DONALD BALLARD
Donald Ray Ballard, 65, died Wednesday, May 7, 2012.
Visitation is today from noon-2p.m. at Stricklin-King Funeral Home. Graveside funeral services will follow at Glenwood Cemetery.
A visitation will also be held Sunday, March 11, 2012 from 5:30-8 p.m.. at Wayside Baptist Church in Alexander City, Ala.
Mr. Ballard was born March 22, 1946 in Thomastown to the late Dave and Ethel Lacey Ballard.  
He was preceded in death by his son, David Ballard.
Survivors include his wife, Deborah Duck Ballard of Alexander City, Ala.; his daughter, Lea Ann Ballard Arcement of Hattiesburg; two sisters, Joan Oliver of Kosciusko and Lynn Kyle of Marshall, Texas; and one brother, Dave Ballard Jr. of Thomastown.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.

ANNIE PEARSON-BEVERLY
Annie Laura Pearson-Beverly, 60, died Thursday, Feb. 16, 2012.
Funeral services were Feb. 24 at Pauline Minor Memorial Chapel in Fort Worth, Texas.
Mrs. Pearson was born July 11, 1951 in Yazoo City to Josie Lee Fatheree Murphy and Raymond Daniel Pearson. She was a 1969 graduate of N.D. Taylor High School. She moved to Chicago and graduated from Nancy Taylor Business Career School with honors. She worked with Sears Corporate offices, Proline Black Hair Care, the Black Academy of Arts and Letters and at Harris Methodist Hospital over the course of her career.
Survivors include her children, Joseph D. Mitchell, Carla M. Pearson and April D. Mitchell; stepson, Anthony Reeves; stepmother, Winnie Pearson; sisters, Jewel Pearson, Joyce Rutledge (Joseph), Bobbie Pearson, Rose Anderson (Sylvester), Lula Carrol (Ray), Debra Outlaw, Renee Pearson, Cheryl Garfield, Janet Harris (Rick), and Angela Berry (Don); brothers, Eric Murphy (Sallee), Will Dent and Raymond Pearson; five grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Serving as pallbearers were Joseph Mitchell, Dexter House, Anthony Reeves, Fronze Pearson, Devon House, Eric Murphy, Joseph Rutledge, Reginald Pearson, Raymond Pearson and Sylvester Anderson.

MARY HOWARD
Mary Lee Howard, 80, died Tuesday, March 6, 2012.
Funeral services are today at 1 p.m. at the Word of Faith Christian Center. Burial will follow under the direction of Scott Memorial Funeral Home.
Mrs. Howard was born July 1, 1931 to Levy and Louise Peterson Brown She was the eldest of five children. She received her formal education in her hometown of Yazoo County.  At an early age, she accepted Christ at Oak Grove Baptist Church in Benton. She later joined Word of Faith Christian Center of Yazoo City. While living in Yazoo County she was united in marriage to the late Mr. Clarence Howard, and they were blessed with seven children. Ms. Mary Lee Howard was preceded in death by her husband Mr. Clarence Howard; her father and mother (Mr. Levy Brown and Ms. Louise Peterson Brown); and two brothers, (Houston and Levy “Sonny” Brown Jr.). Ms. Howard is survived by her seven children, Ellen “Louise” Walker of Yazoo City, Benjamin Felder (Yvette )of Baltimore, Md., Thelma Howard  of Elgin, Texas, Ulysses “Jack” Howard (Debbie) of Virginia Beach, Va., Christine Howard of Yazoo City, Clemetine Howard - Clarke of San Francisco and Debra Berry (Charlie) of Virginia Beach, Va.; one sister, Doris Brown Lynch of Orlando, Fla.; one brother, Curtis Brown of Springfield, Mass; 14 grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

MARY SAXTON
Mary Jane Saxton, 80, died Tuesday, March 6, 2012 at Golden Age Nursing Home in Greenwood.
Funeral services were Thursday at Fletcher’s Chapel Cemetery. Burial followed under the direction of Stricklin-King Funeral Home.
Mrs. Saxton was born April 23, 1931 in Yazoo City to Harry and Bennie Lewis Chapman. She was a seamstress and a member of Calvary Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Martin Saxton.
Survivors include two sons, Richard Saxton and Larry “Lackey” Saxton, both of Yazoo City; a brother, Harry Chapman of Yazoo City; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

VIRGINIA SMITH
Virginia Smith, 77, died March 1, 2012.
Funeral services are today at 11 a.m. at St. Matthew Church of God in Christ with Rev. Anthony Brown officiating. Burial will follow at Glenwood Cemetery under the direction of Knight & Lindsey Funeral Home.
Mrs. Smith was born May 15, 1934 in Nashville, Tenn.  to Willie and Annie Bell Owens. She was a member of New Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by two sisters, Thelma Marshall and Doris Pittman; and two brothers, Bobby Graham and Matt Gould.
Survivors include her sisters, Louise Hill of Belzoni, Lovace Johnson (Eugene) of Yazoo City, Myrtle Simpson of Kenner, La. and Alcie Wells of New Sarpy, La.; brothers, Nathan Gould (Katie) of Yazoo City and Willie Gould (Debra) of Natchez.
Serving as pallbearers are Terry Townsend, John Townsend, Tony Williams, Kevin Jones and Antione Gaston.
Honorary pallbearers are Nathan Gould, Willie Gould, Jessie Gould, Otha Smith, Willie Smith and Eugene Johnson.