Obituaries 10-26-23

LATIKA "TIKA" CRAGER

May 21, 1978-Oct. 21, 2023

Graveside services for Latika "Tika" Crager, 45, of Waynesboro, were

conducted on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023 from Serenity Gardens Cemetery, with

Rev. Arthur Burnett officiating.

Born in Hattiesburg on Sunday, May 21, 1978 to J.L. and Ginny Crager,

she was a member of Waynesboro Presbyterian Church.

She loved making fine jewelry, working with her Daddy in the shop and

planting flowers in the garden. She was avid collector of antics, Beanie

Babies, Barbie's, Arrow Heads, Knives, Teddy Bears, Unicorns, Diamond

Art and books.

She died on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023 at her residence.

She is survived her loving and devoted parents, J.L. and Ginn Crager of

Waynesboro; two sisters, Raven Jennifer Lynn Crager Barkley of

Williamstown, W.V., and Brenda Gail Crager of Meridian; three nephews,

Trip Barkley, Chase Tanner Barkley and Brandon Waite; her uncle, John

Wingler of Yoncalla, Ore.; two aunts, Betty Brain of Portland, Ore. and

Joan Ackerman of Vestavia Hills, Ala.; three cousins, Wanie Jones of

Oregon and Jody Crager and Joycie Coaker, both of State Line; and

special family friends in Theon and Reve' Walley, Arthur and Alicia

Burnett, Elisha Ozment, Maurine Comerio and the Waynesboro Presbyterian

Church Family.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, John Loren and Isobell

Wingler and Woodie and Beadie Crager.

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

Freeman Funeral Home of Waynesboro was in charge of arrangements.

SAMUEL FRANKLIN "SAM" BRITTON

July 30, 1956-Oct. 16, 2023

Funeral services for Samuel Franklin "Sam" Britton, 67, were

conducted on Monday, Oct. 23, 2023 from Laurel First United Methodist

Church.

Interment followed at Pleasant Grove Church Cemetery in Waynesboro.

Born on July 30, 1956 in Waynesboro to Sytilee Waites Britton and Ellis

Creight Britton, Sr., he attended Jones Junior College in 1974 after

graduating from Waynesboro High School. He enjoyed living on campus, was

active in clubs and organizations and was elected Class Favorite.

In the fall of 1974 at JC, he met the love of his life who became his

wife, Robin Robinson. Sam enjoyed introducing Robin as his "Miss

America."

He graduated from Jones County Junior College in 1976 before attending

the University of Southern Mississippi, where he completed a business

degree.

After college, he worked with his uncle in the pipeline construction

business then, in the early 1980s he returned to USM and completed a

degree in accounting. He then began and completed requirements to become

a Certified Public Accountant.

After working with the offices of the State Auditor and the State Tax

Commission, he began his own accounting firm. From his CPA practice, he

moved into Investment Banking.

Along with his 30 years of experience in the financial and accounting

sectors, he also helped the following certifications: Business

Valuation, Valuation Analyst, Financial Forensics and Personal Financial

Specialist. He was recognized in 2014 as a "Mississippi Leader in

Finance."

He understood the ideals of community, of faith and of service because

they defined his life. He was an active member of First United Methodist

Church of Laurel and served as the Lay Leader and served as Chairman of

the Church Council. He was also a Lay Member to Annual Conference and

served on the Annual Conference Committee on Finance and Administration.

He was elected and served as Public Service Commissioner of the Southern

District of Mississippi. As Public Service Commissioner, Sam's No. 1

goal was to be fair and transparent and to protect the ratepayers. He

was successful in these efforts.

He tackled very tough issues and, under his leadership, he got them

done.

He completed several marathons, including the Marine Corps Marathon in

Washington, D.C.; the New York City Marathon; and the San Francisco

Marathon, which he completed on his 50th birthday.

Sam impacted so many people in his brief 67 years on this earth through

his Christian testimony, financial knowledge, political office and his

smile that would light up a room.

After a long battle with cancer, he died on Monday, Oct. 16, 2023 at his

home, surrounded by his loving family.

He is survived by his loving wife, Robin Robinson; his sister, Katherine

Britton Barker; his brothers and sisters-in-law, Ellis C. and Evelyn

Britton, Fred and Angela Britton and Eulon and Shelia Britton; and a

host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ellis and Sytilee Britton.

Memorial donations may be made to the Sam Britton Scholarship Fund, JCJC

Foundation, Inc., 900 South Court St., Ellisville, MS 39437.

To sign the online guestbook, visit www.memorychapellaurel.com.

Memory Chapel Funeral Home of Laurel was in charge of arrangements.

MARY C. (JONES) DAVIS

Oct. 6, 1952-Oct. 18, 2023

Funeral services for Mary C. (Jones) Davis, 71, of Moss Point, were

conducted on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023 from County Line Baptist Church in

State Line with Dr. Terry Williams and Rev. Mitchell Smith officiating.

Interment followed at County Line Cemetery in State Line.

She was born in Wayne County on Monday, Oct. 6, 1952 to the late Marvin

L. "Jake" and Creola C. Jones.

She died on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023 at her residence.

She is survived by her loving husband of 49 years, William L. "Bill"

Davis of Hurley; her son and daughter-in-law, William Prentiss

"Prent" and Sarah Davis of Mobile, Ala.; her daughter and

son-in-law, Amanda and Jeremiah Mason of Long Beach; two sisters, Nancy

C. Braud and Marcia Jones, both of Prairieville, La.; and four

grandchildren, Brynn Aiden Sweetapple, Eaen Mason, Trey Mason and Logan

Byrd.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Marvin L. "Jakes" and

Creola C. Jones; her daughter, Amy C. Davis; and her granddaughter,

Marissa Ann Byrd.

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

Freeman Funeral Home of Waynesboro was in charge of arrangements.

JANICE MARGARETTE TAYLOR TRIGG

Oct. 17, 2023

Graveside services for Janice Margarette Taylor Trigg, 85, formerly of

Waynesboro were conducted on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023 from Waynesboro

Cemetery, with Rev. Paul Harris officiating.

She will long be remembered not only for the strong academic foundation

she helped lay for countless preschoolers during her many years as a

teacher at Wayne Academy Preschool but, more importantly, for the

everlasting spiritual lessons of God's love and grace taught over the

decades as a 2- and 3-year-old Sunday School Teacher at Calvary Baptist

Church.

After retiring, she remained active in her community and, among other

things, served as a member of the Library Board during the planning and

construction of Waynesboro's new municipal library. She also routinely

visited he residents of Pine View Health and Rehabilitation Center.

As her Parkinson's Disease progressed, she left Waynesboro to be near

her children, first by moving to Brandon and later to Cookeville, Tenn.

No matter where she resided or the state of her health, she continued to

touch people's lives. She will be missed by her family and many, many

others.

She died on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023.

She is she survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Leslie and Angela

Trigg of Brandon; her daughter and son-in-law, Tracy Trigg and Breland

NeCaise Sparkman of Cookeville; her grandchildren and their respective

spouses, Calvin H. Trigg and Candice M. Trigg, both of Brandon, Victoria

E. NeCaise and Alex N. NeCaise of Cookeville and Bryan T. and Mary

Sparkman of Sparta, Tenn.; her great-grandchildren, Scarlett Fulton of

Cookeville and Madison Sparkman and Gabriel Sparkman of Sparta; her

brother and sister-in-law, Gary Wayne and Sarah Taylor of Quitman; her

brothers-in-law, Donald Ray Beard of Spanish Fort, Ala., and Jessie

"Teet" Gardner of Laurel and her sisters-in-law and their spouses,

Reginia Malone Taylor and Ray Roughton of Montgomery, Ala., and Quida

Trigg Tanner and Bill Sides of Fairhope, Ala.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, L.H. Trigg, Jr.;

her parents, James Edward "Jimmie" Taylor and Lucy Maude Becton

Taylor; her brothers, James Edward Taylor, Jr., Dennis Edward Taylor and

Waynic Judson Taylor; her sisters, Ellen Ruth Taylor Beard and Mabris

Virginia Taylor Gardner; her son-in-law, Walter Ray NeCaise, Jr.; and

her sister-in-law, Gwen Trigg Powe.

Pallbearers were Arthur Lee Nored, Chuck Hardee, Dale Bowen, Richard

Holley, Ray Cochran and Kenny Odom.

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

Freeman Funeral Home of Waynesboro was in charge of arrangements.