The Light and Champion

James William (Bill) Haley James William (Bill) Haley was born in Center, Texas, September 22, 1943, and died July 3, 2022, in Austin. Bill attended public schools in Center through his high school education. Following high school graduation, he completed a bachelor's degree at his beloved Texas Christian University (TCU) and his teaching certification at Stephen F. Austin State University; he later earned an M.A. from Texas State University. Bill taught in public schools in Houston and Center for more than a dozen years before being elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1978. While serving in the Texas House, Haley was instrumental in the enactment of the most...

Funeral services for Mrs. Reba Weesner, 89, of Carthage, Texas was at 10:00 A.M. Wednesday, June 29 at First Baptist Church, Tenaha Texas with Rev. Charles Williams and Dr. Andrew King officiating. Burial followed in the Ramah Cemetery under the direction of Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral home. Visitation with the family was Tuesday, June 28 from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. at Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral Home, Carthage, Texas. Reba Joyce Weesner went to her heavenly home on Saturday afternoon, June 25, 2022. She was born in Freestone, Texas on July 17, 1932 and was raised in Cotton Gin, Texas by her loving aunt and uncle, J.C. and Mae Boyd. Reba spent her childhood and early adult life in Freestone and...

Funeral Services for Mr. Karl Oney, 78, of Carthage, TX will be 2:00 p.m., Saturday, February 19, 2022, at the First Baptist Church of Carthage, Texas with Bro Rick Linebarger and Rev. Saul Petty officiating. Burial and Masonic Rites will follow in the Carthage City Cemetery under the direction of Hawthorn Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 6 until 8 p.m. on Friday, February 18th at Hawthorn Funeral Home. Mr. Karl Trumann Oney was born July 7, 1943, in Hallsville, Texas. He passed this life February 9, 2022, in Carthage, Texas. Karl was one of four children born to the marriage of Otis Lee and Della Skinner Lawhorn. He was raised and schooled in Harleton graduating with the class of...

Bonita (Bonnie) Richards, 80, was born in Shelbyville, Texas, on June 10, 1941, to Emmett L. and Doris M. (Grubbs) Richards. She passed away peacefully at her daughter Jean's home with family on Wednesday, November 3, 2021. Preceding Bonnie in death were her parents, Emmett and Doris; her brothers, Gordan Richards and James Richards; nephews, Garland Richards, Kenneth Richards, Tommy Richards, Shelby Richards; and a great niece, Rhianna Richards. Surviving Bonnie are daughters, Elizabeth (Jean) Townsend Van Ooteghem and son-in-law Richard of Mishawaka, Indiana, Cynthia (Cindy) Kay Townsend Wicher of Big Lake, Alaska, and Doris (Dede) Denise Townsend Velasco and son-in-law Jimmy of...

Funeral services for Mrs. Judy Oswalt Dorris, 80, of Carthage, Texas will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, September 29, 2021 at the Hawthorn Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Rob Merriman officiating. Burial will follow in the Strong Cemetery under the direction of Hawthorn Funeral Home. Visitation will be 4-6:00 p.m. Tuesday evening at Hawthorn Funeral Home. Mrs. Judith Ann Bradshaw Oswalt Dorris was born October 22, 1940 in Shelby County, Texas. She passed this life peacefully September 26, 2021 at her Carthage home. Judy was one of five children born to the marriage of Ira and Annie B. Price Bradshaw. She was raised and schooled in Shelby County graduating with the Center High School Class...

Hawthorn Funeral Home announces the passing of Mr. Tommy Yarberry. Cremation arrangements were entrusted to Hawthorn Funeral Home. The family will receive visitors Sunday September 26, 2021 from 6-8 pm in the Hawthorn Funeral Home Chapel. Mr. Thomas "Tommy" Noel Yarberry was born August 17, 1934 in Malta, Texas. He passed this life September 22, 2021 in Carthage, Texas. He was one of three children born to Toby Thomas Yarberry and Jettie Williams Yarberry. He was raised and schooled in Tenaha, Texas, graduating from Tenaha High School. Tommy met and married his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Virgie Faye Smith, in 1952. Mr. Yarberry worked in both the lumber industry and...

Tommy Joe Walker was born on May 31, 1930 in Center, Shelby County, Texas to the late Thelma Lansford Walker and Odis Burin Walker. He passed away on May 14, 2021 at home in Bedford, Texas. Tommy retired from Liquid Carbonics after more than 30 years of employment and leadership. He loved to travel with his wife, Vaneta. Together they enjoyed riding motorcycles and water skiing. A big part of Tommy and Vaneta's lives for 35 years was their loyalty to football and their beloved Dallas Cowboys. They were diehard fans as they were season ticket holders for over 30 years. They had many good memories taking many family members and friends to watch the games. He loved his family dearly and will...

Emma Elizabeth (Betty) Willoughby Chambliss of Lufkin, Texas, formerly of Center, Texas, went home to be with our Lord and savior on Friday, April 23, 2021 at the age of 80. Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 28, 2021 in the Gipson Funeral Home Chapel, with Bro. Blake Powers officiating. She was buried beside her beloved husband in the Garden of Memories Memorial Park. She was born in Benton, Bossier Parrish, Louisiana on July 14, 1940 to Henry Clayton Willoughby and Tressie Alaf Byrd Willoughby. She was blessed with a close and loving family. She loved her family fiercely and without fail was always there to provide guidance, forgiveness, unconditional love and support...

Sister Dorothy Malone Jones was born in Center, Texas to the late Asia and Katherine K. Malone. Dorothy accepted Christ into her heart, when she was a young girl, and joined Carroll Chapel C.M.E where her grandfather, George Kauffman was one of the founding father's, where she is currently a member. She was blessed to serve in the Church as an Usher, Choir Member, and served in other areas when needed to help sustain the life of the Church and was a faithful servant. In 1971, Sister Dorothy moved back to her hometown after briefly living in Galveston, Texas and Houston, Texas, and became an employee of East Tex Poultry, now Tyson Foods processing and distribution plant in Center, Texas...

Frances "Vaneta" Walker was born on July 29, 1931 in Center, Shelby County, Texas to the late Ivadell (McSwain) Rudd and Frances M. Rudd. She passed away on January 28, 2021 in Bedford, Texas. Vaneta retired from Allstate Insurance after 31 years. She loved to travel with her husband, Tommy. Together they enjoyed riding motorcycles and water skiing. A big part of Vaneta and Tommy's lives for 35 years was their loyalty to football and her beloved Dallas Cowboys. She was a diehard fan as they were season ticket holders for over 30 years. They had many good memories taking many family members and friends to watch the games. She was lovingly known as the "Pie Lady". She truly delighted in...

Joy Booth Arant (Joy Louise Booth) passed away peacefully on November 19, 2020 at home after a brief illness. She was born in Palestine, Texas on May 8, 1924, the only child of James Taplin Booth and Eddie Mills Booth. She spent her youth in Center, Texas, where she . worked cattle, barrel raced in rodeos and danced in honky tonks with her dad, while learning to appreciate the finer arts of fashion and entertaining from her mom. She met her husband Rock (Albert F. Arant) at the Army Air Corps base in Hondo, Texas during WWII. Being from a small town, she loved the opportunities for travel that her husband's career in the Air Force provided. From skiing at an isolated radar site in occupied...

Terry Lynn Adkison, Jr., 65, of Center, Texas passed away Wednesday, June 3, 2020. Terry was born in Big Spring, Texas on June 9, 1954 to Hollis Adkison and Myrtle Minyard Adkison. He worked as a truck driver in the logging industry. He is survived by his wife, Jeannie Adkison of Center; sons, Terry Adkison, Jr. and wife, Brandy, of Center, Colby Adkison and wife, Brandi, also of Center, Jeff Hopson of Scrappin Valley, Richard Hopson and wife, Amanda, of Georgia, and Scotty Moore of Beaumont; daughters, Taja Harvey and husband, Kenneth of Muxley, Bridgette Hopson and fiance, Rick McWilliams, of Center and Heather Perez and husband, Pedro, of Beaumont; brother, Howell Adkison and wife, Pam,...

Johnnie Ruth Whitton, age 81, passed away peacefully at home in Longview, Texas on May 10, 2020. In the days preceding her death, she was continually surrounded by her family and the sound of the hymns she loved so much. Johnnie was born on October 2, 1938 in Center, Texas to Norman and Ola Sigler. Johnnie graduated from Shelbyville High School in 1956. Immediately after graduation, she and her best friend moved to Houston. There, Johnnie worked as long-distance telephone operator before marrying her long-time sweetheart, EJ Whitton, on October 29, 1956. The couple moved and lived in various locations in Texas as well as Kansas, following EJ's Air Force enlistment. As a military wife, she...

A celebration honoring the life of Jean R. Bradshaw, 82, of New London, will be conducted at 2 p.m., Wednesday, November 13, 2019, at London Baptist Church, New London, Texas, with Reverend Wesley Wyatt, Reverend Randy Sceroler and Parker Mizell officiating. Services will be under direction of Cottle-Pearson Funeral Home, Overton, Texas. Private Burial will be in Williams Cemetery, Hwy 64 E, Tyler, Texas. Mrs. Bradshaw went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Saturday, November 9, 2019. She was surrounded by family where she wanted to be in her most beloved home in New London, Texas, the home of the West Rusk Raiders. She spent her life loving unconditionally and giving love and time...