Obituaries for Monday, May 3, 2004

By Staff
Retired
Services for Frank L. Franklin Jr. will be held today at 1 p.m. at E.E. McDonald Community Chapel in Meridian with the Revs. Odell Hopkins and Elvin Sunds officiating. Burial will be in White Oaks Cemetery in Bailey.
Mr. Franklin, 60, of Meridian, died Friday, April 30, 2004, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center. He was born Frank Louis Franklin Jr. on July 19, 1943, in Meridian. He acknowledged Christ as his personal savior at an early age with St. Joseph Catholic Church in Meridian.
After attending St. Joseph Catholic School, he transferred to T.J. Harris High School in Meridian and graduated in 1962. He spent two years in the U.S. Air Force, where he served as an E-1 at the 44th Missile Maintenance Squadron (SAC) at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota. He was also a graduate of Mississippi Valley State University (The Delta Devils) Class of 1973, with a degree in sociology. He loved his alma mater.
He was employed with the Meridian Police Department as a police patrolman. He later worked in security at Owens Corning and was a deputy with Lauderdale County Sheriff's Department. He was also a alcohol and drug counselor at Weems Community Mental Health Center. He retired from the State of Mississippi as a licensed social worker, and marriage and family therapist in August 2003. He enjoyed hunting, cookouts and watching documentaries.
Survivors include his wife of 36 years, Joyce Marshall Franklin; daughters, Tayna Franklin Turner and her husband, Carlos, of Pascagoula and Katrina Hardy of Meridian; his mother, Alene Franklin of Meridian; sisters, Shirlene Clark of Meridian and Connie Lewis of St. Louis; an uncle, J.T. "Uncle Babbi" Brazel of Meridian; aunts, Lorene Baskin of St. Louis and Mamie Brazel of Meridian; mother-in-law, Lillie Marshall of Gulfport; and a loyal friend, Pat Brownlee "Delta Devil" of Houston; one granddaughter, several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by a son, Cory Franklin; his father, Frank Franklin Sr.; sisters, Sue Cockrell and Nina Faye Ball; and a brother, Joseph Franklin Sr.
Memorials may be made to American Cancer Society.
Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the community chapel.
Retired
Services for H. Joseph "Joe" Godeaux will be held Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. at Barham Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Allen Singletary and Matthew Simmons officiating. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery.
Mr. Godeaux, 83, of Meridian, died Saturday, May 1, 2004, at Riley Hospital. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and an honorary member of Jones Memorial Presbyterian Church. He was a member of Meridian Moose Lodge No. 1628 since 1952. He achieved the highest degree of the order, The Pilgrim Degree of Merit. He was a member of Veteran's of Foreign Wars and retired from GM&O Railroad. He was owner of the Golf Shack. He was also a member of the C.C.C., the Knights of Columbus and an amateur radio operator. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and served in World War II. He was instrumental in the construction of the railroad museum at Montana's Restaurant.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Elois Taylor Godeaux of Meridian; a grandson, Joey Powell of Madison; a granddaughter, Cathy Powell of New Orleans; a brother, Jimmy Goudeau and his wife, Janice, of Meridian; step-children, Jimmy Taylor and his wife, Jenny Lynn, Rita Taylor Flint and her husband, Alan, and Pat Taylor and his wife, Danita, all of Meridian; 10 step-grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild; a sister-in-law, Angeline Vance of Meridian; and a son-in-law, David Powell of Wildwood, Fla.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Willie "Vee" Greer Godeaux; and a daughter, Billie Powell.
Memorials may be made to St. Patrick Catholic Church, Moose Charities, Jones Memorial Presbyterian Church or a charity of choice.
Pallbearers will be Charlie Maggard, Tommy Black, Ted Burton, Larry Richards, Jimmy Crane and Jerry Wiggins.
Visitation will be today 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home. A Loyal Order of the Moose memorial service will be tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home.
Tyson Foods employee
SEBASTOPOL Services for Wilbon Jack Underwood will be held today at 3:30 p.m. at Milling Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Jerry Holmes and Howell Thrash officiating. Burial will be in Old White Plains Church Cemetery.
Mr. Underwood, 54, of Conehatta, died Saturday, May 1, 2004, at Hospice in His Hands in Madden.
Survivors include his sister, Nelda Crain of Lake; two nephews, one great-niece, several other relatives and friends.
PHILADELPHIA Services for the Rev. Charles Roark will be held Tuesday at 3 p.m. at Pentecostal Apostolic Church on Highway 15 North in Philadelphia with the Revs. Tommy Cypert and Nathan Lowe officiating. Burial will be in Sunrise Cemetery in Noxapater. McClain-Hays Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.
Rev. Roark, 69, of Noxapater, died Saturday, May 1, 2004, in his home. He was born in Missouri and lived the early part of his life in Missouri and Arkansas, but resided in Mississippi for the past 49 years.
He attended Tupelo Bible College and pastored Zion Chapel and Ebenezer Church in Winston County for three years. He was an evangelist for a short period of time before becoming pastor at McLain Chapel Church in Neshoba County for more than 15 years. He was currently pastoring Pentecostal Apostolic Church in Philadelphia where he served for more than 29 years.
Survivors include his wife, Lillie Shepperd Roark of Noxapater; daughters, Sharon Bailey of Noxapater and Tina Roark of Philadelphia; sons, Ronnie Roark of Los Angeles and Paul Roark of Noxapater; 21 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; sisters, Fay Plummer, Marie Slayton, Doris Cook, Wanda Rice and Janice Hampton, all of Piggott, Ark.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Oscar Thomas "Doc" and Ruth Felps Roark; and two brothers, Carl Roark and Paul Roark.
Pallbearers will be Stenson Roark, Evin Roark, Kevin Roark, Kerri Roark, Drew Roark, Cody Boyette and Chase Roark. Honorary pallbearers will be Tristan Boyette, Gabe Roark, Tyler Roark, Noah Bailey, Jakeb Bailey and Darius Carter.
Visitation will be today 1 p.m.-9 p.m. at Pentecostal Apostolic Church in Philadelphia.
Electrician
STOCKBRIDGE, Ga. Memorial services for Wallace E. Bolen will be held Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Carmel Baptist Church, 1847 Highway 19 South, in Meridian with the Rev. Bill Webb officiating. Pope Dickson and Son Funeral Directors and Cremation Services is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Bolen, 64, of Stockbridge, died Saturday, May 1, 2004, in Stockbridge. He was known for and enjoyed cooking country foods such as fried chicken and cornbread, watching the history channel, and tinkering with electronics. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and served during the Vietnam War. He retired after more than 10 years of military service. After his military service, he became an electrician.
Survivors include his daughter, Sherry Mahaffey and her husband, Randy E., of Stockbridge; grandsons, Trent E. Mahaffey and Cody E. Mahaffey, both of Stockbridge; brothers and sisters-in-law, Paul and Peggy Bolen of Meridian and Jo Bolen of Spring, Texas; sisters, Loraine Bolen of Mississippi and Wanda Ford of Tupelo.