Obituaries 05-16-24

BEVERLY INELL WAITES

Jan. 8, 1950-May 12, 2024

Funeral services for Beverly Inell Waites, 74, of Hattiesburg, will be

at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 17, 2024 from the Chapel of Freeman Funeral

Home, with Rev. Mike Street and Keith Carter officiating. Visitation

will be from 5-8 p.m. on Thursday, May 16, 2024 from the Parlor of

Freeman Funeral Home.

Following the funeral service, interment will take place at Maynor Creek

Cemetery.

Born in Waynesboro on Sunday, Jan. 8, 1950 to the late Lewis and Inell

Pitts, she grew up as a member of Maynor Creek Assembly of God Church.

She retired as a Teacher's Assistant with the Hattiesburg Public

School System.

She died on Sunday, May 12, 2024 at Forrest General Hospital in

Hattiesburg.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Kimberly and Eric Black

of Ellisville; her granddaughter and her spouse, Erica and Ronnie

Pilgrim of Ellisville; her great-grandson, Drew "Drew Drew" Pilgrim

of Ellisville; her brother and sister-in-law, Travis and Wilma Pitts of

Ellisville; three sisters and a brother-in-law, Elizabeth Freeman of

Waynesboro, Janell and Bobby Shows of Soso and Alicia Kay Butler of

Eucutta; a host of nieces and nephews and special friends in Audrey

Cooper; Evelyn Cascio; Keith, Jennifer, Alexis, William; Keith Carter

and Andy, Janie, Caleb, Anna Bella and Allen Davis; and Irene Stuart.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Lewis and Inell Pitts; and her

sister, Carolyn Livingston.

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

Freeman Funeral Home of Waynesboro is in charge of arrangements.

LESSIE REE CLARK

March 11, 1932-May 10, 2024

Funeral services for Lessie Ree Clark, 92, of Heidelberg, were conducted

on Wednesday, May 15, 2024 from the Chapel of Freeman Funeral Home, with

Rod Lowery officiating.

Interment followed at Zion's Rest Cemetery in Eucutta.

She was born in Wayne County on Friday, March 11, 1932 to the late Bura

and Eliza Malone.

She died on Friday, May 10, 2024 at South Central Regional Medical

Center in Laurel.

She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, William Glenn and Anita

Clark of Eucutta; her daughter and son-in-law, Rhonda Kay and Shelton

Cooley of Eucutta; three grandchildren and their respective spouses,

Scottie and Julie Cooley, Bradly and Whitney Clark and Ashley and Aimee

Cooley; three great-grandchildren, Anna Clark Cooley, Will Harris Clark

and Emma K. Clark; her nieces and nephews, Cheryl Hodges, Thelma

Culliver, Lucy Haddad, Linda Hudgens, Cindy Bly, Jane Byrd, Dianne

Pitts, Angie Shedd, Max Malone, Doug Brownlee and Wayne Brownlee; and a

host of great-nieces and great-nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, William Grover Clark; her

parents, Bura and Eliza Malone; three brothers, Willis Malone, Clinton

Malone and Teddy Malone; and two sisters, Mary Lou Clark and Effie Lee

Brownlee.

The family would like to give a special thanks to Laura Ann Hinton for

being such a a dear friend and caregiver.

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

Freeman Funeral Home of Waynesboro was in charge of arrangements.

BOBBY DON HICKS

June 27, 1942-May 6, 2024

Funeral services for Bobby Don Hicks, 81, of State Line, were conducted

on Saturday, May 11 from New True Sonlight Church in Millry, Ala., with

Rev. Larry McLaurin officiating.

Interment followed at Easy Hill Cemetery in Koenton, Ala.

Born on June 27, 1942, he was a Truck Driver in the freight industry.

He died on Monday, May 6, 2024 at Wayne General Hospital.

He is survived by his wife, Lettie Mae Hicks; his son, Bobby Kelly; his

daughters and a son-in-law, Loretta, Barbara, Nicole and Van McLaughlin

and Traci Kelly; his brothers, McArthur, J.C. Hicks and Richard Hicks;

his sisters and brothers-in-law, Bunnie and Sonny, Gladys, Eloise and

Roy Taylor, Rosie and Woodie Dunigan and Printella and Jessie McGrew; a

host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren; six stepchildren and his

step-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cosigns.

He was preceded in death by his parents, J.C. and Margie Lee Hicks, Sr.;

and two brothers, Billy and Tommy Hicks.

McDonald and Sons Funeral Home of Waynesboro was in charge of

arrangements.

RUTH NICHOLSON ODOM

May 15, 1935-May 8, 2024

Ruth Nicholson Odom, 88, of Waynesboro, were conducted on Saturday, May

11, 2024 from Calvary Baptist Church, with Rev. Paul Harris officiating.

Interment followed at New Hope Cemetery in Waynesboro.

Born in Wayne County on Wednesday, May 15, 1953 to George Washington

Nicholson and Queen Hester Nicholson, she was a member of Calvary

Baptist Church. She worked as a Bookkeeper for the Wayne County Circuit

Clerk's Office.

She died on Wednesday, May 8, 2024 at Southern Living Specialty Care

Residency in Waynesboro.

She is survived by her son, Kenny Odom of Waynesboro; two granddaughters

and their respective spouses, Katie Odom and Daniel Johnson and Emily

Odom and Marshall Wood, all of Waynesboro; her great-grandson, Wyatt

Cole Johnson; her great-granddaughter, Annie Ruth Wood; her sister, Avis

Brownlee of Sandhill; several nieces and nephews; and special family

friends in Jeanne Peter and William and Tabitha Peter.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Johnnie Odom; her father,

George Washington Nicholson; her mother, Queen Hester Nicholson; her

daughter, Kay Odom; and her daughter-in-law, Lesia Odom.

Pallbearers were Robert Coxwell, Tony Bishop, Bill Baker, Eddie Chancey,

Chuck Hardee and Matthew Bennett. Honorary pallbearers were Wayne Allen

and Mark Gordon.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Gideon's International or

the Baptist Children's Home.

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

Freeman Funeral Home of Waynesboro was in charge of arrangements.

DALE HALL

July 7, 1962-May 8, 2024

Funeral services for Dale Hall, 61, of Laurel, were conducted on

Tuesday, May 14, 2024 from the Chapel of Freeman Funeral Home, with Rev.

Edward Gatlin officiating.

Interment followed at Liberty Cemetery in Waynesboro.

Born in Waynesboro on Saturday, July 7, 1962 to the late Ansler Lucy

Hall and Theressa Hollingsworth, he worked as a Dispatcher and Truck

Driver with Dunn Roadbuilders in Laurel.

He died on Wednesday, May 8, 2024 at his residence in Laurel.

He is survived by his wife, Georgia Hall of Waynesboro; his son and

daughter-in-law, J.D. and Brandilyn McCary Hall of Waynesboro; his

daughter and son-in-law, Heather and Joshua C. Hall of Stringer; his

stepchildren and their respective spouses, Galatria Rawls and Dewayne

Owens, Aquiela Rawls, John and Schkelia Ellis Rawls, all of Waynesboro;

two sisters and brothers-in-law, Billie Sue and Edward Morris of

Buckatunna and Allie Mae and Jerry W. Hudson of Clara; seven

grandchildren, Austin Hall, Jasmine Hall, John Hall, Jasper Campbell,

Kassidi Tabb, Karson Rawls and Khai Owens; and a host of nieces and

nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ansler Lucy Hall and Theressa

Hollingsworth.

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

Freeman Funeral Home of Waynesboro was in charge of arrangements.

ANNIE RUTH DUMAS ROSS

Jan. 22, 1936-May 12, 2024

Funeral services for Annie Ruth Dumas Ross, 88, of Chatom, Ala., were

conducted on Wednesday, May 15, 2024 from Lathan Funeral Home in Chatom,

with Brother Ernie Henson officiating.

Interment followed at Wesley Chapel Cemetery in Bigbee, Ala.

Born on Jan. 22, 1936 to Charlie and Flora Grimes Dumas, she was a

loving woman who was a devoted mother, grandmother and

great-grandmother. He family will dearly miss her meatloaf, fudge and

homemade old-fashioned fruitcake.

In her younger years, she was known for growing amazing tomatoes in

5-gallon buckets. More recently, she was known for her beloved roses and

flowers. She also dearly cared for her beloved chickens and her dog,

Foxy.

She died on Sunday, May 12, 2024.

She is survived by her husband, Floyd Ross; her children and their

respective spouses, Linda Dumas Tucker, Bobby and Milissa Jordan, Debbie

and Roger Holifield, Barbara and Warren Lee, James "Bobo" Jordan,

Charlotte Jordan and Karen Ross Wheeler; 13 grandchildren and 19

great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters, Gladys Dumas

Carlisle, Louise Dumas Sercy and Johnnie Mae Dumas Gibson; three

grandchildren and a son-in-law.

Active pallbearers were Jason Holifield, Justin Holifield, Joshua

Parden, Cody Parden, Cole Jordan and Hunter Cone. Honorary pallbearers

were Blake Holifield, Bradon Holifield, Korbyn Parden and Jonathan

Wheeler.

Lathan Funeral Home of Chatom was in charge of arrangements.

FRANCES JOANN THORNTON

Aug. 9, 1945-May 8, 2024

Funeral services for Frances Joann Thonrton, 78, of Memphis, Tenn., were

conducted on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 from Forest Hill Funeral Home East in

Memphis.

Born in Waynesboro on Thursday, Aug. 9, 1945 to Ernest Stevison and

Olevia Stevison, she was a Homemaker.

She died on Wednesday, May 8, 2024.

She is survived by her husband, Rickey D. Thornton; her son and

daughter-in-law, Stan and Nee Freeman of Klein, Texas; two daughters and

sons-in-law, Adrienne and Ben Taylor and Alison and Ross Herring, all of

Bartlett, Tenn.; three sisters, Avis Atchison, Iola Bunch and Janet

Hudson, all of Waynesboro; and five grandchildren, Tai Freeman, Tim

Freeman, Angelina Herring, Lily Taylor and Holly Taylor.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ernest and Olevia Stevison;

three brothers, Martin Stevison, Leebert Stevison and James Earnest

Stevison; her sister, Earnestine Williams; her son, Chris Freeman; and

her daughter, Angelina Thornton.

Forest Hill Funeral Home of Memphis was in charge of arrrangements.