Obituaries

Frederick R. Boyd, 52, passed away Jan. 11, 2021. A graveside service was held Jan. 16 at Clear Creek #1 Cemetery in Hazlehurst, with Rev. Perry L. May officiating. Hazlehurst Funeral Home handled arrangements. Mr. Boyd was born Sept. 5, 1968, in Cook County, Ill., to Caroline Boyd-Gilmore and Henry Fred Chapman. He was a…

Laverne C. Easterling, 66, passed away Jan. 11, 2021. A graveside service was held Jan. 16 at Hazlehurst City Cemetery, with Rev. Martin L. Washington officiating. Hazlehurst Funeral Home handled arrangements. Mrs. Easterling was born March 1, 1954, in Hazlehurst, to Essie Curtis and Minnie Lee Harris Curtis. She was a 1972 graduate of Hazlehurst…

Mattie Inez Jackson, 90, of Wesson, passed away Jan. 17, 2021, surrounded by her family and friends. A graveside service was held Jan. 20 at Springhill Cemetery. Stringer Family Funeral Home in Hazlehurst handled arrangements. Inez was born Feb. 16, 1930, in Wesson, to Jasper Walker and Mattie Hamilton Walker. She was a lifelong member…

Michael Norton, 38, of Hazlehurst, passed away at his residence Jan. 15, 2021. A private family service will be held at a later date. Stringer Family Services of Hazlehurst is handling arrangements. Michael was born Dec. 30, 1982, in Jackson. After high school, he joined the family business doing home construction and carpenter work. Michael…

April Odom, 33, of Wesson, passed away Jan. 14, 2021, at her residence. A graveside service was held Jan. 18 at Zion Hill Baptist Church Cemetery. Stringer Family Funeral Service in Hazlehurst handled arrangements. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, John and Mary Odom; and grandfather, Aubrey Harris. She is survived by her…

Joyce Simmons, 89, of Hattiesburg, passed away Jan. 10, 2020. A graveside service was held Jan. 14 at Hazlehurst Cemetery. Stringer Family Funeral Service in Hazlehurst handled arrangements. Joyce was born on Dec. 24, 1931, in Hazlehurst, to Robert Slay and Marguerite Love Slay. She resided in Crystal Springs when she was younger but later…

Mary Frances Slay, born Sept. 10, 1940, in the little community of Pinola, entered her heavenly home on Jan. 15, 2021. She is preceded in death by her parents, Rev. Guy A. Little and Mary Alice Davis Little; her brothers, Max and Freddie Little; and her husband, Alvin Clifton Slay. Survivors are her two children:…

Addie L. Taylor, 75, of Crystal Springs, passed away Jan. 7, 2021, in Jackson. A graveside service was held Jan. 16 at Miller Springs, with Rev. Herbert Gustavis officiating. Century Funeral Home handled arrangements. Survivors include her sons, Johnnie B. Taylor Jr., of Atlanta; Jimmy Taylor and Romon Taylor, both of Crystal Springs; and daughter,…

Gennie Belle Allen, 88, of Hazlehurst, passed away Dec. 28, 2020 at Copiah County Medical Center. A funeral service was held Dec. 30 at Stringer Family Chapel, with burial at Spring Hill Baptist Church Cemetery. Stringer Family Funeral Home in Hazlehurst handled arrangements. She was preceded in death by her husband, William Allen; and son,…

Dr. Hugh Ray Bridges, 72, of Indianola, passed away Jan. 3, 2021, at South Sunflower County Hospital in Indianola. Ray was born Nov. 11, 1948, in Hazlehurst, to Russell Bridges and Jean Nelson Bridges. Ray graduated from Hazlehurst High School and attended Delta State University on athletic scholarships, where he still holds many records. After…