Obituaries for Wednesday, June 4

Published 5:00 am Wednesday, June 4, 2003

Maurine Wells Richardson

Services for Maurine Wells Richardson of Brookhaven are 2 p.m.,Thursday, June 5, at Heuck’s Retreat Baptist Church with burial inthe church cemetery.

Visitation is today from 6-9 p.m., at Brookhaven Funeral Home,and Thursday from 1-2 p.m., at the church.

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Mrs. Richardson, 77, died June 4, 2003, at her residence. Shewas born in Lincoln County on Jan. 3, 1926, to Johnnie Wells andPauline Haley Wells.

She was a homemaker. She was a member of Heuck’s Retreat BaptistChurch.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, SheltonRichardson; and a sister.

Survivors are her daughters and sons-in-law, Renee Cotten andDennis, Kathryn Puckett and Mark, Sharon Cupit and Tommy, KaronKing and John, all of Brookhaven; her brothers, Art Wells ofMadison, George Wells and Steve Wells, both of Brookhaven; hergrandchildren, Hollie Cupit and Shelton Lambert; and hergreat-grandchildren, Christopher, Hannah and Leanne Moak.

Memorials may be made to the Johnnie and Pauline WellsScholarship fund at Copiah-Lincoln Community College.

Earl Dwight Russell

Services for Earl Dwight Russell of Monticello are 2 p.m., todayat Carmel Baptist Church with burial in the church cemetery. WilsonFuneral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Russell, 59, died June 2, 2003, at his residence. He wasborn in Monticello on March 17, 1944, to Earl V. Russell and EmmaE. Wilson.

He was a retired welder with Union Local 198 of Baton Rouge, La.He was a member of Carmel Baptist Church.

Preceding him in death were his parents; and a sister, MaryEarline Russell.

Survivors are his loving friend, Patsy Griffith Russell; hisson, Earl D. “Russ” Russell of Monticello; his daughters, EarlineRussell Coleman, Debbie Russell Allison, and Ellen Russell Templet,all of Gonzales, La., and Allison Russell Koonce of Prairieville,La.; his sisters, Juanita King and Elmeze Loper, both ofMonticello; 16 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Bertha B. Smith

Services for Bertha B. Smith of Brookhaven are 10 a.m.,Thursday, June 5, at Harrigill Funeral Home Chapel with burial inRosehill Cemetery.

Visitation is today from 6-9 p.m., at the funeral home.

Mrs. Smith, 99, died June 3, 2003, at King’s Daughters MedicalCenter. She was born in Brookhaven on Feb. 29, 1904, to Nick EdSmith and Anna Calcote Smith.

She was a school teacher and a librarian at the Lincoln CountyLibrary. She was a member of First Baptist Church.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her first husband,George Isom Bethea; her second husband, Millard W. Smith; and agrandson, George Harvey Bethea Jr.

Survivors are her son, George Harvey Bethea of Homosassa, Fla.;her daughter, Virginia Anne Bethea Peavey of Brookhaven; herstep-daughter, Audrey Smith Pringle of Hattiesburg; her sister,Bessie Callender Coker of Brookhaven; six grandchildren; 14great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Gennie Fred Watson

Services for Gennie Fred Watson of Brookhaven are 3 p.m.,Thursday, June 5, at Brookhaven Funeral Home Chapel with burial inWesson Cemetery.

Visitation is today from 5-9 p.m., at the funeral home.

Mr. Watson, 85, died June 3, 2003, at his residence. He was bornin Hazlehurst on Dec. 7, 1917, to Jay Watson and Lushia BlandWatson.

He worked in general maintenance at Copiah-Lincoln CommunityCollege from 1956-1982. He was a member of the Baptist faith.

Preceding him in death were his parents; his wife, Orlean HarperWatson; and his sisters, Bessie Taylor and Ellen Magee.

Survivors are his son, Jimmie D. Watson of Hattiesburg; hisdaughters, Catherine Britt and Dorothy Britt, both of Brookhaven,and Ruth Posey of Wesson; his step-daughter, Sandra D. Gorenflo ofBrookhaven; 12 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.

Charles W. Wilson

Services for Charles W. Wilson of Magnolia are 11 a.m., today atTerry’s Creek Baptist Church with burial in the church cemetery.Hartman Funeral Home of McComb is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Wilson, 74, died June 2, 2003, at Southwest MississippiRegional Medical Center in McComb. He was born in Magnolia on March25, 1929, to William Esco and Ruth Lane Wilson.

He was a retired tool room supervisor at Croft Metals, Inc.,with 39 years service. He was a member of Terry’s Creek BaptistChurch, where he was a deacon and Sunday school director. He servedin the Air Force during the Korean War.

Preceding him in death were his parents; one son, David LaneWilson; two sisters, Earline Carpenter and Avis Lea; and hisbrother, William Esco “Bill” Wilson Jr.

Survivors are his wife, Martrue Hart Wilson of Magnolia; hissons, Doyle Wilson of Summit, and Bruce Wilson of Canton; hissister, Dorothy Lankford of Tylertown; and four grandchildren.