SUNDAY OBITUARIES

Sallie Thomas Benton

Services for Sallie Thomas Benton of Raleigh, N.C., are 11 a.m.Monday, Jan. 8, at Pollock-Wells & Best Funeral Home Chapel inNew Bern, N.C., with burial in Greenleaf Memorial Park.

Visitation is Sunday, Jan. 7, from 6-8 p.m. at the funeralhome.

Mrs. Benton, 77, died Thursday, Jan. 4, 2000, after a briefillness. She was born in Winterville, N.C., on Feb. 17, 1923, tothe late Dell Sr. and Martha Harrell Thomas.

She was retired from the U.S. Civil Service after 27 years.Following her retirement, she was a substitute teacher in the NewBern- Craven School system and was employed at the Havelock MotorLodge. In addition, she served as an election precinct worker formany years. She was also an avid bridge player and was a member ofseveral local bridge groups.

Preceding her in death were her parents; sister, Frances ThomasBowers; and a brother, Dell Thomas Jr.

Survivors are her brother, William J. Thomas of ColoradoSprings, Colo.; five children, Ronald E. Benton and his wife Lindaof Richmond, Va., Richard G. Benton and his fiancee MarjeanHenderson of Clayton, N.C., Steven D. Benton and his wife Dr. CindyWiley of Goldsboro, N.C., Tomi Ann B. Rogers and her husband Billof Brookhaven, and Mark T. Benton and his partner Tom of Raleigh,N.C.; ten grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Della E. Beard

Services for Della Estelle Brister Brewer Beard of Jayess are 3p.m. Sunday, Jan. 7, at Providence Baptist Church with burial inthe church cemetery.

Visitation is Sunday, Jan. 7, from 1 p.m. until time of serviceat the church.

Mrs. Beard, 92, died Friday, Jan. 5, 2000, at her daughter’sresidence in Clinton, La. She was born in Lawrence County on June27, 1908, to the late Robert Milton and Carrie Boyd Brister.

She was a homemaker. She was a member of Jayess BaptistChurch.

Preceding her in death were her parents; first husband, CorbettBrewer; second husband, Prentis Beard; daughters, Vickie MarieBrewer and Georgie B. Brewer; brothers, Donnie Brister and EmileBrister; and sisters, Geneive Dalton, Dorothy Calmes and MelbaAlexander.

Survivors are her sons, C.J. Brewer of Bokchitto, Okla., HoytBeard of Summit and Rex Beard and Mitchell Beard of Jayess;daughters, Chris Powell of Baton Rouge, La., Nell Russell of DenhamSprings, La. , Linda Dallas of Kenner, La., Dimple Galloway ofBaton Rouge, Evelyn Beard of McComb, Opel Boeneke of Clinton, La.,and Ellen Wesenberg of Waxhaw, N.C.; brothers, James Brister ofSlidell, La., Brenell Brister of Ruth and Edrodean Brister ofThermopolis, Wyo.; sisters, Annie Lee of Denham Springs, IdevaAlexander of Ruth, Daphne Sumrall and Laure Brister of Foxworth,and Ruby Dalton of Topeka; 21 grandchildren; 29great-grandchildren; and eight great-great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the ProvidenceCemetery Fund, 605 Holmesville Road, Jayess, MS 39641.

Catchings Funeral Home of McComb is in charge ofarrangements.