VELMA JONES

Velma McCrory Jones, 92, died Thursday, July 29, 2010 at her home in Batesville, Ark.
Funeral services were Sunday at Midway Methodist Church with Rev. Will Wilkinson and Rev. Skipper Maxwell officiating. Burial followed in Seneasha Cemetery in Attala County under the direction of Stricklin-King Funeral Home.
Mrs. Jones was born Feb. 7, 1918 to Elbert Byrd McCrory and Lilla McCrory. She was a homemaker and a member of Midway United Methodist Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Casey Jones.
Survivors include two daughters, Clara Ann Bufkin of Pickens and Mary Louise Pittman of Batesville, Ark.; a sister, Betty Shoemaker of Taylorsville; brother, Elbert McCrory of Lena; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Serving as pallbearers were Chip Heidel, David Bufkin, Rusty Odum, Bill Handford, Chris Pittman and Mike Pierce.

JEFFREY SMITH

Jeffrey Fitzgerald Smith, 43, died Friday, July 9, 2010.
Funeral services were July 17 at New King Solomon M.B. Church with Rev. Gregory Robertson officiating. Burial followed at Glenwood Cemetery under the direction of Shaffer & Collins Funeral Home.
Mr. Smith was born Jan. 5, 1967 to Catherine Syas Smith and Ivory Joe Kimble. He graduated from Yazoo City High School and later moved to Woodbridge, Va. and Pontiac, Mich. He was a member of New King Solomon M.B. Church.
Survivors include his mother, Catherine Smith of Yazoo City; father, Ivory Joe Kimble of Fredericksburg, Va.; sons, Franklin Arnett Clifton of Camp Pendleton, Calif. and Jerreon Ivory Smith of Detroit; four sisters, Faye L. Smith and Vanessa S. (David) Hobson of Yazoo City. Lillie Fuqua of Benton and Martha A. Kimble Blackwell of Woodbridge, Va.; six brothers, Joe Smith of Yazoo City, James T. (Helen) Smith Jr. of Chicago, Ivory J. Kimble Jr. of North Carolina,  and Willie J. (Barbara( Kimble), Derrick Kimble and Edward E. Kimble, all of Woodbridge, Va.; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Serving as pallbearers were Alexander Stiff, David Hobson Sr., Fredrick Jones, Tony Hudson, Eric Stiff, David Hobson Jr. and Anthony Smith.

WILL EMMA MOOREHEAD

Will Emma Syas Moorehead, 96, died Sunday, July 11, 2010 at home.
Funeral services were July 18 at New Hope M.B. Church in Benton with Rev. Samuel L. Washington officiating. Burial followed at the New Hope Church Cemetery under the direction of Knight & Lindsey Funeral Home.
Mrs. Moorehead was born May 19, 1914 in Benton to Andrew and Emma Syas. She was a member of New Hope M.B. Church, where she served on the Mother’s Board and sang in the choir. She was a talented cook and had a gift for growing flowers.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Leon “Bud” Moorehead; two stepsons, Herman and Calvin Moorehead; and eight siblings, Amandy Hudson Brown, John Syas, Hosie Syas, Sammie “Boot” Syas, Bertha Coleman, Andrew Syas Jr., Cloran Mollett-Grant and Harvey Syas.
Survivors include a sister, Laura Williford of St. Louis; a step-daughter, Marie Moorehead Smith of Chicago; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Serving as pallbearers were Roosevelt Haymer, Isiah Mollett, Alexander Stiff, Harvey Syas Jr., Luther Syas and Samuel Syas Jr.