James Vercie Adams

Services for James Vercie Adams, of Brookhaven, are 11 a.m.Tuesday, Nov. 24, at Riverwood Family Funeral Service Chapel withburial in Riverwood Memorial Park.

Visitation is Monday from 5 until 8 p.m. at the funeralhome.

Mr. Adams, 84, died Nov. 21, 2009, at his residence. He was bornin Lincoln County on May 16, 1925, to Vercie Adams and Lillie LairdAdams.

He was retired from Ocean Drilling and Exploration Co. as ageneral drilling superintendent. He served in the U.S. Army duringWorld War II and was wounded during the Battle of Aachen. He wasinducted into the Purple Heart Hall of Fame in New York.

Preceding him in death were his parents; and an infantsister.

Survivors are his wife of 66 years, Donnis Allred Adams, ofBrookhaven; his sons, Jimmy and wife, Judy, of Brookhaven, and Gregand wife, Mary Ann, of Bogue Chitto; his grandchildren, Kim andRonnie Keene, Nona Carol and Todd Chauvin, Heath and Ali Adams,Cory Adams, Matt Boone and Jason Boone; his great-grandchildren,Kaylee Beth Keene, Derek Keene, Christian Keene, Aaron Lefebvre,Zac, Jake and Maddison Chauvin, Laceton Boone, and Brock and EmmaAdams; his brother, Jerry Adams, of Tupelo; and his sisters, BeulahWall and Carolyn Case, both of Brookhaven, Inez Harold, ofNashville, Tenn., and Louise Pearson, of Meridian.

Pallbearers are Heath Adams, Cory Adams, Ronnie Keene, MattBoone, Brock Adams and Aaron LeFebvre.

Winfred L. Beall

Services for Winfred L. Beall, of Senatobia, are 11 a.m.Tuesday, Nov. 24, at Zion Hill Baptist Church in Wesson with burialin Zion Hill Cemetery.

Visitation is Monday from 5 until 8 p.m. at Stringer FamilyFuneral Home in Hazlehurst.

Mr. Beall, 81, died Nov. 20, 2009, at Baptist MemorialHospital-Desoto in Southaven. He was born in Copiah County on Sept.9, 1928, to James Luther Beall and Maggie Davis Beall.

He lived his entire life in Copiah County, prior to residing inSenatobia Convalescent Center in Senatobia. Mr. Beall was a veteranof the Korean War. He was a member of Zion Hill Baptist Church. Heenjoyed watching sports and spending time with his family,especially his two granddaughters.

Preceding him in death were his parents; his brothers, OttoBeall, L.L. Beall, Ray Beall, Rowan Beall, Prentiss Beall andDennis Beall; and his sisters, Maybelle Derrick, Pearl McCardle,Mary Lee McCarroll and Vera Dyess.

Survivors are his wife, Hellon W. Beall, of Senatobia; adaughter, Robbie Walker and husband, Curt Walker; his brothers,Jack Beall, of Kosciusko, and Lee Beall, of Wesson; his sisters,Ruby Montgomery, of Brookhaven, and Minnie Jane Wooten, of Wesson;and his two grandchildren, Kate and Kara Walker, of Hernando.

Roberta Duckworth Johnston

Services for Roberta Duckworth Johnston, of Brookhaven, are 2p.m. Monday, Nov. 23, at Brookhaven Funeral Home Chapel on NatchezDrive with burial in Rosehill Cemetery.

Mrs. Johnston, 88, died Nov. 21, 2009, at Silver Cross Home inBrookhaven. She was born in Brookhaven on Oct. 1, 1921, to Dr. C.L.Duckworth and Esther Hartness Duckworth.

Roberta’s father served as the Mississippi State Veterinarianand moved the family to Greenwood, where she met and married M.L.Johnston. Following his Air Force tour of duty in World War II, thecouple moved to California where he was employed with ContinentalAirlines and she with Western Union. Once they retired, theJohnstons returned to Brookhaven, and after Mr. Johnston’s death,Mrs. Johnston moved to The Inez. She became a cheerful andinspirational friend to her fellow residents and a public servantto the community.

In 2007, the Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commercepresented Mrs. Johnston the Soap Box Award for her outstanding workin promoting the community, particularly King’s Daughters MedicalCenter and Habitat for Humanity.

At King’s Daughters Medical Center, Mrs. Johnston wisely guidedthe institution as chairman of the board and displayed exemplaryleadership of the KDMC Auxiliary giving impetus to establishing thegift shop whose proceeds generously benefited the hospital. Asboard president of Silver Cross Home, Mrs. Johnston sawconstruction of that new facility completed. Her commitment toWilling Hearts Circle led her to volunteer selflessly as neededthroughout the medical center.

Mrs. Johnston became executive director for Lincoln CountyHabitat for Humanity in recent years and her dedication andorganizational skills held that group on course. Families in ourcommunity enjoy home ownership of decent, affordable houses todaydue largely to her disciplined direction.

Mrs. Johnston served the Lord through involvement in theministries of First Baptist Church, notably as director of an adultSunday school department and as a former choir member. She assumedlocal, district and state leadership positions in WMU always with aheart for missions.

She loved and served her community and enhanced it with herlife. The quality of her days here translated into value for herhometown.

Preceding her in death were her parents; and her husband, M.L.Johnston.

Survivors are a cousin, Patricia McEwen, of Columbus; and adevoted friend, Edna Sones, with whom she shared a sisterhoodrelationship.

Merle W. Reid

Services for Merle W. Reid, of Jayess, are 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov.24, at Providence Baptist Church in Jayess with burial in thechurch cemetery. Wilson Funeral Home in Monticello is in charge ofarrangements.

Visitation is Monday from 5 until 9 p.m. at the church.

Mrs. Reid, 78, died Nov. 21, 2009, at her residence. She wasborn in Derma on Sept. 4, 1931, to Henry Wiles and Estelle TurnerWiles.

She was a retired secretary from the Jayess Water Association.She was a member of Providence Baptist Church in Jayess.

Preceding her in death were her parents; a brother; and her twosisters.

Survivors are her husband, Dennis Reid; her sons, Charles DavidReid and Thomas Michael Reid, both of Jayess; a sister, JuanitaMatthews, of McComb; her six grandchildren; and her threegreat-grandchildren.

Katie Ruth Wilkinson

Services for Katie Ruth Wilkinson, of Brookhaven, were 11 a.m.Monday, Nov. 23, at Brookhaven Funeral Home Chapel on Natchez Drivewith burial in Friendship Baptist Church Cemetery.

Mrs. Wilkinson, 74, died Nov. 21, 2009, at her residence. Shewas born in Franklin County on Jan. 12, 1935, to Clem Smith andMildred Dunigan Smith.

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

Preceding her in death were her parents; brothers, Chester Smithand Herman Smith; and a niece, Sue Tibbs.

Survivors are her son W.F. Wilkinson and wife, Samantha, ofBrookhaven; a sister, Irene Lofton, of Brookhaven; a brother,Calvin Smith, of Brookhaven; eight nieces and nephews; and otherrelatives.