MELVENE ROBERTS KENNEY

Melvene Roberts Kenney, 66, died Monday, Jan. 10, 2011 at home in Dubois, Wyoming.
A memorial service will be held on March 6 at 4 p.m. at Ogden Baptist Church.
Mrs. Kenney was born March 9, 1944 in Yazoo City to Wade H. and Florine Hilderbrand Roberts.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and a brother, Wade Hughes Roberts Jr.
Survivors include her husband, Timothy J. Kenny of Dubois, Wyo.; a son, Ronald Paul Stupka; a daughter, Robin Yvette Stupka; a brother, David Buford Roberts; nine grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.
Mom was creative in many ways. She was an excellent seamstress and over the past 10 years had become very dedicated to quilting. She has made incredible quilts for her grandchildren and had 3 more started when her illness began making it too difficult to focus and use her hands. She loved her grandchildren and wanted to make each one a quilt that reflected their own individual personality.
Mom also loved cooking and creating new flavors and dishes for Tim and all of us to experience and enjoy.  In the late 1990s she created her own line of spices and jellies that sold all over the United States under the Business name of “M Bar Seven Seasonings.”
Mom was born in Yazoo City, but grew up most of her childhood years in Bogalusa La. While growing up in Bogalusa, she fell in love with the food and the Cajun French Culture.  Mine and Paul’s Cajun French Grandmother taught Mom how to cook Cajun style and Mom never stopped, always taking her skills a step further to even teaching Cajun cooking classes out West introducing the culture she loved to new friends.  She enjoyed the Ocean and the Mountain’s, but Mom loved her home and family in Bentonia, where she roamed the hills and hallows as a child and held so many precious memories with grandparents, family and friends. Just minutes after her passing her childhood best friend called to check on her and we cried together as she shared their love for each other and the fun they had together as children.  That was priceless! Love grows deep in our early years.
Mom was such a lady beautiful and feminine yet she taught my brother and I how to tote and shoot a gun and ride motorcycles.  I never will forget the time out at the old home place in Bentonia when Paul brought a water moccasin up to the house in a bucket.  Mom needless to say had a few choice words for my snake-toting brother and while still telling him off took a shotgun and blew the snake and the bucket into pieces.  Yes, this is the same beautiful mother that made sure I knew the importance of using the right moisturizer’s on my face, eyes and of course don’t forget the neck area and God forbid that you didn’t keep those toenails pretty and painted at all times.  Mom was a Christian and very committed to growing closer to Jesus and sharing her faith. So many have shared with me how her faith and testimony has influenced their walk with Jesus.
We are so grateful for the years we have had her and for this last Christmas where we gathered around her like presents under her tree.  It was a beautiful painful time where Paul and I and our children and Uncle David (Mom’s brother) gathered at her and Timmy’s house to hug and love on her one last Christmas.  Mom we love you and to say we miss you is so shallow.  It is more like a gaping hole that no one else will ever be able to fill.  It is only knowing you are with Jesus and that we will see you again that makes the pain feel any better.
Memorials may be made to: “In Memory of Melvene Roberts Kenney”, Samaritan’s Purse, PO Box 3000, Boone NC 28607   or online at   www. samaritanspurse.org.

WILMA HEATHCOCK

Wilma C. Heathcock, 62, died Friday, Jan. 21, 2011 at University Medical Center in Jackson.
Funeral services were Monday at Fletcher’s Chapel Cemetery with Rev. Ray Woods officiating. Burial followed under the direction of Stricklin-King Funeral Home.
Mrs. Heathcock was born Dec. 12, 1948 in Yazoo County to Seabron and Helen Hanna Thomasson. She was a homemaker and a member of Oil City Baptist Church.
Survivors include three sons, Tracy Carl Carlton, Ricky Carlton and Shaun Heathcock of Bentonia and Shannon Lee of Harrisburg, Ark.; two half-sisters, Fay  Glenn of Tillar, Ark. and Sue Wildmon of Arkansas; and 12 grandchildren.
Serving as pallbearers were Shelton Burrough, Richard Moore, Justin Neese, Wade Spiars, James Gallagher and Michael Ellet.

SAMMY ROBINSON

Sammy David Robinson, 44,  died Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011 at King’s Daughters Hospital.
Funeral services were Jan. 22 at New Zion M.B. Church with Rev. Willie Eugene Smith officiating. Burial followed at Cypress Gardens under the direction of Scott Memorial Funeral Home.
Mr. Robinson was born Oct. 7, 1966 in Houston, Texas to the late Cecil David Robinson and Obbie Lee Robinson.
He attended Aldine Westfield High School in Houston, Texas, but graduated from Yazoo City High School. After graduating from Southern Driving Academy he worked as a truck driver for several years before taking a position with Little Rock Electrical Contractors, where he got trained and certified as an electrician. He later began working for MMR, where he served until his health failed in September of 2009. After regaining his strength, he began working at Yates Services until his untimely death.
Survivors include four children, Kaleb, Kaya, Kaitlyn and Kaleigh Robinson, all of Yazoo City; six sisters, Barbara J. Hubbard, Jeanette, Sarah and Loringa Robinson, all of Houston, Texas; girlfriend, Renee Robinson of Yazoo City; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Serving as pallbearers were Preston Bell, George Morris, Robert Robinson, Sammie Pleasant, Charles White and Cardarel Robinson.
Honorary pallbearers were David “Mel” Starling, Willie Hubbard, Lamar Battee, Anthony Lott, Robert McDonald, John Lake and Erwin Dixon.