Rufus Leo Evans

Services for Rufus Leo Evans of Terrytown, La. are 1 p.m.,Thursday, Jan. 29, at Community Funeral Services Chapel with burialin New Prospect Cemetery.

Visitation is Thursday from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m., at the funeralhome.

Mr. Evans, 77, died Jan. 27, 2004, at his residence. He was bornin Lincoln County on Jan. 14, 1927, to Albert Evans and EmmaWilliams.

He was a carpenter. He served in the Marines during World WarII, and the Army in the Korean Conflict.

Preceding him in death were his parents, four sisters and threebrothers.

Survivors are his wife, Betty Ann Bowman Evans; his daughters,Phyllis Ann Hoech of Houston, Texas, and Emily Alexis Lenormand ofTerrytown; his son and daughter-in-law, Michael L. Evans and SandraHernadez Evans of Baton Rouge, La.; his sister, Ollie EvansSanabarie; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Corene Lewis Laird

Services for Corene Lewis Laird were 1 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 27,at Seale Funeral Home in Denham Springs, La.

Mrs. Laird, 87, died Jan. 24, 2004, at Baton Rouge GeneralMedical Center-Bluebonnet. She was born in McCall Creek on Aug. 31,1916.

She was a member of First United Pentecostal Church in DenhamSprings.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Fannie and Clarence”C.W.” Lewis; her husband, Brince Alden Laird; a sister, IleneArnold; her brothers, Lawrence Lewis and Troy Lewis; and agrandson, Kendal Edward Vinson.

Survivors are her daughter, Marilyn Kendoyce Vinson of Walker,La.; her sister, Lillian Linder of Natchez; and many nieces andnephews.

Doris Christine Lewis

Services for Doris Christine Lewis of Crystal Springs were 2p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 27, at Stringer Family Funeral Services Chapelwith burial in Palestine Cemetery in Simpson County.

Mrs. Lewis, 75, died Jan. 25, 2004, at Mississippi BaptistMedical Center in Jackson.

She was a homemaker, and a lifelong resident of Copiah County.She was a member of the Baptist faith.

Preceding her in death was her husband, R.V. Lewis Jr.

Survivors are her daughters, Barbara Jones of Crystal Springs,Louise Douglas of Hazlehurst, Debbie Strong of Utica, and BrendaWoods of Vicksburg; her sons, Robert Lewis, Richard Lewis andJohnny Lewis, all of Crystal Springs, Jimmy Lewis of San Antonia,Texas, Randy Lewis of Vicksburg, and Tommy Lewis of Florence; herbrothers, Carl Kelly of Natchez, and Billy Kelly of Lumberton; 25grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.

Mary Alice Pendleton

Services for Mary Alice Pendleton of Brookhaven are 2 p.m.,Saturday, Jan. 31, at Providence Missionary Baptist Church inHazlehurst with burial in the church cemetery.

Visitation is Friday from noon until 5 p.m., at WilliamsMortuary.

Ms. Pendleton, 61, died Jan. 26, 2004, at her residence. She wasborn in Copiah County on Aug. 18, 1942, to M.C. Pendleton Sr. andCarrie Walker Pendleton.

She was a nurse’s aide, and a member of Providence MissionaryBaptist Church.

Preceding her in death were her parents and two brothers, M.C.Pendleton Jr. and Frank Pendleton.

Survivors are her daughter, Carrie Jefferson of Hazlehurst; herson, Ronnie Pendleton of Brookhaven; her sisters andbrothers-in-law, Augustine and Robert Childs of Brookhaven, andThelma and Sidney McClinton, Ernestine Johnson, and BeatricePendleton, all of Hazlehurst; her brother and sister-in-law,William and Narlean Pendleton of Brookhaven; her aunts, Maggie Garyand Lena Mae Walker, both of Hazlehurst; and a host of nieces,nephews, other relatives and friends.

Caroline Moore Simmons

Services for Caroline Moore Simmons of Brookhaven, formerly ofStarkville, are 10 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 31, at First UnitedMethodist Church in Starkville with burial in Oktibbeha MemorialGardens Park. Welch Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Visitation is Friday from 2-4 p.m., and 6-8 p.m., at the FamilyLife Center of the church.

Mrs. Simmons, 79, died Jan. 27, 2004, at her son’s residence inBrookhaven.

She was retired from Mississippi State University as anexecutive secretary to the director of the Agricultural ExperimentStation. She was a graduate of East Central Junior College inDecatur. She was active in the Business and Professional Women’sClub and the Mississippi State University Women’s Club. Shevolunteered for many charitable organizations. She was a long-timemember of Starkville United Methodist Church and the Martha Circle.She moved to St. Catherine’s Village in Madison in July 2002. Shewas a devoted Mississippi State fan and supporter.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Robert Gordon andBonnie Welsh Moore; and her husband, Roger Clay Simmons.

Survivors are her children and their spouses, Suzanne and HankDressel of Norcross, Ga., Roger and Carol Simmons of Vicksburg, andDavid and Dixie Simmons of Brookhaven; her sister, Sue WeifenbachHalsey of Louisiana; 12 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; andeight nieces and nephews.

Contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church ofStarkville, P.O. Box 2585, Starkville, MS 39760; Parkway HillsUnited Methodist Church, P.O. Box 1721, Madison, MS 39130; HospiceMinistries, P.O. Drawer 3490, Brookhaven, MS 39603-7490; or the R.Clay Simmons Economic Development Foundation, 1 Research Blvd.,Suite 204, Starkville, MS 39759.

Family and friends can go online and sign the register book atwww.welchfuneralhome.com.

Lucy S. Strait

Services for Lucy S. Strait of Brookhaven were 11 a.m., Jan. 20,at Harrigill Funeral Home Chapel with burial in PaxtonCemetery.

Mrs. Strait, 94, died Jan. 18, 2004, at Haven Hall Health CareCenter. She was born in Lincoln County on May 19, 1909, to Ben P.Smith and Alice Allred Smith.

She was a homemaker, and a member of Philadelphia BaptistChurch. She was a graduate of Loyd Star High School.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, DanielKelly Strait; a son, Daniel Kelly Strait Jr.; and a son-in-law,Charles Walker.

Survivors are her daughters and sons-in-law, Marlene andTheodore Vinson of Citronelle, Ala., and Laverne Walker of Raymond;her son and daughter-in-law, Gene and Alma Strait of Brookhaven;her sisters, Grace Smith of Brookhaven, and Henrietta Price ofHazlehurst; 15 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; fivegreat-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Margaret Wilson Webb

Services for Margaret Wilson Webb of Brookhaven are 11 a.m.,Saturday, Jan. 31, at Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Churchwith burial in Carver Heights Cemetery.

Visitation is Friday from noon until 5 p.m., at WilliamsMortuary.

Mrs. Webb, 93, died Jan. 25, 2004, at Haven Hall Health CareCenter. She was born in Brookhaven on March 19, 1910, to BurtonWilson and Bernice Gaines Wilson.

She was retired.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, CarkersWebb; her brothers, James Wilson, Martin Wilson and LeroyHenderson; and a foster sister, Charlesteen Alford.

Survivors are her nieces and their spouses, Margaret and EugeneTherrell, and Wilma Showers, all of Brookhaven, and Glenda andLavernon Walker of Gretna, La.; her nephews and a spouse, Willie B.Wilson of Brookhaven, and Charles and Jeanette Wilson of Natchez;and many great-nieces and nephews, great-great-nieces and nephews,other relatives and friends.