Obituaries for Tuesday, April 2, 2002

By Staff
HAROLD THOMAS JONES
Retired electrician
Graveside services for Harold Thomas Jones were to be held today at 10 a.m. at Old Suqualena Cemetery with Masonite Rites and the Rev. R.E. Bonner officiating. Barham Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Jones, 84, of Meridian, died Sunday, March 31, 2002, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center. He was a member of Suqualena United Methodist Church, IBEW #917 and Suqualena Masonic Lodge #418. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army.
Survivors include his wife, Elaine Cook Jones, a son, Doug Jones and his wife, Janet, a grandson, Douglas Leon "Buck" Jones, three brothers, Floyd M. Jones, Blanks E. Jones and his wife, Jeane, and Ethel Jones, all of the Suqualena Community; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Lela Blanks Jones; his father, Richard Marshall Jones; brothers, Cecil Glynn Jones, Richard Earl Jones and Albert Leon Jones.
Pallbearers will be John Gann, Buck Jones, Zane Neal, Bobby Faerber, Vernon Mott, Richard Dixon, Fred Hataway, Shelby Dement, Harold Blackmon and Jay Cumberland.
EDWARDS SHANKS
Retired
Services for Edwards Shanks will be held today at 2 p.m. at Center Ridge Baptist Church with the Rev. Edward Heidelberg officiating. Burial will be in Center Ridge Cemetery with Berry and Gardner Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Shanks, 71, of Shubuta, died Sunday, March 24, 2002.
Survivors include three daughters, Virginia Carolyn Shanks-Fields of Pensacola, Fla., Marilyn Shanks and Vernita Shanks, both of Chicago; three sons, Wilbert Shanks, John Shanks and Gregory Shanks, all of Chicago; his mother, Maggie Combest of Shubuta; nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife and parents.
BILLY HUGH ROBINSON
Public works department employee
Graveside services for Billy Hugh Robinson will be held Wednesday at 10 a.m. at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church Cemetery with the Rev. Franky Boyette officiating. James F. Webb Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Robinson, 70, of Meridian, died Saturday, March 30, 2002, at Rush Foundation Hospital. He was employed with the city of Meridian's Public Works Department.
WILLIAM LOWRY WALTERS
Retired from Newton Company
UNION Services for William Lowry Walters will be held Wednesday at 10 a.m. at Milling Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Jimmy Holder and Curtis Cain officiating. Burial will be in Newton County Memorial Gardens.
Mr. Walters, 74, of Newton, died Monday, April 1, 2002, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center. He was an active member of Newton United Methodist Church for more than 50 years. Mr. Walters retired from the Newton Company after 43 years of service. He was a member of Newton County Gideon Association. His wife, Evelyn, said: "Mr. Walters gave his life sharing God and his love with others. He was a perfect Christian."
Survivors include his wife, Evelyn Walters of Newton; a daughter, Shelia Boutwell and her husband, Raymond, of Brookhaven; a son, Bill Walters of Houston, Texas; a brother, Loyd Walters of Brandon; and three grandchildren.
The family requests memorials be made to the Gideon's International.
Pallbearers will be Jack Thames, Kirk Thames, Van Lucas, Wilmer Whittle, Rocky Steverson and Paul Pinson.
Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Newton County Camp Gideon's International and his brothers-in-law.
Visitation will be today 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
BEATRICE WALKER
Retired
Services for Beatrice Walker will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at New Prospect Missionary Baptist Church with the Rev. L.C. Thedford officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Gardens with Enterprise Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Walker, 91, of Meridian, died Friday, March 29, 2002, at Meridian Community Living Center.
Survivors include a son, Henry J. Hall, sisters, Cora Lee Sellers, Annie James, Emma Reed and Josephine Thomas, all of Meridian; and one grandchild.
She was preceded in death by her father, J.S. Mattox and her mother, Lonnie Moore Mattox.
DOROTHY MCWILLIAMS BELL
Holiday Inn employee
Services for Dorothy "Dot" McWilliams Bell will be held Wednesday at noon at Latimer Metropolitan Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Roosevelt Clark officiating. Burial will be in New Hope Black Water Church Cemetery.
Ms. Bell, 62, of Syracuse, N.Y., died Wednesday, March 27, 2002, in Syracuse. She was employed with the Holiday Inn in Syracuse.
Survivors include her special friend, James Ellison; a daughter, Glossie Smith of Meridian; a son, Archie Jackson; sisters, Irene Burrage of Syracuse, Ada Mae Houston and Christine McWilliams, both of Meridian; brothers, Roosevelt McWilliams of Bailey, Willie V. McWilliams, Eugene McWilliams and James McWilliams, all of Meridian.