Tommye Lue Dabbs Barry
The Clarke County Tribune
It is with great sadness that the family of Tommye Lue Dabbs Barry announces her passing after a brief illness, on Saturday, July 14, 2018, at the young age of 95. Tommye Lue will be lovingly remembered by her sons, Rick Barry and wife Cheri, and Lou Barry and wife Kelly. Her eldest son, William Thomas "Bill" Barry, predeceased her and is survived by his wife, Amy and her son Joey Majors. She will also be missed by her grandchildren Brent (Dana) Barry, Lauren (Todd) Versteegh, Jennifer (David) Fowler, Jay Barry, Merritt (Summer) Barry, Sara (Jonatan) LaRocca-Ramm, Amanda Barry and Louis Barry. She leaves behind 8 great-grandchildren; Faith, Cameron, Blake, George Bass, Avery, John Hayes, Wynter and Rowen and 2 more that are on the way. She also leaves behind a multitude of family, friends and former students who have come to know and love her over of the years.
Tommye Lue was born on December 20, 1922, to Bessie Box and Thomas M. Dabbs. She had one sister, Elizabeth Dabbs Woodall. Tommye Lue grew up in Quitman, MS and lived there until she left for college in 1940. She began her college career at the University of Southern Mississippi (known then as Mississippi Southern) where she was a member of the Mu Omega sorority (now known as Chi Omega). She graduated from USM in 1943 with a B.S. in Home Economics and a minor in Science. In January 1944, Tommye Lue worked for Cities Service Refining Corp. as a lab technician, in Sulphur, Louisiana. After leaving Louisiana and working at Camp Shelby in Hattiesburg, MS for about a year, she decided to move back to her hometown of Quitman, MS.
After moving to Quitman, Tommye Lue began a courtship with John W. Barry and they married on August 17, 1947 in a ceremony at the First United Methodist Church of Quitman. In 1951, when their youngest was about 1 year old, they built the home that she lived in for the rest of her life. It is directly across the street from the Methodist church where she sang in the choir, where her mother was the pianist and where her children grew up in the Methodist faith.
Tommye Lue began her teaching career some time around 1947 and she taught various grades in the Quitman school system. She later obtained her Masters Degree from William Carey and continued teaching until her retirement in 1986/87. She came out of retirement to teach an additional year when the public kindergarten program was implemented at the school. She left behind a 40-year legacy that not many will forget. She remembered fondly how much she enjoyed running into former students and learning what they were doing in their lives.
After retirement, Tommye Lue kept very busy, particularly with traveling. She saw many of the sites that she had taught about to her students. She saw the lighting of the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center, she climbed to the crown of the Statue of Liberty, she visited Vegas and her many slot machines, she saw Old Faithful in its full eruption and got to see San Francisco and Hawaii. She was very moved by standing on the Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, as she had lived through the great despair of WWII. But her greatest trip was to Italy. She was able to see all of the cathedrals, buildings, paintings and statues that she had taught about for so many years. Her favorite of all was the Sistine Chapel...it was unbelievable in her eyes. She enjoyed life to the fullest during her retirement years. What a blessing for her and to her family and friends.
Tommye Lue is preceded in death by her husband, John W. Barry, her parents, Thomas M. Dabbs and Bessie Box Dabbs, and her sister Elizabeth Dabbs Woodall.
Arrangements: Visitation will be held at Wrights Funeral Home in Quitman, MS on Sunday, July 22, 2018 from 4pm to 7pm and from 9am to 10am on Monday, July 23, 2018 at First United Methodist Church. A service will be held at First United Methodist Church on Monday, July 23, 2018 at 10:00am, followed by a graveside service at Oddfellows Cemetery. Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Brent Barry, Jay Barry, Merritt Barry, along with David Fowler, Tom Woodall and Bill Woodall.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the First United Methodist Church of Quitman or a charity of your choice.
Mary Lynn Hardee Lee
The Clarke County Tribune
Mary Lynn Hardee Lee, 72, passed away on March 13, 2018, after a near three year battle with cancer. Mary Lynn was born in Harmony, MS, on August 16, 1945, to Minnie Esta Clay Hardee and Thomas Hardee Sr. and grew up with two older siblings, Dr. Thomas Hardee Jr. and Anita Hardee May. Mary Lynn's love of reading was cultivated during her formative years in the quiet, rural community. She read, by her own account, "Gone with the Wind" twenty-seven times during the summer months of her early teenage years. It was her love of reading that cultivated her strongest attribute: storytelling.
In high school, Mary Lynn became a cheerleader, developed a crush on Elvis Presley, and began a life-long love of Coca-Cola. She graduated from Quitman High School in 1963. She then attended Mississippi State College for Women where she earned a bachelor's degree in English, graduating in 1967. That same year she headed west where she began her teaching career at Curran Jr. High School in Bakersfield, California. It was here she met her future husband, Lewis David Lee. The two were married on January 31, 1970 and remained so until Mary Lynn met her Heavenly Father forty-eight years later.
Mary Lynn worked in education as a teacher and librarian for the next 30 years. After working at Curran for ten years, Mary Lynn took a leave after the birth of her only child, Alexander, in 1978. She committed her time and energy to supporting her only child in all of his endeavors. This included countless hours in gymnasiums supporting her son as a basketball player and later on as a coach. She was the epitome of what a parent should be: kind, patient, empathetic, and supportive.
After her son started school, Mary Lynn resumed employment, switching from junior high to the Kern High School District. In the classroom and library, her ability to spin a yarn, make the mundane miraculous, and spark interest in both her students and peers was a special talent that Mary Lynn shared with those who knew her. Whether it was making Ray Bradbury's Martians come to life, or describing an everyday occurrence, Mary Lynn's ability to mimic voices, mannerisms, and subtle nuances gave her stories a sense of life and humor. Indeed, Mary Lynn's perspective on storytelling may have mirrored another noted raconteur, Mark Twain, who said, "I like a good story well told. This is the reason I am sometimes forced to tell them myself."
Mary Lynn retired from education in 2000 and was able to ease into a comfortable life with Dave and her immediate family. She was able to travel and make desired alterations to her home. In 2005, Mary Lynn's first granddaughter, Madison, was born, and Mary Lynn officially shifted into her most joyous role as "granny" a title her next two granddaughters, Gracie and Alexis, would call her as well. Granny loved playing board games, reading fairy tales aloud, and watching children's classics such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs; she organized Play-Doh stations and allowed her young sous-chefs to assist her in the kitchen; she continued family traditions, such as dying Easter eggs and making Christmas gumdrop trees.
Mary Lynn was a voracious reader who counted Eudora Welty and Harry Crews as two of her favorite authors. She listed Akita Kurosawa as her favorite foreign director, and rewatched films such as The African Queen, One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest and Chinatown countless times.
Mary Lynn is survived by her husband, Lewis David, and son, Alexander Lee (wife Stephanie); her sister, Anita Hardee May (husband Jim May) of Florence; and sister-in-law Anne Hardee of Kerrville, Texas. Mary Lynn also leaves behind her granddaughters whom she adored and deeply loved, Madison (13) Gracie (10) and Alexis (4). Additionally, Mary Lynn loved being "Aunt Mabes" to her many nieces and nephews. Mary Lynn is preceded in death by her parents: Thomas Sr. and Minnie Este Hardee, her brother Dr. Thomas Hardee Jr. and her niece Sharon May.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 28, 2018 at the Harmony Baptist Church at 11:00 AM. A reception will follow. Pastor Terry Irby will officiate.
Jeanette Robinson
The Clarke County Tribune
Jeanette Robinson, 86, of Stonewall, MS, passed away on July 14, 2018, at her residence. She was born on October 4, 1931, to William and Pearl Aldridge in Hazelhurst, MS.
Jeanette is survived by her husband, Johnnie J. Robinson; sons, Jerry (Sara) Robinson and Jeff (Elizabeth) Robinson; daughter, Karan Holmes; brother-in-law, Bo Robinson; sister-in-law, Irene Fleming; nine grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her father, William K. Aldridge; mother, Pearl Lambert Aldridge; brothers, Billy Aldridge, J.M. Aldridge Morris (Bubba) Herrington and sister, Frankie Johnston.
Visitation was held Monday, July 16, 2018, 10:00 a.m. at Wright's Funeral Home, Quitman, MS. Funeral services were held on Monday, July 16, 1:00 p.m. at the Stonewall Cemetery, with Rev. Ricky Carlisle officiating.
She was a loving wife, mother, Nanny, and Big Nan.
Online condolences can be given at www.wrightsfuneral.com.
Wanda Avera
The Clarke County Tribune
Wanda Avera, 72, of Quitman, MS, passed away on July 14, 2018, at her residence. She was born on February 5, 1946, to Odis and Louisa (Cain) Flurry in George County, MS.
Wanda is survived by her son, Donald Thomas Avera; daughter, Michelle Avera (Ed) Smith; granddaughter, Kelly Smith (Keith) Davis; grandson, Jason Thomas Smith; great-grandson, Conner Ryan Davis, and brother, John Flurry.
She was preceded in death by her father, Odis Flurry; mother, Louisa Cain Flurry; husband, Samuel (Tommy) Avera; brothers, Carlton Flurry, Elmore Flurry, Burton Flurry, Merlin Flurry, and Bobby Flurry and sisters, Betty Flurry Rhodes and Annie Lee Flurry Smith.
Visitation was held Monday, July 16, 2018, 5:00 p.m. at Wright's Funeral Home, Quitman, MS. Funeral services were held on Tuesday, July 17, 2018, 10:00 a.m. at the Wright's Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Haskel Rhodes officiating.
Interment will take place in the Avera Family Cemetery.
Online condolences can be given at www.wrightsfuneral.com.
The Clarke County Tribune
It is with great sadness that the family of Tommye Lue Dabbs Barry announces her passing after a brief illness, on Saturday, July 14, 2018, at the young age of 95. Tommye Lue will be lovingly remembered by her sons, Rick Barry and wife Cheri, and Lou Barry and wife Kelly. Her eldest son, William Thomas "Bill" Barry, predeceased her and is survived by his wife, Amy and her son Joey Majors. She will also be missed by her grandchildren Brent (Dana) Barry, Lauren (Todd) Versteegh, Jennifer (David) Fowler, Jay Barry, Merritt (Summer) Barry, Sara (Jonatan) LaRocca-Ramm, Amanda Barry and Louis Barry. She leaves behind 8 great-grandchildren; Faith, Cameron, Blake, George Bass, Avery, John Hayes, Wynter and Rowen and 2 more that are on the way. She also leaves behind a multitude of family, friends and former students who have come to know and love her over of the years.
Tommye Lue was born on December 20, 1922, to Bessie Box and Thomas M. Dabbs. She had one sister, Elizabeth Dabbs Woodall. Tommye Lue grew up in Quitman, MS and lived there until she left for college in 1940. She began her college career at the University of Southern Mississippi (known then as Mississippi Southern) where she was a member of the Mu Omega sorority (now known as Chi Omega). She graduated from USM in 1943 with a B.S. in Home Economics and a minor in Science. In January 1944, Tommye Lue worked for Cities Service Refining Corp. as a lab technician, in Sulphur, Louisiana. After leaving Louisiana and working at Camp Shelby in Hattiesburg, MS for about a year, she decided to move back to her hometown of Quitman, MS.
After moving to Quitman, Tommye Lue began a courtship with John W. Barry and they married on August 17, 1947 in a ceremony at the First United Methodist Church of Quitman. In 1951, when their youngest was about 1 year old, they built the home that she lived in for the rest of her life. It is directly across the street from the Methodist church where she sang in the choir, where her mother was the pianist and where her children grew up in the Methodist faith.
Tommye Lue began her teaching career some time around 1947 and she taught various grades in the Quitman school system. She later obtained her Masters Degree from William Carey and continued teaching until her retirement in 1986/87. She came out of retirement to teach an additional year when the public kindergarten program was implemented at the school. She left behind a 40-year legacy that not many will forget. She remembered fondly how much she enjoyed running into former students and learning what they were doing in their lives.
After retirement, Tommye Lue kept very busy, particularly with traveling. She saw many of the sites that she had taught about to her students. She saw the lighting of the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center, she climbed to the crown of the Statue of Liberty, she visited Vegas and her many slot machines, she saw Old Faithful in its full eruption and got to see San Francisco and Hawaii. She was very moved by standing on the Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, as she had lived through the great despair of WWII. But her greatest trip was to Italy. She was able to see all of the cathedrals, buildings, paintings and statues that she had taught about for so many years. Her favorite of all was the Sistine Chapel...it was unbelievable in her eyes. She enjoyed life to the fullest during her retirement years. What a blessing for her and to her family and friends.
Tommye Lue is preceded in death by her husband, John W. Barry, her parents, Thomas M. Dabbs and Bessie Box Dabbs, and her sister Elizabeth Dabbs Woodall.
Arrangements: Visitation will be held at Wrights Funeral Home in Quitman, MS on Sunday, July 22, 2018 from 4pm to 7pm and from 9am to 10am on Monday, July 23, 2018 at First United Methodist Church. A service will be held at First United Methodist Church on Monday, July 23, 2018 at 10:00am, followed by a graveside service at Oddfellows Cemetery. Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Brent Barry, Jay Barry, Merritt Barry, along with David Fowler, Tom Woodall and Bill Woodall.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the First United Methodist Church of Quitman or a charity of your choice.
Mary Lynn Hardee Lee
The Clarke County Tribune
Mary Lynn Hardee Lee, 72, passed away on March 13, 2018, after a near three year battle with cancer. Mary Lynn was born in Harmony, MS, on August 16, 1945, to Minnie Esta Clay Hardee and Thomas Hardee Sr. and grew up with two older siblings, Dr. Thomas Hardee Jr. and Anita Hardee May. Mary Lynn's love of reading was cultivated during her formative years in the quiet, rural community. She read, by her own account, "Gone with the Wind" twenty-seven times during the summer months of her early teenage years. It was her love of reading that cultivated her strongest attribute: storytelling.
In high school, Mary Lynn became a cheerleader, developed a crush on Elvis Presley, and began a life-long love of Coca-Cola. She graduated from Quitman High School in 1963. She then attended Mississippi State College for Women where she earned a bachelor's degree in English, graduating in 1967. That same year she headed west where she began her teaching career at Curran Jr. High School in Bakersfield, California. It was here she met her future husband, Lewis David Lee. The two were married on January 31, 1970 and remained so until Mary Lynn met her Heavenly Father forty-eight years later.
Mary Lynn worked in education as a teacher and librarian for the next 30 years. After working at Curran for ten years, Mary Lynn took a leave after the birth of her only child, Alexander, in 1978. She committed her time and energy to supporting her only child in all of his endeavors. This included countless hours in gymnasiums supporting her son as a basketball player and later on as a coach. She was the epitome of what a parent should be: kind, patient, empathetic, and supportive.
After her son started school, Mary Lynn resumed employment, switching from junior high to the Kern High School District. In the classroom and library, her ability to spin a yarn, make the mundane miraculous, and spark interest in both her students and peers was a special talent that Mary Lynn shared with those who knew her. Whether it was making Ray Bradbury's Martians come to life, or describing an everyday occurrence, Mary Lynn's ability to mimic voices, mannerisms, and subtle nuances gave her stories a sense of life and humor. Indeed, Mary Lynn's perspective on storytelling may have mirrored another noted raconteur, Mark Twain, who said, "I like a good story well told. This is the reason I am sometimes forced to tell them myself."
Mary Lynn retired from education in 2000 and was able to ease into a comfortable life with Dave and her immediate family. She was able to travel and make desired alterations to her home. In 2005, Mary Lynn's first granddaughter, Madison, was born, and Mary Lynn officially shifted into her most joyous role as "granny" a title her next two granddaughters, Gracie and Alexis, would call her as well. Granny loved playing board games, reading fairy tales aloud, and watching children's classics such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs; she organized Play-Doh stations and allowed her young sous-chefs to assist her in the kitchen; she continued family traditions, such as dying Easter eggs and making Christmas gumdrop trees.
Mary Lynn was a voracious reader who counted Eudora Welty and Harry Crews as two of her favorite authors. She listed Akita Kurosawa as her favorite foreign director, and rewatched films such as The African Queen, One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest and Chinatown countless times.
Mary Lynn is survived by her husband, Lewis David, and son, Alexander Lee (wife Stephanie); her sister, Anita Hardee May (husband Jim May) of Florence; and sister-in-law Anne Hardee of Kerrville, Texas. Mary Lynn also leaves behind her granddaughters whom she adored and deeply loved, Madison (13) Gracie (10) and Alexis (4). Additionally, Mary Lynn loved being "Aunt Mabes" to her many nieces and nephews. Mary Lynn is preceded in death by her parents: Thomas Sr. and Minnie Este Hardee, her brother Dr. Thomas Hardee Jr. and her niece Sharon May.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 28, 2018 at the Harmony Baptist Church at 11:00 AM. A reception will follow. Pastor Terry Irby will officiate.
Jeanette Robinson
The Clarke County Tribune
Jeanette Robinson, 86, of Stonewall, MS, passed away on July 14, 2018, at her residence. She was born on October 4, 1931, to William and Pearl Aldridge in Hazelhurst, MS.
Jeanette is survived by her husband, Johnnie J. Robinson; sons, Jerry (Sara) Robinson and Jeff (Elizabeth) Robinson; daughter, Karan Holmes; brother-in-law, Bo Robinson; sister-in-law, Irene Fleming; nine grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her father, William K. Aldridge; mother, Pearl Lambert Aldridge; brothers, Billy Aldridge, J.M. Aldridge Morris (Bubba) Herrington and sister, Frankie Johnston.
Visitation was held Monday, July 16, 2018, 10:00 a.m. at Wright's Funeral Home, Quitman, MS. Funeral services were held on Monday, July 16, 1:00 p.m. at the Stonewall Cemetery, with Rev. Ricky Carlisle officiating.
She was a loving wife, mother, Nanny, and Big Nan.
Online condolences can be given at www.wrightsfuneral.com.
Wanda Avera
The Clarke County Tribune
Wanda Avera, 72, of Quitman, MS, passed away on July 14, 2018, at her residence. She was born on February 5, 1946, to Odis and Louisa (Cain) Flurry in George County, MS.
Wanda is survived by her son, Donald Thomas Avera; daughter, Michelle Avera (Ed) Smith; granddaughter, Kelly Smith (Keith) Davis; grandson, Jason Thomas Smith; great-grandson, Conner Ryan Davis, and brother, John Flurry.
She was preceded in death by her father, Odis Flurry; mother, Louisa Cain Flurry; husband, Samuel (Tommy) Avera; brothers, Carlton Flurry, Elmore Flurry, Burton Flurry, Merlin Flurry, and Bobby Flurry and sisters, Betty Flurry Rhodes and Annie Lee Flurry Smith.
Visitation was held Monday, July 16, 2018, 5:00 p.m. at Wright's Funeral Home, Quitman, MS. Funeral services were held on Tuesday, July 17, 2018, 10:00 a.m. at the Wright's Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Haskel Rhodes officiating.
Interment will take place in the Avera Family Cemetery.
Online condolences can be given at www.wrightsfuneral.com.
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