Obituaries for Sunday, July 15, 2007

Published 5:00 am Monday, July 16, 2007

James Cecil Floyd

Services for James Cecil Floyd, of Hazlehurst, are 3 p.m.Sunday, July 15, at First Baptist Church in Hazlehurst with burialin Springhill Cemetery. Stringer Family Funeral Services is incharge of arrangements.

Visitation is Sunday from 1:30 until 3 p.m. at the church.

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Mr. Floyd, 83, died July 13, 2007, at Hardy Wilson MemorialHospital after a brief illness. He was born on April 26, 1924, toWilliam Clarence and Fannie Whittemore Floyd.

He was a member of First Baptist Church of Hazlehurst, where heserved as Sunday school officer, Chairman of the Deacons, and AdultChoir leader. He was a member of the Glory Choir, auctioneers andthe pulpit committee.

After serving in the U.S. during World War II, Mr. Floyd workedas a route salesman for Stewart Inc., Wonda Snack Foods, and laterfor Frito-Lay. Mr. Floyd was known as the “potato chip” man.

Preceding him in death were his parents; his brothers, TobyFloyd, Ray Floyd, and Jackie Floyd.

Survivors are his wife of 58 years, Mildred Tyson Floyd, ofHazlehurst; his sons, Wyman Floyd and wife Kathleen, ofHattiesburg, Maurice Floyd and wife Kathy, of Red Oak, Texas; hisdaughter, Karron Smith and husband Fred, of Brookhaven; hisgrandchildren, Rebecca Floyd, of Hattiesburg, Jessica Floyd, ofAbilene, Texas, and Brad Smith and wife Mary Beth of Madison; andhis great-grandchildren, Preston and Skylar Smith, both ofMadison.

Eliza Preston Cummings Phillips

Eliza Preston Cummings Phillips, 95, a longtime resident ofBrookhaven, died peacefully at her home on Thursday, July 12,2007.

Visitation is Sunday, July 15, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. atBrookhaven Funeral Home on Natchez Drive.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, July 16, atFirst Presbyterian Church, South Jackson and Chickasaw Streets, inBrookhaven. Pastor Edwin Wolff will officiate. Internment will beat Rosehill Cemetery in Brookhaven.

Mrs. Phillips, a native of Abingdon, Va., graduated in 1932 fromDuke University and moved to Brookhaven in 1934 as the young brideof Robert Pearce Phillips, a practicing attorney.

She was an active member for over 70 years of the FirstPresbyterian Church of Brookhaven where she founded the churchkindergarten, taught Sunday school, and served as an elder. Mrs.Phillips was a Girl Scout leader for all four of her daughters’troops and mentored other young mothers in scouting leadership. Shewas a founder of the Brookhaven Junior Auxiliary, a member of theDaughters of the American Revolution, Climbers Club, and ColonialDames, and was a regional representative for Camp DeSoto, Mentone,Ala. Her home was the setting for annual Easter egg hunts, and thelighting of her giant cedar Christmas tree was much anticipated bythe community.

Mrs. Phillips is survived by her daughters, Frances Potts, ofBurnsville, Minn., Mary Eliza (LiLi) Kirkpatrick, of Denver, Colo.,Jenny Godwin, of New Bern, N.C., and Cynthia Lauderdale, ofPhiladelphia; 11 grandchildren, Catherine Potts, Rebecca PottsMurphy, Mary Anne Potts, Ryan Kirkpatrick, Kathryn Kirkpatrick,Gabriel Godwin, Chloe Godwin, Andrew Godwin, David Lauderdale,Sarah Lauderdale, and Eliza Lauderdale; and threegreat-grandchildren, Emma Godwin, Avery Godwin, and OliviaLauderdale. Evelyn Stewart provided care for Mrs. Phillips in herlast years.

She was preceded in death by her daughter, Eliza CummingsPhillips; her husband, Robert Pearce Phillips, and her sisters,Mary Willett and Frances Moore.

Mrs. Phillips will always be remembered for her deep and abidingfaith, her warm hospitality, and her steadfast love.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the FirstPresbyterian Church of Brookhaven, P. O. Box 346, Brookhaven, MS39602, or to Middle Mississippi Girl Scouts, 214 West Court St.,Brookhaven, MS 39601.

Archie M. “Dick” Wilkins

Services for Archie M. “Dick” Wilkins, of Brookhaven, are 11a.m. Monday, July 16, at Riverwood Family Funeral Service Chapelwith burial in Riverwood Memorial Park.

Visitation is Monday from 9 until 11 a.m. at the funeralhome.

Mr. Wilkins, 86, died July 13, 2007, at King’s Daughters MedicalCenter. He was born on May 31, 1921, to Sam Monroe Wilkins andSusan McAlpine Wilkins.

He was a retired chemical engineer. He was a member of FirstUnited Methodist Church. He was a veteran of World War II in theArmy 8th Air Force.

Preceding him in death were his parents.

Survivors are his wife, Pauline Porter Wilkins; his sons,William Wilkins, Robert Wilkins, and Joseph Wilkins; his daughter,Janet Charvat; his brother, Ollie Wilkins; his sisters, Nellie MaeBoutwell and Blanche Barge; seven grandchildren; and twogreat-grandchildren.