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.