Donald James Houff

Services for Donald James Houff, of Hernando, were 1 p.m. Sundayat Riverwood Family Funeral Service with burial in Mt. Olive Churchof Christ Cemetery.

Mr. Houff, 57, died Sept. 22, 2005, at DeSoto Baptist Hospital.He was born on March 30, 1948, to the late James Luther Houff andAnneline Tindal Houff.

He was a floor supervisor at Sam’s Town Casino. He was a memberof the Catholic faith.

Preceding him in death were his parents; brother, Jimmy Houff;and grandmother, Alletta Houff.

Survivors are his wife, Pamela L. Houff of Hernando; his sons,Brandon Houff and his wife, Jennifer, of Flowood, and Adrien Houffand his wife, Nicki, of Hernando; his sister, Anna Hood ofBellflower, Calif.; and his grandson, Blake Edward Houff.

Billy ‘Bill’ Gene Keller

Services for Billy “Bill” Gene Keller, of Jonesboro, Ark., are10 a.m. Wednesday at First Christian Church in Weiner, Ark., withburial in Weiner Oak Grove Cemetery in Weiner. Roller-Farmers UnionFuneral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Visitation is today from 5-8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Mr. Keller, 59, died Sept. 25, 2005, at St. Bernards MedicalCenter in Jonesboro. He was born in Paris, Ark., on July 18, 1946,to Joseph Martin and Amma Crumpton Keller.

He was in district sales for Richland Sale Co. He managed farmdealerships in Weiner, McCrory and Forrest City, Ark., Clarksdale,Miss., and Hammond, La. He was former owner of K & J FordTractor in Brookhaven.

Preceding him in death was his father.

Survivors are his wife, Brenda Cooper Keller; Amma Keller ofWeiner, Ark.; his sons, Chris Keller of Clarksdale and Mike Kellerof Hattiesburg; his daughter, Carrie Keller Balfour of Jonesboro;his brothers, John Keller of Orange, Texas, and Don Keller ofKernersville, N.C.; his sisters, Sharon Williams of Fort Smith,Ark., and Karen Keller Ballard of Natural Steps, Ark.; and sixgrandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the First Christian Church inWeiner.

Mary Lou Smith Posey

Services for Mary Lou Smith Posey, of Brookhaven, are 11 a.m.Wednesday at Brookhaven Funeral Home with burial in Heucks RetreatBaptist Church Cemetery. Brookhaven Funeral Home is in charge ofarrangements.

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

Mrs. Posey, 77, died Sept. 25, 2005, at Countrybrook LivingCenter. She was born in Lincoln County on May 17, 1928, to the lateGrover C. Smith and Carrie Hoggatt Smith.

She was a telephone operator for BellSouth and had a generalstore in Heucks Retreat for several years.

Preceding her in death were her husband, J.W. Posey; herparents; and her sisters, Cecile Summers, Dorothy Smith andCharlotte Bobby.

Survivors are her son, Tim Posey and his wife Rose ofTegucigalpa, Honduras; her daughter, Lucy Terrell and her husband,Bruce, of Brookhaven; her sister, Elsie Crockett of Clinton; hersister-in-law, Josie Summers of Brookhaven; and five grandchildren,Chip Wells, Emily Wells and Sara Terrell, all of Brookhaven, andGabriella Posey and David Posey of Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Freedom Ministries,P.O. Box 3928, Brookhaven, MS 39603.

Joseph Carroll Smith

Services for Joseph Carroll Smith, of Brookhaven, were 11 a.m.Friday at New Prospect Baptist Church with burial in the churchcemetery. Riverwood Family Funeral Home is in charge ofarrangements.

Mr. Smith, 44, died Sept. 20, 2005, in an automobile accident inVicksburg. He was born on Jan. 16, 1961, to Roger Smith and LorettaNix Smith.

He was with J&J Construction Local 114 and the InternationalPaper Co. in Vicksburg. He was a member of New Prospect BaptistChurch.

Preceding him in death were his grandparents, Willis and MaudeSmith and Joe and Gladys Nix; his father-in-law, Herman B. GossJr.; his niece, Rebecca Ann Whittington; and an aunt, JoannSmith.

He is survived by his parents, Roger and Loretta Smith; hiswife, Susan Goss Smith; his son, Joseph Garrett Smith; hisdaughter, Elaina Jo Smith; his brother, Roger Dale Smith; hissisters, Karen Smith Howell and husband Hank, all of Brookhaven,and Kathy Smith Whittington and husband Jimmy of Smithdale and LoriSmith Wright and husband Pete of Brookhaven; his mother-in-law,Billie A. Goss; his brothers-in-law, Richard Goss and wifeJennifer, David Goss, Thomas Goss and wife Marie and Ken Goss andwife Rita; his sister-in-law, Kathy Goss, all of Brookhaven; and ahost of nieces and nephews.

Ferrell Lee Walker

Services for Ferrell Lee Walker, of Bogue Chitto, are 10 a.m.Wednesday at Johnson Grove Church of Christ with burial in thechurch cemetery. Harrigill Funeral Home is in charge ofarrangements.

Visitation is today from 5-9 p.m. at the church.

Mr. Walker, 82, died Sept. 26, 2005, at King’s Daughters MedicalCenter. He was born in Haynesville, La., on Aug. 4, 1923, to thelate Adolph Walker and Elma Robinson Walker.

He was a retired electrician for Exxon pipeline. He was a memberof Johnson Grove Church of Christ, where he served as a deacon.

Preceding him in death were his parents; wife, Julia SmithWalker; two brothers, Sherman Adkins and Sherrell Walker; and asister, Faye Morgan.

Survivors are his son, Wayne Walker of Brookhaven; hisdaughters, Joyce Trahan-Alessi of Houma, La., and Brenda Halversonof Santa Fe, Texas; five grandchildren; and twogreat-grandchildren.

Winifred ‘Winnie’ Bates Watts

Services for Winifred “Winnie” Bates Watts, of Morton, are 11a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28 at Springfield Baptist Church in Mortonwith burial in the church cemetery.

Visitation is today from 5 until 8 p.m. at Ott & Lee FuneralHome in Morton.

Mrs. Watts, 74, died Sept. 25 at home as a result of cancer. Shewas born in Neshoba County.

Mrs. Watts was a retired schoolteacher who had lived in Mortonthe last 17 years. She was a graduate of Forest Dale High School,East Mississippi Junior College and the University of SouthernMississippi. She taught school for more than 30 years – primarilyEnglish – and served as a school librarian. She taught at many highschools in several states: in Mississippi, Washington, Roxie,Runnelstown, Brookhaven, Greenville, West Lauderdale, West Lincolnand Pelahatchie; in Louisiana, Chalmette and Rayville; and inHawaii, Honolulu.

Being both a minister’s wife and schoolteacher, Mrs. Watts’ lifewas lived doing for others. One of her favorite activities wasfilming special events for her students and church members andpresenting them the videos. She enjoyed attending meetings andevents of the Rankin County Retired Teachers Association, allowingher to stay connected to those with whom she had worked and sharedso many experiences.

Preceding her in death was her husband, the Rev. James E.Watts.

Survivors are her sons and their wives, Don and Estelle Watts,of Pearl, and David and Shelia Watts, of Morton; sisters ClodeanBurch and Evelyn George, of Philadelphia, Miss., and Sue Roark, ofOxford; brother Argus Bates, of Philadelphia; four grandchildren,Amy and Eric Watts, of Pearl, Alex Watts and wife, Brandi, ofMorton, and Jeremy Watts, of Morton; great-grandchild Cassi Watts,of Morton; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family expresses its gratitude to the staff of CameliaHospice, especially Melodie Cox, R.N. and Janet Rias, C.N.A. fortheir help and support during Winnie’s illness.

Officiating Mrs. Watts’ service will be nephew Joel Henderson,retired minister and friend Holmes Carlisle and Springfield BaptistChurch pastor Frank Lay. Pallbearers are Kirby Pickering, DannyWade, Darrel Bates, John Henderson, Joe McCullough and MikeManning. Honorary pallbearers are Truman Manning, Hamp Pierce, TedPeagler, Bill Dickson, Carl Woolery and Joe Merchant.

Diamond P. Young

Services for Diamond P. Young, of Monticello, are 10 a.m.,Monday, Sept. 26, 2005 graveside at Pleasant Grove United MethodistChurch Cemetery.

Mr. Young, 73, died Sept. 24, 2005, at a Natchez retirementhome. He was born on Aug. 16, 1932, to Larry Hamilton Young andEdna Beason Young.

He was a retired mechanic.

Preceding him in death were his parents; his wife, Sophia Young;his daughter, Rhonda Grimes; and his brother, L.H. Young Jr.

Survivors are his sons, Kevin Young, Michael Young, Wayne Young,Ronald Young and Kerry Young, all of Monticello, and Harold Young,of Jackson; his brother, Charles Minton Young Sr., of Monticello;and his sister, Shirley Monk, of Monticello.; and 22 grandchildren,15 great-grandchildren and several stepgreat-grandchildren.