Obituaries for Friday, March 12, 2004

By Staff
Former state legislator
Services for Berta Lee Hughes White will be held today at 2 p.m. at Barham Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Carless Evans, John Koch, John Vaughn and Gary Smity officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Carmel Presbyterian Church Cemetery.
Mrs. White, 89, of Bailey, died Tuesday, March 9, 2004, at Beverly Health Care. Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Board of Directors recently established a scholarship in White's honor, called the Berta Lee White Scholarship.
As chair of the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Women's Committee for 47 years and chair of the American Farm Bureau Federation Women's Committee for 12 years, White traveled the world championing agriculture.
White served as chairman of the Country Women's Council USA and vice president of Associated Country Women of the World. She was a delegate to eight world conferences. She received the 1992 MFBF Distinguished Service Award and the 1993 AFBF Distinguished Service Award.
In addition to her Farm Bureau work, White served in the Mississippi Legislature, where she was a member of the House and the Senate. She was always a loving, giving, spunky, fiercely intelligent woman who was never afraid of anything. And, in addition to being a gifted politician and great extemporaneous speaker, she was a wonderful wife and great mother.
When her kids were grown, she got her associate degree at Meridian Junior College and then enrolled at the University of Southern Mississippi. She drove from Jackson, where she was serving in the Legislature, to Hattiesburg to work toward a bachelor's degree in political science. She received her diploma the same day she became a great-grandmother.
White was a friend and advisor to some of our state and nation's great politicians, including several U.S. Presidents, Senator John C. Stennis and Congressman G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery.
Survivors include her three daughters, Sarah Ollie McDonald and her husband, John, of Collinsville; Jeannine Shearin and her husband, John, and Joan Evans and her husband, Carless, all of Bailey; grandchildren, Beverly Cathey, Denise Goree, Jennifer Adams, Brenda Nowell, David White, Brad White, Connie Perrin, Danielle Black and John Shearin Jr.; 18 great-grandchildren, four great-great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Gordon White, her son, Gordon Huges White, her granddaughter, Malisa "Lisa" Smith, and her son-in-law, Tac Smith.
The family requests memorials be made to the Berta White Scholarship, through the Mississippi Farm Bureau Insurance, Ebenezer Ministries, or favorite charity.
Pallbearers will be David White, Brad White, Austin White, Cody White, David Goree, Allen Nowell, Walter Adams, John Shearin Jr. and Greg Nowell.
Disabled veteran
Graveside services for Ronald "Ronnie" Johnston will be held today at 11 a.m. at Enterprise Cemetery with the Revs. Danny Bullock and Taylor Wallace officiating. James F. Webb Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Johnston, 53, of Dublin, Ga.; died Monday, March 8, 2004, in Dublin.
Survivors include his mother, Jean Shumate of Enterprise; his sister, Melissa Pittman of Griffin, Ga.; his brother, Paul Johnston Jr. of Enterprise; his step-sister, Joyce Pryor of Meridian; and several nieces and nephews.
Retired
Services for Everette S. Miller will be held today at 11 a.m. at Barham Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Dr. Jason Bird officiating. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery.
Mrs. Miller, 89, of Meridian, died Thursday, March 10, 2004, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center. She was a longtime member of Fifteenth Avenue Baptist Church and was a retired beautician.
Survivors include her daughter, Glenda Gavin and her husband, Bill of Meridian; grandsons, Van Gavin and Scott Gavin; great-grandchildren, Eliza Gavin and Gentry Gavin; step-sons, Ray Slayton of Tupelo and Edward Slayton of Detroit and a step-daughter, Lorene McDole of Warren, Mich.
Pallbearers will be Van Gavin, Scott Gavin, Stuart Thornton, Hayward Dillard, Phillip Price, Ray Slayton, Robert Kay and Ed Slayton. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Ruth Sunday School Class.
Visitation will be today from 10 a.m.-11 a.m. at the funeral home.
GILBERTOWN, Ala. Services for Jonas Barber Thompson will be held today at 11 a.m. at Phillips Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be in Mosley Cemetery.
Mr. Thompson, 68, of Semmes, died Tuesday, March 9, 2004, in Theodore, Ala.
Survivors include his son, Charles "Chuck" Thompson and his wife, Michelle, of Mobile; daughters, Charlotte Thompson of Semmes and Suzy Wallace and her husband, Billy, of Mobile and three grandchildren.
Campus police
Services for Allen Curtis "Bud" Owen will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at Barham Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Leon Adams and Davey Wilkinson officiating. Burial will be in Meridian Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mr. Owen, 52, of Meridian, died Wednesday, March 10, 2004, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center. He was a Methodist and was a veteran of the Meridian Police Department. He retired as a Captain of the Detective Division while with Meridian Police Department. He was the youngest police officer ever promoted as Sergeant. After his retirement he worked as Campus Police at Mississippi State University.
Survivors include his wife, Rita Owen of Meridian; daughters, DeAnn Owen Currier and her husband, Brent, of Long Beach and Davida Hopkins and her husband, Wayne, of Lauderdale; sons, David Null and his wife, Beth, and Jason Null and his wife, Julie, all of Lauderdale; a sister, Patricia James and her husband, Ray, of Little Rock; six grandchildren, Will Jones, Cory Null, Emily Hopkins, Jonah Null, Matthew Owen and Carley Owen; and several other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph Owen and Vivian White; a son, Clinton Owen a brother, Lonnie Owen and a sister, Brenda Shearer.
Pallbearers will be Bob Tinsley, Steve Clark, Jeff Lewis, Jonathan Richie, Elson Meadows, J.S. Thomas, Karl Merchant, and Bobby House. Honorary pallbearers will be Harold Null and Steve Thomas.
Visitation will be today from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home.