15 Nov 2011 Obits

Cmdr. Paul McGinnis
The Meridian Star
Retired, United States Navy
RIDGELAND - Services for Cmdr. Paul Hartwell McGinnis, United States Navy, Retired, will be held today at 11 a.m., at Wright & Ferguson Funeral Home. Burial will be in Parkway Memorial Cemetery.
     McGinnis died Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011, four days prior to his 91st birthday. He was born in Kansas City, Mo., the son of Lewis Evermont and Martha Hartwell McGinnis.
     McGinnis served in the United States Navy 22 years during WWII and the Korean War. He was a naval aviator serving briefly in the European theatre, but spent most of the war in the Pacific Theatre of operation flying seaplanes. McGinnis landed in Tokyo Bay and started operations there prior to the acceptance of Japan's surrender in the Navy after USS Missouri. He continued to serve in the Navy after WWII ended, residing on Oahu, Hawaii, and the Midway Islands.
     McGinnis left services of his country in 1964 and moved to Mississippi. He completed his education at University of West Alabama and received a teaching degree. he taught biology, physics and ROTC in the public school system in the Meridian area, retiring in 1984. In 1996, he moved to Madison.
     He was preceded in death by his parents; step-mother, Hulda Harned; brother, William Evermont McGinnis; and wives, Christine Hunt and Pauline Crouch.
     The family requests that memorials be made to the Disabled American Veterans or USO.
     Visitation will be held one hour before services at the funeral home.

Louis J. Adams
The Meridian Star
Services Louis J. Adams will be held today at 2 p.m. at New Mt. Zion Methodist Church, with the Rev. Luderick Cameron officiating. Burial will be in Davenport Cemetery with Berry & Gardner Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
     Mr. Adams, 63, of New York, died Monday, Nov. 7. 2011, in New York.

Doris Jackson Privett
The Meridian Star
QUITMAN - Services for Doris Jackson Privett will be Wednesday at 10 a.m. at Wright's Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. Ronnie Boles officiating. Burial will be in Stonewall Cemetery.
     Mrs. Privett, 83, of Meridian,died Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011, at her residence.
     She is survived by her son, Michael Rufus Privett; daughters, Kathy Privett Myers and her husband, Eddie, Brenda Privett Wynick and her husband, Darrell, and Joyce Privett Davidson; brothers, Jimmy Jackson and his wife, Polly, Johnny Ray Jackson and his wife, Ethel, and Leon Jackson; sisters, Eunice Wilkes, Mildred Dunnam, Merle Hamrick and her husband, Harmon, Syble Parker and her husband, Lavinis, and Patsy Sisson; 10 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; two very close friends, Sandra McCormick and Catherine Roberts; and numerous nieces and nephews.
     She was preceded in death by her husband, Rufus Privett; and her parents, Ulmer and Pearl Jackson.
     Visitation will be held today, from 4 p.m.-8 p.m., at the funeral home.
     Friends may sign online guest register at www.wrightsfuneral.com

James C. "J.C." Massengale
The Meridian Star
UNION - Services for James C. "J.C." Massengale will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Milling Funeral Home Chapel, with the Revs. Jamie Leach and Howell Thrash officiating. Burial will be in Erin Cumberland Presbyterian Cemetery.
     Mr. Massengale, 68, of Union, died Nov. 13, 2011, at Rush Foundation Hospital, Meridian. Mr. Massengale was a deacon of Emmanuel Baptist Church. He loved his family, the Lord, church, farming and gardening. He was a very loving and kind man.
     Survivors include three sisters, Mardean Waugh of Virginia Beach, Va., Shirley Covington and her husband, Bill, of Inverness, Fla., and Zara Ricketts and her husband, Frank, of Union; a brother, Wilbur Massengale of Union; three nephews, Mike Power, Tim Waugh and Terry Waugh; three nieces, Joy Ralston, Gaynell O' Neil and Judy Reynolds;  two stepsons, Freddie Smith of Hattiesburg and Jimmy Smith of Philadelphia; a stepdaughter, Patti Smith of Union; and a special friend, Eddie Wolverton.
     He was preceded in death by his wife, Katrina Massengale; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Alvis Massengale; and two brothers Herbert and Cartis Massengale.
     The family would like to extend a special thanks to his brother-in-law, Frank.
     Pallbearers will be Chip Reynolds, Max Sessums, Wayne Welch, Ralph Rigdon, Milton Vance, David Lee Vance and Mike Power.
     Honorary pallbearers will be Charles Leach, Bill Norcross, Mike White, Lamar Mahaffey, Danny McClelland, Paul Leach, Eddie Wolverton and Billy McKnight.
     Visitation will be held today, from 5 p.m.-8 p.m., at the funeral home.

Bessie M. Darden
The Meridian Star
Services for Bessie M. Darden will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at St. Paul Primitive Baptist Church in Lauderdale, with the Revs. Johnny McDonald and Willie Burton officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Hebron Cemetery in Lauderdale with E.E. McDonald Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
     Mrs. Darden, 92, of Lauderdale, died Thursday, Nov. 11, 2011, at Anderson Regional Medical Center, South.
     Visitation will be held today, from 6 p.m.-7 p.m., at the funeral home and one hour prior to services at the church.

Willie L. Brown Sr.
The Meridian Star
BUTLER, Ala. - Services for Willie L. Brown Sr. will be held Wednesday at noon from the chapel of Bumpers Funeral Home, with Brother Joseph Zeigler officiating. Burial will follow in Fairview Cemetery in Mt. Sterling.
     Mr. Brown, 85, of Butler, died Monday, Nov. 7, 2011, at Willow Trace Nursing Center in Butler.
     Visitation will be today, from 6 p.m.-7 p.m., at the funeral home.
     Visit bumpersfuneralhome.com to sign the online register and post condolences to the family.

Owana Ladd
The Meridian Star
PHILADELPHIA - Services for Owana Ladd will be held Wednesday at 2 p.m. at McClain-Hays Funeral Chapel, with the Rev. Britt Cooper officiating. Burial will be in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Neshoba County.
     Mrs. Ladd, 79, of Ridgeland, died Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011, at St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson.
     Visitation will be held today, from 5 p.m.-8 p.m., at the funeral home.

Shelby Jean Pettis
The Meridian Star
UNION - Services for Shelby Jean Pettis will be held Wednesday at 3 p.m. at Edinburg Pentecostal Church, with the Revs. D. Hughes and Bill Pitman officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery with Milling Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
     Ms. Pettis, 72, of Forest, died Friday, Nov. 11, 2011, at Lackey Hospital in Forest.
     Visitation will be held today, from 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., at the funeral home.

Mike Johnson
The Meridian Star
Arrangements are incomplete at Clarks Memorial Funeral Home for Mike Johnson, 74, of Meridian, who died Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011, at his residence.