Obituaries 07-13-23
LAVON PIPPEN
Dec. 12, 1956-July 7, 2023
A public graveside service for Lavon Pippen, 66, of Waynesboro, will be
at 3 p.m. on Thursday, July 13, 2023 from Boyles Chapel Church Cemetery.
Born in Waynesboro on Wednesday, Dec. 12, 1956 to the late Buster and
Aline Martin Pippen, he was a church member of West Shady Grove Baptist
Church. He served in the U.S. Army from 1974-1976.
He died on Friday, July 7, 2023 at his residence.
He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Diane Pippen; three daughters
and their respective spouses, Michelle and Toby Whigham of Millry, Ala.,
Marcie and Daniel Jenkins of Waynesboro and Savanah and Morgan Dickey of
Berlin, Pa.; two brothers and a sister-in-law, Ferdy and Debbie Pippen
of Beat Four and Hardee Pippen of Waynesboro; six grandchildren and
their respective spouses, Dillon andAallison Whigham, Daniel and Morgan
Knight, Morgan and Gabriel Thompson, Coley Jenkins, Brennan Dickey and
Emmalynn Dickey; and five great-grandchildren, Ava Reese Whigham,
Garylyn Thompson, Pandora Knight, Reeves Whigham and Gaines Thompson.
AMY CHARLENE (MAY) SANDERSON SANDERS
April 11, 1940-July 5, 2023
Funeral services for Amy Charlene (May) Sanderson Sanders, 83, were
conducted on Monday, July 10, 2023 from Calvary Baptist Church.
Interment followed at Serenity Gardens Cemetery in Waynesboro.
Born on April 11, 1940 --- in the days shortly before World War II ---
to Percy Iddo May and Rena Drummond May in Tylertown, she grew up in the
Union community of Walthall County as the fifth of six children and the
youngest daughter.
Her early days were filled with church activities, including GAs, BYPU
and other church activities at Union Baptist Church, where she came to
know Christ and acquired a love for missions. She attended Tylertown
schools and graduated from Tylertown High.
At age 15, she contracted a light case of polio and was hospitalized in
Vicksburg. She came to love and admire those who cared for her.
Realizing how vital their profession was, she decided to become a nurse.
She entered the Gilfoy School of Nursing at Mississippi Baptist Hospital
in Jackson and graduate from their three-year (year-round) registered
nurse program in 1961. She worked at several hospitals and, in 1964,
moved back to Tylertown to help care for her parents.
She met the pastor of Salem Baptist Church, Bob Sanderson, while he wa a
patient in Tylertown Hospital. He was recently widowed. They married in
June of 1965 and became Brother Bob and Ms. Amy, a loving partnership
that lasted almost 38 years. Together, they served churches in
Mississippi, Louisiana, Georgia, New Jersey, Connecticut and Florida.
There were 10 full-time curches, four part-time and interim pastorates
and one director of missions position.
Following Bob's death in 2003, she married Jim Sanders in 2005. Jim
was a bi-vocational pastor, farrier and Texas cowboy. He died in 2013.
Jim had three sons and one daughter that Amy loved. She also claimed all
his grandchildren as her own.
She worked as a nurse for most of her adult life, using her considerable
skills at hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and home health
agencies, as well as countless youth camps, mission trips and other
ministry related assignments. She was a nurse by profession and a
pastor's wife by calling. She loved the church and particularly
missions. She taught numerous Sunday School classes, Bible studies,
discipleship groups, WMU devotionals, VBS lessons and even directed
preschool ministries.
She died on Wednesday, July 5, 2023.
She is survived by a sister, Elizabeth May Bennett of Kokomo; a brother
and sister-in-law, Tommy Joe and Wanda May of Hattiesburg; and the four
children she chose when she married Bob, along with their respective
spouses, Bonni and Robert Britton of Columbus, Ga., Bobby and Judy
Sanderson of Columbus, Beth and Carl Havard of Mobile, Ala., and Tim and
Melissa Sanderson of Centerville, Tenn. She had nine grandchildren (and
their respective spouses), Robert Deric and Bethany Britton, Stephen
Dallas and Leslie Britton, Robert Jewell and Kim Sanderson III, David
Scott and Maggie Sanderson, Justin Ryan Havard, Jessica Lauren Havard,
Jared David and Tayler Havard, Stephen Timothy and Emily Sanderson. Amy
had 32 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. She is
also survived by numerous nephews, nieces, adopted family and loving
friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be given to
Calvary Baptist Church in Waynesboro or to the American Alzheimer's
Association at alz.org.
An online guestbook can be signed at www.freemanfh.com.
Freeman Funeral Home of Waynesboro was in charge of arrangements.
ROY CARLIE CRAVEY II
Jan. 26, 1970-July 3, 2023
Funeral services for Roy Carlie Cravey II, 53, of Birmingham, Ala., were
conducted on Thursday, July 6, 2023 from the Chapel of Freeman Funeral,
with Dr. Steve Smith officiating.
Interment followed at Waynesboro Cemetery.
Born in Biloxi on Monday, Jan. 26, 1970 to Charles Roy Cravey and Linda
Cravey, he was a member of Waynesboro First Baptist Church. He worked as
a Self-Employed Environmentalist.
He died on Monday, July 3, 2023 at his residence in Birmingham.
He is survived by his wife, Amy West Cravey of Birmingham; his father
and his wife, Charles Roy and Betsy Cravey of Waynesboro; his mother,
Linda Cravey of Waynesboro; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Lamar
and Wanda West of Waynesboro; his brother-in-law and sister-in-law,
Michael and Melanie West of Waynesboro; his sister-in-law, Dina West of
Waynesboro; two nephews, Elliot West and Easton West; his niece and her
spouse, Haven and Derek Bynum; and a host of cousins and other family
members.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Roy Carlie and
Dorothy Cravey; and his maternal grandfather, Edwin Eugene Oldham.
Freeman Funeral Home of Waynesboro was in charge of arrangements.
GERRY WAYNE
DAVIS, SR.
May 22, 1951-July 4, 2023
Graveside services for Gerry Wayne Davis, Sr., 72, of Waynesboro, were
conducted on Thursday, July 6, 2023 from the Davis Family Cemetery in
Waynesboro, with Rev. Ryan Powers officiating.
Born in Waynesboro on Tuesday, May 22, 1951 to the late Hubert Gray
Davis and Sarah Katherine Davis, he was a retired Tool Pusher in the oil
field industry.
He died on Tuesday, July 4, 2023 at South Central Regional Medical
Center in Laurel.
He is survived by his loving wife of 38 years, Nancy Davis of
Waynesboro; two sons and a daughter-in-law, James Randall and Angela
Davis of Texas and Gerry Wayne Davis, Jr. of Waynesboro; four brothers
and two sisters-in-law, Gerald and Maxine Davis, Larry and Stacey Davis,
Lonnie Davis and Kerry Randall Davis, all of Waynesboro; a sister,
Margaret Lou Davis of Waynesboro; three grandchildren, Gage Davis,
Dolton Davis and Nicolas Davis, all of Texas; a great-grandchild, a host
of nieces and nephew and a special friend in J.O. Phillips of
Waynesboro.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Hubert Gray Davis and Sarah
Katherine Davis; and a sister, Martha Due Davis.
An online guestbook can be signed at www.freemanfh.com.
Freeman Funeral Home of Waynesboro was in charge of arrangements.
MAURICE L. RICH
May 4, 1973-June 26, 2023
Funeral services for Maurice L. Rich, 50, were conducted on Thursday,
July 6, 2023 from the Chapel of McDonald and Sons Funeral Home.
Interment followed at Waynesboro Cemetery.
Born on May 4, 1973 to Eddie and Virginia Rich, he attended Wayne County
Schools for his education in his early years. He was a graduate of the
Class of 1991 and would later move out of state and start his adult
life.
He lived in Chattanooga, Tenn., where he was known for his caring heart
and hardworking nature. Along his journey, he met several friends who
would later become family.
He was all things family and was known for keeping touch with loved ones
and always making sure no one felt left out. He enjoyed hosting events,
playing cards, loved music and fishing. He was very outspoken to know
him was to love him.
He was a highly productive individual who always put his best effort
into everything he did.
In addition to his dedication to his work, he had a passion for cooking.
He loved preparing meals for his family and friends, always bringing
people together with his delicious creations. May his kind heart, hard
work and love for family and cooking be forever remembered.
He died on June 26, 2023.
He is survived by his parents, Eddie and Virginia Rich; a brother and
sister-in-law, Derek and Anna Rich; two sisters, Neketia Jordan and
Renee Brown; and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and
friends.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Steve Rich.
McDonald and Sons Funeral Home of Waynesboro was in charge of
arrangements.
ALLEN JASPER
"DOC" DONALD
Oct. 4, 1943-July 3, 2023
Funeral services for Allen Jasper "Doc" Donald, 79, of Waynesboro,
were conducted on Thursday, July 6, 2023 from Phillips Funeral Home in
Gilbertown, with Rev. Danny Napp, Rev. Kendall Turner and Rev. Brent
Graham officiating.
Interment followed at Coyt Cemetery in Coyt.
Born on Oct. 4, 1943 in Gilbertown, Ala., to Aubrey Donald and Lula Mae
Abston Donald, he was the brother that was given to his family. The Lord
worked a lot of miracles in his life. He helped raises his brothers and
sisters, and he had his hands full with three brothers and seven
sisters. He loved each and everyone of them. He also loves his nieces
and nephews as his own, and he loved his family.
He especially loved all the people at the nursing home. This was a
ministry to the Lord for him, and he was a kind and humble man. He was
saved and he was ready to go home to be with the Lord. Most of all, the
Lord loved Allen. He is now resting in peace in the arms of the Lord.
His work on earth is done, and he will be so dearly missed by all of his
family who love him and always will.
He died on Monday, July 3, 2023 at Watkins Hospital in Quitman.
He is survived by his brothers and sisters-in-law, A.R. and Darlene
Donald, Gary and Emily Donald and John Paul and Pam Donald, all of
Waynesboro; and his sisters and brothers-in-law, Betty Jeane and John
Lindsey of Silas, Ala., Dianne and Gerald Presley of Toxey, Ala.,
Cynthia and Willie Roberts of Waynesboro, Ona Dean and Mickey Jackson of
Waynesboro, Jackie Sue Slay of Quitman and Roxanne and James Skinner of
Toxey.
He was preceded in death by his father, Aubrey Donald; his mother, Lula
Mae Abston Donald, and his sister, Deborah Sue Donald and Voncille Slay.
Pallbearers were Kenneth Donald, John Richardson, Kaleb Gilbert, James
Allen Skinner, Wayne Presley and Jr. Slay. Honorary pallbearers were
Braxton Hearne and Travis Hearn.
An online guestbook can be signed at www.phillips-funeral-home.com.
Phillips Funeral Home of Gilbertown was in charge of arrangements.
JAMES CURTIS
HENDERSON, JR.
April 1, 1949-June 3, 2023
James Curtis Henderson, Jr., 74, died on Saturday, June 3, 2023 in
Citronelle, Ala.
Born on April 1, 1949 just 500 yards from where he was laid to rest, he
married a girl from high school and had three sons --- Mickey Ray
Henderson, Joey Daniel (Brandy) Henderson and James Harvey (Amy)
Henderson. Things didn't work out, so after seven years he went out
into the world to find his way. He bounced around from job to job until
landing in the small town of Salina, Kan., which he'd call home for
the next 40 years.
He went to work at Frisbee Construction, Inc., where he went from the
bottom to the top, literally. Hard work paid off and, when he retired,
he knew he had accomplished more than he'd ever dreamed of. He was
proud of it too, as he should've been, as we were for him. His work
ethic was second to none, never unable to find a solution for a tough
problem.
When he had gotten to Salina,he found someone else that would be with
him the whole time he worked for Frisbee --- a frugal lady who'd
always keep him in check, saving for hard times. Mary Christina
Henderson was the grandmother to all the grandkids. She was loved, but
after 35-plus years of marriage, it was time for him to go back south
and it wasn't in the cards for them to stay together. She preceded in
death.
He returned south and retired in Waynesboro, playing golf every
Wednesday with his Uncle Don and friends from Citronelle. Fishing,
gardening building things was his passion, along with helping others any
time he could. He also spent time traveling back to Kansas several times
to say goodbye to friends he'd known for years.
He loved his family above all else. Grandsons include Jonathan Arlon
Curtis Henderson and James Mason Henderson, who will carry on his name.
Granddaughters are Danielle (Wraz) Smith, Jenna Henderson and Emily
Henderson.
David left a legacy of hard work and good friends. He didn't get to
have a big send off --- lots of people missed the chance to say goodbye
--- but he knew he was loved and will be forever missed. A total of
27,091 days on this earth and, when his time was up, he went out doing
it his way.
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