Obituaries for Thursday Jan. 28, 2010

Published 7:40 pm Thursday, January 28, 2010

Hugh Gerald Beggs

Services for Hugh Gerald Beggs, of McCall Creek, were heldWednesday, Jan. 27, at Riverwood Family Funeral Service Chapel,with burial in Riverwood Memorial Park.

Mr. Beggs, 86, died Jan. 26, 2010, at Hospice Ministries ofRidgeland. He was born in Morganfield, Ky., on Feb 7, 1923, to Dr.Forrest Beggs and Otha Henshaw Beggs.

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As a young man, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was commissionedas commander, serving on a vessel off the coast of Africa duringWorld War II. It was during operation Torch that Hugh was capturedand held by the Germans as a prisoner of war in North Africa.

After the war, Hugh returned to Indiana and secured employment,selling farm equipment throughout the mid-south region. He turnedhis success in sales into ownership of a major beer distributioncompany located in Evansville, Ind. Like so many in that region, hefarmed corn, as well.

In the 1970s, Hugh retired to McCall Creek to run the Big “B,” astore renowned for ice cream and gasoline along Highway 84.

Hugh never lost his love for the water. He had been active invarious yacht clubs along the Mississippi River. Later in life, heenjoyed fishing the bayous and waterways of Louisiana. Hunting wasan additional outlet for Hugh. He owned two deer camps that cateredto corporate outings. Although a firm man, Hugh lent assistanceanonymously to individuals and institutions throughout hislife.

He was a member of the Methodist faith.

Preceding him in death were his parents; his second wife, AliceByrd Beggs, of McCall Creek; his sisters, Dean Jackson, of Chicago,Ill., Eva Mae Eskiss, of Carrollton, Ky., and Jane Beggs, ofLouisville, Ky.; and his brother, Dr. T.J. Beggs, ofCarrollton.

Survivors are Mary Beggs, of Brookhaven; his son, Hugh Beggs Jr.and wife Ellen, of Phoenix, Ariz.; his daughters, Anna Cozza andElizabeth Pantier and husband Richard, all of Boston, Mass.; hisstepson, Brad Smith and wife Theresa, of Brookhaven; hisstepdaughter, Dory Ann Givens and husband Conway, of Brookhaven;his sister, Anna Polland, of Carrollton; his eight grandchildren;and a number of nieces and nephews.

He labored hard for those he loved, then left us to remember.

To express your thoughts to the family, you may visitriverwoodfamily.com and click on his name to leave a comment.

Hugh Belton Sr.

Services for Hugh Belton Sr., of Brookhaven, are 3 p.m. Saturday,Jan. 30, at St. James Missionary Baptist Church in Brookhaven withburial in Hillcrest Cemetery. R.E. Tyler Funeral Home is in chargeof arrangements.

Visitation is Friday from noon until 8 p.m. at the funeral home,with family present from 7 until 8 p.m.

Mr. Belton, 81, died Jan. 25, 2010, at the Michael E. DeBakey VAMedical Center in Houston, Texas. He was born in Lincoln County onApril 19, 1928, to Odell Belton and Mamie Harrington Belton.

He was a self-employed barber for 45 years. He was a member U.S.Army veteran.

Preceding him in death were his parents, and his sister, MargaretFairman.

Survivors are his son, Hugh Belton Jr., of Duncanville, Texas; hisdaughters, Katrina Williams, of Pearland, Texas, and Brenda Belton,of Houston, Texas; his brother, James Belton, of Los Angeles,Calif.; his seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Marshall Earl Graham

Services for Marshall Earl Graham, of Brookhaven, are 2 p.m.Saturday, Jan. 30, at New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church inBrookhaven with burial in Hillcrest Cemetery. Williams Mortuary isin charge of arrangements.

Visitation is Friday from 1 until 8 p.m. at the funeral home, withfamily hour from 7 until 8 p.m.

Mr. Graham, 64, died Jan. 20, 2010, at Mississippi Baptist MedicalCenter in Jackson. He was born in Lincoln County on April 13, 1945,to A.J. Cooks and Sallie Graham.

He was retired.

Preceding him in death were his grandparents; great-granddaughter,Jury’ana Marie Herring; and his nephews, James Smith and RobinSmith.

Survivors are his wife, Helen Williams Graham, of Brookhaven; hismother, Sallie Graham, of Brookhaven; his father, A.J. Cooks, ofBogue Chitto; his sons, Marshall Graham Jr. and wife Golenia, ofBrookhaven, and Alex Graham, of Atlanta, Ga.; his daughters, JoyceSmith and husband Kenneth, of Brookhaven, Marsha Ann Graham, of LosAngeles, Calif., Felecia Perry and husband Sheldrick, and TonyaMitchell, all of Chicago, Ill.; his sister, Betty Medina andhusband Howard, of Kansas City, Mo.; his brothers, Andrew Grahamand Willie Graham, both of Brookhaven, and John Graham, of LosAngeles; his 23 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; and ahost of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Birdean Washington Miller

Services for Birdean Washington Miller, of Brookhaven, are 11 a.m.Saturday, Jan. 30, at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church inBrookhaven with burial in Little Rock Church Cemetery in Wesson.R.E. Tyler Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Visitation is Friday from noon until 5 p.m. at the funeralhome.

Mrs. Miller, 74, died Jan. 22, 2010, at Countrybrook Living Center.She was born in Wesson on March 2, 1935, to Clarence Motley andLeander Woods Motley.

She was a former custodian with Brookhaven Vocational TechnicalCenter.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, DonaldMiller; her son, Richard Washington; her brothers, William Needomand Alfred Motley; and her sisters, Clara Bethune and LeaoraAlexander

Survivors are her sons, Charles Washington, Carl Washington, GeorgeWashington, Thomas Washington and William Washington, all ofBrookhaven; Sammie Washington, of Jackson; David Washington, ofHammond, La., and Walter Washington, of the U.S. Air Force; herdaughter, Cynthia Washington, of Brookhaven; her brother, RobertEarl Motley, of Brookhaven; her seven grandchildren, sixstepgrandchildren, and one great-grandchild.