Obituaries for Friday, June 6, 2003
By Staff
Retired business owner
Services for Ralph L. Arrington will be held today at 1 p.m. at Barham Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Davey Wilkinson officiating. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery.
Mr. Arrington, 65, of Marion, died Wednesday, June 4, 2003, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center. He was a member of Lauderdale United Methodist Church and was a veteran of the U.S. Marines.
Survivors include his wife, Joyce White Arrington of Marion; a daughter, Tammy Johnson and her husband, Cody, of Marion; a son, Tommy Ainsworth and his wife, Shannon, of Meridian; grandchildren, Jessica Crevitt and Wyatt Ainsworth; and his mother-in-law, Elsie M. White of Meridian.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Judd Arrington.
Pallbearers will be Billy Humphrey, Mike Ratcliff, Stacey Nicholson, Lavoe Lavender, Keith Albanese, Morris Ford and Pat Jordan.
Homemaker
PHILADELPHIA Services for Marlene Robertson will be held today at 3 p.m. at McClain-Hays Funeral Services Chapel with the Rev. Mike Sullivan officiating. Burial will be in Sandtown Cemetery in Philadelphia.
Mrs. Robertson, 75, of Philadelphia, died Wednesday, June 4, 2003, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center.
Survivors include her husband, Henry Robertson of Philadelphia; daughters, Jane Smitherman and Susan Murphey, both of Philadelphia; sons, Robert E. Jones, Billy Jones and Jack N. Jones, all of Philadelphia; 10 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
retired school administrator
Services for Tommy Smith Gunn will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at Poplar Springs Drive Baptist Church, with the Revs. James Ruffin, Thomas Broadhead and Dr. Thad Moore officiating. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery with Barham Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Gunn, 81, of Meridian, died Wednesday, June 4, 2003, at Kings Daughters and Sons Rest Home. He was a retired administrator with Lauderdale County schools.
He was a deacon and active member of Poplar Springs Drive Baptist Church. He served in the Navy in World War II on the USS Towner. He served as a coach and teacher at Water Valley High School from 1946-1950. He was a coach and administrator at Ruleville High School from 1950-1961. In 1961, he came back to Lauderdale County and served as principal at Northeast Lauderdale Attendance Center. In 1973, he served as assistant superintendent of Lauderdale County Schools under Douglas "Papa" Little. He was superintendent of Lauderdale County Schools from 1984-1986, then served on the Lauderdale County School Board from 1986-1992. He was one of the founders of the Briarwood Country Club. He was active in North Lauderdale Volunteer Fire Department, Northeast Community Club and Gideons. He was a part of Keep America Beautiful and was a board member of North Lauderdale Water Assoc. He was one of the founders of the Northeast Community Ball Field. He was also a devoted father, family man and loving husband.
Survivors include his two sons, Tommy Dale Gunn and his wife, Sarita J. of Meridian and Glenn Gilbert Gunn of Raymond; and one grandson, Tommy Giles Gunn.
He was preceded in death by his wife Elizabeth McWilliams Gunn and his parents J.T. and Esta L. Gunn.
Memorials may be made to the Northeast Lauderdale High School activity fund, Gideons or the Poplar Springs Drive Baptist Church Building Fund.
Pallbearers will be David Little, Sonny Toms, Jerry Roberson, Wyatt Webb, Tack Moore and Harland Davis. Honorary pallbearers will be his grandson, Tommy Giles Gunn and the deacons of Poplar Springs Drive Baptist Church.
Visitation will be held today from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
GILBERTOWN, Ala. Services for Pauline Martin Campbell will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Phillips Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Jimmy Powell officiating. Burial will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery.
Mrs. Campbell, 97, of Toxey, died Thursday, June 5, 2003, at her residence.
Survivors include her daughters, Virginia Abston of Gilbertown, Annie Tyson and Mattie Long, both of Toxey; a daughter-in-law, Betty M. Campbell of Toxey; nine grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and three great-great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Michael Lawrence Campbell and her son, Mason Campbell.
Visitation will be Saturday one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
Retired
FAIRBORN, Ohio Graveside services for Mary F. Hancock will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. at Magnolia Memory Gardens in Meridian. Belton Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Ms. Hancock, 84, of Dayton, Ohio, died Thursday, May 29, 2003, in Enon, Ohio. She was born May 7, 1919, in Meridian. She was the daughter of the late John D. and Carrie Mayatt Brown. She graduated from Meridian High School in 1937 and attended Trevecca University in Nashville, Tenn. She retired in 1985, after serving more than 33 years as an executive secretary with Dayton Rubber and Dayco Corporation in Dayton. She was a member of the First Church of the Nazarene in Dayton.
Survivors include a sister-in-law, Louise C. Brown of Fairborn, Ohio; a niece, Teresa K. Fields and her husband, Warren R., of Columbus, Ohio; great-nephews, Andrew R. Brown, Adam J. Brown, both of Fairborn, and Troy S. Qualls and his wife, Tonja and their two daughters, Morgan and Madison of Columbus; three great-nieces, Lesley M. Qualls of Fairborn, Miranda J. Fields, and Rhonise E. Fields, both of Columbus, and several other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her brother, John M. Brown.
UNION Services for Lois Lillian Gentry will be held Saturday at 3 p.m. at Smyrna Baptist Church with the Revs. Bobby Ferguson and Harold Laird officiating. Burial will be in Hebron Baptist Church cemetery with Milling Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Gentry, 84, of Union, died Thursday, June 5, 2003, in Union.
Survivors include two sons, Jessie Gentry of Brandon and Johnny Gentry of Little Rock, Miss.; four daughters, Linda Way and Onie Mary Crooke, both of Little Rock, Jerri Nicholson of Laurel and Brenda Dean of Louisburg, Tenn.; two sisters, Emma Vance of Philadelphia and Ina Mae Laird of Little Rock; 21 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and a special caregiver, Donna Rash of Union.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Homer Cleveland Gentry; three sons, Thomas Iran Gentry, Timothy McArthur Gentry and Jimmy Ray Gentry; and one brother, Aaron Laird.
Visitation will be today from 5 p.m.-9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Arrangements were incomplete at Barham Funeral Home for Exa Kelly, 93, of Meridian, who died Thursday June 5, 2003, at Guardian Angel Hospice.
