Laurel Leader-Call

Patricia "Pat" Knight, 87, of Hattiesburg, passed away on Wednesday, August 3, 2022 at her home surrounded by her family. Funeral services were held on Monday, August 8, 2022 at CrossPoint Community Church with interment in Highland Cemetery. Mrs. Knight, who was lovingly known as "Ms. Pat" by everyone who knew her, was a member of CrossPoint Community Church. She taught Elementary and Preschool for 57 years. She helped start the Preschool Program at CrossPoint and helped it grow into what it is today. She was preceded in death by her husband, Wiley Knight; her parents, J.T. and Mary Renfro; her sister, Joy Renfro; and her grandson, Mason Graves. She is survived by her daughter, Amy Knight...

Michael "Skip" Kennedy, age 72 of Cartersville, GA passed away on Saturday, July 16, 2022. He was born in Laurel, MS on September 5, 1949 to Raymond Kennedy and Dolly Hilbun Kennedy. Mike is preceded in death by his father, Raymond Kennedy. He is survived by his mother, Dolly Kennedy; daughter, Kendall (Jason) Coskrey and grandchildren Kason and Bryson Coskrey; son, Chase Kennedy; sister, Sandy (Lewis) Holifield; nephew, Kris Holifield. Mike lived on Lake Allatoona for over 25 years and living on the water was his life's ambition and dream. The family will have a private service at a later date. Please visit www.owenfunerals.com to leave online condolences for the family. Owen Funeral...

Curtis "Jack" Strickland, 59, of Wiggins passed away on June 17, 2022 at his home. Services will be Tuesday, June 21, 2022 at Vardaman Street Baptist Church at 2 P.M. followed by burial in Wiggins City Cemetery. Mr. Strickland was a faithful member of Vardaman Street Baptist Church. He was the proud owner and operator of Strickland's Heating and Air for 50 years. He loved his wife and daughters, but especially his grandchildren who loved to spend time with "Poppy". He had a heart for mentoring and helping the young people of his community. He was preceded in death by his parents, Marvin and Bebe Nell Strickland; and his father-in-law, Harry Parker. He is survived by his wife, Gina...

Melba Turner Hill, 94, of Hattiesburg, passed away on Monday, May 30, 2022 at Forrest General Hospital. A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 3, 2022 at the Big Creek Baptist Church Cemetery in Soso, MS. Melba was a long-time member of Central Baptist Church and had taught Sunday School there. She was very devoted to her church and family which included her cat, Pretty Face. In her spare time, she tended her yard and enjoyed feeding the birds, especially hummingbirds. She is preceded in death by her husband, Sanford Hill; parents, Raz and Minnie Turner; a brother, Melvin Turner; and a sister, Vema Turner. She is survived by her two nieces, Wanda Turner and Crystal...

Memorial services for Deborah Lynn Tipton, 69, of Diboll, Texas will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, January 30, 2022 in the Gipson Funeral Home Chapel. Deborah was born February 1, 1952, the daughter of late Ora C. Collins and Ruth (Surles) Collins. She lost her battle with cancer on Sunday, January 23, 2022 at her residence. Deborah had a passion for quilting and sewing, and she loved to save any animals that she found. She graduated from Laurel High School in Laurel, Mississippi in 1970. She was a resident of Jones County, Mississippi until moving to Diboll in 1991. Deborah is survived by her husband, William Tipton of Diboll, Texas; daughter, Jennifer Tipton of Denham Springs,...

Funeral services for Linda Grantham Savell will begin at 10:30 am on Saturday, January 8, 2022 from the Hazel Baptist Church with the Rev. Sam Taylor, Rev. Chris Wells, Rev. Jim Savell and Rev. William Savell officiating. Graveside services will begin at 3:30 pm on Saturday, January 8, 2022 at Grantham Cemetery in Hattiesburg. Linda Carol Perry was born at Baxterville in Lamar County on August 1, 1949, one of nine children born to J.H. and Mary Holifield Perry. She was a longtime resident of the Pine Belt area until 2006, when she moved to the Hazel community in Newton County, establishing a new marriage to her husband, Mark Savell. She was a graduate of Beat Four High School in...

Funeral services for Mrs. Katherine Lucile Dawkins Hicks will begin at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 15, 2021 in Robert Barham Family Funeral Home chapel with the Reverend Dr. Raymon Leake officiating. Service music will be provided by Reverend David Bishop, Dr. Rhonda Wilson, and Barry Germany. Interment will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens. Robert Barham Family Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with the arrangements. Katherine Lucile Dawkins Hicks went to meet her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ December 13, 2021 after residing with her daughter for the past several years. Her daughter found her to be a joy to have, for her mother was her best female friend. She was born in...

Dr. Peggy Joyce Langley Payne died on April 10, 2021 after a long illness. She is survived by her daughter Cathy (Bruce) Anderson of Kennesaw, GA, son Jim (Jennifer) Payne of McKinney, Texas, grandchildren Gracie, Abby, Dylan and Hannah, sisters Nella (Jack) Sanders and Nancy (Bob) Milhollin. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 40 years, Rev. Victor Payne, and a host of loved ones. Memorial services will be on May 15th in Lucedale, Mississippi, at Sigler Funeral Home. Visitation at 10am and Service at 11am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Kenya Connection Kids (www.kenyaconnectionkids.org) or www.legacy.org/trees Peggy was a wonderful wife, mother,...

Bryan William Fenton, 62, of Petal, passed away Monday, March 8 at Forrest General Hospital. Friends and family are invited to gather for a visitation Thursday, March 11, 2021 from 10 - 11:30 a.m. at Carterville Baptist Church with services immediately following at 11:30 a.m. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Bryan was born March 17,1958, in Wichita Falls, TX to George and Maurice (Johnson) Fenton. He was a member of Carterville Baptist Church in Petal where he served and taught Sunday School for many years. He had a great career working with Syngenta, Chevron, and Venture Oil and Gas. He was a skilled woodworker who enjoyed fishing and Alabama football. Bryan served Jesus faithfully...

A private family service for Edward Glennan Grady Jr. is scheduled for Saturday January 16, 2021. Glennan passed away on January 10, 2021 after a lengthy struggle with Parkinson's Disease. Glennan was the son of Edward Glennan Grady and Corinne Coyle Grady, born on October 20, 1935 in New Orleans, LA. He grew up in Laurel, MS and graduated from George S. Gardner High School in 1953. He attended Mississippi State College where he was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity, graduating with a degree in Petroleum Geology in 1957. Upon graduation, he went to work for Haliburton in Houma, LA. In October, 1957 he married Janice Wilcox from Laurel. He was an active reservist with the U.S. Army from...

A private family service for Edward Glennan Grady Jr. is scheduled for Saturday January 16, 2021. Glennan passed away on January 10, 2021 after a lengthy struggle with Parkinson's Disease. Glennan was the son of Edward Glennan Grady and Corine Coyle Grady, born on October 20, 1935 in New Orleans, LA. He grew up in Laurel, MS and graduated from George S. Gardner High School in 1952. He attended Mississippi State College where he was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity, graduating with a degree in Petroleum Geology in 1957. Upon graduation, he went to work for Haliburton in Houma, LA. In October, 1957 he married Janice Wilcox from Laurel. He was an active reservist with the U.S. Army from...

Sherryl Fleming Decker died at her home in Roswell, Georgia, on Monday, July 13, 2020, after a long struggle with Alzheimer's disease and chronic debilitating pain at the age of 73 years. Born on July 5, 1947, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, she grew up in Laurel, Mississippi, in a special time and special place. During her long struggle, she was lovingly cared for by her devoted husband and soulmate, Edward Reddy Decker of Roswell, Georgia. Sherryl and Ed have been married for 51 wonderful years, still "going steady" since the beginning of tenth grade at R.H. Watkins High School in their beloved hometown of Laurel, Mississippi. For many years they lived on the Mississippi Gulf Coast,...

Kathryn "Kathy, Cookie" Deborah Deems Crumbley, 73, passed away Monday, November 25, 2019, at her residence in Oxford, MS. Visitation will be Saturday, December 7, 2019, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., at Coleman Funeral Home. A celebration of life service will immediately follow at 2:00 p.m., also at Coleman Funeral Home. Bro. Fish Robinson will officiate. Coleman Funeral Home of Oxford is in charge of arrangements. Kathy was born October 13, 1946, in St. Louis County, MO, to Donald and Clara (Friemuth) Deems. She spent her childhood in Fenton, MO; graduated from Lindbergh High School; attended Central Methodist College; and worked at Monsanto World Headquarters in Creve Coeur, MO,...

Mrs. Deborah Allen Pruitt, 69, passed away Saturday, October 5, 2019 in Asheville NC. The funeral will be held 4:00 PM Friday, October 11, 2019 at Greene Funeral Home Northwest Chapel 2133 Ebenezer Road Rock Hill. The family will receive friends following the service at the funeral home. Born in Rock Hill, wife to Preston Pruitt, the daughter of Robert Leslie Allen and Ethel Geraldine Mullis Allen of Rock Hill, SC. She is preceded in death by her son, Jason Palmer. A graduate of Winthrop College in 1983, Masters in 1987, she taught school in Rock Hill schools and Pickens County schools. A Daughter, Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, Guardian ad Litem in Transylvania County, NC....

Angie West Anderson was born December 4, 1924 and passed away September 29, 2019 at the age of 94. Angie was a native of Clarke County, MS and a 1943 graduate of Heidelberg High School. She married William Henry Anderson on March 10, 1946, Henry and Angie made their home in Forest, MS and raised three sons: Bill, Tom, and Joe. After the death of Henry, Angie moved back to her home town of Laurel, MS. She enjoyed sewing, needlepoint, worshipping the Lord, spending time with her family, in particular her grandbabies, and traveling. She visited all 49 states in her travel, only missed seeing Alaska. Mrs. Anderson was a former Southwestern Bell telephone operator and a retired court reporter...