Obituaries 08-03-23

GLORIA J. MCRAE

Oct. 3, 1945-July 29, 2023

Graveside services for Gloria J. McRae, 77, of Waynesboro, were

conducted on Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023 from Winchester Cemetery, with Rev.

Tom Walker officiating.

Born in Mobile, Ala., on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 1945 to Reginald Dewey McRae

and Hattie B. McRae, she was a member of Winchester Church. She earned

her Bachelor's degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and

taught for the Wayne County School District at Buckatunna School.

She retired as a Technician with Exxon Mobile.

She died on Saturday, July 29, 2023 at her residence.

She is survived by her mother, Hattie B. McRae of Waynesboro; devoted

friend and caregiver Darlene Evans of Waynesboro; and a host of cousins

and friends.

She was preceded in death by her father, Reginald Dewey McRae.

An online guestbook can be signed at www.freemanfh.com.

Freeman Funeral Home of Waynesboro was in charge of arrangements.

SONYA JO CORR

Nov. 3, 1965-July 24, 2023

A private memorial service for Sonya Jo Corr, 57, of Waynesboro, will be

conducted by the family.

Born in Columbia on Wednesday, Nov. 3, 1965, she had worked as a

Licensed Practical Nurse.

She died on Monday, July 24, 2023 at her residence.

She is survived by her daughter, Kris Hudson of Waynesboro; her son,

Johnathan Corr of Beat Four; two brothers, John Simmons of Panama City,

Fla., and Maurice Simmons of Mobile, Ala.; her sister, Kay Freeman of

Waynesboro; and four grandchildren, Alexa Hudson, Brianna Hudson,

Isbella Corr and Colton Hudson.

An online guestbook can be signed at www.freemanfh.com.

Freeman Funeral Home of Waynesboro is in charge of arrangements.

CYNTHIA GAYLE CANADY

Jan. 31, 1957-July 15, 2023

A private memorial services for Cynthia Gayle Canady, 66, of Waynesboro,

will be conducted by the family at a later date.

Born in Georgia on Thursday, Jan. 31, 1957 to Namon Ray Snellgrove and

Rose Marie Snellgrove, she worked as a Cashier with Walmart.

She died on Saturday, July 15, 2023 at Pine View Health and

Rehabilitation in Waynesboro.

She is survived by her son, Billy Jerold Williams, Jr. of Waynesboro;

two daughters, Raven Canady and Atlanta Canady, both of Waynesboro; two

sisters, Bobbie Williams of Waynesboro and Nancy Rowell of Heidelberg;

and four grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her father, Namon Ray Snellgrove; and her

mother, Rose Marie Snellgrove.

An online guestbook can be signed at www.freemanfh.com.

Freeman Funeral Home of Waynesboro is in charge of arrangements.

PRESTON COOK

April 1, 1934-July 30, 2023

Funeral services for Preston Cook, 89, of Eucutta, were conducted on

Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023 from the Chapel of Freeman Funeral Home, with

Dr. Samuel Bruce, Rev. Ed Smith, Rev. Bill Boulton and Dr. Douglas

Feazell officiating.

Interment followed at Zion's Rest Cemetery in Eucutta.

Born in Vossburg on Sunday, April 1, 1934 to the late Lee and Rebecca

Cook, he was a member of Zion's Rest Congregational Methodist church. He

retired as an Operator for Williams Pipeline (Transco).

He died on Sunday, July 30, 2023 at Lynn Wood Senior Care in Laurel.

He is survived by his loving wife of 68 years, Barbara Melvin Cook of

Eucutta; his son and daughter-in-law, James and Maxine Cook, Jr. of

Eucutta; two daughters and a son-in-law, Wanda Hartley of Nesbit and

Sherry and Paul Harwell of Heidelberg; six grandchildren and their

respective spouses, Michael Cook, Daniel Cook, Burke Hartley, Amanda Joy

Hartley, Bethany and Matthew Riley and Emily Harwell; three

great-grandchildren, Austin Cochran, Elaina Riley and Barrett Riley; and

a host of nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lee and Rebecca Cook; two

brothers, Milton Cook and Hershel Cook; two sisters, Martha Overby and

Hilda Morris; and a granddaughter, Amy Hartley.

An online guestbook can be signed at www.freemanfh.com.

Freeman Funeral Home of Waynesboro was in charge of arrangements.

THOMAS CHAPMAN "SKIN"

HENDERSON

July 11, 1935-July 28, 2023

Funeral services for Thomas Chapman "Skin" Henderson, 88, of

Waynesboro, were conducted on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023 from Corinth

Freewill Baptist Church, with Rev. Gerald Henderson and Rev. Gary

Walters officiating.

Interment followed at Corinth Cemetery.

Born in Wayne County on Thursday, July 11, 1935 to the late Chapman N.

Henderson and Elizabeth Henderson, he was a member of Corinth Freewill

Baptist Church. He retired as an operator for the U.S. Forestry Service.

He died on Friday, July 28, 2023 at his residence, surrounded by his

loving family and friends.

He is survived by his loving wife of 68 years, Ruby M. Henderson of

Waynesboro; his son and daughter-in-law, Cecil Zeb and Patricia

Henderson of Waynesboro; his daughter and son-in-law, Wanda and Danny

Sullivan of Richton; his brother, Charles Henderson of Waynesboro; his

twin brother, Frank Henderson of Waynesboro; six grandchildren, Tom,

Chucky, Elena, Tanya, Steve and Jeremy; 16 great-grandchildren and a

host of nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Chapman N. and Elizabeth

Henderson; three brothers, George Henderson, William Henderson and James

Henderson; his sister, Nona Walters; and his great-granddaughter,

Kimberly Hogan.

An online guestbook can be signed at www.freemanfh.com.

Freeman Funeral Home of Waynesboro was in charge of arrangements.

JERRY WALLEY

Aug. 3, 1962-July 28, 2023

Funeral services for Jerry Walley, 60, of Buckatunna, were conducted on

Sunday, July 30, 2023 from Pine Grove Freewill Baptist Church, with Rev.

Bryan Jordan, Rev. Norman Nowell and Rev. Sidney Hill officiating.

Interment followed at Dailey Cemetery in Chicora.

Bonr in Laurel on Friday, Aug. 3, 1962 to Jimmie Walley and Helen Ray

Walley, he was a member of Pine Grove Freewill Baptist Church. He worked

as a Millwright at Scotch Plywood.

He died on Friday, July 28, 2023 at Merit Health Wesley in Hattiesburg.

He is survived by his wife, Angie Walley of Chicora; two sons and

daughters-in-law, Justin and Megan Walley of Chicora and Jared and

Madeline Walley of Buckatunna; his brother, J.D. Walley of Piave; his

sister and brother-in-law, Regina and Tommy Norsworthy of Piave; and

three grandchildren, Maddie Beth, Caroline and Nate.

He was preceded in death by his father, Jimmie Walley; his mother, Helen

Ray Walley; and his sister, Vanessa Grantham.

An online guestbook can be signed at www.freemanfh.com.

Freeman Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

REV. DOUGLAS WHITE

Jan. 8, 1936-July 26, 2023

Funeral services for Rev. Douglas White, 87, of Waynesboro, were

conducted on Saturday, July 29, 2023 from the Chapel of Freeman Funeral

Home, with Dr. Steve Smith and Dr. DeJuan Walley officiating.

Interment followed at Serenity Gardens Cemetery.

Born in McCullough, Ala., on Jan. 8, 1936 to Harrison and Miriam White,

he surrendered his life to ministry as a teenager and served in mission

church while in high school and college. He was in the first graduation

class of Samford University and attended New Orleans Seminary.

He went on to pastor at Huxford Baptist Church, Huxford, Ala.; North

Mobile Baptist Church, Chickasaw, Ala.; Ridgecrest Baptist Church,

Tuscaloosa, Ala.; Siloam Baptist Church, Marion, Ala.; First Baptist

Church, Union; Airport Boulevard Baptist Church, Mobile, Ala.; and First

Baptist Church of Waynesboro. He retired from full-time ministry in 1998

and then went on to serve as interim pastor at Salem Baptist Church in

Collins and Big Creek Baptist Church in Clara.

He was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He enjoyed playing

golf, watching Alabama football and cutting his yard. He was a member of

First Baptist Church of Waynesboro.

He died on Wednesday, July 26, 2023 in Waynesboro.

He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Emma Patricia White; his

daughter, Lisa Holderfield of Waynesboro; his sons and daughter-in-law,

Tony and Leslie White of Saraland, Ala.; his daughter and son-in-law,

Paula and Patrick Revette of Waynesboro; his sister and brother-in-law,

Shirley and Delmer Tew of Chatom, Ala.; eight grandchildren and their

respective spouses, Drew and Kelly Holderfield of Auburn, Ala., Kendall

and Alaina Holderfield of Auburn, Tyler White of Saraland, Thomas White

of Saraland, Emily Revette and Chandler Gunn of State Line, Erin Revette

of Waynesboro, Leah White of Saraland and Ella Revette of Waynesboro;

two great-grandsons, Jake Holderfield and Hudson Holderfield, both of

Auburn; two great-granddaughters coming in August and many cousins,

nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant son, Paul Dewayne.

Pallbearers were Drew Holderfield, Kendall Holderfield, Tyler White,

Thomas White, Chandler Gunn and Billy Bynum.

An online guestbook can be signed at www.freemanfh.com.

Freeman Funeral Home of Waynesboro was in charge of arrangements.

JOHN WESLEY DYESS

May 2, 1987-July 19, 2023

Funeral services for John Wesley Dyess, 36, of State Line, were

conducted on Thursday, July 27, 2023 from the Chapel of Freeman Funeral

Home, with Rev. Chip Phillips officiating.

Interment followed at Denham Cemetery.

Born on Saturday, May 2, 1987 in Waynesboro, he worked as a Pumper in

the Oil Field.

He died on Wednesday, July 19, 2023 at his resident.

He is survived by his father, Hilry Dyess (Wanda) of Richton, his

mother, Rhonda Dyess (Cecil) of Millry, Ala., his father Steve McLain

(Freida) of State Line; his brother, Kyle Dyess (Destiny) of Buckatunna;

his brother, Colby Dyess; his brother, Ross Dyess (Miranda) of

Buckatunna; his sister, Shannon Kirkland (Rosson) of Millry; his son,

Elijah Dyess of Beat Four; his son, Aiden Dyess of Beat Four; his son,

Reid Odom of Beat Four; his sister, Nikki Miller of Leakesville; his

sister, Sabrina Hoffman (Chase) of Leakesville; his sister, Samantha

Nelson (Jason) of Citronelle, Ala.; his sister, Tasha McLain of

Leakesville; his brother, Lance McLain of Monroeville, Ala.; and his

brother, Corey McLain of Lucedale.

Pallbearers were Ross Dyess, Kyle Dyess, Rosson Brewer, Arthur Presley,

Jason Nelson and Aiden Dyess. Honorary pallbearers were Patrick Tackett

and Justin Odom.

An online guestbook can be signed at www.freemanfh.com.

Freeman Funeral Home of Waynesboro was in charge of arrangements.

JENNIE BELL ELFRING

Jan. 23, 1936-July 22, 2023

Graveside services for Jennie Bell Elfring, 87, of Waynesboro, were

conducted on Wednesday, July 26, 2023 from Goodwater Cemetery, with Rev.

Jason Sehon and Rev. Ronnie Morris officiating.

Born in Mississippi on Thursday, Jan. 23, 1936 to Keasney Doggett and

Kate Doggett, she was a member of Lowery Assembly of God Church and was

a Homemaker.

She died on Saturday, July 22, 2023 at Pine View Health and

Rehabilitation in Waynesboro.

She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Larry and Sharon Eidson

of Waynesboro; 11 grandchildren and their respective spouses, Rhonda and

Daryl Loper of Laurel, Marsha and Jason Sehon of Clara, James and

Christon Elfring of Clarke County, Kevin Elfring of Hamilton, Justin and

Lauren Elfring of Illinois, Lindy Ford of Laurel, Bruce and Linda Ford

of Laurel, Sarah and Michael Barnett of Waynesboro, Joshua and Jayla

Eidson of Waynesboro, Matthew and Brittany Eidson of Waynesboro and

Rodney and Tammy Knight of Quitman; 28 great-grandchildren and nine

great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Elmer Eidson; her second

husband, Ben Elfring; her father, Kearney Doggett; her mother, Kate

Doggett; two sons, Clarence Elfring and Phil Elfring; a daughter, Linda

Elfring; a grandson, Johnathan Parker; a granddaughter, Anita Young; and

a great-granddaughter, Autumn Sehon.

Pallbearers were Jason Sehon, James Elfring, Joshua Eidson, Matthew

Eidson, Brenon Sehon and Bruce Ford.

An online guestbook can be signed at www.freemanfh.com.

Freeman Funeral Home of Waynesboro was in charge of arrangements.

LINDA GAIL CRAWLEY

May 22, 1957-July 16, 2023

A memorial service for Linda Gail Crawley, 66, of Buckatunna, was

conducted on Saturday, July 22, 2023 at 1910 Buckatunna-Chicora-Clara

Rd. in Buckatunna.

She was born in Waynesboro on Wednesday, May 22, 1957 to the late

William and Eloise Woods.

She died on Sunday, July 16, 2023 at her residence.

She is survived by her husband, Lamar Crawley of Buckatunna; her son and

daughter-in-law, Denton Charles and Summer Crawley of Buckatunna; two

daughters and sons-in-law, Tonja Lynn and Robert Pendergrass of

Buckatunna and Mary Lavon and Eric Waltman of Millry, Ala.; three

brothers, Kenny Woods, Dale Woods and Brandon Woods, all of Waynesboro;

six sisters, Joann Martin, Shirley Davis, Louise Boyles, Bobbie Boyles,

Bobo Palmer and Donna Cochran, all of Waynesboro; 10 grandchildren,

Roho, Olivia, Nathan, Hannah, Skyler, Kary, Houston, Cayden, Timmy and

Crystal; and two great-grandchildren, Brylee and Jax.

She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Eloise Woods; and

three brothers, Tommy Woods, Wayne Woods and Dennis Woods.

An online guestbook can be signed at www.freemanfh.com.

Freeman Funeral Home of Waynesboro was in charge of arrangements.

DEWANDA H. MARTIN

Nov. 16, 1961-July 16, 2023

Funeral services for DeWanda H. Martin, 61, of Fruitdale, Ala., were

conducted on Thursday, July 20, 2023 from the Chapel of Freeman Funeral

Home, with Rev. Jesse Long III and Brandon Bollinger officiating.

Interment followed at Grace Williams Cemetery in Fruitdale.

Born in Waynesboro on Thursday, Nov. 16, 1961 to Waynis and Sue K.

Henderson, she was employed at Olin, Inc., as a Lab Manager. She retired

from Cuba (BASF) in 2008 after 25 years of service.

On June 10, 1983, she married the absolute love of her life and best

friend, Gary Martin. In 1986, they had the joy of their life, their

daughter, Jaica Thomas. As much as Wanda loved Jaica, nothing compared

to how much she loved and adored her "monkey," Nathan and Ava.

She was an absolute beautiful soul who was selfless and giving. She

always saw the good in everyone she met and every situation. She opened

her heart and her home to several international students through a

foreign exchange program. She loved them all very much. Through her

work, it gave her great joy to share her love of chemistry with

international lab interns.

She died on Sunday, July 16, 2023 at Merit Health Wesley in Hattiesburg.

She is survived by her parents, Wayne and Sue Henderson of Fruitdale;

her daughter and son-in-law, Jaica and Ben Thomas of Laurel; her sister

and brother-in-law, Paula and Wayne Rogers of Hattiesburg; two

grandchildren, Nathan and Ava; two nephews, Matt and Zach; and countless

precious family members and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Gary Martin; and her

grandparents, C.P. Heathcock, Margie Heathcock, L.N. Kittrell, Doris

Kittrell Douglas and George Douglas.

Pallbearers were Jeremy Carr, Matt Rogers, Ben Thomas, Dennis McRae,

Kerney Kittrell and Zach Rogers. Honorary pallbearers were Bill Britton,

Cliff Sheffield, Wayne Rogers, Roy Ratcliff, Fred Carr and Louis

Kittrell.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that you make donations to

Make-A-Wish Foundation.

An online guestbook can be signed at www.freemanfh.com.

Freeman Funeral Home of Waynesboro was in charge of arrangements.