Obituaries for Friday, August 5, 2005
Published 5:00 am Friday, August 5, 2005
Selma Watts Britt
Services for Selma Watts Britt of Brookhaven are 11 a.m.,Saturday, Aug. 6, at Brookhaven Funeral Home Chapel with burial inMacedonia Baptist Church Cemetery.
Visitation is Friday from 5-9 p.m., at the funeral home.
Mrs. Britt, 84, died Aug. 3, 2005 at King’s Daughters MedicalCenter. She was born in Lincoln County on Aug. 31, 1920, to GeorgeWashington Watts and Ada Smith Watts.
She was a homemaker. She was a member of Macedonia BaptistChurch.
Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, ClaudeBritt; and her daughter, Linda Fairchild.
Survivors are her son, Kelly Britt of Brookhaven; her sister,Vernie Walker of Brookhaven; her nephew, Gary Walker, and his wifePam, of Brookhaven; and her step-grandson, Jewell Fairchild ofLouisiana.
James Charles Byrd
Services for James Charles Byrd of Brookhaven are 3:30 p.m.,Friday, Aug. 5, at Brookhaven Funeral Home Chapel with burial inPleasant Grove Baptist Church Cemetery.
Mr. Byrd, 85, died Aug. 3, 2005, at his residence. He was bornin McComb on March 30, 1920, to James Clinton Byrd and BeulahHerring Byrd.
He was a retired salesman. He was a veteran of the Army withservice in World War II. He was a member of Pleasant Grove BaptistChurch.
Preceding him in death were his parents.
Survivors are his sons and daughters-in-law, Mark and CherylByrd of Richardson, Texas, and Wayne and Deborah Byrd of Houston,Texas; his daughther and son-in-law, Charlotte and Jesse Purcell ofHouston, Texas; his brothers and sisters-in-law, William and AlyneByrd, Clinton Byrd, and Louis “Tuk” and Gladys Byrd, all ofBrookhaven; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Betty Jean Chapman
Services for Betty Jean Chapman of Metarie, La. are 1 p.m.,Saturday, Aug. 6, at L.A. Muhleisen & Son Funeral Home inMetarie, La., and 2 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 7, at Hartman Funeral Homein McComb with burial in Hollywood Cemetery in McComb.
Visitation is Saturday from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. at L.A.Muhleisen & Son Funeral Home in Metarie, La., and Sunday from11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Hartman Funeral Home in McComb.
Mrs. Chapman, died Aug. 4, 2005, at her daughter’s residence.She was born in Ruth to Tom Clark and Birtie Mae Clark.
She was a homemaker for 45 years and a lab technician for GulfStates Optical Laboratory for six years. She was a resident ofMetarie, La., for 45 years.
Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, LelandJames Chapman Sr.; one sister, Helen Clark; three brothers, EarlClark, Robert “Bob” Clark, and Jessie Clark; and a companion, PaulRomage.
Survivors are her daughter, Rhonda C. Herkes; her sons, LelandJames Chapman Jr., Craig Stephen Chapman, and William DwaineChapman; her son-in-law, Michael Herkes; two-daughters-in-law,Helen Chapman and Susan Chapman; four sisters, Lucille Chapman,Dorothy Hawn, Ruth Crisler and Evelyn Rossett; three brothers, PaulClark, David Clark and Roger Clark; three grandchildren, JenniferElizabeth Herkes, Taylor Lynn Chapman and Stephen Jeffery Wallace;and three step-grandchildren, Rachel Rodriguez, Kathy Pachowicz,and Richie Pachowicz.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 2200Veterans Mem. Blvd., Suite 214, Kenner, La., 70062.
Vivian Lucinda Hendrix
Vivian Lucinda Hendrix, violinist, 90, died July 12, 2005 at St.Dominic Hospital in Jackson, Mississippi. A memorial serivce willbe held at St. Catherine’s Village in Madison, Mississippi, onSaturday, August 6, 2005 at 10:00 a.m. Committal will take place atRosehill Cemetery in Brookhaven, Mississippi. Mark Seepe FuneralDirectors & Crematorium of Jackson is in charge of thearrangements.
Vivian Langford Hendrix, daughter of Clell M. and FlorenceWiggins Langford, was born in Good Hope, Mississippi, on September20, 1914. During the summer of 1932, following her graduation fromhigh school, Vivian was a member of a church group, the YoungWomen’s Auxiliary, for a trip to the Southern Baptist Assemblyhotel between sophomore and junior years at Mississippi StateCollege (now Mississippi State University). Vivian attendedCopiah-Lincoln Junior College in Wesson, Mississippi in 1932-33,where she played violin in the college orchestra. Following herfreshman year, she was transferred to Mississippi Woman’s College(now William Carey College), a Baptist school in Hattiesburg,Mississippi. Here, she majored in the English Department, as amember of the violin ensemble, in drama, as a student assistant inEnglish Department, as a member of the Student Council, and inother campus activities. She graduated with a B.A. degree in 1936.Between her sophomore and junior year at Mississippi Woman’sCollege, Vivian had secured a summer job as a waitress at the hotelat Ridgecrest, N.C., where she renewed her acquaintance with JackHendrix. After two years of courtship, they were married in herfamily home in Brookhaven on August 18, 1936. Following theirmarriage, they worked for Y.M.C.A. at Mississippi State until 1943.Vivian accepted a position as Secretary to the Minister of theFirst Presbyterian Church in Tampa, Florida until 1945. InSeptember of 1946, she accepted the invitation of President G.D.Humphrey to come to the University of Wyoming in Laramie. Sheworked as the President’s secretary and in the University NewsService. Vivian served as interim Head of University News Servicefor some 20 months. in 1947 and 1948, she was in charge of theuniversity-sponsored Miss Wyoming Pagent to select the entrant intothe Miss America Pagent. In November of 1948, she resigned todevote her time to typing, homemaking and community service. Vivianwas superintendent of the Presbyterian Church School for sevenyears, she served as President of the University of Wyoming FacultyWomen’s Club, the Kiwivians Club, and P.E.O. Chapter AI for two,she was Treasurer of the Ivinson Memorial Hospital Auxiliary,member of the Jane Jefferson Club, and played violin until 1950 inthe University’s First Symphony Orchestra.
In 1957, Vivian accompanied her husband to Pakistan as aFullbright Lecturer to the Pakistani Ministry in Education. Lettersfrom Pakistan was published in 1989, which Vivian wrote. Shereturned home in 1958. She worked with her husband until 1963. Thecouple travelled extensively all over the world. In August of 1986,Vivian and Jack celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. February1991, Vivian and Jack Hendrix established the Oscar R. and VivianL. Hendricks fund with the University of Wyoming Foundation astrustee. September 1993, wishing to be near their families, Vivianand Jack Hendrix became residents of the St. Catherine’s Village,in Madison, Mississippi, there they became active members of thatcommunity as well.
In lieu of flowers and her continued memory, memorials may bemade to the Oscar R. and Vivian L. Hendricks fund, University ofWyoming Foundation, 1200 East Ivinson Ave., Laramie, WY 82070, orthe St. Catherine’s Foundation Fund, 200 Dominican Dr., Madison, MS39110.
Hughlon Smith
Services for Hughlon Smith of Brookhaven were 10 a.m., Thursday,Aug. 4, at Brookhaven Funeral Home Chapel with burial in FriendshipBaptist Church Cemetery.
Mr. Smith, 81, died Aug. 2, 2005, at Country Brook LivingCenter. He was born in Lincoln County on Oct. 17, 1923, to PearlieSmith and Louella Smith Smith.
He was a retired mechanic. He was a member of Friendship BaptistChurch. He was a disabled veteran of the Army, with service inWorld War II.
Preceding him in death were his parents; his son, Roger HughSmith; two sisters, Ruthie Dunn Smith and Ava Watts; and herbrother, Hollis Smith.
Survivors are his sister, Ruby Lofton of Bogue Chitto; fivenephews; and one niece. children, and other relatives andfriends.