DUFF DORROUGH
Duff Dorrough, 60, of Ruleville, died  Wednesday Oct. 03, 2012 at the North Sunflower Medical Center in Ruleville.
Visitation will be held today (Saturday) at 1 p.m. at the Ruleville Methodist Church in Ruleville.
Funeral services will follow  2 p.m. at Ruleville Methodist Church with Rev. Mary Hutson officiating. Burial will be at the Marlow Cemetery in Ruleville.
Mr. Dorrough was born on May 20, 1952 to Dr. Charles and Delores Marlow Dorrough. He was a past member of The Tangents Band. He was also an artist and musician, and lead singer of the Yellow Mush Whackers Band of Thacker Mountain Radio Show out of Oxford. He also loved antiquing.
He was preceded in death by his wife Deborah Peacock Dorrough.
Survivors include his son, John Charles Marlow Dorrough of Ruleville; daughter, Audra Lee Dorrough, of Ruleville; beloved friend, Nanette Long of Ruleville; father, Dr. Charles Dorrough of Ruleville; mother, Delores Marlow Dorrough of Ruleville and brothers,John Robert Dorrough of Ruleville and Charles Marlow Dorrough of Oxford.
Serving as pallbearers are Andre Dubois, David Parker, John Cassibry, Joe Bradshaw, Ted Gainey, John Wade, Todd Camerson, and Ronald Terrell.
Honorary Pallbearers are Willie Free, Curtis Thompson, and Dave Alford.
Memorials may be made to The Duff Dorrough Benefit Fund, Planters Bank P.O. Box 9 Ruleville, MS 38771.

RITA JOHNSTON
Lou Rita Johnston, 75, died Monday, Oct. 1, 2012.
Funeral services were Friday 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 of Yazoo City; a son, Richard Johnston 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.

LULA PILGRIM
Lula Charlene Saxton Pilgrim, 80, died Thursday, September 27, at Madison County Nursing Home in Canton.  
Funeral services were Sunday Pickens Presbyterian Church with Rev. David Schultz and her grandson, Rev. Brad Adcock, officiating.  Burial followed in the Harttown Cemetery  
A lifelong resident of Yazoo County, she was born March 27, 1932.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Jim and Lula Saxton, two sisters, Eloise Warren and Louise Triggs, and a grandson, Clayton Pilgrim.
Survivors include her husband of 64 years, James Earl Pilgrim; four sons, David, Phillip (Shirley), Mike (Jo) and John (Kelli); two daughters, Janie Adcock and Elizabeth (Jim) Golden; eleven grandchildren, thirteen great grandchildren; her twin brother, Charles Saxton; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.  
Charlene was an active member of Pickens Presbyterian Church and had a deep, abiding faith in her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  She was a devoted wife and mother, doting grandmother, and a gentle soul whose caring for others was always evident.  
Serving as pallbearers were her grandsons.
Memorials may be made to Pickens Presbyterian Church at P.O. Box 490, Pickens, MS 39039 or Gideons International, P.O. Box 1111, Yazoo City, MS 39194.
For online condolences please visit www.culpepperfuneralhome.com

WILLIE SMITH
Willie Lee Smith, 95, died Sept. 18, 2012.
Funeral services were Saturday at New Zion M.B. Church with Rev. Willie Smith officiating. Burial followed at Glenwood Cemetery under the direction of Century Funeral Home.
Mr. Smith was born Jan. 5, 1917 in Covington, Tenn.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Rev. Virge and Laure Wilks Smith; brothers, Virge Jr., Booker T., Jimmy, John and Eddie B. Smith; and one sister, Lottie Smith.
Survivors include a sister, Hattie; a sister-in-law, Magnolia Smith; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Serving as pallbearers were Sidney D. Smith, Perry Falls, Cleotha Smith, Lee Smith, Virge Falls and Mitchell Falls Jr.

MIKE WATTS
Robert Michael “Mike” Watts, 66, died Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012 at University Medical Center in Jackson.
Funeral services were Tuesday at the Stricklin-King Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Marshal Stokes officiating. Burial followed at Lakewood Cemetery in Jackson.
Mr. Watts was born April 3, 1946 in Jackson to Cleveland and Erma Eubanks Watts. He was a salesman for Hemphill Foods Inc. and a member of Old Towne Church of God.
Survivors include his wife, Linda Watts of Yazoo City;  sons, Robert M. Watts Jr. of Yazoo City and Jason Watts of Jackson; daughters, Cecelia Boyer of Brandon and Susan Watts of Jackson; mother, Erma Watts of Jackson; brother, David Watts of Fayetteville, Ark.; two stepdaughters, Kay Helms of Spokane, Wash. and Michelle Hogan of Yazoo City’ a stepson, Bud Helms of Yazoo City; and 10 grandchildren.

GLORIA HARPER
Gloria Ballard Harper, 90, of Yazoo City, passed away September 26, 2012. Funeral services were held Friday, Sept. 28, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, where she was a lifetime member.
Mrs. Harper was born August 18, 1922 in Hinds County. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James (Buck) Nierman Ballard. She was a devoted wife, loving mother and “Nannie” to her grandchildren, and friend to all who knew her. Gloria worked in retail in Yazoo City for more than 50 years.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank Joseph Harper. Survivors include daughters, Jo B. George of Yazoo City and Glo Wright (Charles) of Greenwood; sons, Frank “Buck” Harper (Michelle) of Brandon and Ken Hill (Bonnie) of Santa Barbara, Cali.
She is also survived by six granddaughters, Shelly Merek, Sterling Milligan, Blair Mize, Varner, Jessica and Sarah Harper and seven great grandchildren and a special friend, Floyd Churchwell.
Memorials may be sent to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 2131, Memphis, TN 38101.

BILLY WILBURN
William Wyche “Billy” Wilburn, 90, died at home on Sept. 25, 2012 after a lengthy illness.  
Funeral Services were Thursday at First United Methodist Church with Rev. Bill Poole officiating. Burial followed at Glenwood Cemetery under the direction of Stricklin-King Funeral Home.  
Mr. Wilburn was born in Aiken, South Carolina on March 27, 1922, son of Ruth Coleman Wilburn and William Wyche Wilburn.  His family returned to their original home in Yazoo City in 1928.  He  was preceded in death by his parents and an older brother, George Mason Wilburn.
Billy graduated from Yazoo City High School where he participated in Band, Boxing, and Football.  He also attained the rank of Eagle Scout.  He was a graduate of Mississippi State University where he earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering.  Billy was a member of the Mississippi State Band and Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.
His college days were interrupted when he enlisted in the Naval Air Corps as a radioman in World War II.  While stationed in the Philippine Islands, Billy was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.  He served one year of active duty.
After graduation Billy worked at the Mississippi Rating Bureau in Jackson.   Later he was employed by Mississippi Chemical Corporation in Yazoo City, MS.  He farmed his own Yazoo County land and was owner of Wilburn Realty Company.
Billy was a member of First United Methodist Church having been active on the Official Board, the Men’s Club, and the Disciple Sunday School Class.  He was a member of the Yazoo Historical Society and Veterans of  Foreign Wars.  A former member of the Yazoo Country Club, he was an avid golfer.
Survivors include the five women in his life.  JoAnn Turner Wilburn, wife of 59 years.  Daughters: Dr. Ruth Wilburn and husband Dr. Don Jackson of Olive Branch,  Stacy Wilburn West and husband Stan West of Martin, TN, Joanna Wilburn of Olive Branch and Sally Ross Wilburn Davis and husband Roger Davis of Ruleville.
Grandchildren include: Carter Wyche West (Lauren) of Memphis, TN, Katie West of Martin, TN, Kelli West of Martin, TN, Turner Davis of Ruleville and  Mason Davis of Ruleville.  Sisters in law:  Sally Turner Walker of Jackson and Stella Turner Melton of Yazoo City.
Memorials may be sent to First United Methodist Church Building Fund, P O Box 444, Yazoo City, MS 39194.
Serving as pallbearers were  Don Jackson, Stan West, Carter Wyche West, Roger Davis, Turner Davis, Bill Walker.

MATILDA DANDRIGE
Matilda Wilburn Dandridge, 88, died Sept. 14, 2012 at King’s Daughters Hospital.
Funeral arrangements are pending with Knight & Lindsey Funeral Home.
Mrs. Dandridge was born Sept. 28, 1923 in Indianola to Elester and Cora Lee Collins Wilburn.
Survivors include a son, Willis E. Cattron of Los Angeles, Calif.; one granddaughter, and godson, Terry Sherman of Yazoo City.

EDDIE FOREMAN
Eddie “Good” Foreman, 79, died Sept. 2, 2012 at his home in Yazoo City.
Funeral services were Sept. 8 at Rose Hill M.B. Church with Rev. Curtis Strong officiating. Burial followed at Glenwood Cemetery under the direction of Knight & Lindsey Funeral Home.
Mr. Foreman was born March 13, 1933 in Yazoo County to Nick and Annie Gibbs Foreman. He was a Baptist.
Survivors include his wife, Eliza Foreman of Yazoo City; three children, eight grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; a sister, Leslie Cage of St. Louis, Mo.; a brother, Lloyd Foreman of Chicago; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Serving as pallbearers were Robert Cage, Andrew Price, Robert Smith, George Collins, Joe Shelby and Paul Young.
Honorary pallbearers were Quincy Haymer, James Richardson, Keith Foreman, Nathaniel Clark, Robert Collins and Clarence Haymer.

BETTY KNIGHT
Betty Marie Knight, 61, died Sept. 2, 2012 at King’s Daughters Hospital.
Funeral services were Sept. 8 at Mt. Zion Scotland Baptist Church with Rev. Isaiah Jackson officiating. Burial followed at Days Cemetery under the direction of Knight & Lindsey Funeral Home.
Ms. Knight was born Aug. 9, 1951 in Yazoo County to Sammie and Maggie Coleman. She was a 1969 graduate of N.D. Taylor High School.
Survivors include a daughter, Latrice Knight Wade (James); two grandchildren, Brittany and Zaria; a great-grandchild, Neveah Marie; three sisters, Earlean Allen, Enola Robinson and Lorene King (Walter); four brothers, Leroy Knight, Herbert Knight (Carolyn), Albert Knight (Eliza) and Rev. Calvin Knight (Annie B.) and a host of other relatives and friends.
Serving as pallbearers were Rodrick Knight, Rev. Edwin B. King, Theretius Knight, Oscar Daryl Knight, Norvel King and Calvin Knight Jr.
Honorary pallbearers were Leroy Knight, Albert Knight, Rev. Calvin Knight Sr., Herbert Knight, Walter King Jr. and Prentiss Vaughan.

ELIZABETH LEE
Elizabeth Lee, 58, died Sept. 12, 2012.
Funeral services were Saturday at New Pilgrim Rest M.B. Church with Rev. Gregory D. Taylor officiating. Burial followed under the direction of Century Funeral Home.
Ms. Lee was born Feb. 25, 1954 in Indianola to the late Robert and Ora D. Lee. She and her family moved to Yazoo City when  she was young, and she continued her education in the Yazoo City School District. She was a member of New Pilgrim Rest M.B. Church.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and a son, Keith Z. Lee.
Survivors include, a daughter, Tiffany Lee; three sons, Derrick Lee, Dion Lee and Patrick Lee; six sisters, Bernice Vaughan (Jessie) and Hilda Lee of Yazoo City, Betty Jean Lee of Jackson, Georgia Wilson Hamlin of Collins, Joyce Lee of Indianola and Gloria Wilson of Los Angeles; five brothers, Sammie Lee of Byram, Roger Lee and Bobbie Joe Wilson of Yazoo City, and Nelson Lee and Robert Lee of Indianola; three grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends.
Serving as pallbearers were Xavier Lee, Jerome Lee, Timothy Hoston, Jeffrey Montson, Roland Jones Jr., JaDarious Lee and Marcus Meadow.
Honorary pallbearers were Sammie Lee, Roger Lee, Robert Lee, Bobbie Wilson, Nelson Lee and Jessie Vaughan Jr.

VIRGINIA MARTIN
Virginia Martin, 79, of Ridgeland, died Thursday at Hospice Ministries in Ridgeland.
Funeral services were held Saturday at Calvary Baptist Church with Rev. Caleb Clark officiating. Burial followed at Glenwood Cemetery under the direction of Stricklin-King Funeral Home.
Mrs. Martin was born on Nov. 25, 1932 in Carrol County to Grady Misskelley and Gladys Walters.
She was married to George “Rooster” Martin of Yazoo City. She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church and worked in the print department of Southern Bag Corporation.
She was preceded in death by her son, Joseph Anthony Corley; two brothers, Grady Sanders and James William Misskelley; and sister, Carleen Wofford.
Survivors include her husband; daughter, Sandra (Steve) Sessums of Hattiesburg; three sons, Cecil (Penny) Martin and Edward Allen Corley, both of Yazoo City, and Larry Dale Corley, of New Orleans; 12 grandchildren; a host of great grandchildren; two sisters, Lura Kate Neal of Carrolton and Elizabeth Ann Jordan of Olive Branch; and two brothers, Robert Cecil Misskelley and Cooper Leroy Misskelley, both of Carrolton.

JAMES ROSS JR.
James H. “Bubba” Ross, 39, of Vicksburg, died on Sept. 11, 2012.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Mr. Ross was born on March 28, 1973 in Vicksburg. He was a truck driver.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, James and Glenda Ross of Yazoo City and Earline and Boatner Duchesne of Vicksburg.
Survivors include his mother, Donna Ross of Holly Bluff; father, James Ross of Holly Bluff; a daughter; siblings, Kim Ryan of Satartia, Shonda Mathis of Holly Bluff, B.J. Ross of Vicksburg and Shelly Hicks of Yazoo City; and ten nieces and nephews.

WILLIE TAYLOR
Willie B. Taylor, 65, died Sept. 6, 2012.
Funeral services were Sept. 15 at Big Mount Zion in Thornton with Rev. C.D. Mitchell officiating.
Mrs. Taylor was born on July 7, 1947 in Holmes County the late Mr. Joseph and Iola Newton.
She was a member of Little Walnut Grove M.B. Church. She was married in 1971. To that union, five children were born.
She was preceded in death by her parents; granddaughter, Taniya Taylor; and three brother-in-laws.
Survivors include her husband and five children, Roosevelt (Carolyn) Newton of Tchula, Teresa Newton and Erica Taylor, all of Yazoo City, Jennifer Taylor of Gulfport and Timothy Taylor of Ridgeland; 11 grandchildren; five great grandchildren; six sisters, Willie Mae Weathers  of Milwaukee, Mary Ann (Willie) Mayze, Suzie Newton and Mary Sanders, all of Tchula; Rosie (A.D.) Brown and Hattie Burdine of Chicago; three brothers, John W. Newton of Milwaukee, Joseph Newton Jr. and Solomon Newton, both of Tchula; and a host of family and friends.