Obituaries for Friday, May 30, 2003

By Staff
Retired secretary
PHILADELPHIA Services for Rita Merritt will be held today at 11 a.m. at McClain-Hays Funeral Service Chapel with the Rev. Fred Frazier officiating. Burial will be in Sunrise Cemetery in Noxapater.
Mrs. Merritt, 62, of Noxapater, died Thursday, May 29, 2003, at Neshoba County General Hospital in Philadelphia. She was a retired secretary for the Neshoba County Sheriff's Department.
Survivors include her daughter, Debbie Reynolds, and her son, Mike Merritt, both of Philadelphia; six grandchildren and a brother, John Fitzpatrick of New York.
Forklift operator for Bazor Lumber Company
QUITMAN Services for Lavelle "Goat" Tindle will be held today at 11 a.m. at Wright's Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Ronnie Adams and Lester Griffin officiating. Burial will be in Providence Cemetery in Clarke County.
Mr. Tindle, 62, of Quitman, died Wednesday, May 28, 2003, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and a Shriner of The Hamassa Temple of Meridian. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and served in Vietnam.
Survivors include his wife, Julia Miller Tindle of Quitman; a daughter, Linda Boles and her husband, Marcus, of Stonewall; step-daughters, Patsy Holloman of Quitman, Sue Dykes, Linda Jo Holley and Peggy Cunningham, all of Citronelle, Ala.; step-sons, Shelton Miller of Quitman, and Walter Underwood, of San Antonio, Texas; sisters, Geraldine Kelly and her husband, Clyde, of Quitman, Goldie Lanaux and her husband, Louie Lanaux III, of Metarie, La.; and brothers, Robert E. Tindle and his wife, Hazel, of Quitman; and Richard C. Tindle and his wife, Susan, of Quitman; two grandchildren, Brandon and Bradley McQueen; 32 step-grandchildren; and 31 step-great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Eric Tindle, Ethan Tindle, Robbie Tindle, Ronnie Wayne Holloman, Wayne Dykes, and Little Ben Holloman. Honorary pallbearers will be Raymond Earl McCoy, Bobby Early, Ray Smith and Ray Patton.
Services for Willie Curtis Portis will be held Saturday at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Yantley, Ala. Burial will be in the church cemetery with Enterprise Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Portis, died Tuesday, May 27, 2003 at Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg. He was a disabled road construction laborer.
Survivors include his wife, Kathleen Strong Portis of Hattiesburg; his father, Willie B. Portis of Yantley, Ala.; his mother, Wilmer E. Portis of Meridian; two step-sons, Jazz Strong of Franklin, N.H.; and Lamareo Strong of Hattiesburg; three step-daughters, Michelle Jefferson and Laturas Husband, both of Hattiesburg; and Carrie Strong of Franklin; two brothers, Michael Portis of Meridian; and Sherman Portis of Birmingham, Ala.; two sisters, Pricilla Portis and Carmelina Portis, both of Meridian; and five grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 p.m.-7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Retired
DEKALB Services for William M. Rowe Jr. will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Cathedral Assembly of God Church with the Revs. Jerry Johnson and William Rowe III officiating. Burial will be in Daleville United Methodist Church Cemetery. Stephens Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Rowe, 75, of DeKalb, died Wednesday, May 28, 2003, in his home. He was retired radio electronics officer in the U.S. Navy. He served 12 years in the U.S. Navy and served in World War II. He continued in the Navy until 1966 and was also activated during Desert Storm and he served as lay pastor for several Methodist churches in Jasper and Kemper Counties.
Survivors include his wife, Marcella M. Rowe of DeKalb; a daughter, Teresa Wilson of Columbus; sons, Charles Zito of Largo, Fla., William Rowe III, of Oldsmar, Fla., the Rev. Paul Rowe of Shady Hills, Fla. and Ralph Rowe of Clearwater, Fla.; nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; and an aunt, Jainie Broome of Atlanta.
He was preceded in death by his brother, John Joseph Rowe.
Visitation will be today from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home and 30 minutes prior to the service Saturday at the church.
Retired sheet metal worker
Services for Owen C. Reynolds will be held Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at Barham Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Michael Boles and Kim Culpepper officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Zion Baptist Church Cemetery in Clarke County.
Mr. Reynolds, 82, of the Meehan Community, died Thursday, May 29, 2003, at Riley Hospital. He attended Evangel Temple and was a World War II Navy Veteran.
Survivors include his wife, Freddie M. Reynolds of Meehan; three daughters, Gloria Gagliano and her husband, Joe, of Orange Beach, Ala.; Belinda Adcock and her husband, Jim, of Meehan; and Amy Butler and her husband, Martin Ray, of Whynot; his son, Owen C. Reynolds Jr. and his wife, Beth, of Alba, Texas; a step-son, David Cubbage and his wife, Maye, of Lucedale; his sister, Eula Belle Riley of Clarke County; 18 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, two sisters-in-law, Shirley Griffin and her husband, Daryl, of Mobile, Ala.; and Pearl Tylicki of Pensacola, Fla.
He was preceded in death by his son, Fredrick C. Reynolds, his parents, Fred and Dora Reynolds, two sisters, Nellie Hughes and Winnie Reynolds, and a brother, Olen Reynolds.
Visitation will be today from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Retired farmer and painter
NEWTON Services for Wesley Bishop will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. at Decatur United Methodist Church with the Rev. Billy Owen officiating. Burial will be in Hopewell United Methodist Church Cemetery. James F. Webb Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Bishop, 83, of Jackson, died Tuesday, May 27, 2003, at The Veteran's Nursing Home in Jackson. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served in World War II and was a recipient of the Purple Heart.
Survivors include several nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Helen Ethridge Bishop; three brothers and three sisters.
Memorials may be made to the Outreach Foundation, 318 Seaboard Lane Suite 203, Franklin, TN 37067.
Visitation will be Saturday from 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Retired factory worker
UNION Services for Modene Richardson Luke will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at Stephens Funeral Home Chapel in Union with the Revs. Tod Thompson and Lin Chesney officiating. Burial will be in Dry Creek Baptist Church cemetery in Preston.
Mrs. Luke, 79, of Union, died Thursday, May 29, 2003, at Lairds Hospital.
Survivors include her three sons, Ted Luke and his wife, Shirley, of Cornerville, Ark.; Robert Luke and his wife, Joyce, of Decatur; and Perry Luke of Union; two daughters, Terry Bufkin and her husband, Gary, of Decatur; and Patty Purser and her husband, Jerry, of Union; a sister-in-law, Julia Richardson of Preston; eight grandchildren, Richard and Dan Luke, Becky Eddy, Tracey Dennis, Jackie Finley, Joy Purser, Kristen and Kaley Bufkin, one great-grandchild, Vinson Keith Dennis and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her brother, Wallace Richardson, and her sister, Gusta Richardson.
Visitation will be today from 5:30 p.m.-9 p.m. at the funeral home.