Obituaries 02-16-23

HARWEDA F. JOHNSON

Jan. 24, 1924-Feb. 11, 2023

Family graveside services for Harweda F. Johnson, 99, will be in Laurel

under the direction of Forrest Funeral Home of Hattiesburg.

Born on Jan. 24, 1924 in her grandparents' log cabin in Wayne County,

she died on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023 at Asbury Hospice in Hattiesburg.

After graduating from the Mississippi Normal School (the former name for

University of Southern Mississippi) at age 18, she taught high school

English and later earned additional degrees in chemistry, mathematics,

dietary nutrition, and English Literature.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Jack Curtis

Johnson; parents, Ed and Vina Friddle; brother, Alver Friddle; and

infant daughter, Dana Kay.

She is survived by daughters, Linda (Chip) Edmonson and Libby (Tullos)

Jones of Hattiesburg; grandsons, Lee (Tabitha) Edmonson of Chicago, IL,

and Chad (Catherine) Edmonson of Hattiesburg. Her great-grandchildren

are Lulu and Charlie Edmonson of Chicago, and Jack and Mary Catherine

Edmonson of Hattiesburg.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be sent to Mississippi

School for Mathematics and Science, Foundation Fund, 1100 College

Street, MUW-1627, Columbus, MS 39701.

TRACY DALE SMITH

Jan. 24, 1948-Jan. 31, 2023

A private memorial service for Tracy Dale Smith, 75, of Waynesboro, will

be conducted by his family at a later date.

Born in Velasco, Texas on Saturday, Jan. 24, 1948 to the late Homer

Smith and Loyal Smith Gibson, he was retired as a Law Enforcement

Officer with the Mississippi Department of Transportation. He also

served in the Mississippi Air National Guard.

He died on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023 at his residence.

He is survived by his wife, Diane Smith of Waynesboro; his stepson,

Ronald Scott Johnson of Waynesboro; his adopted daughter, Candall Smith;

his brother and sister-in-law, Dean and Anne Rominger of Dothan, Ala.;

and four grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Homer Smith and Loyal Smith

Gibson.

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

Freeman Funeral Home of Waynesboro is in charge of arrangements.

CHARLENE HOLIFIELD RYALS

April 10, 1958-Feb. 11, 2023

Funeral services for Charlene Holifield Rayls, 64, of Waynesboro, were

conducted on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023 from the Chapel of Freeman Funeral

Home, with Rev. Ronnie Morris officiating.

Interment followed at Waynesboro Cemetery.

Born in Waynesboro on Thursday, April 10, 1958 to Charley Holifield and

Pauline Holifield, she was a member of Free Will Fellowship Church. She

worked as a Florist at Maxine's Florist.

She died on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023 at her residence.

She is survived by her husband, Roger E. Ryals of Waynesboro; three

sons, Brian Philyaw of Hewitt, N.J., Darrell Philyaw and Trent Philyaw,

both of Waynesboro; five brothers, Charles Holifield of Lafayette, La.,

Benny Holifield of Waynesboro, Jerry Holifield of Sandersville, Roger

Holifield and Ricky Holifield, both of Waynesboro; two sisters, Laverne

Hudson and Pat Odom, both of Waynesboro; seven grandchildren, Braxton

Philyaw, Hunter Philyaw, Dawson Philyaw, Trinity Philyaw, Jayla Philyaw,

Maddi Philyaw and Sara Philyaw; and three great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her father, Charley Holifield; her mother,

Pauline Holifield; her brother, Wayne Holifield; and two sisters, Sarah

Jean Holland and Sandra Rowland.

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

Freeman Funeral Home of Waynesboro was in charge of arrangements.

JAMES C. "JIMMY" MILLER

June 6, 1955-Feb. 3, 2023

Funeral services for James C. "Jimmy" Miller, 67, of Waynesboro, were

conducted on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023 from the Chapel of Freeman Funeral

Home, with Rev. Chris Adcock and Rev. Corbin Kill officiating.

Interment followed at White House Cemetery.

Born in Waynesboro on Monday, June 6, 1955 to James C. Miller and Zelma

Doris Miller, he had worked in construction as an Electrician.

He died on Friday, Feb. 3, 2023 at Wayne General Hospital.

He is survived by his daughter, Chipperess Guthrie of Quitman; two

brothers and sisters-in-law, Gary and Regina Miller of Richton and Kevin

and Milly Miller of Waynesboro; his sister and brother-in-law Dianne and

Brian Dew of Waynesboro; and his grandchild, Autumn Guthrie of Quitman.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Myra Miller; his father, James C.

Miller; and his mother, Zelma Doris Miller.

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

Freeman Funeral Home of Waynesboro was in charge of arrangements.

GERALDINE DEARMON

May 31, 1950-Feb. 3, 2023

Funeral services for Geraldine Dearmon, 72, of Millry, Ala., were

conducted on Monday, Feb. 6, 2023 from Flat Branch Assembly of God

Church in Millry, with Rev. Larry Turner officiating.

Interment followed at Pine Tree Cemetery in Millry.

Born in State Line on Wednesday, May 31, 1950 to Clarence Strickland and

Rena Strickland, she was a member of Johnson Creek Baptist Church. She

was a Homemaker.

She died on Friday, Feb. 3, 2023 at her residence.

She is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Shelia and Winston

Waite of Millry and Nikki and Chris Odom of Waynesboro; a son and

daughter-in-law, William and Leann Dearmon of Millry; three brothers,

Van Strickland, C.V. Strickland and Vardaman Strickland; two sisters,

Juanite Hillman and Jeanette Williams; seven grandchildren, Amber

Phillips, Kirsten Dearmon, Bailey Dearmon, Kambree Odom, Landree Odom,

Victoria Tate and Dustin Dearmon; and three great-grandchildren, Jaden

Phillips, Brylee Phillips and Kaden Tate.

She was preceded in death by her father, Clarence Strickland; her

mother, Rena Strickland; her brother, Leon Strickland; and four sisters,

Irma Jean Smith, Helen Williams, Gracie Lee Smith and Dorothy McInnis.

Pallbearers were Brad Hopkins, Timothy Dearmon, Curtis Ray Strickland,

Bailey Dearmon, Cameron Waite and Hugh Smith.

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

Freeman Funeral Home of Waynesboro was in charge of arrangements.

GLADYS OREE HENDERSON

July 27, 1939-Feb. 10, 2023

Funeral services for Gladys Oree Henderson, 83, of Clara, were conducted

on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023 from Trinity Free Will Baptist church, with

Rev. Jarrod Vanderslice and Rev. Gerald Henderson officiating.

Interment followed at Trinity Free Will Baptist Church Cemetery.

Born in Perry County on Thursday, July 27, 1939 to R.C. Phillips and

Myrtle Phillips, she was a devoted member of Trinity Free Will Baptist

Church. She was retired as a Supervisor at Northern Electric Company.

She died on Friday, Feb. 10, 2023 at her residence.

She is survived by her loving husband of 65 years, Charles Henderson of

Clara; her daughter and son-in-law, Carla and Calvin Mozingo of Clara;

four grandchildren and their respective spouses, Joshua and Miranda

Jones in Clara, Jammi Stevison of Clara, Heather and Tommy Guin of

Austin, Texas, and Will Mozingo of Clara; five great-grandchildren, Sam

Jones, Jaleigh Jones, Charlie Jones, Kiley Stevison and Aubrey Ana

Stevison, all of Clara; and four sisters, Shirley Dykes of Richton,

Garcia Hutto and Robbie Mills, both of Clara, and Ardena Ellzey of

Biloxi.

She was preceded in death by her father, R.C. Phillips; her mother,

Myrtle Phillips; her daughter, Annette Henderson Jones; and her sister,

Gay McDonald.

Pallbearers were David Dykes, Marlyn Dykes, Pete Cooley, Danny Mills,

Duane Mills and Benny Walley.

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

Freeman Funeral Home of Waynesboro was in charge of arrangements.

JAMES LESLIE "JL" HOWZE

July 5, 1952-Feb. 8, 2023

Graveside services for James Leslie "JL" Howze, 70, of Waynesboro were

conducted on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023 from Simpson Cemeetery in State Line.

Born on July 5, 1952 to the late Eddie Lee and Climaglin (McCann) Howze,

he was a retired Owner/Operator of J & J Trucking in Waynesboro. In

1993, he married his best friend, Juanita H. Howze.

He died on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023 at his residence.

He is survived by his wife, Juanita Howze; his son and daughter-in-law,

Alfonso and Sharnician Howze of State Line; two daughters and

sons-in-law, Angela and Johnny Douglas of Quitman and Amanda and

Marcellus Hundley of Bossier City, La.; two brothers and a

sister-in-law, Paul E. Howard and Richmond and Carrie Howze of State

Line; two sisters and a brother-in-law, Margaret Ann and Joe Davis of

Kansas City, Mo., and Linda Howze of State Line; his grandchildren,

Darondrick, Pareisha, T'Anya, Anesha, Marcellus, Jr., and Melvin; a

loving aunt, Louise Preston of Hattiesburg; his mother-in-law, Gussie

Robinson of Waynesboro; a special friend, Edward "Buddy Boy" Leverette

of State Line; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and good friends.

McDonald and Sons Funeral Home of Waynesboro was in charge of

arrangements.

KEITH L. SMITH

Sept. 15, 1966-Dec. 31, 2022

Funeral services for Keith L. Smith, 56, of Waynesboro, were conducted

on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023 from McLain Chapel Assembly of God Church in

Waynesboro, with Rev. Chris Cooper officiating.

Interment followed in the David L. Smith Cemetery in Waynesboro.

Born in Waynesboro on Thursday, Sept. 15, 1966 to David L. Smith and

Yvonne Smith, he worked as a Self-Employed Farmer at K & T Farms.

He died on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022 at his residence, surrounded by his

loving family.

He is survived by his loving wife of 37 years, Tawina Smith; four

children and their respective spouses, Dawn and Billy Moody, Keith Smith

II, Scott and Amanda Smith and Lauren and Colby Trigg, all of

Waynesboro; nine grandchildren, Braden Davis, Kentley Smith, Weston

Trigg, Lane Smith, Jarper Smith, Haven Smith, Braxton Smith, Darcey

Smith and Tuff Smith; his mother, Yvonne Smith of Waynesboro; two

brothers and two sisters.

He was preceded in death by his father, David L. Smith.

Pallbearers were Keith Smith II, Scott Smith, Billy Moody, Colby Trigg,

Brian McLain and Jeffery Smith.

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

Freeman Funeral Home of Waynesboro was in charge of arrangements.