WILLIE GOODEN
Willie Hayes Gooden, 90, died Oct. 14, 2012 at the VA Medical Center in Jackson.
Funeral services are today at 11 a.m. at Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church in Benton. Burial followed under the direction of Shaffer & Collins Funeral Home.
Mr. Gooden  was born May 12, 1922 in Benton. He was a World War II veteran and served 22 years with the U.S. Air Force.
Survivors include two sons Oscar Gooden and Harvey Gooden; two daughters, Ethel Fletcher and Ravella Dickinson; two brothers, Patrick Gooden and Lemuel Gooden; two sisters, Lena Fouche and Elfreda Cole; and six grandchildren.

LEROY KNIGHT
Leroy “Deer” Knight, 75, died Oct. 15, 2012 at Hospice Ministries in Ridgeland.
Funeral services are today at 11 a.m. at Mt. Zion M.B. Church in Scotland with Rev. Isaiah Jackson officiating. Burial will follow at Days Cemetery in Bentonia under the direction of Knight & Lindsey Funeral Home.
Mr. Knight was born Jan. 18, 1937 in Yazoo County to Sammie and Maggie Coleman Knight. He was a Baptist.
Survivors include his children, Evelyn Knight Myles, Sammie Knight and Neomia Morton; three sisters, Earlean Allen, Enola Robinson and Lorene King (Walter); three brothers, Albert Knight (Eliza), Rev. Calvin Knight (Annie B.) and Herber Knight (Carolyn); seven grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Serving as pallbearers were his nephews.

CAROL ANN RHODES
Carol Ann Wilkinson Rhodes, 65, died Tuesday, October 16, 2012, at Hospice Ministries in Ridgeland.
Graveside services were Friday at Old Crystal Springs Cemetery in Crystal Springs.
Mrs. Rhodes was born January 3, 1947, in Yazoo City, where she was a 1965 graduate of Yazoo City High School. She also attended Holmes Junior College. She was a longtime employee, and retiree, of Trustmark National Bank in Jackson. Mrs. Rhodes was a member of Highland Baptist Church in Crystal Springs
She was preceded in death by her father, Stanley Wilkinson, and her grandson, Hunter Rhodes.
She is survived by her two sons, Wade (Kristi) Rhodes, and Mark Rhodes, and her grandson, Conner Rhodes of Crystal Springs, MS; her mother, Janet H. Wilkinson, her brother, Stan (Nancy) Wilkinson, and sisters, Lesley (Ralph) Smith, all of Yazoo City,  and Kathy (Ricky) Pettigrew of Canton; along with several nieces and nephews, and so many others who loved her and she loved.
On line guest book available at www.chancellorfuneralhome.com.

SABRA SHELBY-JONES
Sabra Shelby-Jones, 65, of Little Rock, Arkansas died Monday, October 15, 2012.  
She was born August 23, 1947 in Mississippi and raised in Yazoo City by parents Lemuel and Margaret Montgomery.
Sabra was a loving wife, mother , grandmother, and friend.  She enjoyed spending time with her family, the outdoors and loved her time at the beach.  Her passion for children led her to a long and fulfilling profession as a teacher for the Little Rock School District for 28 years.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother James Montgomery and her dog, Chew.  Cherishing her memory are her husband, Marc Jones: children, Margaret Johnson (Brett), Abigail Hindman (Tucker), Lemuel Boylston (Kelli), Seth Boylston, and Emily Franklin (Terry).; 15 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren and her current pet, Max.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Saturday October 20, 2012 at Griffin Leggett-Healey & Roth Funeral Home, 5800 West 12th Street, Little Rock (501) 661-9111.  She will be laid to rest at Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Cabot, Arkansas the following day.
The online obituary, guest book, and memorial tribute are available at www. griffinleggettresthills.com.

LINDA HARRISON
Melinda “Linda” Crouch Harrison, 61, formerly of Jackson, died Oct. 10, 2012 in Irving, Texas.
A memorial service honoring Linda will be held at a later date.
Mrs. Harrison was born Sept. 13, 1951 in New Orleans, Louisiana. She was a 1969 graduate of Murrah High School and attended the Mississippi University for Women. She was formerly employed at Texas Instruments as a package designer in Dallas, Texas.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Dr. William Lewis Crouch and Ruth Wroten Crouch; and her brother, Jon Edward Crouch, all of Jackson.
Survivors include one daughter, Lindsey Harrison of Austin, Texas; two brothers, William “Bill” Crouch (Joyce) of Yazoo City and Tom Crouch (Kristen) of Jackson; sister-in-law Melissa Crouch of Ridgeland; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Memorials may be made to Hospice Ministries, 450 Towne Center Blvd., Ridgeland, MS 39157.

WARRENE ROWLAND
Warrene S. Rowland, 80, died Sunday, Oct 14, 2012.
Funeral services are today at 11 a.m. at the Stricklin-King Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Joe Pate officiating. Burial will follow at the Scotland Baptist Church Cemetery.
Mrs. Rowland was born April 12, 1932 in Yazoo County to Henry and Jimmie Wooten Saxton. She sold interior decorating products for over 25 years and was a member of Scotland Baptist Church. She moved to Indywood Glen Assisted Living Care Home in Greenwood in 2007.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert J. Rowland; and siblings, Della Mae Rowland and Noris Saxton.
Survivors include her daughter, Deborah Harville (John) of Greenwood; sons, Robert “Bob” Rowland Jr. (Sue) of Atlanta, Ga., Travis Rowland (Belinda) of Centerville and Ronnie Rowland of Clinton; and a special friend, Charles Guyton Henry.
Serving as pallbearers are Ronnie Davis, John Harville, Thomas Rowland, Bubba Rowland, Norris Saxton, David Harville and Riley Rowland.

KATHLEEN SCHAFFER
Kathleen Rowe Schaffer, 85, died Oct. 5, 2012.
Funeral services were Friday at New Bethel M.B. Church with Rev. James Hines officiating. Burial followed at Glenwood Cemetery under the direction of Knight & Lindsey Funeral Home.
Mrs. Schaffer was born Aug. 6, 1927 in Lexington to George and Agnes Rowe.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Schaffer.
Survivors include her daughter, Doris J. Thomas; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Serving as pallbearers were Michael Banks, Dan Berry, Carl Little, James Lockhart, Walter Lockhart Sr., Dr. William M. Nelson Jr., John Scott and Prentice Young.
Honorary pallbearers were Jory Patterson, Timothy Patterson, William Patterson, Eddie Young Jr. and Erwin Young.

RITA JOHNSTON
Lou Rita Johnston, 75, died Monday, Oct. 1, 2012 at Hospice Ministries in Ridgeland.
Funeral services were Oct. 5 at Center Ridge Baptist Church with Rev. Daryl Oster and Rev. Tommy Joiner officiating. Burial followed at Center Ridge Cemetery under the direction of Stricklin-King Funeral Home.
Mrs. Johnston was born Jan. 12, 1937 in Yazoo County to Aaron and Laura Inez Richard Carley. She was a switch board operator for King’s Daughters Hospital and a member of Center Ridge Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by a son, Allen Frederick Johnston Jr.
Survivors include her husband, Allen Frederick Johnston of Yazoo City; a daughter, Margaret Robertson (Mike) of Yazoo City; a son, Richard Johnston (Christie) of Yazoo City; two sisters, Ruth White of Yazoo City and Ina LaGrutta of Hagerstown, Md.; and a daughter-in-law, Lisa Johnston.
Serving as pallbearers were Mickey Robertson, Fred Johnston III, Frankie LaGrutta, Owen Richards, Ashton Johnston, Hunter Johnston and Buddy Grayson.

PRESTON DAVIS Sr.
Preston Davis Sr., 24, died Sept. 26, 2012.
Funeral services were Saturday at Yazoo City High School with Rev. Joe Freeman officiating.
Mr. Davis was born July 30, 1988 to Preston Jones and Annie Davis in Yazoo City. He graduated from Yazoo City High School before joining the U.S. Marine Corps in 2006, where he served as an infantry mortar man with the 1st Battalion 9th Marine Regiment Weapons Company.
He served in three deployments. The first was in Iraq for Operation Enduring Freedom. The second was to Haiti, where he received a humanitarian award for his actions in the Haiti relief. His third and final deployment was to Afghanistan.
Survivors include his wife, Taniqua Wilson Davis; sons, Preston Davis Jr. and Jaylen Kirkland; mother, Annie Davis; father, Preston Davis Sr.; sisters, Lacie Ellis (Cornelius) and Safi Davis; grandmother, Marie Jones of Flora; and a host of other relatives and friends.

ASER ELLIS
Aser Lee Blount Ellis, 83, died Sept. 16, 2012.
Funeral services were Sept. 22 at Steve Chapel in Vaughan. Burial followed at John Bull Cemetery in Vaughan under the direction of Scott Memorial Funeral Home.
Mrs. Ellis was born Oct. 9, 1928 in Vaughan to Ollie and Mary Crenshaw Smith. She was educated in Yazoo County public schools, and married Joseph Lee Blount in 1947 in Vaughan. Years later she married Richard Ellis.
Two husbands, three sons, one daughter, a sister and three brothers preceded her in death.
Survivors include her sons, Ollie Blount (Daisy) of Flora; R.W. Blount (Mollie) of Jackson; Charlie Blount (Rosie) of Vaughan, Joseph Blount (Rose) of Jackson, William Blount of Vaughan, Frank Blount of Vaughan and Horace Griffin (Diana) and Tevin Major of Bradenton, Fla.; a sister, Ethel Lee Brooks of Jackson; three brothers, Charlie Smith of Vaughan, William Smith (Linnie Mae) of Jackson and Lenelle Smith (Willie Mae); and a host of grandchildren; great-grandchildren and other relatives and friends.
Serving as pallbearers were Charlie Blount, Micah Blount, Joseph Fuqua, Joshua Harris, Tevin Major and M. Smith.

SHIRLEY FOX
Shirley Ann Pulley Fox, 60, died Sept. 26, 2012.
Funeral services were Saturday at the Scott Memorial Funeral Home Chapel.
Mrs. Fox was born May 11, 1952 to Peggy and Newman and the late Clemon Fox. She was raised in Chicago, where she attended Marshall High School.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Spurgen Pulley.
Survivors include her mother, Peggy Ann Newman; three sons, Jermaine Kilbert Fox (Detra), Morris Fox (Karen) and Lamar Fox; brothers, Robert Earl, Renard, Terry, Lamon, Tommie, Lucku, Jimmey and Roscoe; and a host of other relatives and friends.

JAMES ROSS Jr.
A memorial service for James Henry “Bubba” Ross Jr. will be held Friday, Oct. 12 from 6-9 p.m. at Westwood Baptist Church.
Rev. Freddy McCann will officiate the service.
Friends and family are invited and may bring a covered dish.