Charlie Watts
TUPELO – Charlie Watts, 72, passed away Sunday, October 20, 2013, at his home in Shannon. He was born in Newborn, Tennessee on November 29, 1940, to Murrell and Eloise Watts.
A well-known local musician and entertainer, Charlie never learned to read music but he had phenomenal tonal memory which gave him the ability to play musical instruments by ear. Charlie also composed multiple songs. He was featured in The Daily Journal article written by Phyllis Harper, We’ve got Bach to rock – and Charlie to boot. Phyllis wrote of Charlie, “Music has been called the eight day of creation, the universal language, the laughter of God. For some, it is a way of life and Charlie couldn’t imagine living without music.” He also enjoyed associating with other musicians and was thrilled to meet Elvis Presley and conduct an interview with him at the Tupelo Fair in 1956.
Charlie began his musical journey with the Tupelo High School Chorus and various church choirs. At Tupelo High School in the late 1950’s, he joined a quartet with Guy Hovis, Bobby Verrell and Buddy Palmer. In 1960, he was asked to join a band with Larry Nichols and Buck Hutcheson. His first gig with them was the VFW in Fulton. He made $3 dollars and thought he was in hog heaven according to published reports. After that, there were very few Saturday nights he wasn’t singing or playing with some group.
Later, he became the lead singer with the Nite Lighters, a dance band thought to be the best dance band in Mississippi. They played clubs all over the state for almost two decades performing everything but hard rock with their most requested song being “Route 66.”
Charlie met Buddy and Kay Bain in New Orleans at the World Fair in 1984 and started singing harmony with them. Later , Charlie, would affectionately become known as “Captain Charlie,” as a long-time member of the Morning Show Band with The Buddy Bain Show.
A celebration of Charlie’s life will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 23, 2013, at the Belden Baptist Church with Bro. Jim Holcomb, Bro. Gary Gray and Bro. Dewayne Ard officiating. A graveside will follow at Lee Memorial Park. W.E. Pegues Funeral Directors is entrusted with arrangements.
Survivors include his three children, Greg Watts of Tupelo, Michele Mask (Jeff) of Shannon and Brandi Gray (Blaine) of St. Louis, Missouri; eight grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; two sisters, Pat Mitchell (Stanley) of Plantersville and Betty Adderholt (Oliver) of Birmingham, Alabama; one brother, Eddie Evans of Pontotoc.
He was preceded in death by his wife of forty-eight years, Rachel T. Watts on January 16, 2013; and his mother, Eloise Evans on July 7, 2012.
Pallbearers will be his son-in-law, Jeff Mask, his brother, Eddie Evans, Jerry Hood and David Parker of the Nite Lighters, Truman Carter and Jimmy Creason.
Honorary pallbearers will be his son, Greg Watts, son-in-law, Blaine Gray, Thomas Kelley of the Nite Lighters, Rex Needam, Johnny Wigginton and Joe Holloway of the Morning Show Band, Dean Koon and Kay Bain.
Visitation will be from 1 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, October 22, 2013, at W.E. Pegues Funeral Home.
Expressions of sympathy may be left at www.peguesfuneralhome.com.
Marillyn Jensen
Marilyn Anderson Jensen, 78, departed this life for the life eternal on Oct. 19, 2013, at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo. Known by her family, especially her grandchildren and many friends, as “Mormor,” which means grandmother in Swedish, she was born of immigrant Swedish parents, Erick and Anna Nelson Anderson in Worthington, Minnesota on March 16, 1935. Extremely proud of her Swedish ancestry, she graduated from Worthington High School and attended Business College. She worked one year for Worthington Jr. College and later was a legal secretary for Wheaton College while living with her family in Wheaton, Illinois. The family lived in Charlotte, NC for four years before making their home in Tupelo in l985.
Marilyn was an active, engaged wife, mother, grandmother and a devoted worker in her church–First Baptist Church-Tupelo and all its ministries. She loved to sing, was an extraordinary prayer warrior and taught the “Best Friends” Sunday school class. A wonderful cook, she delighted in preparing meals for family and for Church functions. Blessed with the gift of hospitality and being a huge hockey fan, she loyally followed the Tupelo T-Rex and entertained them in her home with food and fellowship. She was a volunteer worker in the ER at North Mississippi Medical Center for over 10 years. Marilyn loved laughter, the gathering of God’s people, her family and her Church with an extraordinary passion.
A celebration of her life will be held at 1 PM Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013 at the Tupelo Chapel of Holland Funeral Directors with her husband’s colleagues from First Baptist Church, Rev. Chad Grayson, Rev. Lee Alred, Rev. Ricky Young, Rev. Shandy Dill and Rev. Randy Wood officiating. Visitation will be from 5PM-8PM today and from Noon-service time Tuesday at the Tupelo Chapel. Marilyn continued giving in death by being an anatomical donor. A committal will follow at a future date. Holland Funeral Directors is entrusted with arrangements.
Survivors include her husband of 57 years, Rev. Dave H. Jensen, whom she wed on Jan. 14, 1956; five children, Lisa Gabriel (Michael) of Wheaton, Ill., Karin Zelinko (John) of Winter Haven, Fla., Thor Jensen (Lori) of Winston-Salem, N.C., Amy Speck (Tim) of Tupelo and Kjell Jensen of Fraser, Colo.; 13 grandchildren, Bill, Danielle, Melissa, Kelsey, Rachael, Katelyn, Lauren, John Caleb, Theo, Sam, Ethan, Erick, Ingrid and their families; eight great-grandchildren; a host of friends; and her beloved Church family.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and five siblings, Paul, Robert, Irene, Phillip and Stanley.
Honorary pallbearers are the “Best Friends” Class at First Baptist.
Memorials may be made to the Building Fund at First Baptist Church, 300 North Church, Tupelo, MS 38802.
Condolences may be e mailed to hollandfuneraldirectors@comcast.net.
Richard Murley
ASHLAND – Richard Cleo Murley Jr., 79, formerly of Ashland, passed away on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2013.
Services will be 1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22, at Liberty United Methodist Church. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Holly Springs Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Visitation will be from noon until 1 p.m. Tuesday at the church.
Memorials may be made to Liberty UMC, c/o Larry Roberson, 9631 Highway 5, Ashland, MS 38603.
Trentice Pannell
TUPELO – Mr. Trentice “Trent” Pannell passed away Sunday, Oct. 20, 2013, at Green Houses of Tupelo after an extended illness.
Services will be 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24, at Jefferson Street Chapel of W.E. Pegues Funeral Directors. Burial will be in Old Union Cemetery, West of Shannon.
Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Ida Patterson
ASHLAND – Ida Patterson, 68, died Sunday, Oct. 20, 2013, at home. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by Serenity Funeral Home of Holly Springs.
Walter Wilson
HOLLY SPRINGS – Walter Wilson, 60, died Sunday, Oct. 20, 2013, at Trinity Mission Health and Rehab in Holly Springs. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by Serenity Funeral Home of Holly Springs.
Dorene Stafford
EUPORA – Ethel Dorene Stafford, 75, died Saturday, Oct. 19, 2013, at North Mississippi Medical Center in Eupora. Graveside services will 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22, at McCurtains Creek Cemetery in Choctaw County. Wise Funeral Home of Eupora is in charge of arrangements.
Kimberly Bailey
WREN – Kimberly Hogan Bailey, 42, died Sunday, Oct. 20, 2013, at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo. Arrangements are incomplete and will announced later by Fields Funeral Home of Okolona.
Linda Martin
NEW ALBANY – Linda Martin, 67, died Sunday, Oct. 20, 2013, at her residence. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by United Funeral Service.
For online condolences, please visit www.unitedfuneralservice.com.
Jefferson Stricklen
BOONEVILLE – Jefferson L. Stricklen died Sunday, Oct. 20, 2013, at his home. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by Booneville Funeral home.
Mary Creely
AMORY – Mary Creely, 82, died Saturday, Oct. 19, 2013, at her home after an extended illness. She was born May 2, 1931, in Monroe County where she spent her childhood. She graduated with a B.S. in education from the University of Southern Mississippi and earned her masters and specialist degrees from Mississippi State. She taught school and served as a guidance counselor at Tupelo High School for more than 20 years. After retirement, she and her husband Charles returned to Amory. She was a former member of First Baptist Church in Tupelo and was presently a member at First Baptist Church of Amory. She volunteered for the Red Cross and served on numerous mission trips to Ecuador, Alaska and all over the U.S. She enjoyed traveling and following MSU sports.
Services will be 2 pm Tuesday, Oct. 22, at Lee Memorial Chapel with Dr. Allen Simpson and Rev. Lloyd Sweatt officiating. Entombment will be in the Lee Memorial Park Mausoleum. Lee Memorial Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Survivors include her husband of 32 years, Charles Creely of Amory; her sister, Geneva Walton of Tupelo; and three nephews.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Johnnie Mae Robertson; and her father, James Varderman Worthy.
Pallbearers will be her caregivers, Marci El-ghadban, Christy Lann, Ellen Ratliff, Leisa Ray, Nikki Wheeler; and a special friend, Lannie Wilkerson.
Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to First Friends Respite Center, P.O. Box 117, Amory, MS 38821.
For online condolences and guest registry, please visit www.leememorialonline.com.
‘Bob’ Whitehead
NEWSITE – Elzie “Bob” Whitehead, 81, died Sunday, Oct. 20, 2013, at Magnolia Regional Health Center in Corinth. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by Kesler Funeral Home of Baldwyn.
Debbie Malone
TUPELO – Debra Jean “Debbie” Malone, 58, died Saturday, Oct. 19, 2013, at Home Place in Saltillo after a lengthy illness. She was born Feb. 18, 1955, in Meridian, the daughter of Jim and Dorothy Jean Rawls. She moved to Tupelo where she grew up and graduated from Tupelo High School. She worked with her husband for many years in the family owned restaurant, Malone’s Fish House. She also owned Old Friends Clothing Boutique for several years. She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Tupelo. An avid music lover, she also enjoyed working outdoors in her yard, handcrafting mosaics, and most of all, spending time with her family and grandchildren.
Services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22, at Lee Memorial Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Tim Green officiating. Burial will be in Lee Memorial Park. Lee Memorial Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
She is survived by her husband of 40 years, Tommy Malone; three daughters, Stephanie Thomas (Steve) of Tupelo, Tracie Dobson (Dobber) of Gulfport and Jamie Harrison (Thomas) of Saltillo; her sister, Suzy Marcy (Arnie) of Nesbit; two grandsons, Clay and Cole Dobson; her mother-in-law, Glenda Malone of Tupelo; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be Tommy Malone, Mike Malone, Arnie Marcy, Scott Malone, Cory Russell, Dave Russell and Jim Marcy.
Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association Mississippi Chapter, 196 Charmant Dr. Suite 4, Ridgeland, MS 39157.
For online condolences and guest registry, please visit www.leemenorialonline.com.
Robert Sumner
SARDIS – Robert Wayne Sumner, 53, died Saturday, Oct. 19, 2013, at his residence in Sardis.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. Hodges-Freeman Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
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