September 10th, 2011
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GRACE KILBRIDE
Grace Matilda Kilbride, 84, died Aug. 18, 2011.
Funeral services were Sept. 2 at Scott Memorial Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. John H. Scott officiating.
Mrs. Kilbride was born on Jan. 8, 1927 in Tennessee to Jim and Lola Crawley. Known by many as “Lady Grace,” she owned a convenience store in Yazoo City.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Grayford Crawley and two sisters, Dello Hawkins and Jimmy Nash of Michigan.
Survivors include a daughter, Sandra Berry of Lilbourn, Missouri.; four sons, Douglas Edwards and C.W. Edwards of Missouri; Thomas Edwards of Illinois and Carmen Dale Edwards of Mississippi; longtime companion Russell Chaney of Yazoo City; and a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
BEATRICE PARKS
Beatrice Tate Parks, 92, died Sunday, Sept. 4, 2011.
Funeral services are today at 11 a.m. at Bethel Baptist Church on Carter Road with Rev. M.C. Miller officiating. Burial will follow at the church cemetery under the direction of Knight & Lindsey Funeral Home.
Mrs. Parks was born Nov. 6, 1918 in Yazoo County to Leonard and Marshall Crump Tate. She was a retired cook for the Yazoo County and City public schools and a member of Bethel Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ellis Parks; three children, Iris P. Brown, Helen P. Miller and Marvin Parks; and two grandsons, Lawrence Miller and Spencer Hill.
Survivors include six daughters, Bobbie P. Bragg (Leroy) of Los Angeles, Bernice P. Hill (John) of Chicago, Sherry P. Burton (Morris) of Kenner, La., Evelyn P. Wesley (Jimmy) of Clinton and Barbara A. Smith (Jeff) of Chicago; two sons, Melvin Parks (Lucresica) of Kenner La. and Michael Parks (Mavis) of Jackson; 37 grandchildren; 60 great-grandchildren; eight great-great grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Serving as pallbearers were her grandsons.
Honorary pallbearers were Melvin Parks, James Parks, John Hill, Ellis Parks, Jimmy Wesley, Phil Wallace, Michael Parks, Leroy Bragg and Morris Burton.
FREDDIE TAYLOR
Freddie Lee Taylor, 69, died Thursday, Sept. 1, 2011.
Funeral services were Wednesday at the Shaffer & Collins Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Troy Davis officiating. Burial followed at Cypress Garden Cemetery.
Mr. Taylor was born Dec. 11, 1941 to the late Chester and Ethel Lee Taylor in Jackson, where he spent most of his childhood before moving to Yazoo City.
Survivors include a son, Stanley Bernard Fisher; grandsons, DeAnder Bernard Fisher and Jabari Montrell Fisher; two sisters, Mary Ruth Anderson (Marshall) and Bobbie Jean Brookins (Cecil); two brothers, Chester Taylor (Judy) of West Palm Beach, Fla. and Toney Taylor of Jackson; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Serving as pallbearers were Will Taylor, Joe Walker Jr., Nathaniel Herron, Marcus Littleton and Robert Fisher.
KATHLEEN WATTS
Kathleen Marie Joseph Watts, 85, of Fort Myers, Fla. died Aug. 15, 2011.
A memorial service will be held today at 3 p.m. at Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Funeral Home with Father Jim of St. Francis Xavier Parish officiating. It will be followed by a Celebration of Life party at 5:30 p.m. at Famous Dave's BBQ in Fort Myers, Fla.
Mrs. Watts was born Oct. 8, 1925 in Yazoo City to Nicholas and Mary Ann Nosser Joseph. She began her career in Civil Service and also worked in real estate, various administrative assistant positions and in an oil refinery during her youth. She moved to Fort Myers in 1962, where she was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Frank Leanus Watts; her sisters: Rosie Thomas, Idelle Joseph and Louise Yarbro of Yazoo City, her half -sister: Mary Jacobs of Leland, and her brothers: Abraham Joseph and Edward Joseph of Yazoo City, and Nicholas (Joe) Joseph of Florida, as well as her nieces: Donna Yarbro Grant and Idelle (Dell) Yarbro, and her infant son who passed in 1957.
Survivors include her daughter, Teresa K. Watts; and a host of other relatives and friends.
In lieu of flowers, take someone you love out to dinner and let them know how important they are to you. (That's what she would have wanted).
MARY WEISENBERGER
Mary S. Weisenberger, 86, of Pawleys Island, S.C. and formerly of Yazoo City, died Thursday, Sept. 1, 2011 at Agape Hospice in Conway, S.C.
Funeral services were Sept. 3 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church with Father Lincoln Dall officiating. Burial followed at Glenwood Cemetery under the direction of Stricklin-King Funeral Home.
Mrs. Weisenberger was born Nov. 4, 1924 in Yazoo City to Hugh and Martha Lucille Whelan Sutherland. She was a retired food service manager for Martha Coker Convalescent Home and a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank Weisenberger.
Survivors include a daughter, Martha W. Batch (Randy) of Pawley, S.C.; two granddaughters, Amanda Keithly (Randy) of Pawley, S.C. and Kelly Coxe (Chris) of Matthews, N.C.; and three great-grandchildren, Campbell Cox, Samantha Cox and Bronson Keithly.
Dear Editor,
The decision by the present school board not to renew the teaching and coaching contract of Mr. Archie Carlyle was a planned and calculated act of politics. This kind of thing has been happening for years.
They didn’t follow policies or procedures in this matter. The state’s report on the district asked the board to stop interfering in this kind of situation, but it seems they didn’t get the memo.
My mother always put her 11 children first in making decisions for their futures. It is clear this board did not do that.
Mr. Carlyle’s only crime was putting his students first. I feel like Jesus, when he told the people at the well, “He who is without sin cast the first stone.”
I and the 800 people who have signed the petition calling for Carlyle’s return can find no fault in his dedication to our community. We are being laughed at across the state, and on Facebook and Twitter.
Our community is losing faith in our ability to work in a productive and successful district. The Yazoo Herald’s sports editor called it a “travesty.” I ask the question, where are all those Christian folks, his co-workers, his pastor and his fellow church members?
Where are the athletes, past and present, and most of all where are the parents? He has mothered and fathered when you were unable to make it to a game or on the road, giving your children heart-to-heart talks of motivation and encouragement both in the halls of our schools and on the streets of this community. Now he deserves your support in this critical matter.
This affects us all, black and white, because the future of our community is at stake. I am asking everyone to show as much concern about this matter as they do during election time.
Mr. Clifton Jones, I sat on the school board when you and your wife in a 3 to 2 vote were denied what you rightfully deserved. When you first ran for alderman you were the only politician I ever spent an entire day with, walking the streets because I believed in you. When I ran for mayor as an independent, I endorsed McArthur Straughter in the primary. Many people thought I was crazy, but I was exercising my rights.
Mr. Aubry Brent Jr., I followed you from Vicksburg to Belzoni and saw people commit perjury to defeat you. When citizens support a candidate, they want something in return. As a citizen with the 800 petitioners, we are calling in our wager. Just get the record of the board of that decision, which is public record. Check the timeline of the action, and you will be amazed. Next month you will appoint or reappoint a board member, but before you do we deserve answers.
If you find me wrong I will come back and sit before you and the school board and give a public apology. Everyone deserves their day in court, and Mr. Carlyle certainly does.
What you do or don’t do will determine the caliber of teachers and coaches willing to come into our community and work with our children.
Johnny Staples
73°F, Windchill: 73°F
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