Mary Jeff Babb
PARIS—Mrs. Mary Jeff Babb, 81, retired floor manager for Kellwood, died Monday, February 25, 2013, in Baptist Memorial Hospital—North Mississippi at Oxford.
A funeral service will be held Wednesday, February 27, in the chapel of Waller Funeral Home, Oxford, at two o’clock in the afternoon, with Rev. Gerald Shook and Rev. Randy Hope officiating. Burial will follow in Anchor Cemetery. Visitation will be held from noon until 2 p.m. prior to the service in the funeral home.
Born in Coffeeville, Mrs. Babb was a member of Paris Baptist Church. After retirement Mrs. Babb worked as a waitress at Harmon’s Restaurant. She was an avid sports fan and enjoyed reading and spending time with her family and friends.
She is survived by her husband, Fonzo “Jr.” Babb, Jr. of Paris; her daughter, Kathy Babb Worley (John) of Paris; three sisters, Billie Shaw of Coffeeville, RoAnn Standridge of Tillatoba and Aliene Johnson of Grenada.
Memorials for Mrs. Babb may be made to:The Mississippi Lung Association, P. O. Box 9865, Jackson, MS, 39206.
Pearl Hollowell Kimzey
WATER VALLEY—Mrs. Pearl Hollowell Kimzey, 94, died Tuesday, February 19, 2013, at Oxford in Baptist Memorial Hospital–North Mississippi.
The funeral service was held Friday, February 22, in Anchor Baptist Church, at eleven o’clock in the morning, with Rev. Gerald Shook officiating. Burial followed in Clear Creek Cemetery at Oxford. Waller Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Born October 2, 1918, in Lafayette County, Mrs. Kimzey was a daughter of the late Martin Van Buren and Delia Viola Jenkins Hollowell. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Charles M. Kimzey; two brothers, Van Buren Hollowell and Raymond Hollowell; and a sister, Velma H. Cook. Mrs. Kimzey graduated from the Memphis School of Commerce. She was a faithful member of Anchor Baptist Church. She enjoyed cooking and gardening. Mrs. Kimzey was also a member of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association. Mr. Charles and Mrs. Pearl were great humanitarians, dedicated to helping others and giving to those in need.
She is survived by her nephews, George Hollowell and family of Oxford, and Art Nelson and family of Texas; and one niece, Louise Cizmar and family of Oxford.
Memorials in Mrs. Kimzey’s memory may be made to Anchor Baptist Church, 1009 Highway 7 South, Water Valley, MS 38965.
William P. “Bill” McNamee
BATESVILLE—William P. “Bill” (Beefy) McNamee, 57, husband of Robbie Lawrence McNamee, passed away at his home in Batesville Monday morning, February 4, 2013.
Rev. Fish Robinson officiated the funeral service, held at eleven o’clock in the morning Thursday, February 7, in the Wells Funeral Home Chapel. Interment followed in Forrest Memorial Park of Batesville with Danny Tate, Blake Barnes, Chip Robertson, Joseph Kaufman, Charlie Parker, Ryan Belcher, Jason Belcher, and Doug Mackey as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were Tank Conerly, Ray Poole, Stan Sandroni, Bobby Montgomery, Roger Frazier, Chuck Forester, Ken Crain, Johnny Thompson, and Alan Alford.
Born August 15, 1955, in Forrest City, Ark., Mr. McNamee was a son of Pat and Mary Hale McNamee. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Forrest City. Bill had a love for sports, starting in his early childhood, as a starter in little league baseball and on through his pony league years. Bill also played football during high school at Forrest City High School, where he graduated in 1973. He went on to attend Ole Miss where he was a student manager from 1973-1974. He then attended the University of Missouri. He and his wife are owners of R & B Tobacco Store.
Survivors include his wife, Robbie Lawrence McNamee; step-daughter, Erica Renee Kaufman of Batesville; step-son, Joseph Lawrence Kaufman of Batesville; parents, Pat and Mary Hale McNamee of Forrest City, Ark.; sister, Judy (Terry) Belcher of Walnut Ridge, Ark.; three grandchildren Kallie Daniel, Levi Daniel, and Ann Hart Kaufman; and mother and father-in-law, Leon and Ann Lawrence of Batesville.
Bill was preceded in death by his grandparents, William Joseph and Clara May Hale of Golden and Pat and Lou McNamee of Water Valley.
His father was born in Water Valley and attended school here where he played basketball and football.
The family request that memorials be sent to Ole Miss FCA Mission Fund, P. O. Box 788, University, MS 38677, or The Net Ministry, P. O. Box 404, Oxford, MS 38655.
Charles “Buddy” Simmons
WATER VALLEY—Charles “Buddy” Simmons, 64, died Saturday, February 16, 2013, at his home in Water Valley.
Mr. Simmons had lived in the Water Valley area the majority of his lifetime. He was self-employed as a diesel mechanic at his business, Buddy’s Truck Salvage, in Batesville. This was the type work he enjoyed most. He was a member of Anchor Baptist Church in Lafayette County.
The funeral service was held Monday, February 18, at two o’clock in the afternoon in the Coleman Funeral Home Chapel, Oxford, with Bro. Fred Eakes officiating. Interment was in Turkey Creek Baptist Church Cemetery in Calhoun County.
Survivors include his wife, Bess Simmons of Water Valley; his mother, Nat Dempsey of Oxford; three sons, Barry Simmons and Blake Simmons, both of Water Valley, and Brandon Simmons of Tupelo; one sister, Sandy Bishop of Oxford; a brother, Lloyd Eugene Simmons, Jr. of Cabot, Ark.; three grandchildren, Brantley Simmons, Keely Simmons, and Briella Simmons.
His father, Lloyd Eugene Simmons; a brother, Ray Simmons; and a granddaughter, Brittany Simmons, all preceded Mr. Simmons in death.
Memorials may be made to the Turkey Creek Baptist Church Building Fund, 80 CR 289, Water Valley, MS 38965, or the Buddy Simmons Funeral Fund, P. O. Box 160, Oxford, MS 38655.
Thomas Daniel Wright
PADUCAH, KY—Thomas Daniel Wright, 74, of Paducah, Kentucky died Wednesday, February 13, 2013, at his home.
A native of Water Valley, Mr. Wright was born August 8, 1938, to the late Weston and Irene Stewart Wright. He retired from Illinois Central Railroad as a General Foreman, but had held many jobs within the organization, including Round House Foreman and teaching student engineers.
He volunteered at local schools, especially when his children were school age, educating children about the importance of the railroad system.
Mr. Wright was awarded Parent-Teacher Association Life Membership, the highest award given by the Tennessee PTA. He was a longtime member of Church of Nazarene where he loved teaching Adult and Young Married Sunday School classes. He also served in the U.S. Army and National Guard, was a former Boy Scout leader, and a Kentucky Colonel.
Dan is survived by his wife, Brenda Rankin Wright; five children, Krystal Lepeard Stevens (Jeremy), Kari Wright and finance, Ben Hughes, all of Paducah, Ky., Jeff Dees (Rene) of Metropolis, Ill., Lorri Phillips (David) of Water Valley, and Randy Wright (Cindy) of Memphis; seven grandchildren, Brandon Wright, Wes and Mary Wright, Matthew Phillips, Taylor and McKenzie Lepeard, and Ashley Dees; two brothers, John Wright (Margaret) of Southaven, and Dean Wright (Barbara) of Hernando; and several nieces and nephews.
Preceding him in death were his parents and one brother, Gearrell Wright.
The funeral service was held at one o’clock in the afternoon Saturday, February 16, in Milner & Orr Funeral Home, Paducah, with Revs. Russ Frazier, Dean Wright, and Dave Woosley officiating. Burial followed in Mt. Kenton Cemetery.
