BARNEY BENSON JR.
Barney Wayne Benson Jr., 46, of Yazoo City, died on Feb. 5, 2013 in Humphreys County.
Funeral services were held Saturday at Stricklin-King Funeral Home.
Burial followed at Harlons Creek Cemetery in Holmes County.
Mr. Benson was born on Jan. 30, 1967 in Hinds County to Barney Wayne and Linda Benson. He was an offshore worker.
He was preceded in death by his father, Barney Wayne Benson Sr.
Survivors include his mother, Linda Abel Benson, of Yazoo City; a sister, Allison B. Crawford of Madison; three nieces, Abbie Abel, Morgan Benson and Zoe Quinn; and special Aunt Doylie of Yazoo City.  

DERMECEO DONELSON
Dermeceo Donelson, 36, died Feb. 5, 2013.
Funeral services were Feb. 9 at Tri-Union Independent Church in Benton with Rev. John O. McNeal officiating. Burial followed at Union Paradise Cemetery under the direction of Scott Memorial Funeral Home.
Mr. Donelson was born June 11, 1977 to Robert Lee Donelson and the late Pearlie Mae Donelson. He was educated at Benton High School and worked at ACS for nine years until his health failed. He was a member of Steve Chapel Independent Church.
Survivors include his father, Robert Donelson of Benton;  brothers, Robert Lee Donelson Jr. of Benton Charlie Junior Donelson (Janie) of Vaughan, Lue Willie Donelson (Tina) of Jackson, Curtis Donelson (Letoya) of Jackson; sisters, Bobby Joe Donelson (Rickey) and Donna Bassett of Vaughan; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Serving as pallbearers were Rickey Jefferson, Lue Willie Donelson Jr., Lee Donelson, Don Mills, Don Hudson and Marcus Crozier.
Honorary pallbearers were Robert Lee Donelson, Charlie Donelson, Lue Willie Donelson, John Lee Donelson, Curtis Donelson and Chris Clay.

VIOLA GRAY
Viola Hackett Gray, 82, died February 3, 2013.
Funeral services were Feb. 9 at New Bethel M.B. Church with Rev. James Hines officiating. Burial followed at the church cemetery.
Mrs. Gray was born Nov. 17, 1931 in Benton to Tom Hackett and Callie Bell Schaffer. She married the late John W. Griffin, and they had 16 children together. Eight of them preceded her in death.
She later moved to Three Rivers, Mich. and married Harold Gray, who also preceded her in death. After moving back to Yazoo City, she joined New Bethel M.B. Church and served on the Mother Board.
Survivors include her daughters, Vera McGee and Barbara Sue Griffin of Yazoo City and Cynthia Gee of Three Rivers, Mich.; sons, James Griffin, Willie Lee Griffin (Charlaine), Lonnie Griffin (Joyce), Charles Griffin and Alfred James Griffin, all of Yazoo City, and Cornell Gray, of Chicago; sister, Willella Hackett; four grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Serving as pallbearers were David Claybon, Dunbar Henry, Carlos McGee, Tony Williams, Larry McGee and Roy McGee.

LINDA GOODWIN
Linda Jean Downs Goodwin, 72, died Saturday at home under the loving care of her family.
Funeral services were held Tuesday at the First Pentecostal Church of Vicksburg with Rev. D.W. Tipton officiating.
Burial followed at Vicksburg City Cemetery under the direction of Stricklin-King Funeral Home.
Linda was born on June 8, 1940 in Matthews, Mo. to the late L.A. (Jack) and Helen Downs and has lived in Holly Bluff for the past 44 years.
Linda was a dedicated wife, mother, and grandmother, and homemaker who enjoyed taking care of her family and singing at First Pentecostal Church in Vicksburg, where she was a faithful member.
Survivors include her husband, Ed Goodwin of Holly Bluff; three daughters, Elissa Tucker and Malisa Womble of Holly Bluff, and Ladissa Hutcheson of Flowers; and four grandchildren, Landon and Ethan Tucker, Malaina Womble and Drew Hutcheson.
Pallbearers were Landon Tucker, Garett Hester, Marvin Ashley, Kenneth Chouccola’, Paris Stokes, and Tim Perry.

MARY JONES
Mary Cathryn Jones, 81, of Yazoo City, died Saturday at King’s Daughters Hospital.    
Funeral services will be held today at 10 a.m. at the Stricklin-King Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Archie Goodwin and Lewis Kalil officiating.  
Burial will follow at Straight Bayou Cemetery under the direction of Stricklin-King Funeral Home.
Mrs. Jones was born Oct. 15, 1931 in Humphreys County to Leo Green and Louella Sanders.  
She was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. Morris C. Jones, and daughter, Janice Turnage.
Survivors include her son, Roger (Susan) Jones of Anguilla; five sisters, June Mathis of Yazoo City, Nina Redditt of Greenwood, Marita Koll of Cleveland, and Debbie Render and Susie Titalo, of North Caroline; brother, H.D. Green of Calhoun City; two grandchildren, Kristie Rice of Anguilla and Wesley Turnage of Greenville; and three great grandchildren.  

DAVID LEDBETTER
David William Ledbetter, 91, died Sunday, February 10, 2013 at home.  
Funeral services were Tuesday at Bethlehem Baptist Church under the direction of Stricklin-King Funeral Home.
Mr. Ledbetter was born  in Vaughan on Oct. 27, 1921.  On February 17, 1940, David married Rachel Rogers and after a couple of years living in Beaumont, MS, they settled in the Fugates community where they have lived for the last 71 years.
David is preceded in death by his parents Charles P. Ledbetter and Emma Warmack Ledbetter, grandson Zane Rankin, and son-in-law Johnie Nesbit.  
He is survived by his wife Rachel and his seven children: Donna Williams (Ronny), Charles Ledbetter (Paula), Davie Rankin, Amy Shirley (Jim), David Ledbetter Jr. (Kathy), John Ledbetter (Linda), and Millicent Ledbetter.  He is also survived by siblings: Juanita Taylor, Eloise Smith, and Walter Pitt.  He leaves behind a legacy including 14 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild.
While serving as a private in the U.S. Army Infantry from 1945-1946, David earned several medals including: the APTO Medal, the Philippine Liberation Medal, the Good Conduct Medal and the World War II Victory medal.  He also earned the marksmanship award in his class, an honor subsequently earned by both his son Charles Ledbetter and his grandson Andrew Ledbetter.
A diligent worker in all aspects of his life, he was perhaps, one of the very best when it came to running a cotton gin.  This is evidenced in his 28 years of dedicated labor at Linwood Gin, where he worked until retirement.
David loved to fish every chance he got, and his favorite spot to fish was the Big Black River.  It is a love that he has passed down to nearly every member of his family, as well as a favorite pastime that elicits fond memories of “Gran-Gran” from his children and grandchildren.
Beloved by all who knew him, David was a man of the Lord, a man of honor, integrity and strength.  His absence will be felt immensely by his family and friends, but all rejoice in knowing they will one day see him again.
Memorials may be made in David’s honor to Samaritan’s Purse, Gideon’s International, or the Baptist Children’s Village.