ELOIS HATCHETT
Helen Elois Blackwell Hatchett, 85, died Sunday, March 11, 2012 at her home in Madison.
Visitation is today from 1-3 p.m. at Stricklin-King Funeral Home. Funeral services will follow at 3 p.m. with Rev. Roger Reeder officiating. Musical praise will be provided by Deborah Robinson, Derrick Cowan and Sarah Cowan.
Mrs. Hatchett was born Dec. 15, 1926 in Yazoo County to Willie and Clara Boyd Blackwell. She was a homemaker and a former member of Holly Bluff Baptist Church, a member of Ogden Baptist Church in Bentonia and most recently attended First Baptist Church of Ridgeland. She was a Sunday School and Training Union teacher.  
She was a loving mother, wife, grandmother and great-grandmother who cared immensely about people.  She was an inspiration with her loving and caring attitude to everyone she met. She was dearly cared for by the staff at Gentiva Hospice Care, especially Brandy Pitts and Kelly Ingebretsen.
She was preceded in death by her husband, William Russell Hatchett, a daughter Liz Hatchett, parents Clara Boyd Blackwell and Willie Blackwell, one brother, Homer Blackwell and sisters, June Stovall and Louise Trammell.
Survivors include three daughters, Amy Bowlin of Madison, Cindy Mathis (Lance) of Dothan, Alabama, Penny Hatchett of Pearl, two grandchildren, Russ Chandler (Paige) of Flora, Chris Milner (Sport) of Madison, one foster grandson, A.J. Antonescu of Madison, five great-grandchildren Alix Chandler of Baton Rouge, Riley Chandler of Flora, Delta, Justin, and Walker Milner of Madison, one sister, Carolyn Leverett of Holly Bluff and many nieces and nephews.  
Serving as pallbearers are Jody Carson, Joey Allen, David Clemmer, G. W. Poyner, Tommy Williamson and Clay Adcock.
Memorials may be made in her honor to Gentiva Hospice, 106 Riverview Drive, Jackson, MS, American Cancer Society, 1380 Livingston Lane, Jackson MS, or the Alzheimer’s Association MS, Chapter, 196 Charmant Drive St. 4, Ridgeland, MS.

MARY HOWARD
Mary Lee Howard, 80, died March 6, 2012.
Funeral services were Saturday at the Word of Faith Christian Center with Rev. Edward C. Taylor officiating. Burial followed at Cypress Gardens under the direction of Scott Memorial Funeral Home.
Mrs. Howard was born July 1, 1931 in Yazoo County to Levy and Louise Peterson Brown. She was a member of Word of Faith Christian Center.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence Howard; and two brothers, Houston Brown and Levy “Sonny” Brown Jr.
Survivors include her seven children, Ellen “Louise” Waker of Yazoo City, Benjamin Felder (Yvette) of Baltimore, Md., Thelma Howard of Elgin Texas, Ulysses “Jack” Howard (Debbie) of Virgina Beach, Va., Christine Howard of Yazoo City, Clementine Howard-Clarke of San Francisco and Debra Berry (Charlie) of Virginia Beach, Va.; a sister, Doris Brown Lynch of Orlando, Fla.; a brother, Curtis Brown of Springfield, Mass.; 14 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends.
Serving as pallbearers were Anthony Brown Jr., Eugene Young, Anterrio Gainwell, Charlie Berry, Bradley Howard and Donte Jeffrey.
Honorary pallbearers were Benjamin Felder, Ulysses “Jack” Howard, Thomas Howard, Timothy Howard, Darius Howard and William Howard.

BOBBY SMITH
Bobby A. Smith, 72, died Monday, March 12, 2012, at River Region Medical Center.
Funeral services were Tuesday at the Stricklin-King Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Ricky Dorrell officiating. Burial followed at Glenwood Cemetery.
Bobby will be joining the love of his life, Mary E. Smith, wife of 52 years in heaven.
Mr. Smith was born in Yazoo City to Arnold and Nola Smith. He attended Yazoo City High School where he excelled as an All American Athlete. He was voted the most valuable athlete his senior year. He was also a proud member of the National Guard. Due to his strong ability to build relationships, Bobby was an exceptional salesman for Mississippi Material Concrete Company. Throughout his life he never met a stranger and was loved by many.
Survivors include one son, Brent Smith (Nancy) of Vicksburg; one daughter, Lynn Smith-Beard (Julian) of Lexington, KY; Two sisters, Polly Sudduth (Kenneth) of Yazoo City and Judi Alexander (Sam) of West, Mississippi; one brother, Butch Smith of Yazoo City; Loving Aunt, Sue Appleton of Tinsley; and six grandchildren, Abagail Carr, Courtney Carr-Brewster, Trent Smith, Kayla Smith, Brandon Smith and Beavan Smith.
Serving as pallbearers were Trent Smith, Brandon Smith, Charlie Appleton, Ben Hardy, James Kemp and David Hamilton. Honorary pallbearers will be Roy Lee Mitchell, Dustin Mitchell and Clark Mitchell.

SARA JOHNSON
Sarah E. Johnson, 74, died Saturday, March 10, 2012 at Hospice Ministries in Ridgeland.
Funeral services were Monday at the Stricklin-King Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Terrell Veazey officiating. Burial followed at Shiloh Cemetery.
Mrs. Johnson was born Aug. 24, 1937 in Yazoo County to John and Sally Butler Glass. She was a homemaker.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Johnson; and a grandson, Joey.
Survivors include three daughters, Carolyn Strickland of Yazoo City; Bonnie Meche of Fordoche, La. and Linda Johnson of Yazoo City; a son, David Johnson of Benton; a sister, Maxine Stevens of Benton; brother, Kenneth Glass of Yazoo City; four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Serving as pallbearers were Dwayne Ward, Jimmy Salina, James Strickland, John Strickland, Sam Ward, Jonathan Meche, Mark Salina, William Jarreau, Tim Miller and Gene Ward.