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Clara Alice Belcher
PASCAGOULA: Clara Alice Belcher ws born to the late Willie Belcher and Clara Lee McMahon on June 17, 1931 in Mendenhall, joining two brothers and three sisters. In the early morning of October 13, 2006, she entered into her restful sleep.
After relocating in Water Valley, Clara accepted Christ at an early age at Pine Grove East Missionary Baptist Church. She and her family found a new home in Jackson and there she became a faithful member of Pearly Grove Missionary Baptist Church. In 1976, she joined the Pascagoula Community and the St. Peter’s Baptist Church Family, Pastor Harry Howard, presiding. She was a very active church member by serving on the Usher Board, working with the Junior Ushers, as well as preparing many meals in the kitchen.
She met and married Hilliard Harris, who preceded her in death. From this union Clara was blessed with six stepchildren, three who have preceded her in death: Homer Harris, Birdie Lee Harris, and Beulah Harris Owens; three who survive her, Eugenia Harris (Ray) Donaldson of Toledo, Ohio, Valerie Harris and Gertrude Harris (Spencer) Lake of Jackson; and a nurtured grandchild, Carolyn Harris (Curtis) Witcher of Whitehall, Ohio, along with 16 other grandchildren. Clara’s special daughers are: Latoya M. Belcher and LaQuita R. Belcher, both of Pascagoula; and special sons, Joseph Crain of Garland, Texas, Willie Hardman and D’Aquista T. Woodard.
She was preceded in death by five siblings: Cleveland Belcher, Vergia Lee Belcher Woodard, Mary Alice Belcher Harris, Willie Belcher, and John Nathan Belcher. She is survived by eight siblings: Mae Belcher Turner of Jackson, Clarence E. (Ernestine) Belcher and Betsie Mae Belcher Thomas, both of Shreveport, Louisiana, Amanda Belcher Barnes of Pascagoula, Leonard Belcher and Maggie Belcher McNair, both of Gulfport, sister and brother-in-law, Ivory Woodard (Cleveland) Belcher and Jimmy (Vergia) Woodard, both of Water Valley.
She is also survived by her special family, Mindy, Susan, Steven, and Beverly Geiger, all of Jackson, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Delia M. Jenkins
WATER VALLEY: Delia M. Jenkins, 74, of Water Valley died Friday, October 6, 2006, at Oxford in Baptist Memorial Hospital—North Mississippi.
A native of Panola County, Mrs. Jenkins was a retired health care provider for Yalobusha General Hospital.
Funeral services were held at one o’clock in the afternoon Thursday, October 12, 2006, in New Providence M.B. Church, with Rev. Sidney Townes officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery. Hodges Funeral Home of Oxford had charge of arrangements.
Survivors include: her husband, Raybon Jenkins of Water Valley; three daughters, Annette Daniels of Water Valley, Maudie Jenkins of Mesa, Arizona, and Marsha Books of Country Club, Illinois; three sons, Jerry Wayne Jenkins of Water Valley, Dwight Jenkins and Barron “Billy” Jenkins, both of Joliet, Illinois; one sister, Dollie Henderson of Water Valley; one brother, John Hawkins of Water Valley; 20 grandchildren; and 36 great-grandchildren.
Robert Michael “Robbie” Langley
Robert Michael “Robbie” Langley, 30, who had served with the Water Valley National Guard and was a University of Missisisppi Police Officer, was killed in the line of duty Saturday, October 21, 2006. According to University reports, Langley stopped a vehicle, being driven by Daniel Cummings of Germantown, Tennessee, for speeding at around 2:00 p.m. Saturday morning. Cummings suddenly pulled away, dragging Langley apporoximately 200 yards along West Jackson Ave. Langley was transported to the Medical Center in Memphis, where he died of head injuries, mid-morning Saturday. Cummings has been charged with capital murder and is being held without bail in the Lafayette County Detention Center, after an initial hearing Saturday before Justice Court Judge Mickey Avent. According to state law, the charge of capital murder is automatically filed against anyone who kills a police officer, acting in their official capacity, with knowledge that the victim was an officer. A capital charge could bring the death penality. The incident is being handled by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, which is working with the University and Oxford Police Departments and the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Department.
Langley, a four-year veteran of UPD , had returned in April from serving with the Water Valley-based National Guard Unit in Afghanistan. His role was in providing maintenance for the unit, said Sgt. Luther Gray, readiness NCO with Water Valley’s 1st Battalion, 114th Field Artilery. “He was a good soldier and very dependable,” Gray said.
Funeral services, with full military honors, will be held at two o’clock in the afternoon Wednesday, October 25, 2006, in The Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts, 100 University, on the Ole Miss Campus, with Rev. Kevin Crofford and Rev. Barry Male officiating. Interment will be in Forrest Memorial Park Cemetery, Batesville.
He joined Galloway United Methodist Church at the age of 12, where he was very active in church activites. On January 30, 2005, he rededicated his life to the Lord at Sardis Lake Baptist Church, Batesville. He graudated from Madison Rigeland Academy in Madison, Mississippi in 1995. While at MRA he joined the ROTC. As a Junior in High School he joined the MS Army National Guard. He was active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, played football and ran track. On the track team, he won the State Championship in both the 100-meter dash and High Jump. He was also an avid soccer and baseball player.
After graduating, he attended Valley Forge Military College in Valley Foge, Pennsylvania for one year, and then transferred to Delta State University in Cleveland. At both Valley Forge and DSU he played football. He later received his Mortuary Science degree from Northwest Community College. He was an avid fisherman and outdoorsman. Mr. Langley was musically inclined and could play any musical instrument.
Following a brief career in the funeral business, he went to work for the University of Mississippi Grounds Department for several years. In April of 2002 he began his career in law enforcement with the Univeristy of Mississippi Police Department. In February 2005 he was called to active duty with the 114th Battalion from New Albany and served his country for 14 months in Afghanistan. Upon returning from the middle east he rejoined the UofM Police Department, where he was then promoted to the K-9 Unit.
Survivors include: his wife, Lisa Bryant Langley of Batesville; two sons, Robert “Robbie” Michael Langley, Jr. of Oxford and Cory Bridges Langley of Batesville; two step-daughters, Maci Cheyenne Kirkland of Batesville and Anne Claire Bufkin of Oxford; his mother, Debbie Hearn Lloyd and step-father, Michael Loyd of Covington, LA; his father, Larry Langley and step-mother, Sherry Donald Langley of Lena; foster parents, Eugene and Paula Van Every of Brandon; one sister, Racheal Langley of Kosciusko; a step-sister, Renee Howell of Carthage; a step-brother, Chris Watkins of Pearl; Paternal Grandmother, Glenda Bridges Kuhn of Batesville; Paternal Grandfather, Cecil Langley of Vicksburg; Maternal Grandmother, Jannie Foster Hearn of Covington, LA; Maternal Grandfather, James T. Hearn of Hammond, LA; Paternal Step-Grandmother, Mary Langley of Vicksburg; Foster Grandmother, Virginia Tardy of Cleveland; and his Mother and Father-in-law, Henry and Linda Bryant of Batesville.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Rusty Langley.
Memorials may be sent to: Robert Langley Memorial Scholarship Endowment, c/o University of MS Foundation, P. O. Box 249, University, MS 38677.
Alexander Milton Taylor
JACKSON, TN: Funeral services for Alexander Milton Taylor, were held Saturday, October 21, 2006, at one o’clock in the afternoon in St. Paul C.M.E. Church at Jackson, Tennessee, with Dr. Arthur L. David, Pastor, Rev. James H. Dowell, Sr., Presiding Elder, and Rev. William H. Graves, Presiding Bishop. Interment was in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, with Bledsoe Funeral Home of Jackson, TN in charge of arrangements. Pallbearers were nephews, Andrew Taylor, Otis Taylor, Robert Earl Patterson, Van Donnell, Antron Taylor, and Jonathan Hall. Honorary pallbearers were Joe N. Taylor, Dean N. Taylor, Robert Joy, Phillip Zeigler, James Robinson, and Luther W. Kerr.
Mr. Taylor died early Monday morning, October 16, 2006, at Jackson in Madison County Hospital of heart failure.
A son of the late Fred Sr. and Clara Brinkley Tayor, he was born February 2, 1944, in Water Valley, where he attended public school. He became a member of Oak Grove C.M.E. Church. In 1964 he moved to Jackson, Tennessee, where he lived for 21 years. He relocated to Warren, Ohio in 1985 and returned to Jackson in 2000. He was employed by Motts Poultry Company of Water Valley, Jim Miles of Jackson, and retired from the White Oaks Company. He was also one of the best shade tree mechanics around town.
Survivors include: one son, Anthony Alexander Taylor of Jackson, Tennessee; one daugher, Cromorrah Bonner of Memphis; two grandchildren; four sisters, Helen Patterson of Detroit, Michigan, Carrie Taylor of Water Valley, Sadie Donnell of Jackson, TN, and Mary (Phillip) Zeigler of Warren, Ohio; three brothers, Joe N. (Mildred) Taylor of Adairville, Kentucky, Dean A. (Debra) Taylor of Jackson, TN and Fred Taylor, Jr. of Phoenix, AZ; a step-mother, Mrs. Mary D. Taylor; two step sisters, Mrs. Delois Turner and Mrs. Bobby Avant of Bolivar; 11 nieces; 12 nephews; and a host of relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Robert H. Taylor and Milton Taylor, and a sister, Angela Taylor.
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