Obituaries

Funeral services for Mattie Mae Bailey were held July 3 at Galilee Baptist Church, Hazlehurst, with burial following in Harmony Baptist Church Cemetery. Bro. Robert Sones officiated, with Brookhaven Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Mrs. Bailey, 92, of Hazlehurst, passed from this life July 1 at Copiah County Medical Center in Hazlehurst, with her…

Paul T. “Buddy” Dickerson Sr., 73, of Wesson, passed away June 25, 2023. Services were held June 28 at Stringer Family Chapel, with burial at Beauregard Cemetery. Mr. Dickerson was a member of Beauregard Methodist Church. His hobbies included hunting, fishing, and raising his livestock – horses, cows, goats, and all his hunting dogs. He…

Charlene Howard, of Crystal Springs, passed away June 27, 2023. A funeral service was held June 30 at First Baptist Church, Crystal Springs. Stringer Family Funeral Home in Crystal Springs handled arrangements. Mrs. Howard graduated from Crystal Springs Consolidated School. She was an office manager, executive secretary, and bookkeeper. She was a member of the…

Rebecca Hales, 87, passed away June 16, 2023, surrounded by her loving family in Bogalusa, La. A graveside service was held June 26 at Sylvarena Cemetery. Stringer Family Funeral Home in Hazlehurst handled arrangements. Born in Wesson, Becky (as everyone called her) studied at Copiah-Lincoln Community College, then eventually moved to Metairie, La., where she…

Edna Bennett Ward, 90, passed away at her residence in Harrisville on June 14, 2023. A funeral service was held June 17 at Unity Baptist Church, with interment following at Palestine Cemetery. Mrs. Ward, a native of Pinola, lived at her home place in the Palestine community for 68 years. When she wasn’t working in…

David Wayne Buckley passed away June 8, 2023. A private family graveside service was held June 12 at Georgetown Cemetery. Stringer Family Funeral Home in Hazlehurst is handled arrangements. Mr. Buckley was a resident of Georgetown. He loved snake and alligator hunting, and basketball. He is survived by his wife, Jana Buckley; son, Patrick Logan…

Hugh Walley Phillips Jr., 69, of Crystal Springs, passed away at Mississippi Baptist Medical Center in Jackson June 9, 2023. A visitation was held June 12 at Stringer Family Funeral Home in Crystal Springs. Mr. Phillips worked at the Mississippi State Board of Health for 25-plus years and was with the volunteer fire department for…

Jackie Lane Smitherman, 72, of Crystal Springs, passed away June 10, 2023, at Mississippi Baptist Medical Center in Jackson. Mr. Jackie was a fixture at the little league baseball field where he helped coach, umpire, or anything else that needed to be handled. He is survived by his sons, Kenny Smitherman, of Crystal Springs; and…

Carl Earnest Virgil, 57, passed away June 4, 2023. A funeral service was held June 10 at House of Peoples Funeral Home Chapel. Survivors include his wife, Mary Virgil; daughter, Ebony Elis; son, Carlos Jackson; stepson, John Walls Jr.; two grandsons; sisters, Jacqueline Bridges, Delar Taylor, Lillie Luckett, Jackie Furbert; and brothers, Kenya Washington and…

Maxine Durr Thompson, 95, of Hazlehurst. passed away June 2, 2023, at St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson. Funeral services were held June 5 at Stringer Family Funeral Services in Hazlehurst, with interment in Hazlehurst Cemetery. Maxine was born Oct. 17, 1927, in the Caseyville community in Lincoln County to Elmer Durr and Alma Smith Durr.…