By Staff
Homemaker
Services for Murena H. Walters Williams will be held Friday at 10 a.m. at Stephens Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Hubert Rutherford officiating. Burial will be in Bethel Methodist Church Cemetery.
Mrs. Williams, 90, of Meridian, died Wednesday, June 18, 2003, at Beverly Healthcare in Meridian.
Survivors include her son, John W. Walters and his wife, Sarah, of Meridian; grandchildren, Beth McCain and her husband, Stan, of Collinsville, Andy Walters and his wife, Kim, of Starkville, and Keith and Cindy Walters Koons of Indiana; great-grandchildren, Chelsea and Erin McCain of Collinsville, Kathryn and Andrew Joshua "Drew" Walters of Starkville; brothers, L.E. Humphrey and his wife, Katie, of Hattiesburg and Edward Hall Humphrey of Tuscaloosa, Ala.
She was preceded in death by her husbands, Asa Joshua Walters and W.G. Williams; brothers, W.D. "Bill" James and Nolan Humphrey; and a sister, Willie Mae Smith.
Visitation will be today 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Weed scientist
NEWTON Services for Dr. Chester Gray McWhorter will be held Friday at 2 p.m. at Clarke Venable Baptist Church with the Rev. Stan Buckley officiating. Burial will be in Newton County Memorial Gardens Cemetery with Barham Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mr. McWhorter, 76, of Decatur, died Tuesday, June 17, 2003, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center.
He grew up in Decatur and attended East Central Community College. He received his bachelor's and master's degree from Mississippi State University. He earned a Ph.D. in plant physiology from Louisiana State University.
Dr. McWhorter worked more than 40 years in agricultural research with the USDA. He was an internationally recognized weed scientist, having been invited to 12 foreign countries to discuss his research on weed control problems.
He edited two major books in the area of weed science. The improved weed control technology he generated is now used on more than 60 million acres of agronomic crops annually in the United States.
His pioneering research led to the discovery that surfuctants and other adjutants increase herbicide activity and improve selectivity and safety. His was a discovery that allowed the control of Johnson grass.
He invented several innovative herbicide application devices and techniques. He has shared his research results through more than 225 publications. He served on the board of directors of the Weed Science Society of America and the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology.
He was president of both the W.S.S.A. and Southern Weed Science Society and served as editor of several weed science journals.
He has more than 20 major awards from weed science societies and the USDA. He was chosen as Man of the Year in Southern Agriculture by Progressive Farmer Magazine. He also received the Distinguished Services Award of the Year from the American Agriculture Editor's Association, Distinguished Scientist of the Year from the USDA and was inducted into the the Agricultural Research Service Hall of Fame. He is the only Mississippian to be so honored.
He was a member of Clarke Venable Baptist Church, and a former member and deacon of First Baptist Church of Leland.
Dr. McWhorter retired in 1993 and moved to Decatur.
Survivors include his wife, Ann Graham McWhorter of Decatur; sons, E. Patrick McWhorter of Chicago and Walter R. McWhorter; a brother, John L. McWhorter of Conehatta; a granddaughter, Ann Kate McWhorter of Louisville, Ky.; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, J. Leo McWhorter Sr. and Lucille McWhorter.
The family requests memorials be made to Clarke Venable Baptist Church building fund or a favorite charity.
Pallbearers will be David McWhorter, Lynn McWhorter, Robert H. Graham, Chan Graham, Dan Fairly and Ken Fairly.
Visitation will be today 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Retired steel mill employee
DEKALB Services for Mirt Love will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at New Hope United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dr. Wayne Bass officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery with E.E. McDonald Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Love, 71, of DeKalb, died Friday, June 13, 2003, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center.
Survivors include his children, Leonard "Donnell"Love of DeKalb, Ronnie E. Love, Bernice Smith and Ola Mae Wilson, all of Detroit, and Dorisene Love of Baltimore, Md.; sisters, Callie Blanks of DeKalb and Carrie Love of Baltimore; 14 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents and six siblings.
Visitation will be Friday 2 p.m.-6 pm. at the funeral home and Saturday one hour prior to the service at the church.