North Mississippi Herald - Obituaries May 2006

  LAKE CHARLES, LA: Brenda True Dixon, 51, passed away in the Baton Rouge, Louisiana Burn Center on May 23, 2006.
  She was born and raised in Water Valley, but had lived for 29 years in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and was employed at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital as a Licensed Practical Nurse.
  Brenda leaves: one son, Rickey Keen, Jr. of Florida; two brothers, Howard True of Water Valley and Joe True of New Orleans; and one sister, Mildred Gore of Coffeeville.
  She was preceded in death by her husband, Don Dixon, her parents, Lucy and Howard Ture, and three brothers, Harold True, Robert True, and Stanley True.
There will be a Memorial Service at Elam Baptist Church in Coffeeville on June 3, 2006, at 2:00 p.m.
  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Elam Baptist Church Cemmetery or Building Funds or to the Baton Rouge Memorial Burn Center, 3600 Florida Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70806.

  WATER VALLEY: Donald Ray Melton, 68, of Water Valley died at his home Saturday morning, May 27, 2006.
  Mr. Melton was a retired warehouse manager for Sears and a member of Mt. Liberty Church. He served his country in the U.S. Army and served a tour in Vietnam.
  Funeral services for Mr. Melton were held in the Henry Chapel of Seven Oaks Funeral Home Tuesday, May 30, 2006, at one o’clock in the aftenroon, with Rev. Kevin Jackson officiating. Interment followed in Pinecrest Memorial Gardens, south of Water Valley.
Survivors include: his wife, Elizabeth “Betty” Streeter Melton of Water Valely; a daughter, Melissa Koonce of Blytheville, Arkansas; a son, Billy Melton of Water Valley; sisters, Carolyn Richard of Greenville, Gladys Fagan of Olive Branch, and Nita Nichols of Memphis; brothers, Isaac Melton and H. T. Melton, both of West, and Layton Melton of Drummonds, Tennessee; and two grandchildren.
  He was preceded in death by his parents, N. L. Melton and Willa Mae Terry Melton.

  GERMANTOWN, TN: Paul “Purple Top” Haynes, 85, of Germantown, Tennessee died March 15, 2006, in Bright Glade Convalescent Center. Services were held in Memphis Funeral Home with burial in Memorial Park Cemetery.
  Mr. Haynes is survived by: his wife, Frances Hearington Haynes; a daughter, Paula Haynes; one son, Fred Haynes; three sisters, Marguerite Thomas of Water Valley, and Artelle Warren and Mary Alice Meadors, both of St. Petersburg, Florida.
  He was a gradaute of Jeff David High School in Water Valley and Holmes Jr. College, where he was inducted into the Hall of Fame for football, basketball, and track. He received his B.S. and M.A. degrees from the University of Memphis, where he also was inducted into the Hall of Fame for basketball, football, and track.
  Professionally, he served as head coach in Mississippi schools at Louise, Baldwyn, and Ethel. In 1954 he moved to Germantown, where he served as head coach at Germantown High. At the end of his coaching career, he became pricipal of Germantown Elementary, serving for four years, before moving into the position of director of driver education for the entire Shelby County School System.
  He was a long term member and deacon of Germantown Baptist Church.

  McCROY, AR: Jessie Polk, 50, of McCroy, Arkansas, died Tuesday, May 23, 2006.
  A native of Coffeeville, Mr. Polk was born May 15, 1956.
  Funeral services for Mr. Polk will be held at one o’clock in the afternoon Thursday, June 1, 2006, in the Bayson Chapel Church .
  Visitation will be Wednesday, May 31, 2006, from one until five o’clock at Eddie Robinson & Son Funeral Home in Water Valley.

  MEMPHIS: Obia (Butch) Tyler, 64, died May 30, 2006, in Memphis.
  A son of the late Benjamin (Mat) Tyler and Ruby Lee Buck, Mr. Tyler was born February 24, 1942, in Water Valley. He was retired. Mr. Tyler was a member of Spring Hill North M.B. Church in Water Valley.
  Funeral services were held Saturday, June 3, 2006, at eleven o’clock in the morning, in Bayson Chapel M.B. Church, with Rev. Amos Sims officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery. Eddie Robinson and Son Funeral Directors of Water Valley had charge of arrangements.
  Survivors include: three sisters, Martha L. White and Leves Nell Shuffield, both of Water Valley, and Janie Ree Tyler of Plano, Texas; and two brothers, Jimmy Dale Tyler of Nashville, Tennessee and Thomas Lee Tyler of Tunica.

  WATER VALLEY: Odell Morgan, 53, died May 28, 2006, at his home.
  Funeral services for Mr. Morgan were held at one o’clock in the aftenroon Saturday, June 3, 2006, in Pine Grove M.B. Church, with Rev. Cleveland Alexander officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery, with Eddie Robinson and Son Funeral Directors of Water Valley in charge of arrangements.
  Born April 4, 1953, Mr. Morgan was a son of John B. Morgan and the late Mae Olive Morgan. He was retired.
  Survivors include: his wife, Linda Morgan of Water Valley; a son, Kenzie Morgan of Water Valley; his father, John B. Morgan of Water Valley; three sisters, Janie Buck and Mary Carothers, both of Water Valley, and Eva Johnson of Tupelo; two brothers, Eddie Morgan and George Morgan, both of Water Valley; one grandson; and one granddaughter.

McCRORY, ARKANSAS: Jessie Earl Polk,50, born May 15, 1956 to the late James K. and Gencie M. Winters Polk of Oakland, died Tuesday, May 23, 2006 in McCrory, Arkansas. He accepted Christ at an early age and united with Bayson Chapel Missionary Baptist Church of Water Valley. He attended St. John Church of Lexa in West Helena after moving to Arkansas.
Mr. Polk received his secular education from the Yalobusha County School System and graduated from Coffeeville High School in 1974. Upon completion of his education he moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin and acquired employment with the State Corrections Department as a Security Officer. After the death of his father he returned to Mississippi to handle that estate, and then later moved to Arkansas where he remained until his untimely death.
He leaves: three children, Natalya Herrod of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Jeslynn Polk of Oakland, and Preston Campbell of West Memphis, Arkansas; eight sisters, and four brothers, Chester L. Polk and Walter L. Polk of Waterloo, Iowa, James K. (Janet) Polk of Detroit, Michigan, Vera C. (Tom) Morgan, Ruby I. (Wardell) McWilliams, Birda R. Polk , and Edith P. McDonald of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Essie V. Bell of St. Louis, Missouri, Willie C. Polk of Chicago, Illinois, Eleanor R. (William) Harris of Memphis, Alma O. Nicholson of Coffeeville, and Mildred F. Polk of Nashville; three aunts, Sally Polk of Coffeeville, Levora Frierson of Oxford, and Chaney Witners of Oakland; and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Mr. Polk were held at one o’clock in the afternoon Thursday, June 1, 2006, in Bayson Chapel Church. Eddie Robinson & Son Fuenral Home in Water Valley had charge of arrangements.

  OXFORD: Mrs. Estelle Jones Dalton, 94, of Oxford died Thursday, June 1, 2006, in the Quitman County Nursing Home.
  Funeral services for Mrs. Dalton were held at three o’clock in the afternoon Sunday, June 4, 2006, in New El Bethel Baptist Church, Oxford, with Rev. Jimmy Sockwell officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery with Waller Funeral Home of Oxford in charge of arrangements.
  Mrs. Dalton was the widow of Elton Dalton and a member of New El Bethel Baptist Church since 1944. She enjoyed sewing, quilting, and crocheting.
  Survivors include: a daughter, Hellene Mize of Oxford; a son, Larry Dalton of Mize; one sister, Willie Pass of Water Valley; five grandsons; six great-granddaughters; and one great-great-granddaughter.
  Memorials may be made to New El Bethel Cemetery Fund, 575 CR 331, Oxford, MS 38655.

  BATESVILLE: Ivy P. Holloway, 71, died at his home in Batesville Thursday morning, June 8, 2006.
  Funeral services for Mr. Holloway were held in the Chapel of Wells Funeral Home, Batesville, at two o’clock in the afternoon Sunday, June 11, 2006, with Rev. Mark Gross officiating. Interment was in Magnolia Cemetery, Batesville.
  Born January 10, 1935, in Pontotoc, Mr. Holloways was a son of the late Dalton and Lucy Washington Holloway. He was a retired miner. Mr. Holloway was a member of the River of Life Assembly of God Church in Batesville.
  Survivors include: his wife, Billie Putman Holloway of Batesville; a daughter, Sandy Holloway Patterson of Batesville; two sons, Roy Ballentine of Stewart, and Eddie Holloway of Batesville; two sisters, Edra Holloway Mittchel of Lambert and Christine Holloway Merritt of Water Valley; and seven grandchildren.