Obituaries for Saturday, June 14, 2003

By Staff
Retired, Air National Guard
Services for Jere J. Cobb were held Friday at 1:30 p.m. at Stephens Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Ron McGee and Dr. Carl White officiating. Burial was in Meridian Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mr. Cobb, 89, of Meridian, died Wednesday, June 11, 2003, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center. He was the son of Otho Singleton Goodwin and Onie West. He was a retired technician for the Air National Guard. He was a charter member of the 153rd Recon Group. He served in the European theater in World War II and retired from the 186th Air Guard after 32 years of military service. He was a member of Highland Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Mary Louise Cobb, of Meridian; a son, Jimmy Slay and his wife, Catherine, of Meridian; a daughter, Shere Donofrio and her husband, Chuck, of Crown Point, Ind.; six grandchildren, Gabe Donofrio of Omaha, Neb., Matthew Donofrio of Crown Point, Ind., Lisa Donofrio of Chicago, Angela Slay of Kokomo, Ind., Jim Slay and Micah Slay, both of Los Angeles; three sisters, Grace Young of Meridian, Edith Lucas of Bowling Green, Ky., and Catherine Johnson of Birmingham, Ala.; and a brother, Junie Cobb of Sacramento, Calif.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ruth Brown Cobb and Gus Cobb; and a brother, Beverly Cobb.
Pallbearers were active members of the 186th Air Refueling Wing.
Honorary pallbearers were members of the 186th Air Wing who served with him.
U.S. Air Force veteran World War II
Retired diesel mechanic
Graveside services for William Austin Goodwin will be held today at 10 a.m. at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Clark County with the Rev. Jake Williams officiating.
Mr. Goodwin, 83, of Vossburg, died Thursday, June 12, 2003, in his home. In his earlier life, he enjoyed his bird dogs, bird hunting and he was the first president of the PG Hunting Club. He was a retired diesel mechanic and a U.S. Air Force WW2 Veteran. He was a loving husband, father and grandparent. He was a member of the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. The Devil's workshop was always bare with this man; he was always working or being busy.
Survivors include his wife, Bobbie Jean Goodwin of Vossburg; a son, Gary Goodwin and his wife, Karen, of Laurel; a brother, Roy Goodwin, of Clearwater, Fla.; a sister, Wilhemina Davis, of Rose Hill; and two grandchildren, Kayla Goodwin Dunnam and Chase Goodwin, both of Laurel.
Pallbearers will be David West, Andy West, Ernie Culbreth, Paul Harwell, Mike Culbreth and E.W. Goodwin.
Homemaker
BUTLER, Ala. Graveside services for Rosa Christine Gibson will be held today at 10 a.m. at Shady Grove Cemetery with Bumpers Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Gibson, 76, of Needham, died Thursday, June 12, 2003, in Meridian.
Survivors include three brothers, Warren Cummings of Belle Chasse, La., Robert David Cummings of Jacksonville, Fla., and Richard Samuel Cummings, of Meridian, Miss.; a sister, Barbara Jones Reeves of Butler; and three step-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today at 9:30 a.m. at Shady Grove Cemetery.
Homemaker
BUTLER, Ala. Services for Eva Ethel Evans will be held today at 2 p.m. at Bumpers Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Hillard Broadhead and Nathanial Broadhead officiating. Burial will be in Camp Springs Cemetery in the Camp Springs Community.
Mr. Evans, 90, of Quitman, died Thursday, June 12, 2003, at H.C. Watkins Memorial Hospital in Quitman.
Survivors include her sons, James Jackie Evans of Philadelphia, Michael Evans of Fairhope, Ala., and Nelson Evans of Quitman; a brother, Frank Smith of California; a sister, Lavonne Emmerson of Texas; three grandsons, one granddaughter; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas "Tom" Evans; sisters, Bessie Hearn, Angie Pilgram, Sally Head, Audie Bonner and Lubert Street; brothers, Ocie Smith, O.D. Smith, Woodrow Smith; and a great-grandson, Michael Shrimpshire.
Visitation will be today one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
Factory Worker
QUITMAN Services for Shirley Marie Evans will be held today at 3 p.m. at Wright's Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Roger Ivey officiating. Burial will be in Goodwater Cemetery in Clark County.
Mrs. Evans, 54, of Picayune, died Wednesday, June 11, 2003, in Biloxi.
Survivors include her husband, Philip Evans of Picayune; son, Jeffery D. Smith of Biloxi; brother, Donald Dial of Vossburg; and one grandchild.
Veteran
BUTLER, Ala. Services for Bernice Ray Clark will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. at Needham Assembly of God. Burial will be in Brightwater Cemetery with Bumpers Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Clark, 64, of Needham, died Friday, June 13, 2003, at Rush Foundation Hospital. He was an employee of the American Can Company. He was an Air Force veteran.
Survivors include his sons, Bernard Ray Clark and Derrick Lane Clark, both of Toxey; daughters, Kim L. Todd and Paula M. Turner, both of Toxey; brothers, Milton Clark of Pleasant Hill, Amos Clark of Raleigh, N.C., Edward Clark and Carlton Clark, both of Needham; Gerald Clark of Pennington; sisters, Eloise McIlwain of Needham and Louise Steins of Talladega; and 10 grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his brother Herman Clark.
Visitation will be held today from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home.