when he bought a convenience food store in Jackson. He sold that store and bought a grocery store in Jackson, then sold that and began a chain of convenience food stores in 1966 in Jackson and Meridian.
He moved his family to Meridian in 1966, a family that now included a son, Carl Douglas Deweese. Tragedy struck in 1968, when his wife, Janice, and daughter, Sue, were in a car wreck. Sue died and his wife, Janice, was seriously injured. It took Mrs. Deweese a long time to recover from her injuries.
Mr. Deweese continued to build his convenience store business, which included an ice business, and he pioneered self-serve gasoline pumps in the state of Mississippi.
In 1975, Mr. Deweese entered the political arena by winning a state senate seat for Lauderdale and Kemper counties. He was re-elected in 1979 and Lt. Gov. Brad Dye appointed him to chair the Appropriations Committee.
In 1983 after re-election, the Mississippi State Senate elected him as President Pro Tempore of their body. He served eight years in that position.
As his business grew to 72 Super Stop! convenience stores, he served 15 years on the board of the National Association of Convenience Foods Stores. He served as chairman of NACS in 1990. Also important to him was economic involvement throughout his political career and serving as chairman of the East Mississippi Business Development Corporation.
His most lasting achievements will be remembered by his service to Jesus Christ his Lord and Savior. He was a deacon and member of First Baptist Church in Meridian. His faith was evidenced through his devotion to his wife, family, friends, employees and business associates. Through his personal involvement and financial support, he graced his church and charitable organizations such as Hope Village for Children, Country Oaks Recovery Center, the United Way, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Easter Seals, the American Cancer Society, Mississippi State University-Meridian, Meridian Community College, Hinds Junior College and many others. Mr. Deweese will always be remembered as one who gave and helped his fellow man.
Survivors include his wife, Janice Thomas Deweese, a son, Doug Deweese and his wife, Bet, three grandchildren, Carly, Matthew and Thomas Deweese, all of Meridian; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Glenda Sue Deweese; his parents, Carl J. and Ruby Kate Deweese; and a brother, Billy Deweese.
The family requests memorials be made to Hope Village for Children, P.O Box 26, Meridian, MS 39302.
Pallbearers will be Ralph Morgan, Ronnie Massey, Jimmy Alexander, Brad Dye, Clyde Muse, Wayne Wahrendorff, Hoot Gipson and Con Maloney.
Honorary pallbearers will be members of his Sunday school class and deacons of First Baptist Church.
Visitation will be today one hour prior to the service at the church.
JENNINGS BRYAN FREEMAN SR.
Retired assistant police chief
Graveside services for Jennings Bryan "Sonny" Freeman Sr. will be held today at 11 a.m. at Magnolia Cemetery with Stephens Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Freeman, 76, of Meridian, died Thursday, Sept. 27, 2001, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center. He was a retired assistant chief of the Meridian Police Department and a retired shift commander for campus police of the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, a member of King Soloman Lodge No. 333 and Scottish Rite bodies.
Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer and Lee Jackson, his sister, Mae Gressett, all of Meridian; three grandchildren, Leanne Jackson and Lesa Jackson of Meridian; and Amanda Freeman of Las Vegas, Nev.
He was preceded in death by two sons, Jennings Bryan Freeman Jr. and William Bryan Freeman.
Pallbearers will be members of the Masons.
MACK DAVIS LEWIS
Services for Mack Davis Lewis will be held today at 11 a.m. at Berry &Gardner Chapel with the Rev. Daryll Fluker officiating. Burial will be in St. Peter Cemetery in Emelle, Ala.
Mr. Lewis, 51, of Brooklyn, New York, died Saturday, Sept. 22, 2001 at his residence.
Survivors include his wife, Lynette Lewis; seven sons, Kevin, Darnell, Samuel, J.R., Alparquan, Jermaine, and Dante Lewis all of New York; seven sisters, Louise Dingle and Lucille Ramsey of New York; Bessie Killins, Jessie Hodges, and Annie Fluker all of Meridian; Hattie Lewis of Atlanta, Ga.; and Irene Lewis of Montgomery, Ala.; two brothers, O.C. Robinson of Meridian; and Hance Davis of New York.
