Picayune Item

Paula Steckel Burkhalter, 91, died Sunday, May 22, 2022 at Baptist Hospital. A funeral service will be held at 9:00 a.m. Thursday, May 26, 2022 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. A graveside service will follow at 2:00 p.m. Thursday at New Palestine Cemetery in Picayune, Mississippi. Visitation will be held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 25, 2022 at Sebrell Funeral Home and will continue at 8:00 a.m. Thursday at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. Mrs. Burkhalter was born on December 24, 1930, in Germany, the daughter of the late Wilhem Benno Steckel and Berta Hildegard Jahn. At age 14, she was placed in a forced labor camp after losing her homeland at the end of World War II. She met...

Danaura (Dannie) Smith passed away on October 21, 2021. She was 83 years old. Danaura was the daughter of the late Carl W. and Winnie Jo Stockstill. She was born on September 19, 1938, in Picayune, MS. She was a dedicated Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist throughout her professional life, she studied at Tulane University and Touro Infirmary, both in New Orleans, LA. She was instrumental in setting up the anesthesia department at Loudoun Memorial Hospital in Leesburg, VA, and continued to work there until retirement in the late 1990s. She was also very active in the Loudoun County Volunteer Rescue Squad, and was honored to be a life member. Dannie was a LCVRS training officer for...

Robert "Bob" Varner, 60, of Carriere, passed away on Monday, October 4, 2021 at the Asbury Hospice House in Hattiesburg. There will be a memorial service for Bob at a later date. Bob was a mechanic in the oil industry. He is preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Florence Varner; his sister, Cynthia Smith and his step-father, Denny Williams. He is survived by his daughter, Teresa (Jeremy) Jenkins, Sr. of Picayune; a grandson, Isaiah Jenkins of Picayune; a brother, Raymond (Carolyn) Varner of Monticello, MN; and several nieces and nephews.

Dr. Daniel Harrell Holcomb, 87, passed away December 27, 2020, in Temple, Texas. Visitation will be Saturday, January 2, 2021, at Moore Funeral Home in Hattiesburg, Mississippi beginning at 1:00pm. A graveside service will follow at 3:00pm. Dr. Holcomb was born on February 2, 1933 in San Antonio, Texas to Daniel Charles and Vida Ora Holcomb. A 1952 graduate of Petal High School, Dr. Holcomb would go on to earn degrees at Mississippi College, the University of Southern Mississippi, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He married Olga (Hagler) Holcomb in 1956 and together they had two sons, John Daniel and James David. Dan and Olga were...

Leslie Thomas Pullens, 62, of the Catahoula Community, passed away on Friday, December 25, 2020. Leslie was a member of Mount Carmel Baptist Church. He deeply loved and supported the youth and their respective ministries. He served and protected the State of Mississippi as a law enforcement officer with the Mississippi Department of Transportation. He retired as a Captain with 35 years of service. He was a veteran of the Mississippi Army National Guard and a former chief with the Leetown Volunteer Fire Department. After retirement, you could always find him hunting, fishing, or playing with the babies. To know Leslie was to love him... Left to cherish the memories of Leslie are his wife...

Judith Glancey of Carriere, MS (formerly of Chalmette, LA) passed away on November 10, 2020 at the age of 72. Mrs. Glancey was born on May 13, 1948 in New Orleans to Frank Weidenbacker, Sr. and Dorothy Gatzman Weidenbacker. She retired from the Louisiana Department of Justice. Judith enjoyed taking trips to the coast, visiting casinos, enjoying lunches with family and friends, and gardening. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her beloved husband, John Michael Glancey; and one brother, Frank Weidenbacker, Jr. Left to cherish her memories are several extended family members and her adored fur babies, Maggie, Molly, and Mia. Funeral services will be held at White Funeral...

Jerry Bordelon, 81, of Poplarville (formerly of Chalmette, LA), passed away on Wednesday, November 4th, 2020. Mr. Bordelon was born February 25, 1939 in New Orleans to Peter J. Bordelon and Hazel Mary Warner Bordelon. He was a ceramic caster with American Standard Companies in New Orleans, a retired crane operator with Chalmette Refinery; and a veteran of the United States Navy. He was a member of Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Chalmette and an avid animal lover. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his wife, Linda Bordelon and one son, Shannon Bordelon. Family members include one son, Steven (Cindy) Bordelon; two siblings, Richard (Audrey) Bordelon, Lucille Bordelon; two...

Craig Alan Stasny, 64, of Poplarville entered into His Eternal Life on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2020. Mr. Stasny was born November 22, 1955 in Houston, Texas to Charles Wharton Stasny and Betty Lou Hayes Stasny. He was a retired radiographer in the medical profession and the owner of Top Notch Tree Service. His father, Charles W. Stasny precedes him in death. Family members include his wife of 41 years, Kathy Poole Stasny; children, Ed Poole, Timothy (Sarah) Poole, Brad (Kayla) Conner, Emiley (Jonathon) Welker, Tristan Whitehead; his mother, Lou Stasny; siblings, Chuck (Nikki) Stasny, Curt (Lori) Stasny; seven grandchildren, extended family, friends, and neighbors. Memorial services will be...

Ronda Kay Strickland-Dick, 47, of Lumberton, entered into Eternal Life on Saturday, May 16th, 2020 at her residence. Ronda was born January 23rd, 1973 in Picayune to Frank Strickland and Joan Howard Strickland. She was a Licensed Practical Nurse. She attended Archbishop Blenk High School in New Orleans, Pearl River Central High School and was a graduate of Pearl River Community College. She was fond of animals and enjoyed spending time with the people around her. Ronda will best be remember as a "Ray of Sunshine" to all who met her and who knew her. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by one stepbrother, Keith Rider. Family members include her husband James; one daughter,...

Rooke Everill, 59, of Celina, TX, went to meet his heavenly father on May 14, 2020. Born August 17, 1960, in Pensacola, FL, to Peter & Maude (Tully) Everill, Rooke grew up in Picayune; he was a '78 graduate of PMHS & an '83 grad of USM, earning a BS degree & SAE fraternity member. He married Michele Payne Everill, a New Orleans native, on March 20, 2003. Rooke was an extremely successful entrepreneur. As President/Co-Owner of Fini Enterprises, he patented Liquid Ferric Sulfate, a chemical used by municipal & industrial water plants. Rooke developed North Preston Lakes Estates, a Celina residential community. His most recent venture was the development of AeRooke...

Mrs. Mildred Louise Andreson Hawley, 94, of Picayune, MS passed away on Tuesday, May 5, 2020, at Bedford Care Center in Hattiesburg, MS. She was attending nursing school when she met her husband, Dr. William (Bill) Hawley MD, at the University of Kansas medical school and was married to him for 71 years. She was a devoted housewife, loving mother and loved dearly by her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. While Bill attended Tulane University for a P.H.D in Public Health, she attended Delgado University for a degree in Library Science. She used her degree to help set up libraries and organize the health records in the 3rd world countries her husband was sent to by the World...

The Honorable Thomas (Tommy) Lamar Woods, former Mississippi State Representative and cotton farmer of Byhalia, Ms. entered into glory on April 17, 2020 at the age of 86, surrounded by his family at his home in Byhalia, Ms. He was born on December 6, 1933, in Byhalia to J.P. & Edith Turner Woods. He was a lifelong member of the Byhalia United Methodist Church. At the time of his death, he was the pastor of Fountain Head Methodist Church in Desoto County. Tommy is survived by his wife, Faye St. John Woods, his brother, James Everett Woods (Ginga), his children, Prentis Eugene Woods (Catharine), Patrick Lamar Woods (Gracie), Raymond Everett Woods (Janice) all of Byhalia, and Jeana Woods...

George Allan Barrentine, 88, a long-time resident of San Antonio, TX and current resident of Flowood, MS, passed away Sunday, December 15, 2019 in Flowood. Funeral services will be held at 11 am Wednesday, December 18, 2019 at Ott and Lee Funeral Home in Brandon, MS with interment at Crestview Memorial Gardens in Brandon. Visitation will be held from 10-11 am Wednesday. Mr. Barrentine was born December 12, 1931 to Allan Nason Barrentine and Lorina Moss Barrentine. He proudly served in the United States Marine Corps and was later married to Carolyn McKinney Barrentine. Mr. Barrentine loved the Lord and enjoyed serving others through his faith. He was a member of Christ United Methodist...

Louis J. "Lou" Kupfer, Jr., entered into Eternal Life on Sunday, November 17, 2019 in his 89th year. Mr. Kupfer was a retired chemical engineer; a member of the Catholic faith; and an United States Army Veteran. Preceded in death by his parents, Louis J., Sr. and Adelaide; one sister, Mary Helen; and one son, Stephen Peter. Left to cherish his memories are his wife of 64 years, Joan; five children, Lynn, Mike, Louise, Kathy (Whit), Beth; two grandchildren, Devin, Taylor. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Poplarville on Tuesday, November 19, 2019 at 11am. Burial following in Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cemetery, Lumberton. Visiting two hours prior at the church. White...

Mrs. Tommie Jean Bryan Beavers, 83, of Carriere, Mississippi, passed away on October 21, 2019. Mrs. Beavers was born May 7th, 1936 in Harperville, Mississippi. She was a retired lab technician and phlebotomist with Baton Rouge Clinic and a member of Rolling Hills Baptist Church. She was an avid reader and enjoyed caring for animals. She is preceded in death by her parents, John Luther Bryan, Jr. and Nette Aline O'Bannon Bryan; one brother, John Luther Bryan, III; and her husband, John Beavers. Family members include two children, Dan (Brenda) Beavers and Melissa Beavers; and numerous cats and her dog, Gracie. Graveside services will be held at Rolling Hills Baptist Church Cemetery on...

Danny H. Wheat, 66, passed away at his residence in Purvis on Monday, September 2, 2019. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, September 4, 2019 at the Pine Grove Baptist Church in Picayune with interment in Pine Grove Baptist Church Cemetery to follow. Danny was a native of Bogalusa and a lifelong resident of Picayune. He retired after thirty-four years of service from the Stennis Space Center as a mechanical technician and quality assurance technician for the Space Shuttle main engines. He loved his family and volunteering with the Maroon Tide Basketball Team of Picayune. He is preceded in death by his parents, Lee and Jewel Wheat and a brother-in-law, Joe Davis. He is...