Obituaries

Donald Bryan Simmons Sr., 93, of Petal, passed away Jan. 29, 2023. Stringer Family Funeral Home in Hazlehurst handled arrangements. Mr. Simmons was a Hazlehurst native and was married to his high school sweetheart, Joyce Slay, for 70 years. He spent most of his professional career as an instrument man on survey crews in Mississippi…

A graveside service for J.D. Broome was held Jan. 27, 2023, at Springhill Baptist Church Cemetery. Mr. Broome, 89, went to be with his Lord on Jan. 25 at his home surrounded by family. He was born Dec. 1, 1933, to James Kay Vardaman Broome and Alice Waymond Phillips Broome. Mr. Broome served his country…

Joni Dianne Cone, 62, a resident of Wesson, passed away Jan. 24, 2023. A funeral service was held Jan. 28 at Stringer Family Chapel in Hazlehurst, with burial at Zion Hill Cemetery. Mrs. Cone was preceded in death by her parents, Boyce Denver and Ann McKay James; and brother, Michael Ellis James. She is survived…

Arthur “Kirk” Freeman, 53, passed away Jan. 25, 2023, at his residence in Hazlehurst. He was born in Dallas, Texas, August 19, 1969, to Arthur “Buddy” Freeman and Nancy Smallwood Freeman, of Ivanhoe, Texas. He served his country in the United States Navy and was a site acquisition coordinator with Uniti Fiber. Mr. Freeman enjoyed…

Sherman L. Nicolson, 73, of Crystal Springs, passed away Jan. 22, 2023, at Edgewood Nursing and Rehab in Byram. A funeral service was held Jan. 28 at Good Hope M.B. Church, with interment at Egypt Hill Cemetery. Century Funeral Home handled the arrangements. Survivors include his brothers, Albert Nicholson, James Nicholson, and Gregory Olsgood; and…

Earmie Lynn Powell Ayers, 72, passed away Jan. 7, 2023, at Southwest Regional Medical Center in McComb. A funeral service was held Jan. 14 at Clear Creek M.B. Church in Crystal Springs, with interment at Egypt Hill Baptist Church Cemetery. Hazlehurst Funeral Home handled the arrangements. Survivors include her children, Quintin Ayers, Troy Ayers, and…

Geraldine Cecilia Clower Coley passed away on Jan. 18, 2023, at the age of 83. Geraldine was born to Jesse Fox Clower and Maybelle Lemon on March 22, 1939, in Crystal Springs. She was the second of five children. She attended schools in Crystal Springs and graduated from high school there in 1957. After high…

Johnny Benson Dawson, 77, passed away Jan. 14, 2023. A funeral service was held Jan. 19 at Stringer Family Chapel, with burial at Old Crystal Springs Cemetery. Stringer Family Funeral Home in Crystal Springs handled the arrangements. Mr. Dawson grew up in New Site. He moved to Crystal Springs 34 years ago. He was a…

Deshonia Tanya Pendleton, 23, of Crystal Springs, passed away Jan. 11 at Copiah County Medical Center in Hazlehurst. A funeral service was held Jan. 21 at Good Hope M.B. Church, with interment at Crystal Springs City Cemetery. Century Funeral Home handled the arrangements. Survivors include her daughter, Aliza Pendleton; father, David Nix; mother, Consuelo Smith;…

Rosa Earnease “Earnie” Williams peacefully passed away Jan. 8, 2023, in Jackson. A funeral service was held Jan. 13 at Georgetown Baptist Church, with a graveside service following at Georgetown Cemetery. Stringer Family Funeral Service handled the arrangements. Earnie was born Dec. 12, 1928, in Bassfield and spent her youth in Georgetown. She married her…