Obituaries 02-05-26

LUTHER HAROLD WALLEY

May 20, 1934-Feb. 2, 2026

Graveside services for Luther Harold Walley, 91, of Waynesboro, will be 
at 12 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026 from Serenity Gardens Cemetery in 
Waynesboro, with Dr. Steve Smith officiating. Visitation will be from 
9-11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026 from the Parlor of Freeman 
Funeral Home.

Born on Sunday, May 20, 1934 in Greene County to the late George and 
Bertie Mae Walley, he served in the Mississippi National Guard. He was a 
member of Waynesboro First Baptist Church and worked as a Sales Clerk at 
Gatlin Building Supply.

He died on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026 at his residence.

He is survived by his loving wife of 68 years, Martha G. Walley of 
Waynesboro; his son, Vince Walley of Waynesboro; his brother and 
sister-in-law, Marlon and Imogene Walley of Clara; his sister, Merlene 
Johnson of Clara; his grandson and his wife, Tucker and Natalie Walley 
of Waynesboro; his granddaughter and her husband, Amanda and Corey Ward 
of Waynesboro; five great-grandchildren, Jasen, Charlee, Walley, 
Chesleigh Walley and Phoebe Walley; and a host of nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Bertie Mae Walley; 
his daughter-in-law, JoBeth Walley; three brothers, Lester Walley, 
Johnie Walley and Jimmy Walley; and three sisters, Ruby Smith, Joyce 
West and Marian Ward.

Pallbearers will be Terry Loper, Patric Langley, Lonny McInnis, John 
Gatlin, Robbie Johnson and Jasen Walker. Honorary pallbearers will be 
John Howard, Leonard Jones and Jamie Cochran.

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

Freeman Funeral Home of Waynesboro is in charge of arrangements.

JAMES PAUL BLUE

Feb. 21, 1944-Feb. 2, 2026

Funeral services for James Paul Blue, 81, of Laurel, will be at 2 p.m. 
on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026 from the chapel of Freeman Funeral Home, with 
Rev. Scott Hilton officiating. Visitation will be from 12-2 p.m. on 
Friday, Feb. 6, 2026 from the Parlor of Freeman Funeral Home.

Following the funeral service, interment will take place at Blackledge 
Cemetery in Jones County.

Born in Laurel on Monday, Feb. 21, 1944 to the late Nora and Andrew 
Blue, he was a member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. He retired as a 
Sergeant 1st Class from the United States Army.

He died on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026 at Forrest General Hospital in 
Hattiesburg.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara Hinton Blue of Laurel; his son and 
daughter-in-law, Edwin and Tina Blue of Laurel; three daughters and 
sons-in-law, Lisa and Curtis Williams of Ellisville, Lisa and Andy 
Beaujean and Janet and Michael Dail, all of North Carolina; eight 
grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Selma Blue; his parents, 
Nora and Andrew Blue; three sons, James Blue, Robert Blue and Andrew 
Blue; three brothers, Delynn Blue, Jerry Blue and Charles Blue; and his 
sister, Joan Byrd.

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

Freeman Funeral Home of Waynesboro is in charge of arrangements.

MARTHA NEWSOM

Oct. 26, 1945

Funeral services for Martha Newsom will be at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 
5, 2026 from the Chapel of Freeman Funeral Home, with Rev. Buddy 
Covington officiating. Visitation will be from 12-2 p.m. on Thursday, 
Feb. 5, 2026 from the Parlor of Freeman Funeal Home.

Following the funeral service, interment will take place at Serenity 
Gardens Cemetery in Waynesboro.

Born in Hurricane, Ala., on Oct. 26, 1945, she was the daughter of 
Palmer Evans and Irene Evans. She had four sisters, Eugenia (Evans) 
Cleary, Elizabeth (Evans) Roberts, Faye (Evans) McKay and Marcus (Evans) 
Boyd, who all still reside in Hurricane.

Martha and her siblings grew up on a farm and, as everyone else in the 
community, ate and survived on the crops and livestock they raised. She 
and her siblings attended school, worked as told and went on to success 
throughout their lives beyond imagination.

Martha went on to become a Secretary with Northern Electric Company 
(NECO) in Waynesboro in the 1960s. It was there she met Eric Teibauer, 
Sr., of Chicago, Ill., who was hired by NECO to design the company's 
computer systems. This led to moving to Mexico City and various cities 
while working with Northern Electric from their home based in Laurel.

Upon her then husband's death in 1978, Martha moved back to her roots 
in Waynesboro with her three children.

She met her loving husband of 48 years, Larry Newsom, and enjoyed a 
loving marriage for all these years. Larry is a proud Veteran of the 
Vietnam War and a longtime business owner.

Larry and Martha, working together with much love, raised their children 
— Darlene Forrest of Mobile, Ala., Eric Tiebauer, Jr., of Laurel, Lisa 
Tiebauer of Swansboro, N.C., Lance Newsom of Waynesboro and Will Newsom 
of Waynesboro while teaching them all the value of a hard work ethic, 
love of country and love of God.

Martha will be remembered by her friends and family for her willingness 
to share her sense of humor, musical talent, wisdom and willingness to 
love and to enjoy every minute of life. Her Christian beliefs ran deep 
and could be felt as she played her piano. She will always be remember 
as a beloved wife, beloved mother, beloved grandmother and a very giving 
soul.

Martha leaves behind various nephews, grandchildren and 
great-grandchildren. Grandchildren: Charles Andrew Abstone, Aston 
Victoria Abston, Britain Alexandria (Abston) Hart, Paron Bryce Forrest 
(U.S. Marines), Forress Christina McRae, Jairus Anthony McRae, Rachel 
Caitlin Tiebauer, Mikail Walley, Malachi Walley, Micah Walley, Bailey 
Newsom, Ryleigh Newsom, Britton Newsom, Olivia Newsom and Austin Newsom. 
Great-Grandchildren: Kayden Warren, London Warren and Waylon Warren. 
Nephews and Nieces: Uwe Ziemann (Wisconsin), Ronie Ziemann (Wisconsin), 
Ralph Ziemann (Wisconsin), Glenn TerHorst (Chicago), Kenny TerHorst (San 
Diego, Calif.), Marc TerHorst (Chapel Hill, N.C.), Dave Norwood 
(Detroit, Mich.), Michael Norwood (Detroit), Richey Norwood (Dallas, 
Texas), Brandy McKay (Ovett), Mike McKay (Hattiesburg), Jonathan Evans 
Boyd, Jordan Elizabeth Boyd, Jade Boyd and Ethan Boyd.

She was preceded in death by he parents, Palmer and Irene Evans, two 
brothers, Terry Evans and Charles Evans; and her former husband, Eric 
Tiebauer, Sr., of Chicago.

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

Freeman Funeral Home of Waynesboro is in charge of arrangements.

NELLIE JO "MAMA JO" TAYLOR

Sept. 6, 1940-Jan. 29, 2026

Funeral services for Nellie Jo "Mama Jo" Taylor, 85, of Copeland, 
Ala., were conducted on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026 from the Chapel of Freeman 
Funeral Home, with Rev. Ronnie Morris officiating.

Interment followed at Jones-Hill Cemetery in Millry, Ala.

Born in Copeland on Friday, Sept. 6, 1940 to the late Sam and Angie 
McRae, she was a member of Silas First Baptist Church. She retired as a 
Supervisor with Northern Electric Company.

She died on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026 at Washington County Nursing Home in 
Chatom, Ala., surrounded by her loving children.

She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Jimmy and Lisa Taylor 
Spanish Fort, Ala.; two daughters and sons-in-law, Cindy and Keith 
McLaughlin and Carol and James Kelly, all of Waynesboro; three 
grandchildren and their respective spouses, Blake Kelly, Brady and 
Felicia Kelly and Matt and Tonia McLaughlin; four great-grandchildren, 
Brayton Kelly, Anna Jaye Kelly, Easton McLaughlin and Avie Leigh 
McLaughlin; a special nephew who she loved as her own, Lance Taylor; and 
a host of nieces, nephews and other extended family members.

She was preceded in death by her husband, T.J. Taylor; her parents, Sam 
and Angie McRae; her brother, Charlie McRae; two sisters, Bobbie Nell 
Gardner and Mattie Pearl Odom; and her grandson, Heath McLaughlin.

The family would like to thank the staff of Washington County Nursing 
Home for all the care and devotion shown to their mother for the pst 
five years.

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

Freeman Funeral Home of Waynesboro was in charge of arrangements.

JOVONNA QUENET VANN

Nov. 11, 1982-Jan. 20, 2026

Funeral services for JoVonna Quenet Vann, 43, of Waynesboro, were 
conducted on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026 from St. Luke Baptist Church, with 
Rev. Darron Chapman officiating.

Interment followed at Serenity Memorial Garden.

Born on Nov. 11, 1982, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree from 
Jackson State University and was a teacher at the Mississippi School for 
the Deaf and Blind. She enjoyed caring for her "fur babies," 
Honeybun and Ivy.

She died on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026 at St. Dominic's Memorial Hospital 
in Jackson.

She is survived by her devoted daughter, Latangia Gayle Hinton; her 
father, Glenn Dale Vann; her aunts, a devoted aunt in Carolyn Vann 
Smith, Janice Jean Howze, Rose Merrian Bonner, Grady M. Vann and 
Elizabeth Vann; her great-aunts, Mae Rose Stanley and Irma Jean Hinton; 
her uncles and their spouses, Edward and Mechelle Phillips, Timothy and 
Sandra Hinton, Don R. and Kathy Hinton, Levonne and Vicky Hinton and 
Donald and Debra Vann; a special friend in Bernard Ford; and a host of 
cousins, relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Eugene and Mary Vann and 
Beandrews and Juanita Hinton; and her great-grandmother, Alberta Hinton.

McDonald and Sons Funeral Home of Waynesboro was in charge of 
arrangements.

EDNA RENEE SPENCER

Jan. 31, 1975-Jan. 14, 2026

Funeral services for Edna Renee Spencer, 50, of Waynesboro, were 
conducted on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026 from Sweet Hope Baptist Church, 
with Rev. Anthony Stallings officiating.

Interment followed at Altair Church Cemetery.

Born on Jan. 31, 1975, she was a Homemaker who loved spending time with 
her family and friends.

She died on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026 at St. Dominic's Memorial 
Hospital in Jackson.

She is survived by Glynis and Kevin Dunn, Wanda and Sean Gaines, Sherry 
and Michael Everett, Ann and Darnell Shirley, Lester Blakley, Brenda and 
Janice McDonald, Lagtinda and Freddie Chaney, Davis, Derrick and Terrick 
Spencer, Ruthia and Deon Page and Eric and Nesha Pittman; nine 
grandchildren; a very special friend and companion in Ronald Jackson and 
a host of nieces, nephews and friends.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Wanda Jean McDonald; and her 
stepfather, Alfred James McDonald.

McDonald and Sons Funeral Home of Waynesboro was in charge of 
arrangements.

CLAUDE M. WALKER

March 12, 1957-Jan. 13, 2026

Funeral services for Claude M. Walker, 68, of State Line, were conducted 
on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026 from Mt. Olive Baptist Church, with Pastor 
Cedric Smith officiating.

Interment followed at Simpson Bend Cemetery.

Born on March 12, 1957, he served in the United States Army and worked 
as a Professional Truck Driver for 40-plus years.

He died on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 026 at South Central Regional Medical 
Center in Laurel.

He is survived by his sons, Claude Owens and Jeffery Owens; his daughter 
and son-in-law, Rachel D. and John Johnson; his stepchildren and their 
respective spouses, Ceaser and Chabi Crawford of Houston, Texas, Rechel 
Crawford and Jessica Jackson, both of Chicago, Ill.; his siblings and 
their respective spouses, Dr. Lillian and Marcel Robinson of Goodyear, 
Ariz., and Tyler R. Frye of Pensacola, Fla.; five grandchildren and a 
host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Catherine Walker.

McDonald and Sons Funeral Home of Waynesboro was in charge of 
arrangements.