Obituaries 04-27-23

MARY CULPEPPER PALMER

July 14, 1938-April 23, 2023

Funeral services for Mary Culpepper Palmer, 84, of Waynesboro, were

conducted on Tuesday, April 25, 2023 from Liberty Baptist Church, with

Rev. Phillip Gandy and Rev. Marvin "Bo" Farrior officiating.

Interment followed at Liberty Baptist Cemetery in Waynesboro.

Born on July 14, 1938 in Wayne County to George William Culpepper and

Effie Mondale Culpepper, in 1958 she married the love of her life,

Virgil Allen Palmer, from Wayne County. In 1963, they built their home

in Wayne County, where they reared their three children.

She worked at Sigler-Bunch Insurance Agency until 1985. She then

continued working alongside her husband in the family business, Quality

Plywood, Inc., which they established in 1976, until her retirement.

She was a faithful member of Liberty Baptist Church since 1963.

A loving wife for nearly 62 years, a mother, grandmother and

great-grandmother, she was the matriarch of her family, whom she loved

unconditionally and sacrificially. A life of service will be her legacy.

She died on Sunday, April 23, 2023 at South Central Regional Medical

Center in Laurel. The family celebrates this day because they know to be

absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.

She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Reggie and Denise Palmer

of Waynesboro; a daughter and son-in-law, Alecia and Steve Wood of

Waynesboro; a son, Raymond Palmer of Waynesboro; two brothers, Ronald

Culpepper of Deer Park, Ala., and Darrel Culpepper of Laurel; six

grandchildren and their respective spouses, Lauren and Josh Etheridge of

Petal, Christen and Brady Raanes of Hattiesburg, Holly and Bobby Shirley

of New York, N.Y., Steve and Raquel Wood of Laurel, Erin and Larry

Pacific of Laurel and Julie Anna and Jason Perry of Greensboro, Ala.; 18

great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Virgil A. Palmer; her father,

George W. Culpepper; her mother, Effie Mondale Culpepper; sisters Hazel

Sellers and Connie Farrior; and brothers William "Bill" Culpepper and

Robert "Bobby" Culpepper.

Pallbearers were Jimmy Palmer, Joe McMichael, Todd Stokley, Daryl Pitts,

Gary Gore, Baron Graham, Cliff Walker, Dwight Holland and Bobby

McMichael.

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

Freeman Funeral Home of Waynesboro was in charge of arrangements.

MORRIS MASON

April 13, 1946-April 24, 2023

Funeral services for Morris Mason, 77, of Waynesboro, were conducted on

Tuesday, April 25, 2023 from the Chapel of Freeman Funeral Home, with

Rev. Mitchell Smith and Rev. Jason Sehon officiating.

Interment followed at Water Oak Cemetery in Wayne County.

Born in Waynesboro on Saturday, April 13, 1946 to Obie Mason and Stella

Mason, he was a member of Water Oak Baptist Church. He retired as an Oil

Well Consultant in the oilfield industry.

He died on Monday, April 24, 2023 at his residence.

He is survived by his wife, Janet Mason of Waynesboro; his son and

daughter-in-law, Robby and Wanda Mason of Waynesboro; his daughter and

son-in-law, Kim and Keith Bunch of Waynesboro; two brothers and

sisters-in-law, Charlie and Janice Mason of Buckatunna and Ronnie and

Melissa Mason of Waynesboro; three sisters and a brother-in-law, Dors

Ross, Debbie McIlwain and Paula and Randy Trigg, all of Waynesboro; her

sister-in-law, Hazel Mason of Waynesboro; nine grandchildren and their

respective spouses, James and Hope West, Jeremy West, Hunter Bunch,

Brody Bunch, Kristen and Ryan Meadows, Kalli and Shayn Wardrop, Maggie

Mason, Abigale Mason and Makenna Mason; and five great-grandchildren.

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

Freeman Funeral Home of Waynesboro was in charge of arrangements.

ANDREW "ANDY" HOEFLICH

Oct. 23, 1942-April 21, 2023

Funeral services for Andrew "Andy" Hoeflich, 80, of Lucedale, were

conducted on Sunday, April 23, 2023 from Abundant Grace Church in

Lucedale, with Rev. Randy Salisbury and Rev. Ray Newsome officiating.

Interment followed at Okwakee Cemetery in Vinegar Bend, Ala.

Born in Hackensack, N.J., on Friday, Oct. 2, 1942 to the late Andrew

Joseph Hoeflich and Opal Manning, he was a dedicated member of Abundant

Grace in Lucedale. He was retired as a Self-Employed Furniture Salesman.

He died on Friday, April 21, 2023 at Providence Hospital in Mobile,

Ala., surrounded by is loving family.

He is survived by his loving wife of 31 years, Shelia Hoeflich of

Lucedale; his son and daughter-in-law, Marty and Kathy Hoeflich of

Waynesboro; three daughters and two sons-in-law, Venessa and Pete Cooley

and Mary and David West, all of Clara, and Candice Hoeflich of Lucedale;

10 grandchildren and their respective spouses, Josh and Shala West of

Clara, Rashae Gagley of Richton, Kayla and Adam West, Kyle and Heather

West, all of Clara, Colby and Allyson Cooley of Petal, Hannah Wilkins of

Clara, Lane and Tiffany Hoeflich of Waynesboreo, Jayleen Hoeflich,

Kyliee Eubanks and Bryliee Eubanks, all of Lucedale; 10

great-grandchildren, Maddie Pitts, Braxton Williams, Addyson "Opal"

Williams, Haidyn West, Ryker Bagley, Brynnlee Wilkins, Charlie Kate

Cooley, Beck Cooley, Jamison Edwards and Stoney Edwards; and a special

nephew, Simmie Dale Hutson of Lucedale.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Andrew Joseph Hoeflich and Opal

Mnning; a son, Darryl Hoeflich; a brother, Richard Hoeflich; and a

sister, Mary Hutson.

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

Freeman Funeral Home of Waynesboro was in charge of arrangements.

CALLIE TAYLOR

Apri 20, 2023

Funeral services for Callie Taylor, 73, of Buckatunna, will be at 12

p.m. on Saturday, April 29, 2023 from New Fellowship Missionary Baptist

Church. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Friday, April

28, 2023 --- with family hours from 3-5 p.m. --- from McDonald and Sons

Funeral Home, followed by a visitation from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. on

Saturday, April 29, 2023 from New Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church.

Following the funeral service, interment and repast will take place at

New Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery and Church.

Taylor died on Thursday, April 20, 2023, surrounded by her loved ones

after a long battle with cancer.

She accepted Christ as her Savior at an early age and became a member of

King Chapel AME Church in Millry, Ala., She and her family later joined

New Rock Missionary Baptist Church in Silas, Ala. She was a member of

the Eastern Star Estella Chapter #171.

In her later years, the family joined Philadelphia M.B. Church in

Buckatunna. At the time of her death, she was a member of New Fellowship

Missionary Baptist Church in Buckatunna, where she served as First Lady.

She obeyed the Gospel and worked to establish and continue the ministry

proclaimed by God. She steadfastly held Vacation Bible School every

summer until her health did not allow it.

She graduated in 1966 from Riverview High School in Waynesboro. She

attended Daniel Payne College in Birmingham, Ala., then completed her

Bachelor of Science degree years later at the University of Southern

Mississippi. With her degree, she worked as a teacher in the Wayne

County School District before retiring after 28 years of service.

In 1968, she married Rev. Odell Taylor and through this union six

children were born: Dr. Yolander Renea Youngblood, former Tech Seargent

(Retired); Pamela (George) Young; Vice President Odell (India) Taylor,

Jr.; Attorney Shronda (Alkress) Carter; Principal Carol LaTora (Dennis)

Jones; and Dr. Angee Monique Taylor.

She also leaves 15 grandchildren, Keeyaunia (Reginald) Taylor, George

III, Grant, Callie, Olivia, Kara, Dennis, Jr., Layla, Madelyn, Peyton,

Lundyn, Jaycie, Giggi and Dylan; and three great-grandchildren,

(Keeyaunia) Maxim, Averi and Emeri to carry on her legacy.

Callie leaves to cherish her memories one great-aunt, Nervie Lee

Everett; one aunt, Mary Taylor; five sisters, Annie Faye (Tommie)

Scruggs, Lougenia Turner Burton, Ruby (Lynn) Webster and Martez Gavin;

three brothers, Charzel (Laverne) Turner, Robert (Vivian) Turner and

Slater (Laurie) Turner; and a host of sisters- and brothers-in-law,

nieces and nephews and a special family member in Nancy (Rochester)

Everett.

She was preceded in death by her grandson, Sha'Derrick Pannell; her

sisters, Caressie Howard, Dorothy Everett, Mildred Turner and Ora Lee

Turner; a brother, Horace Turner; and her parents, Leslie and Ruby

Turner and Clarkie and Louise Everett.

The family wishes to acknowledge Lady Bug Florist, Rainbow Florist and

New Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church.

McDonald and Sons Funeral Home of Waynesboro is in charge of

arrangements.

MELVIN WAYNE MCLAIN

March 1, 1971-April 20, 2023

Funeral services for Melvin Wayne McLain, 52, of Waynesboro, were

conducted on Saturday, April 22, 2023 from the Chapel of Freeman Funeral

Home, with Rev. Ray Newsome officiating.

Interment followed at McLain Chapel Cemetery.

Born in Waynesboro on Monday, March 1, 1971 to Lloyd "Bud" McLain and

Rebecca Pacey, he had a 30-plus year career in the oil field that ended

as an OIM with Ensco and later retired as a Self-Employed Farmer. He

loved the outdoors and would rather be on a tractor or in a cow pasture

than any other place.

He died on Thursday, April 20, 2023 at his residence, surrounded by his

loving family, friends and best girl, Diva.

He is survived by his loving mother, Rebecca Pacey of Waynesboro; his

son, Ben McLain of Laurel; two daughters and a son-in-law, Courtney

McLain of Laurel and Morgan and Josh Dearman of Waynesboro; two sisters

and brothers-in-law, Mechele and Billy Moffett and Naomi and John

Atkinson, all of Waynesboro; two granddaughters, Tinley and Piper

Dearman; and life long best friend and cousin, Jeffery Smith of

Waynesboro.

He was preceded in death by his father, Lloyd "Bud" McLain; his son,

Justin McLain; his brother, Lloyd McLain; his grandson, Ryder Dearman;

and his stepfather, Gene Pacey.

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

Freeman Funeral Home of Waynesboro was in charge of arrangements.