Mrs. Watkins, 85, of Columbia, died Sunday, May 26, 2002. She was born in Neshoba County and was the daughter of the late Thodric H. and Ruth Ellen Spence Wilkerson. She was formerly of Meridian and was a member of St. Andrews Baptist Church.

By Staff
Survivors include her daughter, Gladys Pilgrim of West Columbia; a son, Willie V. Rush of Indian Trail, N.C.; 18 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
She was preceded in death by two sons, Billy Earl Rush and James Felix Rush.
Pallbearers will be her grandsons.
Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
THOMAS MABRA TOWNSEND
Retired mechanic
Services for Thomas Mabra Townsend will be held Wednesday at 10 a.m. at Stephens Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Jason Gross officiating. Burial will be in Meridian Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mr. Townsend, 86, of Collinsville, died Sunday, May 26, 2002, at Guardian Angel Hospice. He was a veteran of World War II.
Survivors include two sons, Gerald Townsend and his wife, Annette, of Cochran, Ga., and Larry Townsend and his wife, Elizabeth, of Hattiesburg; a daughter, Sandra Scardino and her husband, Leonard, of Columbia; six grandchildren, Lenny Scardino and his wife, Theresa, of Long Beach, Anthony Scardino of Columbia, Stephen Townsend of Atlanta, Phillip Townsend of Cochran, Christopher Townsend and Brian Townsend of Hattiesburg; and a brother, Howard Townsend of Meridian.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Elzie Townsend and his sister, Pearl Smith of Columbus.
Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Lenny Scardino, Anthony Scardino, Stephen Townsend, Phillip Townsend, Christopher Townsend and Brian Townsend.
Visitation will be today 6 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
SGT. MAJOR W.E. STUCKEY
Retired U.S. Army
UNION Services for Sgt. Major W.E. Stuckey will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Stephens Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be in New Hope Cemetery in Decatur.
Mr. Stuckey, 86, of Atlanta, died Friday, May 24, 2002, at Beverly Health Care N Side in Atlanta. He was a veteran of World War II and the Korean Conflict. He retired after 30 years of service to his nation.
Survivors include a son, John Stuckey and his wife, Susan, four grandchildren, Tyler Anne, Robert, Ian and Alcy Stuckey, all of Alpharetta, Ga.; and a sister, Janie Mitchell of Jackson.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Jessie Merlene Stamper Stuckey.
Visitation will be today 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
EARNEST U. SCHRIMPSHIRE
Retired from Masonite
QUITMAN Services for Earnest U. Schrimpshire will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at East Pleasant Grove Baptist Church with the Revs. Albert Creel and Paul Childress officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Wright's Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Schrimpshire, 83, of Quitman, died, Monday, May 27, 2002, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center.
Survivors include his wife, Katherine Schrimpshire of Quitman; sons Robert Dickerson, Jerry Wayne Dickerson, Cleveland Dickerson, Austin Leo Dickerson, all of Quitman and Richard Dale Dickerson, of Collinsville; daughters, Jewel Dearman, of Quitman, Quida Robinson of Jimison, Ala., Annie Grace Tucker of Quitman and Mary Katherine Williams of Quitman; sister, Rachel E. Tucker; 22 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.
BURNESTINE TANKSLEY FOX
Services for Burnestine Tanksley Fox will be held Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. Gordon officiating. Burial will be in Little Zion Cemetery with Latimer Metropolitan Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Fox, 73, of Meridian, died Friday, May 24, 2002, in Meridian.
Survivors include three daughters, Ruby Harris, Brenda Gaye Fox and Glenda Faye Deans, two sons, Dennis Levell Fox and Percy Fox Jr., all of Meridian; sisters, Abbiedean Kelley of Meridian, Tina Hampton of Chicago, Ella Edmonson of Detroit; and a brother, James Tanksley and his wife, Fremon, of Meridian; 17 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today 2 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
HUBERT I. ETHRIDGE
Retired railroad engineer
Services for Hubert I. Ethridge will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at Barham Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Bill Webb officiating. Burial will be in Pine Grove Cemetery.
Mr. Ethridge, 83, of Meridian, died Friday, May 24, 2002, in Covington, La.
Visitation will be Wednesday 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
BETTY CLAYBORNE
Arrangements were incomplete at Clark's Memorial Funeral Home for Betty Clayborne, 54, of Preston, who died Sunday, May 26, 2002, in her home.